Chapter 270 - 254: Gu Zhan’s Stance
In an instant, everyone was stunned,
and the next moment, warhorses screamed out one after another, a chorus of hooves rang out, and a dense wave of Embroidered Uniform Guard burst out from beyond the long street, galloping fiercely, accompanied by the chilly clanking of mechanisms,
Every Embroidered Uniform Guard wore a Brocade Spring Saber at their waist, each holding a God-Shocking Crossbow, and as they galloped, they pulled the crossbows from their backs and loaded them with crossbow arrows.
Song Lingjun’s face was stiff, looking just like he was constipated,
He was honestly a bit bewildered now,
So dazed that he wondered what in the hell he’d come here for,
Only to get humiliated by Gu Zhan,
Then finally, he managed to get a chance to speak,
But just as he opened his mouth, before he could say a word,
Gu Zhan called in his men,
Ready to start a fight, just like that!
It wasn’t just Song Lingjun who was confused; the Beidou Bang members and all the disciples from various sects watching the commotion were equally dumbfounded, sinking deep into a sense of doubt,
Had they zoned out and missed something,
How did this turn into a battle so suddenly?
But, they didn’t have time to think,
Because the Embroidered Uniform Guard moved with stunning speed,
Amid thundering hooves, the frontmost Guards dismounted with Wooden Shields in hand, landing rapidly, a roaring sound filled the air, the mechanism noises cold as steel.
"Death God Battalion, form up!"
"Crossbows ready!"
"Fire!"
...
Actually, the world only knew Gu Zhan as the Squad Leader of the Kaiyang Sub-Branch of Beidou Bang in Pingyang Prefecture, and that he liked to fashion himself as an Embroidered Uniform Guard, always traveling with hundreds of Guards. But they had no idea what these six hundred Embroidered Uniform Guards really meant.
Since last winter,
After Gu Zhan arrived in Pingyang and struck his horse-over-Martial-World deal with Mo Beiyan, he began to intentionally cultivate this force. Six hundred was the specific number he set after careful calculation, factoring in countless flexible battle arrays and his own command ability to determine this standard.
Actually, since last year,
The so-called Death God Battalion of six hundred Guards had already been screened many times,
From the early days, the Embroidered Uniform Guard were constantly being replenished and weeded out—later, after taking over the Kaiyang Sub-Branch, he handpicked more elites from there.
The Death God Battalion always maintained six hundred men, but its reserves covered all of Pingyang Prefecture as well as three surrounding Hundred Households Offices, and a crop of Martial World Influences that had joined Gu Zhan, making for a massive number.
In just a few months,
Gu Zhan had led the Death God Battalion in day and night slaughter,
The discipline and lethality drilled into this Embroidered Uniform Guard Death God Battalion were already at peak effectiveness—this was Gu Zhan’s true core team all along.
It wasn’t that he wouldn’t bring more,
But considering his own capacity as Commander-in-Chief, Gu Zhan chose quality over quantity—besides, just the consumables for this Death God Battalion were terrifying: all sorts of cultivation resources, assigned servants, weapons and gear, all of it a massive cost.
He could only thank those few top-tier Martial World Influences who perished in the extermination at Pingyang Prefecture; their foundations were solid. Without that, he truly couldn’t have sustained the drain of the Death God Battalion.
Just talking weapons and equipment alone,
The God-Shocking Crossbows for the Death God Battalion were custom-made by countless Casting Masters. Each complete crossbow with standard arrows cost nearly one thousand taels of silver. And every Guard had two spares, plus Brocade Spring Sabers, Golden Silk Armor, warhorses, and more.
This force of six hundred Death God Battalion,
Had exhausted all the loot and silver coins Gu Zhan got in the Pingyang massacre. Fortunately, the Gu Family controlled Pingyang’s resources and could keep the funds flowing—otherwise, he couldn’t afford it.
Even so, this Death God Battalion was well worth Gu Zhan’s investment,
In the battle at Canglan City’s East City Gate,
The Death God Battalion faced the Liu Family, Beidou Bang Elder Council, Law Enforcement Hall, and the City Lord’s Mansion’s thousands of government soldiers, yet stomped them flat.
And now,
Their marching speed was enough to blow all major Martial World forces away,
Everyone present was a representative of Yunxi Martial World’s big hitters, including top dogs from Sword King City and Medicine King Valley—these elites were all stunned.
From Gu Zhan firing a signal flare,
To the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s current action,
Only about half a cup of tea’s time had passed,
This was an impromptu order, not a prepared arrangement; even famous armies couldn’t do this, let alone these Martial World Influences.
.....
Swish swish swish...
A chorus of mechanical springs went off, and a rain of crossbow arrows fell like a storm, whistling through the air toward the Danyang Sect members. These were specialized God-Shocking Crossbows with devastating power; enough to pierce straight through an Innate Martial Artist’s Protective Gang Qi. The barrage was so dense that even Dao Realm Great Cultivators couldn’t withstand it for long.
Danyang Sect disciples drew their swords,
"Clang clang clang clang..."
A symphony of clashing steel rang out as the disciples responded fast.
But, no matter how exquisite their swordsmanship,
Facing such a dense rain of arrows, there was always a moment to slip up,
And under such conditions, even a tiny flaw led to lethal consequences.
Cries of agony echoed across the field.
The Danyang Sect top ranks went grim as ink.
Infuriated, Song Lingjun stomped the ground hard, splitting the earth into jagged cracks that spread quickly toward the Death God Battalion.
"Change formation!"
A Commander immediately waved his flag.
In that instant, the Death God Battalion Embroidered Uniform Guards moved with perfect coordination, instantly switching formation. At the same time, the front Guards tossed aside their shields, and barbed iron chains flew out; several Danyang Sect disciples, unable to dodge, were snared and dragged across the ground by warhorses, leaving streaks of blood trailing behind them.