"In these circumstances, stepping forward like this, Chu Nangong, is unwise," Daniel Davis said with a faint smile, shaking his head slightly as he stood in a small valley under the starlit night sky.
The Qin army's main forces had advanced to within three kilometers of the Mohist Mechanical City. The final assault could commence the next day. If not for Daniel's insistence that the troops rest and prepare for peak performance, the attack could have started that very day.
Unexpectedly, an ambush had been staged that evening, luring Daniel to this secluded location.
"Do you not realize you're defying heaven itself? Be careful, lest you incur divine punishment," said Chu Nangong, dressed in a flowing white robe, his demeanor now exuding sharpness and strength. Gone was the frailty of a trembling old man; his piercing eyes shone with determination.
"Defying heaven? Divine punishment? Ha!" Daniel burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the valley.
"Defying heaven—what an amusing concept. Chu Nangong, do you even know what 'heaven' truly is? Are you its chosen representative? Have you not heard the saying: 'Heaven and earth are heartless, treating all things as straw dogs'? To heaven, the petty struggles of mortal kingdoms mean nothing. And as for understanding heaven, let me assure you—I know it far better than you ever could."
Daniel had little patience for self-righteous declarations of "heaven's will." If he were truly defying heaven, an entity like the Nine Heavens Goddess would have intervened, not someone like Chu Nangong.
While Chu Nangong may have excelled in astrology, his cultivation paled compared to Daniel's. Though Daniel primarily practiced magic, his understanding of the cosmos surpassed Chu Nangong's by a wide margin.
The concept of "heaven" or world will did not exist in every universe. In the world of The Legend of Qin, mythological figures like the Yellow Emperor, Chiyou, and the Nine Heavens Goddess existed, but their influence was limited. Even the so-called "War of Investiture" differed greatly from its mythical counterparts in other tales.
If this were a world like Investiture of the Gods, Journey to the West, or Primordial Mythos, Daniel would not interfere so directly. However, even in such worlds, while altering grand destinies might be difficult, small changes were still feasible.
For example, in the Marvel universe, Agent Daniel Sousa had originally died during a mission against HYDRA. However, in an alternate timeline created by Coulson's team, Sousa's death was faked, allowing him to survive. Similarly, Daniel preferred caution but wasn't paralyzed by fear of intervention.
He avoided directly targeting pivotal figures like Liu Ji or Xiang Shaoyu—not out of cowardice, but prudence. Why risk unnecessary exposure when local forces could handle them instead?
Thanks to his influence, Qin had achieved unprecedented prosperity. Innovations in agriculture and Gongshu family mechanisms had minimized casualties during the unification wars. The abundance of resources and improved quality of life further secured Qin's stability.
Even if Xiang Shaoyu somehow gained unparalleled strength, such as the ability to summon meteors, Qin's might remained unshakable.
"It seems I've overestimated you, Chu Nangong. Your reputation as Chu's greatest sage once stayed my hand. But now, it appears mercy is wasted." Without waiting for a reply, Daniel summoned the sword Hanguang and unleashed a crescent-shaped wave of sword energy toward Chu Nangong.
Chu Nangong reacted swiftly, his walking stick splitting open to reveal a gleaming blade—a legendary sword of renown, glowing coldly under the moonlight.
A sharp clang echoed as Chu Nangong deflected the attack, but the sheer force of the sword energy sent him flying backward. Though Daniel had not used his full strength, Chu Nangong's failure to match even this blow was evident.
Daniel refrained from pursuing, as sixteen figures emerged from the shadows to encircle him. Judging by the aura of true qi radiating from each, these were no ordinary warriors but top-tier experts, each among the elite of their rank.
"The Eight-Yi Sword Formation... How bold of the Confucian School," Daniel remarked, scanning his surroundings.
The Peasant School's Earth Marsh Formation was famed for its power, capable of fielding formations with up to a thousand participants. Yet few recognized the Confucian School's Eight-Yi Formation as an equally formidable technique.
Often dismissed as a ceremonial display, the Eight-Yi Formation held remarkable similarities to the Earth Marsh Formation, allowing large-scale participation. Unlike the Peasant School's technique, however, the Confucian formation benefited from a unified mental discipline rooted in shared teachings, enabling greater cohesion.
To gather sixteen top-tier experts, the Confucians must have allied across factions. Though they dared not openly rebel against Qin, covert actions carried little risk. Neither Daniel nor Ying Zheng would eradicate the Confucian School entirely.
"Impressive. Sixteen elites think they can best me? My strength far exceeds this level," Daniel said coldly. His face twisted into a faint smile as he unleashed a barrage of slashes.
Blades of energy formed a web in the air, shattering the formation instantly. The sixteen warriors and their weapons exploded into fragments, their combined strength unable to withstand Daniel's assault.
"Did you think my earlier strike was my best? Unfortunately, it wasn't. Some score a perfect grade because they can only achieve perfection; others score perfectly because that's all the test offers."
Daniel's words mirrored a philosophy once expressed by Dracule Mihawk: while some exercised caution by using full strength even against weak opponents, Daniel viewed such restraint as unnecessary given his overwhelming power.
Boom.
As the valley trembled with a series of explosions, Daniel looked up to see massive boulders tumbling from the cliffs above.
"So, this was the real plan," he muttered. "An ambush disguised as a duel—quite clever. Sacrificing elites for the trap. Typical of aristocratic resolve."
The sixteen fighters were not mere cannon fodder but had willingly taken on a suicidal mission for their cause.
"A brilliant strategy. Against anyone else, this might have worked," Daniel admitted. However, his swift dismantling of the formation gave him ample time to react.
"Such a shame," he said, raising his hands as Hanguang disappeared.
A massive golden figure materialized around him—Avalokitesvara with a thousand arms, towering nearly fifty meters tall. Though not as high as the cliffs, its immense size was more than sufficient.
"Let's end this," Daniel said.
The golden avatar raised its many arms and slammed them into the falling boulders and cliffsides. The resulting shockwaves leveled the valley, reducing the surrounding mountains to a flattened expanse.
Nearby, Chu Nangong and two companions stood dumbfounded, watching the spectacle from a safe distance. The massive golden figure obliterated everything in its path, a display of raw, godlike power.
Before they could recover, two of the elders beside Chu Nangong were crushed by the golden hands, their bodies reduced to pulp.
"You... what are you?" Chu Nangong stammered as Daniel approached, the golden figure fading behind him.
"Hand over the Huangshi Heavenly Tome," Daniel demanded.
Despite his defiance, Chu Nangong knew it was over. The odds had been hopeless from the start. Even the Mechanical Azure Dragon would be no match for the golden avatar.
"You'll never get it," Chu Nangong declared, charging forward in a final, desperate assault. The blade in his hand, glowing with true qi, aimed directly for Daniel's chest.
Daniel calmly intercepted the strike with his bare hand, reinforced by Haki. The blade shattered in his grip, and his other hand closed around Chu Nangong's throat.
A quick probe of Chu Nangong's memory using his Full-Hand Technique revealed the tome's whereabouts: it had been entrusted to Jing Tianming.
"Fitting," Daniel muttered. Despite all the changes he had wrought in this timeline, some events remained consistent.
Jing Tianming, with his unbroken family and upbringing alongside Gao Yue, was far more fortunate than his original counterpart. Yet destiny had still placed the Huangshi Heavenly Tome in his hands.
"Is that Chu Nangong?" Xinghun asked, emerging from the shadows. The commotion had been impossible to miss, even from the Qin encampment.
"Handle the aftermath," Daniel said, tossing Chu Nangong's lifeless body to Xinghun. "He was a prominent figure; treat him accordingly."
------------------
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Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]
------------------
Enjoying the story? Support the author and get early access to chapters by joining my Patre@n!
Find me at: patre@n*com/Mutter
You can read each novel for $5 or get them all for just $15.
Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 256)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 336)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 542)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 924)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1284)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1289)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1316)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1402)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld! (Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 660)
[+50 Power Stones = +1 Extra Chapter]
[+5 Reviews = +1 Extra Chapter]