Zhang Chen's tone was flat, but he gave the two a choice between life and death.
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhang Yan slowly stood up: "Lord, can you keep your word?"
"A gentleman's word is as heavy as nine tripods, there is no falsehood!"
"Good! Zhang Yan is willing to die, only to exchange for the Holy Maiden's life!"
"No! A'Yan... you mustn't!" Zhang Ning said, "All sins originated because of me, and they should end with me. A'Yan, your path is still long, there's no need to sacrifice your life for me! Lord, Zhang Ning is willing to die!"
Zhang Yan smiled, gently came to Zhang Ning's side, gazed at her beautiful face, and gently brushed the hair by her ear with one hand, whispering: "Holy Maiden, if you hadn't risked your life to save me that day, I wouldn't be alive now. If it wasn't because I expended my cultivation, how could you have had a mishap while cultivating and gone berserk? I received the dying entrustment from my sworn brother and the Upper Divine Envoy. If I cannot protect you with my life, what face do I have to stand between heaven and earth? Let you see this world on my behalf."
As soon as Zhang Yan finished speaking, he turned his palm into a blade, struck Zhang Ning's neck, and before Zhang Ning could react, she fainted.
Zhang Yan held her in his arms, gently put her down, then stood up, faced Zhang Chen, and placed the blade against his neck.
Seeing this scene, Zhang Chen couldn't help but be slightly moved, and immediately cupped his fist in salute towards him.
"General... farewell..."
Zhang Yan smiled slightly, lightly drew the steel blade in his hand, and a line of blood immediately appeared on his neck. Then, his entire body slumped straight down.
Black Mountain Commander Zhang Yan, thus perished!
Zhang Chen looked at his corpse, and couldn't help but feel a surge of lamentation in his heart.
"Bring Zhang Ning back to the camp and take good care of her. Give General Zhang Yan a generous burial!"
Zhang Chen said indifferently, and the soldiers immediately stepped forward and lifted Zhang Yan's corpse.
Zhang Chen glanced slightly, and several red and golden lights intertwined, reflecting into his eyes.
Zhang Chen silently activated "Hand of Plunder".
【Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully plundering the red entry "Peerless Swordsmanship", gaining 1000 Plunder Points!】
【Ding! Congratulations to the Host for comprehending Zhang Yan's unique swordsmanship "Flying Swallow Swordsmanship"!】
【Ding! Congratulations to the Host for successfully plundering the golden entry "Flying Swallow Soaring Sky", gaining 600 Plunder Points!】
!!!
Flying Swallow Swordsmanship!
Many exquisite and Peerless Swordsmanship moves suddenly appeared in Zhang Chen's mind, as if deeply engraved into his bones.
Unfortunately, the divine weapon he forged back then was a spear, not a saber. Although he dabbled in all eighteen types of martial arts, he still had a special fondness for spear technique!
He also didn't expect that swordsmanship would be the first to reach the red realm!
But how could a General on the battlefield use a spear today and a saber tomorrow? Moreover, it was the enemy General's moves, wouldn't that be too conspicuous?
Forget it, let's just keep it as a trump card for saving my life.
What truly excited Zhang Chen was not the swordsmanship, but the 【Flying Swallow Soaring Sky】 entry.
【Flying Swallow Soaring Sky (Gold)】: You are proficient in the ultimate light body technique, as light as a swallow, scaling walls and rooftops is effortless.
If one were to talk about the foremost master of light body technique in the current era, it would undoubtedly be Zhang Yan. And now, this ultimate light body technique has been obtained by Zhang Chen for free.
This is a skill that can save your life at a critical moment!
Zhang Chen was very happy in his heart.
On the ground, there were also three entries scattered, two gold and one purple, which were 【Upper Divine Envoy (Gold)】, 【Black Mountain Commander (Gold)】, and 【Da Fang Qu Shuai (Purple)】. However, these, it was obvious, were not for him to use directly, but needed to be converted.
Zhang Chen looked at his current Plunder Points, 11200, still needing 3800 points for the System upgrade.
The Plunder Points required for conversion were twice that of plundering. Converting a purple entry required 400 Plunder Points, while a gold one required 1200 Plunder Points.
It was still worth a try!
Plunder!
Zhang Chen gathered the remaining three entries together, and immediately heard the System prompt in his ear.
【Ding! The "Da Fang Qu Shuai" entry cannot be used. Do you want to use the Entry Conversion function? Converting a purple entry requires consuming 400 Plunder Points!】
Convert!
【Ding! The Host used the "Entry Conversion" function, consumed 400 Plunder Points, and obtained the entry "Proficient Spear Technique"!】
Not bad, continue!
【Ding! The "Upper Divine Envoy" entry cannot be used. Do you want to use the Entry Conversion function? Converting a golden entry requires consuming 1200 Plunder Points!】
Convert!
【Ding! The Host used the "Entry Conversion" function, consumed 1200 Plunder Points, and obtained the entry "Purge Evil and Suppress Rebellion"!】
【Purge Evil and Suppress Rebellion (Gold)】: You pacified the Yellow Turban remnants, cleansed the world, astonishing everyone. Any Rebel Army dares not display its might before you! (Fame greatly increased, deterrence against bandit armies increased, territory security greatly increased)
Great! With this, Ji Province will surely be peaceful in the future, with no more internal troubles.
These 1200 Plunder Points were indeed well spent!
【Ding! The "Black Mountain Commander" entry cannot be used. Do you want to use the Entry Conversion function? Converting a golden entry requires consuming 1200 Plunder Points!】
Convert!
【Ding! The Host used the "Entry Conversion" function, consumed 1200 Plunder Points, and obtained the entry "Heavenly Strength"!】
Not bad, although it's not helpful for now, strength-type entries are essential and will still be useful for advancing to red in the future.
"Clear the battlefield, withdraw the troops and return to the city."
Zhang Chen said, and then led the large army back to Longyao.
In this battle, Zhang Chen achieved a great victory. The fifty thousand troops breaking through from the west were routed by Gao Shun's three thousand Trapped Camp. General Pei Yuanshao was beheaded, and Zhou Cang and Xiahou Bo led a few hundred cavalry to escape.
The battle on the south road was fierce. Ju Shou's thirty thousand troops suffered three thousand casualties after repeated battles, annihilating over ten thousand enemy soldiers. Except for Xiahou Lan, not a single person or horse broke through the defense line.
The remaining surrendering soldiers, totaling over forty thousand, were all taken under Zhang Chen's command.
Upon returning to the city, Zhao, King Liu She hurried to pay his respects.
Regarding Situ Ming's rebellion earlier, King Zhao already owed Zhang Chen a huge favor. Now, sending Gao Shun to lead the Trapped Camp to assist was equivalent to saving him again. How could he not be deeply grateful for these two acts of salvation?
King Zhao was in tears, holding Zhang Chen's hand tightly and saying: "Your Excellency is a young hero, the pillar of our Great Han. Your Majesty declares here today that from now on, the troops of my Zhao state will regard Your Excellency's seal as Your Majesty's seal, and Your Excellency's command as Your Majesty's command!"
Zhang Chen was deeply grateful, and immediately bowed, saying: "Your Highness's profound kindness, this subject feels unworthy!"
King Zhao bowed again and withdrew, leading his troops back to Handan, which needs no further mention.
After a while, Liu Yu arrived again. Zhang Chen immediately invited him in and thanked Liu Yu for his assistance in sending troops.
Liu Yu, however, said: "Lord is wise and mighty, using a small scheme to completely eliminate the bandit threat. After today, Ji Province will enjoy twenty years of peace. This is all thanks to Lord's strategy!"
The two exchanged a few pleasantries. Liu Yu bowed and took his leave, leading his troops back to his state. Zhang Chen reluctantly bade him farewell, holding hands as he saw him off.
With the major matters here settled, Zhang Chen immediately ordered the posting of announcements to appease the people.
Considering that the two counties of Yingtao County and Longyao had suffered from the ravages of war and the people were in fear, their taxes were exempted for one year to calm their hearts.