Chapter 623: Chapter 178: Rest and Reorganize_2
Guan Hong was the first to respond, his eyebrows tightly knit as he said gravely, “If we really compare overall combat strength, my Three Generals Camp is no match for the Golden Halberd Army.”
Zhang Hei nodded, “Even if I and the two sworn brothers make an all-out effort and manage to entangle Sun Gan, the Golden Halberd Army could still completely defeat the Three Generals Camp.”
Liu Er sighed, “Four armies set out, and unexpectedly, the strongest among them, the Golden Halberd Army, was annihilated.”
The Golden Halberd Army is one of the Forbidden Armies of Liangzhu Country.
They are equipped with the finest gear and are the most well-trained usually.
The Three Generals Camp only mastered three types of Battle Formations, while the Golden Halberd Army mastered no less than ten.
The commander, Sun Gan, is also a powerhouse at the Nascent Soul Level.
The Golden Halberd Army is completely a first-class army within Liangzhu Country.
In this respect, they are considered a trump card of the Liangzhu Country’s military.
Logically speaking, they shouldn’t have been sent to serve as cannon fodder.
Yet, the reality is, they not only attacked Thousand Peak Forest but also became the only army among the four that was utterly defeated and failed to return.
Even the Nascent Soul Level powerhouses secretly sent by Commander Du perished!
Liu, Guan, Zhang, and Ning analyzed this military report together.
Zhang Hei: “There were only two Nascent Souls as the adversaries of the Golden Halberd Army. One was Gu Ya, and the other was the current Elephant King.”
“We all know Gu Ya’s strength. This indicates that the current Elephant King was the key to the annihilation of the Golden Halberd Army.”
Guan Hong: “This Demon Cultivator hails from the lineage of the Pale Barbaric Elephant and is usually not impulsive or violent, rarely engaging in combat. Unexpectedly, when he did strike this time, it was earth-shattering, annihilating a top-tier army of Liangzhu Country!”
Liu Er: “From the results of the battle, Commander Du’s tentative assault resulted in our side killing a Nascent Soul Level cultivator, heavily injuring several, but losing Sun Gan and the Golden Halberd Army. Overall, it can be considered a minor defeat.”
Ning Zhuo remained silent.
He recalled the information about the current Elephant King and sighed inwardly, “If I had a physique like his, I could definitely withstand more of the Heroic Return Skill without the hardships I faced against Di Lu.”
The Heroic Return Skill has significant potential.
This Military Art has profound origins, derived by Ning Zhuo from ‘Gao Sheng’s Legacy’. He also utilized the ‘Soldiers and Generals share the same helmet’ during his understanding of it.
Both ‘Gao Sheng’s Legacy’ and ‘Soldiers and Generals share the same helmet’ are treasured military possessions.
It was Ning Zhuo’s physical foundation that limited the effectiveness of this Military Art.
Ning Zhuo reflected on previous battles, how Yuan Dasheng and Mengye Tiger had consecutively sacrificed themselves, yet he dared not incorporate them into the Heroic Return Skill, fearing he couldn’t withstand it and would burst physically.
“What method could there be to rapidly enhance my physical foundation?”
Ning Zhuo felt troubled.
After returning to Canglin Immortal City, he purchased many war supplies, including numerous Talismans and Elixir Pills that could temporarily enhance physical foundation.
But compared to the demands of the Heroic Return Skill, these were just a drop in the bucket.”
Ning Zhuo calculated—when compared in terms of effect, these Elixir Pills, Spirit Foods, and Talismans were far less effective than the Evil Path uses of the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat.
“Of course, this is also because the Elixir Pills and Talismans available in Canglin Immortal City aren’t particularly high-end, primarily aimed at supplying the war.”
“If this time, Commander Du grants rewards based on merit, maybe I could request some high-end Elixir Pills or Talismans?”
Ning Zhuo is now at the [Treasure Medicine Generation] stage of the Foundation Establishment Stage.
This stage emphasizes the integration of the three treasures: essence, energy, and spirit, not just the accumulation needed in the previous [Unobstructed Field Opening] stage.
Thus, National Power Bricks are not quite suitable.
“National Power Bricks are definitely beneficial in abundance. However…”
Ning Zhuo desired more growth in his physical foundation.
He wanted to quickly reach the standard to leverage the Heroic Return Skill for utilizing the combat power of the Nascent Soul Level!
“War is perilous and unpredictable.”
“Even the powerful Golden Halberd Army was completely annihilated.”
“From the few battles so far, one can see: at this level of battlefield, being at least at the Nascent Soul Level is somewhat more stable and reliable.”
“Of course, luck is also indispensable.”
“It seems my Qi Fortune is…”
Ning Zhuo previously rolled sixes in every battle with the Dice Bone Demon God.
But in the recent battle at Moon Hook Mountain, he only rolled fives.
“My lifespan is no longer as prosperous as before.”
“In fact, during the time at Bikong Giant Wood Mountain, Boss Sun and I almost perished.”
“In the end, although we gained tremendous benefits, it also proved that my lifespan is indeed on a decline.”
“Alas, what exactly is going on with all this?”
Ning Zhuo was oblivious to this strange shift in lifespan and Qi Fortune, finding it completely baffling.
After bidding farewell to the Three Generals, Ning Zhuo returned to his tent and immediately dove into creating Mechanical Puppets inside the Mechanical Dragon.
His Mechanical Army was left with less than twenty percent intact, suffering unimaginable losses, urgently needing replenishment.
Moreover, from Ning Zhuo’s current situation, the importance of the Mechanical Army was far greater than Mengye Tiger and Yuan Dasheng.
Missing one or two Golden Core-level combat forces was not that critical.
But if Ning Zhuo did not have the Mechanical Army, he would not be able to enhance his own combat strength. Depending solely on a few external forces from Golden Core protectors wouldn’t be as timely or reliable on the battlefield.
Therefore, Ning Zhuo prioritized making Mechanical Puppets rather than first repairing Mengye Tiger and Yuan Dasheng.
The Xuanyuan Nine Work Platform and two other Mechanical Platforms buzzed into action, crafting Mechanical Puppets at a rate dozens of times faster than Ning Zhuo could alone.
Ning Zhuo himself was also busy. He needed to constantly control and monitor the production process.
Sun Lingtong was studying by the side.
“Little Zhuo, teach me.”
“I’ll try to learn as soon as possible to take over making Mechanical Puppets for you.”
“This way, you’ll have time to practice Cultivation using the Fetal Breathing Spirit Boat.”
While Sun Lingtong’s skills in mechanics were also substantial, they ultimately did not match Ning Zhuo’s.
He earnestly sought advice, and Ning Zhuo did not hold back, instructing with all he had.
Sun Lingtong was bright and grasped concepts after slight guidance. Under serious and focused conditions, he made swift progress.
As the two were busy working and learning, a messenger arrived with a message.
“Commander Du has summoned me?” Ning Zhuo left the Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon, feeling somewhat surprised.
Liu Er expressed concern: “It wouldn’t be because we killed that Iron Eagle supervisor, so Du Tiechuan is here to settle accounts, right?”
Guan Hong spoke righteously: “We three were all involved in that matter. If there’s a reckoning to be done, we will face the consequences together.”
Zhang Hei cried out: “Face what consequences? That Iron Eagle acted on impulse; there were no military orders. Besides, it wasn’t us who moved against him.”
Ning Zhuo stroked his Mechanical Ring, looking composed: “I reckon if Commander Du wanted to settle accounts, he would have summoned all four of us. Being summoned alone, there must be something else.”
“No matter.”
“I will know once I meet him.”
Ning Zhuo then left with the messenger from the Three Generals Camp.
The Three Generals saw him off.
Zhang Hei said: “To speak or not, though the Military Adviser is young, he truly has mettle.”
Guan Hong stroked his beard: “Indeed, a fine man.”
At that moment, Liu Er’s annoyance with Ning Zhuo lessened considerably. Watching Ning Zhuo’s departing figure, he remained silent and wordless.
Ning Zhuo entered Mulu Town, being led along the way, once again meeting a Divinity Transformation-level presence.
“Three Generals Camp Military Adviser, Sacrificial Wine, greets Commander Du.” Ning Zhuo gave a military salute.
Du Tiechuan continued staring at his documents, not even lifting his head: “You’ve tamed the Dice Bone Demon God, and that’s excellent.”
“There are some military situations now that I need to inquire about it from Him.”
“You sit first, someone will come and calculate your lifespan soon.”
Not long after, a young cultivator walked in gracefully: “Song Ji, greets Commander Du.”
Song Ji, emitting a Nascent Soul aura, with a face like calm waters, donned in a blue robe, exuded an elegant and poised temperament.
Only then did Du Tiechuan look up, nodding slightly towards the young cultivator: “Please trouble Priest Song to first perform some calculations for Ning Zhuo.”
Song Ji took the command, came before Ning Zhuo, and started his divination by finger calculus.
“Although your lifespan is strong, it is like water without a source, having already been largely depleted, with little remaining.”
“Taming the Dice Bone Demon God must have been the most lifespan-consuming gain for you.”