“Sect Leader.”
Xue Rengui exclaimed in admiration: “These soldiers are like divine warriors descended from heaven!”
Jun Changxiao asked: “If we had even more soldiers like these, what are the odds of victory in battle against Zhenyang Commandery?”
“If we had around one hundred thousand soldiers trained to this level of proficiency, we might not be able to engage Zhenyang Commandery in direct frontal combat, but defending Qingyang City would be absolutely foolproof!” Xue Rengui said earnestly.
“Is that so?”
Jun Changxiao smiled.
The soldiers conjured from Spirit Beans could be controlled at will and could even execute martial techniques—they were absolutely formidable, giving him even greater confidence to fight head-on against Zhenyang Commandery.
“Continue drilling the Wolf Cavalry Hall. Don’t show any slack,” Jun Changxiao instructed.
“Yes.”
Xue Rengui was deeply puzzled. After Tao Yuan was captured and joined the Iron Bones Sect, why had there been no response from Zhenyang Commandery?
He didn’t know this was due to the War Exemption Token’s effects.
After returning to the sect, Sect Leader Jun began cultivating again, determined to break through to Rank 2 Sword-Martial Dual King within one month!
At this moment, he felt no anxiety or hesitation whatsoever.
He even looked forward to Zhenyang Commandery leading their great army here, so he could show them what a truly elite force looked like!
…
One month later.
The War Exemption Token’s effects expired, and the people of Zhenyang Commandery gradually recovered their memories that seemed to have been paused.
“Strange.”
Inside the secret chamber of Spiritsource Sect, the Martial Emperor who had returned furrowed his brow in confusion: “How did I end up back at the sect?”
As his chaotic memories gradually sorted themselves out.
He suddenly recalled that he had been sent by the Sect Leader to Qingyang Commandery and had found the murderer who killed Zhuang Yong!
But when he invoked the Power of Heaven and Earth and condensed a giant hand to strike him down, a stream of light came crashing down from the firmament, and then…
The Martial Emperor’s thoughts became clearer and clearer, and his hair stood increasingly on end!
At that time.
The power that descended was terrifyingly formidable—so terrifying that he felt like a weak ant!
When He Wudi emerged from the void, his cultivation was still in the midst of frantic regression. Even so, it was absolutely beyond what any Martial King on the Falling Stars Continent could contend with.
This Spiritsource Sect expert should consider himself fortunate—fortunate that when the other party descended, his cultivation had regressed significantly. Otherwise, being struck by that blow would have meant certain death on the spot!
“That seemed to be a person.”
“Could it be reinforcements that fellow called in?”
“Or perhaps there exists an even stronger being within Zhenyang Commandery?”
The Martial Emperor’s face showed wariness!
“Grand Elder!”
Just then, the Spiritsource Sect Leader transmitted a message: “Please come to the great hall immediately.”
As it turned out, this Martial Emperor expert was the Grand Elder of Spiritsource Sect—no wonder his cultivation was so formidable!
…
Inside the great hall.
The approximately seventy-year-old Spiritsource Sect Leader sat in the seat of honor, his aged face showing anger.
The elders seated below also had grim expressions, though their strength was still somewhat inferior compared to the upper echelon of Wondrous Flower Palace.
“Sect Leader!”
One elder said coldly: “Elder Shui and Elder Zhuang died in Qingyang Commandery. We must punish them severely!”
Another elder said icily: “Though we don’t know who was responsible, since they died in Qingyang Commandery, let the entire commandery be buried with our fallen elders!”
The deaths of two Martial Kings filled the Spiritsource Sect’s upper echelon with rage.
Just as they were expressing their righteous indignation, the Grand Elder walked in, and everyone rose to salute him.
“Sect Leader.”
The Grand Elder sat down with a grave expression: “I fear Zhenyang Commandery has an expert of unfathomably profound strength.”
Everyone looked surprised.
The Spiritsource Sect Leader asked: “What makes you say so?”
The Grand Elder quickly recounted the attack he suffered in the wilderness.
The Sect Leader and elders all fell silent.
An attack that came without warning, one that even a Martial Emperor couldn’t evade—such strength was certainly terrifying!
“Could it be a Martial Saint?” the Spiritsource Sect Leader asked with furrowed brows.
The Grand Elder shook his head: “Hard to say.”
The Spiritsource Sect Leader was about to speak when a disciple entered and said: “Sect Leader, a letter has arrived from the Commandery Governor!”
“Oh?”
He quickly received it, and after reading, said solemnly: “The Commandery Governor wants to attack Qingyang Commandery and has requested that our Spiritsource Sect send people to accompany him.”
If they hadn’t heard the Grand Elder’s account, everyone would have readily responded.
Now, with Qingyang Commandery suspected of harboring a Martial Saint-level expert, everyone hesitated.
“Sigh.”
The Spiritsource Sect Leader let out a long breath and said: “Since our Spiritsource Sect has placed our wager on Zhenyang Commandery, we naturally must cooperate fully.”
He said: “Third Elder, Fourth Elder, you two lead several hundred disciples down the mountain.”
“Yes!”
The Third and Fourth Elders acknowledged the command and led the disciples down the mountain.
As for the Grand Elder, fearing the expert who had ambushed him, he chose to continue his secluded cultivation.
It seemed that He Wudi’s crossing of the void not only rescued Sect Leader Jun but also successfully contained a Martial Emperor-level expert!
…
After the War Exemption Token expired, Zhenyang Commandery naturally remembered that Tao Yuan had been defeated and captured.
With Huayang Commandery and Heyang Commandery taken, and now the loss of a young general and an elite force in Qingyang Commandery, they naturally couldn’t accept this.
The Commandery Governor immediately ordered the mobilization of three hundred thousand troops to attack Qingyang Commandery.
He not only notified Spiritsource Sect but also informed Severed Waters Pavilion, who similarly dispatched two Martial King elders and several hundred disciples.
Two days later.
Everyone converged at a city in Heyang Commandery, and the three hundred thousand troops along with numerous experts surged forward in a mighty wave.
“Sect Leader.”
At Iron Bones Sect, Li Luoqiu, who had received the news, said with furrowed brows: “Zhenyang Commandery’s great army will arrive at Qingyang City in three days.”
“Finally coming.”
Jun Changxiao quickly mobilized Wolf Cavalry Hall and the disciples, ordering them to proceed to Tiegu City at maximum speed.
As for Tao Yuan, whose memories had been restored, he shut himself in his room, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
I was captured.
I became a disciple of Iron Bones Sect.
Can someone tell me what’s going on here!
Jun Changxiao knew he needed time to accept reality, so he didn’t disturb him. He entrusted sect affairs to Li Luoqiu and headed for Qingyang City.
“Sect Leader Jun.”
On the city tower, Xi Jingxuan said in surprise: “Your aura seems stronger than before.”
Over this past month, Jun Changxiao had remained in seclusion cultivating. With sufficient Natural Spirit Stones and Qi Gathering Pills, he finally advanced from Rank 1 to Rank 2!
Before coming to Qingyang City, he specifically went to the training hall to test his strength, and a single punch registered at four million jin.
Super-tier Martial Kings increased their strength by five hundred thousand with each rank advancement, but this fellow directly achieved one million—truly formidable!
The System had said: “Host is now capable of battling a peak High-tier Martial King.”
For a Low-tier to fight across levels was understandable.
But at the Martial King level, to directly leap across so many ranks and contend with a peak Martial King was absolutely terrifying!
This was Sword-Martial Dual King.
This was Dual Spirit Cores.
Cultivation was much slower than normal martial cultivators, but with each advancement, even just a single rank, the explosive increase in strength was tremendous!
“Uh.”
Jun Changxiao scratched his head and said: “Recently I gained new understanding of the martial path and my strength improved a little.”
“Only a little?” Xi Jingxuan asked skeptically.
Unable to see light with her eyes, she possessed exceptional sensitivity in spiritual perception.
“Palace Master Xi.”
Jun Changxiao said: “This seat has already received intelligence that Zhenyang Commandery has dispatched three hundred thousand troops, accompanied by experts from two sects.”
He wouldn’t reveal that he’d broken through, since becoming a Dual King and then advancing another rank in just a few months would surely raise unnecessary suspicions.
“Such a massive force?”
Xi Jingxuan pondered briefly, then said: “Sect Leader Jun, my Wondrous Flower Palace can help your sect share the burden of the two sects’ people, but as for the three hundred thousand troops, we’re powerless to assist.”
Jun Changxiao said: “Palace Master Xi need only contain the two sects’ experts. Leave the rest to my Iron Bones Sect.”
“Zhenyang Commandery is a commandery skilled in warfare. Sect Leader Jun, are you confident you can contend with them?” Xi Jingxuan asked curiously.
Jun Changxiao stood with hands behind his back, gazing at the battlefield outside, his eyes cold and stern: “This seat is not only confident, but will make those who dare attack my Qingyang City pay the most painful price!”
His voice was cold and stern, filled with killing intent.
Clearly, before long, there would be a shocking massacre!