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He actually knew what Tian Heng was planning to do. From the moment the Princess Royale was lured away, he was well aware. The other side wouldn’t be looking to perish together with the Imperial Army; his Western Sea Army alone couldn’t take on the Imperial Army.

What the other side really wanted was to seize this opportunity to control the Imperial Army and kick him and his group out.

The excuse they’d use would probably sound quite legitimate later, claiming the influence of the Demon Buddha Temple had caused him and his men to be bewitched, thereby completely ousting any disobedient generals.

By the time the Princess Royale returned, recovering full control of the military authority would no longer be easy.

Of course, achieving such a step wasn’t simple at all.

First, they would have to force him and his men to surrender.

To make the Imperial Army surrender, there were two ways: one was to defeat them in battle.

This method was the most foolish, as it would cause significant casualties — something Tian Heng’s Western Sea Army couldn’t afford.

The second... was to capture the leader to secure the victory.

At this thought, Lan Shang’s heart grew even colder with disdain.

How confident must this General Tian be in himself?

Or how little does he think of me, the Leader of the Imperial Army?

Climbing to his current position by sheer luck, does he truly believe he’s someone of importance?

Today, Lan Shang would teach him a lesson — that at any moment, one should never... overestimate themselves!

Both men harbored the same intentions, so they quickly clashed head-on.

Neither set up cover, and neither made any effort to evade. From the very beginning, they resolved to rely on a personal duel to swiftly decide the outcome and thereby minimize casualties!

Thus, the long weapons in their hands clashed for the first time.

The overwhelming power of both caused their weapons to produce a terrifying metallic roar upon impact. The shockwave instantly scattered the surrounding dust, forming a sandstorm visible to the naked eye.

Their level of power had already reached the peak below royalty, the pinnacle of physical capability. Under such a clash of forces, gaining the upper hand would depend on the subtlety of their control.

Both men’s current vitality had surpassed the norms of the era.

Their strength had developed too rapidly, leaving their weapons, armor, and even mounts unable to fully match their capabilities.

Against much weaker opponents, this wasn’t a problem, but facing an opponent of equal rank, an explosion of power from either side could overwhelm both their equipment and mounts.

At this point, it became a contest of control. Whoever had better finesse would ensure their weapon and mount held up longer. Especially amidst the chaos of battle, lacking a mount or weapon would make one easily trapped in the military formations.

Boom!

The massive collision sound caused the surrounding soldiers to instinctively rein their horses back, while the chaotic dust storm obscured the vision of the rear troops. However, the accompanying units in closer proximity saw it all clearly.

"Marshal Tian!!"

In almost an instant, the deputy generals and trusted aides following closely shouted in shock, their eyes wide with disbelief and rage!

For they had witnessed Tian Heng’s halberd shattered to pieces by his opponent’s blade, his warhorse blown apart into a mass of blood and flesh in a single instant. Tian Heng himself was sent tumbling to the ground, rolling several times, losing all his former composure and spirit!

It was evident... that Tian Heng had fallen into a disadvantage in this exchange!

This scene left not only Tian Heng’s trusted aides in shock but also Lan Shang’s own aides, who hadn’t anticipated such an outcome.

Lan Shang was a newly-appointed general, and there was no shortage of skepticism toward him from the outside world. Even his deputy generals, who vaguely knew of Lan Shang’s strength, weren’t optimistic when he faced a seasoned powerhouse like Tian Heng.

But who would have thought that in just one exchange, the outcome would be so decisive?

"What’s the matter, General Tian? Still not awake yet?"

Lan Shang looked mockingly at Tian Heng, who had rolled across the ground to widen the gap between them.

His expression was full of ridicule, and he didn’t even bother pursuing his fallen opponent.

He savored the thrill of this moment, as those lofty bloodline elites had always looked down upon the Lan Family.

If it weren’t for the Lan Family’s alliance with the Siao Family, they wouldn’t even have qualified for a nobility title.

In the Capital City, families that earned nobility titles through military service and bloodlines wouldn’t even deign to associate with his Lan Family.

That was one thing, but for a mud-legged family like the Tian Family to be allowed into that circle, while the Lan Family was shut out, that was unbearable!

Even now, despite being exceptionally promoted by the Emperor to the position of Grand Marshal of the Three Armies, there were still countless people who remained unconvinced!

Now, Lan Shang was going to show everyone whether or not he deserved the Grand Marshal’s rank!

Tian Heng slowly stood up, his hands trembling slightly.

His entire body was bruised and bloodied.

He wiped his face with one hand, glancing at the spot where his warhorse had perished.

That bloodline-enhanced Dragon Horse had been developed and improved upon by military academies.

His customized sword had been specifically crafted to withstand 80% of his power without breaking.

And yet, both were destroyed in just one exchange...

Lan Shang absolutely didn’t have access to such resources. The technologies in Jiangnan were far superior to what the Imperial Court had. Lan Shang’s blade was ordinary, and the Dragon Colt under him was an outdated model, yet neither sustained any damage.

This could only mean one thing — Lan Shang was far stronger than him!

Perhaps their raw strength was about equal, but in terms of skill... and experience, Lan Shang was far superior!

During the earlier exchange, Tian Heng had felt it — Lan Shang’s deft and subtle deflections during their collisions were masterful.

Even now, Tian Heng couldn’t fully grasp the nuances.

Those techniques had undoubtedly been refined through countless trials.

For someone under 30 years old, even with the Evil Spirit’s enhancement, such finesse should have been impossible.

It seems the rumors about the Buddha Light awakening past-life abilities were true!!

Meanwhile, Lan Shang grew increasingly elated. He had re-experienced the techniques of his previous life through dream visions. Though he hadn’t fully reclaimed his past-life powers, his current level of experience and skill was leagues ahead of a young upstart like Tian Heng.

Yet, one thing about Tian Heng’s current demeanor annoyed him. Despite losing his mount and weapon, Tian Heng showed no sign of panic.

What was this?

Did he think he could still escape unscathed?

Heh....

Lan Shang let out a cold chuckle. Earlier, he had had an opportunity to kill his opponent, but he had held back, wanting to savor this moment longer. Since the man hadn’t yet accepted reality, he’d just have to make him realize it properly!

With that thought, Lan Shang raised his blade and prepared to strike. But just as he was about to act, Tian Heng, who had risen a moment ago, suddenly spoke: "You just missed your only chance to kill me."

"Oh?" Lan Shang grinned instantly. This guy still hadn’t come to terms with his situation.

At this range, so close, what could he possibly do? Even if a large army were backing him, Lan Shang could easily have his men intercept them. Without a mount or weapon, Tian Heng couldn’t possibly escape now!

"Then let’s see... See if General Tian’s carelessness will cost him dearly..."

"Indeed, I was careless..." Tian Heng wiped the blood off his face once more, and a strange aura began to rise from his body.

"Honestly, it’s a little chilling. I was overconfident earlier. I hadn’t wanted to use this power to take you down, figuring that even if I couldn’t, I’d still be safe enough. I didn’t realize you’d be this strong. It seems I’ll have to be more cautious in the future..."

Lan Shang, who had been about to surge forward, suddenly froze, his pupils contracting.

He could feel it. Tian Heng’s aura had changed. It was an indescribable sensation, as though Tian Heng had become a completely different person. The aura surrounding him even made Lan Shang’s warhorse instinctively halt.

A sense of foreboding from another life surged into his heart.

This guy... something’s off!

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Meanwhile, from their distant vantage point, the Princess Royale and King of Qin both instantly grew serious.

It’s here!!

"It seems it wasn’t an illusion... This power... is..."