Two Columns Country, frontline camp.
A military council was in session.
“Gentlemen, this is the current situation,” a Golden Core ranked general concluded his report.
The rest began to discuss.
“Since our military camp was established, we have had petty thieves and villains constantly sneaking around, scavenging for spoils of war. Previously, our military equipment was quite effective, killing many. I didn’t expect there would still be those with wicked intentions.”
“If I were the enemy, and I discovered the Glass Heartblood, Ginseng Root Earth, and Dragon Pattern Talisman here, I too would be tempted and take risks.”
“It is truly shameful. The enemy discovered these three treasures before us, yet we were late to realize.”
“The ones who detected these three treasures were the Heaven and Earth Twin Devils. Not to mention their origins from the Soul Devouring Sect, their combined divine ability is terrifyingly powerful, far from ordinary. It is not surprising they were the first to find them.”
“Hmph! The Soul Devouring Sect is truly audacious. Our country is campaigning against injustice, yet they dare interfere in our affairs. Their crime is punishable by death!”
All the generals were greatly displeased with the Soul Devouring Sect.
After a round of curses and complaints, they dropped the matter.
For everyone knew that the Two Columns Country was not a great power, and the Soul Devouring Sect’s headquarters were far from Two Columns Country. Facing such a super sect, the Two Columns Country could only hold them accountable as a formality in the end.
“If we can collect the heartblood and root earth, perhaps they can serve as clues to divine the location of the Ginseng Beard Dragon King.”
“They can also be used as materials for curses.”
“One can only say it’s better than nothing. Currently, our army does not have such skilled individuals.”
Silence fell among the group.
An old general spoke, “These two treasures are not the key. Even if the enemy obtains them, it won’t affect the overall situation. The truly important thing is the Dragon Form Talisman. It must not be destroyed. The longer it remains on this battlefield, the more advantageous it is for our army.”
“Agreed!”
“Concur.”
“That is indeed the case.”
All the generals nodded in agreement.
Within the Thousand Peaks Forest, there were numerous greater and lesser deities, thus possessing a strong geographical advantage.
Once the Dragon Form Talisman integrated into the earth veins, it would diminish the enemy’s geographical advantage.
The generals were unanimous in their opinion, deciding to first arrange troops and powerful individuals to specifically guard this massive Dragon Form Talisman.
Then, when the army had surplus strength, they could construct various defensive facilities deep underground.
“Among all the current armies, the Three Generals’ Camp is the quickest to recover and in the best state. Letting them be responsible for guarding the Dragon Form Talisman is most suitable.”
“Exactly.”
“Agreed!”
The generals reached a consensus once more.
However, at the next moment, Zhao Xi, who had been silent all along, let out a light chuckle.
He scanned the room, his eyes filled with mockery and disdain.
“It’s too late,” he spoke softly. “Even before this council began, I had already issued the marching orders for them.” By this time, they must have already formally departed from the camp.”
“What?!” The generals were startled.
The previously speaking old general frowned, “Lord Zhao, guarding the Dragon Form Talisman is a matter of great importance.”
Zhao Xi sneered again, “Therefore, your army can undertake this task.”
The old general spread his hands, “But my army has not fully recuperated, and its fighting strength is wanting, Lord Zhao.”
Zhao Xi narrowed his eyes, staring at the old general, “So, you intend to beg for forgiveness from me. You are indeed guilty. Why is it that your army is still recuperating at this hour, while armies like the Three Generals’ Camp are ready much earlier than yours? Have you been overly negligent?”
The old general’s expression changed. He immediately rose, cupped his fists, and offered a detailed explanation with a serious face.
No one echoed his words, because the armies under these generals were also in a state of recuperation.
Supervising Minister Zhao Xi scanned the room, “Our army is stationed in the heart of the Thousand Peaks Forest, surrounded by enemies on all sides. Offense is superior to defense. The Three Generals’ Camp has performed excellently and should naturally bear the heavy responsibility of attacking. Should anyone have an objection, they may use their own army to replace them.”
Silence filled the room.
Zhao Xi laughed thrice, slowly rose, cast a cold glance, and then walked away with his hands behind his back.
Although Du Tiechuan was in seclusion, some of his confidants and loyalists were unhappy with Zhao Xi seizing power, so targeting the Three Generals’ Camp became a natural course of action.
But Zhao Xi was also well-versed in the ways of officialdom and had made arrangements in advance.
“In the end, this main force is essentially a new army, which is why it gave me room to intervene.”
“Otherwise, with Du Tiechuan’s ability, he would only need one or two months to forge his subordinates into a tightly-knit group.” Three Generals’ Camp, Ning Zhuo, I hope you do not disappoint me—”
Zhao Xi was secretly worried.
In a sense, he and the Three Generals’ Camp were now linked together, sharing in glory and suffering.
The battle formation—Long Serpent Array.
The Three Generals’ Camp departed the frontline camp, marching rapidly in this formation.
Their speed was more than four times faster than before.
The soldiers’ training had improved, but this was not the main reason.
During this march, the entire Three Generals’ Camp utilized marching talismans, swift wind talismans, and other enhancements, significantly boosting each soldier’s speed.
They left the camp in the morning and marched continuously, arriving at the Ten Li Burning Forest by evening.
The outcome of the previous military council was this location.
The medicinal pills stored in the Lice Root Hundred Herbs Cave were too easily damaged, so the returns were difficult to guarantee.
The Cloud Shoulder Dragon Altar had the greatest potential, but establishing a temporary camp there would undoubtedly consume a lot of funds.
This portion could only be provided by Ning Zhuo; the Three Generals, Liu, Guan, and Zhang, did not possess this financial capability.
Even with sufficient funds, abundant materials and manpower were required to extensively transform this floating peak.
The transformation would also take a considerable amount of time, while the battlefield was ever-changing.
The only remaining choices were the Thousand Vine Talisman Sky Corridor and the Ten Li Burning Forest.
In terms of value, the Thousand Vine Talisman Sky Corridor was undoubtedly higher, containing tens of millions of talismans. But precisely for this reason, the difficulty of attacking it was dozens of times greater than that of the Ten Li Burning Forest.
“In my opinion, this battle should not only consider the gains but also safety!”
“After all, we are the first army to leave the camp and campaign against a stronghold. The risks are difficult to estimate.”
“Not only our current situation, but also considering Zhao Xi’s position, we need a victory, not a defeat.”
Ning Zhuo’s words prompted the Three Generals to ultimately choose the Ten Li Burning Forest.
The Three Generals’ Camp, as a newly formed unit, had become a prominent force, and who knows how many people were secretly envious and resentful.
Too many people were hoping for their failure, so they would have a legitimate reason to suppress them. Then, further implicate Zhao Xi, and push out this Supervising Minister who had just established himself!
Therefore, this initial battle was crucial. It must be a victory, a success!
As dusk fell, the Ten Li Burning Forest was ablaze with fire.
The thousand-layered mountain ridges transformed into the spine of a crimson dragon, with molten gold-like firelight flowing in the scaled ravines.
The mountain peaks and valleys were like open furnaces, spewing forth orange-yellow fire tongues that licked the sky, scorching the clouds into swirling caramel-colored silk.
Upon closer inspection, the constantly burning trees were of a glass-like form, resembling billions of crystal pillars that had sealed in intense flames.
The forest floor was completely scorched earth, with flames swirling and dancing in an eerie fashion on the cracked rock walls.
From time to time, a tree in the burning forest, having burned to its limit, would suddenly explode and disintegrate with a muffled sound.
At this moment, flames would surge, forming a fire tongue reaching ten zhang high, shooting straight into the sky and vanishing in an instant.
Waves of heat rushed forward, and the firelight reflected on the faces of all the soldiers of the Three Generals’ Camp.
Everyone was speechless.
“This is the Ten Li Burning Forest,” Liu Er sighed.
Guan Hong stroked his beard, “Magnificent.”
Zhang Hei, “A good place!”
Ning Zhuo reminded them, “To avoid delays, let’s immediately reorganize the army and prepare to attack.”
Liu Er readily agreed and immediately ordered the entire army to rest.
The soldiers were clearly divided in their tasks. Some guarded the perimeter, while others ate and drank inside, sitting on the ground to relieve fatigue, wiping their weapons, and maintaining their spirits.
This scene fell into the eyes of Luo Chen and others.
Luo Chen was a Nascent Soul cultivator, the Forest Chief of the Ten Li Burning Forest. At this moment, his brows were tightly furrowed. “Although the Three Generals’ Camp is said to be a newly formed army, after several battles, it has almost lost the immaturity of a new army.”
One of his Golden Core deputies, Fairy Yan Liu, sighed, “Who would have thought that the Two Columns Country would suddenly dispatch a unit specifically to come here.”
“What should we do?”
“In this urgent situation, I can only collect some portable treasures and leave.”
Luo Chen looked at another Golden Core deputy, “The Fiery Crown Divine Fir cannot be moved, and the Vermilion Bird Incense Burner is the heart of the great array. That leaves only the fire within the wood to be taken away.”
“Yan Jin, have you found it?”
The elder Yan Jin shook his head, transmitting his spiritual sense, “My Lord, the fire seed of the fire within the wood has been wandering within the Ten Li Burning Forest. In a short period, unless we are extremely lucky to stumble upon it, otherwise, we would have to activate the great array and search inch by inch.”
Fairy Yan Liu’s face was grim, “My Lord, have you sent out a distress signal?”
Luo Chen nodded, then shook his head, “According to the current situation, reinforcements are hard to come by.”
Fairy Yan Liu looked at Yan Jin, “If the three of us directly withdraw, we will have no way to explain ourselves to the Dragon King Temple and other factions!”
“But if we can leave with the legitimate reason of protecting the fire within the wood and preventing the enemy from seizing the fire seed, we will have a good life.”
“Therefore, we must find the fire within the wood!”
Yan Jin nodded, gritting his teeth, his face solemn, “I will do my utmost.”
Luo Chen consoled him, “Just relax a little.”
“The numerous defenses of my Ten Li Burning Forest are sufficient to hold off the enemy for ten days to half a month.”
“The generals of that Three Generals’ Camp have a maximum cultivation of only Golden Core.”
“Of course, the sooner we find the fire within the wood, the sooner we leave, the safer it will be.”
At this moment, Liu, Guan, Zhang, and Ning were also discussing the internal fire.
“The Thousand Peaks Forest is all composed of giant wooden mountains, without any fire veins. The Ten Li Burning Forest was built at great expense by the Dragon King Temple in conjunction with surrounding forces as a place for refining artifacts.”
“Because the Ginseng Beard Dragon King is in charge, they use human fire, which is the fire within the wood. This fire is one of the Three Flavors Fire, very precious.”
“If we obtain it, in the future, combined with the fire within the stone and the fire in the air, we will be able to condense the True Fire of Three Flavors!”
“Although the fire seed is good, for us, I’m afraid we don’t have enough time.”
“Not so. According to the structure of the Ten Li Burning Forest, the fire within the wood must be left in the raging flames, following the power of changing human hearts and the path of incense and divine spirits.”
“Therefore, finding a tiny fire seed in a vast sea of fire is not easy! There is still hope.”
After a round of discussion, the four’s hearts grew increasingly fervent. Although Ning Zhuo had obtained a ten-thousand-year fire essence, there was a fundamental difference between fire essence and a fire seed.
He was in need of a fire seed that could be used for refining artifacts and elixirs. This would also be of great convenience for him in refining mechanical creations in the future.
Seeing that the soldiers had finished resting, the Three Generals immediately organized the army and directly attacked the Ten Li Burning Forest from the front.
The Burning Forest’s defensive array had already been activated. At this moment, flames soared into the sky, melting gold and forging iron were child’s play.
In the past, the Three Generals’ Camp could only sigh at the sight of the fire. But now, they were different from before. With sufficient financial resources and Zhao Xi as their backing, the soldiers were fully equipped.
They took pills and affixed ice and frost talismans.
The entire army of over six hundred people (having absorbed many scattered soldiers) instantly became covered in frost, turning a uniform white.
“Advance!” Liu Er organized a triangular arrow formation and led the army into the sea of fire.
Endless fire tongues wrapped around the soldiers, but they could only lick the frost and could not endanger their lives in the short term.
Ai ai ai—
The army advanced for a mile, and rat hordes surged from all directions.
Fire fluff rats!
Ning Zhuo was very familiar with this type of demonic beast, as there were large numbers of fire fluff rats proliferating in Fire Persimmon Mountain.
The fire fluff rats in Fire Persimmon Mountain were often very large, able to swim in lava and prey on birds. The fire fluff rats in the Ten Li Burning Forest were smaller, but their numbers were greater.
This was the first time Ning Zhuo had seen such a large horde of rats.
Dense, layered rats, like a surging tide, attacked the Three Generals’ Camp.
All the soldiers were already standing ready.
Liu Er, in cautiousness, held up his Xuanhuang Sword and activated the military strategy of defending the land and consolidating the foundation contained within the sword, providing protection to the entire army.
Guan Hong was better at dealing with individual strong opponents, while Zhang Hei’s military strategy was more suitable for handling the current situation.
Military strategy—Large Army Pressure!
The military strength of the Three Generals’ Camp suddenly consumed forty percent, transforming into figures of black water soldiers.
The soldiers were silent, holding weapons also condensed from black water, and charged back towards the rat horde.
Ning Zhuo’s eyes moved slightly, and he keenly noticed that the weapons held by the black water soldiers this time were no longer unified spears, but included axes, halberds, hooks, spears, sabers, swords, and other common weapons.
Ning Zhuo thought to himself, “It seems Zhang Hei has gained many insights into the path of military strategy after experiencing many battles.”
The black water soldiers, a dense mass of dark color, directly collided with the crimson rat horde.
The soldiers were like reefs, remaining immobile.
The rat horde suffered increasing losses.
Although the black water soldiers suffered casualties, compared to the rat horde, they were significantly more resilient. Each black water soldier could kill at least a hundred fire fluff rats before perishing.
Fairy Yan Liu was hidden behind the scenes, controlling the rat horde with the help of the great array in the Burning Forest.
Seeing the black water soldiers showing signs of pushing back, she decisively took action and dispatched other demonic beasts.
They saw countless crimson snakes, mixed within the flames, like dazzling stars, shining with black and red colors,
enveloping the black water soldiers.
The black water soldiers were attacked from both sides by the rat horde and the crimson snake horde. They immediately showed signs of fatigue, and their casualty rate increased rapidly.
The battle line was gradually pushed back. Zhang Hei took a deep breath and once again employed the military strategy of Large Army Pressure.
The military strength that had just recovered was once again severely depleted, transforming into new power that was infused into the battle line.
The effect was immediate, the battle line was rapidly pushed back!
Seeing this situation, Fairy Yan Liu voluntarily withdrew her troops.