Chapter 17: Joining Forces Against Zhang Baiqi
The notification sounded beside his ear. Xiao Wen looked at the corpses scattered across the ground before him. The fingers gripping the Spirit-Plundering Blade loosened, then tightened once more.
Zhang Baiqi!
This Yellow Turban general was finally about to appear.
A formidable enemy!
The thought flashed through his mind.
Xiao Wen silently brought up Ma Chao’s status panel.
After consecutive battles and campaigns, Ma Chao had reached Level 15, and his attributes had increased significantly.
General: Ma Chao
Gender: Male
Grade: Legendary Famous General (Fifth Tier)
Level: 15
Talent Attributes: 110/50 (Initial 50 + 10 + 50 [Levels 10–20, gains 10 points per level])
Weapon: Profound Heaven Sky-Piercing Spear
Mount: Claw Yellow Flying Lightning
Hidden Talent: Combination Attack Skill (Activated)
After looking at Ma Chao’s attributes, Xiao Wen checked his own status.
In terms of level, he and Ma Chao were exactly the same.
However, regarding talent attribute points, he only had 70 points (Note: 10 + 10 + 50), leaving a considerable gap between himself and Ma Chao.
This was the difference between a Legendary Famous General and an Ordinary General.
Just as Xiao Wen finished checking the panel, a warning suddenly rose within him.
Ahead, a series of heavy hoofbeats echoed.
Soon afterward, Zhang Baiqi appeared, clad in white armor and carrying a silver spear as he slowly advanced forward.
Behind him followed nearly a thousand Yellow Turban soldiers.
The moment this force appeared, Xiao Wen and the troops under his command immediately felt a suffocating pressure descend upon them.
He threw out an inspection skill.
Zhang Baiqi’s information immediately appeared before both Xiao Wen and Ma Chao.
General: Zhang Baiqi
Gender: Male
Grade: Great General of an Era (Fourth Tier)
Level: 20 (Severely Wounded · False Level)
Status: Severely Wounded
Talent Attributes: 142/40 (Fourth-tier generals begin with 20–40 talent attributes, with 40 being the maximum)
Weapon: Silver Python Spear
Mount: White Cloud Horse
Skills: ???
Zhang Baiqi’s information appeared before Xiao Wen.
After examining the attributes, Xiao Wen’s expression remained calm.
“You insignificant insects dare block this general’s path? You dare kill my subordinates? You are courting death!”
The moment Zhang Baiqi appeared, he immediately let out a furious roar.
Then he pointed his silver spear forward, clearly preparing to command the Yellow Turban troops behind him to launch a group assault.
Seeing this, Xiao Wen raised an eyebrow.
How could he not know what this fellow intended to do?
He immediately stepped forward and shouted:
“I have long heard of the mighty reputation of Yellow Turban General Zhang Baiqi. Today, having the fortune to meet you, how could I not seek your guidance?”
“Please grant us instruction, General. Two against one—a duel before the armies!”
The moment these words left Xiao Wen’s mouth, it was equivalent to activating a hidden mode—the secret code for a pre-battle general duel.
Without this code, the next thing he would face would not be Zhang Baiqi alone, but the nearly one thousand Yellow Turban troops behind him.
If all those soldiers attacked together, Xiao Wen did not believe he had a guaranteed chance of completing the mission.
As soon as the words were spoken, Zhang Baiqi fell into thought and examined Xiao Wen and Ma Chao several times.
Then his gaze settled on Ma Chao.
It remained there for more than ten seconds before finally withdrawing.
“What excellent potential for a general! A duel, you say? Very well!”
“Let this general see what skills you mountain folk possess! If you manage to catch this general’s eye, perhaps I may even recruit you into the Yellow Turban Army and secure positions for you!”
Zhang Baiqi spoke.
Even after withdrawing his gaze from Ma Chao, traces of admiration remained in his eyes.
“Good!”
Xiao Wen’s eyes brightened as he immediately agreed.
As for joining the Yellow Turbans?
Sorry, that had never crossed his mind.
Although in the game, the Yellow Turban Rebellion was not guaranteed to end in failure...
Xiao Wen clearly remembered from his previous life that the Yellow Turbans were eventually destroyed, and players who had joined them were forced to spend tremendous resources changing factions.
But that was a matter for later.
There was no need to discuss it now.
At this moment, as Xiao Wen accepted the challenge, Ma Chao beside him became visibly energized and rode forward until he stood at Xiao Wen’s side.
The two stood shoulder to shoulder as they faced Zhang Baiqi.
While confronting him, Xiao Wen secretly sent orders to the soldiers behind him, telling them to find opportunities to withdraw and scatter.
This was a battle between generals.
Ordinary soldiers could contribute very little here.
Especially now, after countless battles, these troops were already exhausted.
Leaving early was the wiser choice.
The two stood before Zhang Baiqi.
Then they heard Ma Chao suddenly roar:
“Kill!”
He pulled on the reins.
His spear angled downward.
Lowering his body, he leaned over the horse’s back.
Beneath him, Claw Yellow Flying Lightning charged forward at full speed.
Borrowing the momentum of the charge, he thrust his spear straight at Zhang Baiqi.
Zhang Baiqi’s expression became solemn.
Looking at Ma Chao’s spear and the magnificent horse beneath him, he praised:
“What a spear! What a horse!”
After that exclamation, his Silver Python Spear moved.
With a single upward sweep, it struck the Profound Heaven Sky-Piercing Spear directly.
A tremendous force surged along the spear shaft and into Ma Chao’s body.
Ma Chao’s expression immediately changed.
His palms became numb.
Even the hands gripping the spear shaft trembled slightly.
Blocked. HP -1.
Blocked. HP -49.
The loss of forty-nine HP naturally floated above Ma Chao’s head.
The opponent before him was truly powerful.
However, only a moment later, Ma Chao suppressed the turbulence within his blood and energy.
Then he pointed his spear forward once more and continued attacking without the slightest intention of stopping.
The two clashed repeatedly.
Shockwaves erupted in every direction.
For a time, it seemed as though there was no place for Xiao Wen in the battle at all.
Holding the Spirit-Plundering Blade, Xiao Wen stood nearby.
His gaze fixed on Zhang Baiqi’s warhorse.
A certain idea began to form in his mind.
Carrying the blade, he slowly advanced.
His footsteps constantly shifted as he adjusted his direction, searching for Zhang Baiqi’s blind spot.
Boom!
After another fierce exchange between Zhang Baiqi and Ma Chao, Xiao Wen immediately spotted an opportunity.
A sharp light flashed through his eyes.
Without the slightest hesitation, the Spirit-Plundering Blade slashed out instantly toward the White Cloud Horse’s rear leg.
The moment Xiao Wen launched his attack, Zhang Baiqi, despite having his back turned toward him, seemed to sense everything.
Facing Ma Chao’s incoming strike, he suddenly pulled the reins upward and to the side.
Neigh!
A loud cry echoed.
The White Cloud Horse immediately raised both front legs, standing upright like a human.
At the perfect moment, it avoided Ma Chao’s attack.
At the same time, Zhang Baiqi’s spear swept backward.
Bang!
The spear smashed directly against Xiao Wen’s Spirit-Plundering Blade.
The impact sent both Xiao Wen and his weapon flying backward several meters.
Blocked. HP -99.
The red damage number floated above his head.
Xiao Wen’s expression remained unchanged.
He paid no attention to it.
Instead, he glanced at the progress bar of his self-created skill, which was steadily filling.
Then he tightened his grip on the Spirit-Plundering Blade and charged forward once again.
Ma Chao also grew increasingly fierce as the battle continued.
Fearless and valiant, every movement of his spear caused his battle intent to surge higher and higher.
Soon, it reached its peak.
Triggered! Combination Attack Skill!
Chaos Across the Eight Directions!
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