New Section City.

After two days of much-needed rest and recuperation, the victorious camp once again assembled.

They gathered before two towering flagpoles. This time, Heavy Profound Win made no attempt to conceal their presence. Flung high were two banners: one a gaudy flag proclaiming “Victory in Sight,” the other the resplendent Qi Country banner, also known as the Purple Micro Midheaven Supreme Emperor Flag.

These were the general’s flag and the country’s flag, respectively. Here, in New Section City within Hui Luo Prefecture, squarely in the rear of the Xia army, they openly and grandly raised the Great Qi banner!

The more than four thousand surrendered soldiers of New Section City, their weapons confiscated, squatted on the other side of the drill ground. Their eyes, complex with emotion, watched the Qi forces. Heavy Profound Win made no attempt to recruit them this time, for the coming campaign could not rely on the loyalty of surrendered troops.

As before, he dismantled the city’s defenses and destroyed its war materiel, taking only hard currency like Dao Yuan Stones. For example, all the weapons of the New Section City garrison were piled together, then melted by Jiang Wang’s Dao techniques into a colossal iron sphere, now standing in the city center.

Jiang Wang stood to Heavy Profound Win’s left, while Fourteen stood behind him. They faced the gathered troops of the victorious camp, two thousand four hundred fifty-three souls in total.

All the way through Lin Wu Prefecture, taking Xi Ming City, crossing Hu Yang Pass, plundering Hong Gu City, breaking New Section City…

Though success relied heavily on Heavy Profound Win’s meticulous planning, exceptional strategic vision, and Jiang Wang’s leading-by-example martial prowess—often the first to strike down enemy generals—losses were unavoidable. Five hundred forty-seven men were forever left on this land. Whether their souls would return home or wander eternally in a foreign land depended on the final outcome of this war.

For the victorious camp, time was of the essence. Heavy Profound Win’s strategy of first plundering Hong Gu and then striking New Section relied on exploiting a time difference. The major figure Xia had hastily recalled, now setting up a pocket in Hui Ming Prefecture, would react swiftly once they learned of New Section’s plight, seeking to understand the purpose of this Qi army branch operating in their rear.

Below New Section City, almost the entirety of Feng Li Prefecture lay virtually defenseless, its arms open to the Qi Army! At this moment, the Qi Army had two exceptionally advantageous choices. One was Dai City, the northernmost city of Feng Li Prefecture; the other was Shuo Feng City, its southernmost city.

Taking Dai City would thoroughly link the Lin Wu and Feng Li Prefecture war zones. Taking Shuo Feng City would directly threaten Jin An Prefecture, creating an opportunity for the Liang Army to advance.

Either move was a potentially fatal blow. Being forced onto the defensive and having the enemy breach one’s gates came with this inherent disadvantage: the enemy could strike with impunity, while one’s own forces were constrained everywhere, constantly exposing vital points. Often, there was no truly correct solution, only choosing the lesser of two evils.

This was also why Fan Jiao had initially chosen to go to Feng Li alone. However, Heavy Profound Win, one step ahead, deceived Hu Yang Pass, lightly took Hong Gu City, and pointed his sword towards Shao Kang Prefecture! This stirred significant chaos in Hui Ming Prefecture and unsettled Shao Kang Prefecture, thereby drawing out the fierce tiger, Fan Ao.

Shao Kang Prefecture was more crucial and vulnerable than Feng Li Prefecture; Xia could not ignore it. Heavy Profound Win abandoned Hong Gu City the very day he took it, buying himself precious time. Before the allied army net of various cities in Hui Ming Prefecture could fully form, he made his first escape, slipping outside the net and concealing his tracks. Thus, he brushed past Fan Ao and quickly rushed to New Section, relying on Jiang Wang’s perilous gamble to take it down in one swift move.

By now, details like sending random distress letters, driving surrendered soldiers into chaotic skirmishes, or predicting the routes of the Hui Ming Prefecture allied forces were all minor matters. Fan Ao’s ability to quickly restore order in Hui Ming Prefecture, mobilize troops from various cities, and swiftly set up a tight pocket also attested to his seasoned military acumen.

Yet, a single misstep on the chessboard meant being led by the nose.

For the victorious camp now, time was the most crucial factor. They had to achieve their next strategic objective after taking New Section before Xia’s temporarily unknown opponent caught up.

Time concerned not only final success or failure; it was also the line between life and death! They had won many battles along the way, but losing here would mean losing everything!

At this juncture, for Heavy Profound Win to choose to stop and rest was an act not of great wisdom, but of astonishing courage. How could he dare? It was as if everything about this war was already concretely and meticulously mapped out in his mind, as if he could pinpoint precisely what would happen every hour.

All Jiang Wang could do was offer his full support.

The victorious camp indeed needed rest. During the battle of Jian Feng Mountain, the Autumn Kill Army was the main force. Although the victorious camp was part of the hundred-thousand-strong army formation at the time, Heavy Profound Win had deliberately taken care of them, dividing the army’s Qi blood and Dao Yuan requirements between Jiang Wang and himself.

But this three-thousand-strong victorious camp, while their colleagues were already comfortably eating meat and drinking wine in military tents, had followed Heavy Profound Win and Jiang Wang. They traversed the entire Lin Wu Prefecture, conquering all the way from west to east Hui Ming, finally reaching New Section City. Even doing nothing, simply covering so much ground in such a short time, without relying on army formation blessings, Qi blood pills, talismans, or other external aids… simply the act of moving could have killed many.

It was precisely because this was an elite army, formed from the Qi Nine Graduates, with every soldier a sharpened blade among sharp blades, that they could endure Heavy Profound Win’s relentless pace.

Heavy Profound Win’s order to rest the army wasn’t because he was unaware of the importance of time. It was precisely *because* he cared so much about time! Hui Ming and Feng Li were adjacent, and there was more than one connecting node between the two prefectures’ cities. Why he chose New Section City as his last stop before entering Feng Li Prefecture naturally stemmed from his overall strategy. For example, Tian Feng Pasture, located within New Section City’s domain, was one of Xia Country’s four great pastures, supplying a large number of warhorses to the Xia army.

After occupying New Section, Heavy Profound Win directly broke open Tian Feng Pasture, releasing the horse herd to roam free, keeping only less than six thousand horses for his own use. The disruption of Tian Feng Pasture and the released horse herd, in his plan, was also an idle chess piece to delay the Xia army’s pursuit by one step.

The soldiers of the victorious camp were adept at both mounted and foot warfare. At this moment, with one man per two horses, carrying bows, hanging crossbows, and armed with knives, they stood in silent formation on the drill ground.

What a solemn killing aura!

Heavy Profound Win looked at them deeply, said nothing else, and turned to quickly soar into the high air: “Follow me… take down Dai City!”

His next target was Dai City! He wanted to connect the Lin Wu and Feng Li prefecture war zones, link the Qi armies in one line, and directly seal off the eastern part of Xia Country!

The two thousand four hundred fifty-three soldiers of the victorious camp roared in unison:

“Dai City! Dai City! Dai City!!!”

Thus, horse hooves moved, and thus thunder rose.

He no longer concealed his intentions, allowing the surrendered soldiers of New Section City to hear, to spread the message to whoever would listen. For there was no longer any need for concealment. From the moment he led his army to insert himself into Lin Wu’s rear, his grand strategic goal had been this. He had waited for this very moment. Now, all that mattered was time!

Of course, New Section City’s messenger flying beasts were also released as usual, carrying all sorts of chaotic and fabricated distress letters, sowing confusion. At this moment, Feng Li Prefecture was already in turmoil.

Rumble! Rumble!

The country flag and the general’s flag fluttered in the wind. Two Teng Long Realm commanders set up the Kui Cow war drum and quickly flew into the high air. Black-helmeted and black-armored Fourteen personally held the mallet and struck the drum face!

Watching such a troop gallop away, the unarmed captives of New Section City exchanged blank stares. The sound that echoed in their ears, spreading to the horizon… was it the drumbeat, the thunder, or the pounding of hooves? It was impossible to distinguish!

The raw material for the Kui Cow war drum was the hide of a Kui Cow, an ancient exotic beast now extinct in the present world, fished by Wang Changji in the Mountain Sea Realm. After Jiang Wang sent it back to Lin Zi, Heavy Profound Win found a master craftsman in the army to tan it. As a war formation tool, this drum was exceptionally suited for marching.

One drumbeat invigorated the spirit. Two drumbeats activated blood Qi. Three drumbeats ignited the soldier’s evil! Moreover, the accompanying thunder had the power to break laws and deter enemies.

The camp’s raised warp and weft flag, a top-tier country flag, could provide comprehensive protection to the army, stabilize the soldier’s evil, and reduce the possibility of soldiers suffering from soldier’s evil backlash. The “Victory in Sight” general flag, though not aesthetically pleasing, was also highly effective as a military formation tool. It could help soldiers form army formations faster and had the effect of strengthening the soldier’s evil force.

With the plunder of Xi Ming, Hong Gu, and New Section, the victorious camp, from top to bottom, was completely outfitted. Everyone wore armor, and everyone had weapons and tools. At this moment, fully equipped, they were like dragons and horses, directly stepping into Feng Li Prefecture!

They advanced with such speed and force that gods and ghosts alike avoided their path, breaking through scout lines with ease. They bypassed cities without entering, and any Xia army that dared to emerge from a city was immediately killed without mercy. What city in Feng Li Prefecture dared to venture out for a pitched battle? Unable to ascertain the enemy army’s true strength, they could only fear this Qi army branch that traversed the heart of the prefecture with such swagger. Even if they intended to muster their forces to welcome and strike, the victorious camp had already galloped far away before the entire army could sortie.

Messenger flying beasts filled the sky of Feng Li Prefecture, transmitting many chaotic messages, making it impossible to distinguish truth from falsehood. But this Qi army branch traversing the official road was real, the sound of their hooves was real, and their long knives and powerful crossbows were all too real!

Rumble, rumble.

After galloping for a full day and night, the sound of thunder, which had emanated from the center of Feng Li Prefecture, had rolled all the way to its north, finally thundering in the skies above Dai City!

When Jiang Wang’s Qian Yang Red Pupils brought the city into his vision, he suddenly discovered that Dai City was already engulfed in the flames of war. More than a dozen Thorn Boats circled the city, launching break-law Thorn Spears while avoiding the city’s crossbow fire.

In the distance, towards the north gate of Dai City, a dense Qi army was fiercely attacking the city. A general soared high in the air, his body bolstered by the force of soldier’s evil. A vertical pupil between his eyebrows unleashed a light of heavenly punishment, relentlessly bombarding Dai City’s grand array!

It was none other than Bao Bo Zhao!

Furthermore, another Qi general, with disheveled beard and hair, appeared to be drunkenly singing wildly, wielding a large brush that shook like a reed, continuously attacking the city with Confucian techniques.

“Bao Bo Zhao! Xie Bao Shu!” Jiang Wang’s eyebrows twitched. He felt a touch of discomfort at having his accomplishments shared.

Heavy Profound Win also frowned, but then said, “It’s unexpected that Heavy Profound Zun isn’t here. There’s no reason for him to be slower than these two… Now, I wonder if the pressure will be enough.”

“What pressure isn’t enough?” Jiang Wang didn’t understand.

The defending general of Dai City, Xue Ru Shi, was a descendant of a branch of Xia Country’s Yang Ling Hou’s lineage. His marching and array skills were not bad, he was cautious and independent, cherished his reputation, and was well-regarded in Xia Country. When Heavy Profound Win reviewed Xia Country’s intelligence, he discovered something—when Yang Ling Hou Xue Chang and Guang Ping Hou Li Fu Hu Tai were vying for power, Xue Ru Shi, who was clearly serving under Hu Tai, had requested sick leave at home. People at the time said Xue Ru Shi was someone who knew how to avoid suspicion.

From this, Heavy Profound Win concluded that Xue Ru Shi was a man who clearly prioritized his own self-preservation. He further researched Xue Ru Shi’s life, speculated on his character, and combined many details to determine that this person, in a moment of true crisis, could not bear high pressure. Hence, he made Dai City the conclusion of his eastern offensive campaign against Xia!

Of course, there was no time to explain to Jiang Wang at this moment.

Both the attackers and defenders of Dai City noticed this branch of cavalry that had swept in from Feng Li’s rear. No one recognized the “Victory in Sight” flag, but the fluttering Purple Micro Midheaven Supreme Emperor Flag clearly indicated their allegiance!

How could the Qi Army have galloped in from the rear of Feng Li Prefecture? What did this signify?

Heavy Profound Win gave them no time to ponder. Directly sweeping the soldier’s evil, he enveloped the victorious camp’s soldiers and once again manifested the Fa Tian Xiang Di divine ability. His body grew into a giant thirty zhang high, and his voice boomed: “Hu Yang Pass is broken! Hui Luo Prefecture’s flag has changed! Feng Li is already an isolated prefecture!”

“I, Heavy Profound Win, am here by order to take Dai City! Friendly armies, make way!”

“Announce to the officials of Dai City: surrender and be spared death. One day without surrender, kill those at the vice-general level and above! Two days without surrender, kill those at the team leader level and above! Three days without surrender, kill those who hold weapons! Four days without surrender, at the time of breaking the city, there will be four days of no sheathing of blades!”

The attack and defense of Dai City had begun on December seventh and had continued for two days. Of course, Heavy Profound Win was not the only intelligent person in the Qi Army. Qi Country’s strength surpassed Xia Country’s on all fronts, from high-level power to future prodigies, to the quality of its soldiers—from strength to potential, it was an all-around crushing advantage.

The last seven cities in Lin Wu Prefecture were still stubbornly resisting. Xie Zhun An was implementing Cao Ji’s grand strategy, proceeding steadily and surely, surrounding the seven cities simultaneously and attacking relentlessly. And among the various generals gathered for the eastern front campaign, some, like Bao Bo Zhao, were unwilling to be bogged down in the rotation of attacks in Lin Wu Prefecture. They had long planned their next breakthrough, directly leading their army to attack Dai City in Feng Li Prefecture.

At this moment, they suddenly saw their “friendly army,” Heavy Profound Win, leading his cavalry from the south face of Dai City. When he had “disappeared,” he was an infantry camp. Upon his “return,” every man and two horses were arranged, each wearing armor and wielding sharp weapons—all equipment at the general level! Besides sighing, they had nothing else good to say for a while!

For the defending army of Dai City, the continuous retreat of the front line in Lin Wu Prefecture had already put great pressure on Feng Li Prefecture. The Qi Army directly attacking their city gates was sufficient proof that the Xia Army in Lin Wu Prefecture had lost control of the situation. As the city’s garrison, there was no other way. They could only rely on the power of the protecting-country grand array and the city’s grand array to hold fast and await aid.

They had sent I-don’t-know-how-many pleas for help. The attack and defense on the city wall had continued for I-don’t-know-how-many rounds. After much difficulty, they finally waited for aid from the rear, only to find that the aid was actually the opposing Qi Army?

They were still fighting bitterly on the front line in Feng Li Prefecture, while Qi Country’s Purple Micro Midheaven Supreme Emperor Flag was actually already fluttering in the rear of Feng Li Prefecture! This blow to the morale of the Dai City garrison was almost devastating!

Xue Ru Shi walked on the city wall; how could he not sense the panic of the soldiers below? The Qi Army rushing in from the rear of Feng Li Prefecture was an undeniable fact. He even recognized that the horses ridden by this Qi army branch were those from Tian Feng Pasture; the horses’ hindquarters bore the mark of Tian Feng Pasture! If Hui Ming Prefecture had not completely fallen, how could the Qi Army have reached Feng Li? With Tian Feng Pasture fully occupied, Feng Li Prefecture’s rear was likely truly lost!

He forcefully suppressed his unease, infused his Dao Yuan, and with his last ounce of courage, roared angrily: “My Great Xia has a million strong army and billions of common people! What fear do we have of you Qi thieves! If you have the ability, just attack the city! I, Xue, will offer my head for you to cut, and I shall not even blink!”

Heavy Profound Win condensed vast soldier’s evil onto his body, manifesting the giant that stood against the heavens and earth. At this moment, he fundamentally did not waste any more words on him.

He simply turned his head and looked back—

“Jiang Qing Yang of the Yellow River Head, I want to see that sword you did not unsheathe in the western suburbs of Lin Zi!”

The giant’s voice was like heavenly thunder, truly carrying the might of heaven.

Then, in the dome above, four stars suddenly shone together, and a star road lit up, suddenly turning and piercing the seven stars’ domain.

The stars were shifting!

Between heaven and earth, one person hovered.

Jiang Wang had already grasped his sword!

“I am willing to surrender!”—Xue Ru Shi’s voice immediately rang out!

(Many people have asked for a map of Xia Country. Here’s a reminder: the hand-drawn map of Xia Country is attached as an extra chapter after chapter one hundred eighty-three of this volume, titled “I also covet life.”)

Please read on.