Chapter 258 Ambush
The bright moon is in the sky.

Deep in the East China Sea, a fairy island slowly emerged, like a pearl lost in the sky, bathed in endless silver light.

The moonlight is like a silk thread, gently spreading on the vast blue waves, the sparkling waves, and the outline of the fairy island interweaving into a dreamy picture.

On the island, ancient trees are lush and green, and the moonlight filtering through the branches and leaves is like fine silver sand, sprinkled all over the winding paths. The breeze blows gently, bringing bursts of floral fragrance and the salty aroma of seaweed, which makes people intoxicated. In the forest, fireflies dance, shining with the moonlight, as if little stars have fallen into the mortal world, leading travelers into a dream world of light and shadow.

On the beach, the fine sand is like silver, with a soft luster under the moonlight. The waves gently hit the shore, making a quiet and long hum, as if the sea is telling an ancient and mysterious story.

Occasionally, one or two seagulls fly over the sea, leaving behind a series of crisp chirps, adding a bit of liveliness and vitality to this quiet night.

In the distance, the mountain peaks are tall and steep, and they are even more solemn and mysterious under the moonlight. The top of the mountain is shrouded in clouds and mist, as if there are immortals walking in the clouds, and the looming pavilions and towers add a bit of otherworldly atmosphere.

Occasionally, a melodious sound of piano floats in the wind. It is the fairies playing the piano under the moon. The music is melodious and plaintive, making people feel relaxed and happy, as if they are in a fairyland far away from the hustle and bustle of the world.

Under the shining moon, the entire fairy island looks like an exquisite ink painting. Every scene is poetic and picturesque, intoxicating.

This is the fairyland of Penglai, the residence of saints. Naturally, there is no worldly noise and disturbance, only tranquility and beauty, which makes people yearn for it and linger.

On this moonlit night, Yu Yuan sat astride the majestic Wuyun Camel. The divine beast was emitting a faint spiritual light all over its body. Its four hooves stepped lightly, and amid the clouds and mist, it turned into a dazzling golden cloud, which cut through the sky and rushed as fast as lightning to the legendary Penglai fairyland.

In a flash, the golden light faded, the clouds and mist dissipated, and Yu Yuan and Wuyuntuo had landed steadily on the top of a towering peak in the Penglai fairyland.

This peak towers into the clouds, surrounded by fairy air, with exotic flowers and plants everywhere, colorful butterflies flying, creating an auspicious and peaceful atmosphere.

On the top of the peak, a magnificent Taoist palace comes into view, magnificent and colorful, as if it is the most sacred existence between heaven and earth, exuding endless majesty and solemnity.

In front of the Taoist Palace, there are layers of jade steps leading directly to the palace door. Each step seems to contain endless Taoist rhyme and magic power.

On both sides of the palace gate, there are two majestic statues of mythical beasts, with piercing eyes, guarding this holy land. Above the palace, there are flying eaves, carved beams and painted buildings, and every detail reveals the ingenious craftsmanship and extraordinary artistic conception.

Yu Yuan slowly stepped down from the Wuyun Camel, his eyes full of awe, then he climbed the stairs and quickly stepped into the magnificent Taoist palace.

Yu Yuan walked slowly to the front of the majestic palace, his body shook, he bowed respectfully, and earnestly requested to see his master.

Inside the hall, surrounded by clouds and mist, the Golden Spirit Mother sat on a cloud bed, wearing a luxurious golden robe embroidered with intricate fairy patterns, and every stitch and thread seemed to contain endless magic power. Her face was cold and noble, like the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady descended to the earth, surrounded by a faint divine light, immersed in a deep state of meditation. Her eyes, although closed, seemed to be able to see through all the vanity in the world.

Suddenly, she heard some noise outside the palace. The Golden Spirit Mother slowly opened her eyes, which shone with wisdom and majesty, a kind of profoundness that comes from having experienced many vicissitudes of life and seeing through the world. She gently opened her red lips and called Yu Yuan in. Her voice was filled with an unquestionable power that seemed to be able to penetrate people's hearts.

"Yu Yuan, what disturbed you?" The voice of the Golden Spirit Mother was cold and majestic. She frowned slightly, as if she was surprised by Yu Yuan's arrival.

Yu Yuan's heart tightened when he heard this, but he did not dare to neglect it, and quickly told him in detail what happened at Sishui Pass. His voice was low and heavy, and every word was like a thousand-pound stone, pressing on his heart.

"Master, I was careless and lost the battle at Sishui Pass. I also lost my beloved disciple. It was all my fault."

Upon hearing this, the expression of the Holy Mother of the Golden Spirit suddenly changed, and anger surged in her heart. She stood up suddenly, and the divine light around her body surged. She shouted angrily: "I never thought that the dignified Golden Immortal of the Chan Sect would be such an arrogant and despicable person, daring to attack my grandson! Bullying the weak with the big, defeating the few with the many, this behavior is simply shameless!"

Her voice echoed in the hall, shaking the surrounding clouds and mist.

Seeing this, Yu Yuan secretly rejoiced and nodded in agreement, with a hint of resentment and unwillingness in his eyes.

"Master, what you said is absolutely right. Not only did the villain outnumber us, he also used a magical weapon like the Fan Tian Yin. If I hadn't had some luck, I would have died long ago."

Upon hearing this, the Golden Spirit Mother became even angrier. She clenched her fists, her nails digging deeply into her palms, but she was completely unaware.

"This matter must not be let go! How can the dignity of my Jiejiao be trampled upon by others at will?" Her voice was firm and resolute, as if she had already made some kind of decision.

Yu Yuan looked at his master's angry expression, and a warm feeling surged in his heart. He knew that no matter what happened, his master would support him. At this moment, he seemed to see hope and the dawn of revenge.

……

The first rays of sunlight in the morning quietly penetrated into Chaoge City, covering this ancient and prosperous city with a soft golden veil. On both sides of the street, the wooden doors of the shops creaked, and were pushed open one after another by hardworking merchants to welcome the new day. The air was filled with the faint smell of cooking smoke and the tempting aroma of breakfast stalls, interweaving into a mouth-watering market atmosphere.

In the street market, vendors carry all kinds of goods on their shoulders and hands, and display them. Fresh fruits and vegetables are stacked in colorful colors. In the fish market, fish jump and splash water, attracting people to stop and choose. The vendors shout loudly and bargain with customers. The sound is very lively. Occasionally, one or two chickens crow or dogs bark, adding a bit of reality and vividness to life.

In the teahouse, early risers sat around a table, drinking steaming hot tea, and enjoying the rare tranquility and leisure. Not far away, the storyteller struck the gavel, and legendary stories spread among the crowd as he told them, causing the audience to marvel and sigh.

Children in simple clothes chased and played in the alleys, their laughter adding a touch of pure joy to the city. Women, holding baskets, shuttled through the market, picking out daily necessities for their families, occasionally stopping to chat with acquaintances, their faces filled with warm smiles.

The entire Chaoge city seemed to be given life at this moment, and every corner was filled with the breath of life and vitality. As the sun gradually rose, the hustle and bustle of the morning market would slowly blend into the wider daylight, but the unique charm of Chaoge would linger for a long time, leaving people with endless aftertaste.

Jiang Ziya hurried through the busy streets. The hawking sounds of the shops and the noise of the crowds seemed to have nothing to do with him. He had only one thought in his mind - to get to Yang's house as soon as possible. Without notifying him, the familiar housekeeper had already recognized him and respectfully invited him in. Passing through the winding corridor, Jiang Ziya came to the study and gently opened the door. He saw a picture of mountains and rivers hanging on the wall, which was so magnificent that it seemed to absorb people's minds.

At this moment, a figure slowly walked out of the painting. It was Yang Ling. He was dressed in casual clothes, with a calm face, but his eyes were shining with wisdom. The two looked into each other's eyes, and without saying anything, they understood each other.

"Junior Brother Ziya, why are you in such a hurry?" Yang Ling asked softly, revealing a bit of concern in his tone.

Jiang Ziya looked solemn and said in a deep voice: "It's not good. Sishui Pass has been breached."

Yang Ling frowned when he heard this, and his body shook. "How is the guard?"

"All were killed in the battle, no one escaped." Jiang Ziya's voice was low and heavy, as if every word carried endless sorrow.

A trace of pity flashed across Yang Ling's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure, "Where is the Xiqi army?"

"They are advancing towards Jiepai Pass with great force." Jiang Ziya's words revealed anxiety and tension that were difficult to conceal.

The two were silent for a moment, and the atmosphere in the study suddenly became solemn. Outside the window, a gust of wind blew, and the leaves rustled, as if they were also lamenting the sudden bad news.

Yang Ling took a deep breath and looked at Jiang Ziya firmly, "Junior Brother Ziya, we must not sit still and wait for death. The loss of Sishui Pass is a great loss for us, but as long as we work together, we will be able to defend Jiepai Pass and prevent the Xiqi army from advancing any further."

The two men sat down beside the desk in the study, and their figures looked particularly solemn under the candlelight.

Not long after, Jiang Ziya left Yang Mansion and went to the court to meet King Bigan of Shang.

"Your Majesty, the loss of Sishui Pass is undoubtedly a heavy blow to our defense line." Jiang Ziya's voice was low and powerful, revealing his deep understanding of the current situation. "But more importantly, we must find out as soon as possible what forces are involved to prevent Jiepai Pass from suffering any more accidents."

Bigan nodded, frowning, obviously thinking about the same question, "My dear minister, what you said is absolutely right. Sishui Pass is in a strategic location, and should be a place that is easy to defend but difficult to attack. Why did it fall so quickly? Why did all the defenders die in battle?"

Jiang Ziya sighed and said slowly: "I guess there may be a spy inside, or Xiqi has used some tactics that we are not aware of yet. In either case, we must find out the truth as soon as possible so that we can formulate a countermeasure."

Hearing this, Bigan's eyes flashed with anger. "If there really is a spy inside, I swear to find him out and punish him severely! We must not let our soldiers sacrifice in vain!"

Jiang Ziya consoled him, "Your Majesty, please be patient. The most important thing now is to stabilize the morale of the army and prevent the spread of panic. At the same time, we must also strengthen the defense of Jiepai Pass to ensure that nothing goes wrong."

Bigan took a deep breath, trying to calm his anger and anxiety. "My dear, you are right. Now is not the time to pursue responsibility. We should unite as one and deal with the crisis at hand together."

The two were silent for a moment, each thinking about how to deal with the situation.

Suddenly, Jiang Ziya's eyes lit up, as if he had thought of something, "Your Majesty, I have a plan that may be able to turn the situation around."

Upon hearing this, Bigan immediately cast a concerned look and said, "My dear, please speak quickly."

Jiang Ziya slowly unfolded his strategy, and every detail was carefully considered, taking into account both the current situation and foreseeing possible changes in the future.

After hearing this, a hint of appreciation and admiration flashed in Bigan's eyes. He knew that with Jiang Ziya's strategy, Jiepai Pass might really be able to turn danger into safety.

The two continued to discuss the specific implementation details until late at night, when the candlelight in the study gradually went out.

Jiang Ziya’s strategy was simple, which was to recruit talented people from Bi Gan.

The next morning, when the first rays of morning light penetrated the mist like a thread and gently brushed over the ancient walls of Chaoge, the entire city seemed to be shrouded in a mysterious and solemn golden glow.

Bigan, the King of Shang, is wearing a gorgeous dragon robe, standing in front of the majestic palace. His attendants are holding a golden scroll. On the scroll, three large characters "Recruitment List" written in seal script are shining, as if containing endless power and hope.

As the notice slowly unfolded, a breeze blew by, dispersing the ink on it, turning it into golden light that floated in every corner of Chaoge City.

Wherever the golden light reached, whether in the bustling city or the remote countryside, it stirred up a frenzy. People stopped and looked up at the golden light, their hearts filled with curiosity about the unknown and longing for the future.

As the announcement was released, Chaoge City and its surroundings seemed to be activated by an invisible force. On both sides of the street, people were talking about it, their eyes flashing with curiosity about the unknown and desire for a prosperous era. The news spread quickly across the country, like a spring breeze, stirring up ripples in the hearts of countless talented people.

The heroes rose up like hundreds of rivers converging into the sea. They rode horses, walked, or took boats, crossing thousands of mountains and rivers, just for their loyalty to Dashang and their vision for the future.

Among them are elderly scholars, holding scrolls, walking unsteadily but with a firm gaze; there are young warriors, clad in armor, heroic, with sparks of battle flashing in their eyes; and there are also those legendary mountain spirits and monsters, who either transform into human form or maintain their original form, with a hint of mystery and unruliness, but also with a yearning for the worldly life, and they all set foot on the road to Chaoge.

In Chaoge City, in order to welcome these talents from all over the world, King Bigan of Shang ordered craftsmen to make elaborate arrangements. On both sides of the street, colorful lanterns were hung high, and each one seemed to be a dream, lighting the way forward for the talents.

In front of the palace, high platforms rose from the ground, on which were placed writing brushes, inkstones, and paper, waiting for the talents to show their talents. The King of Shang himself personally sat there every day, smiling and welcoming the heroes from all directions. In Bigan's eyes, there was no distinction between noble and humble, only the consideration of talent and loyalty.

As the days passed, the atmosphere in Chaoge City became more and more intense, as if every inch of land was filled with the collision of wisdom and passion.

King Bigan of Shang not only provided a stage for talented people to display their talents, but also personally set up the "Talent Pavilion", a place for brainstorming and exchanging academic and martial arts.

Whenever night falls, the Yingcai Pavilion is brightly lit, and talented people from all walks of life sit together to debate current affairs, discuss academic matters, or demonstrate martial arts. The scene is warm and harmonious.

Among them, there is a scholar from the far East who brings unique insights into astronomy and geography, and often shares his research results with everyone in the Yingcai Pavilion.

His remarks were often fascinating and refreshing, and he quickly became the focus of everyone's attention.

There were also the two brothers Gao Ming and Gao Jue, who were transformed from the Peach Spirit and the Willow Ghost. They displayed miraculous skills and were appointed generals on the spot by the Shang King Bigan, who invited them to go to the front line to help.

There were also accomplished masters of cultivation such as Deng Zhong and Xin Huan from Taohua Mountain, who were also moved by Bigan's eagerness to seek talents and agreed to work for the Shang Dynasty.

The most powerful among them is Wu Wenhua, a giant about three meters tall. He was born in the North Sea and is gifted with supernatural powers. This time, he was inspired by the recruitment list and came to Chaoge City from afar.

When Bigan saw this extraordinary man, he immediately appointed him as the general and ordered him to lead his personal soldiers to guard Chaoge.

This letter recruiting talents not only reversed the situation of the court's lack of talents, but also earned the court a good reputation for being eager to seek talents.

Bigan was very satisfied with Jiang Ziya's strategy and wanted to appoint him as the imperial teacher.

But that's all in the past. The most urgent task now is to defend the Jiepai Pass on the front line. If we fail to defend the front line and allow the Xiqi army to surround Chaoge, then everything will be in vain.

……

As the morning light began to break and the sky turned pale, the Xiqi army was ready to go.

The horn sounded, shaking the valley, as if it was the most exciting music in the world, awakening the sleeping forest.

The soldiers were wearing armor, holding weapons, and had a determined look on their faces.

The horses neighed, their hooves trampled across the rugged mountain road, raising clouds of dust, but it did not stop them from moving forward. The flags fluttered in the wind, embroidered with the totem of Xiqi, showing endless glory and determination.

The mountain road was steep, but the Xiqi army walked on it as if it were flat ground.

They climbed over steep cliffs and crossed dense jungles, each step they took was made with firm conviction. The generals led the troops and pointed the direction of the team. Their figures looked particularly tall in the morning light, as if they were gods of war descending to earth, leading this fearless army.

As the army marched, the birds and beasts in the mountains took flight in fright, as if they were making way for this heroic army.

Finally, when the afterglow of the setting sun filled the earth, the Xiqi army arrived at the Jiepai Pass.

The terrain in front of the pass was difficult to defend, but the army showed no fear. They quickly formed a battle line and prepared for the upcoming battle. The generals shouted loudly to boost morale, and the soldiers responded in unison, shaking the sky.

At Jiepai Pass, the Xiqi army was on high alert and full of momentum.

The afterglow of the setting sun made their armors gleam with gold, as if each soldier was covered with the glory of a god of war. The horses trotted their hooves restlessly, as if they were also eager for the upcoming battle.

The defenders of the pass were terrified when they saw this, but they had to bite the bullet and fight back as their duty required. However, facing the mighty force of the Xiqi army, their defense line seemed so fragile that it seemed like it would be breached at any time.

Huang Feihu had already made an agreement with Xu Gai, the commander of Jiepai Pass, that as soon as the army arrived, the city gate would be opened immediately to help him capture Jiepai Pass.

Therefore, after the 50,000 soldiers of the Vanguard Camp resisted outside the Jiepai Pass, Huang Feihu only heard a heavy friction sound of "creaking", and saw that the tall city gate of the Jiepai Pass was slowly opened.

Huang Feihu knew that this was a rare opportunity, so he ordered an attack on the city without saying a word.

With an order, the Xiqi army rushed towards Jiepai Pass like a tide.

The generals brandished their weapons and led the way, charging in the front. They were brave and fearless, as if they knew no fatigue, and only knew to charge forward and fight for the glory of Xiqi.

However, when the Xiqi soldiers rushed to the vicinity of the city gate, the huge city gate was quickly closed, leaving the Xiqi soldiers instantly exposed to the bows and arrows of countless Shang defenders.

The defenders who had been hiding in the dark quickly occupied advantageous positions on the city wall. Rows of archers stood upright, holding longbows tightly in their hands, with firm and cold eyes, aiming at the surging Xiqi army below.

Following the order, the soldiers defending the city bent their bows and drew their arrows at the same time. The bowstrings were stretched taut, making a low "buzzing" sound, as if it was the deepest call from nature.

In an instant, arrows rained down like dark clouds, shooting densely at the Xiqi soldiers who were attacking the city.

The Xiqi army's offensive instantly encountered unprecedented resistance. The warriors who rushed to the front were instantly pierced by arrows. Some fell in a pool of blood, while others wailed in pain. The scene was horrible. Their shields and armor seemed so fragile under the dense rain of arrows that they could not withstand the fatal blow from the city wall.

The siege ladders became the concentrated target of arrows.

Many Xiqi soldiers who were trying hard to climb were killed by ruthless arrows at the moment when they were about to touch the city wall. Their bodies fell from the ladders like kites with broken strings, and hit the ground, stirring up clouds of dust.

The offensive of the Xiqi army was severely hampered, their formation began to become chaotic, and their morale was greatly hit. Those originally brave and fearless warriors could not help but show fear when facing such a dense rain of arrows.

However, even in such a difficult situation, there were still some brave warriors in the Xiqi army. They gritted their teeth, endured the rain of arrows, and continued to charge towards the city wall.

The soldiers followed closely behind, shouting, waving their weapons, and engaging in a fierce battle with the defenders.

Amid the flashing of swords and the flying of blood and flesh, the battle was extremely brutal.

The Xiqi army became more and more courageous as the battle went on, and their morale seemed never to be exhausted.

Night was falling, but the flames of battle lit up the entire sky, dispelling the darkness.

The soldiers fought bravely on the battlefield, their figures appeared and disappeared in the firelight, as if they were gods of war walking out of hell.

Huang Feihu originally wanted to retreat when he saw the situation was not good, but when he saw how hard his soldiers were working, he simply gave the order to actually start the siege.

The sounds of weapons clashing, horses neighing, and soldiers shouting intertwined together to form a tragic battle symphony.

Generals stepped forward one after another, brandishing their weapons, leading the charge, and engaging in a desperate fight with the enemy. Their armor was stained with blood, but their eyes were more determined, as if they had forgotten life and death, and only knew to fight for the glory of Xiqi.

The soldiers followed closely behind, some holding spears, some brandishing swords, engaging in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy. Their figures shuttled across the battlefield like lightning, trying to tear the enemy apart.

Suddenly, a deafening roar of beasts suddenly sounded from the top of the city, breaking the noise of the battlefield.

The soldiers looked up and saw an extremely powerful black unicorn appearing on the city wall. On its back sat an old man in a black robe with a stern face - Wen Zhong, a well-known minister of the Shang Dynasty.

The appearance of Wen Zhong seemed to inject infinite strength into the defenders. He held a heavy steel whip in his hand, his eyes firm, as if he could see through everything.

He shouted loudly, and his voice penetrated every corner of the battlefield, inspiring the defenders to hold their positions and never retreat.

"Soldiers, follow me to defend the city and defend Jiepai Pass to the death!" Wen Zhong's words were like a horn, awakening the fighting spirit of the defenders.

Under his leadership, the defenders cheered up, gripped their weapons tightly, stood upright, and prepared for the coming battle.

Seeing this, the Xiqi army was not willing to be outdone. They shouted, waved their weapons, and launched a fierce attack on the city wall.

However, under the command of Wen Zhong, the defenders cooperated well and defended tightly. They used the height of the city wall and the cover of the arrow tower to launch a powerful counterattack against the enemy.

The battle entered a fierce stage, with both sides fighting back and forth. However, under the heroic leadership of Wen Zhong, the defenders always maintained a firm belief and tenacious fighting spirit. They repelled the enemy's attacks time and time again and guarded the safety of the city.

As the battle continued, the defenders paid a heavy price. Although they successfully resisted the repeated attacks of the Xiqi army with the towering and solid city walls and Wen Zhong's heroic command, the fierce offensive of the enemy still brought them tremendous pressure.

On the city wall, the figures of soldiers defending the city gradually became sparse.

Many of them had fallen in a pool of blood, some were pierced by arrows, some were stabbed by enemy spears, and others died heroically in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy.

Their armor was stained with blood and dirt, their faces were filled with pain and exhaustion, but their eyes remained firm.

Those soldiers who were still holding their posts were also seriously injured. Their arms, legs, and even faces were covered with traces of battle. Their breathing became rapid, their movements became slow, but their fighting spirit was not diminished at all.

Finally, in a decisive counterattack, Li Jing and others who had been waiting for a long time led an army that had been well-rested and gathered its strength, rushed out of the city gate, and launched a charge towards the Xiqi army.

Wen Zhong also led the way, leaping down from the city wall on his black unicorn. His steel whip was invincible and no one could stop him.

Under his leadership, the defenders were in high spirits and fought bravely. In the end, they successfully repelled the enemy and killed more than 30,000 enemies!
When the battle ended and the smoke cleared, Wen Zhong was still standing on the top of the city wall, his figure looking particularly tall in the afterglow of the setting sun.

This ambush took advantage of the friendship between Xu Gai and Huang Feihu to lure Huang Feihu into a trap, which resulted in a miraculous success. The most elite vanguard battalion of the Xiqi army was almost completely destroyed, which can be said to be a very fruitful result.

(End of this chapter)