The Imperial Guards, like Yama, slaughtered until the Empress cried out for help.

Before the cries of agony from the mountain had subsided, the second and third rounds of shelling began to fire in quick succession.

All the cannons spat out flames again, and the smoke and dust that spread across the Red River Mountain once more filled the air.

In the distance, one could vaguely see a figure in black rapidly moving across the Red River Mountain, deflecting incoming artillery shells.

It was a Grandmaster-level expert from the Peng family who made the move.

Cao Shen narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on the grandmaster.

"Finally made your move? Peng Fei, is it? I'll have a go at you later."

He then turned his gaze to the mountaintop.

"They're really patient. The Peng family members have all been blown up, why aren't they coming out?"

Just as Cao was deep in thought, the Sky-Bombing Cannon stopped.

Cao Shen turned around and looked at the soldier who had fired the cannon with some dissatisfaction.

"What's going on? Why did the cannons stop? Who told you to stop?"

The soldier quickly replied, "General, it was Commander Shen who ordered the halt."

Cao Shen was stunned for a moment, then turned around to look in the direction of Shen Qing and found that Shen Qing was also looking at him. Cao Shen quickly ran over.

"Commander Shen, why did you stop? We still have enough bombs to plow through this Red River Mountain..."

Shen Qing raised her hand to interrupt Cao Shen's speech.

"You should stay and go back to Jiashui County to fight the Japanese pirates."

"The fighting in Jiashui County must be fierce. The Dawu army has a strength of 6,000 men, while the Weiwu army, after half a year of recuperation, only has 3,900 men left."

"There were only one or two thousand people left when they retired."

When this was mentioned, Cao Shen lowered his head slightly, clearly thinking of something sad.

Shen Qing continued speaking.

"Moreover, since you've joined my operation on your own, the higher-ups won't resupply you once you run out of ammunition."

"Take some money with you after we're done fighting, consider it my donation to you."

Cao Shen paused for a moment, then looked up at Shen Qing, his expression already changed.

If the previous feeling was one of awe towards the third young master of the Shen family, it has now changed somewhat.

After all, he was a third-rank general, so his official position was certainly not low, but there were quite a few people with higher ranks than him.

I've been asked for help quite a few times, but without exception, all those important figures want to take advantage of me and then leave without a trace.

Someone like Shen Qing is truly a first.

Cao Shen had an idea.

Damn it, I have to work with someone like Shen Qing as my boss. What kind of jerks am I working with now?

Cao Shen bowed deeply, offering a grand salute; "On behalf of the soldiers of the Mighty Army, Cao Shen thanks Commander Shen!"

Shen Qing turned around and glanced at Cao Shen with a somewhat speechless expression.

Damn it, just how bad are the conditions for the troops in Jiashui County? I only showed a little concern, and Cao Shen almost pledged his loyalty?

Cao Shen did the work for him, and Shen Qing paid him. Isn't that a normal procedure?

Could it be that Cao Shen did all the work but didn't get paid?

Shen Qing waved his hand, drew the Crimson Cloud from his waist, and domineering true energy surged forth, flashing red light.

Several people stepped out from the crowd and came to stand behind Shen Qing. Five grandmasters stood neatly behind Shen Qing.

Shen Qing raised the Crimson Sky and pointed it at the Red River Mountain.

"The Red River Mountain defense line has been breached! Full force, launch an attack! Take Red River Mountain in half an hour!"

"kill!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, the Golden Guard, and the Mighty Army surged toward Honghe Mountain like a tidal wave.

At the very front of the crowd were Shen Qing and the five Grandmasters.

Shen Qing held the Crimson Sky in his hand, and as he ran, crimson light flowed, with faint lightning visible and constant booming.

Cao Shen held a golden spear, his whole body shimmering with golden light, the spear leaving a trail of sparks as it dragged on the ground.

Qin Chuan gripped the Heavenly Star Hammer, leaving a trail of purple light in the air.

Lu Tong's hands were wrapped in iron chains, which gleamed with a dim gray light.

Following closely behind were Huo Zheng and Jiang Ruohai.

Halfway up the mountain, Peng Fei, the grandmaster of the Peng family, had just rescued a member of the Peng family when he heard deafening shouts of battle. He looked down at the foot of Honghe Mountain.

The six grandmasters rushed towards Red River Mountain, with Shen Qing at the forefront displaying unparalleled power, making him feel terrified.

"Who on earth has my Peng family offended?!"

However, he didn't have much time to think, as a deafening shout rang out.

"The wind and thunder fall!"

With a sudden clap of thunder, Shen Qing cleaved the gate of Red River Mountain into ashes with a single stroke.

The six grandmasters rushed straight to the mountain peak at an astonishing speed.

In the blink of an eye, the six Grandmasters had already reached Peng Fei's front.

However, Shen Qing, Qin Chuan, and Cao Shen, who were running at the front, ignored him and passed right by him.

Peng Fei immediately felt insulted. How could he, a grandmaster, be ignored like this?

"This is outrageous! Isn't this going too far?"

Before he could even make a move, the iron chain struck his face, twisting his mouth out of shape.

"Hey! Look over here, your opponent's right here!"

Lu Tong chuckled and put away the iron chain. Peng Fei stood up and turned to look at Lu Tong, Huo Zheng, and Jiang Ruohai.

Crushing Peng Fei was no different from crushing an ant for Shen Qing, but the key to this battle was the one on the mountain.

There's a saying that goes something like that.

The old man is being quiet all the time; he must be up to no good.

Peng Guang was unusually quiet, and Shen Qing had a very reasonable suspicion that the old man was up to something big.

Shen Qing naturally could not grant its wish.

On the mountaintop.

The place where Peng Guang secluded himself.

The sounds of wailing echoed continuously. Peng Guang reached out, and a surge of blood-red true energy shot out, grabbing a young man of about eighteen or nineteen years old.

The young man cried out, "Ancestor! I am Xiao Jin, your beloved little Xiao Jin! Don't kill me, I want to live!"

Peng Guang remained expressionless, raised his hand, and slashed the young man's throat with a knife before casually tossing him into the pool of blood in front of him.

Looking at the unwilling face of the young man in the pool of blood, Peng Guang spoke calmly, his eyes devoid of any emotion.

"Xiao Jin, of course I remember you."

"But you should still be considered as nourishment for me to break through the barrier."

Peng Guang wanted to use the essence and blood of his direct descendants to help him prolong his life.

He fell from the Grandmaster realm because he was too old and his qi and blood were insufficient. If his lifespan increases and his qi and blood recover, he will be able to return to the Grandmaster realm.

The blood pool before them was already filled with corpses. This little Jin was his last offspring, and also the most talented among his descendants.

At the young age of nineteen, he already possessed the cultivation level of the sixth level of the Innate Realm.

Peng Guang lifted his foot and stepped into the blood pool. As his true energy emanated from it, the entire blood pool began to boil, surging towards Peng Guang.

Peng Guang's depleted blood and energy slowly began to stir, and even his yellowish eyes showed a glimmer of life.

He raised his eyes and looked at the very center of the blood pool, where there was a rosewood box with a pure white lotus flower inside.

That was the precious medicinal herb, the Earthly Lotus, a treasure capable of prolonging life, enough to add thirty years to the lifespan of a Grandmaster. He had spent a fortune to buy it.

A hint of joy appeared in Peng Guang's eyes. As long as he consumed the Earthly Yuanlian, he could prolong his life, restore his vital energy, and return to the Grandmaster realm.

Just give him the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

But just then, the door to the hall was kicked open.

Shen Qing's teasing voice rang out.

"See, I told you, this old man is up to no good."