Chapter 371: Dragon Combat Plan
Translator: Sparrow Translations Editor: Sparrow Translations
Nangong Hao's statement was directed at Fang Zhengzhi.
However, when this statement rang out, Wu Feng, Chen Feiyu and the other candidates were visibly more shocked than Fang Zhengzhi.
"Nangong Hao came out alone?"
"What is he trying to do?"
All of the candidates looked at each other in disbelief.
When they saw Nangong Hao walk out from the Icy Monkey Settlement, they thought that they were hallucinating. This was quite unfathomable
Is Nangong Hao stupid?
Of course not. So, what is he trying to do?
Is he going to take on 10,000 men at once?
There were more than 40,000 soldiers behind Fang Zhengzhi. Yan Xiu had another 6000. Their combined strength was almost 50,000.
How was Nangong Hao going to defeat them all alone.
No one could understand what was going on. As for Fang Zhengzhi, he did not think about it at all.
"Actually, we have yet to be acquainted." Fang Zhengzhi smirked, then turned to look at one of his deputies. "Are you familiar with him?"
"Ah?" The deputy was slightly taken aback. He looked at Fang Zhengzhi, then back at Nangong Hao, unsure of what to reply.
However, he grit his teeth when he remembered which side he was on.
"Nope!"
"It is said that there is no better way to be acquainted than to have a friendly duel. Since we are not familiar with each other, let's launch a few arrows to increase the familiarity." Fang Zhengzhi nodded satisfactorily.
"Launch a few arrows?" The deputy was stunned.
What kind of reason was this?
He could not follow Fang Zhengzhi's train of thought. That being said, he still registered the order, albeit in a rather confused manner.
What the hell?
Was the fight about to break out?
They did not even prepare. More importantly, Nangong Hao had come out from the Icy Monkey Settlement alone. Was Fang Zhengzhi not curious as to what Nangong Hao's motives were?
He did not really understand.
But he still obeyed the order!
"Archers, ready!"
"Fire!"
His voice rang out in the air and hundreds of white feathered arrows were launched skyward. They flew towards Nangong Hao.
This scene stunned all of the deputies as well as the surrounding candidates.
Who would do such a thing? This was blatant bullying! Nangong Hao had greeted Fang Zhengzhi. Yet, Fang Zhengzhi started a fight with a single statement.
Who fought that way?
Furthermore, his opponent was Nangong Hao!
Was Fang Zhengzhi not afraid?
...
Was Fang Zhengzhi terrified?
Naturally not.
He did not even bother explaining his ideas and thoughts to those around him. His actions were not easily understood by those around him.
He had two other reasons for doing this. Firstly, he did not believe that Nangong Hao was alone.
Fang Zhengzhi had tens of thousands of soldiers!
If Nangong Hao did not realize that, firing a few arrows would allow him to realize it.
That was the first reason. His second motive was to agitate Nangong Hao.
Fang Zhengzhi was too lazy to guess what Nangong Hao's motives were. He planned to agitate Nangong Hao into revealing his intentions.
"Ding ding ding..."
The arrows sailed through the sky and embedded themselves deep into the ground when they landed.
Nangong Hao did not move during this entire exchange.
He stood quietly and looked at Fang Zhengzhi. A faint white mist surrounded his body.
When the arrows hit the white mist, their flight paths changed, almost as if they were pushed to the side by an invisible force...
In fact... it looked like they were slipping off the mist.
"Is the Nangong Family's Dragon Combat Plan based on the ice element?" Fang Zhengzhi thought to himself bitterly.
When he had met Nangong Mu, others had told him that the two greatest arts of the Nangong Family were the Dragon Combat Plan and the Green and Blue Secret Art.
Nangong Mu chose the Green and Blue Secret Art. Green represented wood, blue represented ice.
Fang Zhengzhi did not understand the Dragon Combat Plan well. He had heard of it, but had never seen it in action. He could only guess.
However, there was no way of confirming his guesses. After all, the Dragon Combat Plan was one of the two greatest arts of the Nangong Family. It could not be that simple.
"The Dragon Combat Plan is not completely ice." Yan Xiu muttered.
"Not completely ice? Then... what else is there?" Fang Zhengzhi thought that Yan Xiu would continue explaining, but Yan Xiu said nothing.
"There are two schools of thought. One says that the Dragon Combat Plan is nothing. The other one says that the Dragon Combat Plan is everything." Yan Xiu replied.
"Nothing? Everything?" Fang Zhengzhi still could not understand.
"To put it simply, the Dragon Combat Plan is not based in any specific element. It is an all accepting art. It is completely different from the Green and Blue Secret Art. The Green and Blue Secret Art uses two opposing forces to augment each other. However, the Dragon Combat Plan is blank. The limit is simply how much you can fit into it!" Yan Xiu explained.
"Blank? I see!" Fang Zhengzhi finally understood what Yan Xiu was getting at.
Furthermore, he could guess why the Nangong Family disciples chose to learn the Dragon Combat Plan and not the Green and Blue Secret Art.
If what Yan Xiu said was true and the Dragon Combat Plan was blank, then its ideas were simple.
If everything in the universe was a word, the Dragon Combat Plan was the canvas for people to write the words on.
Was it difficult to write on a blank canvas?
Of course not!
This was extremely simple when compared to the Green and Blue Secret Art. It's simplicity gave it mass appeal.
To put it simply, the biggest difference between the Dragon Combat Plan and the Green and Blue Secret Art was it's barrier to entry. The Dragon Combat Plan had a low barrier to entry, but it required a lot of effort before one could be proficient in it.
On the other hand, the Green and Blue Secret Art had a high barrier to entry. However, once someone understood the principles of it, progress was quick.
Ordinarily, these two arts would be similarly matched.
However, for someone as talented as Nangong Hao, the difference was obvious.
The Green and Blue Secret Art was powerful, but it was limited by its elements.
The Dragon Combat Plan was easy to learn but difficult to master.
However, it was a white canvas. It's potential was limitless. If the foundation was set well enough...
It could accommodate anything the artist wanted!
When Fang Zhengzhi thought about this, he finally had some understanding of how powerful Nangong Hao was. He also understood why all the candidates had the same expression when Nangong Hao appeared.
Even if Nangong Hao was alone!
When Wu Feng heard what Yan Xiu said, he was even more taken aback than Fang Zhengzhi.
Not only did Wu Feng know how powerful the Dragon Combat Plan was...
He also knew that Nangong Hao had attained Natural Heart Dao!
There was only one state that could make the Dragon Combat Plan even scarier than it already was. That was Natural Heart Dao!
The Dragon Combat Plan could accommodate everything in the world.
The Natural Heart Dao allowed the wielder to meld everything around him into what he was doing. He could be killing, showing mercy, doing evil, or good.
Nangong Hao's potential was limitless. He had the ability to learn any Dao and a skill that could accommodate everything.
Wu Feng was keenly aware of this. As such, even when he had over 20,000 soldiers at his peak, he did not dare go to the Icy Monkey Settlement.
However...
Just because Wu Feng knew this didn't mean that the others did.
Chen Feiyu was one such example.
Chen Feiyu knew how powerful Nangong Hao was. However, in Chen Feiyu's mind, no matter how powerful Nangong Hao was, he was still only a Heavenly Reflection cultivator.
Could a Heavenly Reflection State cultivator defeat a Supernatural State cultivator?
Of course.
However, would it be easy? Definitely not. After all, Nangong Hao could not possibly suppress the Supernatural State cultivator.
"This is a good opportunity!" Chen Feiyu did not think that he could defeat Nangong Hao, but he was going to give it a try.
Especially with 50,000 soldiers as his witness.
If he could give Nangong Hao a run for his money, his name would reverberate throughout the dynasty. He would also be respected by the masses.
Chen Feiyu was not going to give up such a great opportunity.
Even though he knew he was going to lose...
He did not care.
He did not believe that the people around him would still be blind to the fact that he had broken through into the Supernatural State after this battle.
"Fang Zhengzhi!" Chen Feiyu hollered as he thought about this.
"Young Master Chen... what do you have to say?" Just as Fang Zhengzhi was contemplating ordering for another wave of arrows, he heard Chen Feiyu.
"Nangong Hao appearing alone is a challenge to our army. I ask that you allow me to face him in battle!" Chen Feiyu replied confidently.
He sounded just like a seasoned veteran.
However, when the other candidates and deputies heard what Chen Feiyu had to say, they could not help but scratch their heads in confusion.
"What is Chen Feiyu doing?"
"He wants to challenge Nangong Hao! Is he tired of living?"
"Does he think he can stand up to Nangong Hao?"
Murmurs of disbelief spread through the ranks.
Wu Feng was stunned when he heard this. He knew that Chen Feiyu was quite powerful, but he was nowhere near as powerful as Nangong Hao.
To challenge Nangong Hao was equivalent to signing his own death warrant.
This was the same thought that everyone had when they heard Chen Feiyu's challenge.
However, Fang Zhengzhi did not think so.
He was the only one who knew what Chen Feiyu was thinking. He knew for a fact that Chen Feiyu had already broken through into the Supernatural State. This was also the reason why he was not surprised that Chen Feiyu could catch his Million Sword Illustration.
"This guy really wants to show off huh?" Fang Zhengzhi thought to himself.
After all, he was in the Supernatural State.
It would be cruel if Fang Zhengzhi did not allow him to showcase his abilities.
Fang Zhengzhi decided to let Chen Feiyu have his way.
"Okay then, since Young Master Chen is eager for battle, I shall let you go ahead. Just be careful!" Fang Zhengzhi tried to act concerned.
After all, Chen Feiyu is the first person to challenge Nangong Hao.
Yan Xiu's lips twitched, almost as if he was going to say something. However, after he heard what Fang Zhengzhi said, he pursed his lips.
He remained silent.
Upon hearing Fang Zhengzhi's approval, Chen Feiyu smiled. This was a chance for him to showcase his talent. It was even more valuable than when he defeated Wu Feng.
"Nangong Hao! I, Chen Feiyu, will let you see how powerful I am!" Chen Feiyu's eyes glimmered as he drew his sword.
He was ecstatic.
It was a chance for him to challenge Nangong Hao. An opportunity to experience Nangong Hao's abilities and powers personally was rare. Who wouldn't be excited.
Nangong Hao stood in his original position. Even after hearing Chen Feiyu's challenge, his eyes remained calm.
"Okay then, Young Master Chen, please." Nangong Hao said courteously. He was not agitated by Fang Zhengzhi's provocation. Neither did he despise Chen Feiyu's challenge.
It felt like he had predicted the entire sequence of events.