Chapter 335: The Old and Young Thieves
The Cripple and Qin Mu walked out of Qingmen Pass. Many of the generals within the pass frowned deeply. Bian Zhenyun quickly sought instructions from the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang. The Imperial Preceptor shook his head and said, "No need to help them. With that cripple around, no one can kill Cult Leader Qin."
"Cripple?" Everyone looked at the cripple. This old man had all four limbs intact and walked very fast. Where was he crippled?
"Crippled in the heart."
The Imperial Preceptor's expression was somewhat unpleasant as he said, "Crippled in virtue, crooked in conduct, crippled in mind. No need to discuss him. Shan Youxin, how many Divine Thunder Rings have the Ministry of Works and the Imperial Academy refined?"
"Fourteen thousand rings."
Shan Youxin said, "They have already been installed on the True Essence Cannons. In another day, we can refine the remaining few thousand, and then we can attack the enemy camp."
The Imperial Preceptor looked at the imposing pass opposite and said calmly, "No need to wait another day. Send orders to all armies: prepare to move out immediately. The warships will form formation and push forward! General Bian, Grand Commandant, General Who Assists the State, General of Swift Cavalry, Pillar of State, Duke Who Protects the State, Pillar General, Champion General, General Who Cherishes Transformation!"
He called out names one by one, and the many generals of Yankang stepped forward to await orders.
After the rebellion of the former Crown Prince Ling Yuxia, the officials of Ling Yuxia's faction had been purged clean. But Yankang was a land of outstanding talents after all. The Emperor promoted many new officials to take over, and there was no gap in succession.
The Imperial Preceptor said in a deep voice, "Deploy the troops behind the pass, behind the warships. The warships will open formation, and the rear army will sweep clean. And you all keep a close watch on their Divine Bridge and Life and Death realm experts, ready to strike at any moment!"
The generals felt a chill in their hearts. The Duke Who Protects the State said, "Imperial Preceptor, Cult Leader Qin is still at the front. If we attack rashly, they might make a move against him."
The Imperial Preceptor showed a smile: "The moment he retreats is the moment to attack. No need to worry about his safety. And with that cripple around, there are very few people in the world who can harm him."
Bian Zhenyun said, "Who will command the warships?"
The warships were originally scattered among the various armies, commanded by their respective generals. Now the Imperial Preceptor had changed tactics, using all the warships to clear the way. A new army needed to be established, and it had to be commanded by a strong expert skilled in assault to handle the ever-changing battlefield situation.
The Imperial Preceptor's eyes flickered, and he said in a deep voice, "Summon the mid-level generals of all armies! Also, have all the Imperial Academy scholars come over!"
After a moment, several hundred mid-level generals and many Imperial Academy scholars arrived.
"Two hundred and forty-five warships are equivalent to two hundred and forty-five flying swords."
The Imperial Preceptor swept his gaze around and said in a deep voice, "Those proficient in swordsmanship who can simultaneously control two hundred and forty-five flying swords, step forward."
More than fifty people from among the mid-level generals and Imperial Academy scholars stepped forward.
The Imperial Preceptor's primordial energy erupted, transforming into flying swords that circled around him: "Attack me. Whoever breaks through my sword formation and strikes my body will be the commander of the new army!"
Hearing this, the more than fifty experts each displayed their sword techniques and attacked the Imperial Preceptor. In an instant, countless sword lights whirled rapidly, and the clanging sounds of collision were dense and unbroken!
The Imperial Preceptor stood there motionless, using his mind to control countless sword lights, blocking all attacks from the more than fifty generals and scholars.
Suddenly, a general was struck in the chest, but the Imperial Preceptor's sword light did not wound him. This general immediately withdrew.
After a while, people kept being struck and withdrawing, leaving only a dozen or so sword technique masters still attacking.
The Duke Who Protects the State, Bian Zhenyun, and others watched this scene, secretly admiring. The remaining dozen or so were the most outstanding in swordsmanship, all at the level of grandmasters. The only thing they lacked was cultivation.
Yankang produced talents in abundance, which was gratifying.
After another moment, only three of the dozen remained, still attacking the Imperial Preceptor. Suddenly, a sword sun erupted, red as fire, illuminating the surroundings with extreme brightness. A sword light pierced out from within the red sun, passed through the Imperial Preceptor's sword technique defense, and pierced a small hole in the corner of his robe.
The Imperial Preceptor raised his hand, signaling the three to stop, and looked at the one who had pierced his robe corner, saying, "Imperial Academy scholar from the Hall of Contained Light?"
The one who had pierced his robe corner was precisely the Sword Hall Master, who bowed and said, "Hall of Contained Light, Sword Three Lives."
The Imperial Preceptor nodded, then looked at another general who had displayed the red sun. He had just used the Sunset Sword Technique, allowing the Sword Hall Master to succeed, and said, "General Who Returns Virtue, Abyss Out of Clouds?"
Abyss Out of Clouds bowed and said, "Imperial Preceptor."
The Imperial Preceptor showed a smile: "Sword Three Lives, you are the commander of the new army. Abyss Out of Clouds, you are the deputy commander. You have half an hour to familiarize yourselves with the names of the ship captains and the ship numbers. Memorize all the names of the captains and ship numbers. Remember, when commanding the warships, don't think of them as warships, but as your flying swords!"
A gleam of sword light flashed in the Sword Hall Master's eyes, and he said in a deep voice, "What does the Imperial Preceptor want us to do?"
The Imperial Preceptor pointed to the majestic pass opposite: "Level the Helan Pass opposite!"
The Sword Hall Master's body shook greatly. He turned his head to look at the opposite pass, and heroic spirit surged in his chest.
At this moment, Qin Mu and the Cripple had already arrived at the Duck Tongue area.
"Ban Gongcuo, long time no see, are you well?" Qin Mu called out with a laugh.
Ban Gongcuo smiled slightly, looked around, and said, "Chandi Khan, this is the Demon Cult Leader. He doesn't look like someone who can unleash a sword technique like an ocean, does he?"
Behind him, Chandi Khan's eyes flashed like lightning as he looked at Qin Mu, and he said in a deep voice, "It is this youth. When he came to the battlefield, that terrifying sword technique erupted, suffocating."
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. But one person was the most eye-catching.
He was tall and burly, a few inches taller than the Sword Hall Master and the Pharmacist. Although it was late summer, he wore a thick raccoon fur coat, with a golden knife and a quiver at his waist.
"Grassland overlord, Chandi Khan!" Qin Mu felt Chandi Khan's aggressive, fire-like gaze and immediately guessed this person's origin.
Back then, the Witch Venerable personally bestowed the title of Khan upon this man. The meaning of Chandi Khan was the world's greatest archer, and his tribe was also skilled in horseback archery. From then on, Chandi Khan rose from the grasslands, his power growing ever larger.
Chandi Khan's martial prowess was definitely at the top level. He was not just a simple archer. Back then, when Qin Mu and Overlord Sacrificial Officer saw Ban Gongcuo, who had not yet been possessed, on the city tower of this majestic pass, Ban Gongcuo's fist technique had impressed both Qin Mu and Overlord Sacrificial Officer.
And the origin of Ban Gongcuo's fist technique at that time was Chandi Khan, showing that his combat power was not limited to bows and arrows.
People often compared Chandi Khan to Yanfeng Emperor. Both were overlords who carried out drastic reforms. Chandi Khan was more like an imitator of Yanfeng Emperor, learning from his actions, reforming the chaotic situation of various tribes governing themselves on the grasslands, annexing other tribes, and eradicating the large and small witch cults on the grasslands. The experts of these witch cults were all absorbed into his army.
If 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 Chandi Khan unified the grasslands, he would imitate the Imperial Preceptor of Yankang and Yanfeng Emperor, suppressing the Golden Palace. So they did not fully support him. It wasn't until the Great Venerable reincarnated as Ban Gongcuo and Ban Gongcuo regained control of the Golden Palace that they fully supported his cause of unifying the grasslands.
"Chandi Khan's strength is probably not much weaker than Yanfeng Emperor's."
Qin Mu smiled slightly, stepped forward ahead of the Cripple, and called out loudly, "Ban Gongcuo, is the one behind you your father, Chandi Khan?"
Ban Gongcuo was unmoved and laughed, "Little bitch, still trying to provoke me?"
"Senior Brother Chandi!"
Qin Mu, with a beaming smile, greeted Chandi Khan, saying, "The Heavenly Saint Cult Leader pays respects to the Khan of the grasslands."
Chandi Khan frowned, somewhat at a loss. Qin Mu was clearly trying to take advantage of Ban Gongcuo. If Chandi Khan returned the greeting, it would make Ban Gongcuo a generation lower than Qin Mu, and the next moment Qin Mu would make Ban Gongcuo call him uncle. If he didn't return the greeting, he would lose decorum, and in the future, after conquering Yankang, Qin Mu would surely lead the Heavenly Demon Cult to make things difficult for him.
Ban Gongcuo knew his thoughts and laughed, "Chandi Khan, this little brat surnamed Qin is just like that, infuriating. One sentence can choke you to death, making you want to grab him and tear him to pieces. Now that you've seen him, you know his skills are all in his mouth. He's nothing special."
Chandi Khan said, "Then was it the old man behind him who unleashed that ocean-like sword light?"
Ban Gongcuo didn't recognize the Cripple either and shook his head, saying, "Not him. It's an old undying with no hands or feet. Don't worry, this old undying won't act lightly. He has too many rules that restrict himself. And in a few days, someone from the Upper Firmament will come here to eliminate him."
He smiled and said, "After he dies, you can trample Qingmen Pass, drive straight in, and become the master of the Central Plains!"
Chandi Khan quickly said, "Then the Golden Palace will be the only sacred land in the world!"
Ban Gongcuo laughed heartily and said, "You don't need to be so cautious. My goal is not the first sacred land or the only sacred land. My ambition is far beyond what you can imagine."
He thought of the golden scripture scroll he kept close to his body, and a heat surged in his heart, his fists involuntarily clenching.
Just then, Qin Mu strode over, his face full of smiles, and said, "Chandi Khan is extremely rude. I greet you, and you don't return the courtesy. Your family education is truly poor. No wonder you taught that little bastard Ban Gongcuo to be like this."
Ban Gongcuo's face darkened. Just as he was about to speak, Qin Mu suddenly quickened his pace and charged toward him, shouting loudly, "Ban Gongcuo, roll out and call me uncle! Uncle will spank your bottom!"
Ban Gongcuo was furious. He glanced at the old man, who was still smiling and standing in place, very far away. He immediately let his malice take over, charged forward to meet Qin Mu, and sneered, "Surnamed Qin, last time on the boat, I couldn't kill you. This time, I'll make you die on this battlefield!"
The two collided with a bang, their respective magical powers erupting, their primordial energy exploding, shaking the surrounding air as it swirled and expanded outward!
Ban Gongcuo felt his arms go numb, and his heart trembled slightly: "I am already at the peak of the Six Harmonies realm, yet this kid is not weaker than me in magical power!"
Qin Mu brought his hands together, and countless sword lights shot up from the Taotie bag on his back, attacking Ban Gongcuo!
Ban Gongcuo quickly defended. Suddenly, the countless sword lights retracted, forming a huge silver ball that pressed down. Ban Gongcuo raised both hands to support this enormous sword pellet, let out a muffled groan, and was pressed deep into the ground.
Chandi Khan and the others, along with the Witch King of the Golden Palace, rushed forward to rescue him, charging over. Qin Mu quickly opened the Taotie bag and withdrew the sword pellet. Meanwhile, the smiling old man in the distance suddenly vanished like a ghost, flickering rapidly among the crowd. The group fell into chaos, feeling as if everyone was being attacked by the old man at the same time!
At the same time, Ban Gongcuo appeared in the distance, emerging from underground, and shouted loudly, "No need to fight him to the death! We'll settle this on the battlefield..."
But Qin Mu and the old man did not linger. Suddenly, they turned and ran, like two plumes of smoke heading straight for Qingmen Pass.
The kind-faced old man held high in his hands a mountain of clothes and spiritual weapons. The clothes and accessories of Chandi Khan and the others had been stripped clean. They stood there naked, at a loss.
And in Qin Mu's hand was a golden scripture scroll. Below the golden scripture scroll was a pair of underpants. He was frantically fleeing toward Qingmen Pass.
Ban Gongcuo was stunned for a moment. He quickly lifted his clothes and let out a earth-shattering scream.
The golden scripture scroll he kept close to his body had vanished without a trace, and along with it, his underpants!
"Catch them!" Ban Gongcuo shouted sharply.
Just then, the gates of Qingmen Pass swung open, and countless troops poured out from within. Behind the city tower, one warship after another rose into the air, their prows pointing toward Helan Pass.
Giant strongmen stood at the prows, beating the war drums erected there, one beat after another. The drumbeats rumbled like thunder.
The Imperial Preceptor of Yankang's voice spread throughout the city: "All soldiers, level Helan Pass for me!"
——Wrote six hundred extra words, ten minutes late~