Chapter 523: Chapter 119: Ruthless Flowing Water
General Mu Lan, clad in a red robe and brass battle armor, placed her left hand on the hilt at her waist and abruptly pulled upward.
Clang.
A crisp metallic clash resounded as the majority of her treasured sword was drawn from its sheath.
General Mu Lan did not fully unsheathe the weapon, only drawing it partly. This extent was sufficient for her to activate the Military Art.
The blade’s water ripple pattern swiftly flowed, similar to the Xuanhuang Sword, activating the Military Art embedded within the Spring Sword.
At the same time, General Mu Lan shook the command flag, rearranging the surrounding soldiers and altering the battle formation.
Streaming Water Battle Formation!
The pace of the Red Flower Camp’s march suddenly increased.
Under the cooperation of the Military Art within the blade, a new Battle Formation Dharma was formed.
This time, the Battle Formation Dharma resembled a long river, its waters surging not to submerge the soldiers but to carry and propel them forward.
Though the Upper General Mansion had seen better days, its heritage remained intact.
Such a swift and natural transition of battle formations highlighted General Mu Lan’s superior leadership skills over her peers.
Zhang Zhongyi, who had been accompanying her, eventually stopped looking back and turned his head towards General Mu Lan: “General Mu, by doing this…”
Zhang Zhongyi greatly valued loyalty and brotherhood. If not for this, he wouldn’t have given up his medical halls and joined the military to aid General Mu Lan, ignoring the coveting of the General Mansion by numerous powers, all because of the kindness he owed to the elder General Mu.
Thus, General Mu Lan’s decision to use “Irresistible Waters” to indirectly burden the Three Generals Camp with a powerful Nascent Soul enemy like Ma Feitui genuinely surprised and discomforted Zhang Zhongyi.
General Mu Lan had anticipated Zhang Zhongyi’s reaction. Staring ahead with a calm demeanor, she used her Divine Sense to communicate: “Uncle Zhang, in the battlefield, there is no room for personal feelings or compassion.”
“The White Jade Camp is on thin ice but critically important. If this army were to be annihilated, even if we were to win, it would still be a tragic victory.”
“Even if I engage in the upcoming battle, it will merely be a matter of redeeming myself from faults, making the idea of revitalizing the General Mansion laughable!”
“I believe, my father would have done the same if he were here.”
Her words implied that the elder General Mu would also be such a ‘heartless’ person.
Zhang Zhongyi, left speechless, was at a loss for words.
General Mu Lan continued explaining: “The Red Flower Skill envelops Ma Feitui, and with my calculations, relying on the Military Power of the Three Generals Camp, it could last for 30 minutes.”
“This time might be enough for us to assist the White Jade Camp and then return to relieve the Three Generals Camp.”
“Moreover, I have already sent a Flying Message containing information about Ma Feitui, to inform the people of the Three Generals Camp for the battle.”
Zhang Zhongyi felt slightly better, yet his face remained clouded with worry: “The Three Generals Camp might be able to detain Ma Feitui for a while, but don’t forget, aside from Ma Feitui, there are many Golden Core Cultivators such as Chen Lingfeng and Wu Hen.”
“What if they break the Red Cloud Dharma Form and release Ma Feitui? What then?”
General Mu Lan, expressionless: “Ma Feitui despises us intensely and may likely abandon the Three Generals Camp to pursue us again, seeking trouble.”
“Of course, it’s also possible that Ma Feitui, unable to calm his anger, slaughters the Three Generals Camp in his fury.”
“But Uncle Zhang, this is the battlefield, this is what the battlefield is about!”
“We are not the parents of the Three Generals Camp; we don’t guarantee their safety.”
“What we must strive for is victory, as only victory is our pursuit.”
“Anyone who steps onto the battlefield must have this awareness!”
General Mu Lan’s tone was firm, stern, and ruthless.
“Alas!” Zhang Zhongyi sighed again.
He couldn’t help but look back once more, but the Three Generals Camp was no longer in sight.
“It would be such a pity if Ning Zhuo were to die because of this.”
Although Zhang Zhongyi hadn’t interacted with Ning Zhuo much, he had developed a considerable fondness for talent.
Suddenly, a thought struck him: “As they say, flowers fall willingly and water flows heartlessly. Perhaps, this is the correct interpretation of the Omen Poem?”
“If Ning Zhuo had agreed to Dual Cultivate with General Mu Lan back then, would there be a second possibility now?”
Three Generals Camp.
Watching the soldiers’ movements slow and their fatigue accumulate rapidly, some injured Cultivators were already dispirited.
Liu Er anxiously thought, “Second Brother, Third Brother, Adviser, what should we do now?”
“This Red Flower Dharma hovers above our heads, draining our Military Power to sustain itself.”
“It is extremely mysterious and can trap Nascent Soul Level experts!”
“But our army is not the Red Flower Camp; recently established with no profound foundation, we can only hold out for a short while before our entire army is exhausted and collapses on the spot.”
“Should we fully support the Red Flower Dharma, trying to delay time and wait for allied forces to aid us?”
“Or, should we take the risk and engage in battle, cease supplying the Red Flower Dharma, and fight this Nascent Soul Level Demon Cultivator?”
Ning Zhuo remained silent.
However, Liu Er directly addressed him, “Adviser, please provide your guidance!”
Since Ning Zhuo became an adviser, he has repeatedly shown his capabilities, causing Liu Er’s esteem for him to rise continually. Especially this time, Ning Zhuo exhibited his sharpness, allowing Liu Er to witness his Golden Core Level combat prowess.
Thus, Liu Er treated Ning Zhuo as an equal and even with a hint of respect.
The first one he asked was Ning Zhuo, showing his high regard for him.
Simultaneously, his relations with Guan Hong and Zhang Hei grew closer, and he was confident—these sworn brothers could be led solely by him!
Ning Zhuo thought for a moment, “To engage in battle now, our army will undoubtedly suffer heavy casualties.”
“The crucial issue is, with the four of us cooperating, is our combined strength sufficient to face a Nascent Soul Level opponent?”
Liu Er looked troubled; he had some confidence but not a shred of experience.
This scale of warfare was also a first in his life.
Fighting in a battlefield differed from solo combat. One distinct difference is that there were too many influencing factors.
Our side has National Power and Military Power, while the opponent is a Nascent Soul Level Demon Cultivator with mysterious methods, not yet fully understood, while Chen Lingfeng, Wu Hen, and others are temporarily observing on the sidelines, eager to act.
All these were significant factors that could affect the direction and outcome of the battle.
Liu Er found it hard to predict.
At this moment, a Flying Message from General Mu Lan arrived.
The method of transmission was secretive; a red flower grew from the ground, rapidly maturing and blossoming to reveal a Jade Slip in the heart of the bloom.
The intelligence was quickly passed and read among the four.
In the message, General Mu Lan provided detailed intelligence about Ma Feitui; the content was extensive and very detailed.
Ma Feitui was well-acquainted with the Red Flower Camp, and vice versa, General Mu Lan was equally familiar with Ma Feitui. The two had interacted too many times.
After reading, Liu Er’s anger towards General Mu Lan subsided significantly, “General Mu Lan is rescuing the White Jade Camp, that’s the crux of this ambush battle.”
“According to this intelligence, we have a certain confidence in dealing with him!”
Ning Zhuo was the second to browse through the intelligence; he understood General Mu Lan’s actions but did not forgive them.
Guan Hong and Zhang Hei shared his sentiment.
Guan Hong snorted coldly, “As the daughter of the Upper General, Mu Lan doesn’t consider us relevant. She merely commands, not discussing with us, totally disregarding our willingness.”
Zhang Hei complained, “As fellow Golden Core cultivators, our Three Generals Camp isn’t under her command, yet she treats us like this, it’s truly detestable. We must teach her a lesson someday!”
Ning Zhuo nodded, “We’ll settle our accounts with the Red Flower Camp later.”
“If we are to abandon the Red Flower Dharma and directly engage in battle, we should act without delay!”
“The longer we wait, the more our soldiers’ physical and Mana will deplete, leaving us unable to support the battle.”
“General Liu, please make a quick decision!”
Liu Er looked at Ning Zhuo, seeing encouragement in his eyes, then glanced at Guan Hong stroking his beard proudly, and the eager Zhang Hei, and he smiled faintly, “What’s there to hesitate about, let’s go to war!”