Chapter Thirty: The General's Three Arrows Strike Terror into the Barbarians

Amidst the chaos of the melee, the duel between Xue Rengui and Wanyan Jindanzi was a spectacle of extraordinary intensity, rivaling any other clash on the battlefield.

"Ding! Xue Rengui’s 'White Tiger' skill effect two activates for the third time. Martial prowess +3. Xue Rengui’s current martial prowess rises to 121."

"Ding! Wanyan Jindanzi’s 'Furious Hammer' skill effect two activates for the third time. Martial prowess +3. Wanyan Jindanzi’s current martial prowess rises to 122."

Both warriors possessed an identical base martial prowess of 105 and were equipped with legendary weapons and steeds. Even with the two-point boost Wanyan Jindanzi gained from his brotherhood attribute, he only managed to suppress Xue Rengui slightly, a margin that proved inconsequential to the overall flow of the battle.

Xue Rengui wielded his painted halberd with both hands, unleashing a strike that seemed to split Mount Hua, aiming directly at his opponent. Wanyan Jindanzi, however, held his twin hammers horizontally before his face, creating an impenetrable defense that rendered Xue Rengui’s powerful assault futile.

Following this, Xue Rengui unleashed a flurry of strikes—cleaving, sweeping, hooking, and thrusting—yet none could crack Wanyan Jindanzi’s defenses. Even when Wanyan Jindanzi struggled to keep pace with the technical finesse of his opponent, he relied on his sheer physical advantage to counterattack. As he swung his hammers toward Xue Rengui’s head, the latter was forced to abandon his offensive stance, holding his halberd horizontally to deflect the incoming blows.

"Ding! Xue Rengui’s 'Valiant' skill activates. Martial prowess +5. Current martial prowess rises to 126."

Seeing Xue Rengui’s aura surge once more, Wanyan Jindanzi did not back down and unleashed his full potential.

"Ding! Wanyan Jindanzi’s 'Brave Warrior' skill activates. Martial prowess +6. Current martial prowess rises to 128."

Only now had both warriors truly erupted with their full power. Ultimately, thanks to his brotherhood attribute, Wanyan Jindanzi’s martial prowess surpassed Xue Rengui’s by two points. As time wore on, Wanyan Jindanzi began to gain the upper hand. If the initial exchange had been an equal struggle of attack and defense, the advantage had now shifted to a sixty-forty split, a gap that Wanyan Jindanzi steadily widened.

Despite being forced onto the defensive, Xue Rengui remained unfazed, clearly holding a trump card in reserve.

As their weapons collided once more, the recoil forced both men to retreat several paces. Taking this opportunity, Xue Rengui cast a quick glance at the battlefield, noting that the Han army had fallen into a clear disadvantage. After all, only twenty thousand cavalry had sallied forth, and their ability to fight this long was already a remarkable feat.

Estimating that Zhang Liao should be nearing the completion of his objective, Xue Rengui decided it was time to retreat; otherwise, the lives of these twenty thousand men might be forfeit.

Instead of charging back into the fray as before, Xue Rengui turned his mount and fled in the opposite direction.

Wanyan Jindanzi could not allow his foe to escape. In his eyes, while Xue Rengui’s martial prowess had proven slightly inferior, the gap was marginal. He assumed that Xue Rengui’s desperate flight was a sign of exhaustion. If he did not seize this chance to eliminate a man who would surely become a grave threat to the Xiongnu, he would live to regret it. Without a moment’s hesitation, Wanyan Jindanzi gave chase.

Seeing his opponent take the bait, Xue Rengui felt a surge of triumph. Silently, he holstered his halberd, gripped his Heaven-Shaking Bow, and calculated the distance before letting fly an arrow at Wanyan Jindanzi.

"Ding! Xue Rengui’s 'Three Arrows' skill activates.
Effect one: First arrow +6, second arrow +6, third arrow +6. After the third, the fourth maintains the second arrow's power. The third arrow requires a degree of charging.
Effect two: Bonus +1 to martial prowess when using 'Cloud-Piercing Arrows'.
Effect three: Reduces the martial prowess of hidden weapon users by 1–4 points.
Note: 'Three Arrows' cannot be used simultaneously with 'White Tiger'.
Xue Rengui’s 'Three Arrows' effect one activates: first arrow, +6. Valiant +5, Stepping Snow Steed +1, Heaven-Shaking Bow +1. Base 105, current martial prowess 118."

On the walls of Yanmen Pass, Li Xiang was stunned. He had suspected Xue Rengui possessed an archery skill, but he had not anticipated such terrifying power.

Although it could not be used with 'White Tiger', the first effect could grant a total boost of 18 points by the third shot—surpassing even the 'God of War' skill. This meant Xue Rengui could reach a peak of 130 martial prowess. If he were to command an army in the future, combined with the Eight Messengers' synergy and his 'Cloud-Piercing Arrows', he could theoretically reach 132, a level that even elite divine generals would struggle to attain.

Even the third effect, while seeming minor, was a perfect counter to the rare but deadly users of hidden weapons.

Facing the lightning-fast arrow, Wanyan Jindanzi—having sparred with Xue Rengui for so long—did not underestimate the threat. Focusing his senses, he swung his hammer and swatted the incoming projectile aside.

Yet, before he could catch his breath, he saw Xue Rengui draw another arrow. Wanyan Jindanzi braced himself.

"Ding! Xue Rengui’s 'Three Arrows' effect one activates: second arrow, +6. Current martial prowess rises to 124."

"Ding! Xue Rengui’s 'Three Arrows' effect one activates: third arrow, +6. Current martial prowess rises to 130."

The second arrow was even swifter and more fierce than the first. While 124 was not enough to fell a warrior of 128, it was enough to cause trouble. As expected, Wanyan Jindanzi deflected it, but a deeper sense of dread washed over him. A third arrow was already in the air, and it was too late to raise his hammer.

The arrow, imbued with 130 points of force, struck Wanyan Jindanzi. But he was a warrior of legendary caliber. In that critical heartbeat, he discarded the hammer in his left hand and, with a desperate, one-in-a-million chance, gripped the shaft of the arrow, preventing it from piercing his heart.

Cold sweat drenched Wanyan Jindanzi. He had been a hair’s breadth from death.

Clutching his remaining hammer, he glared at Xue Rengui, his tiger-like eyes filled with caution. Despite his severe injury, he dared not flee; turning his back on a master archer would be an act of madness, especially when that archer had just nearly ended his life in open combat.