The stolen magic is a bit magical

Lin Xiaosu and Qingying soared into the sky and landed outside Zhentian Pavilion.

The Zhentian Pavilion is already incredibly awe-inspiring from afar, but getting closer is like facing a celestial palace.

The building soars into the clouds, its imposing presence awe-inspiring.

Perhaps this is the mission imprint formed by the two characters "镇天" (Zhentian) of Zhentian Pavilion after thousands of years of ups and downs.

Just as Lin Xiaosu arrived, a group of people strode over. The person at the front was an old man with white hair, walking with a powerful gait, looking like a white-haired general on patrol. But when he got closer, he gave a scholar's salute: "Lei Tianlun, the master of Zhentian Pavilion, greets Lord Li!"

Lin Xiaosu quickly greeted him with the courtesy due to an official: "Lord Lei is a first-rank official, how could I dare to trouble you to personally come out to greet me?"

Lei Tianlun reached out and grabbed his shoulder, laughing heartily: "To be honest, Lord Li, if it were any other day, I really wouldn't have personally greeted you. But today is different. Just now, outside Zhentian Pavilion, you expelled the three eminent monks from the capital, demonstrating the might of our dynasty. No matter what, I must personally welcome you!"

This is the benefit brought about by Lin Xiaosu's discussion of Buddhism outside Zhentian Pavilion.

The fact that the three eminent monks chose to set up a Buddhist altar outside Zhentian Pavilion was actually intended to suppress Zhentian Pavilion.

Although the Zhen Tian Pavilion is far inferior to the million-strong Dragon Cavalry during the reign of Emperor Taizu, its function is the same.

Their duty was to suppress any opposition to any dynasty.

Therefore, it was regarded as a pillar of the dynasty.

If no one can stop the three eminent monks from provoking the emperor outside the pavilion, it would be tantamount to stepping on the pillars of the dynasty to become famous throughout the world.

Zhen Tian Pavilion was already at a loss.

Lin Xiaosu struck, and the three eminent monks fled in disarray. The biggest beneficiary was the Master of Zhentian Pavilion.

This can be considered as Lin Xiaosu giving Zhentian Pavilion a welcoming gift, ensuring that their first meeting was based on perfect harmony.

This left Qingying deeply moved.

People say that it's hard to get by in officialdom.

She certainly knew that officialdom was difficult, even more so than rumors suggested.

Even her father, who was once a first-rank prime minister, found the head of Zhentian Pavilion difficult to deal with.

He had only been a commoner in officialdom for a few days, and on his first visit to Zhentian Pavilion, he was already so warmly received by the Pavilion Master.

This person's abilities are even more amazing than her father's.

"Amitabha! This humble monk greets the author of Buddhist scriptures!" The three old monks bowed in unison.

Great, not only was the top floor settled, but the Buddhist hall, one of the eight major venues of Zhentian Pavilion, was also taken care of.

After Lin Xiaosu returned the greeting, Lei Tianlun got straight to the point: "Lord Li, His Majesty's decree has been issued, ordering the selection of a 'Zhen'-level elite force to accompany you on your official business and be at your command. Our organization has a total of twenty-seven 'Zhen'-level independent forces, all of which are of extraordinary combat strength. You may choose any of them."

"Lord Lei, you have carried out His Majesty's orders with remarkable efficiency and skill. I admire you greatly!" Lin Xiaosu said, "Why don't you summon the commanders and deputy commanders of these twenty-seven armies, and I will select the best among the best?"

"Alright!" Lei Tianlun waved his hand: "Go and do it!"

One of the men beside him leaped into the air and summoned the commanders-in-chief and deputy commanders.

"It will take some time to gather the generals. Lord Li, please go and sit in the Zhen Tian Hall first."

"Lord Lei, please!"

"Master Li, please!"

The Zhen Tian Living Room, though a living room, exudes an air of authority.

The walls of the Great Hall were forged from black iron.

Opposite them was a huge map, a vast landscape of mountains and rivers.

It marks the states, prefectures, and counties, as well as mountains, rivers, and lakes.

Of course, it also marks the sects and forces in various regions.

This is what makes this world different from typical feudal societies.

In typical feudal societies, finding a complete map was almost impossible. Countless people devoted their entire lives to drawing maps that were then presented to the emperor and became powerful tools in times of war.

Here, people can fly!

Humans can survey from the sky; drawing maps isn't that difficult.

The map clearly marks the four borders: Yan to the north, Chu to the west, Ye to the east, and the South China Sea to the south. On the other side of the South China Sea lies the Central Region.

"Lord Li, now you can give me a heads-up: what task has His Majesty assigned you?" Lei Tianlun asked.

"Lord Lei is unaware?"

"The imperial edict did not specify what kind of assignment it was, only that a town-level unit would be drawn from it."

Lin Xiaosu hesitated slightly: "Then I will tell you the truth after they have all arrived."

About half an hour later, the guards came to report.

All commanders have arrived!
"Everyone, come in!" Lei Tianlun ordered.

"Order! All commanders and their deputies, enter the hall!" came a loud shout from the guard at the door.

The head of the Zhentian Pavilion's military hall led the commanders of its twenty-seven Zhen-level units into the arena.

Each unit has one chief commander and one deputy commander, totaling no more than fifty people, but their entrance carries the imposing presence of a thousand troops.

Rumble.

The ground beneath Lin Xiaosu's feet was rising, rising three feet.

He and Lei Tianlun stood on the stage like that.

The general entered from below, his imposing presence was astounding.

The commander on the left is the chief commander, and the deputy commander on the right. Their body types are vastly different. Indeed, Lin Xiaosu had never seen such a difference in body types in the army.

The first commander on the left is over six meters tall.

The second person is of normal height, about 1.8 meters.

The third person is extremely short, only about 1.2 or 1.3 meters tall, but if measured horizontally, he is at least 1 meter tall.

The fourth one was tall and thin, standing at three meters tall, with a waist even thinner than a prostitute's...

More than fifty people made their grand entrance, though their appearances were rather uneven.

However, these people have one thing in common: they all have murderous intent in their eyes and a murderous aura about them, clearly they are all battle-hardened men of steel.

"Reporting to Lord Lei!" The last guard stepped forward: "Twenty-seven town-level battle teams, fifty-four commanders and deputy commanders, fifty-four were expected, and fifty-three are present."

Lei Tianlun's gaze swept across the crowd: "Mad Wolf...why hasn't he arrived yet?"

Mad Wolf?

Lin Xiaosu glanced at them and immediately knew who was missing.

The commanders below are positioned to the left and right of the forcing commander, while the seventh commander's opposite side is empty.

That means the missing person is the deputy commander of the seventh battle team.

This is probably why Lei Tianlun could tell at a glance who was absent.

The commander of the seventh squad stepped forward: "Sir, this deputy commander of mine has acted up again. This is not the first time, but it is the most outrageous one yet!"

"Oh? What's the situation? Tell me!" Lei Tianlun's face darkened.

What's the situation today?
It was Lord Li who came to select the teams. Lord Li is an imperial envoy. If anything happens to Zhentian Pavilion that damages its reputation, it will be a serious matter if it reaches His Majesty's ears.
The absence of the deputy commander of the seventh team is a minor oversight, but it's not a big deal if handled well. But what's wrong with you, Hong Bin? You're throwing a tantrum right off the bat! The imperial envoy has already heard this. If we don't get to the bottom of it, things will only get worse. We have no choice but to keep investigating.

The other commanders glanced at Hong Bin, the seventh commander, and understood.

This Hong Bin has absolutely no control over his deputy.

I've wanted to get rid of this deputy envoy for a long time.

Today he finally got his chance.

To confront him so directly in this setting forced you, Lord Lei, to take drastic measures.

"Yes, sir!" Hong Bin clasped his fists together, bowed, and saluted. "The Mad Wolf's training methods are extremely cruel and obsessive. The incident of him carrying a thousand pounds of weight and running three hundred miles, which ruined more than a hundred men, has just passed. Now he has gone even further, claiming that as long as they don't die from the training, he will train them to death! He wants to send all three thousand soldiers of our unit into the Reverse Flow Pool."

"The Reverse Flow Pool?" Lei Tianlun's pupils suddenly contracted.

“Exactly! How can ordinary soldiers enter the Reverse Current Pool? Once they enter, they might lose 20 or 30 percent of their men!” Hong Bin said, “This humble general firmly refused. She even scolded this humble general for having a woman’s mentality and being unable to achieve great things. My lord, how can such an arrogant person not be dealt with? So this humble general, in accordance with military law, confined her for three days. Just now, when my lord summoned her, I personally released her and asked her to come into the palace with me to receive orders. She turned around directly and left a sentence: I’m not playing anymore! My lord, this… this kind of deputy envoy, this humble general really cannot serve.”

He was so excited when he said those words.

Lin Xiaosu's eyes, however, gleamed slightly.

The wolves train their troops relentlessly, pushing them to the brink of death as long as they don't die.

Mad Wolf actually calls himself Grandma...

How could a woman be so vicious?
Lei Tianlun was also deeply troubled.

So, how could Hong Bin be accusing his deputy envoy?
Isn't this clearly a petition to the head of the military affairs hall?
Everyone knows that this Mad Wolf was promoted by the head of the Military Hall.

In the past, when she got into trouble, the gang leader always protected her.

Now, seeing that the imperial envoy and the pavilion master were present, Hong Bin directly exposed the whole affair.

The subtext is clear: I'll see how you, the head of the Military Affairs Department, protect her!

The head of the military hall was ashen-faced, but it was not his turn to speak at this moment.

And he really didn't know how to bring it up. This illegitimate daughter, you really don't give your father any peace of mind. How could I have been so blind to have such a weirdo as your mother?

Lei Tianlun's expression was also very unpleasant. He waved his hand and said, "This matter can be discussed later. First, please let Lord Li give his instructions!"

Lin Xiaosu stepped forward: "I have come to Zhentian Pavilion today by order of His Majesty to select a Zhen-level battle team to accompany me on my mission. This mission is extraordinary, and can be summarized in three words: Stabilize Jiangnan!"

Dingjiangnan?
Lei Tianlun shuddered.

The fifty-odd people in the audience, including Li Yafu, the head of the Military Hall, were all greatly shocked.

There was no war or chaos in Jiangnan, and without war or chaos, there was no question of pacifying Jiangnan.

His declaration of his intention to establish a foothold in Jiangnan suggests only one terrifying implication: the establishment of sects in Jiangnan.

As expected, Lin Xiaosu then offered an explanation: "In this world, sects everywhere are using their martial arts to break the law, bullying the people, disturbing businesses, seizing land, and even killing officials. How can the mighty imperial power and the glorious laws tolerate such reckless behavior by sects? Therefore, I request Your Majesty's permission to travel south to suppress all demons and monsters. Those cultivators who dare to break the law with their martial arts will be killed without exception; those sects that dare to rebel against the dynasty will be exterminated!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lei Tianlun's eyes suddenly shone brightly.

The head of the military hall suddenly looked up.

The fifty-three commanders below were greatly shocked. They finally understood why His Majesty had deployed the troops.

It was a job that no one would have expected.

It turned out to be the suppression of the sects in Jiangnan.

This……

The eighty-one sects of Jiangnan are so powerful that even if all eight halls of the Zhentian Pavilion were to join them in a real battle, the outcome would probably be only fifty-fifty. How dare a mere Zhen-level sect under the Bing Hall suppress Jiangnan?
Isn't this like throwing an egg against a rock?

What is Your Majesty's intention?

Are you trying to eliminate the Jiangnan sects or an army of the Zhentian Pavilion?
Upon entering, the twenty-seven town-level battle teams exuded a murderous aura, seemingly invincible. However, after just one sentence, their momentum plummeted.

Surprisingly, no one dared to look Lin Xiaosu in the eye.

Lin Xiaosu's gaze swept across the entire room: "When I appoint people, I don't like to force them, but I prefer those who volunteer. Commanders, is there anyone willing to volunteer to share the burden for the court?"

The crowd was as quiet as chickens!
Lin Xiaosu waited for a minute.

The atmosphere in the room was so agonizing that not a single person stepped forward.

Lin Xiaosu silently exhaled: "Since no one is volunteering, then I will just appoint someone directly!"

Everyone tensed up, and none of them dared to meet Lin Xiaosu's gaze.

Because everyone here is intelligent, they know very well that once they are targeted, they will be cannon fodder with no chance of survival.

Three thousand people at the Zhen level, going south to suppress eighty-one sects that have existed for thousands or even tens of thousands of years? Are you kidding me?
Lin Xiaosu raised her hand: "Seventh Team! You're the one!"

Hong Bin's whole body jolted, and when he looked up, he saw the finger that terrified him.

Lin Xiaosu pointed her finger directly at him.

“My lord…” Hong Bin’s lips trembled.

"What? You dare to defy the imperial decree?" Lin Xiaosu's face darkened.

Hong Bin suddenly stood up straight: "This humble general dares not! This humble general only wants to... wants to solemnly warn Your Majesty that my troops have been harmed by the deputy envoy, with fewer than three thousand soldiers and their combat strength is inferior to that of the other troops. This humble general is only afraid that I will ruin Your Majesty's grand plan."

"It's alright!" Lin Xiaosu said, "I'd rather have two thousand elite soldiers than a hundred thousand weak ones. That's my way of commanding troops. The army under your command was forged by Deputy Envoy Kuanglang with iron-fisted methods. I'm sure its combat strength will not disappoint me."

My day!

At this moment, Hong Bin felt like a million alpacas were stampeding and roaring inside his heart.

It's the deputy envoy again! You bastard, Mad Wolf, are you determined to kill this general?!

"Except for Team Seven, all other teams may step down!" Lin Xiaosu said.

The commanders and deputy commanders of the remaining twenty-six armies bowed to the high platform, turned around in unison, and walked out with the menacing strides of soldiers. Only Hong Bin, the commander of the seventh commander, stood there dumbfounded.

Watching his colleagues recede like a flood, he felt as if he had been swept away by the great waves, leaving him stranded on the beach.

The generals had left, but the shadow at the doorway remained.

Lin Xiaosu looked up and saw an unusually tall figure.

This is a female general, over ten meters tall!
Her waist was as thick as a thousand-year-old tree, and her feet could easily cover ten paving stones. Her chest was high and bulging like a hill, and her face was covered with pits and hollows, each one big enough to fit a glutinous rice ball.

A black iron mask covered half of her face, obscuring her left cheek.

Although this mask is only half-mask, if it loosens and falls down, it could easily kill an adult.

Lin Xiaosu stared at her blankly. A giant race?
"I have no objection to sending the Seventh Team, but you need to grant me one request!" The female general's voice resounded throughout the hall.

Lei Tianlun turned his gaze to Lin Xiaosu: "Lord Li, this is Mad Wolf, the deputy envoy of the Seventh Battle Team."

"What conditions?" Lin Xiaosu asked.

"When I train my troops, no one is allowed to interfere. Please remember, sir, I said... anyone!"

Lin Xiaosu smiled faintly: "Including what General Hong just said, about throwing all the soldiers into the Reverse Current Pool?"

“Exactly!” Mad Wolf said, “If you agree, sir, I will immediately…”

"I disagree!" Lin Xiaosu interrupted directly.

Mad Wolf's voice stopped abruptly, and he stared at him coldly.

“Training soldiers certainly requires sweating, but there are rules to training soldiers. What you’re doing isn’t training soldiers; it’s just messing around!” Lin Xiaosu said, “The true method of training soldiers is moderation, not excess!”

Mad Wolf turned around abruptly: "Another sissy! I'm not serving him anymore..."

"Insolence!" roared Li Yafu, the head of the Military Hall. "Don't you have any manners? Apologize to Lord Li! Immediately!"

Although Mad Wolf was fearless, she was still a little scared by the shout of the Hall Master of the Military Hall. She turned around, put her hands together, and raised them up to indicate that she had apologized.

Lin Xiaosu smiled: "Soldiers are often straightforward and outspoken, so verbal disputes are fine. But you must understand two things, young lady. First, there is no room for bargaining on this matter. You must come with me, or you will be disobeying an imperial decree!"

The mad wolf spewed its breath into the sky, causing a gust of wind to rise as high as the palace roof, which was more than ten feet away.

This trend can be seen as an outlet for her inner frustration.

Lin Xiaosu said, "Secondly, your approach to warfare is too narrow. Do you think that by training one soldier to the death, you can achieve unparalleled combat power? You're wrong. War is not about individual combat, but about team combat. When team tactics are used well, the effect is a thousand times, ten thousand times better than your approach to warfare. Follow me, and I'll show you what true military strategy is!"

"The Way of War... Do you understand?" The four words floated down from the sky.

"Outrageous..." The leader of the Military Hall was furious again, wishing he could drag her mother over and beat her a hundred times over. What kind of illegitimate daughter is this, always trying to cause trouble for me?

Lin Xiaosu raised her hand to stop the head of the military affairs department: "Whether you understand or not, a battle will tell! I will give you two commanders three days to prepare. After three days, you will come with me to Jiangnan!"

He turned and left.

Mad Wolf looked up at the nearby palace roof, refusing to look at him.

Hong Bin stood there, utterly bewildered, momentarily forgetting even basic manners.

The head of the military hall was furious, but luckily he was polite and quickly came over to apologize.

Lei Tianlun, the master of Zhentian Pavilion, had a glint in his eyes, seemingly full of ideas. It wasn't until Lin Xiaosu took her leave that he came to his senses: "Lord Li, a mere Zhen-level force is far too far from your goal. How about Zhentian Pavilion sends a few more experts to accompany you on your journey?"

Qingying's eyes lit up.

A voice reached Lin Xiaosu's ears: "My lord, you can ask him for the Four Elders of Tiange."

The Four Elders of Tiange were highly skilled Dao Realm experts who had lived in seclusion for many years, and few outsiders knew about them. However, Qingying knew about them not through Xinge, but through her deceased father.

However, Lin Xiaosu shook his head: "His Majesty's decree is very clear, it is a town-level force. Lord Lei's good intention to increase the strength would be against His Majesty's decree. Thank you for your kindness, but there is no need to send another expert!"

Lei Tianlun frowned.

Qingying was also in a state of great turmoil.

"Farewell!"

"Farewell!"

Lin Xiaosu reached out, grabbed Qingying, and took flight, returning to his Li residence.

This return is no longer low-key.

Lin Xiaosu and Qingying flew straight through the air and landed in front of the gauze pavilion.

Qingying rushed up to the pavilion, reached out and lifted the teapot. With a burst of internal energy, the water in the teapot hissed. This was probably the greatest advantage of having a personal guard with cultivation.

She can make tea quickly.

But her mind was clearly not on making tea. Holding the teapot, she raised her eyes and said, "You have seen the performance of the twenty-seven teams of Zhentian Pavilion. Don't be too disappointed. The main problem is that once you set this goal, no one can see any hope."

"How can I not be disappointed?" Lin Xiaosu sat down in the chair and leaned back slightly. "Zhentian Pavilion is the place where the remnants of the Taizu Dragon Cavalry still exist. Even it is so weak. How can we expect others to be strong?"

"Strength and weakness vary with time and circumstances. If Your Excellency wants to pacify Jiangnan with a single, formidable force, it would be futile to send them to their deaths! Faced with certain death, who would truly be willing to die?"

Lin Xiaosu sighed softly, "Maybe so!"
For soldiers, dying is a matter of course in their world, but that doesn't mean it's the same everywhere.

This world is not that world; this world has no true military spirit, no faith.

People are afraid of death.

The seemingly imposing and spirited army of Zhentian Pavilion, when encountering ordinary people, are iron-blooded soldiers, fearless and valiant.

But when faced with a certain death, they become cowards.

The kind of indomitable military spirit he longed to see, the kind that "soldiers should fight to the death," was nowhere to be found here.

Even in the Zhen Tian Pavilion, which is known as the "last dragon rider".

"My lord, I truly don't understand... why His Majesty only dispatched a single town-level force? Doesn't he know that a mere town-level team sent to Jiangnan will only become the dead of Jiangnan?" Qingying said, "I have a terrible guess, perhaps..."

She didn't finish her words.

But she believed he understood.

In the Jiangnan region, there are eighty-one clans.

Each sect has a history spanning thousands or even tens of thousands of years, possessing profound cultural heritage.

Such a powerful force, even if all eight halls of the Zhen Tian Pavilion were mobilized, might not be able to take it all down, let alone a Zhen-level battle team.

His Majesty suddenly ordered him to lead such a weak force to the south of the Yangtze River.

As his personal bodyguard and his closest partner on this front, she felt obligated to remind him that this might be some kind of scheme by His Majesty, such as using three thousand lives to change the court's attitude towards Jiangnan.

From her perspective, having this viewpoint is already quite sufficient.

But Lin Xiaosu's words shattered her guesses. Lin Xiaosu glanced at her and said, "Don't make wild guesses! A town-level team was something I applied for with His Majesty on my own initiative, not His Majesty's idea."

“My lord, you…” Qingying was truly shocked.

"There are more than 81 sects in the world. The Great Wilderness Kingdom alone has more than 800 sects. The Great Wilderness is only one of the kingdoms in the Western Regions. There are more than 80 kingdoms in the entire Western Regions. There are also five regions and three ruins in the world. We don't have much time to slowly waste time. I need to achieve my goal in the shortest time and with the most shocking effect!"

"My lord, what exactly is your goal...?"

The warbler's voice suddenly stopped.

She looked up and stared at the drizzling rain in the sky.

Lin Xiaosu also looked up.

A ray of golden light appeared in the sky, and the curtain of rain was drawn back.

A flying shuttle was revealed. (End of Chapter)