Chapter 446: Not Fit to Stand Together
Shuangjing continued using talismans, several in a row, each one different from the last, and struck them all onto himself.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
A series of Nascent Soul–level talismans were consumed in succession, causing his combat power to soar to more than triple its previous level.
Grandfather Long was battering the Golden Core deputy generals into a pitiful state. When he noticed that Shuangjing was boosting himself, he didn’t care at first—but soon, his expression changed, and his gaze turned incomparably sharp.
Shuangjing’s aura had surged far too much, almost reaching the peak of the Nascent Soul stage!
As for the treasures he used, Grandfather Long couldn’t recognize most of them. The few he did recognize were of such staggering value that they shocked him inwardly.
Grandfather Long let out a sky-shaking roar. At first it was human, but it quickly turned into a grand dragon’s cry.
Divine Grace Art—Vitality Collapse Torrent!
All the vitality he had drawn from others was now converted into wild, violent life energy. In this moment, it erupted, boosting every aspect of his condition.
His height rose again, reaching sixteen feet. Already a burly figure, he now appeared even more towering and imposing. His upper body was like a city wall. The martial trousers on his lower body were puffed up by his swollen leg muscles, seemingly about to rip apart.
“This old brute can get even stronger?!”
“Damn it, he absorbed our life force—his aura has become mixed. The weakening effect of the battle formation on him has drastically diminished!”
“It’s not just that! Even the power of the nation hesitates, as if it senses him as one of our own!”
The Golden Core deputy generals noticed the subtleties and revealed expressions of horror.
Their ability to confront him head-on relied entirely on the reinforcement of battle formations, military strength, and national power. In contrast, Grandfather Long was suppressed and weakened on multiple fronts.
But now, with his own strength skyrocketing and the weakening from national power reduced, he immediately shattered the delicate balance that the White Jade Camp had barely maintained!
And which of the Golden Core deputy generals didn’t carry wounds?
Seeing Grandfather Long’s berserk posture at this moment, they all hesitated, daring only to surround, not to attack!
Shuangjing was alarmed.
If a general retreated on the battlefield, it would cause a devastating blow to morale and unity.
He quickly roared, “Change formation!”
The general’s seal was on his person. The Golden Core deputy generals instantly received the order and all sighed in relief before rapidly retreating.
The soldiers of the White Jade Camp hurried into motion, transforming the Seven Stars Gathering Formation into the Stars Surrounding the Moon Formation.
Starlight shimmered. This time, it didn’t converge on the seven deputy generals but instead formed a massive pillar of moonlight, pouring down entirely onto Shuangjing.
Shuangjing’s aura climbed once more. His combat power surged wildly, soaring upward!
He opened his mouth and spat out a stream of sword qi.
At first, the sword qi was just a mass of energy, glowing with a platinum hue.
Then it instantly burst forth, transforming into a radiant arc of light so dazzling it forced eyes shut.
White Tiger Sky-Rending Sword Qi!
This was one of the Four Auspicious Beast Sword Qis, famous across the land and imbued with the spirit of warfare and slaughter—perfectly harmonizing with formations and battlefields.
This was Shuangjing’s ultimate trump card.
The platinum sword qi reached its target in a flash, giving Grandfather Long no time or chance to dodge.
Boom!
A fierce surge of energy swept through the surroundings like a hurricane. The blinding platinum light shot skyward, forming a massive pillar of brilliance that pierced through the clouds above.
Shuangjing laughed heartily: “The Overlord’s Final Resolve Pill I took grants me the power of dominance for the time it takes an incense stick to burn—market price, 380,000 mid-grade spirit stones.”
“My Ant Shaking Tree Powder mimics the effects of the Demonic Disintegration Art but has no side effects—market price, 420,000 mid-grade spirit stones per bottle.”
“My Spirit Call Talisman, Fierce Dragon Talisman, Frenzy Talisman, Dragon-Tiger Empowerment Talisman, and so on—total value over 1.6 million mid-grade spirit stones.”
“To refine a single strand of White Tiger Sky-Rending Sword Qi, I used the marrow of a Nascent Soul–level white tiger, drew the sword spirit from a Nascent Soul–grade magic sword, and consumed Heaven’s Tears. It took over sixty years, slaying thirteen white tigers, destroying seven Nascent Soul–grade magic swords, and using up sixty-four drops of Heaven’s Tears. The material cost alone reached 76 million mid-grade spirit stones!”
“Old brute, can you take it? Can you endure it? Hahaha!”
“…Hmm?!”
Shuangjing’s expression changed slightly.
The platinum brilliance was rapidly fading. A massive black silhouette appeared clearly within the column of light.
As the light dispersed, Grandfather Long stood within a crater over an acre wide. His body was like a mountain—unyielding and unfallen.
The translucent dragon scales covering his body were tattered, and blood oozed from many places. But his aura remained astonishingly strong.
Upon his broad, sturdy shoulder sat a little child with dragon horns.
The child had golden pupils and crimson, coral-like dragon horns. He sucked his thumb, making slurping noises.
Noticing Shuangjing glaring daggers at him, the child’s cheeks flushed red in embarrassment. In an instant, he reverted to his true form—a right shoulder pauldron.
The right shoulder pauldron was shaped like a dragon’s open maw, wrapping around Grandfather Long’s shoulder.
Its entire body shimmered gold and crimson, its surface smooth like a mirror and glowing with metallic luster. The dragon eyes sparkled like diamonds, dazzling like stars.
Delicate cloud patterns adorned the pauldron, swirling slowly, layer upon layer, in endless transformations.
“Spiritual… spiritual manifestation?!” Shuangjing and the others were dumbfounded.
Grandfather Long grinned proudly. “That move was indeed powerful.”
“But if, as you said, you spent so many spirit stones forging such an attack…”
“…then how much should my spiritual treasure be worth, eh?”
Shuangjing’s Adam’s apple bobbed—he couldn’t say a word.
Grandfather Long lowered his head—and his figure vanished from where he stood.
In the next instant, he appeared right before Shuangjing as if teleporting, and slammed his dragon palm forward.
Boom!
“Crap!!”
Shuangjing couldn’t dodge in time and hastily raised his guard, only to be struck and sent plunging thirty feet underground.
“Commander!”
“Quick! Rescue Lord Shuangjing!”
Panic spread through the White Jade Camp. The deputy generals clenched their teeth and charged forward.
Boom boom boom!
Dragon cries echoed continuously.
The soldiers of the White Jade Camp were launched into the air, tumbling midair before crashing back to the ground. Many of them no longer drew breath.
“As expected of Grandfather Long!”
“Quick, we attack too!”
The Golden Core cultivators from Thousand Peaks Forest watching from outside saw the opportunity and immediately joined the assault.
The White Jade Camp suffered a pincer attack from within and without. In an instant, the situation worsened drastically, and casualties surged.
The military situation of Grandfather Long wreaking havoc within the White Jade Camp and firmly gaining the upper hand quickly spread to all the battle units.
Within the Mist-Laden Map of Light Mountain.
The Ink Abyss Cave Lord wore a smile as he passed the jade slip containing the latest military intelligence to the other three cultivators.
The Heart Demon and others submitted wholeheartedly: “As expected, everything unfolded just as you predicted, Grand Cave Lord.”
Ink Abyss Cave Lord replied, “With this, our side has already seized the initiative.”
“Deliver this military intel to the other side as well.”
The Heart Demon and others were stunned. What kind of move was this?
Soon, Sun Qian of the Golden Halberd Army received this jade slip. After confirming there were no hidden tricks, he too learned of the military developments within it, and his expression immediately shifted.
Messages requesting reinforcements from the outside also flew in.
Lu Hongtu decisively opened a slit in the formation map and allowed the flying message to enter.
When Sun Qian read it, his face turned ashen.
Just as the Ink Abyss Cave Lord, Mu Lan, and the others had anticipated, the majority of the White Jade Camp’s officers and soldiers were all well-connected — closely tied to the nobility and powerful clans of the Southern Dou Country Court.
If Sun Qian let the matter go unchecked, even if he returned victorious, he would have offended over half the court — and there would be no good end for him.
“Quick, full army advance!”
Sun Qian roared urgently.
The battle formation that the Golden Halberd Army had been charging up for so long had not yet reached its peak, but already erupted with its manifestation.
The manifestation resembled a massive battle halberd, shining with golden light. It shot into the mountainous mist, splitting mountains and cleaving fog wherever it passed — unstoppable.
The Ink Abyss Cave Lord and the other three wore solemn expressions as they fought with all their might to maintain the formation.
Barbarian-Demon Army.
“Advance, advance!!”
General Xu Dali was drenched in blood, leading the Iron-Wall Formation in a charge toward Lone Fang.
Wolf corpses littered the fields. Casualties were heavy.
Dilu had long since entered the fray and had fought Xu Dali multiple times, but could never best him. He was steadily forced to retreat, with wounds multiplying all over his body.
If it were a one-on-one fight, Xu Dali would still be far inferior to Dilu. But with the added power of battle formations, military force, and national strength, Xu Dali could take on two enemies at once, pushing the two Nascent Soul cultivators of the Cangyue Tribe into absolute disadvantage.
However, Xu Dali’s side also paid a heavy price.
Half of his elite guards and personal soldiers had already fallen!
These were not troops that could be replaced easily.
The White Jade Camp’s flying message for reinforcements arrived.
A deputy general’s eyes lit up, and he quickly raised the message to persuade: “General! Our fellow troops are in crisis and are pleading for aid! If we turn back to rescue them, we can surely disrupt the enemy’s plans.”
But Xu Dali, bloodlust in his eyes, clenched his neck and refused without hesitation: “Not going!”
“Those pampered young lords of the White Jade Camp always held their noses high — let them suffer a little now.”
“Besides, we previously sent out calls for help, and they didn’t budge an inch. Now they expect us to save them?”
“I want to kill these two barbarian beasts and avenge our fallen brothers!”
Xu Dali roared and charged once again.
The deputy general let out a deep sigh and quickly commanded the remaining troops to tighten their ranks into the Iron-Wall Formation and follow Xu Dali into the charge.
The White Jade Camp’s request for help also reached the Red Flower Camp.
Mu Lan received the message and turned pale.
What she feared most had come to pass!
“If the White Jade Camp is utterly defeated, the Golden Halberd Army will be forced to divide its attention, leaving it vulnerable to enemy exploitation.”
“The crucial point is — we’re marching together with them. If we don’t step in to help, even if we win this time, the civil and military officials of the court will certainly alienate the Grand General’s Mansion even more.”
“With things as they are, how could I possibly revive the General’s household?”
Mu Lan looked up to the sky.
The massive Heavenly Horse formed from Ma Feitui flapped its wings, stirring the wind. Its hooves were heavy as a mountain, pounding down fiercely and shaking the manifestation of the Red Flower Formation.
The soldiers formed ranks and circulated their mana, running tirelessly — they were already gasping for breath.
Fortunately, the Red Flower Camp was equipped with a mana reservoir, effectively supporting them and reducing the scale of mana they needed to expend.
“But if this continues, our army will be completely tied down here.”
“Damn it!”
“I do have a technique that can defeat this demon cultivator, but once I use it, I’ll have no strength left to continue leading or reinforcing the White Jade Camp.”
“What should I do?”
Just as Mu Lan hesitated in indecision, the sound of shouting and killing came from the east.
She whipped her head around and saw smoke rising in the east, the mountains trembling, flocks of birds fleeing in panic.
Mu Lan was both startled and overjoyed: “Could it be the Three Generals Camp?”
Sure enough, moments later, she could see the charge of the Three Generals Camp with her naked eyes.
Liu Er, Guan Hong, and Zhang Hei formed the sharpest arrowhead. Two of them formed formations while one attacked. They rotated in assault, forcing Chen Lingfeng and Wu Hen into steady retreat and bitter struggle.
The Three Generals Camp seized the initiative, giving Ning Zhuo ample time to calmly recover his mana.
Once his mana was restored, he acted according to the situation, casting spells not to kill, but to delay and pin down.
With his support, Liu, Guan, and Zhang managed to slay three Golden Core cultivators in a row!
“The strategist’s methods are truly profound.”
“His Five Elemental Spells rotate endlessly — his techniques seem inexhaustible!”
“Truly extraordinary, born of a great clan. The strategist is so young, yet he already commands such a vast arsenal of spells, always choosing the most effective ones against the enemy.”
The Three Generals’ evaluation of Ning Zhuo rose yet another level.
But Ning Zhuo wasn’t satisfied with himself.
“Though I’ve received multiple layers of enhancement and my spell attacks have reached the Golden Core level, the cost in mana is immense. After two or three casts, my reserves are almost gone — I simply can’t sustain prolonged combat!”
Mu Lan’s Camp.
“Excellent! Generals Liu, Guan, and Zhang have arrived — with such reinforcements, we can drive back Ma Feitui!” Zhang Chongyi rejoiced.
Then, seeing Ning Zhuo’s dazzling performance, he said to Mu Lan, “See? I told you this lad was exceptional. And today, he’s shining with brilliance in battle!”
Mu Lan, however, focused on the combat of the Three Generals Camp, her eyes flickering as she mused, “The Three Generals are no ordinary Golden Core cultivators. Their strength is remarkable.”
“But even so, if our camp joins forces with the Three Generals Camp, it will still take some time to repel Ma Feitui.”
“If this drags on, what will happen to the White Jade Camp?”
“They are the real key!”
Mu Lan had clear insight into the battlefield and worried for the overall situation.
At that thought, her expression darkened, and she made her decision.
In the next moment, she waved the command flag to signal a change in formation.
The Red Flower Manifestation suddenly expanded, trapping Ma Feitui within it—if only temporarily.
Ma Feitui had fought the Red Flower Camp many times and was well aware of this move. He remained calm, charging left and right while laughing loudly: “Mu girl, have you gone soft in the head? This move consumes a lot, but it can’t trap your Grandpa Ma!”
Mu Lan’s expression didn’t change. Her command flag waved even more furiously.
The Three Generals Camp swiftly approached the Red Flower Camp. Whether it was Liu, Guan, Zhang, or Ning Zhuo, all were eager to fight alongside allied forces.
“General Mu Lan, Lord Zhang Chongyi! Let’s fight the enemy together!” Ning Zhuo shouted loudly from within the army formation.
The soldiers of the Three Generals Camp also cheered upon reuniting with allies. Though physically and mentally exhausted, their morale soared again.
But in the next moment, the Red Flower Manifestation spun into the air, trapping Ma Feitui and descending directly on top of the Three Generals Camp.
Battle Formation Variant — Not Fit to Stand Together!
The marching speed of the entire Three Generals Camp plummeted, as if they were bearing the weight of a mountain.
In contrast, the Red Flower Camp moved with light steps and swift speed, withdrawing from the battlefield.
“Don’t run!” Ma Feitui roared in fury, struggling within the Red Flower Manifestation.
The harder he struggled, the more pressure fell upon the Three Generals Camp.
Liu turned pale with fury, Guan turned so red it looked like he was about to bleed, and Zhang’s face went pitch-black like the bottom of a pot. They had come wanting to fight alongside Mu Lan, but she had tossed a Nascent Soul–level enemy onto their laps!
Even Ning Zhuo’s expression turned ice-cold as his eyes stared darkly at the retreating Red Flower Camp.
“Good. Well done, Red Flower Camp. Well done, Mu Lan!”