This Was a God!

Not just Cao Cao, but everyone in the great hall in Yan Province, including the nominal Son of Heaven, Emperor Xian of Han, and top strategists such as Guo Jia and Xun Yu-every last one of them-was scared witless by that heaven-destroying, earth-shattering cannon blast on the Heavenly Screen.

"Incredible!"

Emperor Xian of Han slumped in his dragon throne, his face deathly pale, murmuring unconsciously.

"This... this is just too incredible!"

Guo Jia and Xun Yu were equally dumbfounded. They exchanged a glance, each seeing the same shock and terror in the other's eyes.

This thing simply defied all reason!

Troop deployments, schemes both covert and overt-before the sight of an entire mountain vanishing, they all seemed so laughable, so pale and powerless.

Cao Cao looked as though his bones had been pulled out. He stammered for a long time before finally squeezing out a few words.

"Impossible!"

"How could such a divine treasure exist in this world?"

His voice was filled with trembling and incomprehensible fear.

"This Yang Feng... is he even human?"

"Is he human at all?"

Cao Cao sprang from his seat, his eyes fixed so intently on the Heavenly Screen that he seemed to be trying to see straight through it.

"How could he possibly create such a divine treasure?"

Guo Jia drew a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down, but his voice remained slightly hoarse.

"My lord, this... this cannon truly is too powerful."

Xun Yu also nodded with difficulty and added, "Leveling a mountain with a single shot-nothing like it has ever been heard of or seen before. This is already beyond the bounds of our understanding!"

A deathly silent panic spread through the great hall.

Everyone had been cowed by this "weapon of mass destruction" that transcended their era.

Yet amid that panic, Cao Cao proved himself every bit the ruthless overlord he was.

He bit down hard on the tip of his tongue, the intense pain instantly clearing his head a little.

He swept his gaze over his subordinates' terrified faces, forcibly suppressed the towering waves in his heart, and reassured them in a low voice, "What are you all panicking for!"

"Yang Feng's advantage is only temporary!"

His voice was not loud, but it struck everyone's heart like a heavy hammer.

"This thing called the Heaven and Earth Cannon is indeed astonishingly powerful."

"But you must believe that whatever Yang Feng can create, we will have one day too!"

"Ours will even be better and stronger!"

With that, Cao Cao swept his hand sharply, pulling everyone's attention away from Yang Feng in the south.

"The Heavenly Screen has already foretold it!"

"Next comes our great war against Yuan Shao!"

"After our years of campaigning, only we and Yuan Shao remain as the final two players in the north!"

"That is what matters most to us right now!"

Reminded by Cao Cao, Guo Jia, Xun Yu, and the others instantly snapped out of that boundless terror.

Right!

However badass Yang Feng was, that was a matter for the future!

Their great enemy right now was Yuan Shao!

Guo Jia was the first to step forward, cupping his hands. "My lord is absolutely right!"

"Though Yuan Shao is powerful, he is full of plans but lacks decisiveness, fierce in appearance but faint of heart. He is no match for you, my lord!"

Xun Yu echoed him. "Exactly!"

"As long as we hold our ground and advance step by step, you will surely crush Yuan Shao at Guandu and unite the north, my lord!"

"My lord will definitely defeat Yuan Shao!"

At last, everyone's spirits rose, and the atmosphere in the great hall recovered somewhat.

Yet Cao Cao had no confidence whatsoever.

Defeat Yuan Shao?

Even he thought that was a long shot!

The little abacus in his mind clacked away. Yuan Shao had vast holdings, powerful troops, and strong horses. He had never been an easy opponent.

And now, before their side had even begun fighting, Yang Feng's Heaven and Earth Cannon, or whatever the thing was, had already scared them out of their wits and sent morale plunging to rock bottom.

How were they supposed to fight now?

Good heavens, what a rotten starting position!

Yang Feng... the Heaven and Earth Cannon...

The image of that mountain vanishing kept replaying in Cao Cao's mind, leaving him feeling that his future was utterly bleak.

Meanwhile, in Ji Province.

Inside Yuan Shao's residence, the atmosphere was the exact opposite of Cao Cao's-a veritable sea of joy.

"Hahahahaha!"

Seated in the place of honor, Yuan Shao slapped his thigh and laughed until tears nearly spilled from his eyes.

He pointed at Cao Cao's face on the Heavenly Screen, pale with fright, making no attempt to conceal his mockery.

"This Cao Cao is an absolute disgrace!"

"Just look at that coward!"

"To think a single cannon could frighten him into fleeing at the first sign of danger!"

"Disgraceful!"

"He has utterly disgraced every hero under heaven!"

The many officials below, including Guo Tu and Shen Pei, immediately joined in flattering Yuan Shao.

"You're absolutely right, my lord!"

"That Cao Cao is nothing but an embarrassment!"

"I thought he was so capable, but he dropped straight to his knees before someone else's cannon!"

"I'm dying of laughter, I really am!"

"What army of three hundred thousand? Even three hundred thousand pigs wouldn't have run that fast!"

"Well, now Cao Mengde's mighty reputation has been swept into the dust. How will he ever hold his head high before the world again?"

The entire great hall was filled with a merry air.

Though Yuan Shao verbally reduced Cao Cao to nothing and laughed with unbridled arrogance, he was secretly counting his blessings too.

Thank goodness!

Thank goodness he wasn't the one who would be opposing Yang Feng next on the Heavenly Screen!

Otherwise, the man who pissed himself in terror at a single cannon shot, disgraced himself, and became the laughingstock of the world would have been him, Yuan Benchu!

At the thought of that mountain peak being wiped flat, Yuan Shao could not help breaking into a cold sweat down his back.

That thing was too fucking terrifying!

But that lingering fear was soon replaced by overwhelming confidence and arrogance.

What was there to fear?

That cannon wasn't aimed at him anyway!

Next came his struggle against Cao Cao!

Yuan Shao truly could not imagine how Cao Cao, now gravely weakened and utterly devoid of morale, could possibly beat him.

He smugly tallied his assets in his mind.

He held Qing Province, Bing Province, Ji Province, and You Province-four whole provinces!

His troops were elite, his grain plentiful, and the strategists and fierce generals under him gathered like clouds!

What did Cao Cao amount to?

He occupied nothing more than a battered Yan Province and Yuzhou, and held a useless Son of Heaven hostage, yet he actually thought that made him somebody?

Utterly laughable!

A contemptuous sneer curled Yuan Shao's lips.

Cao Cao, your time to die has come!

Once I destroy you, the entire north will belong to me, Yuan Benchu, alone!