Protect Our Patriarch

...

At the same time.

Yan Kingdom's controlled area, Huaiyin Commandery City.

As the forward base for the attack on Northern Liang, Huaiyin Commandery City had long been requisitioned by the court as the central camp for the Southern Yan army.

Naturally, the prince's residence within the commandery city had also become a temporary "central military tent."

At this moment.

Inside the Huaiyin Prince's Mansion.

The grand banquet hall, once used for entertaining guests, had now become a conference hall for holding military meetings. The layout of the hall remained mostly unchanged, with only the luxurious decorations removed, leaving only the basic functional elements.

In addition, a giant sand table was placed in the center of the hall, using different colored sands to simulate the terrain changes around Huaiyin and Huaiyang Commanderies, as well as the military deployments of both sides.

Prince Huaiyin was a dignified middle-aged man with an imposing appearance and extraordinary demeanor. Having been stationed on the battlefield for many years, he carried a unique military aura that was extremely intimidating.

The other attendees were also corps commanders from various corps, each exuding a fierce aura, making them appear quite formidable.

Days of busyness had left everyone looking somewhat fatigued, but at this moment, their expressions were all very serious.

"I've gathered you all here today to inform you of important military intelligence," Prince Huaiyin said solemnly. "According to secret reports from the [Demon Falcon Battle Group] that penetrated deep into Liang's territory, their tactical approach has been very successful, capturing several cities in a short time."

"That's great! This result will surely give that old dog Zhenyang and the old thief Qingyu a massive headache," a relatively young corps commander exclaimed with joy, slapping the table in excitement.

Seeing everyone looking at him, he quickly restrained his expression, though his face still showed signs of joy.

It's important to know that in this standoff battle with Liang's main army group, Yan Kingdom had mobilized and assembled five corps, totaling over two hundred thousand troops.

Excluding the local garrison troops stationed in the garrison towns and the forces deployed on the outer region battlefield, the majority of the main army from across the nation had gathered in Huaiyin Commandery.

In the fifty-plus years of stalemate and tug-of-war, both countries had suffered heavy losses, and now they were collectively weary of war and exhausted, with their national strengths continually weakening due to the war's toll.

Now, both Liang and Yan Kingdoms wanted to end this protracted war as soon as possible.

However, after years of fighting, the hatred between the two sides had accumulated to the point of a deep-seated blood feud. Anyone daring to propose peace would likely face a fate of being drowned in a sea of spit. Therefore, the best outcome would be to achieve a decisive victory in battle, forcing the other side to seek peace.

As time passed, the atmosphere for a decisive battle between the main army groups of both sides grew increasingly intense.

Prince Huaiyin's news was like a shot of adrenaline for everyone, bringing smiles to the faces of the attending corps commanders.

Among them, the commander of the army group's left wing, [Prince Anhai], also showed a smile, rubbing his chin in thought: "Now that the old thief Qingyu and his personal guard, the [Red Fire Heavy Cavalry], are being held at Donghai Port by His Majesty and the Xuanshan Cavalry, and the main Divine Realm forces of both countries' sacred lands are also holding each other in check, the old dog Zhenyang's situation has become awkward."

"I want to see whether the old dog Zhenyang will choose to split his forces to defend or be driven to desperation and cross the river to engage us in a decisive battle."

"Retreating for defense is impossible. The Demon Falcon Battle Group is a Chao Clan elite battle group, with overall strength not inferior to our Xuanshan Cavalry," the commander of the army group's right wing, [Prince Heiyang], sneered repeatedly. "If Northern Liang wants to encircle and annihilate the Demon Falcon Battle Group, sending too few troops is just serving themselves up on a platter. To gain an advantage in the encirclement, the old thief Zhenyang would need to dispatch at least a fifty-thousand-strong reorganized corps for defense. Heh, if he's really that bold, our main army group can take the opportunity to cross the river and engage Liang's army group in a frontal battle."

"Heh heh~ The old dog Zhenyang's forces are about the same as ours. If he's short a whole reorganized corps, how can the old thief Zhenyang withstand our army's offensive?"

Marshal Prince Huaiyin nodded, first affirming the other's speculation, then calmly analyzed: "Based on my 'friendship' with Zhenyang over fifty years of engagements, it's highly likely he won't retreat for defense but will choose to cross the river early, initiating a frontal battle between the main army groups. If he wins, the isolated Demon Falcon Battle Group will be trapped. If he loses, he'll have to honestly bear the consequences of defeat. Given the personality of that one from the Immortal Dynasty, it's impossible for them to watch Liang Kingdom be completely destroyed."

"Liang Kingdom's defeat is certain, and the Immortal Dynasty's intervention is inevitable. Our Yan Kingdom's optimal strategy is to quickly defeat Liang's army group and swiftly advance, capturing Huaiyang, Jinfeng, and Futong Commanderies. By then, even if the Immortal Dynasty reacts and intervenes, since Liang's defeat is certain, His Majesty the Demon Emperor can leave Futong Commandery as a bargaining chip in negotiations."

Capturing three commanderies!

Currently, both Liang and Yan Kingdoms have only nine commanderies each. If they can capture three commanderies at once, it will be twelve against six in the future. Even if they have to give up one commandery due to strategic maneuvering, it will still be an eleven to seven situation.

Once this situation stabilizes for a thousand years, and Yan Kingdom fully absorbs the benefits, its national strength will greatly increase. By then, what will Liang Kingdom have to compete with Yan Kingdom?

If the next immortal-demon war breaks out, Yan Kingdom might seize the opportunity to annihilate Liang Kingdom in one fell swoop, dominating the Lingqu Continent.

The opportunity to achieve such feats is enough to excite all the corps commanders.

"Under this strategic layout, my plan is that once Prince Zhenyang takes the initiative to attack, our army will also abandon the defensive posture, seize the opportunity, and accelerate the time to engage fully. At that time, Prince Anhai, commanding our left wing, will be responsible for containing the enemy's Qingfeng Corps. Meanwhile, the Chao Clan reinforcements, [Demon Corpse Battle Group], will quickly maneuver to the rear of the Qingfeng Corps and join forces with your unit to defeat the Qingfeng Corps," Marshal Prince Huaiyin instructed seriously. "This battle is extremely critical and must not go wrong."

Prince Anhai's expression turned solemn, and he immediately responded, "My army accepts the order."

"Prince Heiyang, listen to the order. Your right-wing Heiyang Corps will implement the same tactics. Once our vanguard corps fully engages the enemy, immediately join forces with the reinforcements, [Black Eagle Battle Group], to defeat the enemy's [Anping Corps]," Marshal Prince Huaiyin ordered.

"Rest assured, Marshal. The Black Eagle Battle Group is extremely powerful. With them, we can easily tear through the enemy's paper-thin defense and execute a flanking hammer strike tactic. The Anping Corps will surely be defeated," Prince Heiyang responded with a joyful expression.

Once this battle is successful, the credit he can earn will be significant.

Seeing that they all understood his strategic thinking, Marshal Prince Huaiyin nodded in satisfaction, then solemnly reminded, "This battle concerns the fate of our great Yan Kingdom for ten thousand years. We must not be careless. Anhai, Heiyang, after your two corps defeat the enemy corps, remember not to pursue the routed soldiers for glory. Instead, immediately regroup and encircle the enemy's main force from two directions simultaneously. We must win this battle that concerns our national fate in the shortest time possible."

Saying this, he stood up, his eyes bright as he looked at everyone, "Gentlemen, whether you can be remembered in history depends on you."

"Yes, Marshal!"

All the corps commanders were excited beyond measure.

...

Liang Kingdom.

The border between Huaiyang Commandery and Futong Commandery—Jinyang Garrison.

Unlike Huaiyang Commandery, which is a vast plain, Futong Commandery is filled with towering mountains and steep ridges. It once had rich copper mines underground, which is why it is named "Futong" (Rich Copper).

Jinyang Garrison was also once famous for smelting copper and its related industries.

But now, as copper resources have gradually depleted, Jinyang Garrison has lost its former glory and become an ordinary garrison town.

Due to the fifty-year-long war between Liang and Yan Kingdoms.

To prevent accidents, city guard offices everywhere have organized "local militia teams."

However, Jinyang Garrison is not on the main battlefield, and the capable fighting forces have been repeatedly drawn away. Now, the only remaining regular army consists of three under-strength local patrol camps, with less than a thousand regular soldiers.

In contrast, the local militia group looks more impressive.

Under the leadership of two seventh-grade families, the Jinyang Murong Clan and Jinyang Zhao Clan, four militia camps were organized, consisting of over a thousand Basalt cultivators and three to four thousand strong-bodied mortals, formally known as the [Jinyang Militia Group].

However, the composition of those over a thousand cultivators is quite complex, including clansmen, family guards, and elders from over thirty different families, as well as some rogue cultivators stranded in Jinyang Garrison.

As for the thousands of mortals, although they are armed with bows, crossbows, swords, and spears, their combat effectiveness is truly worrying. They can't be relied upon for hard battles and can only help maintain order, repair defensive works, and handle logistics and supplies.

Since receiving the latest "notification from above," Jinyang Garrison's city guard [Wei Boqiu] has been organizing the civil defense forces for active defense.

All family descendants and related personnel have now moved into the garrison town, while those still in towns and villages are unarmed civilians and tenant farmers, whose survival depends on fate.

Jinyang Garrison is not small, but it can't accommodate the millions of civilians from towns and villages.

This defensive force can hold off and contain an ordinary battle group without much problem, but they are about to face a murderous elite battle group.

Even the city guard Wei Boqiu and the two Celestial family ancestors can only huddle together, praying with trepidation, hoping that the elite enemy battle group will pass by elsewhere and not casually attack Jinyang Garrison.

But their prayers clearly had no effect.

Just as they were nervously awaiting their fate's verdict.

A scout unit of dozens, wearing pitch-black armor and riding black-scaled unicorn warhorses, appeared with lightning speed a few miles outside the garrison town.

Their armor was fierce, and their aura was chilling. The leader was particularly imposing. Though his appearance was indistinct, the oppressive power emanating from him was palpable.

The steady and powerful sound of hooves seemed to stomp on the hearts of the wall guards, leaving them nearly breathless.

[Demon Falcon Battle Group's First Vanguard Camp Scout Team].

This was undoubtedly the elite of the Demon Falcon Battle Group.

The leader was the deputy commander of the first vanguard camp and scout team leader, named [Chao Wenguang]. He was from a collateral branch of the Chao Clan of Red Moon and had been recruited into the Chao Clan's soldiers for careful training due to his decent talent from a young age.

Over the years, he had become a battle-hardened veteran, with his strength reaching the Celestial Realm.

Especially those deep and stern eyes of his, exuding a calm indifference to life and death.

Behind him, several of his brothers were at the late Lingtai Realm, while the others, though slightly weaker, were at least in the mid-Lingtai Realm, all possessing formidable combat power, steady demeanor, and intimidating presence, as if just a few dozen of them could besiege the city.

It's no wonder.

The Demon Falcon Battle Group was considered elite even among the Chao Clan's soldiers, having been a mainstay on the outer region battlefield since its formation. Even in the outer region battlefield, teeming with experts, the Demon Falcon Battle Group was regarded as a main battle group.

Such a battle group with a long history naturally had many commendable battle achievements and glorious records, which are essential factors for consolidating military spirit.

But correspondingly, such a battle group was extremely indifferent to human life.

"Deputy Commander," a sharp-eyed scout coldly looked at the Jinyang Garrison's defenders, "Another small city like this, it's too boring. Why don't we just bypass these broken cities and directly attack the Futong Commandery City?"

"This is not something a small deputy commander like me can decide," Chao Wenguang replied indifferently, his expression unchanged. "However, knowing the commander's personality, this siege battle will undoubtedly be fought."

"Heh heh~ That Luping City didn't even last a day before falling. This Jinyang City isn't even as big as Luping City. I wonder how long it can hold out against our Demon Falcon elite's attack," the sharp-eyed scout said with a cruel smile. "Ten hours? Or eight hours? By then, I'll be on a killing spree again."

"Old Yang, what's the point of killing?" another sharp-eyed scout chuckled. "The women of those local families are the real treat. Compared to the bold and rough women of our Demon Dynasty, I prefer those gentle and delicate noble ladies. It's just a pity that the one we captured last time was only a direct descendant of a seventh-grade family. I really want to taste a young noble lady."

"Old Qiu, you bastard, you still want a direct descendant of a seventh-grade family? That's for the commander and deputy commander to enjoy. Even the deputy commander can only watch from the side, hoping to get some leftovers."

"Hahaha! I hope the deputy commander can get some leftovers, so we can also have a taste, hehehe!"

As they spoke, the group of sharp-eyed scouts laughed wantonly.

They were all in the mid to late Lingtai Realm, deliberately speaking loudly and mockingly, their voices easily reaching the ears of the guards on the city wall.

The guards were all filled with righteous indignation, showing expressions of humiliation.

A team of women holding swords and wearing female Basalt combat attire was even more enraged, their pretty faces flushed with anger, wishing they could charge out of the city and cut down those foul-mouthed beasts on the spot.

Among the women, a pretty woman wearing a maroon military uniform and a purple veil cap looked angrily, taking out a spiritual tool bow, nocking an arrow, drawing the bow, and shooting in one fluid motion.

A sharp whistling sound suddenly rang out, and the arrow shot out like lightning, flying far toward the leader of the sharp-eyed scouts.

The arrow's speed and power were extraordinary.

"Miss Qianqian is mighty!"

A burst of cheers erupted from the defensive team of women, all showing expressions of admiration for her.

This woman was named [Murong Qianqian].

She was a direct descendant of the seventh-grade Murong Clan of Jinyang and also a core disciple of the Futong Purple Mansion Academy, possessing bloodline talent close to a minor genius of the second class.

At a young age, she had already reached the mid-Lingtai Realm. She was supposed to be cultivating in the academy, but she had returned home for a visit, only to encounter this crisis.

She was extremely confident in her archery skills, usually able to hit a tree trunk as thick as a bowl from a mile away.

Unexpectedly.

Facing the sharp arrow coming from afar, Chao Wenguang didn't even raise an eyelid, casually flicking out a Celestial finger force.

With a loud "bang," the arrow imbued with profound energy exploded into fragments.

"How is this possible?!"

Murong Qianqian's pretty face changed dramatically, instantly realizing something was wrong. Could it be that any random vanguard on the other side was a Celestial Realm expert?

Meanwhile.

In the distance, a series of thunderous rumbling sounds rolled in, and the ground shook violently as if it were about to collapse.

It was the sound of a thousand horses galloping.

The [Demon Falcon Battle Group], known for its speed and surprise attacks, had finally arrived at the city gates.

Amidst the deafening roar, the dark mass of people surged like a torrent, with flashing blades and swords, warhorses neighing, and an overwhelming momentum.

The foremost battle camp was naturally the vanguard camp to which Chao Wenguang and his men belonged.

With the arrival of the main force, the battle began immediately.

The vanguard camp's commander was a burly middle-aged man named Tu Ping'an.

During the charge, Tu Ping'an waved his long knife and shouted first, "The commander has ordered, attack the city immediately! If we don't take Jinyang Garrison within five hours, each battle camp commander will receive thirty lashes. Chao Wenguang, you follow me to climb the city walls first and clear the way for the brothers."

"Yes, Commander."

Deputy Commander Chao Wenguang responded loudly, then immediately turned his horse around, leading his elite scouts to join the vanguard camp's charge.

The black-scaled unicorn warhorses they rode were third-tier spiritual beasts, extremely fast and highly defensive, far superior to ordinary warhorses.

In the blink of an eye, the black cavalry surged forward with overwhelming murderous intent, charging toward the city walls of Jinyang.

The guards on the city wall reacted quickly, immediately organizing an interception.

Amidst the whistling sounds, volleys of arrows rained down from the city walls.

The dense rain of arrows fell like raindrops, instantly blocking out large swathes of sunlight, creating a dark canopy overhead.

The two Celestial Realm commanders remained unfazed, easily deflecting the arrows with profound energy, shattering them into pieces. Even the occasional stray arrow couldn't penetrate their armor.

In just a dozen breaths, the elite warriors of the vanguard camp, led by the two Celestial Realm commanders, traversed the mile-long distance, arriving like a black torrent near the city walls.

The faces of the guards on Jinyang's city walls turned pale, and a few timid ones were already trembling with nervousness.

At this moment.

The two Celestial Realm commanders surged with profound energy, simultaneously leaping into the air, preparing to fly over the city walls to clear out the defenders, creating space for the subsequent vanguard troops to climb the walls.

Although Lingtai Realm cultivators could also take to the air, they couldn't stay aloft for long, only gliding briefly. With these two leading the way, it would be much easier for the subsequent Lingtai Realm cultivators to climb the walls.

Unexpectedly.

Just as they soared ten or so meters high, ready to unleash their blade energy.

Suddenly!

A startling string sound rang out.

Unlike other bowstring sounds, this one was deep and thunderous, like a muffled hammer striking the hearts of the two commanders, causing their hearts to inexplicably skip a beat.

Chao Wenguang's pupils contracted, sensing something was amiss.

However, before he could react, a lightning-fast sharp arrow pierced through his chest. A fist-sized hole appeared in his chest, armor and all.

Blood sprayed into the air.

After piercing through Chao Wenguang, the arrow continued its momentum, shooting over a mile away, piercing through several Demon Falcon Battle Group elites before deeply embedding itself into the ground.

In a flash, Chao Wenguang was carried by the powerful force of the arrow, flying backward dozens of meters before falling to the ground.

Blood flowed everywhere, and Chao Wenguang was in a miserable state, but the strong vitality of a Celestial Realm cultivator kept him from dying immediately.

In his dying moments, only one thought buzzed in his mind: How could this be?

I, Chao Wenguang, was shot dead by a sneak attack!

"This..."

Murong Qianqian stared blankly at the scene not far away, unable to recover for a long time.

There, a young man in bright silver armor, full of heroic spirit, had appeared at some point.

She had watched as he shot that arrow.

His features were so handsome, as if crafted by a master artisan. The same armor that looked ordinary on others seemed to cast a halo on him, making him appear like a war god from a storybook.

The way he held the bow and shot through Chao Wenguang was like a divine warrior descending.

Wait! Why had she never seen this young man before?

With such outstanding looks and temperament, if she had seen him, she would definitely remember. Moreover, she had never heard of such a person in Jinyang Garrison.

As she was lost in thought, the bow unexpectedly spoke.

"Wang Anye, you're too much! I am the dignified Dao Tool, the Saint-Slaying Bow, and you actually used me to shoot a small fry," a cold snort came from within the bow, the voice clearly tinged with anger.

"Didn't my great-grandfather rename you 'Cautious'? Didn't you yourself feel that 'Saint-Slaying' was too much pressure?" Wang Anye replied somewhat innocently.

"That was then, this is now. When I was with the Blood Venerable, I felt that 'Saint-Slaying' was a bit too much pressure," the Saint-Slaying Bow said confidently, "But after spending time with the master, I've gradually come to believe that our future prospects are limitless, slaying saints and exterminating immortals is no big deal."

"So, from now on, you're not allowed to use me to kill small fry. Hey, hey, what are you doing? Let go of me..."

"Whoosh!"

Another arrow shot out, this time hitting the vanguard camp commander, Tu Ping'an.

In the blink of an eye, he was sent flying like Chao Wenguang, lying in a heap.

Poor vanguard camp commanders of the elite battle group, they didn't even survive half a chapter.

...