Qu Sheng’s robes were draped over a long gown—an unusual ensemble that, on him, did not seem out of place. It carried both the elegance of a scholar and the imposing weight of authority.
As he reviewed the newly reported military supplies, his brow furrowed into deep creases.
The generals and advisors in the tent remained silent, their expressions simmering with discontent.
"Report! The Waiyue tribe is on the move—they appear to be advancing toward Qingmu City!"
A messenger rushed into the tent.
The moment the scout’s message was relayed, the sound of a fist slamming against a table finally broke the tension.
"Our pay has been cut again."
"Hmph! And even what’s left gets picked apart by greedy hands all the way from the imperial capital to the southern pass. Who knows how much actually reaches us?"
"What is His Majesty thinking? Does he want us to abandon Qingmu City?"
"Qingmu is the southern pass’s shield! Abandon Qingmu today, and tomorrow we’ll abandon the pass. We might as well all resign and go home!"
Only when Qu Sheng let out a cold snort did the angry voices subside.
"A general’s duty is summed up in four words: ‘give one’s all.’"
"Who just spoke of resigning? Go receive thirty lashes."
The generals exchanged glances, their eyes settling on the man who had spoken most vehemently.
The burly man accepted the punishment with a gruff acknowledgment and left the tent.
As the dull thuds of the lash echoed outside, Qu Sheng spoke again, his voice measured.
"First, report the military situation and let His Highness decide."
"All units must stay vigilant. Effective immediately, alcohol is banned in the camp. Violators will be severely punished. Dismissed."
Soon, the tent was empty save for him.
After a long silence, Qu Sheng called for his personal guard.
"Where is the Young Marquis?"
"On the training grounds, leading a hundred-man formation in a spar with that Li Tianjiao. It was Zhong Ling’s idea."
"A hundred-man formation is enough to rival an Inner Realm expert. If Li Tianjiao doesn’t understand military formations, he’s in for a rough time."
Geniuses were often arrogant. If this taught Li Mo the harsh realities of the battlefield and the limits of individual strength, it would make it easier to persuade him later—to leave Qingmu City with the Young Marquis as soon as possible.
With that thought, he left the central tent and headed for the training grounds.
The sun hung high, and the northern wind swept across the field, unable to dispel the killing intent in the air.
Under tight coordination, a hundred elite guards moved like perfectly synchronized cogs in a machine, their energies intertwined into a single force.
If this formation were a blade, then Zhong Zhenyue was its tip.
Clad in heavy armor, he stood at the forefront, the formation’s power concentrated in him to its peak. Even the phantom behind him faintly resonated with the clamor of war—the thunder of hooves, the clash of steel.
It bore a semblance of an Inner Realm’s domain.
An ordinary man facing such a formation would tremble in fear, his mind blank with terror.
"Your physique is exceptionally suited for military formations."
Li Mo couldn’t help but praise.
"No wonder Brother Li’s rank on the Hidden Dragon Ranking has risen so sharply."
Zhong Zhenyue’s expression was grave. "Did you observe another trace of the Yazi’s divine intent in the southern border?"
He had long heard that Zhu Yan, Qiong Qi, Yazi, and Wuzhiqi were the four most battle-hardened clans among the demon races.
Of these, Wuzhiqi had vanished long ago, while Yazi and Zhu Yan were calamity beasts.
Li Mo shook his head. "This isn’t divine intent—it’s the lingering power of a true spirit’s bloodline..."
Zhong Zhenyue sucked in a breath. "This true spirit’s bloodline is so similar to divine intent."
"In essence, the difference is minimal..."
On the command platform, Zhong Ling frowned.
Great. These two were chatting away as if this were a casual meeting, not a serious test of skill.
The Zhong Zhenyue of the past had been so confident, so proud. But ever since returning from Yunzhou, he had changed.
He had lost interest in women, devoted himself entirely to martial arts, and barely paid her any attention...
All to chase after the shadow of that so-called "Wife-Fortune Battle Soul"!
With a flick of her command flag, she signaled the formation.
In a military formation, orders were absolute—not just a figure of speech.
Instantly, Zhong Zhenyue’s power surged with the momentum of the formation. Even if he wanted to hold back, he no longer could.
"Blades have no eyes, Brother Li—be careful!"
Li Mo exhaled a white breath, feeling the battle lust coursing through his veins. His blood seemed to burn—no, it truly was burning!
In the blink of an eye, a massive halberd shadow descended with lethal precision.
But that was just Zhong Zhenyue’s strike. From all directions, a rain of spears closed in like a storm.
Li Mo met the attack head-on with his hammer, its edge sharp with killing intent.
The impact carved a crater into the ground.
As the dust settled, the scene became clear.
Zhong Ling’s eyes widened, her lips parting in shock.
A strike capable of shaking a sixth-rank calamity beast had been blocked by a single man!
And the barrage of spears that should have turned flesh into mincemeat? They sparked against his body as if striking metal!
A human, matching a military formation in raw strength?
Not even calamity beasts could do that!
Was his physical power comparable to an Inner Realm expert who had mastered body-refining techniques? Was this the terror of a top-ranked genius on the Hidden Dragon Ranking?
Wasn’t he supposed to be a swordsman?!
Zhong Ling’s worldview trembled, but she gritted her teeth and continued directing the formation.
Her skill was undeniable. Realizing brute force was futile, she shifted tactics. The hundred guards under her command became a relentless tide, wearing Li Mo down wave after wave.
Even an Inner Realm expert could be exhausted to death within a military formation.
Li Mo stood alone amid the black tide, an unyielding boulder against the ceaseless waves.
The Yazi true spirit within him roared in exhilaration.
Swinging his hammer, his seven mystic cores and thirty-six main meridians ensured his stamina was boundless—growing stronger the longer he fought!
The Yazi true spirit finally acknowledged the young man, willingly merging into the Stone Monkey’s divine markings as a streak of light.
For a fleeting moment, Yazi’s traits flickered across Li Mo’s body.
His battle spirit peaked.
A single hammer strike struck the earth, sending shockwaves rippling outward like a tsunami.
The force reached every guard, uprooting even the most steadfast. The formation collapsed in disarray.
Zhong Zhenyue staggered back, barely keeping his footing with his spear.
Zhong Ling stood frozen, the command flag slipping from her fingers.
At the edge of the training grounds.
"With such valor, if this young man were to join the army, given time..."
Qu Sheng stood with his hands clasped behind his back, stepping onto the training grounds. His gaze fixed on the bare-chested young man standing tall and proud in the center, his eyes blazing with an intense light.
"He shall become a warrior unmatched by ten thousand, a divine general of this era!"