The Cripple and Qin Mu walked out of Qingmen Pass. The many generals in the pass all frowned. Bian Zhenyun hurriedly asked the State Preceptor of Yankang for instructions. The State Preceptor shook his head: "No need to help them. With that Cripple around, no one can kill Cult Master Qin."
"The Cripple?" Everyone looked at the Cripple. This old man had all four limbs intact and walked very fast. How was he crippled?
"Heart crippled."
The State Preceptor of Yankang's expression looked somewhat unpleasant. "His morals are crippled, his shadow is crooked because he isn't upright, and he has a crippled mind. No need to mention him. Shan Youxin, how many Divine Sky Rings have the Ministry of Works and the Imperial Academy refined?"
"Fourteen thousand."
Shan Youxin said: "They're already loaded on the True Essence Cannons. In another day, we can refine the remaining few thousand. Then we can attack the enemy camp."
The State Preceptor of Yankang looked at the majestic pass opposite and said lightly: "No need to wait another day. Pass down the order: all armies prepare to move out immediately! Tower ships form formation and push straight across! General Bian, Grand Commandant, General Auxiliary the State, General Cavalry Commander, Grand Pillar of State, Duke of Wei, Pillar of State General, Champion General, General Huaihua!"
He called out the names one by one, and the many Yankang generals stepped forward to receive their orders.
After the rebellion of the former Crown Prince Ling Yuxia, all officials of Ling Yuxia's faction were purged. However, the State of Yankang was, after all, a land of heroes and talents. The Emperor promoted many new officials to take their place, so there was no gap in personnel.
The State Preceptor of Yankang said in a deep voice: "Mobilize the troops behind the pass. Behind the tower ships, once the ships open formation, the great army behind will sweep clean. And you all keep your eyes on the enemy's Divine Bridge and Life and Death realm experts, ready to kill at any moment!"
The generals' hearts went cold. Duke of Wei said: "State Preceptor, Cult Master Qin is still in front of the formation. If we attack rashly, I'm afraid the enemy will target him."
The State Preceptor of Yankang smiled: "The moment he retreats is the moment to attack. There's no need to worry about his safety. And with that Cripple around, there are fewer than a handful of people in the world who can hurt him."
Bian Zhenyun said: "Who will command the tower ships?"
The tower ships were originally dispersed among the various armies, commanded by each army's generals. Now that the State Preceptor of Yankang changed his battle strategy, using all the tower ships to clear the way, a new army needed to be established. It had to be commanded by a strong person skilled in assault to handle each tower ship and cope with the ever-changing battlefield situation.
The State Preceptor of Yankang's eyes flashed. He said in a deep voice: "Summon the mid-level officers of all armies! Also, have all the Imperial Academy's Guozijian come here!"
After a moment, hundreds of mid-level officers and many Guozijian from the Imperial Academy arrived.
"Two hundred and forty-five tower ships are equivalent to two hundred and forty-five flying swords."
The State Preceptor of Yankang swept his gaze around and said in a deep voice: "Those skilled in swordplay, who can simultaneously control two hundred and forty-five flying swords, step forward!"
More than fifty people stepped forward from the mid-level officers and Guozijian.
The State Preceptor of Yankang's yuan qi erupted, transforming into countless flying swords circling around him: "Attack me. Break through my sword formation. The one who stabs my body will be the new army commander!"
Upon hearing this, the fifty-plus powerhouses each displayed their sword techniques and attacked the State Preceptor of Yankang. In an instant, countless sword lights whirled rapidly, and the dense clanging sounds of collisions were incessant!
The State Preceptor of Yankang stood there motionless, using his mind to control the countless sword lights to block all the attacks from these fifty-plus generals and Guozijian.
Suddenly, a general was stabbed in the chest, but the State Preceptor of Yankang's sword light did not wound him. The general immediately withdrew.
After a moment, more and more people were stabbed and withdrew, leaving only a dozen or so sword experts still attacking.
Duke of Wei, Bian Zhenyun, and the others watched this scene, silently praising in their hearts. The remaining dozen or so people were all the most outstanding in swordplay, their attainment in sword techniques was at the master level. The only thing they lacked was cultivation.
It was gratifying that the State of Yankang produced so many talented people.
After another moment, of the dozen or so people, only three remained, still attacking the State Preceptor of Yankang. Suddenly, a sword sun burst forth, red light like fire, illuminating the surroundings incomparably brightly. A sword light pierced out from within the red sun, penetrating the State Preceptor of Yankang's sword defense and stabbing a small hole in the hem of his robe.
The State Preceptor of Yankang raised his hand, stopping the three. He looked at the person who had stabbed his robe hem and said: "Guozijian of Hanguang Hall?"
The one who had stabbed his robe hem was the Sword Hall Master. He bowed and said: "Hanguang Hall, Jian Sansheng."
The State Preceptor of Yankang nodded and looked at the other general who had displayed the red sun. Just now, he had displayed the Setting Sun Sword Technique, allowing the Sword Hall Master to succeed. He said: "General of Guerde, Yuyuan Chuyun?"
Yuyuan Chuyun bowed and said: "State Preceptor."
The State Preceptor of Yankang smiled: "Jian Sansheng, you will be the new army commander. Yuyuan Chuyun, you will be the new army deputy commander. I'll give you half an hour to familiarize yourselves with the names of all the ship captains and ship numbers. Remember all the captains and ship numbers. Remember, when commanding the tower ships, don't think of them as tower ships, but as your flying swords!"
The Sword Hall Master's eyes flashed with sword gleam. He said in a deep voice: "State Preceptor, what do you want us to do?"
The State Preceptor of Yankang pointed at the majestic pass opposite: "Flatten Helan Pass for me!"
The Sword Hall Master's body shook violently. He turned his head to look at the majestic pass opposite, heroic spirit surging in his chest.
At this time, Qin Mu and the Cripple had already arrived at the duck-bill shaped area.
"Lord Qin Cuo, I hope you've been well since we last met?" Qin Mu called out with a laugh.
Ban Gongcuo smiled slightly and looked around at his companions: "Luan Di Khan, this is the Heavenly Demon Cult Master. Not someone who can display sword light like an ocean, right?"
Behind him, Luan Di Khan's gaze was like lightning as he looked at Qin Mu, saying in a deep voice: "It's this boy. When he arrived on the battlefield, that terrifying sword technique erupted, making it hard to breathe."
Qin Mu looked behind Ban Gongcuo and was slightly stunned.
Behind Ban Gongcuo followed the various Khans of the grasslands, as well as the Witch King of the Loulan Golden Palace. However, one person was the most eye-catching.
He was tall and burly, even taller than the Sword Hall Master and the Medicine Master. Although it was late summer, he wore thick raccoon fur robes, with a golden knife and quiver at his waist.
"The mighty ruler of the grasslands, Luan Di Khan!" Qin Mu felt the Khan's aggressive, fire-like gaze and immediately guessed his identity.
Back then, the Witch Lord personally bestowed upon him the title of Khan. Luan Di Khan meant the world's greatest archer, and his tribe was also skilled in mounted archery. From that time on, Luan Di Khan rose from the grasslands, his power growing ever greater.
Luan Di Khan's martial strength was absolutely top-tier. He was not merely a great archer. Back when Qin Mu and the Ba Shan Ji Jiu saw Ban Gongcuo on the city tower of this pass before he was possessed, Ban Gongcuo's fist technique had made both Qin Mu and the Ba Shan Ji Jiu view him in a new light.
And at that time, Ban Gongcuo's fist technique origin was Luan Di Khan, showing that his combat power was not limited to archery.
People often compared Luan Di Khan with Emperor Yanfeng. Both were mighty rulers who carried out sweeping reforms. Luan Di Khan was more like an imitator of Emperor Yanfeng, learning from his actions to reform the chaotic state of the various tribes on the grasslands each governing independently, annexing other tribes, and uprooting the small and large witch cults on the grasslands one by one. The experts of the small and large witch cults were absorbed by him into the army.
If it were not for the intentional or unintentional obstruction of the Loulan Golden Palace, he would have unified the grasslands long ago.
At that time, the Loulan Golden Palace was also worried that after Luan Di Khan unified the grasslands, he would emulate the State Preceptor of Yankang and Emperor Yanfeng and suppress the Golden Palace, so they did not fully support him. Not until the Great Venerable was reincarnated as Ban Gongcuo, and Ban Gongcuo regained control of the Golden Palace, did they fully support his great cause of unifying the grasslands.
"Luan Di Khan's strength is probably not much weaker than Emperor Yanfeng's."
Qin Mu smiled slightly, taking a step ahead of the Cripple and calling out: "Ban Gongcuo, is that your father, Luan Di Khan, behind you?"
Ban Gongcuo was unmoved and said with a smile: "Little wretch, you still want to provoke me?"
"Senior Brother Luan Di!"
Qin Mu, with a beaming face, bowed to Luan Di Khan: "The Heavenly Saint Cult Master greets the Khan of the grasslands."
Luan Di Khan frowned, somewhat at a loss. Qin Mu was obviously trying to take advantage of Ban Gongcuo. If he returned Qin Mu's greeting, it would make Ban Gongcuo junior to Qin Mu, and the next moment Qin Mu would make Ban Gongcuo call him uncle. If he didn't return the greeting, it would be a breach of etiquette. In the future, after conquering the State of Yankang, Qin Mu would certainly lead the Heavenly Demon Cult to make things difficult for him.
Ban Gongcuo knew his thoughts and said with a smile: "Luan Di Khan, this little scoundrel named Qin is just so infuriating. One sentence can leave you speechless, wishing you could grab him and tear him to pieces. Now that you've met him, you should know that all his skill is in his mouth. That's all."
Luan Di Khan said: "Then is the one who displayed sword light like an ocean the old man behind him?"
Ban Gongcuo didn't recognize the Cripple either. He shook his head: "Not him. It's a handless and footless old immortal. Don't worry, this old immortal won't easily make a move. He has too many rules that limit himself to death. And in a few days, someone from the Upper Realm will come here to eliminate him."
He smiled: "After he dies, you can flatten Qingmen Pass, march straight in, and become the master of the Central Plains!"
Luan Di Khan hurriedly said: "Then the Golden Palace will be the only sacred land in the world!"
Ban Gongcuo laughed: "You don't need to be so cautious. My goal isn't being the first or only sacred land. My goal is far beyond your imagination."
He thought of the Golden Book Scroll he kept close to his body, and his heart grew hot. His fist clenched involuntarily.
Just then, Qin Mu strode over with a beaming face: "Luan Di Khan is so rude. I greeted you, but you didn't return the greeting. Your family upbringing is truly poor, no wonder you taught this little rabbit Ban Gongcuo to be like this."
Ban Gongcuo's face darkened, about to speak. Qin Mu suddenly quickened his pace and rushed towards him, shouting: "Ban Gongcuo, come out and call me uncle! Uncle will spank your butt!"
Ban Gongcuo flew into a rage. He glanced and saw the old man still standing there smiling from afar, far from this place. He then let his evil intentions take over and rushed towards Qin Mu, sneering: "Surname Qin, last time on the ship I couldn't kill you. This time, I'll make you die on this battlefield!"
The two collided with a boom. Their respective magical powers erupted, their divine abilities burst forth, shaking the surrounding air currents into a spinning expansion!
Ban Gongcuo felt his arms go numb and his heart shook slightly: "I'm already at the peak of the Six Harmonies realm, yet this kid's magical power is still not weaker than mine!"
Qin Mu brought his hands together. Countless sword lights soared into the sky from the Glutton Bag behind him, attacking Ban Gongcuo!
Ban Gongcuo hurried to defend. Suddenly, the countless sword lights retracted sharply, condensing into a huge, silvery, gleaming sphere that pressed down. Ban Gongcuo raised both hands to hold up this enormous Sword Pearl, grunting softly as he was pressed into the ground.
Luan Di Khan and the others, along with the Witch King of the Golden Palace, rushed forward to rescue him, attacking. Qin Mu quickly opened the Glutton Bag and put the Sword Pearl away. Meanwhile, the smiling old man's figure suddenly vanished like a ghost, flickering beside everyone. The group was thrown into chaos in an instant, feeling as if they were all being attacked by the old man at the same time!
At the same time, Ban Gongcuo appeared in the distance, rising from the ground, shouting: "No need to fight him here. On the battlefield, we'll see the truth..."
Qin Mu and the old man didn't want to linger. Suddenly, they turned and ran, like two columns of wolf smoke heading straight for Qingmen Pass.
The kind-faced old man held a mountainous pile of clothes and spirit weapons in his hands. Luan Di Khan and the others' clothes, ornaments, and spirit weapons had been stripped clean, leaving them standing there naked and at a loss.
While in Qin Mu's hand was a Golden Book Scroll, and beneath it was a pair of underwear. He was fleeing like mad towards Qingmen Pass.
Ban Gongcuo was stunned for a moment. He hurriedly lifted his clothes and let out a heaven-shaking scream.
The Golden Book Scroll he kept close to his body had vanished into thin air, and along with it, his underwear!
"After them!" Ban Gongcuo shouted harshly.
Just then, the gates of Qingmen Pass swung open wide. Countless soldiers poured out from the gates, and behind the city wall, tower ships rose into the air, their prows pointing towards Helan Pass.
Giant warriors stood at the prows, beating the war drums erected there again and again. The drumbeats thundered like booming.
The voice of the State Preceptor of Yankang rang throughout the city: "Soldiers, flatten Helan Pass for me!"