Boom!
In the sky, the thick, oppressive clouds gathered even more densely, and the world dimmed considerably.
Suddenly, a clap of thunder rang out, a blinding white streak cutting through the darkness.
Blazing light flashed. The deafening roar echoed, sending a tremor through the heart.
Liu Yuan looked up, watching the lightning serpents slither across the sky, and for a moment, he appeared a little hesitant, even fearful.
"Today, the clouds are heavy, the sky hangs low, and it is gloomy! The waters from all directions converge, the winds surge — thunder can be summoned, and lightning controlled!"
Zhang Jiao looked up at the heavens at a forty-five degree angle, speaking softly.
As he finished, a staff had somehow appeared in his hand without Liu Yuan noticing.
Grasping the shaft, the tip pressing against the ground, Zhang Jiao turned back to look at the dazed Liu Yuan and asked:
"Young friend, by now you could be considered a fellow of my Taiping Dao. Would you like to watch how our sect subdues foes and suppresses demons?"
Hearing this, Liu Yuan was momentarily stunned. He glanced at Zhang Jiao, then nodded.
Vaguely, he seemed to guess what this Taiping Dao master was about to do.
As the leader of Taiping Dao, the commander of the Yellow Turban Army, the awe-inspiring Heavenly Duke General in the game—
How could he possibly allow the Tang army to surround the city without doing anything?
Of course he wouldn't!
The Tang army's siege of Ping City — did Zhang Jiao remain hidden because he couldn't defeat them?
No!
He was biding his time!
Just how powerful was the Yellow Turban Army?
With some knowledge of history, Liu Yuan had gleaned a few things from the records.
During the Three Kingdoms period, war broke out across the land, and the people were in misery.
The Yellow Turban Army rose in response to the people's will, sweeping across the Central Plains with such momentum that they seemed poised to unify the realm and cleanse the world.
If not for man being unable to defy fate—Zhang Jiao, at the height of their power, suddenly fell gravely ill and passed away, leaving the Yellow Turban Army leaderless—
Would the Yellow Turban Rebellion really have failed?
Zhang Jiao, this man — widely renowned in historical records — was naturally a top-tier figure within the game as well!
He raised a hand and placed a palm on Liu Yuan's shoulder.
In the next moment, Liu Yuan felt his body lighten as he rose into the air, standing in midair.
In just the blink of an eye, Zhang Jiao had lifted him by the shoulder and brought him to the top of Ping City's city wall.
Looking out, he saw a mass of black — countless military encampments stretched across the land.
"That is the main camp of the Tang army."
Zhang Jiao gazed at the distant camps and spoke.
Liu Yuan nodded, then looked up at the dark, churning clouds in the sky.
The dark clouds were vast, long since enveloping the Tang army's encampment.
But the Tang soldiers didn't seem to realize what they were about to face.
"Daoist master, are you preparing to cleanse the land?"
Liu Yuan looked at the thunder serpents churning in the sky and muttered under his breath, "Cleanse it with lightning."
"'Cleanse the land'—what an apt phrase. You people from beyond the heavens truly are amusing."
Zhang Jiao chuckled. From the smile on the face of this gaunt Daoist, Liu Yuan unexpectedly sensed a trace of reluctance, even compassion.
Was this… sympathy for the enemy?
He turned back to glance behind him — at the Yellow Turban soldiers holding weapons, at the civilians within the city still laughing and chatting, at Liu Yuan's own conflicted expression.
The final trace of reluctance and compassion on Zhang Jiao's face disappeared, replaced by unrestrained calm.
"Today, I, Jiao, request the heavens to strike down the enemy! If the heavens must punish someone, let them punish me alone — I shall receive it willingly!"
Zhang Jiao raised his head and looked up at the heavens, his voice loud and resolute.
Liu Yuan gazed at the figure before him — this NPC seemed to grow taller, greater.
Suddenly, Liu Yuan felt his cheeks becoming damp.
Mimicking Zhang Jiao, he looked up at the sky, and just at that moment, a sparkling raindrop landed in his eye, splashing into droplets that slid down the corner of his eye.
But at that moment, one could no longer tell whether the water was rain… or tears.
Raindrops poured down in dense sheets, striking the ground — yet not a single drop landed on Zhang Jiao.
All the rain that fell from the sky seemed to automatically swerve around him, while Liu Yuan beside him got drenched like a drowned rat.
Gripping his nine-section staff tightly, Zhang Jiao's expression grew increasingly solemn.
He lifted the staff and stomped it against the bricks of the wall.
"Lightning — come!"
As the words fell, he formed a hand seal, and an invisible wave of energy spread out, merging into the sky above.
In an instant, the entire sky seemed to take on spirit.
In the heavens, the clouds shifted — vaguely forming a blurred image of Zhang Jiao's face.
Suddenly, thunder exploded, descending from the sky like a silver dragon falling from the heavens, striking straight into the Tang army's encampment.
Where the lightning fell — fire erupted!
Screams rang out. The once silent Tang army camp was instantly thrown into chaos.
One strike. Two strikes. Three strikes…
Countless bolts of lightning rained down, striking open spaces, tents, and even soldiers.
A single thunderstorm had fully awakened the entire Tang army camp.
Among the soldiers, thousands of spellcasters emerged at once, forming hand seals and raising a protective barrier of light to block the lightning.
But how could Zhang Jiao's summoned lightning be so easily resisted?
In the blink of an eye, the barrier shattered, and dozens of spellcasters were turned to charred corpses.
The rest, seeing this, were terrified. No longer daring to hold firm, they switched tactics — joining forces to conjure a massive wind spell, hoping to blow away the clouds and disperse the lightning.
But the wind-controlling spell that had always worked for them suddenly failed today.
No matter how they sealed or chanted — not a single breeze responded to their call.
Boom!
A massive bolt of lightning, guided by Zhang Jiao's direction, struck down, targeting the very center of the spellcasters' formation.
If that bolt landed, at least half of them would be dead or gravely injured.
But just as it was about to strike, golden light flared from within the central command tent. A crescent-shaped beam shot out, clashing with the lightning and dispersing it.
Then, a figure stepped through the air, and within just a dozen breaths, crossed the lightning-streaked sky to arrive in front of Ping City — standing in midair, facing Zhang Jiao.
The newcomer wore golden armor, held a golden mace, and had a fair, handsome face — a general.
"General Qin, shouldn't you be in camp organizing your forces to resist this divine calamity? What brings you to this city wall?"
"Could it be… the general intends to breach Ping City alone?"
Zhang Jiao looked at the man and spoke calmly.
"Why I, Shubao, have come—surely the Daoist already knows. With my strength alone, of course I cannot breach the city… but to kill a few key figures? That would not be difficult!"
General Qin?
Shubao?
Holy crap!
Another top-tier general?!
Famous Tang general, founding hero — Qin Qiong, also known as Qin Shubao!
From their conversation, Liu Yuan deduced the general's identity, and his heart was filled with shock.
The game had only been live for two days, and he had already encountered several top-tier generals!
But...
Why was this General Qin looking at him with such a cold gaze?
Wait—was he… planning to kill him?
From Qin Qiong, Liu Yuan clearly felt a fierce killing intent.
Please, no!
I'm just a spectator!
General Qin, aren't you here to kill key figures in Ping City?
Please… go inside!
Other than this old Daoist, all the important people are inside the city!
Why are you staring at me?
Stop staring!
Holy crap!
You're still staring?!
You damn NPC, are you messing with me?!
Gulp—
He swallowed hard. Forcing down his frantic thoughts, Liu Yuan stared straight back at Qin Shubao, expression unwavering.
So what if you stare?
You think I'm scared of your eyeballs, old man?