Chapter 479: Mu Lan’s Husband
Ning Zhuo did not hide anything from the Three Generals and directly explained the wondrous applications and might of the military strategies.
This elicited unanimous amazement from Liu, Guan, and Zhang:
“Ning Zhuo is truly born of a great clan. His foundation is extraordinary!”
Ning Zhuo gave a bitter smile:
“I am not proficient with these strategies and have practiced them very little. In real battle, it may be difficult to execute them successfully.”
Liu Er nodded.
“Indeed, one must be cautious! A failed military formation can lead to backlash, dragging both generals and soldiers down together.”
By the time Liu, Guan, Zhang, Ning, and Sun formally deployed their troops, the appearance of the soldiers had undergone a dramatic change.
Their bodies had grown taller and leaner, all standing at least seven feet high. With snake heads and human bodies, their skin had been replaced by black-scaled armor. As they moved, they made little sound, with gentle wind coiling around their wrists and ankles.
On their backs, along the spine, a distinct orange-red blood line extended from the top of their heads straight down to the tailbone.
Liu, Guan, and Zhang tried to continue drilling the troops, but seeing little benefit, they decisively halted and began their operation.
Ma Liangcai was powerful, and they needed to move quickly to unite with other forces.
Long Snake Formation.
The ranks stretched out, stamina was greatly enhanced, and a measure of defensive bonus was granted—this mobile formation was perfect for marching.
After half a day’s journey, they arrived at the mouth of a mountain valley.
Suddenly, Liu Er frowned. Raising a hand, he halted the troops:
“My heart is pounding with unease. I sense danger. There may be an ambush ahead!”
Zhang Hei responded:
“But we already sent out scouts. They entered the valley earlier and found nothing.”
Hearing this, Ning Zhuo took it very seriously.
His divine ability Life Hanging by a Thread failed to connect with Liu Er’s head, which had always made Ning Zhuo hold him in high regard.
Currently, Ning Zhuo was using spiritual sense to enter the painting realm. The mechanical ring was on his physical body’s finger and could not be brought into the painting. Unless his physical body was in danger, the ring wouldn’t issue any warnings. Inside the painting, it had no use.
Ning Zhuo immediately said:
“Then let’s bypass this valley.”
“Agreed.” Liu Er promptly issued orders, redirecting the army.
Just as Liu, Guan, and Zhang were about to change course, battle flags suddenly rose from the mountain, revealing an enemy force.
Each of the enemy soldiers was shrouded in black mist, their limbs obscured, faces indiscernible.
Ma Liangcai stood atop the mountain, overlooking Liu, Guan, Zhang, and Ning. His voice was soft and slow, yet enveloped the surroundings:
“Since you’ve come, you should all stay.”
“This is bad—it’s Ma Liangcai!”
“Retreat—quickly!”
Liu Er’s expression changed, and he immediately ordered a full retreat.
Facing a stronger enemy, this was indeed the wise choice.
The soldiers, not being living men, withdrew in solemn silence and perfect order.
What surprised Ning Zhuo was that Ma Liangcai merely watched the Three Generals Camp retreat, making no move to attack.
He stood calmly, hands behind his back, proudly atop the peak, only giving the order to form a formation.
The soldiers on the mountain began to move, forming distinct human flows, weaving in and out of one another.
After just over ten breaths, the battle formation was completed. Wisps of mana, like black smoke, gently rose from the top of each soldier’s head.
These streams of smoke converged in midair, forming a pitch-black mass.
At first it was only smoke, but as it gathered, it gradually liquefied into a pool of thick black ink.
The outer edge of this ink began to condense, forming a pitch-black basin.
Ink Pool Formation!
Ma Liangcai took out a treasure-grade brush, lifted it slightly, and aimed the tip at the retreating Three Generals Camp.
With a casual stroke, a single horizontal black line appeared in the air.
In the next moment, the water level of the ink pool in the sky suddenly dropped by ten percent.
“Watch out!” Liu Er shouted in warning.
Suddenly, a surging tide of pitch-black waves appeared around the Three Generals Camp, carrying a dense ink fragrance as it came crashing in.
Liu, Guan, Zhang, and Ning acted simultaneously, combining their forces to shatter the wave.
But Ma Liangcai continued wielding his brush, sending wave after wave of ink tide in relentless assault.
Liu, Guan, Zhang, and Ning, each weaker than Ma Liangcai in cultivation, struggled immensely to hold their ground.
Fighting as they withdrew, they attempted to widen the distance.
Ma Liangcai laughed aloud:
“Naïve!”
He held the brush upright, stretching his arm forward. With forceful strokes, he began painting in midair.
As his movements intensified, the water level in the ink pool suddenly dropped by thirty percent.
Ahead of the Three Generals Camp’s retreat path, a massive trench suddenly appeared, swirling with smoke and ink—impossible for ordinary soldiers to cross.
“This is bad!” Liu, Guan, Zhang, Ning, and Sun all felt their hearts sink.
Their army’s strength was too weak—no match for Ma Liangcai.
“I’ll take over the formation!” Ning Zhuo shouted.
The Three Generals, having built mutual understanding with him, immediately ceded command.
Thieving Breeze Formation!
Whirling winds encircled them, causing the Three Generals Camp’s speed to soar.
Ning Zhuo led the army forward. He didn’t recklessly attempt to cross the ink trench but instead veered left, attempting to bypass the obstacle.
Ma Liangcai attacked again and again, but Ning Zhuo’s command of the formation allowed the Three Generals Camp to repeatedly dodge the sharp edge of danger and gradually pull away.
“Interesting. What formation is this?” Ma Liangcai, seeing the Thieving Breeze Formation for the first time, grew curious and asked.
Zhang Hei shouted loudly in reply:
“It’s the Swift Wind Formation! Don’t even know that? Ma Liangcai, you’re not so great after all.”
“Swift Wind Formation?” Ma Liangcai nodded seriously.
“I’ll remember it.”
With the formation’s boost, the Three Generals Camp’s march speed surged.
Once they were about to exit Ma Liangcai’s attack range, he decisively led his troops down the mountain in pursuit.
One army chased, the other fled.
Soon after, the Red Flower Camp’s banner flapped in the wind, entering their line of sight.
Mu Lan rode a tall steed, her soldiers all wearing and bearing bright red flowers.
They too were on the march.
Seeing the Three Generals Camp being chased by Ma Liangcai, Mu Lan scanned the field briefly, then raised a hand. The Red Flower Camp joined the battle.
Red Flower Formation!
This was Mu Lan’s most familiar, and also her strongest, battle formation.
Above the Red Flower Camp, a giant Red Flower Avatar bloomed and charged straight toward Ma Liangcai’s Ink Smoke Army.
Sensing the opportunity, Liu, Guan, and Zhang quickly shifted tactics, leading their forces to turn back and attack.
On the plains, the three armies engaged in a head-on clash.
Ma Liangcai manipulated his brush, sometimes dotting, sometimes sweeping, as he shaped the battlefield.
In the span of just over ten breaths, he transformed the open plain, creating trenches, elevating his side’s terrain, and forming a gently sloping hill.
Ma Liangcai continued painting: fences, chevaux-de-frise, and even a full camp fortress emerged.
The Ink Pool Avatar’s water level fell rapidly, but was constantly replenished by the entire army, sustaining its level.
Ma Liangcai held the defense while the Three Generals Camp and Red Flower Camp flanked him from left and right, attempting a pincer attack on the hilltop camp.
But after prolonged assault—they still could not break through!
Ma Liangcai fused brushwork and military strategy into one. With every stroke, he reshaped the battlefield, unleashing a grand offensive and treating the entire battlefield as his canvas, moving his brush without bounds.
“Worthy of being a famed general of Liangzhu Kingdom.”
“So powerful!”
Liu, Guan, and Zhang all wore solemn expressions. In the midst of fierce combat, they fully realized Ma Liangcai’s strength.
During the fight, the White Jade Camp and the Golden Halberd Army also arrived.
Double Purity and Sun Gan both chose to remain bystanders, refusing to commit their armies.
Mu Lan, Liu Er, and others tried transmitting messages through spiritual sense, but failed to persuade either of them.
Double Purity made excuses: they needed to observe carefully and strike only when a weakness in the Ink Smoke Army revealed itself, seizing victory in one blow.
Sun Gan, meanwhile, claimed he had to keep watch over Double Purity to prevent the White Jade Camp from turning against them. At the same time, he demanded Mu Lan consider accepting him as her husband as soon as possible.
Mu Lan only responded with cold laughter.
She was strong-willed—when pressured, she would never yield.
Both Sun Gan and Double Purity knew Mu Lan’s nature.
They wanted to subdue this fierce daughter of a general now, thinking that if she ever held command of the Grand General’s Mansion, their wife ought to obey their every word.
Mu Lan swung her command flag and ordered a new transformation of the formation.
The Red Flower Avatar suddenly flew out, directly enveloping the Ink Pool Avatar, wrapping it completely.
Ma Liangcai immediately felt the connection greatly weakened, nearly severed.
He quickly waved his brush in a wide arc and unleashed a spell—Brush Dancing with Dragon and Serpent!
Ink splattered as he wielded the brush—jet-black strokes transformed in mid-air into a giant dragon and a horned serpent.
The dragon and serpent struck in unison, piercing through the Red Flower Avatar and stabilizing the Ink Pool Avatar once more.
Mu Lan's face turned pale, her body swayed, and she nearly fell from her horse.
With her method failing, she hastily commanded the formation to withdraw the Red Flower Avatar.
The Red Flower Avatar returned above the Red Flower Camp with a massive hole in it and immediately began drawing on the army's strength for emergency repairs.
For a time, the Red Flower Camp’s military strength was steadily drained, and its overall combat power dropped sharply.
Ma Liangcai, highly perceptive, seized this opportunity precisely and led the Ink Smoke Army out of the camp, shifting from defense to offense.
The Red Flower Camp's defensive lines were breached one after another, forcing them to mimic the earlier actions of the Three Generals Camp, retreating while fighting.
The Ink Smoke Army, like a pack of ravenous wolves, continuously tore into the Red Flower Camp, causing Mu Lan’s forces to suffer heavy losses and fall into disarray.
Sensing the situation turning dire, Double Purity and Sun Gan quickly moved their armies to reinforce.
The White Jade Plaque suppressed the ink mist, while the Golden Halberd Avatar pierced sharply through the Ink Pool, causing ink to spill everywhere.
With the support of these two fresh forces, the Red Flower Camp was instantly pulled back from the brink.
Ma Liangcai chuckled lightly, having expected this, and once again unleashed a flurry of brush strokes, reshaping the battlefield and reinforcing his lines.
This time, it was White Jade Camp and the Golden Halberd Army flanking the Ink Smoke Army from both sides, while the Three Generals Camp and Red Flower Camp took time for emergency recovery.
Moments later, the four armies positioned themselves in the east, south, west, and north, surrounding the Ink Smoke Army.
Ma Liangcai’s pressure mounted. He let out a hearty laugh:
“Gentlemen, behold my divine art!”
Divine Art—Ink Punishment, Brush Execution!
In the next instant, the Ink Pool overturned, pouring out nearly all of its liquid ink.
The ink rained down in torrents, splattering across the battlefield, and transformed into a massive cavalry unit.
The Iron Cavalry charged forward, unstoppable!
The Red Flower Camp bore the brunt of the assault—several layers of their formation were torn apart like paper.
The Iron Cavalry rampaged straight through to the central command, forcing Mu Lan to engage personally.
With the commander entangled, the Red Flower Formation’s operation was severely hindered, and the power of the Red Flower Avatar rapidly declined at a pace visible to the naked eye.
Sensing danger, Liu Er shouted:
“Rescue General Mu Lan at once!”
The Three Generals Camp shifted positions and charged toward the fiercest part of the battle.
However, Double Purity and Sun Gan made different choices. They simultaneously went all out to launch a fierce attack on the enemy camp.
The camp held the Ink Smoke Army. If it could be heavily damaged, then no matter how strong Ma Liangcai was, he would no longer be a match for the Golden Halberd Army and White Jade Camp.
As for Mu Lan...
Let her lose!
This wasn’t a real battlefield, after all—just a Testing the Generals Diagram.
“Once Mu Lan is defeated and eliminated, if she wants to retain the Red Flower Camp, she’ll have to choose the victor as her husband!”
Sun Gan’s eyes shone with fervent light.
“And the ultimate victor will be me!”
To defeat the Red Flower Camp, Ma Liangcai had depleted nearly all his ink, revealing a flaw.
Sun Gan seized this opportunity with an iron grip.
Mu Lan vomited blood again and again.
Already injured and in poor condition, she now found herself trapped in a fierce battle, forced to command the Red Flower Formation—it was beyond her ability to manage, and she couldn’t hold out.
Single Stroke to Sever the Edge!
Ma Liangcai raised his brush, pointing it at Mu Lan from afar, and lightly drew a curve.
The ink stroke slashed like a blade—striking Mu Lan and cutting her in half.
She was defeated and eliminated!
“This is bad!” Liu Er and the others all felt a sinking weight in their hearts.
On this battlefield, the only truly trustworthy ally had been the Red Flower Camp.
With Mu Lan “dead,” some Red Flower Camp soldiers tried to hold the line, while others scattered and fled.
“Quickly take in these forces!” Ning Zhuo shouted loudly.
Liu Er snapped out of his shock and urgently commanded the entire army to absorb the remaining Red Flower troops and hold off Ma Liangcai’s assault.
Ma Liangcai didn’t continue targeting the Three Generals Camp but instead pulled back and rushed toward the camp.
Divine Art—Inkbound Conformity!
The ink dispersed, transforming into strands of law that enhanced the battlefield, affecting both allies and enemies.
Under the rules set by Ma Liangcai, the defenders’ strength rose by thirty percent, while attackers’ strength dropped by thirty percent. This difference created a total disparity of sixty percent.
Sun Gan and Double Purity’s assault immediately lost momentum.
Just as they were about to breach the camp, Ma Liangcai had already stabilized his defense.
“This bastard actually cultivated Inkbound Conformity into a divine art!”
Sun Gan nearly ground his teeth to dust.
This was unexpected intelligence.
Had he known about this, he would never have chosen to attack the camp. He would have rushed to assist the Red Flower Camp instead.
From another perspective, Ma Liangcai’s determination to fulfill the King’s Mandate was so firm that he was willing to reveal this critical secret.
For a general like him, a hidden divine art could change the course of battle, catching enemies off-guard and earning monumental merit.
Now that he revealed it, it meant giving up potential future achievements.
“You think I don’t have divine arts too?”
Sun Gan roared and also unleashed his divine art.
The Golden Halberd Avatar burst forth with blinding divine light, becoming incredibly sharp, descending from the sky and splitting the entire camp in two.
Sun Gan was panting hard—his military strength was nearly depleted, and the Golden Halberd Army’s formation slowed considerably.
Double Purity seized the opportunity, leading his army to storm the camp.
The Ink Smoke Army, having been under siege for some time, was already exhausted and suffered heavy losses in the chaos.
Ma Liangcai coughed blood from the corner of his mouth and transmitted a mental rebuke to Double Purity.
Double Purity only sneered—he saw his chance.
If he defeated Ma Liangcai now, he might truly win in the end. Taking charge of the Grand General’s Mansion would no longer be a dream!
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity—if not now, then when?
The White Jade Camp stormed the camp, becoming entangled with the Ink Smoke Army.
Double Purity howled as he lunged toward Ma Liangcai.
Ma Liangcai did not want to be caught in the siege. He kept retreating, trying to put distance between them. But in the next moment, Sun Gan, empowered by army strength, also rushed in alone wielding his Golden Halberd.
The three Nascent Soul cultivators clashed within the camp, and the devastating shockwaves caused countless soldiers from all three sides to perish.
Liu, Guan, and Zhang were just about to stand aside and watch, when they suddenly saw Ma Liangcai tapping his own soldiers with the brush—causing them to explode into puddles of ink.
The ink gathered in the air, reforming the Ink Pool Avatar once again.
Double Purity and Sun Gan’s expressions changed dramatically—their own army avatars had long since grown weak.
Ma Liangcai had sacrificed the majority of his forces, activating a forbidden technique, and once again unleashed a massive inkstorm.
Double Purity and Sun Gan were forced into a chaotic retreat, their wounds multiplying.
Sensing the danger, Liu, Guan, and Zhang no longer dared to stand by. They rushed in to aid the fight.
“You haven’t even cultivated a battle formation avatar—and you’re just three measly Golden Core cultivators!”
Ma Liangcai was filled with pride, looking down on Liu, Guan, and Zhang. His brush strokes were sharper than blades and heavier than hammers.
In a fierce and brutal melee, Ma Liangcai successively “killed” Double Purity, Sun Gan, Zhang Hei, and Guan Hong, and finally struck Liu Er down with a single brush stroke.
“I, Ma Liangcai, have not failed the King’s Mandate!”
Ma Liangcai stood proudly on the battlefield.
Only a few dozen soldiers remained alive.
Boom!
A massive Five Elemental Spell struck the wounded Ma Liangcai, sending him flying.
“You? Who are you?”
Ma Liangcai looked at Ning Zhuo, whose aura had surged to the Nascent Soul level under the empowerment of army strength—he was utterly stunned.
The Warrior Returns Art!
Sun Lingtong threw his head back in laughter and collapsed to the ground.
He hadn’t expected the final victory to come so easily.
Boom boom boom!
Ning Zhuo launched over a dozen spells, blasting Ma Liangcai into ashes.
Staring at the crater on the battlefield, he finally smiled faintly, bowed toward it, and said:
“I am Ning Zhuo, Military Advisor and Sacrificial Wine of the Three Generals Camp.”
Sun Lingtong voluntarily withdrew.
The next moment, as the sole victor, Ning Zhuo slowly opened his eyes.
Sun Gan and the others wore deeply complicated expressions, their eyes filled with venomous hostility, all fixed on Ning Zhuo.
Liu Er was visibly emotional, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at Ning Zhuo and sent a spiritual message:
“Advisor, you won! You brought victory to the Three Generals Camp and earned great merit!”
Double Purity was just about to speak, trying to rope Ning Zhuo in.
Mu Lan suddenly spoke:
“In that case, Young Master Ning Zhuo shall be my husband!”
“Wait!”
Ning Zhuo gave a bitter smile and raised his hand.
“To be honest, this is not my wish.”
Mu Lan immediately tensed up. She fixed her gaze on Ning Zhuo and sent a rare spiritual message in a pleading tone, hoping he would reconsider, promising him ample compensation.
While the two secretly communicated, the others looked on with tense expressions.
Ma Liangcai suddenly joined in, offering Ning Zhuo a huge reward to give up.
In front of everyone, Ning Zhuo declared that he represented the Three Generals Camp in victory and that the victor’s reward should belong to Liu Er.
Mu Lan, Ma Liangcai, Sun Gan, and Double Purity all opposed it.
What a joke!
Letting a mixed-blood win in the end—how could they keep their dignity?
“My lord, what should I do?”
Ning Zhuo, helpless, sent a spiritual message asking Liu Er.
Liu Er’s face was ashen, his gaze complex. After a long pause, he finally said:
“Better to accept it than give it up to Ma Liangcai. Advisor, I beg you.”
“But I...”
Ning Zhuo frowned, clearly troubled.
“My lord, you know me.”
“I do.”
Liu Er’s heart bled, but he forced himself to endure.
“Advisor, just agree for now. Secure the position—we’ll make plans later. Don’t worry, I’ll make sure you’re compensated and won’t be put in a difficult spot.”
Guan Hong and Zhang Hei, who had been involved throughout, also urged him, saying that if Ning Zhuo helped them this time, they owed him a great favor and would repay him generously.
Ning Zhuo sighed deeply and exchanged words with Mu Lan once more. In front of everyone, they agreed he would only be a husband in name and must divorce in the future.
Mu Lan felt a heavy burden lifted and dared not hesitate—she immediately nodded in agreement.
In the end, Ning Zhuo helplessly spread his hands and accepted this new identity.