Chapter 559: Chapter 147: Later Moves
Ning Zhuo was sitting cross-legged on the magic artifact cushion, surrounded by floating clouds, as he chewed on spirit food in his mouth.
He was cultivating.
Demon-infused Bloodline Technique!
Within the Blood Earth Demon Vessel Dantian, layers of blood vessels coursed across like the ground itself. Within the vessels, the blood qi was piercingly cold, flowing ceaselessly. In sync with every beat of Ning Zhuo’s heart, they pulsated as naturally as the tides.
Five Elements Qi Regulation Art!
Inside the Five Qi Tian Shu Dantian, a five-colored vortex spun like a tornado reaching for the heavens, a pillar that connected sky and earth. The qi of the Five Elements at times distinct and clear, at times blended into a single entity, effortlessly transitioning between states.
Mirror Stand Spirit Communication Technique!
Within the Bright Mirror Spirit Light Dantian, the expanse was cloudless, the upper and lower sections smooth and level, resembling two gigantic mirrors, acting as the heavens and earth of Qiankun.
In the space between these giant mirrors of the cosmos, countless small mirrors of divine sense floated silently.
First, Ning Zhuo’s face was full of red demonic light, his blood qi overflowing, followed by ripples of five-colored brilliance that infiltrated the inner layers of the floating clouds. Finally, his aura retracted, and a Buddhist nature ascended, rendering his face full of compassion.
He slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a mouthful of stale air.
Essence blood, mana, divine sense—all at their current peaks—imbued his eyes with sharpness, brimming with vitality like a dragon’s fierceness and a tiger’s boldness!
He looked around, pondering, “Now that I have ample wealth, it’s time to arrange an array inside the cultivation cabin to assist my cultivation.”
“With my Five Elements Realm, laying a Five Qi Rejuvenation Array should be within my capabilities.”
“Putting aside rare treasures like national power bricks, an array that assists cultivation will surely accumulate benefits over the long term and indeed be advantageous.”
Ning Zhuo concealed himself within the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon.
Ever since Liu Er conveyed his intentions to openly pursue Mu Lan, Ning Zhuo anticipated that the Three Generals Camp would face a severe blow.
Thus, he disappeared in advance, hiding within the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon to guard against possible attacks.
Of course, the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon did not leave the Three Generals Camp directly, but remained hidden in a corner of the military camp. Furthermore, under Sun Lingtong’s control, it would relocate from time to time, not staying in one place for long.
Ning Zhuo concluded this session of cultivation, opened the cabin door, and stepped out.
Upon reaching the Dragon Head Cabin, Sun Lingtong said to him, “Little Zhuo, you guessed it right.”
“Zhang Hei has been captured, and Guan Hong has been wounded. As for Liu Er, he seems to be temporarily detained in the City Lord’s Mansion.”
Sun Lingtong showed Ning Zhuo the image of Guan Hong being attacked.
After seeing it, Ning Zhuo felt heavy-hearted: “This Golden Core Level assassin is very strong. If I were Guan Hong, I’m afraid my head would have already been taken by him.”
“The reactions from Sun Gan and Shuangjing are so intense, it indicates that they also want to settle the outcome quickly.”
“The struggle over Mu Lan, the Red Flower Camp, and the Upper General Mansion should not last long.”
It is because of such judgement that Ning Zhuo still resisted the temptation to use his three national power bricks.
Sun Lingtong inquired, “Little Zhuo, what are we going to do next?”
Ning Zhuo responded, “No one knows our true plans, which is our advantage. Let’s hold our forces and watch the confrontation between Liu Er, Sun Gan, and Shuangjing.”
“I’m becoming more curious about what kind of trump card Liu Er has.”
Ning Zhuo patiently waited for Liu Er to return.
Liu Er, unable to conceal his impatience, hurried back to the camp.
He never expected the counterattack to be so intense and fierce.
“Perhaps Sun Gan and Shuangjing have already joined forces!”
“Alas!”
Heavy-hearted, Liu Er went straight to Guan Hong’s tent after returning to the camp.
“Little brother, where are you hurt? Let your elder brother have a look!” Liu Er called out earnestly.
Guan Hong felt a warmth in his heart and shook his head at Liu Er, “Big brother, there’s no need to worry too much. I am still alive, and the injury is not serious.”
“Not serious?!” After inspecting the wound on Guan Hong’s arm, Liu Er’s eyes reddened as he grasped Guan Hong’s arm, “It is I who have led my younger brothers into this.”
“Big brother, as men who traverse the world, how can we cherish our lives? Such a wound is nothing; it will heal with rest,” Guan Hong showed his manly fortitude.
Liu Er sighed, “Your right arm was already injured, and now it has suffered even more. Maybe we can ask for Zhang Zhongyi’s healing.”
“With our current relationship with the Red Flower Camp, it shouldn’t be difficult to request Zhang Zhongyi’s help.”
Guan Hong nodded, “Big brother, my injury is not serious. The real urgency is how to rescue our third brother.”
Ning Zhuo suddenly appeared: “Generals, General Zhang Hei has just been appointed by Liangzhu Country as a captor general. He should not be in danger of losing his life.”
“Strategist!” Upon seeing Ning Zhuo safe and sound, both Liu Er and Guan Hong’s eyes flashed with relief, obviously relaxing.
Ning Zhuo was the Three Generals Camp’s purse strings.
If something were to happen to him, the Three Generals Camp would not be able to last for long.
Ning Zhuo was extremely important to the Three Generals Camp!
Ning Zhuo clasped his hands and apologized proactively, expressing his shame for hiding and not standing with General Guan Hong against the enemy to share the pressure.
Liu Er and Guan Hong expressed that as Ning Zhuo was merely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, being able to protect himself was already not easy. Confronting powerful enemies was naturally their duty as the three Golden Core Cultivators. Ning Zhuo being able to protect himself had already saved them a lot of effort and his performance was more than adequate!
Ning Zhuo then suggested to Liu Er that to rescue General Zhang Hei, they could leverage Mu Lan’s connections. As the heir to the Upper General Mansion, she was definitely not without support in the court, surely possessing enduring connections.
After Liu Er was delayed by the Immortal City Lord, causing his second brother to be attacked and his third brother to be captured, he had fully realized the true nature of the City Lord.
Therefore, he acted according to the plan and visited the Red Flower Camp to meet Mu Lan.
Mu Lan, already informed of the situation, immediately met with Liu Er, stating that she had sent a message to the Royal Capital to mobilize connections.
However, simultaneously, she also conveyed to Liu Er that she had no feelings for him, and that their sides could be allies and fight against the enemy together. She promised Liu Er that if he was willing, once Mu Lan took over the General Seal, she could take him into the Government Office as a subordinate. Thus, to some extent, it could break the ceiling of their demon identity and become one of the high-ranking officials of Liangzhu Country.
Liu Er stated that his feelings for Mu Lan were indeed genuine and that offering help this time was led by personal emotions, not by greed for profit.
Returning to the Three Generals Camp, Liu Er uncharacteristically crushed a cup in his hand.
His heart was filled with rage!
Shuangjing, Sun Gan, and Mu Lan all looked down on him.
The former two reacted so violently because they saw Liu Er’s competition for Mu Lan as an insult!
Even Mu Lan, despite the dire straits, was unwilling to lower her stance with Liu Er’s crucial aid, being straightforward without even a hint of feigned humility.
“What difficulty it is to make a name for myself like this!”
Liu Er felt extremely bitter inside.
His mixed human-demon heritage really wasn’t welcomed.
“I exposed my affection for Mu Lan on the advice of my mentor and that triggered the suppression.”
“That’s just the first day.”
“The following days, I fear…”
When Liu Er thought of this, his expression became very grave.
That very night, the Three Generals Camp caught fire, destroying many supplies.
Over the following days, soldiers from Three Generals Camp began disappearing without reason daily.
Shuangjing made an all-out effort, offering high rewards behind the scenes, undermining Three Generals Camp by poaching their men.
The soldiers of Three Generals Camp were already discontent; after the ambush battle, they gained little. Even if they had accomplishments, it was the Three Generals and Ning Zhuo who benefited most.
Thus, more and more soldiers defected from Three Generals Camp to join White Jade Camp.
Liu Er approached Ning Zhuo, hoping that Ning Zhuo would provide more funds to stabilize morale.
But Ning Zhuo shook his head, “Our side’s financial resources are limited. To act like this, competing in a bidding war with Shuangjing, would be unwise.”
“Actually, this isn’t a bad thing.”
“If cultivators with different intentions leave voluntarily, those who remain are naturally more reliable, aren’t they?”
Although Ning Zhuo’s finances had grown stronger, he was also reluctant to burn money on this matter.
He was convinced that the affair with Mu Lan would not last long and would come to an end soon.
“This power struggle, I am not key to it.”
“Even if Liu Er is eliminated, the competition between Shuangjing and Sun Gan would still be a fierce battle.”
Seeing Ning Zhuo’s disagreement, Liu Er could only suppress his dissatisfaction and heave sighs.
“Big brother! Look what this is?”
Suddenly, the tent flap was thrown open, and Guan Hong entered with an air of blood about him.
He threw a severed head on the ground, his body exuding immense killing intent.
Both Liu Er and Ning Zhuo looked surprised and delighted to find that the severed head was that of the assassin who had attacked Guan Hong.
“How did you do this, second brother?” Liu Er asked.
Guan Hong stroked his beard, saying proudly, “That day, although I was seriously injured, I managed to strike the assassin with my sword skill, which allowed me to track him.”
“I did not act immediately, letting him repeatedly assassinate our soldiers.”
“The more times he did it, the more negligent he became.”
“Today, when I sensed him approaching again, I brazenly attacked and killed him!”
Ning Zhuo immediately praised, “General Guan Hong’s divine might!”
Liu Er also clapped his hands in approval, “With this head, the morale of our soldiers will definitely boost! Second brother, you’ve done an excellent job.”
The assassin’s head was hung on the flagpole in the morning, but by the afternoon it mysteriously disappeared.
The morale of the Three Generals Camp rose in the morning, then declined in the afternoon, and dropped even further by evening.
This was because of the news that Mu Lan had been injured and fell unconscious, spreading throughout Immortal City and several major military camps.
Liu Er and others hurriedly entered the camp to investigate the truth.
Indeed, Mu Lan was as pale as gold paper, lying in bed, unconscious.
“General Mu Lan was said to have suddenly spit blood and fainted during a training session, what exactly happened?” Liu Er asked anxiously.
Zhang Zhongyi sighed, “According to various clues collected afterward, it seems someone secretly used a military art to defeat soldiers and disable a general!”
“Our Red Flower Camp was previously defeated by the enemy in an ambush, turning us into defeated soldiers.”
“General Mu Lan, while training the troops, was suddenly struck by this military art, and the assault of military spirit immediately caused her to spit blood and faint. Now, although her life is not in danger, it will probably take three days for her to wake up.”
This was tremendous bad news, shocking Liu Er and Ning Zhuo to exchange glances.
Zhang Zhongyi bowed his hands, “We ask General Liu and Young Master Ning Zhuo to lend assistance in guarding General Mu Lan to prevent any surprise attacks. ”
Liu Er immediately agreed.
Ning Zhuo pondered and said, “Sun Gan and Shuangjing seek the General Seal, and they must preserve General Mu Lan’s life.”
“They must have further moves!”
“This next move is what we should be most wary of.”
But what was the next move? After a discussion, lacking information, they could not come to any conclusions.
The next day.
The gates of Red Flower Camp were hastily opened.
Zhang Zhongyi, Liu Er, Ning Zhuo, and others went out to meet the arrivals.
The envoy from the Royal Capital, with head held high, stepped down from the carriage carrying an imperial edict.
“Where is General Mu Lan?” the envoy asked with an unfriendly look.
Both Ning Zhuo and Liu Er’s eyes met, feeling a strong sense of foreboding.
This next move was more substantial than they imagined!