Wei School's Three Good Students

Chapter 238 The Eternal Battlefield
On July 27th, Zhao Cheng was in Jizhou. Although he had swiftly captured the capital of Jizhou and temporarily gained control of the province by holding the Yan family hostage, and had achieved a relatively peaceful transfer of control by exploiting the fear of retaliation from the powerful families of Jizhou against the Zheng Kingdom, he simultaneously received news of successive defeats in the north.

Upon receiving the news, Zhao Cheng in the state capital sighed, "I am not as good as him."

The saying goes, "In literature, there is no first place; in martial arts, there is no second place." Zhao Cheng's statement, "I am not as good as him," is more of an acknowledgment beyond strategic considerations.

Zhao Cheng was increasingly convinced of Xuan Chong's abilities; however, he still felt that if they were to be "both generals," Xuan Chong was still just a tiny bit lacking (at the same level), a point he stubbornly insisted on. In the past, there had never been anyone who could make Zhao Cheng tacitly agree to be on the same level as him.

At the level of "lord," Zhao Cheng now admits that Xuan Chong has surpassed him by too much. He has already let go of certain things in his heart.

Two months ago, Zhao Cheng's entire army, except for Zhao Cheng himself, displayed an arrogant demeanor before the battle with the State of Zhen. It can only be said that the Hao army had been too successful for the past few years, conquering multiple states in succession.

Therefore, with many powerful families debating the classics before the war, the state of Zhen showed signs of defeat even before the battle began, and was bound to follow in the footsteps of other states.

Zhao Cheng couldn't help but admire Wu Yuanchang's forbearance; in this chaotic era of fame and fortune, he was still able to endure and keep quiet; despite having the strength to win, he remained hidden and endured the disgrace.

Over the years, Hao Jun's newly promoted generals have been making achievements in the territory of Dayao, but what achievements have been made by Zhuge? Well, the southern expedition against the barbarians is not a remarkable feat worth praising.

Zhao Cheng knew about the situation of Zhenhao, Wang Yushan, and other subordinates.

These arrogant soldiers had a preconceived notion that Xuan Chong would suffer a series of defeats and retreat back to Lingnan as soon as they arrived. However, the arrogant soldiers revealed their intentions too obviously, so much so that they were anticipated from the very beginning.

Now, in this game of chess, only my own "general" piece can move around like a "chariot"; all the other "pieces" have been removed.

Especially in the north, Zhenhao is leading two armies south; he lost his horse and dragged the remaining elephant and advisor pieces south. Zhao Cheng couldn't help but look at Xuan Chong's general piece in Xiangzhou and felt that Xuan Chong's next move would be a checkmate.

Note: Zhao Cheng is currently unaware that Zhen Hao has changed. He only sees that after he was removed from the control platform, Wei Heng and Zhao Shanhe, under Zhen Hao's command, are barely maintaining the situation. Zhao Cheng's mental energy is entirely focused on military matters, and he has no time to consider the people's hearts. He hasn't even noticed the dissatisfaction of the women around him with his newly acquired woman from Jizhou.

Zhao Shanhe's southward journey at this time was orchestrated by Zhen Hao, so we can tentatively consider him part of Zhen Hao's forces. After all, the northern oblique path has now been cut off; the masters of Liangtian Pavilion within the country have activated the Mountain and River Divination to create a "Mountain and River Barrier," severing all extraordinary means of communication.

"Checkmate" is a chess term that occurs when a piece is in check and is directly facing another piece. If the king is saved, other pieces will be captured. In this situation, Zhao Shanhe is that piece that will be captured.

Zhao Cheng also noticed that the "Ghost Chariot" of the Zhen Army, the combat unit marked by Wu Xiaoque, had not yet appeared on various battlefields, while the Zhan Kui had only appeared on the northern front.

We've saved up two top-tier units, Xuan Chong and Xuan Chong! We'll combine them and use them in the most crucial battle.

…a profound confrontation…

In the northern part of Kuotianling, Xuan Chong had quietly arrived at the northern battlefield. While the soldiers were sorting out intelligence on both sides, Xuan Chong, taking a moment of leisure, was inspecting a set of armor.

This set of armor was taken from the Dragon Guards that Wen Siting killed after their encounter with Hao Jun.

Xuan Chong was holding a single piece of scale armor, but in reality, the entire set of armor plates was connected by a dense network of feng shui energy. The scale armor resembled dragon scales, and when hit by bullets, it performed even better than pure steel plate armor. Plate armor would deform severely when hit by bullets, and when hit by armor-piercing arrows, it would be pierced by the long spikes on its head.

When the bullets from the Wu family's muskets struck this scaled armor, it was similar to cannonballs hitting explosive reactive armor. The bullets only damaged some of the armor plates, without harming the inner lining. This is because the grooves within the armor plates generate repulsive forces, which are released upon impact. — This is the explosive reactive armor of electromagnetic armor.

Xuan Chong said to Jin Hao, the mechanic who had accompanied him and was a disciple of Gongshu Wang, "Take a look at this."

Jin Hao examined it over and over: "My lord, this is the weapon-refining technique of the Five Elements Sect."

After listening to the mechanical sorcerer's explanation of the weapon-forging techniques, Xuan Chong nodded silently.

Xuan Chong sneered: "The arsenal supply system behind Hao Jun is truly diversified."

Xuan Chong silently thought about the several immortal sects already within his territory. After this battle, he would carry out the "mountain-chopping and temple-destroying" of these sects.

Currently, while their own army has an advantage in organization and logistics, it is actually at a disadvantage in terms of equipment. For example, Wang Feihao is finding it quite difficult to fight against terracotta warriors and armored vehicles. Furthermore, the talents of traditional sects possess a wealth of alchemical skills.

The fact that this equipment is now embedded in Zhao Cheng's core forces indicates that these sects, which have renounced worldly affairs, are increasingly interfering in the human realm.

After Xuan Chong lowered his armor, the staff headquarters had already completed the strategic situation analysis. On the sand table, Wei Heng was surrounded by Wu Zaixing, and Zhen Hao was also getting restless, seemingly facing a second annihilation. (This is still before July 30th.)

With Wen Siting's forces successfully reaching the northern part of Kuotianling, the Zhen army can easily complete its strategic mission of "severing off Jizhou."

Next, we must cripple the vital forces of the Hao Kingdom—no! We must crush the morale of the entire old order of the world.

...We've reached a key point in the campaign...

Kuotianling was where Wen Siting's troops arrived on July 30th. In the following twenty days, the established positions successfully blocked Hao Jun's attempt to exit through the northern oblique path.

Wen Siting began looking for other things to do. As a veteran within the military system, Wen Siting tried hard to keep up with the new era while retaining some unorthodox methods. As a result, other non-commissioned officers in the army often experienced the customs of southern Xinjiang.

After entering the northern part of Kuotianling and establishing his main force, he handed over the gatekeeping duties to Wu Leng. He then began to build momentum. Wen Siting arrived in the north and widely distributed invitations to heroes. He then followed the local martial arts world and found heroes from all walks of life.

Wen Siting performed the ritual of beheading chickens and swearing brotherhood with these heroes who were originally mountain bandits.

In early August, after Wen Siting issued the call to arms, he gathered tens of thousands of local heroes by promising to provide them with provisions.

As mid-August approached, two regiments of the Zhen Army arrived on August 10th and took over the task of guarding the North Slope from Wen Siting.

When Wen Siting led his troops north, his regiment amassed a force of tens of thousands.

Of course, the peasant soldiers dared not use it; Wen Siting, perched on a tree, watched the retreating peasant soldiers and shook his head! Clearly, these peasant soldiers had encountered a regular army.

Wen Siting waved his hand, ordering Zhang Hai to lead a battalion of five hundred men to meet them. Then, on the main road, the Zhen army clashed with the troops that had come to suppress them. After a burst of gunfire, the Zhen army won a great victory.

The previously defeated henchmen automatically pursued Hao's army without Wen Siting issuing any orders.

Within ten days, Wen Siting conquered several places in southern Chenzhou; after breaking through the city walls, he distributed the wealth to various heroes and took away the people; as a result, he formed a salient stretching four hundred miles in the region.

Wen Siting's "gathering of heroes" stirred up a huge storm in the local area.

Of course, Wen Siting, the initiator of "The Great Wind Rises," knew that these local "heroes," that is, the gang members and villagers, were always fighting with the wind at their backs. Giving them the banner of the Zhen Army was just to embolden them.

After exchanging greetings with his local brothers and reciting the usual platitudes about "sharing firewood from the green hills and drinking water from the Black River," Wen Siting returned to his tent. Once inside, after discussing matters with Wu Leng, his江湖气气 (jianghu air, a kind of chivalrous spirit) vanished, and he reverted to the behavior of a "systematic person," instructing his adjutant to report the situation to the General Staff.

After the General Staff received the letter, on August 25th, the people of Chenzhou were in an uproar, and the big bad guy (Zhao Shanhe's troops) began to march south.

Meanwhile, while these warlord alliances were making the most of their commotion, Wen Siting quietly gathered all his troops back to their designated encampments, forming a pincer movement with the southern forces.

Xuan Chong commented on Wen Siting's actions: "It's like a stock manipulator who stirs up the enthusiasm of retail investors and then quietly withdraws their funds. Very wicked, very wicked indeed!"
Because the Heluo region is currently easy to attack but difficult to defend, Xuanchong has no intention of annexing it for the time being; moreover, the stubborn structure here is too deep, so Xuanchong tacitly approves of Wensiting's approach.

As for the latest generation of non-commissioned officers, they are all a generation that grew up in the workshop-style city. They are good at meticulous calculations, but when it comes to chatting and joking around with all sorts of shady characters in the countryside, they are really not as good as Wen Siting.

Wen Siting made great contributions in this campaign.

…battle…

Starting on July 23, Zhao Shanhe, instigated by Zhen Hao using the tiger tally and letters, led 7 regular troops south.

It's not that his Yuhua Prefecture only had this many troops, but rather that the roads and provisions could only support this many troops. These 30,000 troops were the elite of both prefectures. It can be said that even if more than 100,000 troops were found after returning to the two prefectures, they would still be a weak force. This is because the old army went to the battlefield relying on those "daring and fearless" backbone members.

Zhao Shanhe's troops, traveling south through the Heluo region, made several stops along the way, finally arriving in Chenzhou on August 25.

As a result, under the attack of these 30,000 troops, the "Zhen Army," which originally occupied the southern part of Heluo, suffered repeated defeats.

All three lines of defense were breached. Oh, these lines of defense were all fortified positions built by Wen Siting's main force, blocking key transportation routes.

Its fortifications were simply a pile of rammed earth walls with firing ports, allowing the heroes to retreat to these walls. However, due to the heroes' poor discipline and organization, they were quickly overrun by the Hao army's martial arts masters and their soldiers, who charged in with swords, and the position was lost.

Upon seeing the arrival of the Iron Lion Monster and the Rock Monster, this army of monsters from Jiangnan, the Jiangnan experts began to "flee" south, or rather, retreat southward.

During the retreat, these scattered "Zhen Army" soldiers spread rumors in panic, saying, "The Hao Army is less than 10,000, but more than 10,000 is invincible."

Oh, this sentence was shouted by Wen Siting, an inside agent among these local militias, during the rout before the complete collapse.

The local militia, whose morale had been shattered by the "Gundam robots" like the terracotta figures, were still in shock, so they repeated such words without thinking.

All of this was Wen Siting's aim to disarm Hao Jun's guard.

After three consecutive victories, Zhao Shanhe personally interrogated the defeated troops in his camp and then told his men: "That's all there is to it." However, in reality, Zhao Shanhe was hoping for the best, convincing himself that "this route of the Zhen army is very small," and he had no choice but to do so.

On August 30th, news had already arrived that Wei Heng and Zhen Hao had suffered a second major defeat in the north.

But at this time, Zhao Shanhe had become arrogant after recovering the most important economic town in southern Heluo; he held a grand banquet for the representatives of the local aristocratic families and clans; as a result, the news that "as soon as Hao's army arrives, the enemy will surely be defeated" spread far and wide.

...retreat first, then annihilate...

Xuan Chong looked at the battle map of the same area as Wen Siting's. However, unlike the map of Wen Siting's camp which highlighted "the right hook that was pulled back," Xuan Chong's map now marked "the left hook to the east."

Wen Si condensed his army group near the northern oblique path and established a defensive position;

After the local "righteous army" he had previously instigated was successively defeated, Zhao Shanhe's army began to become "arrogant".

Wen Siting received information from the General Staff that another army would cooperate with him to annihilate Zhao Shanhe's troops.

On the General Staff's map, the Wen Siting troops were a "block," but now there's another "left hook," which has moved even further east than Wen Siting! (The Zhen Army is to the west, while the east is deep inside enemy territory.)
This left hook was aimed at the fact that there were no heroes left in Hao's army, and it cut off Zhao Shanhe's path by infiltrating from the inside.

The leader of this force is Sun Aoling (Chapter 77, the same type of person as Wang Feihao).
The long-distance mobile assault tactics of the Corps, involving "entry," "expansion," and "capture," are routine operations and need no further explanation.

Xuan Chong: Taking advantage of Zhao Cheng's escape and being trapped in Jizhou, Hao Kingdom's strategic decision-making is brain dead, let's launch a few more rounds.

Xuan Chong's military strategy over the past few decades has been characterized by his submissive attitude towards Zhao Cheng, but his ruthless attacks on other academically weaker individuals.

…The sparrows are about to spread their wings… Wanmaji, this is a place where merchants from the north and south travel. As the name suggests, tens of thousands of horses pass through every year.

This was a crucial stronghold that Zhao Cheng had instructed his generals to defend rigorously when he was in power. —Zhao Cheng's reminder was understandable if the enemy were other warlords like Wu Hengyu.

But now the opponent is Xuan Chong, and there's no way to defend against that! — Xuan Chong pointed his finger, and Wang Feihao's army rushed over like lightning.

Regarding the "defense of important towns," Xuan Chong said: To ensure others take responsibility seriously, you have to give them "assignments." Previously, Xuan Chong had given generals Su Ming, Cai, and Bai guaranteed their positions.

At Wanmaji, Zhao Cheng could be used to make a quick getaway, but not permanently.

The grain stored inside has been taken south by the soldiers in the city, leaving only laborers to defend the area. Carts and horses are constantly going in and out, loading carts of grain onto "ox-drawn sail carts" and sending them south.

The Hao army garrison inside the city consisted of elderly and weak men over forty years old, some of whom were wounded on the battlefield and were recovering from illness or disability; others were local militias recently recruited from the countryside.

On September 1st, at the south gate of Wanmaji, Haojun's general leaned against the brick wall of the city gate, put his spear aside, and sat upright in a chair.

He ate his tea and fried rice, just like a security guard on Earth. If he didn't like someone, he would put down a barrier to block them from entering.

Sure enough, the city gate officer used his gun to block a cart and shouted, "You thieving scoundrel, you're obviously no good person. Open your package and let me check it!"

The young man who was stopped wanted to argue, but the old man leading the group had seen it all before. He quickly stopped the impulsive young man, smiled apologetically, and took out some copper coins.

The "inspection" was completed in an instant, the gun barrels blocking the way were raised, and they were allowed to pass.

Just as the city gate official was weighing the coins in his hand, listening to the crisp sound, and placing them in the money pouch at his waist, suddenly there was a buzzing sound, the ground beneath his feet trembled, and he, like the coins in the pouch, was jolted. The bricks and tiles on the city wall creaked.

On the left side of the city wall, a huge projectile was embedded in the wall. As the projectile fell from the crater, bricks and tiles shattered; the bricks and tiles at the edges of the cracks fell down like raindrops with a loud crash.

As he stood there in a daze, he heard a thunderous cannon roar in the distance. Looking in the direction of the loud cannon fire, he saw eight enormous bulls on the road two miles away, each carrying a heavy cannon on its back.

Just as the old and weak on the city wall realized what was happening and prepared to strike the gong in preparation for battle, a huge shadow fell from the sky, growing thicker and more concentrated, as if "dyed." Looking up, they saw a giant nine-headed bird descending with a whooshing sound.

The city gate tower with cannons mounted on it was knocked down, and chaos ensued in the city.

The ghost chariot, ten zhang high, fell down, its nine heads picking people up to bite in the street, while others spewed poisonous smoke at the city gate from dozens of zhang away.

Outside the city wall, the golden bull, having finished firing a barrage of cannons, was also advancing with great strides. As it approached the city wall, the mechanism on its head, the bull horn, began to transform into a ten-meter pole. At the top of the pole was an explosive package. The bull horn pierced into the city wall, and with a loud bang, the city wall was "rammed"—yes, it collapsed.

…half an hour later…

Then, at the city gate, the gatekeeper, whose body was half-buried under the rubble, sensed the sound of a large procession entering the city. He raised his head and groaned, trying to call for help, but the people on horseback only glanced at him and did not waste the time it takes for an incense stick to burn to dig him out of the rubble.

The gatekeeper looked up and saw the banners of these soldiers in their distinctive armor, which bore the character "浱".

This force, mainly composed of aerial "monsters," "giant soldiers," and chariots, is Xuan Chong's "chariot" piece. — Compared to the giant soldiers and monsters that accompany the main army, their concentrated use leverages their superior marching and assault capabilities, without being hampered by slower unit types.

Previously, when the main army was still in force, Xuan Chong would not have sent out such a small force of only a thousand men, yet with terrifying combat power. This is because a "chariot" is not like a "pawn" that fills the line; rather, it must prepare far behind, look for gaps left by the enemy's movements, and then suddenly rush in to capture the opponent's pieces.

On this large chessboard, Xuan Chong's "chariot" successfully captured a "pawn" behind the "Chu River and Han Border," and the next step is to capture the "elephant."

But it wasn't over yet; then, Chen Jun's "horse" piece also moved.

…cart and cannon attack…

Starting on August 28th, Sun Aoling led an army of 5,000 on a three-day forced march, finally capturing Wanmaji on September 1st.

After receiving Xuan Chong's mobilization order, Sun Ao's Chen Army abandoned unnecessary baggage and marched a hundred miles overnight, directly penetrating into the interior of Chenzhou.

Wanmaji was a rare spot with ample food supplies within Houhao's controlled area. Sun Ao's army seized it and immediately ate and drank its provisions.

So, all along, Zhao Cheng's strategists had wanted to fleece Xuan Chong's territory. Now, ironically, the Chen army had found an opportunity to plunder their supplies.

It is said that the more food Hao's army lacked, the less strategic mobility it had. And the less strategic mobility it had, the easier it was for the supply depots to be captured by the Chen army, which had strategic mobility, when forced to attack.

The grain supplies at Wanmaji were the life-saving provisions that the major families of Heluo had monopolized during the famine! Now that they had been captured by the Zhen army, the entire Hao Kingdom was in a state of panic. They had no choice but to engage in a strategic decisive battle.

The Zhen Army's General Staff seized upon the key point of Wanmaji. When making this decision, the Zhen Army knew that their action would force the Hao Army into a decisive battle. They anticipated the Hao Army's indecision and made the relevant decisions in advance! — The decision-making process must be fast.

Upon hearing of the fall of Wanmaji, Hao Jun's troops, who had originally intended to fight Wen Siting's troops to the death, were immediately pulled back from the brink.

Another cavalry unit from the Zhen Army arrived at Bao City, a place ravaged by Wang Yushan, where only sixty households remained. They ate and slept there. The horses were also fed beans.

The military staff immediately began implementing the second step of the Xuanchong plan.

On September 2, under the scorching sun, the Zhen army cavalry split into two parts, one to the south and one to the north, and captured the two important towns of "Fanqiao" and "Ludu", completely cutting off Zhao Shanhe's other supply lines for food, arrows, and armor.

The 30,000-strong army that marched south from Zhaoshan to support Jizhou was completely cut off in the southern part of the Heluo region.

At this point, Zhao Shanhe's southward-bound Hao army only had two options: either break through Sun Aoling's blockade to the north or break through Wen Siting's blockade to the south.

At this moment, Zhao Shanhe had no reinforcements. Zhen Hao's deception had led to a crushing defeat.

The prefects and governors, in their respective residences and with their advisors, suddenly "realized" that their task was to guard the area. At this point, even if they possessed the imperial tally, they would no longer listen to reason.

…Now Wanmaji is the headquarters of the Zhen Army…

Having firmly secured the key points, Xuan Chong nodded to the recruits gathered around the map and sand table: "The initiative in the battle is now in our hands. Next, our army must plan carefully and wipe out the last vestiges of Hao's army's spirit!"

Xuan Chong raised his head, looking at the outstanding talents of the Zhen Kingdom who had participated in the planning of this battle. In recent years, under the rule of the Wu family army, the so-called aristocratic talents had all gone out to attach themselves to the heroes of the Central Plains. These students who had followed him to conquer the world naturally wanted to rush onto the grand stage of the world and experience the spirit of the heroes.

The Heluo region is located in the very center of the world, and many ancient battlefields were born here throughout history.

If a major annihilation is achieved, it will show the world that there are still people who haven't registered for the battle for supremacy! Don't rush to grab a ticket on the ship. Who knows, the popular "ship" might get sunk by the earlier "kayak."

…The perspective shifts to beyond the mundane world…

In September, with the "annihilation of 100,000 Hao soldiers" in the northern mountains and rivers, the first to sense the change in the battle situation were the immortals who were watching the battle.

Although these immortals outwardly remain detached from worldly affairs and avoid military conflicts, they secretly favor one side over the other. Whenever the tide of war turns even slightly against them, they send out disciples with lower cultivation levels—that is, Foundation Establishment or Qi Refining stage cultivators.

However, all of this can only be intervened as the situation gradually changes. In the unpredictable course of fate, a sudden and massive shift in fortune can occur, leaving even these immortals with no time to alter the situation.

For example, this is the situation right now. After Xuan Chong made his moves, the land of Jizhou became filled with murderous intent.

For example, in the Hao Army, Wang Yue, a disciple of the Linjian Sect from Jizhou who had joined the army as a mage, was discussing "fate" and "metaphysics" with scions of military families from Jizhou. Suddenly, the jade pendant at his waist shattered, and to the astonishment of his fellow soldiers, he took flight on his sword. But shortly after, he fell. After leaving the army formation, his spiritual energy was chaotic and he was completely unable to control it.

Originally, as a Foundation Establishment cultivator at the Great Perfection stage, Wang Yue's spiritual power was suppressed within the military formation; once outside the formation, he was no longer suppressed and could absorb more spiritual energy from heaven and earth. Now, the situation is reversed. While inside the formation, he could still control spiritual energy, but outside, it was as if heaven and earth had become a net.

In Wang Yue's eyes, the originally beautiful landscape had suddenly changed. The original beauty of the mountains was gone, leaving only steepness; the rivers and streams became unpredictable, with various undercurrents and hidden dangers lurking everywhere.

This is true for disciples within the system, but those cultivators who have reached the Golden Core and Nascent Soul stages can perceive it even more clearly.

The sect leader of the Five Elements Immortal Sect, who was watching the battle from afar, felt as if he had been pricked by a needle and had to retreat hundreds of miles. He exclaimed in great shock, "War is about to break out! This place is about to become a battlefield unlike any seen in thousands of years."

In the various sects and the astrologer's divination of the Great Divination, the original secrets of heaven were unclear. The various conflicting results calculated through the "Falling Star" algorithm and the "Heavenly Book" divination have now all been calculated as "extremely ominous" in the land of Jizhou.

…After calculating…

The sect leader of the Cixin Sect, far away in the East China Sea, looked at the divination result amidst the array of falling stars in the Milky Way: "Heaven has unleashed its killing intent, shifting stars and changing constellations!"

Her beautiful face gazed at the stars in the sky. At this moment, all the stars in the direction of Da Yao Ji Zhou flickered and dimmed, as if their light were distorted by the hot air currents from a furnace. (This is a physical phenomenon where fluctuations in consciousness affect the propagation of light.)
…Second calculation…

In Yaodu, eight celestial palaces drifted back to the abandoned city, which resembled a tomb, with clusters of lights floating about. (Ghosts return home on the seventh day after their death; since the palaces are not fixed, they naturally drift back as well.)
In each palace, there are celestial stone tablets with changing runes, which indicate the conditions of mountains and rivers in various places.

The Grandmaster of the Linghua Sect remained silent for a long time, staring at the results of the divination. The imperial censor beside him urged him on, but to no avail. Meanwhile, his disciple whispered, "The earth is unleashing its killing intent; dragons and snakes are rising from the land."

Because on the map of mountains and rivers, the dragon-like veins of the earth are now beginning to twist. (This is caused by consciousness influencing the gravitational distribution of matter on the planet; the evil moon's projected information interferes with humanity, which will cause the gravity of certain mountains and rivers to be completely blocked.)
…three counts…

Inside the Qingyuan Sect, the sect is currently recruiting new disciples.

One hundred qualified disciples listened to the lectures; and the sect leader, as usual, calculated "fortune and misfortune." However, today, he couldn't help but open his eyes, because the disciples he had summoned this time all seemed to have lost a bit of luck.

He then landed and carefully examined the face of one of his disciples, whose faces all indicated "family members suffering misfortune" and "unable to calm their anger."

As he calculated, the sect leader became dizzy and then slumped onto the futon. After a long while, he said, "When a person harbors murderous intent, heaven and earth will be overturned!"

Narrator: In this world, everyone's consciousness is connected; when a family member is about to suffer misfortune, they will feel worried, which will cause them to clench their fists, furrow their brows, and change in their palmistry and facial features.

Many of the new disciples recruited by the Qingyuan Sect are scions of prominent families in the southern part of Da Yao. These families all practice "orthodox methods and the righteous path," and few of them currently place their bets on the Zhen Kingdom led by Xuan Chong.

The popular sentiment that Xuan Chong has been guiding in his down-to-earth way over the years is about to surge, and many wealthy and powerful families that have existed since the time of the Great Yao are about to decline; while those from humble backgrounds and even migrant workers who have made great contributions in battle are rising up, which will surely bring about a "world-shaking change".

Throughout history, the influence of military strategy on the world has been unparalleled, creating "battlefields that last for millennia."

…The perspective returns to the strategists' plans…

Xuan Chong, however, was unaware of the immense impact his actions would have on the cultivation world. Xuan Chong: If the immortal sects don't care about me, why should I?

Whether it was because Wu Hanluan severed Xuan Chong's path to immortality in his youth due to his "strong birth chart, suitable for the battlefield"; or because Xuan Chong's own "history teacher" system insisted on materialism; in short, he was not destined for the "path of immortality".

(End of this chapter)