My Cultivation Starting from Archery

Alongside the large ship were countless small boats, heaped with dry vegetation. Once lit by the Xiqi Soldiers, the boats were left to drift with the current, colliding against the wooden bridge on the surface of the water.

"Quick, move faster!"

"The Luo River is naturally formidable, and bridges difficult to build," they exclaimed, "once the bridge is burned, the Sheng people will be trapped to death on the East Bank!"

Assistant General Meng Dayi urged in a hushed voice, "Quick!"

Aboard the large ship.

A West Qi cultivator rose into the air, flew directly above the bridge, and with hands forming seals, a fireball appeared before him, ready to ignite the bridge first and foremost.

"Buzz—"

But at that moment.

A blade made of congealed frost came spinning and flying towards him.

The West Qi cultivator was startled and hurriedly smashed the fireball towards it.

The two spells collided, cancelling each other out.

A Dasheng cultivator, manipulating his sword mid-air and stroking his beard, said, "Daoist, aren't you leaving yet?"

"Hehe~"

The West Qi cultivator sneered, "Don't rush, I'll leave after my men burn the bridge."

"Really?"

The Dasheng cultivator clicked his tongue, "I'm afraid that's not going to happen~"

"Hm?"

Only then did the West Qi cultivator notice.

On both sides of the bridge.

Many small boats prepared with chains were already in place, not allowing the fiercely burning fire-boats to get close. They secured them firmly and pulled them ashore, making it impossible for them to approach the bridge.

"You were prepared in advance?"

The West Qi cultivator frowned, "Well then, Daoist, let's meet another day!"

Seeing other Dasheng cultivators approaching, he didn't linger for a moment, enhancing various mantras and talismans, and in the blink of an eye, he was a hundred yards away, quickly vanishing out of sight, escaping in a desperate flurry.

"Damn it, you ran off just like that? What about us?!"

West Qi Assistant General Meng Dayi cursed vehemently.

Both sides had Immortal Masters.

But these Immortal Masters, unless absolutely necessary, would not fight to the death, and when in danger, they fled faster than anyone else.

Without the Immortal Masters.

Assistant General Meng Dayi and the Xiqi Soldiers who came to set the fire were naturally slaughtered clean.

...

In the Xiqi Camp.

"Immortal Master! Something bad happened!"

Zhong Wuxin rushed to report, "Last night's plan to burn the bridge was unsuccessful, Chen Sansi was well-prepared, and not one of the Assistant General and more than two hundred brothers we sent came back alive."

"Countermove against every move."

Han Xiang was as calm as still water, slowly picking up several surrounded Go pieces, and murmured to himself, "The White Robes aren't foolish, if petty tricks don't work, that's quite normal."

"What next?"

Zhong Wuxin asked, "The one hundred and twenty thousand strong army has already crossed the river and is about to reach Cloud Top Prefecture, shall we continue the siege?"

"Let's retreat," Han Xiang said, placing another piece, "Before we retreat, let's suffer a minor defeat in two battles. On the way back, discard all the spare armor, weapons, and cooking stoves used for making food, also leave behind some of the wounded, and try everything to lure them to 'Gravel River' about three hundred li away."

"Yes!"

...

In Cloud Top Prefecture.

"Brothers, hold on!"

"The reinforcements will be here soon!"

Atop the city walls.

Teng Le fought valiantly, his armor shattered and body covered in blood.

In the sky.

Qu Yuanxiang was even leading two cultivators in a magic duel with the West Qi cultivators.

A great battle raged from the afternoon well into the deep night.

Only then did the army of the West Qi Kingdom temporarily retreat.

"My talismans!"

Qu Yuanxiang grimaced in anguish.

After flying back from the skies, he grabbed Teng Le by the lapel, "Where are the reinforcements? Are they still coming? If not, your Immortal Grandpa is leaving! Do you know how much the talismans I used tonight are worth in spirit stones?"

"Immortal Master, please calm down..."

Teng Le was dissatisfied but had to rely on him to hold the fort, "If we can take Mang Mountain, won't all this be worth it? Moreover, Chen Dushi and his men will definitely arrive in the next two days!"

"Two days? You guys can fight on your own then!"

Qu Yuanxiang cursed, "If the reinforcements don't arrive by dawn, I'm leaving!"

"Immortal Master, you can't leave!"

Teng Le quickly said, "If you leave, what will become of the fifty thousand brothers in the city?"

"What does that have to do with me!"

"Piss off!"

Until dawn!

The West Qi army began their assault once again.

Qu Yuanxiang really intended to leave.

It was at this very moment.

The Dasheng reinforcements arrived!

A hundred and twenty thousand strong, with the Hongze Camp leading the way, they appeared suddenly above the wilderness outside the city.

"The reinforcements have arrived!"

Overjoyed, Teng Le shouted, "Brothers, open the gates, follow me to slay the enemy!"

"That damn Chen Sansi finally showed up. If he hadn't, I was about to fly over and chop him myself!"

Qu Yuanxiang took a hefty swig of alcohol and, looking at the West Qi Kingdom's army outside the city, said, "A bunch of beasts, wasting so many of my spirit stones, I must take them back at any cost!"

"Charge——"

"No good!"

"The Sheng people's reinforcements are here!"

"..."

"Retreat, retreat!"

"..."

Under the pincer attack of the Cloud Top Prefecture garrison and the reinforcements from the army of supervisors, the West Qi Army retreated in disarray, shedding their helmets and armor, utterly routed.

"Thrilling!"

In the midst of the pursuit.

Qu Yuanxiang killed a cultivator, chuckling as he pocketed the victim's storage bag.

"You're Chen Sansi?!"

Joining with Wang Jun and others, he looked at the person in the white robe and felt a vague sense of recognition, "Not bad, not bad!"

"Report——"

Zhao Kang returned, bloodied but triumphant, and reported, "Commander! The entire West Qi Army has retreated into Gravel River's bounds, should we continue the chase?!"

"Of course we chase!"

Qu Yuanxiang, reeking of alcohol, said, "This, this is what they call, pursue a retreating enemy!"

"Do not chase a poor enemy to the end."

Chen Sansi simply ignored him, commanding, "All troops, back to Cloud Top Prefecture."

"We're really not pursuing them?"

Tong Xiaochu asked tentatively, "Commander, do you suspect there's an ambush ahead?"

"An ambush my foot! You think I don't understand military strategy?!"

Qu Yuanxiang pointed at the ground where the fleeing West Qi Army had left behind their armor and provisions, taunting, "Look, they've even thrown away their pots, they've been running scared from your Immortal Grandpa here. What guts do they have to set an ambush? Chase, chase them down——"