Xu Mujun stood up and slapped the map of Yuanhe Mountain with his hand.

“Yuanhe Mountain, a mere Martial Arts Sect, which only has one reclusive Innate Realm grandmaster in the sect. I heard earlier that the newly advanced Innate Xie Jiuque also went to Yuanhe Mountain to lend a hand.”

“Now, there are two Innate powers, plus the intelligence on the remnants of the Wang Family and cultivators provided by spies recently; there are about three to five high-level combatants.”

In Xu Mujun’s mind, he recalled the bloody battle last year with the cultivators from Yunzhou and Nanyue County, including Elder Daoist Ban Yuan, and a flash of killing intent passed through his eyes.

“Therefore, the plan this time is simple – decapitation tactic!”

“Where is the Assistant General of the Flying Eagle Army?”

“Subordinate Huang Wei, reporting to General Xu!”

“How many troops and supplies can the hot air balloon of the Flying Eagle Army carry at once?”

“Reporting to the General!”

Huang Wei respectfully said, “Now, the hot air balloon is the Ministry of Industry’s third-generation product and can carry ten adults or twelve hundred Thunderbolts each time.”

“For normal operations, it is three soldiers and six hundred Thunderbolts.”

“How many hot air balloons does the Flying Eagle Army have in total?”

“A thousand, ready to launch at any time!”

Xu Mujun pondered, “Can it carry five soldiers and five hundred Thunderbolts?”

“It can!”

Xu Mujun immediately said, “Select five thousand elite soldiers from the army to launch a surprise attack on Yuanhe Mountain with me!”

“These five thousand elite soldiers must all be martial artists.”

“The Dragon Scale Army, the entire army will accompany!”

As soon as the words fell, a burst of intense discussion erupted within the military tent.

“Does the General mean for the Flying Eagle Army to carry the elite troops for an aerial surprise attack?”

“That’s too dangerous…!”

“There are no bed crossbows on Yuanhe Mountain, at most just arrows, what is there to fear?”

Tang Zhengkou stood up and said, “General, this must not be done!”

“The General bears the safety of more than two hundred thousand troops, how can you personally risk danger?”

“With the help of the Flying Eagle Army, combined with Thunderbolts and Red Coat Cannons, we can just proceed gradually and are sure to break through Yuanhe Mountain, so why…”

“General Tang, I understand your point, but time is not on our side.”

Xu Mujun shook his head and said, “We are attacking Yuanhe Mountain while the rebel armies in other state counties are also moving, with the rebel forces in Jiangzhou, Xuzhou, Yangzhou, and other places advancing toward our army.”

“If we do not resolve Yuanhe Mountain in a short time, we are bound to be surrounded by numerous rebels.”

“Thus, I aim to break through Yuanhe Mountain as quickly as possible, to use Yuanhe Mountain as a stronghold to block the rebels from the south from advancing north.”

“Only in this way can we stand in an undefeatable position!”

“This…”

Tang Zhengkou wanted to say more, but Xu Mujun interrupted, “General Tang, I have made up my mind, just follow the orders.”

“Yes!”

“Also, after I dispatch the troops, the main attack at the foot of the mountain will be entrusted to General Tang.”

Xu Mujun continued, “Once we signal, the entire army will charge and attack Yuanhe Mountain.”

“Yes!”

“Huang Wei.”

“Subordinate present.”

“Can my plan be executed?”

Huang Wei hesitated and said, “Reporting to the General, the Ministry of Industry is developing a so-called ‘parachute,’ but it hasn’t been successfully developed yet.”

“However, there is another special device called a ‘glider,’ which can help people glide down from high places like a flying swallow.”

“And the soldiers selected by the General are all martial artists, and the hot air balloon can approach within a hundred meters of Yuanhe Mountain.”

“With the martial artists’ skills, aided by gliders, the mere hundred-meter distance should not be a problem for them.”

“Good! Then, all troops, take action.”

“Yes!”

The military order was issued, and the entire camp immediately started operating.

Five thousand elite soldiers were quickly assembled, starting cooperation with the Flying Eagle Army to familiarize with the method of throwing Thunderbolts and trying out the gliders.

And some with excellent lightweight techniques felt no pressure at all.

Meanwhile.

On Yuanhe Mountain.

The reclusive grandmaster of Yuanhe Mountain, Yuann Sanli, finally revealed himself.

“Junior Yuann Sanli, greets Elder Wang.”

Wang Feiyu sat in the main seat and nodded slowly.

“Sit down.”

“Thank you, Elder Wang.”

This was the vital area of Yuanhe Mountain but had been usurped by Wang Feiyu.

But strangely, none of the people present felt there was anything wrong.

Apart from Wang Feiyu and Yuann Sanli, there were others present as well.

Xie Jiuque, Yuann Dazong, and three other people standing behind Wang Feiyu.

Among these three, two were young, and one was middle-aged, with a short sword hanging from his waist.

Yuann Sanli nodded lightly to Xie Jiuque; the two had already met before.

They were originally discussing how to resist the Imperial Court’s army, but unexpectedly encountered the Bingzhou Wang Family coming to assist.

After receiving this news, he had to interrupt his seclusion to come and meet them.

After sitting, Yuann Sanli asked, “Elder Wang, we are now besieged by the Imperial Court’s army. What wonderful Dharma does Elder Wang have to resolve this matter?”

“I have already said, just let the Imperial Court’s army attack. When Xu Mu appears, we will all strike together to annihilate Xu Mujun’s army!”

Wang Feiyu said coldly, turning his hand to reveal five peculiar black flags.

The flag was only the size of a palm, with a triangular face, covered with dense strange runes, emitting a sinister aura.

“Furthermore, I need your assistance.”

“This flag is called the Five Directions Soul Gathering Banner, requiring five Innate Realm Martial Artists to hold the flags in the positions of the Five Elements Array, to absorb the surrounding battle-dead souls and convert them into Ghost Soldiers to fight for us.”

Wang Feiyu’s tone was somewhat eerie, with gusts of cold wind swirling in the hall.

“In this way, our forces will grow more and more, while the Imperial Court’s troops will diminish.”

“Moreover, this flag can temporarily enhance my cultivation, making it easy to annihilate Xu Mujun’s army!”

As soon as the words fell, several people’s eyes flickered, unsure of what they were thinking.

Yuann Dazong suddenly said: “Elder Wang, this method… is it not just treating the thirty thousand disciples of Yuanhe Mountain and the various rebel armies as cannon fodder? If so…”

“Hmm?”

Wang Feiyu frowned and said: “So what if it’s cannon fodder?”

“Without this method, what other way do you have to deal with the two hundred thousand troops at the foot of the mountain?”

“Moreover, your entire Yuanhe Mountain has been deemed traitorous, the Imperial Court will stop at nothing to kill you, there’s no way out.”

“Only this method can give you a slim chance of survival.”

“By killing Xu Mujun, breaking the encirclement of the Imperial Court forces, then we can join forces with the rebel armies of Xuzhou, Yangzhou, and Jiangzhou.”

“By then, our forces can jointly crusade against the Great Yu Imperial City.”

“Only this method can save your Yuanhe Mountain!”

“This…”

“Cough cough…”

Yuann Sanli suddenly coughed and said: “Dazong, the elder’s words make sense, we should heed his advice.”

“This… yes, ancestor.”

“However, elder, I have a concern that needs clarification.”

“Oh? What concern?”

“The Five Directions Soul Gathering Banner in your hand should be held by five Innate Realm powerhouses, but now in our Yuanhe Mountain, only junior and Brother Xie are Innate powerhouses, I wonder…”

“This is easy.”

Wang Feiyu said: “Within my Wang Family, there is also an Innate Realm servant who can hold one Five Directions Soul Gathering Banner.”

Behind him, the middle-aged man bowed slightly and said: “I am Wang Pu, greetings to everyone here.”

Wang Pu?

Several people’s faces changed slightly.

An Innate Realm powerhouse, yet just a servant of the Wang Family.

This…

Xie Jiuque didn’t mind, smiled, and said: “Elder, but this makes only three.”

“Surely you don’t mean to say that the two young men behind you are also Innate Realm powerhouses?”

“No.”

Wang Feiyu said succinctly: “These two are my Wang Family’s direct descendants, Wang Zifeng and Wang Zisong, and they are also cultivators.”

Also cultivators…

These few words made the three of them look at the two with strange expressions, repeatedly sizing them up.

The two youths reacted differently to these gazes.

One nodded with a smile, the other was indifferent and disdainful.

“Each of you three hold one of the Three Directions Soul Gathering Banners; the other two can be held by six First-grade Realm martial artists selected from the sect, with three guarding each banner, this will work.”

“Zifeng, Zisong, and I will joint force to eliminate Xu Mujun, we must kill Xu Mujun!”

Wang Feiyu looked at Yuann Sanli: “Yuanhe Mountain, it’s unlikely that you can’t find six First-grade Realm martial artists, right?”

Yuann Sanli immediately said: “Elder, Yuanhe Mountain will certainly give its full support to jointly eliminate Xu Mujun!”

“Good!”

Wang Feiyu laughed heartily: “I like direct and straightforward people like the ancestor!”

Yuann Sanli also smiled and said: “Elder Liao Zan, but before this matter, junior has an impertinent request, please fulfill it.”

“Oh? What is it?”

“More than thirty years ago, I met the old ancestor of Taiyii Dao, Zhao Xizheng. That old Daoist said I had the aptitude for the Dao, but he was so petty he refused my interest in pursuing it.”

“Elder, I wonder if you could…”

“Oh? You have a spirit root?”

Wang Feiyu looked Yuann Sanli up and down, saying: “Come closer.”

“Yes!”

Yuann Sanli eagerly approached, looking at Wang Feiyu with excitement.

Wang Feiyu did not hesitate at all, his hands moved like lightning, tapping several points on Yuann Sanli’s body, carefully sensing it.

“You do indeed possess a spirit root, and it’s even a Three-attribute Middle-grade Spirit Root!”

As the words left his mouth, Wang Zifeng and Wang Zitong behind him, their eyes changed.

Both of them also had a Three-attribute Middle-grade Spirit Root!

To think, this old man before them was the same!

Yuann Sanli excitedly said: “Then elder, could I follow you…”

Wang Feiyu’s eyes flashed and said: “You are of advanced age, even if you cultivate now you will not…”

“As long as I can tread the path of cultivation, I am willing to pay any price!”

Yuann Sanli spoke, disregarding the curious gazes around him, and directly kneeled before Wang Feiyu.

Wang Feiyu frowned slightly, but still said: “Very well.”

“As long as you assist me in killing Xu Mujun and in overthrowing the Great Yu Court, Wang will exceptionally accept you as a disciple, how about it?”

Yuann Sanli was overjoyed and said: “Thank you, elder!”

Wang Feiyu waved him off and said: “Alright, you may leave now.”

“Yes, elder.”

After a few people left, Wang Zitong behind Wang Feiyu frowned and said: “Ancestor, why accept that old man as a disciple?”

“That old man must be at least sixty or seventy years old, no matter how he cultivates, how long can he live?”

Wang Feiyu shook his head and said: “Zitong, our Wang Family’s power has been greatly diminished, now we can only rely on others.”

“Yuanhe Mountain is also a suitable puppet, and what better deal is there than accepting one disciple who can command an army of a hundred thousand?”

“Besides, whether he survives is still uncertain, hehehehe…”

“Ancestor?”

“Hmm? Someone’s coming!”

Just then, Yuann Sanli and Yuann Dazong, who had just left, returned urgently.

“What happened?”

“Elder! Scouts have reported that the Imperial Court’s army at the mountain’s base has suddenly made a move and is advancing toward Yuanhe Mountain’s gate!”

Yuann Sanli anxiously said: “Also, in the sky, there suddenly appeared many… flying spheres!”

“Flying spheres?!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep