Apocalypse I Have One More Keyword Than Others
Chapter 341 - - Cao Lin in Retrograde Mercury_1
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Two days ago,
the State Preceptor had arrived in Linyang City.
He had been observing Duge in secret, the rally cries occasionally emanating from the military camp caused the veins on his forehead to throb uncontrollably.
At this moment,
the State Preceptor had arranged all the issues of the "Linyang Daily Newspaper" from the past few days in front of him, each paper spread open to the horoscope section.
"The Twelve Zodiac Signs, is it stargazing from another world?" the State Preceptor looked at the newspaper's description of the star signs and shook his head slightly, "The starry sky above our heads is different, with each person born at a different time, how could one simply transplant such horoscope practices here? This kind of astrology is quite laughable.
In this land of gods and demons, I would be a Gemini, full of curiosity and an endless desire to explore everything new, which does indeed match my personality. But the notion of being unprincipled and of weak will is utter nonsense. If my will were not strong, how could I have cultivated to the Grandmaster Realm?
Based on his birth date, Cao Lin would be a Capricorn, stubborn and persistent indeed fits his character. Not being good at communication is about right. Capricorn in retrograde? Interesting, judging by the time, Cao Lin should be arriving too. I want to see how Cao Lin will be in retrograde..."
Suddenly,
the sound of commotion came from the streets. The State Preceptor's ears twitched, and with a flicker, he appeared by the window, only to see the soldiers who had been training in the camp hastily marching towards the city outskirts.
The State Preceptor's brow furrowed: "Abandoning the city defense, Leng Shi intends to have a showdown with Cao Lin outside the city? Why would he play to his weakness and attack the enemy's strength? That's not right, Leng Shi is adept in Water Series Art Techniques, so the battlefield is chosen to be Yang River. He has quite the nerve, but how can he be sure that Cao Lin will head to Yang River?"
...
"Master, Aries has great auspiciousness today, my career will see significant progress, we are sure to win this battle,"
Luo Shuang, riding beside Duge, her face glowing with excitement.
Ever since Duge introduced the theory of star signs, the princess had become deeply engrossed.
Even after Duge had explained the essence of star signs to her.
She firmly believed in it and was eager to study the horoscope in the "Linyang Daily Newspaper" with Huangfu Yue, becoming extremely excited whenever something matched with their horoscope of the day.
She had asked Duge about his star sign several times, but Duge never told her.
Therefore, Luo Shuang naturally deduced Duge's personality and pegged him as a Sagittarius, not for any other reason but because the best match for Aries was Sagittarius.
"Your Highness, my career fortune is also thriving today; we will surely achieve a smooth victory in this battle," Huangfu Yue said, riding a red horse and dressed in red armor, her demeanor valiant and exhilarated like Luo Shuang.
How could they not be thriving?
I wrote the horoscope fortunes myself, just to boost your confidence!
Looking at the two excited women, Duge secretly chuckled.
Ever since discovering the two women's obsession with the horoscope fortunes he created, he had been able to influence them subtly through their daily fortunes.
Moreover,
he wasn't sure whether their obsession with the star signs and being influenced by the skill that moves the whole being were affecting their luck, or if the fortunes he artificially created each day were also a trend.
In the past two days, the ladies had been exceptionally lucky. Not only did they break through realms in their cultivation, but they also found money while walking outside, won continuously in mahjong, and constantly drew the supreme hand in Pai Gow...
It was precisely for this reason that he raised their star sign's fortune to the highest level today.
Of course, Leng Shi's star sign fortune these past few days had been exceptionally good as well.
Besides them, all the other star sign fortunes today were in a retrograde state.
This is not superstition; this is following the trend.
Actually,
Duge could also distinctly feel that his luck had been excellent over the past couple of days.
His activities were similar to before, yet his spiritual power had kept on increasing, rising by eight hundred thousand in just two or three days.
Right now, his spiritual power had reached 280,000, nearly double what it was when he started.
It must be said, the influence of skills was indeed very powerful.
...
Listening to the scout's report, Cao Lin looked at Zhang Yizhi with a gaze full of admiration, "Mr. Zhang, just as you said, Leng Shi has really set up his formation at Yang River. In Linyang City, he might have been able to hold on for a bit longer; the open grounds at Yang River, his ten thousand soldiers fear they won't withstand a single charge from the soldiers under my command. I just don't get how such an old-fashioned man managed to take down Yutang and Wolf Ping in just a few days?"
"General Cao, Leng Shi is not old-fashioned; he's simply fallen for my Divine Skills without realizing it," Zhang Yizhi said while stroking his beard, "In the future, when the Heavenly Demon brings calamity and you conduct military maneuvers, you must think thrice before acting, and be careful not to fall for the Heavenly Demon's Divine Skills. If possible, finding a Heavenly Demon to serve as a strategist would be most prudent."
"I will heed Mr. Zhang's words," Cao Lin said with a bow.
"Now, it's your turn to make a move," Zhang Yizhi said, "The Prime Minister is waiting for Leng Shi's head!"
"Just watch as I slay Leng Shi from within the formation. He thinks that at Yang River, he can better utilize his Water Series Art Techniques," said Cao Lin with a hearty laugh, "Today I'll let him know that in the eyes of a Grandmaster, Art Techniques are but trifles."
"Still, you must be cautious, General," Zhang Yizhi admonished.
"Rest assured, Mr. Zhang, I shall be off," said Cao Lin with another laugh, raising his broadsword and leaping into the air, "My soldiers, wait for me to draw out Leng Shi first, then I'll cut off Yang River with a single slash. Seize the opportunity to strike and slaughter the rebels, capturing Luo Shuang alive. After all this travelling, tonight we shall rest in Linyang City."Having said that,
he stepped into the air and disappeared from everyone’s sight within a few steps.
Watching Cao Lin vanish, the deputy commander stood up assertively, “Issue the order, march at top speed, we must reach Yang River within the time it takes an incense stick to burn.”
…
At this moment,
on the opposite bank of Yang River.
Duge and his troops had long been arrayed in battle formation, waiting in strict readiness.
Duge, Luo Shuang, and Huangfu Yue stood at the very front of the military formation.
Gazing at the rolling river before him, Duge felt an unusual sense of affinity, as if he had returned to the time when he first received the Sea God’s Power and encountered the sea’s familiar embrace.
His spiritual power had doubled, significantly enhancing his control over water.
If before he was only fifty percent confident in facing Cao Lin, now he felt a hundred percent certain.
With his sharp vision, Duge spotted Cao Lin stepping through the sky long before the others did, and he smiled lightly, “Princess, Huangfu Yue, if danger arises later, do everything you can to jump into the water. I will ensure your complete safety.”
Before Luo Shuang and the others could reply,
a voice thunderous as a quake already boomed from above, “Leng Shi, come forth and meet your demise swiftly.”
The once orderly ranks of Duge’s military formation fell into disarray as the horses retreated in fear, instantly disrupting the formation and forcing the soldiers to restrain their mounts.
Such was the terror instilled by a single roar.
The normally spirited warriors blanched at this moment; it was only due to the presence of the three commanders at the front that they didn’t turn and flee!
As soon as the voice was heard, the man appeared!
Cao Lin’s figure halted above Yang River, like a killing deity, his presence soaring into the skies, his long saber pointed directly at Duge’s army, as though ready to strike at any moment.
Duge, seeing Cao Lin, flashed into position above the river surface.
Without any discernible movement from him, a dozen water dragons spiraled up from within the river, rushing towards Cao Lin in the sky.
Duge stood atop the head of one of the water dragons and soared upwards.
“Child’s play.”
Cao Lin snorted with disdain and swung down his saber.
An enormous saber shadow, several hundred meters in size, slashed towards Duge’s water dragon.
Apart from the one under Duge’s feet, the rest of the water dragons shattered upon contact, turning into countless droplets that fell back into the river, only to ascend once again as numerous water arrows, shooting towards Cao Lin.
Meanwhile,
several more water dragons rose from the river surface, carrying an unparalleled might as they coiled towards Cao Lin.
Amidst the water dragons, Duge, having shattered Cao Lin’s saber qi with his sword, charged directly at Cao Lin through the myriad of water droplets, his face was adorned with a calm and composed smile, “Even a Grandmaster is no more than this.”
Constrained by his cultivation technique, Duge couldn’t produce the kind of hundreds of meters long saber qi that Cao Lin could, but the Sea God’s Power and the great geographical advantage of Yang River completely leveled the playing field between him and Cao Lin.
Using the Sea God’s Power to control the flow of water was almost effortless for him, and instead of consuming his energy, it replenished his Divine Soul and nourished his body.
It was only because his spiritual power was too low, and he possessed an incomplete version of the Sea God’s Power, that the volume of water he could manipulate was limited.
Otherwise, if he could stir the entire Yang River, no matter how powerful Cao Lin was, he wouldn’t be able to slash through Duge’s water flow. Now, the only strategy was to try and press Cao Lin into the water for a thorough defeat.
“Fool, I’ve seen fire burn people, wood strike people, metal wound people, earth bury people, but never has water killed a Grandmaster,” Cao Lin, watching Duge drawing ever closer, suddenly abandoned his struggle against the water dragons and slashed down towards Duge’s head with a reverse grip on his saber, “How about I take on this water dragon’s strike head-on?”
The huge saber shadow roared down towards the top of Duge’s head, blocking all his potential escape routes, and the formidable presence emanating from Cao Lin seemed to lock onto Duge, preventing any chance of dodging.
In desperation,
Duge could only lift his sword to block the massive saber shadow thrown by Cao Lin.
Bang!
A thunderous sound rang out.
A tremendous force pressed against his arms, and the water dragon beneath Duge’s feet could not bear the weight and scattered.
Duge then plummeted heavily onto the river surface.
“Master.”
Luo Shuang’s expression changed drastically. She leapt from her horse and was about to rush to Duge’s aid but was promptly held back by Huangfu Yue.
Huangfu Yue, looking at Cao Lin, who was drenched and looking disheveled from the collision with several water dragons, swallowed nervously and hurriedly said, “Princess, don’t go, the Imperial Master has won.”
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