National Division

Chapter 150 Shen Xian: Isn't it because we have no one else to rely on?

Second day

The large army stationed around Heshan began its march, quickly advancing towards a small town called Danqiu in Linchuan County, where it set up camp.

Daoist Dongyang had already set up an array there, and was now in direct confrontation with Protector Qin. The two were locked in a battle of wits in the void, their killing intent clashing in the air.

A large army of about 15,000 gate guards marched in a mighty procession toward Danqiu, their banners fluttering like a forest, and their swords and spears gleaming coldly in the air.

Shen Xian and An Shouxin rode side by side, casting their cold gazes into the distance, where they could already see the figures of the Corpse Yin Sect disciples driving the corpse demons through the mountains and fields.

In the past few days, his cultivation in the immortal path has officially entered the ninth level of the Qi Sea.

An Shouxin asked, "General, you said yesterday you were worried about the situation in Weizhou. Has anything unexpected happened to Weizhou?"

Shen Xian said, "Weizhou, like Anzhou, is located at the junction of Hebei Road and Henan Road. The Corpse Yin Sect has discovered a celestial cave with many ancient immortal corpses. Their painstaking efforts to spread the plague are only for the purpose of refining the immortal corpses with a secret method. Such a secret method requires the corpse yin energy of nearly a million people."

"This...this is utterly outrageous." An Shouxin's expression changed drastically, his eyes filled with shock beneath his thick eyebrows.

Slaughtering millions of people to extract their yin energy and refine them into immortal corpses is undoubtedly an act of utter inhumanity.

Shen Xian pondered and said, "The best outcome in this battle would be to destroy the Corpse Yin Sect. Even if we cannot destroy them completely, we must at least destroy their remaining forces to prevent them from poisoning the world again."

Other demonic sects, such as the three major demonic cults and other demonic sects, are not so anti-human.

Because the karmic burden of human suffering is too heavy, it may lead to the extinction of the sect.

The Corpse Yin Sect acted so recklessly simply because the profits were too tempting.

An Shouxin asked, "Then should my Weibo army leave cavalry to be stationed in Guhe County?"

"Let's see how things go first," Shen Xian said. "Also, Magistrate Shen has returned to Guhe to take charge."

There's no need for my father to participate in the upcoming battle. He's just in time to have honed his martial arts master's will during his battles against demons these past few days, so he can return to Guhe County to oversee things.

"Report!!!"

Just then, a junior officer wearing a red cloak and bright armor rode up on horseback and shouted, "Scouts have spotted a large group of corpse demons!"

At this moment, Shen Xian looked into the distance and saw a large group of dark corpse demons, or rather, the people of Ningyang and Linchuan counties.

They were disheveled, their faces stained with blood, their clothes torn to shreds, their expressions ferocious and menacing, and their cheeks covered with green, spiderweb-like patterns.

"Investigate further and report back," Shen Xian instructed.

At this moment, Chen Jian, the Right Gate Guard General who was one horse's length behind, clasped his hands and said, "General, this humble general is willing to lead troops to repel the Corpse Demon!"

Shen Xian said, "The enemy's situation is unclear, so we should scout ahead first."

Then, he looked at the eldest princess beside him and asked, "Your Highness, where is Daoist Dongyang now?"

The princess said, "I have already informed him, and he will be there shortly."

As soon as the beautiful woman finished speaking, a streak of blue light descended from afar, revealing the figure of Daoist Dongyang.

The Taoist Dongyang stood in mid-air, bowed to Shen Xian, and said, "Greetings, Scholar Shen."

He was not called a Grand Marshal, because among the many official posts, people at the time felt that the prestigious and important position of Academician of the Zhaowen Pavilion was more elegant.

Shen Xian sized up the Prefectural School Chancellor of Anzhou and said, "Chancellor Dongyang, no need for formalities. How is the situation up ahead?"

Dongyang Daoist said loudly, "I have set up a Thunder Pool Formation in the southeast of Danqiu and a Volcano Formation in the southwest of Danqiu. Both formations can identify the Corpse Fiend Demon Qi. Unless they are broken, no one in the Corpse Yin Sect can cross the Thunder Pool or the Volcano Formation."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xian said solemnly, "Thank you for making such arrangements, Chancellor Dongyang."

This is the legacy of a great sect, with unpredictable methods. If you are willing to help, this battle will be much easier.

Daoist Dongyang asked, "This formation is only for defense. Does Scholar Shen intend to advance next?"

"We will annihilate the Corpse Yin Sect and recapture Ningyang and Linchuan counties," Shen Xian said firmly. "Later, we will ask the Dongyang Priest for his assistance!"

The Taoist Dongyang said, "That is indeed my wish, but I dare not ask you."

He had already received word that the sect had also sent an eighth-realm senior to Anzhou, so his intervention this time would not be considered a violation of the sect leader's orders.

As the massive army advanced towards Danqiu, the vanguard scouts engaged in combat with the corpse demons of the Corpse Yin Sect.

Both sides suffered casualties on each other.

……

……

About a mile from Danqiu, in the tent where the Corpse Yin Sect was located—

All the hall masters of the Corpse Yin Sect sat in chairs, the atmosphere was slightly heavy, and their eyes were fixed on Qin Guang's face in the main seat.

In addition, there is Nie Huai, a disciple of the Yellow Springs Sect; Ying Wuming, a disciple of the Heavenly Punishment Sect; Tang Huiyu, a saintess of the Netherworld God Sect; and Wang Yaozhi, a saintess of the Joyful Union Sect.

Protector Qin and Protector Yu are discussing their next move.

"The Thunder Pool and Volcano Formation set up by this Taoist from the Jade Purity Sect is truly profound. Unless an elder from the sect intervenes, we will be unable to make any progress," Protector Qin said solemnly.

The Daoist Dongyang has set up an array in the southwest of Danqiu Town, which can form a thunder pool and a volcano. Once the Corpse Yin Sect sets foot there, they will be ambushed.

Protector Yu asked, "Protector Qin, is there still no news from the Sect Master?"

"It'll be soon. The sect leader is currently in Ningyang County, battling powerful figures from Shangqing and Yuqing," said Protector Qin.

Just then, a disciple entered the military tent and reported: "Guardian, the government troops have reached Danqiu and are engaged in battle with our people. Hall Master Zhao has sent a disciple to inquire whether we should engage the enemy."

Qin Guang and Protector Yu exchanged a glance and said, "The Great Jing Dynasty's government troops have moved."

Then, looking at the hall masters, he asked, "Do any of you have a strategy to defeat the enemy?"

Shen Cong, as Qin Hufa's confidant, was the first to speak. His face was sallow, clearly still quite weak from the previous battle. He said, "Hufa, the Great Jing Dynasty doesn't have many troops, but we have many men. If we send our entire army forward, we will surely be able to break through the enemy's formation."

A hall master surnamed Liu hesitated for a moment, then said, "Guardian, we should prioritize defense and await the sect leader's next order."

Hall Master Ye also spoke up: "Guardian, the Great Jing is guarded by six realm experts. We should eliminate these six realm experts first."

“The sixth realm of Yuqing is not easy to deal with.” Qin Guang said expressionlessly after a moment of contemplation, “We will also go out to meet the Great Jing.”

As they spoke, Qin Guang and Protector Yu went to the outer room.

Nie Huai, a disciple of the Yellow Springs Sect, and Ying Wuming, a disciple of the Heavenly Punishment Sect, also got up and went outside.

At this moment, everyone stood high in the sky, watching the battle between the two sides. They could see that the troops of the Great Jing Dynasty were being mobilized rapidly.

Compared to the chaotic attack formation of the Corpse Yin Sect disciples who drove the corpse demons, the Imperial Guards of the Great Jing Dynasty formed a well-organized military formation, with their offense and defense being quite disciplined.

"The corpse demons act solely on instinct and are no match for the Great Jing Dynasty's army." Qin Guang, a veteran general who had seen many battles in his lifetime, frowned and sighed upon seeing the disparity in the two sides' formations.

Protector Yu's expression also turned somewhat solemn. Then, he said self-deprecatingly, "If the Corpse Demon is so effective, then my Corpse Yin Sect is now the one governing this vast land of China."

Qin Guang pondered for a moment and said, "The situation in Anzhou is beyond our control."

This was a very strategic judgment. With the arrival of reinforcements from the Great Jing Dynasty, coupled with the intervention of the Yuqing and Shangqing immortal sects, Anzhou had become a half-baked mess.

Don't use Anzhou as a breakthrough point.

Protector Yu said, "Now it depends on the sect leader's plans."

Upon hearing this, Qin Guang remained silent for a moment, then rallied his spirits and said, "However, this army of tens of thousands of corpse demons will also give the Great Jing Dynasty a run for its money!"

His plump face revealed the heroic spirit of his past battles, and he laughed, "Back in the day, I led thousands of troops, and now it's time to have some fun with the Great Jing Dynasty."

These demonic cultivators never intended to keep the corpse demons as soldiers; they were merely cannon fodder for the Corpse Yin Sect to achieve its goals.

"Master Ye, Master Liu, you two should flank the Great Jing army from both sides!" Qin Guang said coldly.

Master Ye said, "Guardian, there are Thunder Pools and Volcano Formations on both sides."

"It's alright. Drive the corpse demons into ants, and Protector Yu and I will cover for you two!" Qin Guang said, turning to Protector Yu beside him, and said, "Let's go and break through Yuqing's Thunder Pool and Volcano Formation!"

Protector Yu nodded.

The two, along with Daoist Dongyang, belonged to the sixth realm [Dongxu], and naturally were not convinced by the formation he had set up.

Nie Huai, a disciple of the Yellow Springs Sect, cast a sinister glance into the distance, observing the formation of the Great Jing Dynasty.

Experiencing this war firsthand allows one to learn a great deal from the responses of the Corpse Yin Sect and the Great Jing Dynasty.

……

……

"General, the demonic cultivators have made their move!" An Shouxin's tiger-like eyes seemed to flash with a sharp light as he said, "It's the power of the void."

This person is also a martial arts master, at the peak of the sixth realm of martial arts cultivation. In fact, one could say that he is also a martial arts giant.

Clearly, the Martial Soul sensed the void power of the sixth-realm immortal of the Corpse Yin Sect.

“The Corpse Yin Sect has two experts at the sixth realm in charge, so I’m afraid we’ll have to trouble Commander An,” Shen Xian said.

The reason he didn't let An Shouxin return to Guhe was precisely this: An Shouxin was at the sixth level of martial arts, and together with Dongyang Daoist, they were enough to keep the imperial court at a disadvantage in terms of immortal power.

"Rest assured, Commander Shen." An Shouxin rubbed his large, fan-like hands together, his eyes gleaming with eager fighting spirit, and said, "This humble general's precious sword has not tasted blood for a long time!"

As he spoke, he took the large sword hanging on the saddle, and his figure shot out like an arrow, transforming into a streak of light as he charged towards Qin and Yu.

It was clearly their martial spirits that had locked onto their location.

Shen Xian's expression turned solemn. Without saying a word, he ordered, "Right Gate Guards, listen to my command: send out five thousand cavalry to break through the horde of corpses!"

Because the army was being looked after by Daoist Dongyang, a Void Realm cultivator, and by Princess Chang and Daoist Heshou, two Divine Illumination Realm cultivators, they were not worried about a devastating attack from the Corpse Yin Sect.

In fact, when immortals use their supernatural powers against mortal armies, their magic is also affected by the evil energy of the soldiers, and the effectiveness of their supernatural powers, which borrow from the laws of heaven and earth, is greatly reduced.

In this respect, they are far inferior to warriors who can defeat all enemies and sweep away thousands of troops. Of course, the short lifespan of warriors is also due to their heavy karma and killings.

Immortals tend to support several human forces, allowing these forces to instigate conflict, bloodshed, and even make moves and schemes.

According to the principle of shared karma, these issues are resolved by the parties involved themselves.

This is similar to why, in the Investiture of the Gods, Nuwa sent the three demons from Xuanyuan Tomb to wreak havoc on the Shang Dynasty, rather than directly overthrowing it with the power of a sage.

Once one enters the realm of divine illumination in the path of immortality, the primordial spirit senses the mysterious Heavenly Dao and begins to understand the terrifying nature of karma and the burdens one bears.

Just as ordinary people at fifty years old understand the will of Heaven and begin to revere the Way of Heaven.

Some Daoist cultivators at the Dao Embryo Realm, such as Daoist Crane Guardian, already had some understanding of this.

On the contrary, those in the Danxia Realm, Tianmen Realm, and Qihai Realm are fearless due to their ignorance, but even if they were to unleash their power to slaughter mortals, they would not have such great destructive power, nor would they have the motive to slaughter mortals.

At Shen Xian's command, the soldiers of the Right Gate Guard, armed with weapons, their red uniforms like a sea of ​​flames, surged towards the distant corpse demon and burned it.

“Dong dong!!!”

The war drums began to sound, deafeningly loud.

In such an environment, individuals are easily influenced, overcoming their inner fears and following the crowd.

Five thousand Right Gate Guards set out, and Shen Qian, as one of them, was naturally among them.

After a quarter of an hour, accompanied by "clang clang..."

The tide of soldiers and the tide of corpses clashed, and shouts of battle rose up, shaking the heavens.

The corpse demons driven by the disciples of the Corpse Yin Sect clashed with the government troops of the Great Jing Dynasty. The weapons slashed through the corpse demons, and black blood spurted out, but the corpse demons seemed to feel no pain. They only let out roars like wild beasts.

Ouch...

It sounded like the howl of a wolf, and also like the roar of a tiger.

A large number of Corpse Yin Sect disciples drove the Corpse Demons to meet the imperial army of the Great Jing Dynasty.

The guards of the Great Jing Right Gate, like a sharp arrow, pierced through the horde of corpses from the east. Their swords and spears flashed with a cold light, and many of the corpse demons were killed.

Meanwhile, the martial artists and Taoist priests from Qingyang Temple were high in the sky, searching for the members of the Corpse Yin Sect who used Taoist arts to drive away corpse demons, and then besieging and killing them.

At this moment, Shen Xian did not make a move. He simply stood on his horse, gazing at the two armies, ready to command and coordinate at any time.

The reason I personally took up my sword and went into battle before was because I had no one else to rely on!

Of course, he would have to take action himself now that he has many soldiers and generals under his command, so he no longer needs to do so.

In fact, many people misunderstand the concept of a national hero, believing that he must be stationed in the central command.

In fact, not to mention national heroes, even the ruler must lead by example.

When Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, decisively defeated Dou Jiande, he personally led the Xuanjia Army into battle, yet this did not diminish his prestige.

As for Emperor Shizong of Later Zhou, Guo Rong and Guo Wei, weren't they both emperors who rose to power on horseback?
Zhu Di also personally led his troops into battle.

Before Han Xin was appointed as a general, he was just a common soldier who also had to take up a sword and fight on the battlefield.

Strategic planning and hands-on experience are not mutually exclusive.

A charismatic ruler, or a national hero, possesses not only formidable personal strength and martial prowess but also strategic wisdom and leadership skills. Only in this way can he command the respect and respect of both superiors and subordinates.

The eldest princess turned to Xue Zhihua and said softly, "Zhihua, let me test you. Do you think the imperial army can defeat the zombie horde?"

Xue Zhihua's bright eyes flashed as she asked, "The Corpse Demon Army is chaotic and disorderly, but it is fearless and difficult to defeat. However, it will be gradually annihilated."

"As expected of a daughter of a military family, defeating the corpse demon is quite difficult." The eldest princess praised lightly, and said quietly, "These secret techniques of the corpse demon seem to have been prepared specifically for war."

As Shen Xian listened to the two women's conversation, a strange feeling welled up in his heart.

Let me test you, what kind of language is this?

(End of this chapter)