Firmament Sword

Mo Yun had finally secured the position of Vanguard General and went off to prepare, completely satisfied. The remaining brothers, however, wore grave expressions. They all knew that if the Da Han Empire’s army truly chose to break through Xu Luo’s fief, a vicious battle would be inevitable.

Although there was no question about their individual combat strength, they were still dwarfed by an army of thousands. Even a renowned general of Great Yan like Mo Yun, commanding several thousand elites, felt overwhelmed when facing the sheer numbers of the Wei Family’s private army, a force that had never even seen battle.

Strength was important, but once numbers reached a certain threshold, it became terrifying. With so many people, even if they just stood there and let you kill them, you would eventually grow weary. Besides, how could the soldiers sent by the Da Han Empire possibly be ordinary troops?

The Martial Soul Squad’s great success on the Southern front had owed a great deal to luck, and their surprise tactics had also been a major factor.

If they had to truly face Wu Xiaxian’s grand army, the brothers—Xu Luo included—would be lucky to escape with their lives.

After all, they had not yet reached that transcendent realm of power. Taking an enemy commander’s head from within an army of a million sounded thrilling and powerful, but very few could actually accomplish such a feat.

”This is going to be a tough battle,” Huangfu Chongzhi said softly.

”Maybe they won’t even come,” Little Fatty added, holding on to a sliver of hope.

Xu Jie said, ”If there wasn’t reliable intel, do you think the Grand General is so idle he’d send someone just to warn us?”

”I think if the Da Han forces choose to break through here, their numbers won’t be too large,” Xu Luo said, pondering. ”The mountain roads there are rugged and difficult to traverse. A large force would be easily spotted and would have trouble marching.”

”That’s right. The most likely scenario is a surprise contingent of no more than three thousand men. Their decision to break through here... might also have something to do with you,” Huangfu Chongzhi said, looking at Xu Luo. ”Your arrival in this northern fief is no secret. The fact that Hao Liancheng was able to lay a trap for us back then proves he’s a general who excels at strategy, not someone who relies solely on brute force to win.”

”I can’t stand the man, but you have a point. We have to be careful regardless,” Xu Luo said. ”He’s good at using surprise troops. He got the better of us once before... We absolutely cannot let him outsmart us again.”

Sui Yan spoke up from the side. ”You all don’t need to be so worried. We shouldn’t underestimate those men, but... I’ve already made some preparations. If they come, they’re in for a nasty surprise. If they don’t, well, that’s that.”

Xu Luo and the others turned to look at Sui Yan. Little Fatty asked in disbelief, ”Don’t tell me you set up mechanisms and traps in the forest over there?”

Sui Yan replied blandly, ”That’s a secret.”

”Hmph...” Little Fatty rolled his eyes, pouted, and sneered. ”Then I guess we’ll just have to wait and see!”

...

Wan Tong was a prodigy among the young generals of the Da Han Empire’s army.

At only thirty-three years old, Wan Tong’s strength had already reached the realm of a Tier Two Sword Venerable!

As a youth, Wan Tong had been chosen by a sect. After cultivating there for thirteen years, he returned to the Da Han Empire and joined the army. Starting as the lowest-ranking soldier, he became a General in command of five thousand men in just five years.

The story behind Wan Tong’s five thousand soldiers was a rather poignant one.

Although Wan Tong’s strength was astonishing upon his return from his sect, his arrogant and unyielding nature meant he was not particularly valued in the military.

This was not surprising. Having ability did not guarantee a high-ranking position; interpersonal skills were also a crucial factor.

Thus, when Wan Tong first joined the army, he used his formidable strength to quickly earn a promotion to Deputy General. However, because he was too headstrong, proud, and conceited, he was disliked by his direct superior. As a result, his superior kicked him over to a unit known as the ”Garbage Regiment” and made him its commander.

This legion was called the ”Garbage Regiment” because more than half of its six-thousand-plus soldiers came from the noble families of the Da Han Empire. Some were even the children of the Empire’s most powerful and influential clans!

They joined the army simply to build up their resumes; after putting in a few years, they would return to their families and be given important positions.

Almost no one dared to provoke these ”young master” soldiers, nor did anyone dare to command them.

For them, military rules and discipline were practically useless, existing in name only.

The Da Han Empire’s military leadership couldn’t do anything about this legion. In the end, they simply decided to dump all the children of noble families into this unit, with the exception of the truly outstanding ones.

Although Wan Tong’s superior disliked him, he was aware of Wan Tong’s capabilities. Hoping to kill two birds with one stone, he kicked Wan Tong over to the unit and then washed his hands of the matter entirely.

After that, Wan Tong and his new unit vanished from public sight.

For three straight years, the legion disappeared so completely that no one could even find them to issue their military pay.

Because of this, some of the families whose children were in the legion protested to the Military Department, claiming that the lawless General Wan Tong had led their children to ruin and death.

The Military Department launched a special search and did, in fact, locate the unit. Immediately afterward, however, the Military Department issued a gag order, adopted an extremely firm stance, and forcefully shut down the complaints from the nobles of the Da Han Empire.

The incident once caused a huge stir, even reaching the ears of the Da Han Empire’s Emperor. Later, however, the protesting nobles suddenly fell silent. Perhaps they, too, had heard something.

Three years later, when Wan Tong reappeared with his troops, he left everyone stunned.

The formerly undisciplined unit was gone. In its place stood a well-trained, strictly disciplined elite force!

The men, however, were the same.

They were still the same ”young master” soldiers from before. But when they reappeared three years later, almost no one could recognize them as the spoiled brats they once knew so well.

For his achievement, Wan Tong was decorated and became the youngest General in the Da Han Empire.

Of course, this legion, now named the ”Aristocrats,” which once had more than six thousand men, was now left with only fifty-three hundred.

Over seven hundred men had simply vanished.

The families of the missing soldiers had also pressured the Da Han Royal Family, demanding that Wan Tong be punished and offer an explanation. However, far more noble families saw how their once-useless children had matured. They, in turn, suppressed the complaining nobles so thoroughly that they couldn’t even raise their heads in protest.

The entire affair was resolved without Wan Tong ever having to get involved.

For a time, Wan Tong’s prestige in the Da Han Empire was unparalleled!

”You were all once considered trash in everyone’s eyes. Am I wrong?” Wan Tong was mounted on a powerful black steed, his shimmering golden armor so brilliant in the sunlight that it was almost impossible to look at him.

”CORRECT!” the five thousand men roared in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

”But now, you are the most elite warriors in the army of the Da Han Empire! Am I wrong?” Wan Tong’s face was like ice, devoid of expression, yet his words made every man’s blood boil with passion.

”CORRECT!” The roar shook the heavens.

”As the trash you once were, I have led you on hundreds of missions, large and small, over these past years. Every time, your performance has been outstanding! You have proven with deeds that you are the elite! You are the finest! You are invincible!” Wan Tong’s voice suddenly boomed. ”Tell me, am I right?”

”RIGHT!”

”WE ARE INVINCIBLE!”

”THE ARISTOCRATS WILL BE VICTORIOUS!”

Wan Tong nodded in satisfaction and said in a deep voice, ”Very good. You haven’t disappointed me, and you haven’t disappointed your families. This time, we will undertake an extremely dangerous and difficult mission. As long as we complete it, the conquest of the Cangqiong Empire... will be within our grasp!”

The five thousand soldiers fell deathly silent, every man staring with a fiery gaze at their General—the man who was a god in their eyes!

”When that time comes, you... will become heroes to the entire Da Han Empire! You... will be the key that decides victory or defeat!” Wan Tong’s eyes suddenly flew wide as he roared, ”Tell me, do you have the confidence?!”

”YES!”

”VICTORY!”

”VICTORY!”

”VICTORY!”

The momentum of the five thousand men surged toward the sky, as if it would tear a hole right through the heavens.

”Move out!” Wan Tong wasted no more words. He had absolute confidence in this mission. He believed he was invincible, unbeatable. Even if he had to face Xu Ji, the so-called Cangqiong Military God, he felt no fear!

”Senior Brother, I’m so envious. You’ve become the youngest General in such a large Empire. I’m sure... it won’t be long before that guy, Hao Liancheng, has to step aside for someone more worthy, right?” a handsome youth beside Wan Tong said with a smile.

The youth looked to be about seventeen or eighteen, with a childish look still on his face. He wore a gray robe and rode a chestnut horse, a Long Sword strapped to his back. He seemed completely out of place among the army.

But Wan Tong’s attitude toward him was one of great respect.

Glancing at the youth beside him with a smile, Wan Tong said seriously, ”Junior Brother, there are some things you don’t understand. In this secular world, the highest one can achieve is the rank of Prince. You have no need to envy me. In fact, it’s when you become the Sect Leader in the future—that will be true prestige! Also, General Hao Liancheng... is not as simple as you think. If Xu Ji is the Cangqiong Military God, then General Hao... is the Military God of our Da Han!”

The youth pouted, looking rather unimpressed. He smiled and said, ”What’s the fun in being a Sect Leader? You see the same people every day. How could life in a sect ever be as exciting as the secular world?”

”Heh.” Wan Tong just chuckled and said no more. ’The mortal world is a vibrant and exciting place,’ he thought. ’It’s no surprise that a young man like my junior brother would think this way. As a true Son of Heaven, he would never understand why so many High-level Martial Artists would fight tooth and nail just for a chance to enter a sect.’

”Oh, right, Senior Brother, are we going to fight our way directly into the heartland of the Cangqiong Kingdom this time?” A hint of excitement appeared on the youth’s face. ”I’ve never killed anyone before!”

A bitter smile touched Wan Tong’s lips. ”Killing... is no fun at all.”