Starting as a centurion, he fought his way through the chaos of the world.

Chapter 88 A twist of fate

When Lu Ming arrived outside the city, his army had already assembled.

Several captains were gathered together, talking about something.

Upon noticing Lu Ming's arrival, he immediately straightened his back.

Wang Xun held a crescent-shaped blade, the blade emitting a faint bluish-green light.

Hu Fei carried a cloud-patterned iron bow in his hand, followed by two thousand archers.

Each of them held a large bow and carried a quiver of arrows.

A long knife was tucked at his waist.

Clad in cotton armor, the iron plates gleamed coldly.

"General, all the troops have arrived!" Wang Han stepped forward and said.

He was in charge of the three thousand strongmen of the garrison and was now a garrison captain.

As Lu Ming's confidant, he was considered the number one among all the captains.

Lu Ming nodded.

Sitting on his warhorse, he appeared exceptionally tall and imposing, giving off a tremendous sense of awe.

"Let's go!" came the calm voice.

With a whistle,

Dozens of riders charged out.

They were scouts, responsible for gathering intelligence on the road ahead and the enemy's situation.

Leading the group was a centurion in Lu Ming's army, whose cultivation was not weak and had reached the early stage of Blood Transformation.

He is also very clever.

Then, the army proceeded slowly.

Before reaching Wuling Mountain, they had to avoid the rebel army as much as possible.

Otherwise, it would be very easy for the other party to discover your intentions.

over the next few days.

The army was moving forward at a steady pace.

At the same time, the entire Dayu Kingdom also entered a period of disaster.

Local warlords forced the people to pay grain taxes, leading to an increasing number of rebellions.

In some places, the land has already merged into one continuous stretch.

They were at odds with the imperial court.

War raged across the land.

Inside the capital, the Empress was furious. Although her face was hidden behind a beaded curtain on the dragon throne, she was still in a rage.

However, the oppressive aura emanating from it still made people feel suffocated.

The courtiers stood below with their heads bowed and eyes lowered.

Feeling the pressure from the other party.

"Prince Yong's heir, Tuoba Ye, forced the people of Zhelong Prefecture into rebellion. He fled in the face of battle, disregarding the lives of the people. The Imperial Guards are ordered to capture him immediately and kill him on the spot!"

A eunuch's shrill voice rang out.

The courtiers stood silently below, not daring to reveal the slightest expression.

Prince Yong's eyes remained closed, but the twitching of his eyelids betrayed his thoughts.

“The Prince of Yong failed to educate his son properly, but considering the merits and hardships of his ancestors, he was punished with a three-year salary reduction, confined to his residence for one year, and demoted to the Marquis of Yong’an.”

The eunuch's voice rang out again.

Inside the main hall, some officials were eager to step forward and plead for mercy; they were all members of Prince Yong's faction.

But at that moment, the usually quiet Prince Yong stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty is wise!"

As his voice rang out.

The officials all bowed.

The empress did not speak, and no one could discern the expression on the dignified figure behind the beaded curtain.

The eunuch, his face grim, declared again, "The Marquis of Sifang is responsible for intercepting and killing Tuoba Ye!"

“Yes, sir!” A tall man dressed in black armor stepped forward.

He was the commander of the Xunfeng Army, one of the eight imperial guards, commanding 30,000 elite troops, and was one of the Empress's confidants.

The imperial city has eight guards, each representing one of the eight elements: earth, wind, water, fire, wind, rain, thunder, and lightning.

Each guard can stand on their own.

They were the elite of the Imperial Guard.

In addition to these eight guards, there were also the Left Guard, Right Guard, and other imperial guards, which were distributed around the imperial city.

The military strength reached 800,000.

This is why, even amidst chaos in the world, the Empress could still wield absolute power in the court.

"Dismiss the court!" came the chilling voice.

The Empress slowly walked towards the back of the palace.

The ministers' expressions varied, but He Song looked extremely anxious.

The others deliberately kept their distance.

Prince Yong strode out, just outside the palace.

A squad of golden-armored guards wielding golden hammers were already following behind him.

Clearly, these were armored soldiers dispatched by the Empress to imprison Prince Yong.

The other party seemed oblivious and continued striding forward.

No one can tell what he is thinking.

He Song sighed and walked out of the palace.

As soon as he returned to the mansion, a talisman appeared in his hand. As he continuously drew golden light from his hand, it was enhanced by complex hand seals.

The talisman transformed into paper doves and flew away.

At this time, after several days of marching, Lu Ming finally arrived not far from Wuling Mountain.

It was dusk.

Smoke curled from the campsite ahead.

The shouts of soldiers could be heard from time to time.

Hu Fei, bow and arrow in hand, approached Lu Ming. "My lord, all the supplies looted by the rebels from the entire Zhelong Prefecture are here."

As the sound rang out, looking at the camp ahead, he couldn't help but swallow hard.

This contains an enormous fortune.

Lu Ming nodded.

Looking back at Zhang Mu, he said, "Ironclad Cavalry, put on your armor!"

"Yes, sir!" After receiving the order, Zhang Mu withdrew.

A moment later, a clanging sound rang out.

There is flat ground ahead, so a sneak attack is impossible.

The only option is a frontal attack.

Therefore, the Ironclad Cavalry charging is an effective method.

Lu Ming stared ahead and said calmly, "In a moment, I will lead the Ironclad Cavalry to charge into the camp, and the others will follow behind. Hu Fei will be responsible for leading the Shooting Sound Camp to intercept and kill the fleeing rebels on the outer perimeter."

In this battle, the longer we can conceal ourselves from the enemy, the better.

if not.

With so many supplies, it won't be easy to evacuate.

Therefore, no one can escape.

"As ordered!"

The officers quickly replied.

Those who could become commanders of the city guard were all trained in the border army.

They've all seen blood.

But now, when facing the rebels, he is still somewhat nervous.

After all, years of extravagant living had made them somewhat unaccustomed to a life of constant danger.

In this battle, Lu Ming wants them to rekindle their passion.

In contrast, Zhang Mu and the others appeared remarkably calm.

A short while later, the Ironclad Pagoda had finished changing its armor.

Although Lu Ming had seen them in full heavy armor before, seeing them again now was still quite a shock.

It was still incredibly impressive.

The warhorse was almost entirely covered with black, oily armor plates, except for its hooves. The plates were densely arranged, resembling scales, making it look like a giant beast.

The knight above was also completely covered in heavy armor.

They carried long swords and spears.

Only his eyes were visible.

With thousands of people together, it creates a powerful visual impact.

Zhang Mu was at the forefront, holding a fine iron spear in his palm.

A sharp brilliance shimmered in the setting sun.

Without hesitation, Lu Ming leaped onto his horse.

He held the Great Wilderness Halberd in his hand, his expression extremely solemn.

This battle is not only about points and the cost of the army, but also about the survival of the entire Yunzhou.

He couldn't help but be careless.

"kill!"

As his deep voice rang out.

"Tap!"

The warhorse galloped away.

The Ironclad Pagoda followed closely behind, the setting sun casting its last rays upon them, making their dark armor appear as if it were covered in blood.

The horses' hooves kicked up clouds of dust.

Inside the rebel camp ahead.

The guards then noticed Lu Ming and his group's arrival.

Shouts rang out one after another.

The camp gates were closed.

Large numbers of soldiers poured out, ready for battle.

The archer stood on the high platform, his bowstring already drawn to its fullest extent.

As the Ironclad Cavalry approached, "Whoosh!" Arrows shot out one after another.

When it hits heavy armor, it makes a "clanging" sound.

Lu Ming wielded his halberd, as if it were a python slithering beside him.

The azure-gold aura shattered all the falling arrows.

They took the lead and arrived at the gate.

With the added strength of his arms, the battle halberd unleashed tremendous destructive power.

"Boom!" The door, which was half a foot thick, was smashed to pieces by his halberd.

Amidst the flying sawdust.

He charged in, his halberd sweeping across the battlefield, and a large number of rebel soldiers who rushed up fell to the ground.

The Iron Pagoda followed up.

Using the force of the warhorse's charge, the raised spear actually sent the rebel soldier blocking the way flying.

They rampaged through the camp with impunity.

"Kill!" A rebel expert at the Qi Refining Realm charged forward.

He was dressed in golden armor and held a long sword.

His eyes were wide open, like copper bells.

Golden energy swirled around his body.

He is a powerful expert at the late stage of the Qi Refining Realm.

His body rose into the air, half a head higher than Lu Ming.

The blade locked onto the top of the opponent's head.

It makes a "buzzing" sound when it breaks through the air.

Lu Ming's eyes flashed as he sat firmly on his warhorse, thrusting his halberd forward as if a dragon or elephant were roaring.

Wherever it passed, it left visible white marks.

"Clang!" It clashed with the battle blade.

The powerful figure who rushed forward was as if struck by lightning; his body trembled, and he was sent flying backward.

"boom!"

Finally, it crashed to the ground.

A large amount of smoke and dust was splashed up, and blood was spat out from his mouth and nose.

Lu Ming followed closely behind on his warhorse.

"Herod!"

The black horse roared and raised its forelegs high.

Before the general could get up.

A dark shadow loomed overhead.

Two horse hooves, as strong as iron pillars, stomped directly on his chest and abdomen.

His body collapsed instantly.

Blood was vomited.

He lost his breath in a short time.

At this moment, the battlefield was in complete chaos. The hastily assembled rebel army was utterly unable to withstand the Iron Pagoda's charge.

At that moment, Zheng Yong and his men, who had arrived later, also rushed into the camp.

The Mo Dao soldiers wore dark armor, their blades standing upright, resembling a mountain of knives.

Three thousand strongmen, plus the city guards.

Their numbers have already surpassed those of the rebels guarding the supplies.

After dealing with the expert at the Qi Refining Realm, Lu Ming spurred his warhorse and charged towards the rear of the camp.

Seeking a powerful expert at the Innate Realm to guard the grain supplies.

On the other side, as darkness fell completely.

Outside Hongdu Prefecture, an old man and a young boy stood on a hillside outside the city, gazing at the city.

The old man had a full head of silver hair, wore a gray Taoist robe, and carried a whisk in his hand. His face was completely wrinkle-free, just like that of a baby.

A faint light emanated from around his body.

Beside him stood a young woman, dressed in a white dress, with skin as smooth as cream, and dark eyes that shone like stars. Standing there, she outshone all the flowers, exuding an ethereal aura.

"Grandpa, is the eldest daughter of the Li family in Hongdu Prefecture already married?" A woman's voice rang out, very pleasant to the ear, but also very cold.

"You're married now. Do you regret what happened back then?" the old man asked calmly.

"No regrets. We cultivators are inherently defying the heavens, plundering everything for ourselves, and ultimately embarking on the path to immortality."

Since you know that the eldest daughter of the Li family is blessed with good fortune, why not marry her?

Besides, I am now a disciple of the immortal sect, and moreover, the wife of a Daoist disciple. Even within the immortal sect, I am the envy of everyone. How could I possibly regret it?

The woman's voice was calm.

The old man nodded, his eyes showing appreciation. "My granddaughter is right. The Li family has now fallen into the status of merchants. When they lit the incense to attract immortals back then, they had already foreseen what would happen today."

So, it was fate after all.

Don't blame us.

The old man spoke slowly.

It turns out that Li Ren's ancestors had unintentionally saved a member of the immortal sect, who was the old man's father. After recovering from his injuries, the old man left behind a "Guiding Incense" and told Li's ancestor that if he wished, his descendants could light the incense.

Someone will come and help the Li family fulfill a wish.

Therefore, the Li family treasured this incense as if it were a precious gem.

It wasn't until Li Ren's generation that the family reached its peak, but also encountered a bottleneck.

As Li Ren watched his children grow up day by day, and thinking of the legends passed down from his elders, he had the idea of ​​lighting the incense to guide the immortals, hoping that someone from the immortal sect could point out a clear path for the family, which was actually the most important thing.

It's about seeing if your child has the talent for cultivation. If they have some talent, it would be best if they could enter a cultivation sect.

So, after hesitating for several days, he finally lit the incense to attract immortals.

The scene was extremely grand that day; all the servants and servants of the Li family were driven out of the courtyard.

A high altar for incense was built in the backyard.

After everything was ready, in less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, someone indeed descended from the sky.

It was naturally the old man; he kindly agreed to Li Ren's request.

They also examined the aptitudes of several children in the Li family, although they did not find any innate talent for cultivating immortality in them.

However, it was unexpectedly discovered that Li Xirou had a strong affinity with immortality, and her future husband would definitely be a member of an immortal sect, and of extraordinary status.

Therefore, Li Ren was told that after the other party came of age, he should throw an embroidered ball in the attic to try and find a predestined connection with the immortals.

And she solemnly assured that Li Xirou's husband would definitely be a cultivator.

Then, he left behind a few pills and departed.

However, the granddaughter who had always followed the old man had a scheme to switch the prince with a cat.

She knew that the ancestral forbidden technique could do it.

She begged the old man to help her seize Li Xirou's immortal destiny.

Although the former was not weak in cultivation, he had always been a rogue cultivator and had offended many people, leading his granddaughter on a life of wandering.

They are not well-liked among cultivators.

Moreover, his granddaughter had no talent for cultivation, and he had repeatedly calculated that her husband would be an ordinary person.

The old man's greatest wish was that one day he could bring glory to his family.

To restore the family to its ancient glory and to produce a true immortal powerhouse.

Thinking of this, they immediately agreed, disregarding the fact that Li's ancestors had once saved his father's life.

Despite sacrificing a thousand years of lifespan, she transferred the immortal destiny that should have belonged to Li Xirou to her granddaughter.

Sure enough, several years ago, during an outing...

The latter was chosen by a Daoist and became one of his concubines. Under the Daoist's guidance, she embarked on the path of cultivation.

Although she was only a concubine, for a family in such decline, being able to befriend Daozi was already an immense blessing.

And the man destined for her granddaughter became Li Xirou's husband.

Their fates were essentially intertwined from that moment on.

Moreover, it came at the cost of the old man's thousand-year lifespan, gaining the approval of heaven and earth, making it difficult for others with great supernatural powers to detect.

This is why Li Ren has always held a grudge against Lu Ming.

He simply trusted the elderly far too much.

He believed that his daughter would definitely marry someone from the immortal sect.

"Let's go, Grandpa. At worst, once things are settled, we can give the Li family some worldly wealth so they can enjoy a life of luxury for generations. That will be enough."

The woman's cool voice rang out.

The old man nodded, his gaze falling on his granddaughter. "Go to the Prince of Yong's fiefdom or to the capital?"

"Let's go to the capital. Several Dao Lords from the sect have calculated that he will be the future new emperor of the Great Yu."

The old man nodded.

Then, the two transformed into a streak of light and disappeared from the spot.

At this moment, on the battlefield of Wuling Mountain.

Lu Ming had already seen his opponent, whose entire body was shrouded in a black cloak.

He was wearing a black robe.

Two hands were revealed, shimmering with a blood-red light.

Black mist even floated around his body, making it look extremely eerie.

Then, the system panel appeared in my mind.

[Name: Vulture Taoist (He was abandoned as a child, has no real name, and spends his life with vultures, calling himself Vulture Taoist)]

[Cultivation Level: Mid-stage Innate Realm]

[His life story: Before the age of eighteen, he lived among wild beasts in the forest. He accidentally discovered a powerful hermit living in the forest. The hermit took pity on him and took him as his disciple. After learning all his skills, the Vulture Taoist killed his master to prove his Tao.]

At forty, he left the forest and committed countless atrocities.

At the age of forty-five, he joined the Futu Cult (an outer organization of a celestial sect).

At fifty years old, in order to practice his martial arts, he massacred the people of an entire town, becoming infamous in the Great Yu Dynasty and constantly wanted by the imperial court.

[Mission: Protect the rebels' food supplies]

[Overall brutality level: 20 points]

Killing it will grant you 20 Chaos Points.

Looking at the person opposite him, Lu Ming raised an eyebrow.

The rebels in Yunzhou were actually supported by a powerful immortal sect.

(End of this chapter)