Above the east city gate of Luonan, the sound of war drums echoed in the air. Clad in armor, the Imperial Guard raised their drumsticks and fiercely struck the war drums, the deep sound reverberating across the battlefield.

Outside the city walls, the horns signaling the Chen Army's charge for the siege blared continuously. Standard bearers from various camps, wielding colorful flags, orchestrated the assault below with precision.

Wu Yanqing, dressed in the same armor as the regular Xianzhen Guard soldiers, rode a warhorse and commanded from the central forces.

At that moment, the rear army cleared a path. Chen Mo, donned in Bright Armor, rode a white Snow Dragon Steed approaching from the direction of the north gate, followed closely by Xia Zhining, Nalan Yiren, and a thousand personal soldiers.

Upon reaching Wu Yanqing, Chen Mo gazed at the Chen Army soldiers, their morale high as they attacked the city, and asked, "General Wu, where is Lu Sheng?"

"Below the city tower," Wu Yanqing pointed to the east gate's wall.

The Chen Army's central forces were over a thousand paces away from the wall, and it drizzled, with the weather gray and hazy.

But as an Upper-Grade Martial Artist, Chen Mo could see fairly clearly, particularly eye-catching was a red number on the wall.

3989+99.

Chen Mo immediately raised an eyebrow.

This power value clearly signified a Second Grade Divine Transformation Realm.

Moreover, the "+99" indicated a high level of martial arts mastery.

Chen Mo picked up the Thousand-Mile Mirror and carefully observed.

Lu Sheng was not in armor but instead wore simple everyday clothes, his hands adorned with golden wrist guards, a jade-embedded belt, brocade fabric bandaging his legs, exuding luxury, wielding a Heaven-piercing Halberd over a meter long, like a War God slicing through Chen Army soldiers scaling the wall.

Lu Sheng's face was handsome; despite killing so many people, not a drop of blood stained his visage.

Chen Mo lowered the Thousand-Mile Mirror, his brows furrowed, and said to Wu Yanqing, "Strange."

"What is it?" Wu Yanqing questioned in confusion, "Now that Lu Sheng has appeared, our siege plan seems effective. What's strange?"

"Very odd, since Lu Sheng appeared at the east gate, he's clearly defending the city. But then why send so many to guard Jushan Pass and not dispatch a proper commander?"

To be honest, looking at Jushan Pass's deployment earlier, Chen Mo speculated these people were merely stalling, covering for Lu Sheng to help the Emperor escape Luonan.

Yet now, it seems his guess was wrong.

But precisely because of this, he found it more peculiar.

If their aim was defense, concentrating forces would be better.

Why separate the forces?

Certainly, Chen Mo found it strange, but he wasn't the worm in Lu Sheng's belly, unable to grasp Lu Sheng's true intentions.

However, they clearly couldn't sit by and watch Lu Sheng continue his slaughter.

Chen Mo took the strong bow from his back and rode forward.

Upon entering the Sun-Shooting Arrow's range.

Chen Mo pulled the bowstring, aiming at Lu Sheng atop the east gate wall.

Nalan Yiren shifted her gaze and then rode forward, staring intently from behind Chen Mo.

Stories of Chen Mo at Song Family Slope in Huai State, single-handedly using one arrow to kill Upper-Grade Martial Artists Luo Qingyang and Gongsun Yan, and toppling the Song Family Patriarch Liang Mu, had been circulating among the Chen Army during this period.

Hearsay is unreliable, seeing is believing.

Though she heard about it, Nalan Yiren was still somewhat skeptical.

After all, they were all Third-Grade Martial Artists.

Not to say they fought evenly, but at least a short skirmish seemed feasible.

One arrow killing, seemed too "hasty."

The power disparity must be immense.

Hmm, Chen Mo hadn't disclosed his true strength to Nalan Yiren, hence she assumed Chen Mo was reputed as Third-Grade.

Of course, even if Chen Mo had said so, Nalan Yiren wouldn't dare believe.

A twenty-three-year-old Divine Transformation Realm Martial Artist?

Is this human? More like a monster.

"Snap..."

The bowstring was fully drawn, emitting slight crackling sounds. As Chen Mo's strength increased, the strong bow gifted by Wu Yanqing seemed unsuitable for him.

Chen Mo knew the force was ample; pulling further might cause the bow to snap. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Chen Mo released his fingers, and the fully drawn arrow shot forward, producing a crisp bursting sound. Along its path, examining closely, the pea-sized raindrops shattered, swept by the arrow's aura towards the wall.

Lu Sheng, a Divine Transformation Realm Martial Artist, naturally vigilant, sensed danger the instant the bursting sound arose, his eyes darted towards the sound's origin.

The arrow was too swift; upon noticing it, evasion became impossible.

He quickly raised his Heaven-piercing Halberd, concentrated Innate Spiritual Qi around, miraculously capturing the incoming arrow tip with the halberd, swinging it to his side, deflecting the Mountain-Opening Power-condensed arrow straight into the air.

Yet the arrow's power was remarkable, even with masterful use of Transforming Force to dissipate strength, the immense power still threw him sideways, causing his halberd to slip from his grasp.

Just as he steadied himself, reaching to retrieve the halberd fallen on the ground, he sensed something amiss, looking up to find the arrow he sent skyward suddenly turning back towards him.

Lu Sheng was taken aback. Though capable of shooting arrows that bend, this was not mere deviation; this was pursuit.