"Nation?" Yue Wenxin's beautiful eyes lit up.
"Precisely! This land, henceforth, will encompass the Great Desert, Jiaozhou, Daliang, the Western Regions, and more, becoming a nation with an unprecedentedly vast territory. The people who live on this land will, in the future, form a single nation, united regardless of their origins, to develop this land and bravely resist all foreign invaders!"
"Perhaps in a thousand or a hundred centuries, this land will experience periods of decline, but the spirit of the Da Qian army will ultimately guide them forward, towards rejuvenation, just as Da Qian today has resolved internal and external threats!"
Yue Wenxin's breathing gradually became rapid, her beautiful eyes fixed on Liang Xiao, her gaze shifting.
So this was his true purpose in striving to kill Achilles?
Not just for the current Da Qian military and civilians, but even considering future generations!
To defeat the Tianri clan's invincible reputation, from the individual to the collective, achieving a complete victory for this era!
Yue Wenxin hesitated for a moment and then timidly asked, "Can I join the Hundred Riders to observe the battle...?"
"You can, but you must not be impulsive. You must be as calm as General Nan."
Yue Wenxin's beautiful eyes brightened, and she couldn't help but hug Liang Xiao's arm.
"Brother-in-law is the best~"
Gazing at Liang Xiao's face, so close before her, Yue Wenxin came back to her senses, her face flushed crimson. She took a few steps back, not daring to speak.
In her momentary joy, she had almost kissed him, a first in her life.
"It must be because the military and civilians call me the Marchioness of Anguo, I'm used to it... It's all your fault, sisters!"
Upon hearing that Liang Xiao had accepted the duel, Achilles was both surprised and delighted.
"It seems General Tian is only closely related to Liang Xiao, that dog." Xiao Chang said with a sigh.
Everyone looked dejected.
One civil, one military, two people?
In their eyes, even if Achilles could defeat General Tian, Liang Xiao would still be in control of Da Qian?
Their feelings were complex, wishing Liang Xiao was General Tian, yet also wishing he wasn't.
The idea that General Tian and the Marquis of Anguo were the same person was difficult for them to accept, even frightening!
"Could it be that General Tian is merely a descendant of the Martial Saint of Da Zhou?" Xiao Che's expression was uncertain.
The Martial Saint of Da Zhou was a true member of the Da Zhou royal family. Their own ancestors, like Su Wencheng and Yan Jun, were merely retainers of the Da Zhou royal family.
The restoration of Da Zhou was merely a slogan they had chosen for their accession to power in Da Qian.
Only Achilles was ecstatic and returned to recuperate.
"Who cares who he is! Without interference from the battlefield, three days from now, I will kill General Tian!"
In the stable, Hong Xiu learned that Liang Xiao was going to duel Achilles for the Sacred Dragon Shadow and felt an inexplicable tension.
This was an unprecedentedly strong opponent!
"If the Sacred Dragon Shadow cannot be subjugated, I will consider killing it on the spot, lest it return to the Tianri clan and become a menace again," Liang Xiao sighed.
"Amitabha..." Hong Xiu contemplated for a moment, then reminded him, "The opponent dares to duel outside the military camp, unafraid of our army's encouragement or boos, indicating a singular focus, having reached the pinnacle of martial arts. We must be vigilant."
Liang Xiao smiled and nodded, mounted his horse with his halberd, and galloped around the stable.
In the past, the Martial Saint of Da Zhou had slain Achilles. The martial arts contest did not conclude then; instead, it left a legacy of a hundred years.
Three days later, the Tianri clan and Da Qian once again ignited a martial dispute south of Yuzhang.
Some of the Yuzhang military and civilians were allowed to ascend the city walls to watch and cheer for General Tian.
The city battlements were crowded, but the common people could only see blurred figures outside the military camp from their elevated position.
The military camps were several miles apart, yet they still felt that they would have a feast for their eyes today.
Under the gaze of countless eyes, Liang Xiao led a hundred riders out of the military camp and gazed into the distance.
Yue Wenxin was already wearing a set of armor and followed behind Liang Xiao with Nan Jiyun and others, her hands still trembling as she held the reins.
They were worried that Liang Xiao would be burdened by too much psychological pressure, affecting his performance, but at this moment, they dared not speak, lest they undermine Liang Xiao's confidence.
In the distance, Achilles waited with a hundred riders, his eyes gleaming as he looked at the figure of General Tian.
Both sides sent out scouts. After approaching, they dismounted to examine the attire of the others, ensuring no hidden bows or arrows, before returning to report.
When both sides drew within a mile of each other, they halted, allowing only Liang Xiao and Achilles to advance to the center of the battlefield.
Nan Jiyun and others watched with rapt attention, focusing on Achilles and the hundred riders behind him.
Gongsun Ye had privately instructed them that if any unexpected incident occurred, such as the enemy resorting to treachery, they were to charge in and rescue Liang Xiao at all costs.
Liang Xiao wore the Spirit Light White Dragon Helmet, the Spirit Light White Dragon Armor, and Cloud-Treading Boots. His hands, protected by Flowing Cloud Bracers, wielded the Heaven Dragon Breaking City Halberd, with a Mortal Sword also prepared on his horse.
Achilles was also fully armored, with specially made bracers and boots. In terms of physique, he was even half a head taller than Liang Xiao.
At this moment, Liang Xiao and Achilles were forty Zhang apart, staring intently at each other, both with fierce eyes and surging killing intent.
Both had a mission to slay the other.
At this moment, their minds were clear, focused solely on this battle.
Their initial encounter had not been satisfying; instead, there had been many constraints, as others were present on the battlefield at the time.
But now, with the hundred riders of both sides more than one hundred and fifty paces away, they had ample time to react to anyone attempting to rescue or interfere.
"Are you a descendant of the Martial Saint of Da Zhou?" Achilles finally could not help but ask loudly.
"Indeed! Let the battle commence!" Liang Xiao responded with finality.
Achilles laughed to the heavens, "Excellent! You and my ancestor have a deep, blood feud. Battle!"
As soon as the words fell, Achilles, as per their agreement, raised the Tianri Divine Blade with one hand.
Liang Xiao likewise raised the Heaven Dragon Breaking City Halberd.
Soldiers on the military camp's arrow towers saw Liang Xiao's action and immediately waved their flags.
A deafening blast of horns and war drums erupted from the military camp, followed by the roars of the soldiers.
"Kill!!"
Two thunderous warhorse neighs erupted from the flat ground. The White Night Flying Shadow and the Sacred Dragon Shadow, under the morning sun, sped like lightning, covering the distance in a single breath. They reached the center, only two Zhang apart, and both attacked simultaneously!
This was to be the first round of charge, passing by each other, the victor capable of unhorsing the loser!
Due to the distance, the Heaven Dragon Breaking City Halberd and the Tianri Divine Blade were swept towards each other at an angle, culminating in the first clash of weapons. Sparks flew, accompanied by a muffled thunderous sound of metal impact, continuous and sustained!
Failing to achieve a victory in the first strike, both immediately shifted the momentum of their weapons and swept them backhand towards each other. The blades carved two crescent arcs in the center of the battlefield, aiming for vital points, and both missed!
In just the first round of passing by, they had each swung three moves at the other, but ultimately, without exception, they had all resulted in weapon clashes.
Nan Jiyun and others watched the battlefield from afar, their hearts pounding.
The momentum generated in just that first round was beyond their capabilities.
After the first round, both sides swapped their initial positions and glanced back at the enemy behind them.
Confirming that no one had run to interfere, both sides let out a furious roar in unison and charged forward, swift as lightning, reaching each other in an instant.
The Tianri Divine Blade deflected the halberd Liang Xiao thrust towards his face, and then it was a backhand slash towards Liang Xiao's neck!