I run a casino in the immortal realm.

After surveying the entire canyon, Zheng Yifei did not hesitate and directly ordered everyone present: "From now on, all actions of Wanhun Valley will be under the command of Gongsun Zhi."

Wang Changsheng nodded and turned to walk towards the hundred men he had brought with him.

This group of people has been following him for several years. They were originally the top talents in the Southern Wilderness Region. After years of resource allocation and Wang Changsheng's personal guidance, they have now basically become qualified array masters.

Most of them have reached the level of fourth or even fifth-tier array masters.

In the Eastern Divine Continent, a fourth-tier array master, if placed in a county-level city, would be a renowned figure, a guest of honor sought after by various forces.

Now, a full one hundred such high-level array masters have been gathered together, waiting to be dispatched like ordinary craftsmen.

"Based on the locations we just determined, the first group will be responsible for the chain of killing formations at the valley entrance, the second group will go to the heart of the valley to set up the bewitching formation, and the third group will go up the cliff to lay the foundation for the concealment formation. Be quick, there are plenty of materials, don't be stingy with spirit stones."

Wang Changsheng assigned tasks at an extremely fast pace.

One hundred array masters immediately dispersed, without any unnecessary words, each taking out array flags, array plates and array materials from their storage bags, and began to busy themselves in the Valley of Ten Thousand Souls.

Gongsun Zhi stood aside, watching these people skillfully inscribe array patterns and lay array foundations in the darkness of night, and was deeply shocked.

He originally thought that it would take at least ten days to half a month to set up a formation in such a large canyon that could trap tens of thousands of troops, and even require the mobilization of thousands of laborers to help.

But the efficiency of this group of people completely overturned his understanding.

They don't need blueprints or repeated calculations; everyone knows what they're supposed to do, and the patterns fit together perfectly.

Various precious array materials were stuffed into the array's core as if they were free.

Is this the profound knowledge and experience of the General?

Gongsun Zhi swallowed hard, the fire of revenge burning even brighter in his heart. Only by following such a person could his Gongsun family have any hope of being exonerated.

As time passed, the fluctuations of spiritual energy within the Valley of Ten Thousand Souls grew increasingly intense, but they were quickly suppressed by the concealment formations on the outer perimeter, preventing any leakage outwards.

As dawn broke, a faint glimmer of light appeared on the eastern horizon.

Wang Changsheng walked to Zheng Yifei's side, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said with excitement in his eyes: "Sir, the basic framework of the formation has been completed. Only the final comprehensive test and spiritual energy connection remain."

Zheng Yifei looked at Gongsun Zhi.

Gongsun Zhi looked up at the sky and decisively said, "My lord, have everyone stop working, immediately evacuate Wanhun Valley, and return to Pengcheng."

"It's over?"

Wang Changsheng was stunned for a moment.

"Cannot be measured."

Gongsun Zhi explained with a serious expression: "As soon as it gets light, the scouts of the Eagle Clan of the Western Rong Army will come out to operate. The Eagle Clan has extremely strong eyesight. Once we conduct array tests here, it will inevitably cause a large-scale fluctuation in spiritual energy. Even if there are concealment arrays, it will be difficult to completely hide from their eyes during the day."

If they detect even the slightest abnormality, the ambush at Ten Thousand Souls Valley will be a complete waste of time. We can test it again tonight; there's still plenty of time.

Zheng Yifei nodded; Gongsun Zhi's caution was exactly what he needed.

"Listen to him, let's retreat."

More than two hundred figures quickly took to the air and silently withdrew from Wanhun Valley before the dawn fully illuminated the earth, returning to Pengcheng.

By the time they returned to the General's Mansion in Pengcheng, it was already broad daylight.

Zheng Yifei did not rest, but instead ordered his men to beat the drum to summon the generals.

Half an hour later, all the officers of the eighth rank and above in Pengcheng gathered again at the drill ground outside the White Tiger Hall.

More than 30,000 soldiers were also gathered around the drill ground, forming a dark mass and creating a somewhat oppressive atmosphere.

Zheng Yifei, dressed in the uniform of a general, stood on the reviewing stand, his gaze sweeping across the crowd below.

Gongsun Zhi, dressed in his worn-out sergeant's leather armor, stood quietly to his side and behind him.

"Everyone."

Zheng Yifei spoke, his voice carrying across the entire training ground, amplified by spiritual energy: "Yesterday, I issued a recruitment order. Today, I wish to announce a decision to the entire army."

He turned around and pointed to Gongsun Zhi behind him.

"Gongsun Zhi, the squad leader of the third battalion of the Western Camp, has been assessed by this officer and is indeed capable of leading troops to defeat the enemy. From this moment forward, this officer appoints Gongsun Zhi as the military advisor of the General's Office. In the ensuing battles, his orders are equivalent to these orders, and no one may disobey them!"

Upon hearing this, the entire training ground fell into a deathly silence.

Immediately afterwards, as if a drop of water had fallen into a pot of boiling oil, the whole room erupted in uproar.

"What? The strategist?"

"A corporal, directly appointed as strategist? Did I hear that right?"

"That's a strategist! He's one rank higher than any official! This...this leap is just too outrageous!"

The soldiers at the lower ranks whispered among themselves, their faces filled with disbelief.

The officers standing at the front all looked increasingly grim.

General Ma and General Zhao, in particular, had faces as black as the bottom of a pot.

They were dignified fifth-rank generals of the cavalry, having spent most of their lives fighting their way up in the army, giving countless gifts to their superiors and enduring countless hardships, before finally reaching their current positions.

Now, a squad leader who is at the very bottom and doesn't even have a rank has risen to the top and climbed above them. From now on, they will have to take orders from this squad leader.

This is practically rubbing their faces in the ground.

General Ma took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and strode out of the ranks. He bowed to Zheng Yifei on the platform and said, "General, please forgive my bluntness, but this action was extremely inappropriate!"

"What's wrong with it?"

Zheng Yifei looked down at him.

"The imperial court has its own laws and regulations, and the army has its own rules."

General Ma said loudly, deliberately so that all the soldiers could hear: "Officer promotions must be based on seniority and the accumulation of military merits. Even for exceptional promotions, one must rise through the ranks and obtain approval from the Ministry of War."

Gongsun Zhi is merely a squad leader with no merit whatsoever. Your Excellency has directly appointed him as military advisor, granting him supreme command of the army. This not only violates the court's promotion system but is also unlikely to win over the troops! If this is forcibly implemented, it may cause unrest within the army!

General Zhao also stepped forward and echoed, "General Ma is absolutely right. We understand that Your Excellency is eager to find talented people, but such forced growth may backfire. We urge Your Excellency to reconsider your decision."

With the two fifth-rank generals taking the lead, the captains and lieutenants behind them also chimed in, and for a time, the drill ground was filled with voices of opposition.

Gongsun Zhi stood behind Zheng Yifei, his head slightly lowered, his fists clenched tightly.

He knew this hurdle would be difficult to overcome, but he did not back down; he simply waited quietly for Zheng Yifei's response.

Zheng Yifei looked at the indignant officers below and suddenly smiled.

He offered no defense or explanation, but simply drew the sword from his waist.

"Clang—"

The crisp sound of swords echoed across the training ground, and a chilling killing intent instantly enveloped the entire area.

The officers who were still shouting felt a chill run down their spines and immediately shut their mouths.

"rule?"

Zheng Yifei pointed his sword at General Ma, his voice as cold as ice: "The Western Rong's 100,000-strong army is just a hundred miles away, and they will attack the city in three days. Are you going to talk to me about rules now?"

"When the orcs breach the city and roast you over a fire, are you going to talk to them about the laws of the court?"

General Ma's face turned pale, and he subconsciously took half a step back.

Zheng Yifei's voice suddenly rose, booming like thunder: "In Pengcheng, I am the rule! I say the capable rise, the mediocre fall, and I recruit talent without being bound by convention. Who among you has the ability to devise a strategy to repel the enemy? I will give you the position of general right now! Do you have it?"

The audience was silent.

Zheng Yifei coldly scanned them: "Since you don't have any, then shut up. From now on, anyone who dares to disobey Gongsun's orders, shirk their duties, or be perfunctory in the upcoming battles will be immediately stripped of their military post!"

Anyone who dares to flee in fear or disrupt morale will be executed on the spot!

With a flick of his wrist, Zheng Yifei's sword slammed into the general's desk in front of him, instantly splitting the solid wood desk in two before it collapsed with a crash.

"Did you all understand?"

"I...I understand."

The officers were intimidated by this imposing manner and responded only sporadically.

General Ma and General Zhao exchanged a glance, both seeing the gloom and helplessness in each other's eyes.

When a scholar encounters a soldier, reason is useless. Moreover, Zheng Yifei is a Void Refining Realm expert, while they are only at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul Realm. The two dared not provoke him any further and could only slink back into the ranks.

This incident was forcibly suppressed by Zheng Yifei using the most forceful methods.

The news that Gongsun Zhi had risen from a squad leader to a strategist spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys of Pengcheng.

If yesterday's recruitment notice was just a joke, then Gongsun Zhi's living example today is a huge magnet that has completely stirred up the stagnant waters of Pengcheng.

The large drum in front of the General's Mansion has been playing non-stop since noon.

Not only the lower-ranking soldiers and officers, but also some civilians and down-on-their-luck cultivators in the city who hadn't had time to escape, all mustered up their courage and came to beat the drum to volunteer.

Zheng Yifei handed over the assessment to Xu Qian and Gongsun Zhi.

He himself stayed in the back hall to continue studying the "Five Elements True Essence Technique" and seize every opportunity to improve his strength.

In the front hall of the General's Mansion, Xu Qian and Gongsun Zhi sat behind a desk, with a long queue forming in front of them.