The Struggle of Chaos Chapter Forty-Nine: Boss Deng Zhanxuan

The next day.

“Big brother, we’ll be heading out now.”

“Take care along the way. Tell Xing Tian not to overdo it.”

Watching Yang Ruiyun and Ren Xing Tian depart from North Tong Pass, Li Qiutong and Deng Zhanxuan were ready to begin their own plans.

Led by De Guo, the two arrived at a training ground within the barracks. Soldiers were scattered across the grounds, lounging about. As Li Qiutong walked by, they acted as if they hadn’t seen him at all, seemingly unaware that he was their newly appointed commander. Instead, Deng Zhanxuan’s towering figure drew much of their attention.

“Who’s that monster, over two meters tall? Never seen him before.”

“I heard he’s the new commander’s brother.”

Amid the faint murmurs, Li Qiutong finally reached the center of the training ground. The three of them stood in this prominent spot, drawing eyes.

On a nearby platform, three people watched Li Qiutong.

“General Biluo and General Zhu, are you interested in this man too?” asked a thin man.

Biluo didn’t look at him, only asked coldly, “What’s this, has the lone wolf who’s been hiding in his room for a year or two finally come out?”

The man’s scarred eyes narrowed. “That fellow hurt my brother. I have to see who’s bold enough to do that.”

“Is that so?” Biluo replied coldly, as if it had nothing to do with her.

The lone wolf was already familiar with Biluo’s temperament. He didn’t argue, but instead turned his gaze to the training grounds below.

Li Qiutong stood quietly in the center of the field. No one greeted him, though a few curious glances came his way.

“Third brother, protect that boy,” he said. In the next moment, the white martial essence of Qian gathered around Li Qiutong, and a pure white celestial steed unfurled its wings, appearing above.

Li Qiutong leaped onto the heavenly horse, channeling martial essence into his right fist and swung it downward. The soldiers, who had turned at the sudden appearance of the steed, were immediately swept up by a terrifying shockwave. Whether prone or struggling to stand, all eyes fixed upon the man astride the white horse in the sky.

“Listen up, all of you below. I am your new commander, Li Qiutong, Grand General of the North. Yesterday, I arrived at North Tong Pass. Perhaps you have not seen me before. Today, before you all, I declare: henceforth, everything at North Tong Pass will follow my command.”

Watching Li Qiutong in the sky, the lone wolf said in a deep voice, “He’s rather arrogant. I’d like to know whose wrath he incurred to be sent here.”

“With such high martial essence concentration, he’s earned the right to be arrogant,” Biluo commented.

“Biluo, he claims to be the Grand General of the North. That isn’t someone banished here,” Zhu Yan’er suddenly spoke.

In the hierarchy of Tang’s military ranks, generals were divided into five grades: Grand Marshal, Named General, Senior General, Grand General, and Commanding General. Li Qiutong belonged to the fourth grade. Though only the fourth level, it was already a very high rank. Biluo and the others, while called generals, did not hold true general’s rank, and their official positions were far beneath Li Qiutong’s.

The lone wolf realized something was amiss and nodded. “That’s right. Grand Generals are usually conferred upon those who have performed great deeds. Each Grand General holds significant status and power, never sent to remote posts without reason.”

“Let’s see what he intends to do, then.”

Watching the soldiers discuss amongst themselves, clearly unimpressed, Li Qiutong continued, “I know some of you may not accept me. That’s fine. I’ve heard North Tong Pass is a place where strength speaks. My third brother is down there. If any of you can defeat him, I’ll reward each with a thousand Tong treasury coins.”

The previously noisy grounds fell silent at once.

“Is it a one-on-one, or a group fight?” a bold warrior called out to Li Qiutong.

Li Qiutong signaled Deng Zhanxuan.

Deng Zhanxuan declared with bravado, “All of you—challenge me together.”

There was no denying the power of money. Upon hearing it wasn’t a duel, a swarm of soldiers grabbed their weapons and rushed toward Deng Zhanxuan.

Yet these were mere martial adepts, unable to even breach Deng Zhanxuan’s protective martial essence. He suddenly felt the thrill of a lone warrior against hundreds, the aura of one man holding a pass against a thousand.

Feeling their attacks like mere tickles, Deng Zhanxuan grew bored. He raised his giant axe.

“Quick, everyone scatter, he’s about to strike!” The crowd stopped their assault and retreated, but Deng Zhanxuan’s attack covered a wide area.

“Xuan, Ming, Zhen!”

With a heavy smash, the axe struck the ground, carving a massive crater into the training field. The shockwave radiated outward from Deng Zhanxuan, knocking nearby soldiers off their feet, while those farther away wobbled unsteadily.

Because of Li Qiutong and Yang Ruiyun’s dominance, Deng Zhanxuan had long played a supporting defensive role, causing many to overlook his formidable combat prowess. When Li Qiutong was still a Bagua master and Yang Ruiyun had yet to summon his heroic spirit, Deng Zhanxuan was the strongest fighter of the three, capable of directly withstanding a military formation with external martial essence.

So, for these soldiers, lacking both tactics and coordination, it would take at least ten times their number to have any hope against him.

“Come on, who’s next?” Deng Zhanxuan lifted his giant axe and shouted to the crowd.

The previously confident soldiers, faced with his towering figure, wilted like frost-stricken eggplants, pushing one another backward. These men, long removed from the main battlefield, had no desire to risk their lives.

Li Qiutong asked disappointedly, “Have you all given up? Is there no one at North Tong Pass who can fight?”

“To hell with it, let’s go!” A martial master raised his weapon and charged, and others followed—one, two, three…

Everyone, weapons raised, surged forward, their long-suppressed anger finally boiling over. Deng Zhanxuan, their target, was ready.

Switching from axe to shield, black martial essence formed a turtle-shell barrier around him.

“True Martial Domain!”

When the attackers reached Deng Zhanxuan’s shield, they found it utterly impenetrable. They surrounded the True Martial Domain, striking endlessly, but to no effect.

“This thing won’t open.”

“Keep hitting. I don’t believe he can hold out all day.”

As the soldiers persisted, a swift arrow shot toward Deng Zhanxuan within the domain, piercing his defense. Deng Zhanxuan sensed danger and dodged, his bulky frame barely avoiding the arrow as it grazed his waist and tore his clothing.

The True Martial Domain vanished, revealing Deng Zhanxuan once more. The soldiers prepared to rush him, but a nimble figure landed before them.

It was the archer—Biluo.

“Your attacks are useless against his defense. Fall back.”

Under Biluo’s long-standing authority, the soldiers could only obey, retreating from the field.

Biluo looked up at Li Qiutong. “Is it alright if I challenge him?”

“Of course,” Li Qiutong replied, confident in Deng Zhanxuan’s defenses.

“Then let me show you what true power is.” Biluo stared at Deng Zhanxuan, raising her bow.

“General Zhu, do you think Biluo can win?” asked the lone wolf.

Zhu Yan’er didn’t answer, only watched the figure soaring in the sky.

Finding himself ignored, the lone wolf shrugged and continued watching the fight below.

In a flash, an arrow streaked toward Deng Zhanxuan, its tip enveloped in faint red martial essence. Deng Zhanxuan showed no fear, raising his giant axe to block its path.

With a clang, the arrow bounced away. But Deng Zhanxuan didn’t relax; he knew Biluo was capable of more.

Indeed, the first arrow was merely a distraction. As Deng Zhanxuan blocked it, three more arrows from different directions flew at him.

He had no time to wonder how Biluo was so fast. He swung his axe in a wide circle, slicing all three arrows in half. Just as he paused, a fourth arrow embedded itself in his thigh, only piercing the skin thanks to his protective martial essence.

Deng Zhanxuan pulled out the arrowhead and tossed it aside, then focused on the now-still Biluo.

“That was just testing your defense. Next arrow, be ready,” Biluo said, then moved again.

Arrows came from all directions. Deng Zhanxuan didn’t bother defending—he knew they lacked the force to break through.

Now, his priority was to track Biluo’s movements, lest he become a stationary target.

Black martial essence radiated from Deng Zhanxuan again, this time without a defensive effect. Four arrows hit him, but as he expected, caused little harm.

Biluo, moving swiftly, sensed something amiss as the black essence spread. She tried to retreat, but Deng Zhanxuan’s giant axe blocked her path.

“Black Serpent Strike!”

The massive axe moved with surprising speed, unhindered by its weight. Sensing the lethal blow, Biluo sighed, her form suddenly becoming ethereal.

Deng Zhanxuan failed to notice—his axe halted mid-swing, and Biluo, who should have been behind it, vanished.

Before he could adjust, a swift arrow shot toward him, its speed and penetration far exceeding the previous shots.

Just as it was about to strike Deng Zhanxuan, Li Qiutong descended rapidly, catching the flying arrow.

Seeing Li Qiutong intervene, Zhu Yan’er dropped down in front of Biluo.