Mythical Three Kingdoms

Zhou Yu dispatched Sun Ce and Zhou Tai to land and travel by land, cutting through the middle of Malacca, while he led the navy ashore, observing from afar the battle between the Kushan Navy and Gan Ning’s pirates. Compared to the low-level naval battles in the Central Plains, this sea battle was truly impressive.

Not to mention the number of participants, which rivaled a large-scale battle, just the tactical skills used by both sides were enough to make Zhou Yu, who was still a bit inexperienced, watch with interest and applaud.

Although he didn’t understand why such a large-scale sea battle was happening here, or why even Lyu Bu was involved, this was not important to Zhou Yu at the moment. He only wanted to take advantage and had no intention of participating in the battle yet.

Not to mention, in Zhou Yu’s view, there was something peculiar about this battle. Additionally, whether it was the pirates or some regular army, their quality was comparable to that of his navy. However, apart from the quality of the navy, things like ships, tactics, and techniques greatly influence the strength of a fleet in naval warfare.

Unfortunately, Zhou Yu’s situation was such that aside from the navy’s quality surpassing both parties, when it came to ships, tactics, and naval techniques, Zhou Yu found himself somewhat lacking compared to these two forces.

Thus, Zhou Yu had no intention of joining the battle; he only wanted to observe both sides from afar and learn some of their skills. This battle opened a new world for Zhou Yu, whether it be the tactics and techniques displayed by the Kushan or by the pirates.

”These tactics are something I’ve never thought of before.” Under Jiangh Qin’s protection, Zhou Yu looked solemnly at the war between the large pirate crew and the navy, finding it increasingly intriguing.

Although his inner terror was still present, Zhou Yu didn’t let it show on his face; instead, he focused even more on the observation and learning the battle’s tactics and techniques. Such opportunities for learning stealthily were rare.

”It’s a pity, the latter part doesn’t seem interesting anymore. The earlier tactics and techniques, however, were quite meaningful as references. We could even develop towards this direction, using cloud qi as the main tactical support method. It’s indeed a good idea.” Zhou Yu watched the navy and pirates engage in battle, and clouds entangled their ships, feeling somewhat unsatisfied.

Compared to such mindless competition of naval quality, Zhou Yu wasn’t interested; he was only intrigued by the skills and tactics previously displayed by the Kushan Navy.

Rather than the current mindless engagement on the ships between the Kushan Navy and that pirate crew, Zhou Yu had no interest whatsoever. Having commanded an army of two hundred thousand, Zhou Yu now looked down on this type of battle, even though the opponent still showed considerable quality in small-scale combat, it was not illuminating for him.

”Ah!” At this moment, Jiangh Qin suddenly exclaimed, intending to have their ship row away, Zhou Yu glanced at Jiangh Qin, ”What is it?”

”I saw Gan Xingba!” Jiangh Qin’s hair stood on end; he was sure he wasn’t mistaken, it was definitely Gan Ning.

Know that Jiangh Qin himself had been a water bandit leader for a long time, possessing a high degree of proficiency in naval battles, hence he had a clear grasp of the level of naval tactics and skills. Simply put, those few tactics and skills used earlier by the pirates, if he encountered them on the Yangtze River, he would undoubtedly perish.

”What did you say!” Zhou Yu was shocked, unable to maintain his composure any longer. If he initially intended to study upon returning, now Zhou Yu felt chills running down his spine. If one of the two sides fighting was Gan Ning, then the Yangtze’s natural barrier meant nothing!

Given the tactics and techniques displayed earlier by the pirates and navy, Zhou Yu felt self-assured that given a few months, he could devise countermeasures or similar tactics. However, Zhou Yu was certain that the opponent had much more than just those few tactics and techniques.

This means that he hasn’t seen yet, even if Zhou Yu were a prodigy, he couldn’t devise countermeasures or similar tactics. After all, these things are accumulated and innovated constantly, and Zhou Yu’s current situation is merely beginner-level.

Even if Zhou Yu had extraordinary talent, what Gan Ning learned in a year Zhou Yu could grasp in one or two months, surpass in three or four months, and innovate a fitting system for the Han Dynasty’s warships in five or six months, but it’s pointless! Who would teach you?

”Gan Xingba, I saw him personally, the pirates are Gan Xingba’s men. I wondered why the paint job looked so familiar and idiotic, that’s Gan Xingba’s Golden Purple Bell; the entire pirate crew is under Gan Xingba!” Jiangh Qin observed Gan Ning’s direction again, firmly confirming the identity as Gan Ning.

Earlier, Jiangh Qin found it odd why the pirate ship’s paint job looked so familiar and strange in style. Now Jiangh Qin finally understood, it was the work of his acquaintance Gan Xingba, no wonder the visual style was so unique.

”Gan Xingba?” Zhou Yu’s originally panicked expression gradually returned to normal as he pondered with a frown.

If this is Chen Xi’s backup plan, then Zhou Yu feels there’s nothing more to say. Liu Bei, you’ve won. But who is the person stubbornly fighting against this backup! Why such persistence? Zhou Yu vaguely senses that he’s found the fundamental reason behind Chen Xi’s way of thinking.

Just as Zhou Yu was contemplating what to do next, an immense pressure suddenly emanated from the southwest direction where Sun Ce and Zhou Tai had rushed to, followed by a blood-red beam of light piercing through the clouds. Zhou Yu’s face immediately tensed.

”Pass my order, follow me to attack Gan Xingba’s opponent!” Zhou Yu took a deep breath. At this moment, there was no time to think; if something happened to Sun Ce, then thinking too much would be pointless.

[Chen Zichuan, Gan Xingba, don’t let me down!] Upon Zhou Yu’s command, Jiangh Qin and others immediately led their warships charging towards Malacca. Zhou Yu hoped his speculation was correct but felt inexplicably lost. If it truly is so, what significance is there in heroes like Yuan Shao competing in Zhuxia?

”Amitabha...” Mahakasyapa’s slow and deep voice gradually faded, and his robe was half-tattered, the deadly wound on his chest illustrating his current condition. As a true Breakthrough Level, he indeed hadn’t expected to die so unexpectedly.

”The Buddha enters Nirvana, Kashyapa becomes the past Buddha, Kashyapa enters Nirvana...” Mahakasyapa sat cross-legged on the ground, slowly closing his eyes. As life slipped away, he was aware he wouldn’t hold on much longer. Just as Mahakasyapa was about to pass away, the Great Freedom, which hadn’t moved all along, transformed into a stream of light and entered his body.

”The past seven Buddhas enter Nirvana, I transform into Mahesvara.” At the instant when his vitality halted, Mahakasyapa naturally became inhabited by Mahesvara. When he reopened his eyes, although he possessed all memories and emotions, he was no longer Mahakasyapa.

The arrival of Sun Ce and Zhou Tai indeed greatly aided Lyu Bu. With the two of them containing four Inner Qi Manifestations, Lyu Bu only had to deal with seven people. Though Lyu Bu was heavily injured now, his opponents didn’t fare much better, and Sun Ce and Zhou Tai had drawn away the four strongest Inner Qi Manifestations, leaving Lyu Bu primarily facing the Breakthrough Level Mahakasyapa.

It must be said that Mahakasyapa was indeed immensely powerful, equivalent in level to the Breakthrough Level Lyu Bu, and unlike someone whose physical condition limited the sustainability of remaining at Breakthrough Level, Mahakasyapa was also consistently at that level of mastery.

If Mahakasyapa disregarded everything and protected Mahesvara by fleeing, given Lyu Bu’s current physical state, he wouldn’t have had much recourse against him. However, if Mahakasyapa fled, this group of Kushan generals would undoubtedly be chopped down by Lyu Bu.

Mahakasyapa did want to protect this group and leave directly, but unfortunately, Lyu Bu was watching him closely, leaving little opportunity. As for the army, initially, the plan had been to send Mahesvara back to the boundary of the Realm of Form, so orders were given that regardless of the situation, unless they returned to lead the army, the army should not proceed.

As a result of this, the group ended up in complete disarray. Although Lyu Bu was severely injured, the Kushan group wasn’t any better off. Initially caught in those plasma strikes, Mahakasyapa had fled early and wasn’t affected, while others who were caught in it sustained significant injuries.

Sun Ce and Zhou Tai could fight against four because the opponents were in poor condition. Otherwise, even for the inherently powerful Kushan Inner Qi Manifestations, contending with three would have been quite a feat.

Lyu Bu’s strength had diminished dramatically, compounded by his injuries, leaving him only slightly superior to Mahakasyapa. Unfortunately, Mahakasyapa had too many to protect, allowing Lyu Bu to seize an opportunity, piercing Mahakasyapa’s heart with his spear.

Such an injury was inherently a fatal wound, and the penetrating Inner Qi crushed Mahakasyapa’s heart entirely. To be able to speak calmly despite such an injury speaks volumes about his tenacious vitality.

Once Mahakasyapa died, the others basically lost the strength to resist. By this point, at a place where there was no way to restore their inner Qi, several severely injured Inner Qi Manifestations from Kushan were left with hardly any Inner Qi.

However, as the already phantom-like Great Freedom’s faith will was about to disappear, it injected into Mahakasyapa’s body, a blood-red radiance blossomed from Mahakasyapa, tearing open Lyu Bu’s setup with a pillar of light that pierced the clouds.

As the barrier obstructing Heaven and Earth Essence shattered, the twelve strands of Power of Heart Spirit Lyu Bu had previously released returned once more. His originally depleted body, with the return of the Power of Heart Spirit, regained seven-tenths of its state when united with Great Freedom. Furthermore, as Heaven and Earth Essence poured in, Lyu Bu’s largely consumed Inner Qi also began to recover at an astonishing speed.