[Wuxia] Long Hui's Male Concubine (Complete) - 18

In the twenty-second chapter,

Long Hui snorted, "You coward, dare to come out!"

Qiu Baifei and Jin Ziyi chuckled coldly, seemingly enjoying Long Hui's exasperated expression.

Long Hui asked Yu Wuhen in a low voice, "Wuhen, you are best at numerology, can you see the mystery within?"

Yu Wuhen sighed softly, frowning, "I saw the mystery, but breaking the formation will likely take a long time and a lot of effort, and will also result in significant losses for our army."

Bai Lingyu said in a low voice, "I told you long ago, Luochuan is a tough nut to crack, it won't be so easy to take it down."

Long Hui chuckled, "Since we can't take Luochuan, then let's execute another plan."

Bai Lingyu smiled sweetly and ordered a retreat.

The previous momentum of not returning until Luochuan was conquered suddenly vanished, much to the surprise of Qiu Baifei and Jin Ziyi.

Long Hui chuckled and said, "Jin Ziyi, stop letting Yin Fangxi hide to the side. I'm too lazy to argue with you Luochuan today. Anyway, this is a tough nut to crack, and I can't bite it hard enough. I can only settle for something easier to squeeze."

Qiu Baifei's face darkened, and an uneasy premonition arose in his heart.

Long Hui shouted, "Brothers, we came out in a grand procession but gained nothing. Are you willing to go back?"

The soldiers replied in unison, "No!"

Long Hui laughed and said, "Alright, let's go boating on the Chu River and the Chishui River, see if there are any easy targets along the way, pick a few to squeeze, and find something to eat!"

Long Hui's original strategy had two layers. The first layer was to strike at the heart of the enemy, launch a strong attack on Luochuan. If they could take it, they could disintegrate the Jiangnan army in one fell swoop. If they couldn't take it, they would turn around and go downstream, looking for easy cities to attack and playing around with them. This tactic was like that of the nomadic tribes of the grasslands, coming and going like the wind, targeting the easy targets and retreating immediately when they encountered tough ones. The northern border army was helpless against this tactic and could only strengthen the defense of the cities, which put them in a very passive position.

Having lived in Tiebi Pass for a long time, Long Hui knew Tie Lie's habits inside and out. This time, taking advantage of the divine power of the dragon controlling the water, he brought Tie Lie's blitzkrieg tactics to their fullest potential.

Before leaving, Long Hui deliberately waved towards Luochuan City as a farewell, adding, "General Qiu, no need to see me off. You're too slow to keep up with us!"

His words were clearly a message to the other side—I'm taking advantage of your slowness, so what? Come and catch up and beat me if you dare! Qiu Baifei, fearing a trap, dared not take any risks and ordered all units to hold their posts, letting the Longlin Army leave.

Boarding the Panlong, Bai Lingyu asked, "Which city are we planning to take down?"

Long Hui replied, "There are twenty-eight counties in Jiangnan accessible by waterway, but only twenty can accommodate large ships. Qiu Baifei has temporarily diverted troops from the other counties, leaving several cities vulnerable. We'll target those."

Bai Lingyu laughed, "You're so cunning! You're clearly taking advantage of the fact that these diverted troops can't return in time, picking on the weak!" Long Hui

rolled his eyes, "Hit and run, that's Tie Lie's tactic. We're putting it to use."

Speaking of Tie Lie, Bai Lingyu's face darkened slightly, and she sighed, "I wonder how the Commander-in-Chief is doing now, and whether the battle at Tiebi Pass is going smoothly."

Long Hui sighed and shook his head, "Little Yu'er, I'm afraid the battle is at a stalemate. This time, Tie Lie's goal isn't to invade the Central Plains, but to hold off the Commander-in-Chief. They will definitely..." "We're pushing our old tricks to the limit, using our fast horses and sharp bows to constantly harass the northern border garrisons, just like we did with Qiu Baifei."

Bai Lingyu bit her lip, pondered for a moment, then raised her head and said, "With the commander's abilities, we can definitely turn the tide. We can't control the situation in the northern border, so let's focus on dealing with the Jiangnan army."

Long Hui nodded and said, "We'll make our move once Lianyi sends back intelligence."

The fleet had traveled about half a mile when a colorful light suddenly appeared on the horizon. Lianyi gracefully descended and reported, "The various 'Sparrow Shadows' have already sent intelligence. Qiu Baifei has mobilized troops from thirteen counties, and coincidentally, all thirteen counties are accessible by wide waterways."

It turned out that the Sparrow Shadows had already acted before Long Hui even set out. Long Hui estimated that Qiu Baifei would deploy a large force in Luochuan, so he had the Sparrow Shadows hide around Luochuan to observe the route of reinforcements and thus deduce which city was weak.

Long Hui stared intently at the map, pondering his strategy. There were three cities that were far away and lacked sufficient farmland, making them practically useless to capture.

The remaining ten cities couldn't all be swallowed up at once; the most crucial targets had to be chosen.

As he pondered this, a surge of Daoist energy suddenly appeared in the sky, transforming into the hexagram of Jue Gua. A figure in white robes and with white hair, wisps of white silk fluttering around his head, exuded an air of otherworldly grace.

Long Hui recognized the figure and couldn't help but laugh, "Daoist Master, your presence is an honor! Please forgive my lack of hospitality!" Jing Chen descended from the sky, smiling, "You're too kind. This old Daoist is used to a life of leisure; such formalities make me uncomfortable."

Long Hui welcomed him into the house, saying, "Daoist Master, where have you been these past few days? I've missed you dearly."

Jing Chen laughed heartily, "No problem, no problem at all, this humble one..." After conducting a field survey of the Jiangnan terrain, Dao devised a Twelve Earthly Branches Formation. Utilizing specific earth veins to connect and exchange earth energy, this defensive formation bears some resemblance to the Fengjun Formation of yesteryear.

Long Hui's eyes lit up. He recalled how the Fengjun Evil Formation had held back hundreds of thousands of troops outside the city. If the twelve Innate Realm experts joined forces to break the formation, even double the number of troops might not have been enough. If this formation could be successfully established, even if it wasn't as terrifying as Fengdu, it would at least compensate for the disadvantage of having too few troops.

"I wonder how to set up this formation?"

Long Hui asked hurriedly.

Jingchen said, "General, don't be hasty. Let me explain in detail. The twelve earthly branches correspond to the twelve two-hour periods of the day. The earth's energy must be connected according to the arrangement of the twelve two-hour periods. The five cities in your hands, according to the earthly branch method, are three Yang and two Yin. Jinling is in the north, its earthly energy contains Yang, being Yang water in the north, located at the Zi hour. Linghai is closer to Jinling, also in the north, but its earthly energy contains Yin, being Yin water, located at the Hai hour. Therefore, Shucheng is at the Yin hour, Feiliu at the Mao hour, and Yuchuan at the Shen hour. The cities you need to capture next are located in the remaining seven two-hour periods."

In the twelve earthly branches, Yin and Mao belong to wood, with Yin being Yang wood and Mao being Yin wood; Wu and Si belong to fire, with Wu being Yang fire and Si being Yin fire; Shen and You belong to metal, with Shen being Yang metal and You being Yin metal; Zi and Hai belong to water, with Zi being Yang water and Hai being Yin water; Chen, Xu, Chou, and Wei belong to earth, with Chen and Xu being Yang earth and Chou and Wei being Yin earth.

Wei and Xu are dry earth, while Chou and Chen are wet earth.

Dry soil contains fire, while wet soil contains water.

According to Jingchen's explanation, Liucheng is You (酉), Nanli is Si (巳), Muzhou is Chou (丑), Xinghu is Wu (午), Minxian is Chen (辰), Chongning is Xu (戌), and Qishan is Wei (未).

"Excellent! With your invaluable advice, Daoist, I know how to proceed!"

Long Hui was in high spirits and immediately ordered, "Pass down the order to deal with the seven cities of Liucheng, Nanli, Muzhou, Xinghu, Minxian, Chongning, and Qishan."

Jingchen added, "If the general captures the cities, a beacon tower must be built twenty miles from Jinling towards Cangcheng. This is because Cangcheng is like a sharp knife pointing at Jinling, and it is heavily fortified with troops. It is a sign of Tai Sui Po Jun, and its ominous position can disrupt the connection of the twelve earthly branches, greatly affecting the formation. Only by nailing a Yin-Locking and Evil-Suppressing Needle in the middle can the influence of the ominous aura on the twelve earthly branches be isolated, allowing the formation to function."

Long Hui said, "This is not difficult. I will order someone to do it. I believe it can be completed within three days."

Jingchen said, "This beacon tower is not a simple construction project. Construction can only begin after the general has conquered these seven cities. Moreover, when construction starts, a foundation three zhang deep must be dug down, and twelve stories must be built upwards. Construction must begin at noon, taking advantage of the righteous energy of the blazing sun to destroy the yin and malevolent energy of Cang'er. One zhang must be dug down each day to release the negative energy from the earth's veins. Only one story can be built each day to connect with the yang energy of the heavens. The reason it can only be done so slowly is to allow the earth's energy a buffer period. Otherwise, if the yin energy is released too quickly, or the yang energy is absorbed too quickly,..." This would cause a change in the feng shui pattern, thus altering the positions of the twelve earthly branches, rendering all the previously conquered cities useless.

Finally, Jingchen added, "The twelve earthly branches are connected as one, and within their coverage area, the earth's energy flows and nourishes each other, causing the eroded land in Jinling to be reborn."

The fertile land of Jiangnan stretches for thousands of miles, and the thirty-six counties only represent the inhabited areas, not the entire Jiangnan region. However, if, as Jingchen said, these twelve cities are connected, the array's coverage area would be a full thousand miles, a truly grand undertaking.

Hearing this, Long Hui exclaimed with delight, "Daoist Master is truly a divinely ordained being! Your appearance has solved several of my problems!"

Jing Chen replied solemnly, "General

, you are too kind. This humble Daoist only believes in the righteous spirit of heaven and earth, and will never allow villains like Cang Shitian to continue to wreak havoc on the world." Long Hui said, "Thank you for your kind words, Daoist Master. I will immediately begin preparations to attack the Seven Cities."

Jing Chen sighed, "Hongjun has already led his Daoist disciples into Jiangnan, but unfortunately, most Daoist practitioners believe that Hongjun is protecting this humble Daoist, which has led to the Daoist sect being oppressed by the court. Therefore, the three hundred or so people who followed him are probably not enough to provide much assistance to the General's fighting strength."

Long Hui laughed, "Those who follow Master Hongjun must be powerful experts, already worth more than a thousand troops!"

Jing Chen smiled and said, "Li Lou has already contacted some eminent Buddhist monks, and I believe they will arrive in Jiangnan soon."

Long Hui laughed heartily, "Now that the loyal followers of the three religions are all on my side, what is there to fear?" "Fearing the wicked and ugly, I will seize the seven cities to welcome the righteous warriors who are about to arrive!"

After saying this, he immediately ordered: "The army will be divided into three routes. The first route will be led by Feng Wangchen, with three thousand men and ten warships, patrolling around Luochuan. Make sure Qiu Baifei is suspicious and dares not leave the city easily. If he does leave the city, you will bombard him with cannons in the water. Just restrain and deplete his forces, and do not go ashore to entangle with him. The second route will be led by Bai Lingyu with seven thousand men and twenty warships, patrolling the waters near the seven cities of Liucheng, Nanli, Muzhou, Xinghu, Minxian, Chongning, and Qishan, monitoring the situation of the reinforcements. Once they are discovered, intercept and kill them immediately!"

Long Hui then said: "Yi'er, you lead the Sparrow Shadow to continue to observe the enemy's movements. Once reinforcements enter the area of the seven cities, immediately notify Xiaoyu'er."

Lianyi suddenly understood. So her husband wanted to combine the water mobility of the dragon with the reconnaissance capabilities of the Sparrow Shadow to take advantage of speed and strike first.

Once the Sparrow Shadows discover the enemy's whereabouts, they can report back to Bai Lingyu. Bai Lingyu will then use the Flood Dragon Tugboat to reach the enemy's front and set up an ambush, waiting in ambush to intercept and kill them. With the Dragon Scale Army's naval and land combat capabilities, coupled with the ability to ambush in advance, they can definitely toy with the Jiangnan Army.

Thinking of this, Lianyi smiled and said, "Haha, so what if the enemy has more people? They'll still be toyed with by my husband."

She then gave a flirtatious look and whispered in Long Hui's ear, "Husband, why don't we send Lu Fei's Ao Niao tribe into battle again? They can assist from the air, throwing a few Rift Arrows whenever they see enemy soldiers. I just checked; those suspended arrow formations are powerful, but they lack agility and can't catch up with Lu Fei and his men."

Long Hui thought for a moment and then summoned Lu Fei, saying, "Lu Fei, lead the Ao Niao tribe into battle again to assist the deputy commander in intercepting the enemy. If they encounter the suspended arrow formations, use hit-and-run tactics to wear them down." With

the Ao Niao tribe assisting from the air, Bai Lingyu could more easily deal with the enemy's land troops. Even if they couldn't win against the suspended arrow formations, the Ao Niao tribe could still restrain them. In any land battle, he believed Bai Lingyu could easily crush the Jiangnan army.

After deployment, the Longlin Army began operations. Feng Wangchen patrolled the vicinity of Luochuan. Initially, Qiu Baifei thought it was a trap set by Long Hui and ignored it. However, after receiving news of the city's fall, he was filled with regret and immediately dispatched troops to rescue it. Feng Wangchen then fired cannons from the river, forcing the reinforcements to detour around the river, thus increasing their journey.

When the reinforcements reached the Qicheng region, Bai Lingyu had already laid traps and ambushes ahead, causing the reinforcements to suffer repeated defeats. Fortunately, Bai Lingyu did not want to lose too many troops, so he withdrew his troops back to the ships as soon as the enemy retreated. Otherwise, these reinforcements would have been completely annihilated. After several defeats, the morale of the Jiangnan Army had plummeted, and no one came to the aid of Qicheng.

The isolated seven cities were no match for Long Hui. Ten thousand elite troops, coupled with elusive warships, swept across the Jiangnan waters as if they were nothing, conquering camps and fortresses like an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves. In just five days, they captured five cities: Liucheng, Nanli, Muzhou, Xinghu, and Minxian. The remaining two city commanders were already terrified and surrendered before Long Hui could even attack.

With the cities in hand, Jingchen sent his trusted disciples to garrison each city, placing extreme elemental artifacts or searching for extreme elemental positions in specific locations to prepare the Twelve Earthly Branches Formation. In addition, they also had to deal with Cang Meng's Tai Sui Po Jun. Knowing that the beacon towers were completed, the defensive formation could be established, and the fertile land of Jinling would be reborn. During this period, Long Hui had to be even more careful. With his troops stationed in the Twelve Earthly Branches cities, if the enemy were to recapture the cities and destroy the extreme elemental artifacts, all his previous efforts would be in vain. In this way, Long Hui's forces would be scattered. Fortunately, he also had the help of the navy, which could quickly provide assistance.

In the Luochuan Commander's Mansion, the Commander-in-Chief, the Prime Minister, and the Grand Tutor gathered to discuss the future of the war.

Qiu Baifei's brows furrowed, his ashen complexion adding to his somber mood. The successive falls of the seven major cities weighed heavily on his mind. The enemy's elusive nature left him helpless. He had tried sending troops to recapture the cities, but they were either intercepted beforehand or attacked directly from his rear, causing him considerable headaches.

The Dragonscale Army, while clearly focused on siege warfare, also subtly employed the nomadic, guerrilla-style tactics of using war to sustain war, employing unpredictable and elusive strategies.

Jin Ziyi also looked worried: "The rebel navy has become incredibly powerful. Not only are their attack power and mobility unprecedented, but they also have accurate intelligence and various magical arts of the demon race. It's really troublesome!"

Qiu Baifei sighed: "Now that the cities along the river have fallen one by one, the situation has exceeded my expectations. It will take some time to quell the rebellion."

Jin Ziyi said: "General, there is no need to be too pessimistic. A general does not necessarily have to win every battle, but must understand the situation and make accurate judgments."

Qiu Baifei nodded: "I have an idea, and I hope that the Prime Minister and the Grand Tutor can give me their opinions."

Jin Ziyi said: "General, you are too kind."

Qiu Baifei said: "The soldiers of Jiangnan are most skilled in naval warfare, but now their advantage on water is completely lost in front of the rebels' dragons. On the other hand, land warfare is their forte. My soldiers are no match for the rebels. Therefore, I have decided to defend and wait for the enemy to attack." Although our army has suffered repeated defeats, it has not been fundamentally damaged. We still have 100,000 troops, plus the militia from various counties, giving us a numerical advantage. The rebels, lacking legitimacy and newly arrived in Jiangnan, will find it difficult to recruit enough soldiers. Therefore, our current advantage lies in our abundant manpower. While the rebels have won many battles, even great victories will result in casualties. We will simply wear them down and fight them to the death!"

Yin Fangxi nodded in approval, "General, this is indeed a wise strategy. The rebels' fighting strength is formidable; a direct confrontation is not advisable. We should avoid their sharp edge and wage a protracted war!" Jin

Ziyi also laughed, "Brilliant! Although the rebels have incorporated the demon race and acquired various demonic arts, they have also instilled a strange fear in the people of Jiangnan, causing them to keep their distance. I, Jin, dare to guarantee that if the rebels recruit soldiers in Jiangnan, it will surely incite discontent among the people. At that time, with a little trickery, I can easily incite a popular uprising!"

Although the demon race and humans currently live in harmony, mutual acceptance is not something that can be achieved overnight. Therefore, as Jin Ziyi said, ordinary people still fear demons, and while demons do not wish to harm humans, their superior talents lead them to look down on ordinary people to some extent. For the two races to truly unite, it will take several centuries.

Jin Ziyi said that although her secretly devised plan seemed crude, it directly struck at Long Hui's weak point—schemes don't need to be novel or unpredictable; as long as they achieve maximum effectiveness, that's enough. This is Jin Ziyi's principle in using stratagems.

Yin Fangxi said, "Although the rebels' morale is high, they are at their limit. Twelve cities are the maximum they can capture. They only took cities to give Jinling a buffer zone for defense. Now that their goal has been achieved, I believe they will not make any further moves."

Jin Ziyi said, "The demon race has all kinds of mechanisms and formations, and our Confucian school has just as many. Let's take advantage of this time to quickly manufacture a batch of powerful weapons to deal with future changes."

Yin Fangxi frowned and said, "Junior brother, it takes a lot to manufacture powerful weapons. The Demon-Suppressing Chariot, the Suspended Ball, and the Crimson Fire Arrow alone have already given us a headache."

Qiu Baifei said, "Grand Tutor, Prime Minister, don't worry. I have some spare money in my army. Please take it and use it."

Jin Ziyi said, "General, you misunderstand me. My Confucian school has no shortage of money, but it lacks resources and materials."

Qiu Baifei smiled embarrassedly. He had just been in officialdom for a long time and had mistakenly thought that the two men were implying something. Little did he know that these two men were not the bureaucrats he used to know.

Although some of their actions were despicable, they still possessed the noble spirit of Confucianism at their core. They would never engage in such unethical acts as greed, bribery, or extortion. Still relying on your own hands? How can that be satisfying? Forum reputation guaranteed! High-grade silicone video, Fan Bingbing's genitals realistically molded, highly realistic vulva shape, soft and delicate skin! Built-in large-particle protrusions, closely matching female physiological structure, providing a more realistic experience... A controlled, irresistible sensation! Click to enter.

Qiu Baifei coughed dryly, changing the subject to ease the awkwardness: "Prime Minister, I wonder what materials you need? Perhaps I can help."

Jin Ziyi thought for a moment, then wrote down a few materials—red gold ore, Qingyue copper, and Nanlin iron.

Qiu Baifei was taken aback and said, "These are all rare stones and metals produced in remote areas, and mining them requires the court's permission."

Jin Ziyi sighed, "This is only a portion of the materials, used to make the core parts of certain powerful weapons. I will write a memorial to the Emperor. Besides that, we also need a considerable amount of copper and iron ore veins and skilled craftsmen!"

At this moment, a personal guard entered and reported, "General, an imperial envoy has arrived!"

Qiu Baifei hurriedly said, "Quickly, invite him in."

The guard responded and brought the imperial envoy in.

A handsome man entered with two eunuchs. The two eunuchs held jade boxes, their heads bowed, while the man was dashing, wearing a python-scale official robe, a jade crown, and carrying a yellow silk scroll. He wore cloud-patterned boots and was none other than the current Minister of Personnel—Gao Hong.

Gao Hong announced loudly, "The imperial edict has arrived!"

Upon hearing this, the three immediately knelt to receive the edict.

Gao Hong unfolded the imperial edict and read aloud: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Qiu Baifei, the commander-in-chief of the Jiangnan army, has fought valiantly against the rebels and rendered meritorious service. He is hereby bestowed with a set of golden lion armor. It is hoped that he will continue to serve the country and swiftly annihilate the rebellious ministers!"

Qiu Baifei was both surprised and delighted. Despite his repeated defeats, he had not only escaped punishment but had also been rewarded. He was deeply grateful and bowed to express his gratitude to the Emperor: "This sinful subject has suffered repeated defeats, yet Your Majesty not only refrains from punishing me but also bestows upon me this precious armor.

Qiu Baifei will repay Your Majesty's grace even if it means my death!" Gao Hong handed the edict to Qiu Baifei and then turned to Jin and Yin, saying, "Prime Minister..." "Grand Tutor, His Majesty has an imperial edict for me to convey."

The two men bowed and said, "Your humble servants will listen!"

Gao Hong said, "His Majesty said that if the Prime Minister and Grand Tutor want to manufacture powerful weapons, they should go ahead and do so. Whatever they want, His Majesty will agree to it. The mines and skilled craftsmen throughout the country are at your disposal. Furthermore, the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works have been placed under your command. In addition, I have specially ordered you to bring a Shangfang sword. Anyone who disobeys will be executed first and reported later!" The two men were overjoyed and took the Shangfang sword from the eunuch behind Gao Hong, bowing and thanking him.

Gao Hong continued, "His Majesty is already aware of the situation in Jiangnan. He instructed me to tell Commander Qiu that victory and defeat are common occurrences in war. As long as Commander Qiu deems a strategy appropriate, he should boldly implement it. Even if it means retreating to avoid battle, His Majesty will not question it!"

These few words moved Qiu Baifei to tears. He kowtowed three times towards the direction of Yujing, saying, "I would gladly give my life for His Majesty's grace, and even in death, I would repay it with my life!"

Gao Hong smiled and said, "Commander, His Majesty is aware of the tense situation in Jiangnan and has specially dispatched some reinforcements. However, the main force's provisions are still being gathered; this is merely the vanguard." Qiu

Baifei said, "Since it was dispatched by His Majesty, please invite them in quickly."

Before he finished speaking, a clear voice rang out, "Commander, there's no need for such trouble. This humble nun can come in herself!"

A flash of Buddhist light appeared outside the door.

A slender figure stood gracefully, with snow-white skin and a rosy face. She held a whisk, wore a magnificent celestial crown, and a crimson robe draped over her head. A string of necklaces adorned her chest, and a light gauze skirt flowed beneath her, exuding elegance and regal splendor.

Jin Ziyi gazed at her for a moment, then asked, "This whisk is made of snow toad silk. Could it be the Venerable Du Hongchen, known as Chifu Mohe?"

Du Hongchen nodded in return, saying, "I never imagined that Abbot Yunhan had heard of my humble abode. I am truly flattered!"

Jin Ziyi returned the greeting, saying, "Venerable Abbot is a renowned figure in the Buddhist world. How could I not know such a thing? I simply did not expect that Chifu Mohe, who has spent so many years in seclusion on Chixia Mountain, would also be involved in the mortal world."

Du Hongchen said, "Now that demons roam freely and the nation is in turmoil, how can I continue my secluded cultivation? Only by undergoing a mortal trial can I rid the world of all evil spirits!"

Du Hongchen continued... "Hearing that demons are wreaking havoc in Jiangnan, many reclusive masters have also been unable to resist and have come out of seclusion to enter the world. They are now on their way to Luochuan."

Qiu Baifei was overjoyed and said, "Wonderful! With such strong support from the Abbess, how can we worry about not eliminating the rebellious ministers and keeping the world at peace!" With the twelve cities in hand, Long Hui could finally breathe a sigh of relief, but today he received a secret report from the Sparrow Shadow Clan—many martial arts figures had entered Luochuan, and Qiu Baifei was not only not punished for the defeat, but was also awarded an imperial edict

. In addition, Jin Ziyi and Yin Fangxi had both been given the power to command the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue, and could freely manufacture all kinds of weapons. After receiving this news, Long Hui immediately summoned everyone. Except for the generals guarding the eleven cities, most of the core members were present. Luo Qingyan, Lu Mingluan, and Yu Xiuting remained behind the scenes and did not appear.

Long Hui said, "Everyone knows about the commotion in Luochuan. What are your thoughts?"

Chu Wanbing said, "Cang Shitian's imperial edict has completely won over Qiu Baifei, and with Jin Ziyi receiving the court's full support, all sorts of powerful weapons and mechanisms will be produced in an endless stream. I think we should prepare a response as soon as possible and create the Refining God Pagoda and the Soul-Devouring Demon Cloud!"

Long Hui asked, "Are the mines in Pingshan enough?"

Chu Wanbing replied, "Yes, but it will take time. Before that, we will manufacture some Refining God Cannons and small Demon Clouds as a precaution."

Bai Lingyu said, "..." "Qiu Baifei has already experienced the power of our navy, and I believe he will capitalize on his strengths and avoid his weaknesses, adopting a defensive strategy and amassing heavy troops to defend the land cities. As for Cangsou, I think Qiu Baifei will still focus on it; the troops deployed there should be no less than ten thousand. This place has always been a dagger threatening Jinling and must be eliminated as soon as possible." Long Hui said, "Cangsou has no waterways, and our forces are scattered, so we are willing but unable to do much."

At this moment, Eunuch Wang, who was serving Bai Lingyu, said, "This old servant has something to say, but I don't know if I should."

Long Hui said, "Eunuch, please speak frankly, there's no need to be reserved."

Eunuch Wang said, "This old servant thinks there's something wrong with Cang Shitian's imperial edict. He praised Qiu Baifei with an imperial edict, but regarding the delegation of power, he merely had someone else deliver it. These two things could clearly be written into one imperial edict."

Cui Die, born into an official family, was very familiar with court affairs. Hearing Eunuch Wang's words, she immediately sensed a conspiracy. Her eyebrows furrowed slightly as she said, "Could this be Cang Shitian's covert plan to deal with the Confucian school later?"

Eunuch Wang continued, "Once something is written in an imperial edict, the emperor cannot change it, because the vermilion ink and white paper are crystal clear. But an oral edict is just that—a verbal order. It's not set in stone. Even if there are outsiders present, Cang Shitian can simply find an excuse to distract Qiu Baifei, then deny what he said that day, accusing the Confucian school of abusing their power, manufacturing weapons without authorization, and plotting treason. He can then use them and discard them!" Long Hui

nodded and said, "What you say is very true, Eunuch. Cang Shitian has always wanted to incorporate the three religions, so such shameless methods are not entirely unacceptable. " "Yes, it's laughable that Jin Ziyi is so eager to quell the rebellion, yet she's just being used as a tool."

A guard knocked on the door and reported, "Commander, Lady Guoyuan requests an audience!"

Long Hui hurriedly said, "Quickly, invite her in."

The guard led Mu Xin'er into the hall. Mu Xin'er's eyebrows furrowed, as if she wanted to say something, but noticing the tense atmosphere, she said, "Long Hui, are you discussing something? Then I'll come another day. Your brother, Gao Lingyun, respectfully presents this." Long Hui smiled and said, "Please sit down, Madam. We've already finished our discussion."

Mu Xin'er sighed. A small, pale hand handed over a slip of paper, saying, "This...this was given to you by Ling Yun through someone."

Long Hui was startled and hurriedly took it. It read: "The late emperor was unjustly accused, and the bandit Cang has declared himself king. Brother, your loyalty and courage in rising up against the powerful are admirable. I regret that I cannot fight alongside you on the battlefield, but my abilities are insufficient. I can only lie in wait by the bandit's side, relaying messages to help you quell this evil. Tomorrow, the bandit Cang's henchmen will attack Jinling from Cangsong. I hope you will be on your guard."

"This is indeed Ling Yun's handwriting, there's no mistake,"

Mu Xin'er said. "Long Hui, you must be careful and not let Ling Yun's good intentions go to waste."

Long Hui nodded and said, "Please rest assured, Master's wife, I will consider this carefully."

At this moment, Chu Wanbing snatched the note from Long Hui's hand and tore it to shreds, snorting, "You dare to

use such a childish feigned surrender to fool people? Gao Hong, that scoundrel, is too contemptible!" Long Hui frowned and said, "Bing'er, this is Master's wife's good intention, why did you do this!"

Chu Wanbing said, "Who would write such a long-winded report, not only using their own handwriting but also leaving their own name? Isn't that asking for trouble!"

Mu Xin'er's pretty face turned pale, and she bit her lip and said, "Bing'er, I don't know how Ling Yun offended you, but he meant well, you've gone too far!"

Chu Wanbing hurriedly said, "Master's wife, Bing'er didn't mean to offend you, but this report can't be trusted!"

Mu Xin'er's chest heaved with anger, and her body trembled continuously.

Long Hui quickly tried to smooth things over, saying, "Master's wife, Bing'er means that this letter may not really have been written by Senior Brother Gao. It might be a scheme by someone with ulterior motives."

Mu Xin'er's expression softened slightly, and she said, "Long Hui, I'm just a woman and I don't understand these schemes. You should make the decision... I'm a little tired, farewell!"

With that, she turned and left.

Long Hui frowned and said, "Bing'er, you seem to have gone a bit too far just now. Come with me to apologize to Master's wife!"

Chu Wanbing raised her eyebrows and said, "I did nothing wrong, why should I apologize! Besides, Gao Hong is no good, why should Master Mu speak up for him!"

Long Hui said unhappily, "Bing'er, what are you saying?"

Chu Wanbing felt that she had gone too far and quickly calmed down, saying softly, "Husband, Bing'er is only thinking of you. Think about it, the Haotian Sect was able to kill the Song King so easily back then, there must have been something fishy going on. After the bloody battle in the capital, the Song King's mansion would be more heavily guarded than before, yet the Haotian Sect broke into the Song King's mansion as if it were empty and took away the Song King's head. Unless Cang Shitian did it himself, who else could do such a thing?"

Long Hui thought for a moment and felt that it made sense.

Chu Wanbing continued, "In the past, most officials from the Song King's lineage were more or less sidelined, but Gao Hong was the only one who was promoted instead of demoted, becoming a Minister. Don't you find that strange? Also, when the Qin family was choosing a son-in-law, Gao Hong could have clearly defeated the Tai King in literature, but he conceded defeat. All of this shows that this person is not simple."

Long Hui said, "So you think this letter is a diversionary tactic, making us pay attention to Cang Su and neglect other places."

Chu Wanbing nodded.

Long Hui said, "I think this letter might have another meaning, that is, it has grasped our psychology and then does the opposite, launching a surprise attack on Jinling from Cangshi."

Chu Wanbing pondered for a moment and said, "Doing the opposite is indeed Cangshi's method. In that case, tomorrow I will lead the clansmen to inspect the north of Jinling. If there is any movement, you can deal with it in time."

Long Hui said worriedly, "Bing'er, let the Empress go with you."

Chu Wanbing said, "No need, Jinling's defenses are already too weak. In case the enemy uses a diversionary tactic, it's better for Mother and the other experts to stay behind."

Long Hui was still worried, and Chu Wanbing added, "It's alright. With fewer people, we can move more quickly and protect ourselves."

At this point, Long Hui finally agreed.

The next day, Chu Wanbing led more than ten demon clan experts to inspect the north of Jinling. Passing by the beacon tower, she glanced at its progress. The foundation of the tower had been dug, but it would still take some time to complete.

After inspecting the beacon tower, they continued forward, waiting until evening without finding anything unusual. Chu Wanbing thought, "It was indeed a diversionary tactic; thankfully, the little thief didn't fall for it."

At this moment, Red Lion, who had been scouting ahead, hurriedly ran back and reported, "A group of martial arts practitioners are approaching, led by a nun!"

In Chapter Twenty-Three, "Clash of Armies,"

Chu Wanbing opened her lips slightly and asked, "Red Lion, how many people are there?"

Red Lion replied, "Little Lady, there are about a hundred of them, dressed in various styles, including Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist figures, as well as those from other sects."

Since Luo Qingyan abdicated, the demons still respectfully addressed her as "Your Majesty," while Chu Wanbing, who had married Long Hui, was called "Little Lady."

Chu Wanbing asked, "What is their movement pattern?"

Red Lion replied, "It seems they are heading towards the beacon tower."

Chu Wanbing's beautiful face darkened, and she immediately ordered, "Red Lion, immediately return and inform the beacon tower guards to prepare for battle."

Red Lion responded with a "Yes," and quickly went to report the news.

Although the beacon towers were extremely useful, Long Hui didn't want to be too conspicuous and arouse suspicion. Therefore, the troop strength here was only in accordance with the configuration of a typical beacon tower. If a large force were deployed to guard it, it would seem strange and prematurely expose their position. However, Chu Wanbing knew that there was a Taoist among the enemy troops, so she prepared for the worst—the secret of the beacon towers had probably already been discovered.

Chu Wanbing glanced at the demons accompanying her and said, "The rest of you, come with me to intercept the enemy. We must buy time for the reinforcements from Jinling."

Everyone responded with a "Yes, sir. "

Chu Wanbing led the demons to quickly find the hidden ambush location. Looking up, she couldn't help but gasp. Du Hongchen was leading over a hundred martial artists towards them, and behind them, dust billowed, indicating that they were a military force.

Chu Wanbing was secretly startled: "Could that letter really have been deliberately arranged?"

Thinking this, Chu Wanbing used her Phoenix Divine Power to soar into the sky and survey the enemy situation from above. It was a cavalry force of several thousand men, clad in yellow sand armor, wearing iron helmets, with crescent-shaped swords at their waists, and a tiger and leopard military insignia pinned to their arm guards—the elite Tiger and Leopard Battalion of the Western Regions.

"Damn it! We all thought the Western Regions army was short of supplies and unable to participate in the battle, but we didn't expect them to be able to streamline their forces and send elite squads into Jiangnan first!"

Realizing this, Chu Wanbing made a decisive move, ordering her demons to form a killing formation to delay the enemy's advance.

"Scorpion, immediately lay down some hidden poison to disrupt the enemy's formation!"

Scorpion received the order, took out poison powder, channeled his inner energy, and as the fire-quenched wood burned, poisonous smoke floated and spread out.

Poisonous smoke blocked their path, and the army was too dense to avoid. Du Hongchen's eyes narrowed, and she let out a sharp cry, unleashing a surge of Buddhist energy that shone brightly. She then unleashed a flurry of blows with her whisk, creating a powerful gust of wind that swept away the poisonous smoke.

"Poisonous fiend, show yourself and face your death!" Du Hongchen

's eyebrows shot up, her fingers forming a hand seal, and she unleashed a powerful palm strike aimed deep into the forest.

Instantly, a fierce demonic aura surged back, shattering the Buddha's palm's might. Then, vibrant flames erupted, and a phoenix cried out in the heavens.

"You stinking nun, take my sword!"

Having been suppressed by the thieving nun's formation, Chu Wanbing, now fully recovered, vowed revenge. She alluringly wielded her sword, her phoenix-like movements locked onto Du Hongchen's vital point.

Du Hongchen roared fiercely, her whisk flashing like lightning. Snow toad silk entangled the demonic sword's blade, using Buddhist energy to suppress Chu Wanbing's sword strike.

The two fought fiercely, neither giving an inch. Du Hongchen secretly marveled, "This little demoness's cultivation is so profound! If it weren't for the array suppressing her that day, I probably wouldn't have been able to gain the upper hand."

Thinking of this, she devised a plan and sneered, "You're so naive to need a convoluted array just to build a beacon tower!" Her

intentions were exposed.

Chu Wanbing was startled, her mind slightly disturbed, causing her sword strike to slow down by a third. Du Hongchen seized the opportunity, using her whisk to entangle the Phoenix Sword, pulling her towards her with a powerful tug, and then striking her hard in the chest with a heavy palm strike.

Chu Wanbing felt a sharp pain spread throughout her body, and bright red blood gushed from her mouth. Her lungs and internal organs were severely injured. She endured the pain, forcibly channeling her energy, her left hand forming a seal, drawing out a pure white sword, adorned with gold and jade—the very same Wuchen, one of the two famous weapons of Tianjian Valley.

Severely wounded, Chu Wanbing unleashed her primordial power with her sword, infusing it with phoenix spirit fire. The Dustless Sword instantly transformed into a crimson lightning bolt, piercing straight for Du Hongchen's chest.

Even before the tip arrived, the sword's pressure caused Du Hongchen to vomit blood, his internal organs ravaged.

"The sword pressure alone is so terrifying; if she were to strike, I'd be shattered to pieces!"

Du Hongchen, terrified, hastily pulled away the whisk binding Chu Wanbing.

He dodged to the side, but the enraged phoenix's sword strike was no easy feat. The blade, surging with power, pierced Du Hongchen's round, muscular thigh, causing blood to gush forth, his leg bone to shatter, and excruciating pain to his core.

Du Hongchen groaned, severely injured both internally and externally, and had to temporarily retreat from the front lines. He saw that Chu Wanbing's delicate face was now completely drained of color, cold sweat pouring down her face, forehead, and neck. With each breath, she involuntarily coughed up blood. Her injuries were no less severe than Du Hongchen's; the palm strike had broken two of her ribs, with the broken bones even piercing her lungs.

Du Hongchen clutched his chest with one hand and his thigh with the other, dodging the attack, but shouted, "The little vixen is seriously injured! Quickly, get rid of her!"

A group of martial artists surrounded Chu Wanbing, but in the critical moment, Mo Yun's killing intent surged, and he roared, "Who dares to harm my lady!"

With a flick of his fingers, sharp spider silk wove into a net, cutting the foremost martial artists into pieces.

Scorpion, fiercely protective of its master, used the Azure Wood Tempering Fire technique, the fire containing poison. Those struck by it all died on the spot, their flesh and bones rotting away.

Lady Yueling helped Chu Wanbing up and immediately retreated. The Scorpion and Spider demons also fought their way out, pursued relentlessly by the enemy. When they reached the beacon tower's defensive line, a hundred-man squad from the Tiger and Leopard Camp charged out, each wielding a javelin and using the momentum of their galloping horses to hurl their spears.

The spears were incredibly swift, comparable to crossbows, and many soldiers guarding the beacon tower were impaled and killed.

The leading general shouted, "Take the beacon tower immediately!"

He then led the charge, wielding a spiked club, and wherever the club struck, soldiers were shattered, their brains splattering. He was one of the Heavenly Clan members of the Haotian Sect's Twin Heavens.

At the critical moment, disregarding her injuries, Chu Wanbing channeled her Phoenix Fire once more. Feng Yan and Wuchen, wielding their twin swords in perfect harmony, forcefully withstood the immense power of the spiked club. A deafening roar echoed as the warhorse was charred by the Phoenix Fire, and the Heavenly Army was forced back three zhang (approximately 10 meters). Chu Wanbing, however, suffered further injuries, coughing up blood incessantly. Her white robes were soaked crimson, a poignant and beautiful sight.

The Heavenly Army, their energy channels scorched by the Phoenix Fire, struggled to muster their true essence. They immediately ordered their subordinates to aid them: "Quickly! The little demoness is at her last gasp! Capture her quickly!" With this command, a thousand troops moved in unison, trapping Chu Wanbing within their ranks.

Mo Yun immediately stepped forward to protect his master, weaving spider silk to fend off the Western Region's ravages. On the other side, Xie'ao used demonic fire to burn away poison, creating a poisonous mist array. Although neither possessed formidable internal strength, their uncanny abilities, combined with their combined efforts, temporarily prevented the thousand troops from crossing the barrier.

The spiderwebs stretched far and wide, the poisonous smoke impossible to defend against. The elite tiger and leopard troops, though fierce, were helpless, unable to approach Chu Wanbing or even the beacon tower.

At this moment, two figures emerged from the enemy ranks, possessing considerable cultivation. They unleashed a combined palm strike, breaking through the two demons' defensive line. These two were none other than Ren Wushuang and Mohuluojia.

They had originally been to be beheaded by Huangfu Wuji, but Cang Shitian released them immediately after seizing power. Now, returning to the battlefield, they were ambitious to achieve merit and simultaneously attack Chu Wanbing.

Mo Yun and Xie'ao, currently entangled by soldiers and unable to break free, were frantic.

Suddenly, an immense pressure enveloped the entire area, scorching waves of air erupting forth, protecting Chu Wanbing and forcing Ren Wushuang and Mohuluojia to retreat.

"You think you can spare my life after hurting my beloved daughter?"

The alluring voice couldn't conceal the murderous rage. Phoenix fire swept through, instantly reducing Ren Wushuang and Mahoraga to ashes, leaving no trace.

Seeing her mother's beautiful figure, Chu Wanbing felt a surge of relief and called out in a slightly coquettish tone, "Mother, they're all bullying Bing'er!"

Seeing her blood-stained white clothes and pitiful appearance, Luo Qingyan felt her heart ache, and tears almost fell.

"Bing'er!"

"Sister!"

Two familiar voices rang in her ears. Chu Wanbing struggled to lift her nearly closed eyelids, and through her hazy vision, she saw her husband and sister rushing towards her. With the three closest people to her in her life beside her, Chu Wanbing felt a warm glow throughout her body, and with a sense of relief, she fainted.

Long Hui quickly held her in his arms, using his internal energy to help her heal her injuries and relieve her pain. After her condition stabilized, he entrusted her to Wei Xuexin's care.

Upon receiving the distress call from the beacon tower, he rushed to the scene. As husband and wife are one, sensing Chu Wanbing's perilous situation, he disregarded the need to muster his troops, ordering Bai Lingyu to lead the forces while he himself came alone.

Luo Qingyan, connected to Chu Wanbing by heart, also sensed her daughter's danger and swiftly left Wutong Garden to rush to the battlefield.

The little phoenix was their precious daughter; seeing her so badly injured, they were enraged. Luo Qingyan's alluring eyes widened, and she unleashed her Phoenix Fire—the Savage Crimson Quail Feather—burning across the land, leaving the demon queen's path a barren wasteland, devoid of life.

Long Hui's killing intent reached its peak, and he unleashed the Eight Desolations Six Harmonies Divine Dragon Fire, the ultimate technique that had once defeated Yuan Ding reappearing in the world. Dragon and phoenix joined forces to create a killing symphony, their raging flames destroying countless realms.

Dragon and Phoenix joined forces to fight the enemy, and none could stand in their way. At the same time, Bai Lingyu had already led reinforcements to arrive. Tianzhong knew that they could not win, so they immediately ordered a retreat. Long Hui was worried about Chu Wanbing's injuries and had no intention of pursuing them. He simply added another thousand men to the beacon tower and took Chu Wanbing back to the city.

After returning to the city, Luo Qingyan took Chu Wanbing back to Wutong Garden to heal her wounds, while Long Hui began to work on the strategy for the next day.

"The enemy has already discovered the existence of the Twelve Earthly Branches, otherwise they wouldn't have attacked the beacon towers!"

Long Hui said bluntly after gathering everyone.

Jing Chen sighed, "Most of the Dao Sect has submitted to the imperial court, so it's not surprising that someone can recognize this formation. However, what I didn't expect was that the Western Region Tiger and Leopard Camp would also participate in the battle."

Long Hui said, "The battlefield is ever-changing, so the arrival of the Tiger and Leopard Camp is not surprising. Presumably, some Western Region vanguard teams will arrive soon, while the main force will not be able to set off until next spring. Therefore, we must complete the formation before the enemy's main force arrives."

Bai Lingyu frowned and said, "I'm afraid the enemy won't just target one beacon tower..."

Before she finished speaking, a personal guard came to report again—Lady Guoyuan requested an audience.

Long Hui was secretly startled and hurriedly invited her in. Mu Xin'er's pretty face showed a hint of worry, and she hesitated to speak. She bit her lip but still handed over a note, saying, "This is from Ling Yun."

Long Hui took the note in surprise. Inside, it read: "Thirty thousand Western Region vanguard troops are about to enter Cangcheng and will join forces with the Cangcheng garrison to launch a pincer attack on Jinling. The Jiangnan army will also assist in the attack on your city, my worthy brother. Be careful!"

Mu Xin'er sighed, looked around, and, noticing that Chu Wanbing was not there, whispered, "Long Hui, Ling Yun and you are from the same school, and this child is upright and would never harm you."

Long Hui was slightly taken aback and nodded, "Long Hui understands."

Mu Xin'er said, "I'll go back first and won't disturb your business."

As soon as Mu Xin'er went out, she bumped into Lu Mingluan. The two smiled and nodded to each other as a greeting.

Upon entering the hall, Lu Mingluan asked Long Hui, "Why has Lady Guoyuan come here?"

Long Hui handed her a note, saying, "This is something Lady Guoyuan gave me."

Lu Mingluan took it and glanced at it, then frowned in surprise, "Where did Lady Guoyuan get this information? I only just found out myself; I didn't expect her to be faster than me."

Long Hui asked curiously, "So, this note is genuine?"

Lu Mingluan nodded, "It shouldn't be fake. I just received news from Ashura that the Jiangnan army will indeed make such a move tomorrow."

It turned out that Ashura had also followed Tiger... As the Leopard Camp entered Cangcheng, Lu Mingluan sensed his presence and used the Mysterious Charm Soul-Stealing Technique to send her spiritual sense into Asura's primordial spirit, using it to spy on the enemy. She discovered that Qiu Baifei would launch a large-scale multi-pronged attack the next day. First, more than 100,000 Jiangnan troops would be divided into eleven routes to attack eleven cities outside Jinling. Cangcheng would cooperate with the operation, with 30,000 Western Region vanguard troops, 7,000 Cangcheng garrison troops, and martial arts practitioners who were gradually entering Jiangnan, bringing the total force to 40,000. This army would directly threaten Jinling from the north.

Lu Mingluan continued, "This army will split into two routes, one heading straight for Jinling, and the other launching a strong attack on the beacon towers. The enemy is determined to prevent us from constructing the formation."

Long Hui immediately fell into deep thought, constantly searching for a good way to defeat the enemy. They were currently on the defensive, and the enemy was attacking from multiple directions, precisely because they knew they couldn't afford to lose any city. In this way, each city was tied down and unable to support each other. They could only fight and defend their cities on their own, and each city had to face more than 10,000 enemy soldiers. The pressure was unprecedented.

"The enemy forces attacking the eleven cities are probably only responsible for holding back the defending troops inside. After all, each city has more than four thousand men, and even though the enemy has the numerical advantage, they may not be able to take the cities,"

Lu Mingluan pointed out the problem incisively. She slowly said, "The real main force is Cangxuan's side. In my opinion, Jinling City is high and thick, easy to defend and difficult to attack. Their biggest target is still the beacon towers."

Long Hui nodded and said, "Now, one move affects the whole situation. Although the enemy is only targeting the beacon towers, the defense of the city cannot be relaxed. Otherwise, the enemy's holding back will become an attack on the city."

At this point, Long Hui slowly closed his eyes. He had already imagined the battle situation tomorrow—the Jiangnan army stationed its troops under the city, lazily attacking the city. Once the Longlin army exerted its strength, they would retreat. After the Longlin army withdrew, they would stick to it. It can be said that when I advance, the enemy retreats; when I retreat, the enemy advances. They would keep fighting and prevent the Longlin army outside the city from supporting Jinling. Meanwhile, Jinling would have to face the strongest attack.

There were only about four thousand men in the city, while the enemy outnumbered them tenfold. If they were only defending Jinling, four thousand men would be barely enough, but they also had to guard the beacon towers, making it extremely difficult.

Seeing him deep in thought, Lu Mingluan said, "Long Hui, I feel that tomorrow the enemy troops in Jinling will number around ten thousand. Most of these troops are from the Jiangnan army, and they will likely employ a protracted fighting strategy, not a full-scale attack."

Long Hui smiled bitterly, "But if Jinling is undefended, I believe these men will not hesitate to attack. This tactic of attacking from multiple points, each one directly targeting our vitals, is most likely the brainchild of Jin Ziyi."

Lu Mingluan pondered for a moment, then raised her beautiful eyes and said, "Long Hui, I have a method that might work."

She had once been a strategist in the Shayu region, and had caused the Heng army considerable trouble in the Battle of Baisha Plain. Hearing of her brilliant plan, Long Hui immediately perked up.

"Tomorrow, our focus will still be on the beacon towers. We only need to leave a thousand soldiers to guard Jinling, but we must leave four innate masters. The remaining three thousand or so will all be concentrated near the beacon towers, and Elder Yuan and I will lead our clansmen to fight together. We should be able to hold off the enemy's attack."

Lu Mingluan pointed to the marching map and said, "There are three routes from Cangsun to the beacon towers. I believe the enemy will also split into three routes to attack the beacon towers from all sides. So we will guard these three passes. The left route will be guarded by our clan. The remaining two routes will be guarded by the Dragon Scale Army."

Long Hui said, "Three thousand men guarding two routes might be a bit of a stretch."

At this moment, a celestial breeze blew and fragrance wafted. Yu Xiuting appeared silently in the hall. Her black robe and skirt accentuated her snow-white skin. She was elegant and aloof, adding to her ethereal aura. Yu

Xiuting parted her lips slightly and said, "I have already dispatched disciples from Tianjian Valley to assist in the battle, but it will take some time. As long as we can hold out until tomorrow, that will be fine."

Lu Mingluan bowed gracefully to her and said, "We will need the assistance of Sword Immortal Sister for tomorrow's great battle."

Yu Xiuting smiled gently and said, "You're too kind, sister. Just tell me your plans, and I will do my best to cooperate."

Lu Mingluan said solemnly, "For tomorrow's battle, Long Hui, Daoist Jingchen, Sect Master, and my senior sister will remain in Jinling. The demon race will guard the left flank of the beacon tower, while Lingyu, Birou, and Wuhen will lead 1,500 people to fight on the right flank. The central flank will be defended by Sword Immortal and Xue..." Xin led the remaining 1,500 to meet the enemy. "

Jingchen said, "Although our Daoist sect is small, we are not cowards. We will join the right flank defense tomorrow."

The demon race on the left flank, though small in number, were all proficient in supernatural abilities and books, and their teamwork was excellent. With two innate masters in command, they were arguably the strongest force. The sword immortal mother and daughter on the central flank shared the same martial arts origin and could combine their swords. With the support of their sword hearts, they were equally formidable. The right flank was even more extraordinary. The two jade beauties were of one mind and breath, with exceptional teamwork and the assistance of the magic from the Scroll of Gods. Bai Lingyu was a veteran of countless battles, and now with the assistance of Daoist disciples, their combat power was also considerable.

Lu Mingluan's arrangement maximized the use of all forces while ensuring the safety of Jinling, achieving multiple goals at once.

Although there were countermeasures, tomorrow's battle should not be underestimated. This battle had no more schemes or tricks. Even if there were, they would be Jin Ziyi's open schemes. The only option was a bloody battle, a head-on clash.

After the discussion, Long Hui, worried about Chu Wanbing's injury, went directly to the Wutong Garden to visit her.

This garden was the epitome of the demon race's craftsmanship. Not only was it hidden deep underground, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack, but it was also exquisitely and luxuriously laid out. The walls of the cave were coated with phosphorescent powder, making it look beautiful. The plants could grow even without sunlight. The entire garden was filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, and it was surrounded by hot springs, making it comparable to a heavenly paradise.

Pushing open the door, a wave of heat immediately hit him. Through the haze, two graceful figures were vaguely visible. Long Hui closed the door and walked over.

Chu Wanbing had broken ribs and her lungs were pierced. She had also withstood a blow from the Heavenly Clan. If it weren't for her immortal bloodline, she would have perished long ago. Now, thanks to her mother's treatment, her breathing gradually calmed, and she lay on the bed in a deep sleep.

Luo Qingyan looked at her daughter with concern, her fair hands occasionally checking her pulse. Only after confirming that her condition hadn't worsened did her brows relax slightly.

"How is Bing'er?"

Long Hui walked over and asked in a low voice, trying to keep his voice down so as not to disturb his beloved wife's rest.

Luo Qingyan pointed to the chair beside her, gesturing for him to sit down: "Bing'er was talking nonsense just now, constantly muttering your name."

Long Hui felt a pang of sorrow in his heart, and quickly sat down, holding the little girl's soft hand, and said softly, "Bing'er, I'm here. Don't be afraid, your injury will heal soon."

Seeing his anxious expression, Luo Qingyan chuckled, "Silly boy, Bing'er possesses the Phoenix bloodline, and her recovery ability far surpasses that of ordinary people. She will recover completely after a few days of rest. You don't need to be so miserable."

Upon hearing this, Long Hui checked Chu Wanbing's pulse and found that her qi had calmed down and she was no longer in serious danger, which put his mind at ease. Long Hui felt a sudden heat and asked, "Sister Luo, why is the room so stuffy?"

Luo Qingyan pointed to the red stone in the corner of the room and said, "I set up a Five Elements Fire Array to promote the circulation of Bing'er's Phoenix blood and help her recover faster."

Long Hui nodded.

Luo Qingyan added, "After a while, the formation's effectiveness will reach its peak, and the room will get even hotter. You should go out first; Bing'er will feel better once she's sweated it out."

Long Hui nodded and waited at the door. After a moment, a wave of heat emanated from the room.

Long Hui thought to himself, "How can I not be with Bing'er after she's suffered such serious injuries? What's a little heat!"

With that thought, he pushed the door open again, only to witness a scene that made his blood boil.

Under the rising heat, Chu Wanbing's face was flushed, covered in fragrant sweat, her hair sticking to her forehead and cheeks. She snorted softly, her lips slightly panting, occasionally letting out a sweet, cloying moan.

Luo Qingyan was wiping her daughter's sweat with her head down. The buttons on her collar were undone, and her thin silk robe was soaked with fragrant sweat. With her head down, her two white, full breasts stretched open the fine silk of her bodice, revealing a deep cleavage.

She carefully wiped her daughter's sweat, her two soft, white mounds swaying gently inside her clothes, the tender, snow-white skin glistening with sweat, like warm, fragrant jade.

Looking at this stunningly beautiful mother and daughter, Long Hui was instantly stunned.

Suddenly, Luo Qingyan stopped, looked up at Long Hui, slightly startled, realizing his gaze, she quickly pulled up her collar, revealing a hint of anger.

Long Hui hurriedly coughed and said, "Sister Luo, let me wipe Bing'er's sweat."

Luo Qingyan glared at him angrily, threw the sweat-soaked handkerchief at him, and sat down sullenly to the side.

Long Hui took the silk handkerchief and tenderly wiped the little phoenix's sweat. Looking at her tightly closed eyes, his heart ached even more. He couldn't help but kiss her forehead. Chu Wanbing's eyelids trembled, and she slowly opened her eyes a crack. Before her eyes was her beloved's familiar face, and a surge of tenderness welled up within her. She murmured, "Little thief, hug Bing'er."

Her injuries hadn't healed, and her voice was very weak, but it added to her delicate and charming quality, making it impossible to refuse.

Long Hui reached out and pulled her into his arms. Chu Wanbing's heart calmed even more at the scent of her husband. She buried her face in Long Hui's chest, her delicate nose emitting soft breaths, like a dozing cat, occasionally uttering a few incoherent words. It seemed she was only half-awake, not fully awake.

"You little thief, I treated you so well in my past life, and you dared to betray me! You deserve to be a henpecked husband in this life!" The little girl's words were shocking, and Long Hui was choked, his face turning pale.

Luo Qingyan suppressed a laugh and explained, "The Phoenix Spirit Fire has already taken effect. It's normal for this girl to be in a semi-conscious state and talk nonsense."

Long Hui asked, "When will Bing'er fully recover?"

Luo Qingyan replied, "The Phoenix Fire within her has been activated. She should be fully awake by tomorrow morning at the latest."

"You little thief, kiss me!"

In her dazed state, Chu Wanbing pouted, like a spoiled girl demanding a kiss from her lover.

Long Hui said gently, "Good Bing'er, you should take a nap first. Once you're better, I'll kiss you as much as I want!" Unexpectedly, the delirious little girl became unreasonable and whined, "No, I want it now... Don't you want Bing'er anymore now that you have a mother?"

As she said this, tears welled up in her tightly closed eyes.

These words struck Luo Qingyan's heart like a bolt from the blue, and her face paled.

Long Hui hurriedly coaxed, "Bing'er, be good, what are you saying? I'll kiss you now." He kissed her lips several times, and Chu Wanbing finally calmed down, but still murmured in her sleep, "Little thief, you must treat your mother well from now on. Your mother has suffered for decades, don't bully her anymore..."

Tears welled up in Luo Qingyan's eyes, and she pursed her lips to suppress her sobs.

Long Hui beckoned to her, and Luo Qingyan wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with her fingers, slowly walked over and sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes fixed on the two most important people in her life. Long Hui

met her gaze, reached out and took her soft hand in his. Luo Qingyan did not resist, her pretty face slightly flushed as she let him hold her hand. The three of them remained in this position until dawn.

The sky turned a pale white, dawn broke, and a sliver of light appeared in the dark sky. A rapid and loud sound of horses' hooves approached from afar, and the dust raised obscured the hard-won dawn once again.

The Western Vanguard, with 5,000 Tiger and Leopard Battalions as its main force, supplemented by 25,000 troops from various other battalions, marched in a mighty force, intending to capture the beacon towers and retake Jinling.

Halfway there, they split into three routes. Jue Tian, the leader of the Six Paths Divine Palace, led 10,000 men to advance from the left flank; Zhong Tian, the leader of the Eight Tribes Holy Temple, led 10,000 troops to attack from the right flank; and Cang Shi Hai personally led 10,000 men to launch a rapid attack on the central route. The three armies joined forces, determined to shatter Jinling's defenses and quell the enemy.

The right-wing Heavenly Army was precisely the left flank that Lu Mingluan had mentioned. They hadn't gone far when they suddenly saw demonic energy surrounding them, followed by the spread of demonic poison and toxic smoke. Several soldiers at the front immediately suffered ruptured hearts and collapsed dead.

Tianzhong shouted a warning: "It's the Demon Clan's Heart-Splitting Soul! Quickly, start a fire!"

The order was given, and several soldiers lit several bonfires in front of the formation. It was the dry autumn season, and the heat from the fires shot upwards, altering the wind and dispersing the Heart-Splitting Soul's poisonous smoke.

This method of changing wind direction could only be used at specific times, and Tianzhong's extensive battlefield experience allowed him to seize the opportunity so accurately.

Just as the poisonous smoke dissipated, a rain of arrows came from deep within the forest. Tianzhong immediately ordered the Ironclad Battalion to advance and defend. Hundreds of armored shield bearers stepped forward, blocking all the sharp arrows.

After the arrow rain, Tianzhong summoned the Divine Fire Battalion, who unleashed a barrage of cannon fire on the forest, blasting trees down, rocks crumbling, flowers and grass scattering, leaving only devastation.

After the bombardment, there was no further movement from within the forest. Tianzhong ordered them to continue advancing, but as soon as they entered the forest, many Western Region soldiers were inexplicably decapitated, their limbs mangled, dying mysteriously and suffering inexplicable injuries.

After dozens of soldiers had died or been wounded, a few drops of blood floated in mid-air, seemingly hanging on something. Upon closer inspection, they discovered a thread thinner than a hair. The soldier was startled and took a step back in fear, only to be met with another sharp pain. His entire lower leg had been severed at the knee, causing him to writhe on the ground and howl in agony.

A mysterious killing intent loomed nearby, and the generals felt a chill run down their spines. Following the shape of the bloodstains, they discovered a massive spider web, its silk so fine it was almost transparent, yet incredibly sharp, capable of killing without a trace.

Just as everyone was marveling at the eeriness of the spider silk, the soldiers whose bodies had been cut rolled their eyes back, foamed at the mouth, and bluish-black blood seeped from their wounds, dying one after another.

"The spider silk is poisonous!"

It turned out that the spider silk had been coated with a deadly poison; even if they weren't cut to death, they would be poisoned. Everyone was terrified and retreated, afraid of getting even a little bit on them.

"Everyone, step back!"

A flash of Buddhist light appeared, and the earth trembled in all directions. A giant elephant stepped into the battle circle, and sitting on its back was a Buddha, wearing a seven-jeweled kasaya and holding a demon-subduing wheel. He was none other than the Elephant-Riding Arhat, one of the Eighteen Arhats of Buddhism. Beside the giant elephant was a pure white lion, and sitting on its back was another Buddha, with a smiling and kind face. He was the Laughing Lion Arhat.

Seeing this, the heavenly beings hurriedly said, "The demon's evil magic is bizarre; we beg the two Arhats to uphold justice."

The Arhat riding the elephant nodded slightly, reached out and gently patted the elephant's head. The giant elephant roared, its trunk crashing down with a thunderous roar. Instantly, Buddhist

light shone everywhere, and the poisonous spider silk vanished in an instant. The Laughing Lion Arhat pinched a lotus flower and flicked it forward. The Buddha Zen Finger shot out fiercely, and the demon shadows had nowhere to hide but to reveal themselves and block the attack. However, the Arhat's finger strength was so powerful that the two demons were injured first. They were none other than Scorpion Turtle and Moyun.

The Arhat riding the elephant said, "So it's the Spider Demon and the Scorpion Demon. No wonder the spider silk contained hidden poison. It seems that you two little demons are the culprits!"

The Laughing Lion Arhat's smile vanished, and he shouted, "Demons, surrender!"

As soon as the voice came out, the white lion beneath him opened its mouth and roared. The lion's roar, which contained Buddhist exorcising power, made the two demons dizzy and almost vomit blood.

The demonic energy was bound and locked within the invisible sound waves. At the critical moment, another thunderous lion's roar rang out, but this sound wave contained demonic energy, neutralizing the Buddhist chants. The spider and scorpion demons caught their breath and tried to retreat, but just then, the elephant-riding Arhat shouted, "Where do you think you're going!"

The giant elephant raised its foot and stomped down hard on the two demons.

"Bald donkey, don't you dare hurt my nephews!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, an invisible force forcefully blocked the giant elephant's heavy foot.

The two demons escaped death and were moved to tears: "Thank you, elders!" "

Stop talking nonsense, retreat quickly, leave this formation to us!"

As he spoke, the giant elephant was violently pushed away by a great force. The massive elephant body staggered back several steps before regaining its footing, but those few steps killed many soldiers of the Western Regions army.

The elephant-riding Arhat was taken aback and exclaimed, "Such immense strength! Could it be the clan's Great Elder—Yuan Qitian?"

"Tch, Elder Yuan wouldn't stoop to fighting a mere nobody like you! I am the Great Elephant Clan Elder—Bai Zhan!"

A towering man, nine feet tall, stood up angrily. His arms were as thick as tree trunks, and his legs were as strong as iron pillars. Standing there, he resembled an insurmountable mountain.

Upon seeing such a ferocious giant, the Western Region soldiers' courage waned slightly. A cold, deep voice rang out: "You're so scared just by seeing this giant elephant? If you saw me again, wouldn't you bunch of good-for-nothings be kneeling down obediently?" As soon as the voice fell, the lion's roar that had just fought the white lion resounded again. This sound wave, mixed with violent air currents, blasted into the crowd. Its destructive power was no less than that of a real cannonball. With a deafening boom, those who couldn't dodge were all instantly reduced to dust.

All of this was caused by a pair of fists. Every punch the demon threw was like the roar of a lion. Those whose cultivation was insufficient were shattered by the sonic waves, and even some martial artists with higher cultivation had their bones broken upon contact with the fist's force. This was one of the demon race's divine abilities—the Lion King Fist.

In terms of power, the Lion King Fist used by the Luanfeng sisters was superior to this demon's, but it lacked the lion's arrogant and ferocious essence. Although Xiaoxiao possessed the essence of the lion race, she was a woman and could not express the fierceness of the fist's force. The only one in the world who could wield this fist technique with such ferocity and domineering power, fully displaying its essence, was the Lion Clan Elder, Zhiguan.

The Laughing Lion Arhat roared, "Demon, stop at once!"

With that, he pinched a treasure bottle and threw it at Zhiguan.

Zhi Guan turned and threw a punch. Laughing Lion Arhat felt the force of the punch, like a leech clinging to his hand, lurking and ready to strike. He knew this force was initially hidden but would explode later; if he were to unleash his demonic power, his arm would explode from the inside out.

So, he acted decisively, pressing his acupoints to seal Buddhist power into his arm, then swiftly releasing the pressure. The Buddhist power surged forth like a burst dam, dispelling the latent force.

Then, Laughing Lion Arhat followed up with a kick to sweep Zhi Guan away.

Zhi Guan leaped backward, avoiding the heavy kick, and simultaneously unleashed a series of Lion King Fists, blasting several more soldiers to pieces with demonic energy. Zhi Guan

, not one to be outdone in a hundred battles, surged forward, charging into the enemy ranks. His iron palms swung left and right, the wind howling, his power no less than the earlier giant elephant's trunk strike—truly worthy of the name of the Giant Elephant Elder.

Bai Zhan possessed immense strength, hailed as the second strongest warrior in his clan, second only to Yuan Qitian. A representative of the demon race's valiant warrior faction, he was renowned for his ability to uproot mountains and sweep away armies.

Having easily slain numerous soldiers as if cutting melons and vegetables, Bai Zhan grew bored. Seeing the Elephant-Riding Arhat, he immediately pursued him, shouting, "You stinking bald donkey! I am the Giant Elephant Demon, yet you call yourself the Elephant-Riding Arhat! It's an insult! I won't be satisfied until I smash your dog's head!"

With that, he leaped into the air and unleashed a punch at the Buddha on the elephant's back. This punch was a manifestation of his innate divine power, called the Elephant-Pulling Fist.

Knowing his opponent's power was formidable, the Elephant-Riding Arhat dared not be careless. He formed the Subduing Demon Hand Seal, unleashing his full inner energy to meet the blow head-on.

The Buddha's light clashed with the demonic energy, the force spreading in all directions. Although the Elephant-Riding Arhat managed to defend himself, the elephant beneath him was powerless to resist. The two forces shattered its internal organs, and with a mournful cry, it collapsed to the ground.

Bai Zhan laughed heartily, "Bald donkey, let's see how you ride an elephant now!" The

elephant-riding Arhat, his brow furrowed in anger, formed a mudra and roared, "May the Buddha's compassion guide you, may the hundred lamps lead you across, may Vajra of Kali subdue the demonic obstacles!"

As the mantra was chanted, the Buddha's essence coalesced, and a majestic Vajra with an elephant's head and a human body descended upon the world.

In Sanskrit, Kali means elephant, and the elephant is a symbol of Buddhism, representing its great power, endurance, and far-reaching potential.

The elephant-riding Arhat's transformation into a Vajra body signifies his intention to subdue the elephant demon before him with the vast power of Buddhism.

Seeing this, Zhi Guan laughed loudly, "You big elephant, when did you become a monk?!"

Bai Zhan was so angry that veins popped out on his forehead, and he retorted, "Save it, curly-haired dog, aren't you being ridden by that bald donkey right now?"

Zhi Guan was slightly taken aback, and snorted, "Damn it, I'll settle accounts with you after I deal with that bald thief!"

Bai Zhan sneered, "Then let's see who finishes off their opponent first!"

Among the eight elders, Yuan Qitian was the leader, and Xian Huo was the second. However, Xian Huo's martial arts were more vicious and subtle, and he was also good at using poison, which made the two of them very dissatisfied with him. In their opinion, a man should be as straightforward as a monkey, and using poison and trickery was something that Teng Ji, that snake, should do. Therefore, the two of them both considered themselves the second elder. And just like that, these two fierce giant demons were not convinced by each other and wanted to be superior to each other. Now that they were on the battlefield at the same time, the two demons were holding their breath and were ready to show their skills.

Bai Zhan unleashed his inner power, transforming into a colossal elephant demon and charging towards Jiali Vajra. The two elephants clashed, their power shaking the heavens and earth. Amidst the deafening roar and thunder, Jiali Vajra's form shattered, while the demonic elephant vanished. The elephant-riding Arhat, coughing up blood, stumbled into the fray. Bai Zhan's face was deathly pale; his internal organs were injured.

"The demon is wounded! Kill him!"

Taking advantage of Bai Zhan's momentary lapse in attention, the Western Region soldiers swarmed him, hoping to gain the upper hand.

Bai Zhan, fierce and unyielding, wouldn't tolerate any treacherous advances. He raised his eyebrows and roared, his body growing ever larger, transforming into an enormous white elephant, ten zhang tall and weighing ten thousand jin. Compared to him, the elephant the Arhat had previously ridden was like a domestic pig. With a single stomp, the white elephant added several more souls to its demise, leaving a deep, crater-like footprint where flesh and bones were crushed into a heap.

The giant elephant roared, its trunk swaying as it trampled the enemy army, instantly throwing the Western Regions army's vanguard into chaos.

Zhi Guan, relentlessly engaged in battle with the Laughing Lion Arhat, was enraged by the Arhat's impressive prowess. He steeled himself, unleashing his demonic energy, transforming into a gigantic, ten-foot-tall, blue-maned lion. With a swift claw strike, he swept the Laughing Lion Arhat to the ground. The

white lion, fiercely protective of its master, pounced on the blue lion, but the blue lion neither dodged nor evaded, only roaring. The immense sonic wave instantly shattered the white lion's momentum, and the blue lion then pounced on the white lion, biting off its throat.

Having first paid homage to the Arhat and then killed the guardian lion, Zhi Guan, still unsatisfied, did not revert to his human form. Instead, in his blue lion demon form, he charged into the enemy camp. His movements were incredibly agile, his claws and teeth swift and fierce, as if he were in an empty field.

The white elephant possessed immense strength, and the green lion was ferocious and agile, nearly causing the collapse of the Western Regions army's vanguard. Just as the two demons were engrossed in their battle, dozens of war chariots rushed out, equipped with crossbows. They unleashed a barrage of fire at the two demons, the sharp steel rods concealing explosives that shattered their demonic forms, revealing their true forms.

"Demons, let's see how long you can remain arrogant!"

The Heavenly General waved his hand, ordering his soldiers to fire the crossbows again. After breaking through several formations, the lion and elephant demons were starting to tire and began to struggle against the crisscrossing crossbow attacks.

Suddenly, the crossbowmen let out cries of agony, falling from their crossbow carts. Upon closer inspection, they found their crossbows surrounded by venomous snakes. These snakes moved with a disciplined, military-like approach.

Zhi Guan let out a "Huh?" and chuckled, "Snake Beauty, instead of staying behind with that vixen, you've come out to join the fun!"

Amidst the chaos, a coquettish voice rang out, "Pah, you stinky lion! If it weren't for me, you'd be roasted meat by now!"

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/62704.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=62704&aspx=1

Previous Page : [Wuxia] Long Hui's Male Concubine (Complete) - 16

Next Page : [Wuxia] Long Hui's Male Concubine (Complete) - 17

增加

comment Open a new window to view comments

Contact Information

[Wuxia] Long Hui's Male Concubine (Complete) - 18

comment Open a new window to view comments