“Present, my lord!”
Li Zizai stepped forward and answered solemnly.
By this time, he had already been promoted to the rank of general, commanding thousands of troops. His martial cultivation had made significant progress, and his aura had become increasingly profound.
How could one practice military strategy without personally leading troops?
Recently, Li Zizai had a feeling that if he were given command of a hundred thousand soldiers, and given the opportunity to slay enemy generals and capture cities with unimpeded authority, the accumulated martial energy might even allow him to breakthrough to the rank of “Military Sage”!
The rank of Military Sage was naturally comparable to the Martial Sage in the martial arts world, or the Fourth-Level expert like Wu Ming’s “Tianshi” title. Even in the Great Zhou dynasty, such a person would be a regional warlord capable of establishing their own sect.
“Kill this man for me!”
Han Hulin pointed downward from the city wall.
Although it was customary in warfare not to kill envoys, the rebel kings never adhered to such rules.
Moreover, with the decisive battle against the Shang dynasty already underway, Han Hulin had no qualms about using the enemy’s head to boost his own troops’ morale.
“At once!”
Li Zizai thunderously accepted the order, took a longbow made of iron, and went to the edge of the city wall, drawing his bow and arrow.
At that moment, Liu Wengui below was still showing off his martial prowess and horsemanship to boost his side’s morale.
“Hah!”
Li Zizai drew his bow like a full moon and released. The bowstring snapped like thunder, vibrating with a lingering hum!
Whoosh!
After a loud sound, an arrow fell like a shooting star, striking the enemy precisely in the neck.
Puh!
A spray of crimson flew, and Liu Wengui fell from his horse, clearly already dead.
The enemy formation, which had been cheering moments before, fell silent as if a duck had its throat pinched, while within the Shijue Pass, noise erupted.
“Daring!”
“Foolish rogue!”
…
Everything happened too quickly. Even if the enemy tried to intervene, they were too late. Several beams of light shot forth, revealing a male and female Daoist practitioner who rode sword beams, scooping up Liu Wengui’s corpse and retreating.
Although they inwardly resented the man for failing to show off and instead losing his life, for the sake of troop morale, they still had to recover the body and bury it properly.
“Hmph! The Jinghu martial couple, shame of the Daoist sect!”
Being able to cultivate sword beams and freely maneuver them among a hundred thousand troops meant they were at least True Immortals. A Daoist couple cultivating together, the Yuying Daoist practitioner’s eyes immediately turned red with anger, and with a cold snort, he transformed into a streak of clear light descending.
“A True Immortal of the Daoist sect?”
Wu Ming stroked his chin, knowing this was perfectly normal. After all, the Great Shang still held legitimacy, and it was only natural that Daoists would serve them.
But then again, wasn’t it said that traitors are worse than enemies?
As soon as the two appeared, Yuying Daoist could no longer sit still and immediately attacked!
Boom!
The mystical realm expanded, even revealing the phantom of a sacred land. Lingering too long on the battlefield would be detrimental for an Earthly Immortal, so Daoist Yuying unleashed his full power without hesitation.
“Fortress Land! It’s Yuying!!!”
The Jinghu martial couple were terrified. Their two sword beams instantly dropped Liu Wengui’s corpse. One was yin, one yang, like twin dragons emerging from the sea, unleashing sword beams not to kill, but to escape the magical domain!
“Hmph! You two shame of the Daoist sect, violating the precepts and even killing your master, today this old Daoist will eliminate you both and uphold justice!”
Despite their desperate struggle, the Jinghu couple were merely two True Immortals, no match for the terrestrial Immortal Yuying.
Especially with the full use of his fortress land power.
Peng!
With a swirl of clear light, the two sword beams were suppressed. Then, with a flash, two figures emerged from the light, resembling a middle-aged couple.
“Mercy…”
The two, clad in Daoist robes, had barely opened their mouths when Yuying Daoist’s right hand pressed down.
Boom!
With a loud noise, their physical bodies immediately exploded into two clouds of blood mist. Their souls flew out, only to be swept into Yuying Daoist’s sleeve with a quick motion before he swiftly returned to the pass.
Fast! Fast! Fast!
Everything happened inexpressibly quickly, like lightning and thunder, swift as a rabbit taking off or a falcon swooping down.
Almost the moment Liu Wengui was shot down, the Jinghu couple rushed out to retrieve the body, then Yuying Daoist descended effortlessly, taking their lives in one move, capturing their souls before returning to his position!
It was dazzlingly fast, leaving soldiers on both sides unable to react.
For a moment, the battlefield fell into silence before erupting into cheers.
Compared to the jubilant soldiers inside Shijue Pass, the Shang soldiers across the field were in deep mourning.
After all, it was bad enough that their show-off had been killed, but then the two who went to retrieve the body were also killed! This repeated humiliation was naturally very disheartening.
“Daoist Master’s divine might!”
Han Hulin was delighted, yet feigning concern, he said: “However, a noble son should not sit under a collapsing roof. Why did the Daoist Master risk himself?”
Yuying Daoist smiled without answering, merely pointing at the retreating Shang army beginning to withdraw and set up camp.
“With this single act, the Shang army will dare not attack for a day. The Daoist Master has rendered an immense service, buying us a full day!”
Li Zizai clapped his hands in joy.
“Indeed, hahaha… The Daoist Master deserves the highest credit today!”
Han Hulin, now understanding, was also delighted.
Only Wu Ming, watching from the side, silently commented: “This Yuying Daoist is really risking his life for Ji Yi… Casting spells on the battlefield, if anything went wrong and the enemy had high-level assassins, he might lose his life here…”
Such a feat could be done once, but not twice. The enemy would surely be prepared now.
Wu Ming estimated that Yuying would only dare to attempt this once relying on his terrestrial Immortal status, and tomorrow he would definitely not dare to come out again.
Otherwise, with the Shang dynasty’s experts and the killing intent of a hundred thousand troops, even a terrestrial Immortal who had touched the threshold of immortality could still perish on the battlefield!
…
As night fell.
With the great enemy at the gates, both sides enforced strict curfews. After sunset, an eerie silence blanketed the land.
“I seek an audience with True Lord Sanmao!”
Wu Ming was sitting cross-legged, pondering the terrestrial Immortal cultivation method he had acquired from Yuying, when he heard Li Zizai’s voice from outside the door.
“Please enter!”
“Greetings, True Lord!”
Although now a high-ranking general, Li Zizai still respectfully saluted Wu Ming upon entering, hesitated slightly, then said: “Does the True Lord remember the Demon Child with a Devouring Heart?”
“You mean that fleeing master of the Witch Sect? He’s still alive?”
Wu Ming wore an expression of “surprise.”
“Alive!”
Li Zizai looked a bit embarrassed. After all, the Demon Child had clearly fled the battlefield at that time, and even had a history of betraying his allies. Although in the end, he seemed to have betrayed himself as well.
“He secretly contacted us, claiming to have a method to defeat the enemy!”
Because of the main god’s mission, Li Zizai firmly believed in it and still regarded the Demon Child as being on his side.
“A method to defeat the enemy?”
Wu Ming inwardly smiled; this was the fox finally revealing its tail: “Then why not present it to the King?”
“This…”
Li Zizai scratched his head: “He only wishes to speak with the True Lord!”
Inwardly, he was thinking: “As the Demon Child said, whether True Lord Sanmao is a reincarnator still needs to be tested!”
“Oh? He only wants to speak with me? Let him come then!”
Wu Ming smiled slightly, almost able to guess Li Zizai’s response.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, Li Zizai’s face showed hesitation: “He is currently in some trouble, still outside the pass…”
“Outside the pass? Hmph!”
Wu Ming was already speechless: “Am I being used as bait for a trap? Just a mere Demon Child isn’t worth much. Maybe if the Blood-Oath Alliance Leader himself came as bait, it would be more convincing!”
“True Lord! The Demon Child truly supports our side. I, the general, will guarantee it with my honor!”
Li Zizai became anxious and spoke loudly.
“This is another one being used!”
Wu Ming looked at Li Zizai with pity, wanting to retort: “How much is your honor worth? Can it cover my head?”
“However, if they are certain I don’t know all this, the Blood-Oath Alliance’s scheme might have a slight chance of success!”
Wu Ming thought inwardly. At this point, the usual move would be to reveal his identity and make Li Zizai choose.
But he had other plans, so he immediately said: “You wait a moment, I will come shortly!”
“At once!”
With these words, Li Zizai was instantly delighted.
After he left, Wu Ming stroked his chin, a playful smile on his face: “Although I have the Heavenly Eye and know this person is deceived, wouldn’t it be foolish to reveal my hand too early?”
To be honest, he now had a strong desire to personally confront the danger, venture alone into the enemy’s lair, and finally capture the mastermind behind everything.
After all, the Demon Child’s arrival was enough proof of many things!
“However, a gentleman should not stand under a collapsing wall. Just a mere Demon Child…”
Wu Ming lowered his face, making a decision instantly: “Summon!”
A paper crane immediately appeared, glowing as it flapped its wings, flying out the window and disappearing.
…
At the third watch of the night, outside the Shijue Pass.
“This way, Daoist Master!”
Li Zizai, wearing chainmail armor and holding a spear, led the way through a wilderness.
“Where exactly is that person?”
Wu Ming followed behind, feigning impatience.
“Almost there. He was injured by a sinister technique and can’t move much. He must recover using the energy from an underground cave—fortunately, we found one nearby!”
Li Zizai pushed aside the bushes on both sides, his mind in turmoil: “This True Lord Sanmao is suspicious. Tonight is the time to reveal everything and see if he is indeed a reincarnator!”
As he thought, a flash of ruthlessness appeared in his eyes.
If secrets were leaked to the natives without cause, naturally they must be eliminated. However, there was still a chance to rectify it by killing immediately.
Precisely to prevent this possible disaster, he agreed to the Demon Child’s plan to lure Wu Ming out and test his authenticity!
“However, this person’s Daoist skills are profound. If possible, it would be better not to resort to force. But if the worst comes to worst, for the sake of Zhiyu, it cannot be helped!”
Among reincarnators, could there still be any good people?
Even a sage would have to abandon certain things for survival, let alone a more pragmatic military strategist like himself?
“Master Demon Child!”
After climbing over a mountain, they reached a small valley. In the clearing stood a figure, none other than the Demon Child.
Li Zizai stepped forward and called out: “True Lord Sanmao has arrived as well!”
“Excellent!”
The Demon Child stepped forward. His appearance was handsome, and under the moonlight, his face carried an indescribable sinister aura: “Greetings, True Lord!”
Just as he finished bowing, a sword beam flashed!
Bang!
Dust rose instantly, accompanied by Li Zizai’s startled and furious shout: “What are you doing?”
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