I Can See Your Combat Power

: Chapter Five Hundred and Seventy-Eight: Vow Before Deployment

Although the surprise attack on Red Cloud Mountain by the Supreme Elder Mi Yang failed, everyone felt it was only because the timely support of Sect Head Tang Sen was simply too overpowering. Even the defensive line formed by Mi Hai could only hold them off briefly.

When the Mi Clan’s Supreme Elder returned to Beast Valley in South Ridge soon after, seeming rather downcast, everyone interpreted it as his disappointment for not being able to avenge his great-grandson.

However, only Mi Yang knew the extent of his loss from the battle at Red Cloud Mountain.

Even though he had transformed into a tree demon, he was still a human martial artist, a grandmaster of nine formidable types of boxing arts. His supreme close combat abilities all belong to his hands. But now…

The blood of the Divine Wood could allow him to grow six arms on three heads. Even if his organs were smashed, as long as he anchored his roots into the earth and absorbed sunlight, he could heal. Nevertheless, no matter how many identical arms he grew, that familiar feeling etched into his bones was forever lost.

Apart from an extra pair of arms, the deluge of Wood Elemental Spiritual Energy had also been greatly depleted, which weakened the power of his Godly Willow manifestation, hence why he was suppressed by Tang Sen at first encounter.

In truth, Mi Yang had anticipated this, but pride from a century’s worth of legend prevented him from admitting it directly to his clan, as he didn’t know how to begin the conversation.

So, he volunteered for the attack on Xiling. In his heart, he held a tiny ambition: that perhaps the impact of this new pair of arms wasn’t that significant, and even if he had fallen from Xiling’s pinnacle, he wouldn’t be kicked off the mountain’s peak.

Possibly, Tang Sen’s ability to suppress him last time was merely an advantage gained from a sneak attack and the initiative, coupled with the surge of immense anger that allowed him to perform beyond his capabilities.

People always harbor some hope of luck; even the mighty Mi Yang was no exception. Therefore, he was eager for a fair rematch with Tang Sen, to openly and clearly see his true level.

However, the result was a disastrous defeat.

In front of the Martial Ancestor of his clan and the allied army, the legends of Xiling from the past century were utterly demolished.

Was there resentment in his heart? Of course, there was. But Mi Yang knew that he couldn’t blame anyone else. Perhaps after a decade or two, he could adapt to the new arms as he did the old ones and regain the lost Wood Elemental Spiritual Energy to return to his peak. But for now, he had indeed fallen from the rankings of Xiling’s strongest. And he had to inform Sect Head Mi Hai about this.

So he did not hide anything, laying bare his transformations and losses without any deceit, as if he was telling someone else’s story.

A story about an old fool who lost everything due to carelessness.

This might have been the most shocking day in Mi Hai’s last decade or so. The usually stoic First Head of the Martial Hall now had dilated pupils, and his mouth agape with disbelief.

Upon hearing that the Supreme Elder was fooled by a fifteen-year-old boy, the first sensation he felt was not anger or regret, but fear.

The Mi Clan must win, and Tang Luo must die.

“Supreme Elder, since there’s a problem with your arms, I will take over the encounters with Tang Sen from now on. You can focus on attacking the other Martial Ancestors of the Tang Clan with your Godly Willow manifestation,” Sect Head Mi Hai had already decided to accelerate the pace of the allied forces, and the first objective was to seize control of Xiling.

And the second step was to assassinate Tang Luo at all costs.

Upon leaving the room of the Supreme Elder, Mi Hai hurried to a quiet chamber in the base without any delay to write a secret letter to be sent back to the clan.

There was a dangerous yet pleasing glint in Mi Hai’s eyes. Someone had already infiltrated the North Mountain. All they needed was an opportunity, and they could snuff out this extraordinary genius in his cradle.

No matter how dazzling the talent, once truncated, they are gone. That’s fate!

…

North Mountain, Cloud Valley, Within the Martial Hall

When a lady sang about warriors and battles in a surprisingly heroic manner, this strange contrast was even more capable of stirring up the ambition of martial artists.

Tang Yi, the Commander of the Divine Martial Army, stood up holding his wine bowl after listening to the good wishes from Master Zhao. His dominating aura attracted everyone’s attention. Even Zhao Lingyan, who was about to perform, was rooted to the spot, curiosity in her eyes.

He thundered to the crowd: “The wind rages, the snow swirls, the Spirit Arts whistle through the air, lethal techniques descend from the sky. Calling my brothers of our clan, the battlefield awaits us!”

The masculine and bold declaration made them feel like they were on the battlefield of Xiling, surrounded by the howls of Spirit Arts and joint attacks. It made them wish to put on their Spiritual Armors and charge into battle at this very moment.

More than a dozen Martial Ancestors stood up holding their wine bowls. The moment Tang Yi gave the order, they would be eager to rush to the battlefield with high spirits.

“For the brothers!” Seeing these old mates standing up, Tang Yi, the Divine Martial Army Commander, drained his bowl of strong wine. With a “crack”, the drained bowl was smashed by him.

Seeing the heroic act of Tang Yi smashing his wine bowl, the Martial Ancestors did the same, drinking up the strong wine in their bowls and then smashing them.

Tang Yi, the Commander, smiled broadly. He grabbed another bowl of strong wine from the table and bellowed again: “Wearing their armor, we confront the world stoically, who is the master at taking lives? Calling my clan brothers, fight with me!”

“We are here!” Several more Martial Ancestors stood up holding their bowls of wine and drained it together with Tang Yi.NôvelDrama.Org holds this content.

After a series of bowl-crashing sounds, everyone looked at each other and burst into hearty laughter.

Tang Yi then lifted his third bowl of wine: “A single sword breaks the courage of a thousand soldiers, the enemy’s blood dances enchantingly, what sin is it to lay hundreds dead? My clan brothers, let’s drink when we return triumphant!”

With the rise of the Clan Head Tang Zu, everyone present at the banquet got up and shouted at Tang Yi: “Commander, may your military fortunes flourish!”

“To victory!” Tang Yi drained three bowls of strong wine, and with every drink followed the declaration of determination, this confirmed the romantic atmosphere of the grand feast. Even with a beauty like Zhao Lingyan standing on stage, everyone’s eyes were concentrated on the main table.

This was where the real elite of the Tang Clan, the backbone of the current generation of the Tang Family were sitting. Clan Head Tang Zu, Divine Martial Army Commander Tang Yi, Elder Tang Hongtao of the Secret Arts Pavilion, Third Elder Tang Zhenghao and… and…

People then noticed that there seemed to be two cheeky kids seated at the main table.

They recognized the boy as the second son of Sect Head Tang Sen, but the girl was a mystery. Wasn’t Sect Head’s eldest daughter only six years old this year?

The trembling hands of the young boy holding a wine bowl was obvious. This was his first time attending such a grand event and being placed on the main table, his brain was blank till now.

He was not the only one, Tang Zhen felt the same. The pair, who arrived early and waited for the banquet to start, were stunned when the Clan Head sat down.

They were supposed to enjoy the music and dance under the moonlight. How did they end up sitting at the same table with a group of big shots? Even Tang Xing, bold as he was, wouldn’t dare to be presumptuous in front of Clan Head.

So from the start of the feast till now, both of them had been behaving in the most socially acceptable manner. It was only when they stood up with their wine bowls now, that everyone noticed them.