During this period, City Lord Xie had worked very hard, raising and reinforcing the city walls around Qingyang City considerably.
But this was only surface defense. If the enemy deployed magic explosive crossbows with such tremendous destructive power, even if the city walls reached into the clouds, they would still be blasted down.
Inside the city was a fairly spacious training ground.
Qingyang City’s fifty thousand soldiers had already assembled. Although they were quite disciplined, their strength was only at the third or fourth rank of Wutu.
Never mind facing the Tiger Might Army about to arrive—even against Miao Kuai’s cavalry, they would be hard-pressed to contend.
“Sect Master Jun.”
Xie Guangkun walked up to the high platform: “These are all of Qingyang City’s combat-ready forces.”
Jun Changxiao stopped and said: “City Lord Xie must have spent quite a bit of silver.”
Xie Guangkun nearly broke down in tears.
Fifty thousand soldiers—their daily training required expenses, their equipment and weapons required expenses. He had truly spent considerable silver and put in tremendous effort.
Xue Rengui transmitted: “Sect Master, City Lord Xie’s trained soldiers will have great difficulty contending with Tao Yuan’s Tiger Might Army. I believe we should let disciples defend the city instead.”
Jun Changxiao was thinking the same thing.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Xie Guangkun’s soldiers, but defending Qingyang City was related to whether he could complete his quest—he had to be extremely cautious!
“City Lord Xie.”
Jun Changxiao said: “If you trust this Seat, the Iron Bones Sect is willing to defend Qingyang City on your behalf.”
“Then I’ll trouble Sect Master Jun.”
Xie Guangkun also knew his trained soldiers had almost no chance of victory. Better to bet everything on Jun Changxiao.
The Iron Bones Sect he managed had grown powerful in just one year—perhaps he really could defend the city.
“These fifty thousand soldiers will obey Sect Master Jun’s commands.”
Xie Guangkun even gave up military command—clearly, he was truly ready to gamble everything.
“No need.”
Jun Changxiao said: “Let your soldiers rest in the city. Leave the rest to the Iron Bones Clanging Sect.”
City Lord Xie’s mouth twitched.
Although the fifty thousand soldiers weren’t elite, they were still a force. Yet Sect Master Jun didn’t want them—this was being a bit overconfident!
*Swish! Swish! Swish!*
Just then, a thousand Iron Bones Sect disciples ascended the city walls, standing in a line with considerable gaps between each person.
Qingyang City was huge, and the walls were huge.
Having a thousand people stand shoulder to shoulder was obviously unrealistic.
The Iron Bones Sect disciples stood on the walls with heads held high and chests out, their backs to the city, emanating an aura of iron bones.
The originally somewhat panicked citizens felt a surge of security upon sensing that aura!
City Lord Xie, who had been somewhat worried and doubtful, also became solemn with respect under the influence of the Iron Bones Sect disciples’ aura!
“Sect Master Jun!”
He shouted loudly: “The three million six hundred thousand people of Qingyang City are willing to live and die with the city!”
“Willing to live and die with the city!” The fifty thousand soldiers shouted in unison!
“Willing to live and die with the city!” The million citizens in the city also shouted loudly.
For a moment, the sound shook the firmament and took a long time to calm down.
The murderous aura that had been gathering above transformed into an aura of passion that made blood boil!
Jun Changxiao sat on the roof of the city tower, the back of his hand supporting his chin, his gaze looking toward the front as he murmured: “With my Iron Bones Sect here, no one can break through Qingyang City.”
*Swish!*
Xiao Zuiji leaped onto a watchtower, set up his Type 88 sniper rifle and AWM sniper rifle, then took out over ten extended magazines and began loading bullets one by one.
With Zhenyang Commandery’s army arriving, there would definitely be frequent shooting.
He didn’t want to waste time reloading after firing all the bullets.
On the other two watchtowers, Drizzle Hall members had already taken their positions.
The three of them formed a group, setting up two divinely modified AWM sniper rifles.
These people’s physical strength couldn’t compare to Xiao Zuiji’s. If they fired frequently, they would rotate to better withstand the recoil.
With snipers in position at three points, the Iron Bones Sect disciples on the walls summoned their Steel Shields.
Magic explosive crossbows confiscated from Miao Kuai’s cavalry regiment were also summoned, with each disciple equipped with five magic explosive arrows.
Inside the city, the Wolf Cavalry Hall members led by Zhong Yi were also preparing. A thousand Hurricane Wolves stood in the training ground, emanating an intimidating aura!
“Finally we can stretch our legs.”
“I’ve been holding it in for so long!”
Su Xiaomo and Li Fei were doing pre-battle warm-up exercises in front of the city walls.
Lu Qianqian, Li Qingyang, Tian Qi, Ye Xingchen, Long Zixuan, and other inner disciples were all in front of the walls.
Jiang Xie sat in a wall embrasure, his fingers tapping continuously on the brick surface, a smile playing at his lips.
The coming war would definitely see all of the Iron Bones Sect’s elite deployed.
“Sect Master.”
Xue Rengui walked along the wall: “Everything is ready.”
“Mm.”
Jun Changxiao responded.
*Buzz! Buzz!*
Just then, faint sounds came from directly north. Looking into the distance, dust filled the air, sweeping forward with the momentum of a massive sandstorm.
*Thud thud thud!*
As it drew closer, the sound became clearer—obviously the sound of ten thousand horses galloping!
“They’re here!”
City Lord Xie’s heart immediately seized up.
The citizens inside the city also grew nervous—after all, the attackers were from a Sixth-Rank Commandery!
Sitting on the roof, Jun Changxiao’s lips curved into a smile: “Whether I can complete the Epic Quest and achieve Sword-Martial Dual Wuwang will be decided today.”
*Hiss hiss hiss!*
After a moment, a thousand feet outside the city walls, the dust gradually settled. Twenty thousand fully armed warhorses stood side by side, bearing fierce soldiers clad in leather armor.
*Thud! Thud! Thud!*
After another moment, ten thousand infantry wearing battle armor and wielding long spears charged forward, arranging themselves neatly behind the cavalry.
From the aura they emanated, they were definitely much stronger than Miao Kuai’s cavalry regiment.
*Swish! Swish! Swish!*
As the enemy army appeared, the Iron Bones Sect disciples scattered along the walls all converged, finally all standing on the north-facing wall.
The camera view from above looking down:
Outside the city, Zhenyang Commandery’s thirty thousand troops had magnificent morale.
On the north wall and tower inside the city, there were only a mere thousand people defending!
This… was quite a disparity!
At some point in the future, when war spread to Qingyang Commandery and tens of thousands of iron cavalry descended upon Qingyang City, that man and those disciples would stand on the walls, using their iron bones to protect the three million six hundred thousand people inside the city.
This passage, this setup—I’m filling it in today.
“General.”
After Zhenyang Commandery’s thirty thousand troops took position, a deputy general pointed toward the tower, quite surprised: “Someone’s sitting up there!”
Tao Yuan, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, looked up and indeed saw a person sitting there.
“We’ve been quite open about this invasion. Qingyang City definitely received word. Why are there so few soldiers deployed on the walls?” A deputy general said in confusion.
“Could it be that knowing they can’t contend with our Tiger Might Army, they sent a few people up as a show?” someone suggested.
Tao Yuan kicked his tall warhorse and rode to the front of the formation, then shouted toward Qingyang City: “Is the person sitting on the tower the City Lord of Qingyang City?”
Hearing this, Xie Guangkun inside the city—his mouth twitched violently: “I’m not as flashy as Sect Master Jun!”
—