Chapter 335: Clash of Kings

Chapter 335: Chapter 335: Clash of Kings

After taking the time to read the jade scroll for the duration of an incense stick burning, Yi Yan closed his eyes and pondered deeply for a moment. Handing back the jade scroll, he shook his head with a sigh, "The astonishing Heavenly Collapse plan, a series of intertwined strategies, the collapse of the Four Heavens—Zhongshan's talent surpasses mine."

"Mr. Yi Yan is too modest. Father has said that you did not fail due to lack of ability, but rather in the domain. This is the domain of merchants, and it is also the domain of my Zhong family. To achieve this level in an unfamiliar domain is commendable!" Zhong Zheng smiled.

"Merchants?" Yi Yan fixed his gaze on Zhong Zheng.

"Yes, my father was a merchant before reaching the Precelestial Realm. The Zhong family flourished because of him. Father once said, 'The market is a battlefield, and the battlefield is a market. Master one method, master all methods.'" Zhong Zheng explained.

"Yes! Zhongshan's insights are profound," Yi Yan nodded in admiration.

"Today, I came to ask Mr. Yi Yan about the Covenant of Ten Years. From when should we start counting?" Zhong Zheng inquired.

"Hehe, when should we start counting? Let's leave it for now. But let me take one last look at Great Yu," Yi Yan shook his head.

"Grand Marshal!" Iron Blood widened his eyes.

A wager? What wager exactly?

"Iron Blood, three years and ten months ago, you were also there. At the summit of Xuefeng, I made a bet with Zhongshan: for ten years, I would defend while he attacked. If he took down the Great Yu Dynasty, I would accept defeat. If he failed, he would accept defeat. There are still two months left until four years. Who won this bet?" Yi Yan looked at Iron Blood with a bitter smile.

Upon hearing Yi Yan's words, Iron Blood widened his eyes and took a deep breath. "Grand Marshal, this is Zhongshan's trap. He already had a way to deal with the Great Yu Dynasty and deliberately baited you into agreeing."

"Whether it was a trap or not doesn't matter now. I was too arrogant, and I truly lost," Yi Yan shook his head.

Looking at Iron Blood, Yi Yan smiled faintly, "Very well, then let's go together to Zhongshan's camp and serve as mere soldiers."

"Yes!" Iron Blood responded immediately.

Zhong Zheng had been watching all along. After the two finished their conversation for a while, he spoke up, "Mr. Yi Yan!" NewW novels updates at novelhall.com

"Yes?" Yi Yan looked towards Zhong Zheng.

"My father instructed me to inform Mr. Yi Yan to prepare himself. Three months from now, I will await Mr. Yi Yan, his family, and his entourage in Daichi City, on the eastern coast by the East Sea," Zhong Zheng said.

"Oh? Not entering the Duke of the East's great tent?" Yi Yan frowned.

"My father considered that joining the Great Luo Heavenly Army immediately after the fall of the Great Yu Dynasty would harm Mr. Yi Yan's reputation. Therefore, he invites Mr. Yi Yan to our hometown, where his talents are also greatly needed," Zhong Zheng explained.

Glancing at Zhong Zheng, Yi Yan smiled slightly, "Very well, I also want to see what kind of place nurtured a person like Zhongshan."

"Very well, then Zhong Zheng takes his leave!" Zhong Zheng said.

"Hmm," Yi Yan nodded lightly.

Watching Zhong Zheng's departing figure, Yi Yan kept his gaze fixed for a long time.

"Grand Marshal, is there something wrong with Zhong Zheng?" Iron Blood asked, puzzled.

"Something wrong? There is indeed something wrong. Zhongshan has hidden deeply. Suddenly, his son appears, who is neither arrogant nor humble, but unusually calm and leaks nothing. Even if I highly praise him, I underestimated him," Yi Yan sighed.

"Ah!" Iron Blood muttered softly.

"Alright, since we've agreed on three months later, let's get started. You go..." Yi Yan instructed Iron Blood.

Two days later, at a distance from Dayu City, in the central military tent of the Great Xuan King.

Fifteen marshals had all gathered here, leaving only deputy generals to lead the troops, awaiting a single command for a full-scale attack on the city.

Battle drums resound!

"Hum~~~~~"

Suddenly, a buzzing echoed through the surrounding heavens and earth.

"Roar~~~~~"

Yintiger suddenly roared angrily.

The footsteps of the three armies came to a halt! The Great Xuan King paused.

Everyone suddenly stopped.

They all turned to look at Dayu City in the distance.

It was too far away. Those with low cultivation couldn't see far, only those with high cultivation could. Zhong Shan vaguely saw a black dot standing on the top of the Dayu City tower, surrounded by boundless golden aura that dyed that part of the world gold.

Even at a great distance, Zhong Shan could feel a strong pressure emanating from there.

Nalan Piaoxue!

Though he couldn't see the person, Zhong Shan immediately guessed. Nalan Piaoxue, the Emperor of the Great Yu Dynasty?

It was indeed the Great Yu Emperor. Knowing that the Great Yu Dynasty was irreversibly lost, and there was no hope left, Nalan Piaoxue no longer sought mercy or anticipated any changes. He was not that kind of person. Proud and ambitious, he saw the dynasty as mere externals. But now that these externals were taken from him, how could a generation of heroes be resigned?

Nalan Piaoxue and the Great Xuan King glared at each other from thirty-odd mountains and rivers apart.

The battlefield fell silent for a moment.

This was a duel of kings. No one intervened; no one could intervene.

Far away, atop Dayu City, Nalan Piaoxue glanced at the Great Xuan King in the distance, then at Yi Yan on the city tower.

"Commander-in-Chief!" Nalan Piaoxue said in a deep voice.

At this moment, all the defending soldiers on the city tower knelt in homage, except for Yi Yan who remained standing.

"Your Majesty!" Yi Yan responded.

"The Great Yu Dynasty has nothing left to defend. You need not continue to defend it either. My father left you for me, but I did not use you, which led to the downfall of the Great Yu Dynasty. Though there is regret, I do not repent. At the moment of the dynasty's collapse, I have once again realized another layer, and your mission is over," Nalan Piaoxue said.

"Your Majesty, at this final moment, there is something in my heart that I must ask Your Majesty to tell me," Yi Yan bowed respectfully to Nalan Piaoxue.

"Speak!" Nalan Piaoxue said in a deep voice.

"In the past, when I was breaking through, a Arhat from the Pure Land of Bliss poisoned me, causing me to be weak and feeble all these years. Did Your Majesty discover the identity of the person who disturbed my seclusion back then in the palace?" Yi Yan stared at Nalan Piaoxue.

Watching Yi Yan, Nalan Piaoxue fell silent for a moment. Then, he opened his narrowed eyes and calmly said, "Indeed."

Iron Blood, beside him, widened his eyes. So, His Majesty could have prevented the Commander-in-Chief from being poisoned, but chose not to? Why?

Looking at Nalan Piaoxue, Yi Yan smiled faintly, sighed deeply, and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your frankness. The knot in Yi Yan's heart has been untied!"

Untied knot? Nalan Piaoxue knew that Yi Yan's knot was gratitude to the late Emperor. Now that it was untied, even if grievances were clear!

"Today's frankness has also untied the knot in my heart!" Nalan Piaoxue said softly.

Then, without waiting for Yi Yan to say anything more, he turned his head again and stared at the Great Xuan King in the distance!