The royal palace of the Great Han Dynasty in Chang'an City.
Yang Hao sat on the throne, examining the recent development of the Great Han's warriors. The Great Han, as a dynasty, ranked among the ten great imperial dynasties, on the same level.
As for the true foundation of the ten great imperial dynasties, further in-depth understanding was still needed.
Now that Li Bai had defeated Sword Saint Chen Qiu, it was tantamount to a clash with the Sacred Yuan Imperial Dynasty. What appeared to be a calm breeze on the surface was actually filled with the smoke of gunpowder.
Yang Hao had also conducted a thorough investigation into why the Sacred Yuan Imperial Dynasty and the Blood Sun Imperial Dynasty had not yet moved against the Great Han.
With the holy war imminent, every Heaven Convergence Realm expert was an extremely rare asset to an imperial dynasty. Furthermore, the ten great imperial dynasties knew little about the Great Han. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, the Blood Sun Human Emperor had initiated the so-called Human Emperor's Canon.
However, Yang Hao was not afraid at this moment.
The Great Han already had two Heaven Convergence Realm experts. Li Wenzhong and Li Bai, through their own cultivation, had reached the second layer of the Heaven Convergence Realm.
The Great Han, which had developed from a small territory called Tianyue, had long since solidified its foundation. Although it was a dynasty, it competed with the ten great imperial dynasties without falling behind.
Yang Hao closed the memorial in his hand, about to rest his eyes, when the system's cold voice suddenly echoed in his mind. However, Yang Hao was not annoyed; instead, he was extremely happy.
"Ding! Summoned worldly heroes: Cheng Yaojin, Lu Kang, Shan Xiongxin, Zhang Han. After a month of arduous cultivation, they have broken through the Spirit Sea barrier and successfully entered the Spirit Venerable Realm!"
As the Great Han entered the vision of the imperial powers, its top-tier combat strength was basically settled at the Heaven Convergence Realm. These Spirit Venerables were almost the backbone of the entire Southwest region of the Eastern Wilderness.
With the four worldly heroes entering the Spirit Venerable Realm, the Great Han now had eleven Spirit Venerable experts!
Yang Hao slightly raised his eyes and scanned his surroundings. The Great Han had been developing peacefully for the past month, slowly digesting its vast territories. This was undoubtedly the best news of the past month.
"Summon a peerless hero from antiquity!"
Yang Hao closed his eyes and softly commanded. After the Great Han swept away the eight great dynasties, the most systematic reward had given him a chance to summon a peerless hero from antiquity.
"Ding! The opportunity to summon a peerless hero from antiquity has been successfully deducted!"
"Ding! The system is commencing the summoning!"
Golden light permeated the first layer of the Samsara Mysterious Yellow Pagoda. The sound of the Great Dao reverberated in all directions, the Milky Way unfurled, and starlight flowed. From the Spring and Autumn period, it slowly moved to the late Han and Three Kingdoms period!
As time flowed and stars filled the sky, banners unfurled and rolled. A carved human figure on the first layer of the pagoda suddenly blazed with golden light!
A figure stepped forth from the river of history!
The moment the figure stepped out, the carved human figure on the first layer of the pagoda instantly transformed into starlight and melted directly into the fourth layer of the pagoda.
Instantly, an army charged forward, and a figure holding a sickle-like blade shot out from the river!
"Congratulations to the host for successfully summoning the top general - Zhang Liao!!"
Upon hearing the system's notification, a smile spread across Yang Hao's lips. Zhang Liao, Zhang Wenyuan, was undoubtedly a qualified commander. Historically, he had turned the tide on many occasions, protected the north, and especially during the Battle of Hefei, Zhang Liao led eight hundred soldiers to attack the Eastern Wu's army of a hundred thousand, charging all the way to Sun Quan's command post, making the Eastern Wu army tremble.
Zhang Liao's command of the troops led to an onslaught, and he even broke through the army of Jiang Biao's Fierce General – Gan Ning!
A flash of inspiration struck Yang Hao, and he directly entered the fourth layer of the Samsara Mysterious Yellow Pagoda. He looked at a flowing golden river, and a figure slowly materialized!
The figure had a face like purple jade and eyes like bright stars. He held a sickle-like blade in his hand and bowed deeply to Yang Hao: "Wenyuan pays his respects to the King!"
"Open Zhang Liao's data!"
"Name: Zhang Liao"
"Courtesy Name: Wenyuan"
"Dynasty: Late Han and Three Kingdoms Period"
"Cultivation: Heaven Convergence First Layer"
"Cultivation Method: Sky Sickle Blade Technique"
"Troops: Peerless Troops - Eight Hundred Valiant Guards (Cultivation Realm: Divine Mansion First Layer!)."
Experience: A famous general of Cao Wei during the late Han and Three Kingdoms period, a descendant of Nie Yi.
Initially, he served as a clerk in Yanmen Commandery and later followed Ding Yuan, He Jin, Dong Zhuo, and Lu Bu, diligently performing his duties and enduring hardships. After Lu Bu's defeat, Zhang Liao submitted to Cao Cao.
Thereafter, he achieved numerous illustrious merits, discerning the enemy's situation and persuading Chang Xi to surrender, fighting against the Yuan clan and campaigning in Hebei. In the Battle of Bai Lang Mountain, he led the vanguard to heavily defeat the Wuhuan and beheaded the Wuhuan Chieftain Tadu Dun, expelling the Liaodong general Liu Yi.
He maintained a defensive posture to quell a mutiny within the army, advanced to Jianghuai to defeat Chen Lan and Mei Cheng, and thereafter, long defended Hefei.
In the twentieth year of Jian'an, during the Battle of Hefei, Zhang Liao led eight hundred soldiers to attack the Eastern Wu's army of a hundred thousand, charging all the way to Sun Quan's command post, making the Eastern Wu army tremble.
When the Eastern Wu retreated, Zhang Liao led the pursuit, heavily defeating Sun Quan, Gan Ning, Ling Tong, and others, nearly capturing Sun Quan alive. After this battle, Zhang Liao's name struck fear into Jiangdong.
"Zhang Liao stops the weeping" became a widely circulated anecdote.
In the first year of Huangchu, Zhang Liao was enfeebled and appointed Marquis of Jinyang. Even when ill, he was still a figure of great concern to Sun Quan. In the third year of Huangchu, Zhang Liao, while ill, defeated the Wu general Lu Fan.
In the same year, he died of illness in Jiangdu, posthumously honored as Marquis Gang. Zhang Liao has been revered throughout the ages and is counted among the sixty-four most renowned generals of ancient and modern times.
Yang Hao opened his eyes. He said softly, "Wei Zhongxian, bestow upon Zhang Liao the title of General of the Vermilion Bird, to lead the Vermilion Bird Legion as its commander, with Gan Ning as his second-in-command!"
"Yes!"
Wei Zhongxian bowed slightly. Zhang Liao, Zhang Wenyuan, had actually emerged, this famous general who had nearly captured the Great Emperor of Eastern Wu alive! Su Dan Novel Network
...
The Danqing Pavilion of the Sacred Yuan Imperial Dynasty.
The forests between the mountains here were far more awe-inspiring than in other places. Verdant light intertwined, as if perpetually surrounded by dense medicinal fragrance. Even the plants here had gained sentience, possessing cultivation levels that made many warriors ashamed.
Li Bai and others arrived at the mountain gate of the Danqing Pavilion. The vast square was filled with a dense crowd, surging inwards like a tide. The clamor was so great that if others did not know better, they would think it was the bustling marketplace in the city at the foot of the mountain.
"Hey!"
Xu Chu grabbed a warrior, his tiger-like eyes startling the warrior into a pale face. Coupled with his Spirit Venerable realm cultivation, a large area around Xu Chu was instantly cleared.
"Great Lord... Great Lord, we have no past grievances and no present enmity, why trouble me, a small fry!" The warrior was extremely frightened but forced a smile on his face.
"Coward!"
"I ask you, why is this Danqing Pavilion so noisy and boisterous?" Xu Chu roared in anger, causing Li Bai and Sun Simiao beside him to shake their heads. This was not asking for information; at a glance, it looked like two people were fighting shirtless.
"Great Lord, today is the day when Elder Dan of the Danqing Pavilion, the only fifth-grade alchemist of the Sacred Yuan Imperial Dynasty, personally opens a furnace to refine pills. Therefore... therefore, it has attracted many warriors from all over the world to come and witness it!"
"Hmph!"
"Just a mere fifth-grade alchemist, do you really think you are the King of Heaven!" Xu Chu threw the warrior aside and glared forward with his tiger-like eyes.