Chapter 295: The Thirty-Six Great Generals

Chapter 295: The Thirty-Six Great Generals

December 29, 2024

"Reporting to the General!"

"A scout has arrived with news. The Divine Might Dynasty's army has been spotted five hundred li outside of Qingyun City and will arrive soon!"

Inside the yamen of Cloud Immortal Manor's Qingyun City, a scout respectfully reported, and a middle-aged general in armor listened with a grave expression.

"The Divine Might Dynasty is acting swiftly!"

Lu Zhou's heart grew heavy.

He had already learned of the fall of Taiyang Prefecture.

As a neighboring prefecture to Taiyang Prefecture, Cloud Immortal Manor would undoubtedly become the next target of the Divine Might Dynasty.

However, in Lu Zhou's opinion, even though the Divine Might Dynasty had conquered Taiyang Prefecture, it would still take some time to stabilize the situation before they could continue their military campaign.

But now, from the fall of Taiyang Prefecture to the dispatch of the Divine Might Dynasty's army, it had been less than two days.

Such a rapid move shocked Lu Zhou.

It was evident that the Divine Might Dynasty's generals were even more formidable than he had imagined.

"Scout again! I want to know the size of the Divine Might Dynasty's army and who exactly is leading them!"

"Yes, sir!"

The scout immediately retreated.

After that, Lu Zhou turned to another person in the hall, a man in blue robes with a scholarly demeanor, looking as if he couldn't even bind a chicken.

However, Lu Zhou's expression became respectful.

"The Divine Might Dynasty is coming with full force, and Taiyang Prefecture has already fallen. With Cloud Immortal Manor's current defensive strength, it will be difficult to match them."

"It seems we'll have to ask for assistance from Official Nan."

Upon hearing this, the scholar in blue robes smiled faintly, "Official Nan is too kind. The Starlight Empire and the Return Origin Dynasty are like branches of the same tree. Now that the Divine Might Dynasty has invaded, I cannot stand idly by.

I've heard that the commander of the Divine Might Dynasty's army is quite capable, and I'd like to see for myself!"

"With Official Nan here, I believe the Divine Might Dynasty won't be a problem!"

Lu Zhou's expression relaxed, and he smiled.

It was no wonder he had such confidence in the scholar before him. Despite his gentle and amiable demeanor, he was actually the ninth-ranked powerful figure among the Thirty-Six Great Generals of the Starlight Empire.

With him here, the Divine Might Dynasty couldn't possibly succeed.

Of course, if the Supreme Emperor of the Divine Might Dynasty personally intervened, that would be a different matter.

But according to Lu Zhou's understanding, the Supreme Emperor rarely interfered in worldly affairs and spent most of his time in seclusion, so Lu Zhou wasn't overly concerned.

---

Within Cloud Immortal Manor.

The army temporarily set up camp for rest and recuperation.

Shi Zhen listened to his subordinates' reports, his expression growing increasingly grave.

"One of the Thirty-Six Great Generals!"

"Nan Mo..."

Shi Zhen's mind flashed with information about this person.

The Thirty-Six Great Generals were the core power of an imperial dynasty, and Nan Mo was the ninth-ranked among them. His cultivation had reached the Demi-Saint Realm.

More importantly, since entering service, Nan Mo had led the Starlight Empire in campaigns, rarely suffering defeats.

Additionally, this ninth-ranked Great General was exceptionally powerful, and countless cultivators had perished at his hands.

Shi Zhen couldn't help but take this formidable opponent seriously.

"A Demi-Saint is indeed a significant problem!"

In the tent, the other generals also looked solemn, creating a somewhat oppressive atmosphere.

After all, a Demi-Saint cultivator was a formidable opponent, putting them under considerable pressure.

Moreover, a person's reputation often precedes them.

Nan Mo, as a Great General of the Starlight Empire, commanded respect, whether in military strategy or personal strength.

At this moment, a subordinate general spoke up, "If this person is in Qingyun City, we will have to pay a heavy price to capture it.

But if we bypass Qingyun City, we may easily face enemies on both fronts.

This matter seems quite tricky!"

"Indeed... In my opinion, we should take a long-term approach and plan carefully!"

The others nodded in agreement.

The presence of a Demi-Saint cultivator dampened their spirits, which had been high after the victory in Taiyang Prefecture.

Shi Zhen's expression turned stern as he looked at the people in the tent and spoke in a deep voice, "A Demi-Saint is not enough to make our army retreat."

"A Demi-Saint is still human and can also die!"

"Our Divine Might elite forces are all here. Even if it's the ninth-ranked Great General, or even if all Thirty-Six Great Generals arrive, what of it? Under a million iron cavalry, they will be wiped out!"

Just then, a soldier entered the tent and bowed, "Reporting to the General, the Crimson Guard Commander, Gu, seeks an audience."

"Please show him in quickly!"

Shi Zhen's spirit lifted, and a smile appeared on his face.

Having received the order, the soldier bowed and retreated. Moments later, a man named Gu Yi entered the tent, carrying a black box on his back.

"Greetings, Lord Shi Zhen!"

"Lord Gu Yi, you're too kind!" Shi Zhen hastily returned the greeting, feeling rather intimidated by Gu Yi.

Although Shi Zhen held a higher position, he was well aware that the Crimson Guard's status was not to be judged by rank alone.

This organization was exceptionally special, and even Shi Zhen had to treat it with utmost seriousness.

Of course.

There was another primary reason.

The man before him, Gu Yi, was also a top-notch expert in the Dao Palace Realm's Ninth Level.

Shi Zhen was well aware of the challenges in breaking through to the Ninth Level of the Dao Palace Realm. Now that Gu Yi had also reached this level, certain things were understood without needing to be spoken.

It was crucial to know that even the leaders of the Heaven Patrol Guards and the Evil Extermination Department, such as Nan Yue Shan and the powerful figures of the Zhenxie Department, had not received such an honor.

Gu Yi's breakthrough was a clear indication of the high regard Emperor Gu Yang had for him.

Then, Shi Zhen asked, "Lord Gu Yi, has His Majesty given you any instructions regarding this visit?"

"His Majesty has learned that the Starlight Empire intends to interfere in this matter, fearing that Lord Shi Zhen is not a match for the Starlight Empire. Therefore, I have been ordered to bring a precious treasure as assistance for you, Lord Shi Zhen!"

As Gu Yi finished speaking, he removed the black box from his back and handed it directly to Shi Zhen.

The box felt icy cold to the touch, but Shi Zhen could sense the terrifying aura emanating from within. When he opened the box, a killing intent soared, and a blood-red light filled the entire tent.

"This is..."

Shi Zhen's eyes widened as he stared at the Godslayer Spear before him. Although he couldn't discern its origin, the extraordinary phenomenon that appeared was enough to demonstrate the spear's extraordinary nature.

The other generals' gazes also fixed on the bronze battle spear, their faces filled with shock.

"This is the Godslayer Spear, once the great sage weapon of the Ancient Wilderness Holy Land. After the Ancient Wilderness Holy Land was destroyed, this treasure fell into the hands of the Supreme Emperor.

His Majesty specifically acquired this treasure from the Supreme Emperor and tasked me with delivering it to you, Lord Shi Zhen."

Gu Yi spoke calmly, his words filling Shi Zhen with delight.

"Excellent, Lord Gu Yi. Please return and inform His Majesty that with this treasure's assistance, I will surely conquer the entire Return Origin Dynasty!"

A mere Ninth Great General was nothing to worry about, even if they had a Demi-Saint cultivator. Now that the Godslayer Spear was in his possession, Shi Zhen didn't consider them a threat.

After all, the might of a Great Sage Weapon was not something a Demi-Saint could contend with.

Not even a true Saint would be a concern for Shi Zhen at this moment.

Although Shi Zhen had not yet fully refined the Godslayer Spear, he could clearly sense the terrifying power contained within it.

Such a treasure was indeed awe-inspiring.

Then, Gu Yi cupped his hands and said, "I will deliver your message, Lord Shi Zhen. This matter is settled, and I must return to report. Farewell for now!"

"Lord Gu Yi, please stay a while longer!"

Shi Zhen didn't try to detain Gu Yi and politely escorted him out of the tent.

He looked at the Godslayer Spear before him and then turned to the other generals.

"Pass on my order. The army will rest for three days. After three days, we will march towards Qingyun City!"

"Yes, sir!"

The generals were now filled with excitement.

Initially, they had no confidence in facing the Starlight Empire, but now the situation had changed.

The court had personally sent a Great Sage Weapon to bolster their army. With such a treasure in hand, what could the Starlight Empire possibly do?

Although the Starlight Empire indeed possessed a profound foundation, the Divine Might Dynasty was not facing the entire empire, but merely a Demi-Saint cultivator from the empire.

Therefore, the generals didn't feel much tension.

As for Shi Zhen's decision to let the army rest for three days, they had their speculations.

It was only to give them time to master the Great Sage Weapon.

After all, such treasures were not something anyone could wield; they needed to refine it to unleash its true power.

Although Shi Zhen was unaware of the generals' speculations, this was indeed his plan.

---

As the Divine Might Dynasty's army set up camp, this news quickly reached the spies of the Return Origin Dynasty and was promptly delivered to Lu Zhou.

Upon hearing this news, Lu Zhou pondered for a moment and concluded that the Divine Might Dynasty's decision to set up camp instead of attacking immediately was due to their wariness of the Starlight Empire.

Understanding this point, Lu Zhou's heart became calm and composed.

"The Shengchen Emperor Dynasty is still the Shengchen Emperor Dynasty, even with some opportunities, its foundation is limited!"

Lu Zhou smiled slightly and then ordered someone to inform Nan Mo of this news.

The powerful being from the Starlight Empire heard this and shared Lu Zhou's sentiment.

The submission was made.

Nan Mo didn't take it too seriously.

After all, his purpose for this trip was merely to assist the Guiyuan Emperor Dynasty in stabilizing the situation. With the Divine Might Dynasty's army setting up camp, there was no need for hasty actions, and Nan Mo didn't want to create unnecessary trouble.

At this moment—

In the Divine Might Dynasty's army camp, Shi Shen was seated in meditation. The iron box that once held the Godslayer Spear was now empty, and his Vital Point, where the Dao Palace Realm was located, revealed a tranquil war spear lying there.

The war spear was stained with blood!

A boiling killing intent! As Shi Shen's Divine Consciousness entered the bronze war spear, it subtly stirred the power of this supreme treasure. The Great Sage Weapon trembled wildly, and a surging killing intent swept through like a tidal wave.

The next moment—

As Shi Shen's Divine Consciousness moved, the Godslayer Spear returned to his Vital Point. A faint yet profound connection formed between them, giving him a feeling as if he could tear apart the heavens and the earth.

However—

Shi Shen didn't truly unleash this strike. Instead, he reabsorbed the Godslayer Spear into his Vital Point.

"It's indeed a Great Sage Weapon. Even with my current cultivation, it took three days to barely imprint a fraction of my soul onto it. To fully refine it, I'll need much more time!"

"But even so, it's enough. Three days of rest is sufficient, and there's no need to delay any further."

Shi Shen didn't plan to continue refining the Godslayer Spear. Imprinting a fraction of his soul was enough to initially activate the power of this Great Sage Weapon.

It must be known—

The Great Sage Weapon was terrifying.

Even activating a fraction of its power was enough to effortlessly suppress any cultivator below the Sage level.

Currently, the Divine Might Dynasty's army was divided into three routes, with the other two armies engaged in battle. If the Yunxian Prefecture's battle prolonged, it would increase the pressure on the other two armies.

No matter how you looked at it, three days of rest for the army was already the limit, and continuing to delay would be counterproductive.

Shi Shen immediately exited seclusion, summoned all the generals, and directly issued the order to attack.

In an instant—

The horn sounded.

After three days of rest, all the soldiers had recovered to a great extent, and their morale reached a true peak.

In less than an hour, several million troops were fully assembled.

"Depart!"

"Today, we will capture Qingyun City!"

Shi Shen rode on a tall horse, his deep gaze fixed on a distant ancient city.

There—

Was Qingyun City! Although it was hundreds of miles away, the terrain was flat, and with the extraordinary vision of Dao Palace Realm cultivators, discovering Qingyun City wasn't a difficult task.

As the army set out, it immediately alerted all the spies of the Guiyuan Emperor Dynasty.

In less than an hour—

This news reached Lu Zhou.

"What?! The Divine Might Dynasty is marching towards Qingyun City?!"

"Yes, the Divine Might Dynasty's several million troops are advancing towards Qingyun City. We request the official's decision!"

"Report again later!"

Lu Zhou waved for the messenger to retreat, his expression turning grim and his face becoming extremely unsightly.

He had thought that the Divine Might Dynasty would be cautious due to the Starlight Empire, but he didn't expect them to march again after just three days of ceasefire.

Now, with several million troops approaching aggressively, Lu Zhou felt immense pressure.

Just then—

Nan Mo entered the hall.

"Lord Lu, I heard that the Divine Might Dynasty is planning to attack Qingyun City?"

As Nan Mo entered the main hall, he was the first to speak.

Lu Zhou glanced at him and forced a displeased smile, "Lord Nan, you're indeed well-informed. I've just received the news, and you already know about it."

"Indeed, the Divine Might Dynasty's several million troops are marching towards Qingyun City. It won't be long before they reach the city gates."

"If this battle erupts, I fear Qingyun City won't be able to withstand it. We'll need to rely on you, Lord Nan!"

Nan Mo's appearance calmed Lu Zhou's anxious heart.

In his opinion—

The Divine Might Dynasty's aggressive approach was undeniable, but with the Starlight Empire's powerful being stationed, if a battle truly broke out, the outcome was uncertain.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end