The days that followed saw Bai Chuan and the others training relentlessly! Ji Du and I subjected them to live combat drills every other day. Each session concluded with targeted summaries, leading directly into focused follow-up training.
As time wore on, the eight gradually adapted to Ji Du’s and my pace. At the very least, the coordination between myself and Chi Hao and Chi Ming had become significantly more intuitive. Essentially, neither Ji Du nor I could easily dispatch them in a single move anymore. Frankly, their rapid assimilation of our rhythm surprised both Ji Du and me somewhat. According to Ji Du, they were already qualified Heavy Assault Generals; with only the baptism of true bloodshed left, they could become commanders capable of standing alone.
Ten days later!
The main gate of the Black Flag Army encampment!
Everyone craned their necks, anxiously watching the distant path.
News had just arrived: the Heavy Assault Generals dispatched by the Bich and Cangyue nations were imminent. This was electrifying news!
And to showcase the sincerity and importance placed upon this alliance, Ji Du and I led Bai Chuan and the other seven Black Flag Legion Heavy Assault Generals, waiting right at the entrance!
Thudding! Thudding!
Around the corner of the narrow road, four riders appeared! Three Demon Warriors and one Celestial Master Daoist! Even from a distance, the striking silhouettes of the Demon Warrior armor and the Celestial Master robes instantly confirmed their identity to me!
“Hahahaha! It truly is Brother Jian Wu!” Before the newcomers could even dismount, Ji Du excitedly strode forward to meet them.
“Elder Brother Ji Du.” The leading figure had white hair and a youthful face, though his build was significantly sturdier than Ji Du’s. He appeared slightly older than Ji Du, yet carried absolutely none of the air of old age.
The three behind him quickly vaulted off their horses!
“Brother Zhen Xian, we’ve been waiting for you!” Ji Du called out cheerfully toward another Demon Warrior behind Jian Wu.
“You old devil Ji Du, taking liberties the moment we meet! I’m only a few months your junior, old man.” The one called Zhen Xian was the Demon Warrior from the Cangyue Empire—Cangyue Zhen Xian. He was a Demon Warrior of the same era as Ji Du. Clearly, both Cangyue and Bich were deeply invested in this deep-strike operation behind enemy lines, sending out Jian Wu and Cangyue Zhen Xian, both seasoned veterans. Ji Du, Jian Wu, and Cangyue Zhen Xian had once been comrades-in-arms in their youth, and their reunion now was naturally joyful.
After the three old comrades exchanged their greetings, they finally remembered the commander-in-chief, myself, and the assembled officers of the Black Flag Legion standing by!
Likewise, Bai Chuan and the others were sizing up the Demon Warrior and the Celestial Master Daoist accompanying Jian Wu.
Evidently, these two were far younger than Jian Wu and Cangyue Zhen Xian, appearing to be barely in their early twenties—though this was only their exterior age. On the Mafa Continent, it was difficult to judge a person’s true age by appearance alone. Take Ji Du, for instance; his actual age was well over a century, yet he looked no older than fifty or sixty.
Ji Du then turned and introduced, “This is His Royal Highness the Crown Prince of the Demon Dragon Dynasty, and current Commander-in-Chief of the Black Flag Legion, Jiu Yao Shen Zhen.”
“We have long heard of Your Highness’s wisdom and prowess. Your conduct strongly mirrors that of your father in his prime.” Jian Wu and the other three approached me and performed a standard knight’s salute: “To see you now, the rumors are indeed true.”
“Hahaha, His Highness the Crown Prince surpasses even his father’s achievements of that time,” Cangyue Zhen Xian added with praise.
“I am humbled,” I quickly returned the salute. “Generals Jian Mo Jian Wu and Jian Mo Zhen Xian’s heroic deeds and formidable reputations—General Ji Du has often spoken of them before me. We of the younger generation still have much to learn from the old generals.” The deference and respect expected of a junior were essential. However, this mutual showering of compliments right at the start genuinely made me uneasy all over.
Of course, these two battlefield veterans genuinely possessed illustrious records worthy of admiration. In Bich and Cangyue, they were foundational figures on par with Ji Du, having participated in no less than a thousand major and minor battles throughout their lives.
In terms of martial cultivation, neither was inferior to Ji Du, and like him, both were top-tier experts ranked within the Ten Great Heavenly Demons.
Silver Demon Ji Du: Ranked Sixth among the Ten Great Heavenly Demons! Sword Demon Zhen Xian: Ranked Seventh among the Ten Great Heavenly Demons! Blade Demon Jian Wu: Ranked Eighth among the Ten Great Heavenly Demons!
“Now, the Black Flag Legion’s generals are fully assembled,” Ji Du declared with elation.
“Indeed,” Jian Wu agreed. “Four of the Ten Great Heavenly Demons now serve under the Black Flag Legion. Our legion possesses an unprecedented roster.”
“The Ten Great Heavenly Demons!” I blinked slightly, suddenly recalling that I, too, had been chosen as one of the Ten Great Heavenly Demons, ranking exactly tenth!
“Haha, if that’s the case, the Black Flag Legion is historically the most powerful legion ever assembled,” Cangyue Zhen Xian laughed.
Perhaps because Ji Du, Jian Wu, and Cangyue Zhen Xian were old comrades, the warmth and familiarity between the three subtly infected everyone present. At least, no one felt any awkward restraint or distance.
After the pleasantries, as the commander-in-chief of the Black Flag Legion, it was naturally my duty to introduce the Heavy Assault Generals under my banner.
Bai Chuan, Yin Hong, Bai Yan, and the others were thrilled at the chance to witness the Sword Demon and Blade Demon, peers of Ji Du!
And through Jian Wu and Cangyue Zhen Xian’s introduction, I also met the other two Heavy Assault Generals who had accompanied them.
Bich’s Celestial Master Daoist, Jian Qi, clad in the Celestial Master Robes!
Subconsciously, I always enjoyed assessing women. Although I knew Jian Qi was actually over forty, I was still startled when I closely examined her features!
The Celestial Master Robes, blending strength without losing charm, combined with her slender, graceful figure, gave her an indescribably ethereal quality. Her appearance bore a slight resemblance to Yin Shuang. Perhaps due to her role as a Heavy Assault General, constantly bathing in the blood of the battlefield, she exuded a distinct coldness and murderous aura that other women lacked, especially so in her pair of violet eyes. It was hard to imagine a woman possessing such a piercing gaze.
Cangyue’s Demon Warrior, Cangyue Qian Yu.
Good heavens, if this fellow were in modern times, he’d be an idol-level star! His physique was taller than the average person!
Sharp eyebrows, bright eyes, a straight nose, and a square jaw! His fiery red long hair hung loosely over his shoulders, yet exuded an untamable wildness and arrogance. This shared a slight similarity with Ying Zhen Kuang Ren, but his pair of brown eyes appeared fierce and tyrannical, feeling like two churning flames! This guy was clearly not someone to be trifled with!
Some people are born inherently aggressive, instinctively invoking images of destruction and ruin. Without a doubt, Cangyue Qian Yu fell into this category. A single glance allowed one to clearly sense that suffocating pressure.
I paid close attention to Cangyue Qian Yu, not just because of his unsettling aura, but more importantly, due to Ji Du’s prior explanation!
The internal politics of the Cangyue Empire were complex, leaning toward a weak ruler with powerful ministers holding sway. That powerful minister was the Protector King, Cangyue Zhen Wu. Ji Du had specifically warned me about the nature of this Cangyue Qian Yu: he belonged to the type whose allegiance to small factions was severely pronounced—simply put, someone with boundless ambition for power. The fact that his son accompanied them suggested ill intentions!
Although I tried to maintain composure, my attention was drawn to Cangyue Qian Yu; I was keen to see what tricks this fellow might employ!
As I scrutinized Cangyue Qian Yu, the man was clearly scrutinizing me as well! He was obviously very interested in me, achieving fame and success at such a young age.
Before I became a Demon Warrior myself…
Jian Qi, Cangyue Qian Yu, and Fengmo Empire’s Mo Luo Yin Feng were the three youngest Heavy Assault Generals on the Mafa Continent, all born in the same year—making them forty-two this year.
Forty-two is quite young on the Mafa Continent, where the average lifespan reaches an astonishing 120 years.
If converted to modern standards, forty-two years old would correspond to the developmental stage of someone around twenty in modern times.
Mo Luo Yin Feng, who achieved fame in the same year as them, was the commander of the Thunderflame Legion at such a young age and, leveraging his self-created Thunderflame God-Slaying Formation alongside his own formidable strength, secured the fifth rank among the Ten Great Heavenly Demons! He could truly be called a young prodigy. His brilliance clearly overshadowed Cangyue Zhen Yu and Jian Qi.
Though they concealed it well, I detected a hint of resentment in their eyes.
In contrast, my own achievements—slaying the Grand Priest Lan Ling in the Battle of Yuncheng, creating numerous miracles on the Fengmo Continent, and finally establishing the Black Flag Legion single-handedly—were in no way inferior to Mo Luo Yin Feng’s! Especially considering the physical age of this body was only about seventeen. Compared to Mo Luo Yin Feng, I was even more inscrutable. Even a genius like Mo Luo Yin Feng, at my current age, had only reached the peak cultivation of Scarlet Moon and couldn't even break through to the Demon Dragon Realm!
Furthermore, due to age discrepancies, people tended to lump me in with those three when discussing them, which made them somewhat uncomfortable.
The experienced Ji Du and the others failed to notice this subtlety!
“Time is short,” Ji Du stated. “We should enter and discuss matters.”
After escorting the four into the command tent, everyone took their seats. In addition to the Heavy Assault Generals, the tent also contained Chi Long, Yin Shuang, and fifteen core officials from the three major tribes.
“The Black Flag Legion’s Heavy Assault Generals are fully assembled,” I stated solemnly. “Based on the detailed operational plans provided by the Bich military’s Strategy Department, we will now proceed with specific actions. I hope everyone will cooperate hand-in-hand to resist our formidable foe.”
“Marshal, just give the orders,” Jian Wu said earnestly. “General Jian Qi and I formally submit to the Black Flag banner starting now, awaiting the Marshal’s command.”
“General Zhen Xian and Qian Yu submit as well,” Cangyue Zhen Xian affirmed seriously.
“…” Cangyue Qian Yu looked sullen, as if everyone present owed him millions! He remained silent, essentially conceding to Cangyue Zhen Xian’s declaration.
“Good!” What nerve, throwing attitude at me the moment he arrives on my turf. However, since he didn't interrupt, I was happy to remain undisturbed. I nodded slightly: “I believe that with the united cooperation of our three nations, victory will be swift.” As I spoke, I looked toward Yin Shuang and stated firmly, “Next, General Yin Shuang of the Black Flag Legion’s Strategy Department will explain the operational deployment for the Black Flag Legion.”
Everyone then turned their gaze to Yin Shuang, their expressions unanimously shifting to awe. Indeed, Yin Shuang was a rare beauty, and a strange flicker crossed Cangyue Qian Yu’s gloomy eyes, giving me an involuntary jolt.
Is this fellow planning something against Yin Shuang? I analyzed internally, but then directed my attention back to the center of the hall!
In the center of the hall was a magical sand table constructed from a magic map, displaying the complete geography of the Fengmo Continent, along with the locations of various cities, strongholds, and troop deployments!
“The geographical environment of the Fengmo Continent is quite complex,” Yin Shuang said, stepping up to the sand table and pointing a wooden rod toward a chain of undulating mountains: “This is the Wanluo Mountain Range, stretching tens of thousands of miles from north to south, almost traversing the entire continent from north to south. It consists of dense forests, perilous peaks, and canyons, bordered by complex deserts and hilly terrain. Under normal circumstances, only the Blood Wolf Knights of the regular legions can operate effectively within it. Therefore, concerning this area, the Blood Wolf Legion—one of the three main corps of the Black Flag Legion—will be responsible for operations in the Wanluo Mountain Range and its bordering battle zones.” With that, Yin Shuang pointed to a grassy plain in the east of the sand table: “This is the Byron Great Prairie, the assembly point for the regular troops of my Byron Tribe, the Sword Dragon Knights. However, due to the obstruction of the Wanluo Mountain Range and the Yinfeng Mountain Range, our Byron army has never been able to enter the central plains of the Fengmo Continent. Therefore, the initial phase of the operation will focus on taking the fortress city of Man City, located where the Wanluo and Yinfeng ranges meet. Once Man City falls, our Byron army can advance through it into the central plains of the Fengmo Continent, becoming the main force for the Black Flag Legion’s assault on the Fengmo Imperial Capital, Fengmo City.”
Yin Shuang then pointed toward the sea near the south and several coastal cities: “This is the southern coastal region, containing several important coastal strongholds for the Fengmo Empire’s navy. The task of capturing these strongholds falls to the Rage Dragon Legion. According to the Bich Strategy Department’s analysis, the later stages of this major conflict may devolve into a war of attrition pitting military strength against strength. Therefore, capturing these southern coastal strongholds is critically important.”
“Firstly, it severs the maritime transport lines in the southern coastal regions of the Fengmo Empire, paralyzing their sea routes. At the very least, it prevents them from easily supplying the fronts at Black Sea, Red Sea, Blue Sea, and Misvick, thereby easing the pressure on our Mo Luo Alliance on those four fronts.”
“Secondly, it prepares for later operations. Once these strongholds are secured, even if the war enters the later attrition phase, it ensures the smooth flow of maritime routes using the southern waters of the Fengmo Continent. At that point, deploying regular troops from the Demon Dragon Continent into the Fengmo Continent would not be out of the question.”
“Thirdly, it will effectively tie down the legions stationed in the southern areas of the Fengmo Continent, dispersing the Fengmo Empire’s combat strength to the maximum extent.”
In essence, this operation is divided into three main threads. Once the Byron Corps captures Man City, they will immediately push forward, advancing directly toward the Fengmo Imperial Capital, Fengmo City!
The Blood Wolf Corps will operate along a second thread, focusing on infiltration within the Wanluo Mountain Range and the surrounding hilly desert areas. However, the Blood Wolf Corps’ operations will primarily focus on disrupting the logistics supply of the Fengmo armies, or continuing previous tactics, focusing on destroying civilian production across the Fengmo Continent!
Moreover, the Rage Dragon Corps’ operations in the southern coastal regions form a third independent thread. They will endeavor to capture Yawana Bay, Honggang, Lingyang, and Du Men, and subsequently take charge of maritime transport, coordinating the arrival of later reinforcements from the Demon Dragon Continent, forming a second major battlefield….”
Yin Shuang’s explanation was concise and clear. Everyone present possessed extensive experience in campaigns and warfare, so understanding the plan was not difficult.
What followed were the meticulous details of troop assignments and various personnel adjustments. However, Yin Shuang and Chi Long managed everything with perfect order; it certainly wasn’t my place to interfere.
The Blood Wolf Corps would retain its original structure but would be augmented by the Heavenly Demon Warrior Chi Peng and Yin Hong as partners, serving as the super-generals for the Blood Wolf Corps.
The Rage Dragon Corps remained unchanged, but since Bai Yan and Bai Chuan had both been elevated to Heavy Assault Generals, their combat power had naturally increased significantly. They would be responsible for maritime operations in the southern coastal areas.
The remaining Heavy Assault Generals, including myself and Ji Du, would be integrated into the Byron Corps, serving as the main breakthrough force alongside them in frontal assaults.
It could be said that the three corps would operate independently based on the terrain best suited to their expertise, but they would cooperate strategically on the grand scale!
I had to admit, the computational abilities of the Bich Strategy Department were outstanding. Every detail of the operation had been accounted for, and they even prepared corresponding capture plans for every city and stronghold, plans that were remarkably detailed and included several contingency plans for various unexpected situations. All we needed to do was execute the plan!
Inside the Phoenix Terrace Palace, the Imperial Palace of Fengmo City, the capital of the Fengmo Empire!
“There are signs of large-scale troop mobilization from the Rage Dragon and Byron Tribes,” Yin Cha said, holding open a ledger. “According to reliable intelligence, the four Heavy Assault Generals—Jian Wu, Cangyue Zhen Xian, Jian Qu, and Cangyue Qian Yu—have already rendezvoused with the Black Flag Legion! It seems the Black Flag Legion is about to launch its full-scale offensive.”
“Are there any reports from the Thunderflame Legion?” Mo Luo Yin Sha leaned back against the Empress Chair, rubbing her forehead with a look of fatigue.
The deaths of Mo Luo Ao Tian and the others had undoubtedly been a devastating blow to the entire Fengmo Empire. Losing six Heavy Assault Generals at once was the most painful loss the Fengmo Empire had suffered in five hundred years.
The resulting chain reaction of variables far exceeded the imagination of Mo Luo Yin Sha and the Fengmo Royal Family. Reports of civilian panic, questioning of the Royal Family’s competence, and wavering morale within the various legions flooded in like snow.
Now, both the populace and the military spoke the name Jiu Yao Shen Zhen with terror.
Especially the proclamation he made when establishing the Black Flag Legion and confirming its banner—those words caused deep dread among all citizens and soldiers of the Fengmo Empire!
“Black Flag Legion: Death, Destruction, Ruin,” Mo Luo Yin Sha’s grim face was utterly dark. “Burn all, kill all, eradicate all.” Just a simple banner, three simple tenets, yet they expressed Jiu Yao Shen Zhen’s iron-blooded and radical style of operation in the most direct, unadorned manner.
Mo Luo Yin Sha was already filled with regret; her intuition told her she might have committed an irreparable mistake. Reflecting on it, the Ao Tian Legion was practically demolished by Jiu Yao Shen Zhen. Who could have foreseen such an outcome beforehand?
If she allowed Jiu Yao Shen Zhen to continue unrestrained, who knew what terrifying consequences might unfold? Previously, he alone had caused the Fengmo Empire endless trouble.
With the addition of Ji Du, they had directly annihilated the Ao Tian Legion.
Now, with the addition of this large contingent of Heavy Assault Generals like Jian Wu and Cangyue Zhen Xian, no one could possibly fathom the fighting strength the Black Flag Legion would exhibit under the hands of this terrifying Jiu Yao Shen Zhen. It wouldn't surprise anyone if he razed the entire Fengmo Empire to the ground.
The royal houses of every nation had long grown numb to the series of miraculous events surrounding Jiu Yao Shen Zhen.
Faced with this monster who seemed blessed by the Goddess of Fortune, what method remained to defeat him?
Thinking of this, Mo Luo Yin Sha subconsciously glanced out the window at the silver full moon.
“Mo Luo Yin Feng! It all rests on you now. Perhaps only you can stand against that terrifying monster.”