Chapter 30: Truly Not Human!

The shouts and drumbeats from both sides wildly stirred the two warriors on the battlefield, as well as all the soldiers, continuously boosting the morale of both armies.

“Watch out! Lü Bu, incoming arrows!” Zhao Yun shouted, releasing a volley of arrows in Lü Bu’s direction, arrows that had long been prepared.

Lü Bu was vexed by Wu Anguo’s relentless hammer swings. He had to admit that this opponent possessed tremendous strength, innate internal energy mastery, and, most importantly, an unyielding fighting spirit coupled with impressive hammer techniques.

“Enough warm-up!” Lü Bu roared. Suddenly, his fierce assault paused, and the halberd in his hands seemed to grow a hundredfold heavier, as if the air itself thickened. His weapon struck Wu Anguo’s hammer with a deceptive slowness that belied its true speed.

Wu Anguo was struck as if by lightning, barely able to hold his hammer. The previously flawless attack faltered during that brief hesitation. Seizing the moment, Lü Bu’s halberd, glowing with a trailing arc of light, sliced through the gap. No matter how hard Wu Anguo tried, he fell just short of blocking it.

“Bang!” Just as Wu Anguo despaired, a silver-blue streak forcibly deflected Lü Bu’s halberd. The air blade that would have sliced him open was thwarted, sparing his life.

Lü Bu glanced toward the direction the arrows had come from and dismissed the thought of finishing off Wu Anguo. Although the arrows flew so fast that he only heard the warning after being struck, it was clear the opponent had not violated the rules of single combat.

Chen Xi looked puzzled. How had Wu Anguo suddenly been defeated? Hadn’t he been pressing Lü Bu earlier?

“It’s the technique of the heavy sword,” Zhao Yun said darkly. “A skill that allows a light weapon to wield the power of a heavy one in an instant. There’s also the light sword technique, enabling heavy weapons to be handled with exceptional ease. General Zhang, do you realize what this means?”

Zhang Fei parted his lips, understanding well the trouble posed by an opponent who could manipulate the weight of their attacks at will.

“Zilong, just call me Yide. No matter how strong Lü Bu is, I will face him. I am Zhang Yide of Yan!” Zhang Fei’s eyes blazed with fierce fighting spirit as he roared, spurring his horse forward with spear in hand, ignoring any attempts by Guan Yu or Zhao Yun to stop him.

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“Zhang Yide, huh?” Lü Bu grasped his halberd, its golden-red sheen solidifying as a radiant aura enveloped him, forming armor that resembled that of a celestial deity. He was prepared to fight the world alone, ready to slay anyone, whether they came alone or in waves.

At the same time, the dark aura around Zhang Fei swirled under Lü Bu’s pressure, coalescing into a translucent armor.

“Take this!” With his spirit at its peak, Zhang Fei cast aside all flashy moves and thrust his serpent spear straight at Lü Bu—simple and swift!

“Bang!” Lü Bu swung his halberd, knocking Zhang Fei’s spear aside. The metallic clang was powerful but familiar—strong, yet comparable only to the earlier opponent. The weapon was neither heavy nor large enough, nor swift enough.

Zhang Fei spun his spear in wide circles, a black dragon coiling around him. The tremendous force, accompanied by explosive roars, pierced the air repeatedly. Yet Lü Bu’s counterattacks were always perfectly timed, forcing Zhang Fei to retreat.

For the first ten exchanges, Zhang Fei’s courage and vigor held Lü Bu’s attacks at bay. Across a hundred-meter range, the massive black dragon seemed to clamp down fiercely on a golden-red orb beneath Hulao Pass.

But after those ten moves, Lü Bu steadied himself and began a measured counterattack.

After twenty exchanges, Zhang Fei’s attacks began to dwindle.

After thirty, Lü Bu suppressed Zhang Fei, whose counterattacks sharply decreased.

After fifty moves, Lü Bu’s golden-red flame had firmly subdued the black dragon.

Zhang Fei’s fighting spirit surged wildly, and his aura continually grew, yet he remained unable to break Lü Bu’s blockade. Eventually, Lü Bu confined the battle to within a mere dozen meters. Outside this circle, all was calm; inside, a tempest raged.

Guan Yu’s expression grew increasingly grave. Lü Bu’s displayed strength unnerved him deeply. Zhang Fei’s initial charge was meant to give him a chance to gauge Lü Bu’s power. Yet it was clear Lü Bu had not unleashed his full might.

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Chen Xi could not discern who would win, but he knew Zhang Fei stood no chance against Lü Bu. From Guan Yu’s expression, nothing could be read. When he glanced at Zhao Yun, he saw the once somber man visibly relax, indicating the situation was still within expectations.

At last, the second brother made his move. A flash of azure light streaked forth, immense power fused with overwhelming aura slashing toward Lü Bu. Unlike their clash the previous night, this time, with Zhang Fei holding Lü Bu back, Lü Bu had no chance to interrupt Guan Yu’s charge. Guan Yu relentlessly gathered his energy to its peak and then struck Lü Bu fiercely with a third mighty blow.

“Thud!” The impact was as stunning as ever. The powerful light blade not only hurled Lü Bu back but also left a nearly hundred-meter-long scar on the earth, stretching all the way to the walls of Hulao Pass, engraving a massive mark.

Guan Yu, panting, gazed at the dust-shrouded battlefield below Hulao Pass. Unlike when he slew Hua Xiong, this time he had truly given his all. He was confident that this blow could split a hill in two.

The once-cheering soldiers were stunned by the strike, staring at the warrior clad in green. The troops at Hulao Pass, whose morale had soared with Lü Bu’s astounding display, wilted as if struck by a death blow. Even Dong Zhuo, seated atop the pass, was speechless and trembling, instinctively retreating.

As the dust settled, Lü Bu rode the Red Hare, seemingly walking on air. The golden-red aura now bore a tint of blood, droplets trailing down the tip of his halberd.

“Hahaha!” Lü Bu laughed wildly, one hand holding his halberd, the other covering his face. His manic laughter echoed throughout Hulao Pass.

“This guy must have lost his mind,” Chen Xi marveled at Lü Bu and the Red Hare's flight, turning to Zhao Yun.

“On the contrary,” Zhao Yun said, his tone shifting from refined calm to near madness. “Lü Bu’s momentum keeps rising, surpassing all my predictions. The aura and surging internal energy he emits now are beyond imagination—he’s no longer human.”

P.S.: Throughout the Three Kingdoms, Lü Bu was never treated as an ordinary man. Every time he appeared, he was gang-attacked, often by elite formations. Truly, the way a celestial superstar is handled!