“Five-Star General?”

Jun Changxiao looked at Xue Rengui in surprise.

Although he didn’t understand this world’s military rank system, on Earth this would definitely be impressive.

The System explained: “In the Xingyun Continent, anyone with a Five-Star General rank is definitely among the most famous generals of our era.”

“Is he more capable than Bai Reihu?” Jun Changxiao asked.

The System replied: “According to the information I’ve obtained, although Bai Reihu is one of the Ten Famous Generals of Southwest Yang Province, his military rank is only Three-Star General.”

“Holy shit!”

Jun Changxiao exclaimed in surprise: “Then Hall Master Xue is really incredible!”

More than incredible—extremely incredible.

Across the entire Xingyun Continent, there were at most twenty generals who could attain Five-Star General rank. This was not only a great honor, but also a recognition of strength.

“You know me?” Xue Rengui was quite surprised.

Miao Kuai said: “Years ago, I accompanied General Bai to Central Zun Province, and had the fortune to witness General Xue training his benevolent army on the training grounds.”

He spoke very quickly, clearly hoping this tenuous connection would keep him alive.

“I see.”

After saying this, Xue Rengui said nothing more.

“Kill him,” Jun Changxiao said lightly.

“General Xue!” Miao Kuai’s expression changed drastically: “Please, for the sake that we’re both military men, spare my life!”

Xue Rengui turned around and said: “A soldier’s duty is to protect their homeland and fight on the battlefield, not to be an executioner who wrongfully kills innocent civilians like you.”

“Moreover…”

He paused, his figure appearing somewhat desolate: “I’m no longer a soldier, nor am I worthy of being one.”

“General Xue…”

*Slash—*

A sword flash, and Miao Kuai’s head rolled to the ground.

His eyes were wide open, clearly not expecting to die like this.

For a murderous executioner to end up separated from his head was a fitting punishment.

“Ding! Completely annihilated the cavalry regiment led by Miao Kuai, a fierce general under Bai Reihu’s command. Hidden criteria met. Epic Quest completion at 10%. Host receives 500 Contribution Points.”

“Ding! Sect Contribution Points: 3,892/5,000.”

After hearing the notification, Jun Changxiao thought to himself: “As expected, the surface goal is to defend Qingyang City, but there are hidden criteria as well.”

Ten percent already gave 500 Contribution Points—if he completed 100%, wouldn’t that be 5,000 points?

If he exceeded expectations a bit, the final settlement rewards would definitely be even richer!

“Come on, come on.”

Jun Changxiao’s eyes burned with intensity: “Zhenyang Commandery’s army, hurry up and attack!”

…

One thousand men annihilating ten thousand cavalry seemed like a victory of few against many, but was actually the result of superiority in mounts, equipment, and cultivation level across the board.

Even more impressive was that the Wolf Cavalry Hall members suffered no casualties—not even any injuries.

Miao Kuai’s ten thousand cavalry spent the entire time trying to control their frightened horses and had no opportunity to counterattack.

Jun Changxiao shook his head: “No challenge at all.”

He preferred those epic battle scenes that took three to five chapters to describe the grandeur and cruelty of warfare.

“Sect Master.”

Xue Rengui said: “The cavalry regiment commanded by Miao Kuai wasn’t among the White Tiger Army’s elite forces. We must not become careless.”

“Mm.”

Jun Changxiao nodded.

Having only fought one battle, he certainly wouldn’t get complacent.

With the cavalry regiment completely wiped out, following their usual practice, everyone began expertly looting.

The soldiers’ spatial rings contained no martial resources or silver, but they were all equipped with magic explosive crossbows, each with two magic explosive arrows.

If they had been able to steady their frightened horses, they would have definitely used these weapons with tremendous destructive power.

Good thing they didn’t.

Because Xiao Zuiji and the two Drizzle Hall members hiding in the shadows would have had to show their skills again.

“Even though it’s a major commandery, they don’t have anything valuable,” Jun Changxiao remarked.

Xue Rengui said: “Once on the battlefield, life and death are beyond one’s control. Soldiers won’t bring martial resources to benefit others.”

“True enough.”

Jun Changxiao deployed his Exquisite Fire to cremate all the soldiers’ corpses, then ordered disciples to clean up the battlefield.

*Whoosh whoosh!*

A breeze blew across the hillside.

The battlefield, which had been flowing with blood, was now spotlessly clean, as if nothing had happened.

…

Shouyang City.

City Lord Han was currently pacing back and forth anxiously, his eyes filled with tragic determination.

He had just received news that after breaking through Qingling City in Huayang Commandery, ten thousand cavalry from Zhenyang Commandery were racing toward them across a thousand miles.

“City Lord.”

A general clad in battle armor said: “Shouyang City has fifty thousand troops. We should be able to contend with them!”

City Lord Han shook his head: “The attacking commander is the executioner Miao Kuai. His cavalry regiment is all equipped with magic explosive crossbows. Even though Shouyang City has more troops, we may not be able to defend it.”

“…” The general fell silent.

As a military man, he naturally knew the power of magic explosive crossbows. If each person fired one arrow, they could easily blast apart the city gates.

If the enemy used this weapon, there really was no chance of victory.

“Ah.”

City Lord Han sighed: “We can only leave it to fate!”

Knowing that what was about to arrive was a force he couldn’t contend with, but for the sake of the city, for the sake of preventing the people from becoming slaves, he had to defend to the death!

However.

After waiting three days, Zhenyang Commandery’s cavalry regiment still hadn’t arrived, leaving City Lord Han rather bewildered.

The general said in confusion: “City Lord, at cavalry speed, they should have arrived long ago. Why haven’t they appeared?”

“Perhaps the enemy is deliberately making us let down our guard for a surprise attack,” City Lord Han analyzed.

The general said: “According to intelligence, since entering Qingyang Commandery, Miao Kuai’s cavalry has vanished into thin air.”

“That’s the most terrifying part!”

City Lord Han urgently said: “Tell the soldiers they must remain fully alert and cannot let their guard down in the slightest.”

“Yes.”

Shouyang City mobilized all its citizens as soldiers, defending day and night, afraid the enemy army might suddenly appear.

Unable to bear seeing City Lord Han battle the air with such relish, Jun Changxiao, who had returned to the sect, wrote an anonymous letter and sent it.

The content was: The invading army has been completely annihilated. You may rest easy.

Looking at the unsigned letter, City Lord Han sneered coldly: “This must be an enemy trick. We absolutely cannot believe it.”

And so, not only did Shouyang City’s vigilance not relax, it became even stronger than before.

“Fine then.”

Sitting in the great hall and hearing the latest intelligence report from Li Luoqiu, Jun Changxiao shrugged: “Since City Lord Han enjoys battling the air so much, let him continue having endless joy.”

“Sect Master.”

Li Luoqiu continued: “Because Miao Kuai’s cavalry regiment has disappeared, the Zhenyang Commandery army stationed in Qingling City hasn’t made any moves.”

“What about Heyang Commandery?” Jun Changxiao asked.

Li Luoqiu said: “Two cities have already been captured. At this rate, taking the other ten cities will require at least one or two months.”

“We can delay for as long as possible,” Jun Changxiao murmured.

…

Over the following days, the latest battle reports from both commanderies were transmitted to the Iron Bones Sect through voice transmission techniques, and Jun Changxiao kept close watch.

“Sect Master.”

Li Qingyang came to report: “All the junior brothers and sisters have broken through to peak Wutu!”

To allow disciples to break through faster and face the coming war, Sect Master Jun had specially distributed many spirit stones, so having everyone reach peak Wutu was reasonable.

“Now…”

Resting his chin on the back of his hand, Jun Changxiao murmured: “We just wait for the medicinal ingredients to mature so we can refine Wushi Pills.”

Because both commanderies were defending to the death, Zhenyang Commandery was also afraid of suffering too many losses, so they deliberately slowed their offensive pace. Just like this, they dragged on for over ten days.

One day.

Old Wei handed over a spatial ring: “Sect Master, the medicinal ingredients have matured.”

Jun Changxiao quickly took it and pulled up the Pill Refining Pavilion interface, which showed he could refine over four thousand Wushi Pills!

Good, good, good—excellent!

Refine, refine, refine—must refine!

—