Chen Ping's Sword

Chapter 364: Chapter 178: Eight Forms of Piercing Edge, Strategic Maneuvering

The shouts of battle in the south seemed to reach the heavens, as the iron-armored flood surged straight towards the County Government Office. From afar, countless commoners could be seen scurrying in chaos like chickens, sheep, cattle, and horses being driven about.

Some clear-headed individuals, from wealthy and powerful families, dared to rally their household guards and private soldiers, similarly hacking and crashing their way towards the North City Gate. Clearly, seeing the situation was lost, they intended to flee the city.

From a distance, Chen Ping identified the leader of the escapees. It was a scholarly middle-aged man clad in grand official attire, looking utterly distressed.

Around him were several men and women in opulent clothing, their identities unknown.

However, they were likely from influential families in the city.

This group was not small—over five hundred people, with large and small carts laden with goods pulled by four horses, escorted by a formidable cavalry.

"That’s Zhao Shicheng, along with the heads of the Zhang, Wang, and Wu Families in the city..."

Soaked through, Weichi approached and reported: "In the past, the County Magistrate colluded with the powerful families, making it such that during my time here, I’ve achieved no merit and was utterly unable to contend with them."

"I understand."

Riding leisurely, Chen Ping watched this group charging aggressively toward the north gate and smiled: "No wonder the city fell so easily. They likely left some pawns to resist at the south gate, planning their escape long ago.

If you’re fleeing alone, I won’t say anything, but these goods are the lifeblood of Yuanxi County’s citizens, taken from the people, for the people; they can’t be taken away."

As two hundred riders mounted behind him, organizing their formation with Chen Ping at the forefront, this cavalry began to exude a world-shaking killing aura.

An aura circulated around the cavalry like a swimming dragon, faintly rising like blazing fire.

Even from afar, it was a terrifying sight.

Watching from the side, Weichi was filled with envy, drooling slightly. He gritted his teeth, waving for two burly men behind him to lift a large weapon with grunts, and laughed: "I only regret my limited strength and cannot join our Lord in breaking the enemy’s ranks. This halberd was personally crafted by Yuanxi’s master craftsman, Master Fang, from extraterrestrial cold iron. It’s unusable by ordinary people, so I present it to our Lord to aid you."

Weichi noticed that Chen Ping rode a tall horse, and although he wielded the Black Dragon Sword deftly, it was a bit short, not ideal for combat.

In battle formations, the longer the weapon, the stronger its advantage.

Others could attack vital points from a distance by merely extending their arms.

Thus, sword users had to wait until the horses crossed paths to strike.

Even when the sword edge could extend three feet with sword aura, it was still slightly inconvenient. Thus, the attentive Weichi, upon hearing of a renowned weapons artisan in Yuanxi City, spared no expense to procure a halberd.

This halberd, eight feet long, was forged with extraterrestrial cold iron, weighing one hundred and eighty-nine pounds. Its blade was black and shiny, with dragon patterns on the shaft, and its edges adorned with crescent moons reaching skyward, which Chen Ping admired at first sight.

"You’ve been thoughtful. What’s the name of this halberd?"

Chen Ping took the long halberd, giving it a light heft, and found it quite fitting.

"After crafting this halberd, Master Fang named it, surprisingly using his own name, calling it [Unwilling Halberd]."

After a brief hesitation, Weichi decided to tell the truth.

He vaguely guessed that when he requested the weapon, Master Fang may not have entertained him for his sake, but for someone thoughtful.

"A fine name signifying choices of action and inaction. Master Fang has quite the skill, and I understand his advice."

Chen Ping chuckled softly.

His left hand forming a sword gesture, a radiance appeared, reaching out to point straight at Weichi’s forehead.

Weichi was overjoyed and did not dodge; instead, he leaned forward.

Sure enough, a radiance entered his mind, three blazing suns slowly rotated within, his mind becoming exceptionally clear, and all the sword techniques and cultivation techniques he had learned gained new enlightenment.

He even felt that every bit of his Qi and blood, every inch of muscle and bone, became spirited, resonating with his breath.

Under the illumination of this radiance, he could control even the deepest strength.

With a mere thought, his body could perform moves impossible in normal times.

"Thank you, my Lord."

Weichi nearly shed tears of excitement.

"Cultivate well. After this battle, you will remain as the County Captain. Achieving what level of accomplishment and training what kind of troops will depend on your ability."

Chuckling lightly, Chen Ping hung the Black Dragon Sword on the hook on his horse’s belly, brandished the Unwilling Halberd, and gently prodded the horse "Cyan Grass" with his feet. Qi and blood roared, flooding into the horse, immediately making it three sizes larger, majestic and unrivaled. With just two leaps, like a blue cloud, it shot forward.

Behind him, the two hundred men shared their Qi and intentions.

A blood-red and white glow shone from their bodies, achieving Man and Horse Unity. As they moved, they became an unstoppable wall, gaining speed, their passage boomed with thunderous hoofbeats.

"Who goes there?"

Zhao Shicheng’s group hurriedly galloped for escape. Just as they neared the north gate, they saw what seemed to be a fiery cloud ahead, an overwhelming Qi Mechanism like a mountain sweeping upon them.

Still thirty-odd feet away.

Dozens of riders from his group fell off their horses in fright.

Zhao Shicheng’s face turned ashen, trembling all over: "Oh no, is the North City Gate also breached?"

A big man, face flushed like a jujube, urged his horse forward, brandished a long blade, and whispered before shouting loudly: "This road is closed, immediately detour."

Seeing only two hundred riders opposite, even fewer than their forces, though their aura was imposing, the battle seemed unfavorable.