Only after Mo Luo Yin Feng and the others had gone far did Mo Hui and Mo Cha finally heave a sigh of relief!
"That Cang Yue Qian Yu has long been seen as trouble," Mo Cha gritted out, "I never thought he would be so utterly despicable."
"We must report this to Chief Commander Yin Shuang immediately," Mo Hui said gravely.
Mancheng! The Marshal's Residence!
Mo Luo Yin Feng sat rigidly on the commander's seat, his expression grave. Present were the Eight War Generals of Lei Yan, along with Teng Kui, Teng Shuo, and Yin Ke, key members of the legion staff.
"Does the Marshal believe the news is reliable?" Teng Kui asked. "After all, Cang Yue Qian Yu is one of the Holy Word Alliance."
"........" Mo Luo Yin Feng, his face deeply thoughtful, seemed to be meticulously recalling something. After a long pause, he stated heavily, "Jiu Yao Shen Zhen's injuries must be severe. My spear pierced straight through his chest, coupled with the erosion of the Blazing Fire Dou Qi. Given Jiu Yao Shen Zhen's constitution, merely surviving is already an anomaly." Mo Luo Yin Feng continued, "Although I anticipated Jiu Yao Shen Zhen would be badly hurt, his being critically injured and unconscious is somewhat unexpected. It seems Jiu Yao Shen Zhen's physical toughness is insufficient, causing his recovery to be far slower than normal after sustaining injury."
In fact, prior intelligence analysis had already concluded that Jiu Yao Shen Zhen's physical body was completely unsuitable for a warrior!
Yet, surprisingly, Jiu Yao Shen Zhen had managed to cultivate the strength of a Heavenly Demon Warrior despite his fragile frame!
This fact had caused everyone to subconsciously overlook it until receiving news from Cang Yue Qian Yu, when they finally realized the truth!
Even so, Teng Shuo and Teng Kui remained suspicious of Cang Yue Qian Yu's actions. After all, being on opposing sides, it was hard for Teng Kui to immediately believe that Cang Yue Qian Yu would commit such a breach of contract and alliance.
"General Teng Kui should be aware of Cang Yue's internal situation," Yin Ke supplemented. "For many years, the Cang Yue Empire and the Mo Long Empire have maintained tense relations. The Wei King's apprehension towards the Mo Long Empire is well-known. From the Cang Yue Empire's perspective, Cang Yue Qian Yu's actions are not suspicious at all. Moreover, to demonstrate sincerity, he even came alone, showing Cang Yue Qian Yu's resolve in this assassination attempt on Jiu Yao Shen Zhen. Otherwise, given Cang Yue Qian Yu's nature, he would absolutely never dare to take such a risk."
"To be frank, the rapid rise of the Mo Long Empire is something the Cang Yue Empire least desires to see," Gong Gong Qin Qin analyzed. "Historically, the Cang Yue and Mo Long nations have been sworn enemies. If not for pressure from the Holy Word Church and the Bi Qi Empire forcing them to join the Holy Word Alliance, the Mo Long and Cang Yue empires would likely have already decimated each other."
"But isn't Cang Yue Qian Yu afraid of sanctions from the Holy Word Alliance for doing this?" Teng Shuo still harbored doubts.
"Sanctions?" Gong Gong Qin Qin countered. "Don't forget this action was an assassination, not an overt declaration of betrayal. Even if the Mo Long Empire suspects it later, they have no concrete evidence. The Cang Yue Empire can still remain aloof. Besides, even if exposed, the Cang Yue Empire could simply switch allegiance to the Mo Luo Alliance—it wouldn't be the end of the world."
"So, Cang Yue Qian Yu is determined to eliminate Jiu Yao Shen Zhen this time," Teng Shuo murmured.
"Naturally," Mo Luo Yin Feng asserted. "Anyone facing a formidable enemy like Jiu Yao Shen Zhen would be restless day and night." As he spoke, Mo Luo Yin Feng unconsciously took a deep breath, stood up, and walked to the window. "In just four months, he established the Black Flag Army and gathered over ten heavy armored generals. Plus, the heavy armored generals like Teng Chong and Teng Ke killed by him in the last Battle of Mancheng—hasn't the Feng Mo Empire suffered enough losses at his hands? If we allow him to develop further, I wouldn't be the least surprised if he completely flattened the Feng Mo Empire one day."
"........" Everyone looked crestfallen. Though reluctant to admit it, every person present deeply felt the terror that Jiu Yao Shen Zhen inspired!
"He is already this terrifying and troublesome as the Crown Prince," Mo Luo Yin Feng ground his teeth. "If he ascends the throne in the future and commands the Mo Long Empire, with his style of conduct, no one can predict what he might do."
"Now, it is not only our Feng Mo Empire and the Cang Yue Empire, but even the Holy Word Church and the Bi Qi Empire that regard Jiu Yao Shen Zhen with considerable apprehension. The Church and various nations have listed Jiu Yao Shen Zhen in a special, exclusive Seven-Star file, treating him with the equivalent status of a monarch," Yin Ke stated grimly. "It's clear that no one wishes to see the day Jiu Yao Shen Zhen becomes the Mo Long Emperor."
"A fine uncrowned king," Chi Yue Qin Shuang murmured solemnly.
"An uncrowned king," Mo Luo Yin Feng's shadowed face contorted into a terrifying grimace. "Well said. Let him remain the eternal uncrowned king, because he will never live to see the day he ascends the throne."
The hall fell silent, everyone feeling the overwhelming, oppressive, scorching killing intent radiating from Mo Luo Yin Feng!
Never before had anyone inspired such dread in Mo Luo Yin Feng! Everyone was slightly taken aback!
"Strike while the iron is hot," Chi Yue Qin Shuang declared. "Jiu Yao Shen Zhen is critically injured and unconscious, and the Black Flag Army is at its weakest. This opportunity is a once-in-a-lifetime chance." Yin Nu Qu Lei said seriously, "We cannot miss it. This time, we must not only kill Jiu Yao Shen Zhen but annihilate the Black Flag Army in one stroke."
"Haha, excellent! Annihilate the Black Flag Army in one stroke!" Everyone was greatly excited.
"Although the news is likely true, necessary precautions must still be arranged just in case," Chi Yue Qin Shuang added.
"Next, let's discuss the march and battle plan for three days from now," Mo Luo Yin Feng returned to the command seat and looked towards the tactical sand table.
Black Flag Legion Encampment!
In the central medical tent, Ji Du, Chi Ming, Chi Hao, and the others remained standing guard, never leaving their posts.
Behind the curtain!
Jian Qi once again wrung out the towel in the basin and carefully spread it over Jiu Yao Shen Zhen's forehead.
She then gently stood up and retreated outside the tent.
"How is he?" Ji Du asked anxiously.
Jian Qi gently shook her head and sighed. "Logically, with a Heavenly Demon Warrior's constitution, he should recover quickly even after injury. However, although the Marshal's cultivation has reached the Heavenly Demon Warrior realm, his physical body is quite fragile. Coupled with the damage from the Blazing Fire Sword Qi invading his body, the Marshal's injuries are more severe than anticipated. While his condition is controlled now, I cannot say when he will awaken."
"........" Chi Hao, Chi Ming, and the others sighed softly, then fell silent.
Jian Wu, however, looked contemplative!
If Jian Qi had not personally confirmed it, Jian Wu would never have believed that Jiu Yao Shen Zhen, a Heavenly Demon Warrior, possessed a physical body no stronger than an ordinary person.
It barely reached the strength of an advanced warrior. Jian Wu could not fathom how Jiu Yao Shen Zhen managed to unleash such astonishing combat power with such a fragile physique!
It was only at this moment that Jian Wu deeply understood the miraculous and incredible nature of Jiu Yao Shen Zhen.
Could it be that the influence of bloodline is truly so miraculous, capable of overcoming physical limitations and unleashing the deeper potential within a human body!
If Jiu Yao Shen Zhen's body were even slightly stronger, what level could he have reached!
Perhaps the armor he wore now wouldn't be Heavenly Demon Battle Armor, but Thunder Battle Armor!
Thinking of this filled Jian Wu with an uncontrollable surge of fervent desire.
Yes, Jiu Yao Shen Zhen currently possessed the most perfect bloodline, but he lacked the most perfect physical form.
Perhaps Heaven was fair, at least leaving Jiu Yao Shen Zhen with an insurmountable chasm: the limitation of physical strength.
But it was undeniable that Jiu Yao Shen Zhen remained the most perfect warrior—at least on the current Mafa Continent, one could not find a more perfectly merged bloodline body. If the Bi Qi Royal Family could possess such a bloodline, what a scenario that would create!
Jian Wu instinctively looked towards Jian Qi! A wild, absurd thought flashed through Jian Wu's mind!
But just then, Yin Shuang, Yin Hu, and Yin Xi quickly entered the tent! Accompanying them were two teenagers from the Byron tribe, a boy and a girl, both about sixteen years old.
However, the faces of Yin Shuang and Yin Hu were extremely grim!
Ji Du and Jian Wu and the others were all slightly startled.
"Cang Yue Qian Yu tried to kill the Marshal," Yin Shuang stated grimly.
"What is going on?" Jian Wu could hardly believe what he heard.
"It's true," Yin Hu confirmed. "Cang Yue Qian Yu actually colluded with Mo Luo Yin Feng to attempt to assassinate the Marshal."
"......." Ji Du and Jian Wu could only look on dumbfounded!
"Let Mo Hui and Mo Cha tell everyone," Yin Shuang suggested.
"Byron Warrior Mo Hui."
"Mo Cha."
"We pay our respects to the Generals." The two youths bowed in salute.
"Skip the formalities," Ji Du said gravely. "Hurry up and tell us exactly what happened."
"Yes!" The two took a deep breath before slowly beginning, "Mo Cha and I were practicing swords in the woods southwest of the camp........."
Ten minutes later! Mo Hui and Mo Cha had recounted everything they saw and heard to Ji Du and the others, verbatim!
Although they had long suspected that the Cang Yue Empire's assistance was ill-intentioned, this act of colluding with the enemy to assassinate Jiu Yao Shen Zhen—a breach of promise and alliance—chilled everyone to the bone!
"Damn it, how could the Cang Yue Empire pull a trick like this?" Ji Du was so angry his lungs felt ready to burst, but his face, twisted with fury, instantly became shadowed and ferocious.
"Let's go cripple that brat right now," Chi Ming and Chi Hao were filled with killing intent.
"Generals!" Yin Shuang intervened. "We don't have concrete evidence yet, so we can't act against them. That's why we came to discuss this with you."
"There's also the fact that Mo Luo Yin Feng already knows the Marshal is critically injured and unconscious. Our situation is very precarious. Furthermore, how should we face the counterattack from Mancheng in three days?"
"Hmph! If we hadn't learned this news, perhaps the Marshal really would have been ambushed by Cang Yue Qian Yu, and the Black Flag Legion might even have been wiped out by Mo Luo Yin Feng. But since we found out, one can only say that even Heaven is on our side," Jian Wu stated gravely.
Everyone was secretly astonished. It was only then that they recalled how, every time Jiu Yao Shen Zhen encountered danger, he would inexplicably turn peril into safety!
Perhaps this good luck had extended to the Black Flag Army too!
Thinking of this, everyone subconsciously looked at Mo Hui and Mo Cha. How could such a coincidence lead to Mo Hui and Mo Cha running into this, and they happened to be skilled in concealment arts!
It seemed as if fate had arranged everything in advance! Thus, amidst their shock and anger, everyone quickly calmed down, replaced by an ineffable sense of ease and confidence.
"Haha, even Heaven is helping us," Ji Du rejoiced. "It seems the Marshal's coma might actually be the opportunity to conquer Mancheng this time."
"Do the two old Generals mean we can turn this situation to our advantage?" Yin Shuang inquired.
"Precisely." As he spoke, Jian Wu instinctively looked at Mo Hui and Mo Cha and stated gravely, "However, this happened suddenly. We must be cautious. It's not that I don't trust you two, but I cannot believe that with your cultivation, you could remain undetected within the aura of peerless masters like Mo Luo Yin Feng and Cang Yue Qian Yu. Remember, the Death Desire Eye of a Heavenly Demon Warrior can scan everything in the vicinity. If facing masters of the same level, perhaps you could be concealed, but you are both so young—forgive my bluntness—but with your cultivation, it is impossible to hide from Mo Luo Yin Feng's detection."
Hearing this, everyone looked confused. Indeed, these two youngsters, Mo Hui and Mo Cha, did not look like peerless masters in any way!
"Old General, you can't say that. Nothing is absolute in this world," Mo Hui said proudly. "Mo Cha and I are the most outstanding genius warriors the Byron tribe has produced in a thousand years. Hiding from the detection of those big fools is child's play."
"That's right," Mo Cha added with a cool expression. "If you don't believe us, ask Chief Commander Yin Shuang."
"........" Everyone was stunned, looking at these two cool-faced youngsters with a strange feeling.
"You're not old, but your boasts are big," Chi Ming exclaimed in surprise.
"I can guarantee that what they say is true," Yin Shuang smiled faintly. "Of course, seeing is believing. Everyone, you should witness the methods of the two super geniuses from our Byron tribe."
"Hmph! Interesting," Chi Hao said curiously. "I'd like to see how you conceal your auras."
"Heh heh, watch closely." Mo Hui and Mo Cha simultaneously took a deep breath. They made no visible, special movements!
Yet, when Ji Du and the others tried to use their Death Desire Eyes to sense their auras, they received absolutely no response.
The two youngsters were clearly standing before them, but they could sense no life fluctuations, as if only phantom images of empty space remained where they stood.
"Ah! How can this be?" Chi Ming was nearly astounded. "I can't sense any aura at all."
"Believe us now?" Mo Hui said triumphantly.
"Truly, heroes emerge from the young. With this skill alone, you two deserve the title of genius," Jian Wu dismissed his doubts. "Keep up the good work. The Black Flag Legion's ability to resolve this crisis is largely thanks to you two. You will have a huge share of the credit in the future."
"Haha, how big is this credit?" Mo Hui and Mo Cha were overjoyed. Receiving Jian Wu's praise and encouragement was a great morale boost for the young Mo Hui and Mo Cha! The two youngsters were beside themselves with pride!
"Very, very big," Jian Wu affirmed. "As for how big, ask the Marshal when he wakes up."
"Yay! That's great!" Mo Hui and Mo Cha were ecstatic. "We call dibs on being the Marshal's personal guards first!"
"....." Seemingly infected by the two, everyone also broke into smiles.
"You two step back now. What we discuss next will be highly classified!" Yin Shuang also said with a slight smile.
"Oh!" Although feeling a bit disappointed, the two wisely withdrew towards the outside of the tent. After all, getting to interact this closely with famous generals like Ji Du and Jian Wu was not an opportunity that came along easily!
"Wait!" Ji Du quickly interjected. "This plan will also require their cooperation."
"Could it be that General Ji Du has thought of a good plan?" Yin Shuang and the others were surprised.
"It is now certain that what Mo Hui and Mo Cha said is true," Ji Du stated firmly. "Now, how do we utilize this rare opportunity? This time, we must completely crush the Cang Yue Empire's conspiracy and take the chance to capture Mancheng." Ji Du was full of confidence.
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