Chapter 565: Repaying the Dragon King’s Grace with One’s Body
As Grandfather Long publicly challenged Du Tiechuan, the entire battlefield fell into silence.
The rout of the Thousand Peaks Forest Coalition Army subtly began to change.
Meanwhile, the Liangzhu Kingdom forces that had been pressing their advantage also slowed their offensive, turning their attention toward the core battlefield.
Du Tiechuan was naturally not inside the Commander’s Residence.
As a cultivator of the military strategist path, he had long since prepared for relocation.
“Hmm?!”
In a dark corner, Du Tiechuan’s eyes flashed with a sharp gleam that pierced through the surrounding darkness.
Grandfather Long’s open challenge stirred anger within him. Yet almost immediately, that anger was replaced by caution and a sense of danger.
“He’s so confident, trying to provoke me into taking action… Could it be that the Dragon Ginseng King is lying in ambush nearby?”
“Earlier, during the great rout, it never made a move. That’s far too strange.”
“Could it be that the Dragon Ginseng King has been preparing for a long time—remaining silent until the moment it strikes with earth-shattering force?!”
Du Tiechuan was extremely familiar with such tactics.
In the first Grand Decisive Battle, the reason he had gained the advantage and forced the Dragon Ginseng King to retreat—thus opening the situation of the entire campaign—was because he had used the military art Iron Flow Across the Plains.
To use that military art, he had also prepared for a long time, investing enormous resources and constructing the Command Platform and other facilities.
Its essence lay in this: once unleashed, its power would be extraordinary.
As long as the Dragon Ginseng King did not appear, Du Tiechuan felt an immense threat.
“Or perhaps… this is merely his Bluffing strategy…”
Du Tiechuan had considered this possibility, but in the end he still did not act. He chose to endure.
The reason was simple—his condition was not good. If the enemy seized the opportunity, the entire situation could collapse.
In a sense, if one never gambles, one never loses a gamble.
“For now, the time has not yet come when I must take action.”
Du Tiechuan slowly closed his eyes and continued hiding in concealment.
A supreme commander of an army, a Soul Formation–level being, faced with the challenge of a Nascent Soul cultivator, chose not to respond at all. This action immediately affected the entire battlefield.
“Du Tiechuan didn’t respond. His condition might be poor—maybe this battle still has hope!”
The Thousand Peaks Forest Coalition Army sensed the subtle change, and their morale rapidly rose.
On the Liangzhu Kingdom side, however, concern began to spread.
In the cultivation world, there were countless examples of powerful individuals deciding the outcome of massive battles. One only needed to open the history books to see them everywhere.
Thus, the strongest individuals often influenced morale the most.
“I won the gamble!”
Grandfather Long exhaled a long breath of turbid air. He knew the movements of the Dragon Ginseng King, so the pressure he bore had been enormous.
Provoking Du Tiechuan had been extremely risky—but now that it succeeded, Du Tiechuan had been temporarily intimidated.
Grandfather Long burst into laughter.
“Hahaha—!”
His laughter echoed across the battlefield, bold and unmatched.
He rushed toward the nearest Nascent Soul cultivator.
The Nascent Soul cultivator from the Liangzhu Kingdom army immediately retreated, his eyes flickering.
Grandfather Long roared, “Face me, coward!”
Divine Art—Dragon King Divine Might!
This Divine Art came from the Dragon Ginseng King. It combined dragon might, divine authority, and even carried a trace of the King’s Mandate.
The more fearful and timid the target, the greater its power.
Grandfather Long focused the Divine Art on a single person, instantly freezing the Nascent Soul cultivator who was attempting to flee.
“Damn it!”
The cultivator was terrified—but the more afraid he became, the more he was restrained by the Dragon King Divine Might.
Grandfather Long charged forward like a ferocious dragon bursting from the sea.
He punched straight through the cultivator’s chest, then tore outward with both hands, ripping the Nascent Soul cultivator’s body in half.
The exposed Nascent Soul screamed in terror but remained bound by the Dragon King Divine Might.
Grandfather Long’s eyes emitted divine light, striking the Nascent Soul and destroying it on the spot.
Having killed one enemy, Grandfather Long did not pause and immediately lunged toward a second Nascent Soul cultivator.
He repeated the same tactic.
The second cultivator’s fighting spirit collapsed, leaving him frozen in midair.
Shuang Ling and the others reacted at once and rushed to help.
Various defensive spells were cast upon the Nascent Soul cultivator. Numerous attack spells and magical treasures flew out to intercept Grandfather Long.
Grandfather Long charged forward violently!
Relying on the Divine Dragon Treasure Body, he forced his way through the overwhelming barrage of attacks, blood spraying as he rushed toward the Nascent Soul cultivator.
With support from the others, the cultivator barely regained some mobility.
“I won’t die!”
He used his full strength and unleashed his trump card, striking fiercely at Grandfather Long.
Grandfather Long extended his large hand calmly.
“Pointless struggle.”
The cultivator’s eyes widened.
In that instant, Grandfather Long’s palm grew larger and larger in his vision, until it seemed capable of covering the heavens and earth.
The massive hand blocked out the sky and all his remaining vitality.
Martial Art—Seize the Will, Take the Head!
Grandfather Long passed by the cultivator.
When he emerged on the other side, a head was already in his hand.
The headless corpse behind him sprayed a fountain of blood and collapsed to the ground.
Bang.
Grandfather Long casually tightened his grip, crushing the head into pieces.
He spread his arms and raised his chest proudly as if embracing the heavens.
“Who else wishes to die?!”
At that moment, he was like a battle flag planted deep in the hearts of all.
Although Thousand Peaks Forest had already suffered a catastrophic defeat, their spirits were now reignited. Many began to counterattack.
“Grandfather Long!!!”
“With Grandfather Long here, we cannot lose!”
“Did you see that? Grandfather Long is still fighting—we can still win!”
Not far away, Lu Hongtu could not conceal his shock.
Reflected in his eyes was Grandfather Long’s towering figure.
“Turning the tide at the brink of collapse… Grandfather Long is doing exactly that!”
The second Grand Decisive Battle between Liangzhu Kingdom and Thousand Peaks Forest had reached this moment.
At this stage, the Thousand Peaks Forest side revealed its advantage.
As the supreme commander, Grandfather Long had stepped forward amid the disastrous rout. Through both intelligence and courage, he revived morale and inspired the army, changing the course of the war through his own strength alone.
In contrast, Du Tiechuan remained hidden, and the substitute military supervisor Zhao Xi had long since been “injured and unconscious,” retreating to the rear.
Someone from Liangzhu Kingdom had to step forward!
Someone had to crush Grandfather Long’s momentum!
“Just a barbarian from the mountains—how dare you run wild!”
A sharp feminine shout rang out as Shuang Ling rose into the sky.
At this critical moment, the Mechanism Princess of Liangzhu Kingdom stepped forward again.
Many mechanical constructs surrounded her, forming a Mechanical Army in the sky. They unleashed countless Mechanism Arts, bombarding Grandfather Long relentlessly.
“Good timing.”
Grandfather Long laughed loudly and charged straight toward her without dodging.
Divine Art—Dragon King Divine Might!
Inside Shuang Ling’s Sea of Consciousness, an umbrella instantly manifested to protect her mind.
Martial Art—Dragon Howl Palm.
Divine Art—Divine Dragon Treasure Body!
Martial Art—Withered Dragon Claw.
Divine Art—Life Force Collapse Surge!
Grandfather Long fought offense with offense, charging forward.
Wherever he passed, expensive mechanical constructs were smashed apart or violently dismantled.
“He can still use Life Force Collapse Surge again?”
The intelligence she had gathered made Shuang Ling very familiar with Grandfather Long’s methods.
This was the third time he had used Life Force Collapse Surge.
After activating it, fine cracks appeared across his bones. His body expanded again like an overinflated balloon nearing its breaking point.
Blood sprayed from his seven orifices, turning his vision into a crimson haze.
Seeing him charge toward her in such a state, Shuang Ling immediately sensed his determination to die and his frenzied battle intent.
“He no longer cares about his life!”
With a sharp cry, Shuang Ling turned and fled.
She was the princess of a nation—there was no need to fight a barbarian to the death.
At this moment, Grandfather Long’s battle strength had nearly reached the Soul Formation level.
Like a blood-soaked mad dragon emerging from the Nine Abyss Devouring Heart, he smashed through the mechanical defenses along his path.
Many Golden Core–level mechanical battle puppets could not even last a single exchange in his hands.
His speed was terrifying.
He crashed into Shuang Ling’s back.
At the moment of life and death, the treasure talisman on Shuang Ling activated, preparing to carry her through the void.
“Where do you think you’re going?!”
Grandfather Long roared, unleashing a Divine Art that froze a portion of space.
Shuang Ling screamed, “No—!”
If she forced the void traversal now, her body would be torn in half.
If she stopped to fight, Grandfather Long would likely smash her to pieces.
Just as the Mechanism Princess’s life hung by a thread—
A sword qi suddenly pierced forward.
The sword qi was extremely restrained, appearing plain and unremarkable. But the moment it struck Grandfather Long’s enormous body, it penetrated deeply.
Grandfather Long’s Divine Dragon Treasure Body possessed tremendous defense, and even the power of his spirit treasure–level shoulder armor was spread across his entire body.
Yet the sword qi pierced through his body as easily as piercing thin paper.
“Du Tiechuan!”
Grandfather Long suddenly turned his head, his eyes flashing with divine light as he roared like thunder.
The combined shock exploded the air ahead, revealing a figure.
Tall and thin, with sharp features and blade-like brows. He wore a silver-threaded hair crown, a gray-blue robe, and silver armor.
It was Du Tiechuan.
Grandfather Long mocked him.
“A dignified Soul Formation–level cultivator attacking a mere Nascent Soul like me with a sneak attack—how laughable!”
Du Tiechuan remained expressionless.
He only covered Grandfather Long with a small portion of his spiritual sense.
“In war, deception is never tiresome. How would a barbarian understand such principles?”
“You’ve run rampant long enough. It ends now.”
With a graceful flick of his wrist, Du Tiechuan swung his sword, releasing streams of green sword qi.
Grandfather Long showed no fear and charged directly toward him.
Du Tiechuan continuously retreated, widening the distance between them.
Grandfather Long’s combat strength was close to Soul Formation—but Du Tiechuan was no ordinary Soul Formation cultivator.
He was one of the Grand Generals of Liangzhu Kingdom, commander of an entire army. Whether it was magical treasures, armor, National Art, or other enhancements, all represented the finest resources of a nation.
Grandfather Long could easily reach Shuang Ling and the others.
But when pursuing Du Tiechuan, he failed again and again as the distance only increased.
Puff. Puff. Puff.
Green sword qi repeatedly struck Grandfather Long’s body.
Within a few breaths, over a hundred new wounds appeared.
Many cut to the bone, causing blood to pour from his body.
Though his vitality was abundant, the sword qi lingering within the wounds prevented his recovery.
Grandfather Long roared repeatedly, using various Martial Arts and Divine Arts.
But Du Tiechuan calmly neutralized them all.
Using his green blade as the core, he skillfully controlled magical treasures, weapons, National Art, and military arts, rendering Grandfather Long’s countless methods ineffective.
Across the vast battlefield, combat slowed again and again.
Almost everyone watched the duel between Du Tiechuan and Grandfather Long.
Du Tiechuan displayed the bearing of a master strategist.
He never fought unprepared battles.
After observing in secret for a long time, he had already grasped all of Grandfather Long’s abilities and devised countermeasures for each.
Grandfather Long’s efforts proved fruitless. His injuries grew increasingly severe.
His blood-red vision now darkened with shadowed clouds, blackness creeping into his sight.
At the same time, a deep exhaustion rose from his bones.
In that instant, Grandfather Long clearly realized:
“So… this is the end.”
At that moment, an old memory surfaced from deep within his heart.
Inside Canglin Immortal City.
A young Grandfather Long knelt on the ground, begging a physician in a medical hall.
“Please… my father is gravely ill. He’s going to die soon. Doctor, please show mercy and save him!”
The physician replied impatiently.
“You want me to leave the city and enter Thousand Peaks Forest for a house call? And you don’t even have spirit stones? Are you joking?”
Grandfather Long quickly shook his head.
“No, I have spirit stones. I do.”
He took out his entire fortune—nearly a hundred spirit stones—and laid them on the ground.
The physician looked down at him.
Seeing the stones, anger appeared on his face as if he had been insulted.
“Poor wretch. Less than a hundred low-grade spirit stones, and you dare invite me for a house call?”
He turned and walked away.
Grandfather Long panicked and instinctively hugged the physician’s leg.
“Sir—please show mercy…”
Bang.
The physician kicked him away.
“Get lost!”
Then he left.
Grandfather Long coughed up blood and fainted.
When he awoke, he had been thrown outside the city. All his spirit stones were gone.
In despair, he returned to Thousand Peaks Forest and back to his tribe.
Seeing his father burning with fever on the sickbed, he cried uncontrollably.
At that moment, a priest from the Dragon King Temple came to his home and told him:
“If you wish to save your father, go to Dragon King Sky-Pillar Mountain and pay respects. If your heart is sincere, the Dragon King will grant you grace.”
The young Grandfather Long then journeyed across mountains and rivers.
Step by step, he kowtowed with every stride.
After seven days and nights, he was about to reach the summit when exhaustion overtook him, and a violent mountain wind blew him off the cliff.
He landed on a protruding cliff wall.
With no way out, he continued kowtowing and praying.
Then a miracle happened.
Vines like serpents intertwined to form a staircase.
The mountain stone cracked open, revealing a strand of ginseng roots that fell free.
Grandfather Long quickly picked up the ginseng root and followed the vine ladder down the mountain.
When he returned home, his father took only a single bite of the root.
The abundant vitality cured his grave illness and saved his life.
That moment changed Grandfather Long’s entire life.
From then on, he became the most devoted follower.
The memory flashed through his mind.
Grandfather Long’s spirit surged again, strength filling his body as if he had returned to his peak.
But he knew clearly—
This was merely a final burst before death.
His vision cleared again, locking firmly onto Du Tiechuan.
“Liangzhu Kingdom?”
“Heh.”
“I was born in Thousand Peaks Forest and raised in Thousand Peaks Forest.”
“I have never received even the slightest kindness or charity from Liangzhu Kingdom.”
“Only my lord, the Dragon Ginseng King, is the true king of Thousand Peaks Forest—the rightful sovereign of us all!”
Martial Art—Self-Created:
Repaying the Dragon King’s Grace with One’s Body