Chapter 824: Yuan Shao’s Hidden Backup Exposed

Qu Yi stared at Guan Yu’s direction with a solemn expression as he began to activate the Military Soul of the Xian Deng Guard. If Yuan Shao was recklessly unaware of the danger, Qu Yi, who had merged the Military Soul into his body, could clearly see the faint brilliance surrounding Guan Yu. He knew exactly what it was—Military Soul. In the past, he didn’t understand how Gao Shun could always find him, but now that he had reached the same level, he realized they could see this concentrated belief with their own eyes.

Without further words, Qu Yi did not suggest that Yuan Shao retreat or waver the command banner. Many had already noticed Guan Yu charging toward them, and if Yuan Shao retreated now, or if the command flag faltered, it would definitely affect the army’s morale. Besides, Qu Yi was confident that with him present, even if Guan Yu had the Military Soul infused into his body, he would not be able to harm Yuan Shao.

[It seems that he is borrowing external means. The Military Soul is not pure. While it is vast in quantity, it does not fully align with his own will, so its compatibility is not high.]

Qu Yi thrust his spear into the ground, his right hand resting on the sword at his waist. Streams of belief continuously flowed into the blade. Unlike Chen Xi’s method, which could only channel the Military Soul into Guan Yu’s body, Qu Yi could already infuse belief into other objects. Unlike the slow nurturing of inner energy, this was a force that could truly create miracles.

The steel sword at Qu Yi’s waist gradually turned blood-red as belief poured into it. Around him, the hidden Xian Deng Death Warriors, feeling the surge of Qu Yi’s power, placed their hands on their sword hilts and raised their crossbows. More than three thousand soldiers, scattered around the battlefield, moved in unison, their shared belief instantaneously channeling into Qu Yi.

As Guan Yu charged forward, he was now only a hundred paces from Yuan Shao. The resistance had become fierce, and he could clearly see the indifference on Yuan Shao’s face. Though they were enemies, Guan Yu couldn’t help but admire Yuan Shao’s composure.

"Yuan Shao, prepare to die!" Guan Yu roared as he realized he could no longer advance, deciding to gamble it all. Though the chances were slim, the distance was close enough.

At this range, even with inner-energy techniques, it was nearly impossible for Guan Yu to push further. The soldiers surrounding him were Yuan Shao’s personal troops, men truly fearless in the face of death. For someone like Yuan Shao, how could his subordinates not be valiant warriors?

"Finally, Guan Yu!" Qu Yi laughed wildly as he leaped into the air, his body exuding a bloody glow. His once-black hair now turned crimson, giving him the appearance of a demon or god. "Let’s see how you die today!"

Before Guan Yu could raise his momentum to its peak, Qu Yi, with the power of the Military Soul, slashed a blood-red sword beam. The strike pierced through the cloud energy, ripping a massive tear in the sky. Though Guo Jia quickly mended the rift, the brief moment of reduced pressure allowed Yan Liang’s power to soar. He turned back and slashed at the three men before him, Zhou Cang, Liao Hua, and Pei Yuan Shao, his sharp blade instantly breaking through their defenses.

[I refuse to die! I still want to see my brothers enjoy meals of meat every day! I haven’t had my fill yet—how can I die?]

Zhou Cang’s muscular frame was Yan Liang’s first target. Blessed with immense natural strength and at the pinnacle of Qi Refining, Zhou Cang had been a significant factor in Yan Liang’s inability to break through while suppressed by the cloud energy.

At that moment, Zhou Cang’s eyes bulged with determination as he swung his massive horse-cutting saber with all his might to block Yan Liang’s strike. In that life-or-death moment, the once-heavy blade suddenly felt weightless in his hands.

"Boom!" Yan Liang and his horse were forced three steps back, while Zhou Cang was sent flying. He tumbled twice before flipping back onto his feet.

Noticing the bluish-black inner energy swirling out from his body, Zhou Cang, stubborn as he was, realized that he had unintentionally crossed the seemingly impossible threshold. After Guan Hai, he had finally taken that legendary step, becoming the strongest Yellow Turban warrior.

"Heh heh heh, so even I get my moment," Zhou Cang laughed as he wiped his helmet. He grabbed his specially-made heavy spear, which now felt significantly lighter. Without hesitation, he thrust it toward Yan Liang, but before the spear could strike, the cloud energy once again suppressed both him and Yan Liang.

"Grab your weapons and finish him! I’ll block his attacks!" Zhou Cang shouted with glee, completely unafraid. He could feel his body undergoing rapid changes, his previously severe wounds from Yan Liang's blade healing at an astonishing speed.

While Yan Liang regrouped with his personal guards and continued battling Zhou Cang, Liao Hua, and Pei Yuan Shao, the fight remained deadlocked. Though Yan Liang held a slight advantage, much like how Guan Yu couldn’t break through despite his repeated attempts, Yan Liang, too, found no way out.

Under the suffocating weight of the cloud energy enveloping ten thousand soldiers, individual strength became irrelevant. Even though Guan Yu had been tearing through the battlefield, he was only able to do so with the support of tens of thousands of comrades behind him. But the deeper he advanced into Yuan Shao’s army, the more heavily he was suppressed. Despite the backing of his soldiers, there was still a limit to how far he could go.

Qu Yi unleashed a sword strike aimed directly at Guan Yu, forcing him to prematurely unleash an attack that had yet to reach its peak power. Compared to Qu Yi’s strike, Guan Yu’s green blade appeared vast, slashing apart a section of the cloud energy before colliding with Qu Yi’s sword beam. Amid a teeth-grinding sound, Qu Yi’s sword beam consumed 99% of Guan Yu’s Military Soul-imbued blade before cutting through it entirely.

"Boom!" A loud blast followed as Guan Yu, gripping his Green Dragon Crescent Blade, slowly stepped back. Though he had dispersed the remnants of Qu Yi’s sword beam, the sheer force of the attack had left his hands numb.

Swinging his blade to deflect a volley of arrows, Guan Yu frowned, glancing at Yuan Shao, who was not far away. He had to admit, Qu Yi had timed that strike perfectly.

If Guan Yu had unleashed his full power when his momentum peaked, it would have been Qu Yi who suffered. Guan Yu’s greatest strength lay in the unstoppable force behind his strikes, not merely the raw power of his blade. Qu Yi’s timing had been impeccable, forcing Guan Yu into a position where he could neither fully commit nor withdraw, resulting in Guan Yu taking a minor injury instead.

"Hmph!" Guan Yu snorted, channeling the remaining power he had to maintain his inner-energy techniques.

Leading his elite troops, he withdrew from a different direction. By now, the two armies had fully engaged, and the further Guan Yu retreated, the less pressure he felt from the cloud energy, allowing him to fall back more swiftly.

"Qu Yi is leading the Xian Deng Guard to protect Yuan Shao personally?" Chen Xi, pale-faced, stood up and looked at Liu Bei, frowning.

"That doesn’t seem like something Yuan Shao would do," Liu Bei remarked in surprise, staring at the battlefield. Though his troops were beginning to suppress Yuan Shao’s army, this was happening without the involvement of the Xian Deng Death Warriors.

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