Chapter461: Sean versus Lord North
Wham!
Lord North’s tone was as calm as water, but under the vigorous Bright Energy, his voice thundered like a celestial roar through the vast night sky, reaching tens of thousands of soldiers from the North Kingdom and the Shirine Empire. Instantly, it caused a great stir among the crowd!
“Oh?”
Sean couldn’t help but feel a slight tremor in his heart, his pupils slightly contracting. He vaguely understood Lord North’s meaning but still asked, “What do you mean by this, Master?”
“It’s quite simple,” Lord North explained. “A duel between the two of us. One of us dies, and victory is decided.”
“A battle between two armies,” he continued, “a situation where both sides suffer heavy losses is unavoidable.”
“And a war between two nations,” he added, “results in widespread suffering and countless innocent casualties. The innocent should not bear such calamity.”Belongs to © n0velDrama.Org.
“Therefore,” Lord North continued, “if you are willing, on behalf of the North Kingdom, and you, representing the Shirine Empire, we engage in a one-on-one battle. Victory or defeat will be determined within a hundred moves, deciding life and death.”
“If you defeat me, you may kill one of us.”
“If I defeat you, I will also only take one life.”
“Regardless of the outcome, from this day forward, the fires of war between our nations will be extinguished, no longer encroaching upon each other. Previous grievances will be wiped clean.”
“I wonder…” Lord North turned to General Wolf. “What are your thoughts on this?”
As Lord North explained his intentions clearly, word by word, it struck all of the soldiers and officers from both armies present, leaving them shocked and filled with deep respect and admiration for Lord North.
So that’s it! This solution actually solves both the immediate standoff between the armies and the long-standing border conflicts between the two nations. A single battle to decide life and death, a single battle to end the unrest.
Sean was equally moved. In terms of national power, the North Kingdom far surpassed the Shirine Empire. However, in terms of the number of Bright Realm cultivators, the Shirine Empire exceeded the North Kingdom. Continuing the conflict would only lead to mutual destruction.
Moreover, tonight’s battle was crucial. If Sean could defeat Lord North, it would signify that his strength surpassed that of Albert Sitwell, the ruler of the North Kingdom. Conversely, if Lord North defeated Sean, it would enable a decisive victory over the Shirine Empire.
To avoid such extreme outcomes, Lord North proposed to extinguish the flames of war, considering this battle as the final conflict between the two nations. After this battle, neither side could continue to encroach upon the other. This was a solution beneficial to both parties.
“The Master’s concern for the world is truly admirable. For the sake of reducing unnecessary casualties among the soldiers and securing peace for both nations, I agree to the Master’s proposal,” Sean declared.
“However,” after a moment of contemplation, he redirected the conversation, asking, “Can the Master’s intent represent the will of the North Kingdom’s ruler?”
Indeed! Despite the prevailing belief that wherever Lord North went, it was as if the emperor himself had arrived, Lord North was still just Lord North. Considering the gravity of the matter, he had not discussed this with Albert Sitwell beforehand. What if Albert Sitwell reneged on the agreement later?
After this battle, Sean’s next objective was to seize the Phoenix Gall from Hall of Jade and rescue Cecilia. He could not always safeguard the safety of the Shirine Empire. Therefore, he, more than anyone, hoped for a swift cessation of hostilities between the two nations and an early stabilization.
“It can,” Lord North nodded.
Still, Sean was not entirely at ease. He gestured, “I don’t mind waiting a little longer to allow the Master and the Emperor of Hua to communicate in advance.”
In essence, this was a huge matter. Instead of boasting and taking full control, he was giving Lord North time to seek approval.
“No need,” Lord North shook his head, firmly stating, “Nearly a million soldiers from both armies are witnesses. It’s there for all to see! A gentleman’s word, once given, is unchangeable.”
“If…” he continued, “you fall in battle tonight, and the North Kingdom violates this promise in the future, attacking the Shirine Empire, I will atone for this with my death, accompanying you on the road to the underworld!”
After this statement, Lord North remained composed, yet in his words, there was an indomitable and enchanting quality, leaving no room for doubt.
It seemed… that whatever Lord North spoke was the truth!
“Very well,” Sean hesitated for a moment and then nodded. “I’ll trust you this once.”
This was the first time Sean had encountered Lord North. Truth be told, he had only known of Lord North’s strength but not to what extent. To defeat Lord North within a hundred moves seemed beyond his confidence, but he was confident that he wouldn’t be defeated by Lord North within that time.
“Then,” Lord North said, “let’s begin!”
Then! He waved his hand and signaled to the three elders of the Buddha Academy and the gathered soldiers of the North Kingdom below, “All of you, retreat, five miles away! Five miles! That’s two thousand five hundred meters! The life-and-death duel between two Bright Realm cultivators is extraordinary. The destructive power and lethality will be enormous. Even those beneath the Bright Realm might not withstand the aftermath of the battle. Once affected, the consequences are unthinkable!”
“Understood!”
“Elders, be careful!” The three elders of the Buddha Academy exchanged glances. Since Lord North had made a decision, they naturally dared not oppose it and could only obey his command.
“You too, retreat!” Sean also gestured to Spring and the others below. “If I am defeated and unfortunate to fall, Spring, you will take over the Hall of Swords and the White Army. The fate of the Shirine Empire will be in your hands. Remember, protecting the home and the country is an unshirkable responsibility of the Hall of Swords and the White Army!”
“Furthermore!”
“Go back and tell Aunt Sandals to rescue Cecilia using the first method…”
The Phoenix Gall is in the hands of the Hall of Jade, and the owner of the Hall of Jade is likely a super cultivator of the Three Realms of Bright Realm. If Sean were to tragically perish, everything would fall apart. Relying solely on Aunt Sandals and the members of the Hall of Swords and the White Army would definitely not match the strength of the Hall of Jade! As for Cecilia… without Sean’s protection, perhaps being an ordinary, carefree person might be the best outcome for her!
“General!”
“Sir!” Members of the Hall of Swords and the White Army looked anxious. From Sean’s words, they naturally understood that he didn’t have full confidence in facing Lord North. Thus, even though they currently had the upper hand, they didn’t entirely agree with Sean taking on all the risks for the long-term stability of the Shirine Empire and facing Lord North alone.
However! Just as they were about to speak up, they saw Sean’s stern expression and heard him say in a deep voice, “What, you bunch of idiots, do you look down on your general and sir?”
“Rest assured!”
“It’s just an old monster who’s lived for over a hundred years. I have a sense of proportion!” With just these words, he silenced everyone.
Soon after, both armies withdrew, leaving a vast battlefield of about five miles for Sean and Lord North!
There was one exception-Spring! She did not leave the battlefield with the others. The reason was simple. Unlike the rest, although she was new to the Bright Realm, she was a genuine Bright Realm cultivator. Even though there was a significant gap between her and Sean and Lord North, at least, the aftermath of their battle wouldn’t harm her! Moreover, she had a plan in mind… just in case! She feared the worst!
In any case, Sean could only win, not lose! He could only live, not die!
How cunning was Lord North? Naturally, he saw through Spring’s intentions at a glance. However, he pretended not to notice and instead focused his gaze on Sean, smiling as he said, “I have been in seclusion for a long time, and only Brother Hua within North Kingdom can spar with me. However, this sparring is not a matter of life and death, and it’s difficult to achieve the effect of identifying and addressing weaknesses. Tonight’s battle, I hope General Wolf’s extraordinary talent won’t disappoint me too much…”
What the heck? From Lord North’s words, he wanted to use this battle of life and death to test the results of his seclusion and cultivation? To identify and address weaknesses, to improve his own strength???
In other words, he was using Sean as a whetstone???
Damn it! This made Sean very unhappy, and his face darkened. Therefore, Sean snorted, “I also hope that the esteemed Master can live up to his reputation, endure a few more rounds. So that after I defeat you, people won’t think I don’t respect my elders and bully a nearly hundred-year-old man like you!!!”
Boom! As soon as the words fell, Sean hesitated no more. The vigorous Bright Energy within him suddenly exploded. A fierce intent to fight surged, and a strong wind rose around his body. In an instant, he seemed to undergo a profound transformation, exuding an overwhelming killing intent!
Swoosh! In the next moment, accompanied by a piercing sound, Sean turned into a ghostly figure, like a shell leaving a barrel, charging directly toward Lord North, who was suspended two hundred meters away!
“Take this punch!!!” Just as he charged halfway, a thunderous roar rang out, and Sean threw a punch, sending a huge illusory shadow of a fist smashing fiercely towardLord North.