Jun Changxiao was now just waiting for Zhenyang Prefecture’s army to arrive. Of course, he also hoped Heyang Prefecture and Huayang Prefecture could delay a bit longer, allowing him to develop better.
However, things went against his wishes.
Several days later—exactly at the one-month deadline City Lord Xie had mentioned—Fine Rain Hall sent intelligence that Huayang Prefecture’s Prefectural Governor had chosen to surrender.
“Damn.”
Jun Changxiao said, “Really spineless.”
Li Luoqiu shook her head, “The Prefectural Governor surrendering can still secure himself some official position. What’s pitiful are the common people within the prefecture—they’ll become Zhenyang Prefecture’s slaves.”
Whether surrendering or being defeated, those who lost their homeland could survive meekly, but would have no dignity whatsoever.
Xie Guangkun would rather die defending than surrender—he wanted to uphold Qingyang City’s dignity!
“The good news is.”
Li Luoqiu added, “Several city lords in Huayang Prefecture have chosen to fight to the death. Perhaps they can buy us some time.”
“There are still men of iron will in this world after all,” Jun Changxiao said.
Unlike Huayang Prefecture’s Prefectural Governor’s surrender, eighth-rank Heyang Prefecture chose to resist, establishing defenses at Lingyang Pass to hold back a hundred thousand troops.
For now, Zhenyang Prefecture would still need time before reaching Qingyang Prefecture.
This was what Jun Changxiao was happy to see.
What displeased him was that if he had more wolf cavalry, why pin hopes on others delaying for him? He could directly switch from defense to active attack.
“Elder Wei.”
Jun Changxiao came to the medicine garden, asking, “How much longer until the medicinal materials mature?”
The materials for refining Qi Gathering Pills had already matured in several batches with high spiritual energy intensity, producing pills with over twenty times potency. But the Wushi Pill materials hadn’t matured yet.
Currently, the Iron Bones Sect had at least fifteen hundred disciples stuck at Peak Wutu level.
Breaking through wasn’t a problem, but comprehending the martial way would consume much time.
If Wushi Pills were mass-produced, one per person, they could all break through to Wushi in moments, possessing even stronger combat power!
Therefore, Sect Master Jun was quite anxious.
Elder Wei said, “Still needs half a month.”
“Half a month.”
Jun Changxiao murmured, “Calculating this way, the disciples should all reach Peak Wutu, then all break through to Wushi!”
……
Because neighboring prefectures had been drawn into war, a solemn atmosphere shrouded the skies above Qingyang Prefecture territory.
The common people, who had lived carefree lives, all began feeling anxious.
If Qingyang Prefecture fell, they and their relatives would lose all equal rights, being branded with labels like “lower-class commoners” and “slaves” for generations.
What was gratifying was this:
The eight city lords of the eight cities held a unified attitude toward the impending war—while the city stands, the people stand; when the city falls, the people fall!
Jun Changxiao said, “Though Qingyang Prefecture’s Prefectural Governor is a hands-off boss, the city lords he selected are all iron-blooded men.”
“Sect Master.”
Li Luoqiu came to report, “Qingling City in Huayang Prefecture has fallen. Because the city lord resisted stubbornly, after Zhenyang Prefecture’s army entered the city, they… slaughtered all over a million common people.”
Jun Changxiao’s brow furrowed.
Xue Rengui said, “Was the general who conquered Qingling City named Miao Kuai?”
“Correct,” Li Luoqiu said.
Xue Rengui’s eyes turned cold, “As expected, it’s him.”
Jun Changxiao asked, “Hall Master Xue knows him?”
Xue Rengui said angrily, “Miao Kuai is one of Bai Ruihu’s fierce generals, nicknamed the Executioner. His temperament is brutal and capricious, often taking pleasure in massacring cities. Though your subordinate is not from Southwest Yang Province, I’ve still heard of his evil reputation.”
“The Executioner?”
Jun Changxiao’s mouth curled with a cold smile, “If he dares come to Qingyang Prefecture, this master will make him a soul beneath the blade.”
Just then, Li Luoqiu received voice transmission from her subordinates, saying, “Sect Master, latest intelligence—after conquering Qingling City, Miao Kuai led ten thousand cavalry from the Death Valley direction toward Qingyang Prefecture.”
This was truly… thinking of something brings it!
Xue Rengui hurriedly came to the sand table in Wolf Cavalry Hall’s great hall. Based on the enemy’s route of advance, he said, “Sect Master, Miao Kuai wants to use cavalry’s mobility for a long-distance raid, catching Shouyang City completely off guard.”
Jun Changxiao asked, “Can we eliminate him?”
Xue Rengui considered briefly, then said seriously, “My Wolf Cavalry Hall can easily annihilate them.”
If the enemy came in large numbers, he might have some misgivings. But ten thousand cavalry—absolutely manageable.
Jun Changxiao rubbed his nose, saying coldly, “The best defense is offense. Since Zhenyang Prefecture dares invade my Qingyang Prefecture, we’ll make sure none return.”
……
“Clop clop clop!”
In the mountain forests of the Death Valley region, ten thousand iron cavalry from Zhenyang Prefecture galloped forward, led by none other than Miao Kuai, one of Bai Ruihu’s fierce generals.
“General.”
On the road, a deputy general smiled, “We suddenly changed course to attack Qingyang Prefecture. We’ll definitely easily take a city!”
“The General’s strategy is truly brilliant!” another deputy general flattered.
“Hmph.”
The burly and fierce-looking Miao Kuai sneered, “Even if this general marched openly, Qingyang Prefecture—which is even inferior to Huayang Prefecture—naturally couldn’t resist either.”
From his words, one could tell he didn’t consider Qingyang Prefecture worth his attention at all.
Among the prefectures of Star Meteorite Continent, ninth-rank was the lowest, and Qingyang Prefecture was undoubtedly the weakest of the ninth-rank level.
As a general from a major prefecture, looking down on them was quite normal.
“General.”
A deputy general grinned wickedly, “We marched without stopping after taking Qingling City. If we conquer Shouyang City, we should at least let the brothers have some fun, right?”
Miao Kuai said, “Win this battle, and the women in the city are yours for the picking!”
“Yes!”
Everyone responded in unison, their eyes flashing with battle intent.
“Neighhhh—” Suddenly, the warhorses beneath them abruptly stopped and reared their heads neighing wildly, as if frightened.
The unexpected change nearly caused soldiers to tumble from their mounts unprepared.
“What’s going on?” Miao Kuai demanded in a deep voice.
“General!”
A deputy general pointed at the distant hillside, “There… there are wolves…”
Wolves?
Miao Kuai and his subordinates all looked.
In the distance, several hundred zhang away, a wolf beast with a burly build and blue wind vortexes swirling beneath its feet crouched on the slope!
“This is…” Miao Kuai exclaimed joyfully, “A Hurricane Wolf!”
“Hahaha!”
The deputy general said, “In the wilderness, to actually encounter such a rare wind-element fierce beast—the General has tremendous fortune!”
If an ordinary wandering cultivator saw a Hurricane Wolf, they would definitely turn pale with fright.
But Miao Kuai was greatly pleased. After all, leading a full cavalry regiment, how could he fear wolves!
“Quickly!”
He hurriedly ordered, “Don’t let it…”
Whoosh—
Before he finished speaking, an extremely faint wind-breaking sound rang out.
Bang!!
The deputy general beside him had his head directly pierced through, tumbling from his horse with a thud.
“Enemy attack! Enemy attack!”
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Just then, two more wind-breaking sounds rang out!
The deputy generals on both sides of Miao Kuai were once again pierced through the forehead and fell from their horses, including the one who had spoken of “having fun.”
Well.
Now he could go have fun in the eighteen layers of hell.
“Click-click-click!”
Two Fine Rain Hall members hiding over two thousand meters away pulled their bolts to chamber rounds, transmitting, “Hall Master, targets 1, 2, and 3 have been eliminated.”
Xue Rengui’s mouth twitched.
The shooting distance was even farther than the previous test at Iron Bones Mountain, yet they hit with one shot—simply phenomenal!
“Swish!”
After a brief pause, the battle flag waved.
“Awooo!”
“Awooo!”
A series of spine-chilling wolf howls echoed throughout the Death Valley region.
Swish! Swish! Swish!
In an instant, on the hillside, a thousand Wolf Cavalry Hall members riding Hurricane Wolves appeared with perfect uniformity.
“Swish!”
Zhong Yi leaped down, landing on the wolf beast that Miao Kuai and others had seen earlier. He brandished his jet-black Overlord Spear, holding it horizontally before him, and roared, “Determined to break through enemy lines, ready to die without retreat—KILL!”