: "The Old Monster in the Stone" Springs into Action!

Guan Hong raised the Blood Dragon Blade in his hand.

Military Tactic – Direct Single Blade Thrust!

Military strength converged upon him, causing the Blood Dragon Blade to unleash a massive blade aura.

The blade aura was crimson as blood, incredibly sharp, severing the connection between the Red Flower Manifestation and the Three Generals Camp's military strength.

The triangular arrow formation suddenly accelerated, shaking off the Red Flower Manifestation above them.

In an instant, everyone in Thousand Peaks Forest was stunned.

Ma Feitui was even frozen within the manifestation.

He attacked frantically, trying to break the Red Flower Manifestation to confront the Red Flower Camp, shouting loudly for Chen Lingfeng and others to attack the Three Generals Camp to help him escape sooner.

But Chen Lingfeng, Wu Hen, and the others did not comply.

Although they had divine decrees requiring their full effort, full-force combat still required good timing.

Clearly, letting Ma Feitui and the Three Generals Camp wear each other down until both sides were weakened, then having Chen Lingfeng and Wu Hen strike, was a better plan.

First, the Three Generals Camp's combat power would be at its lowest, making them easier and safer to deal with.

Second, Ma Feitui would also be weakened, making it more convenient for Chen Lingfeng and Wu Hen to seize military merits.

As a result, the Three Generals Camp's sudden choice truly exceeded everyone's expectations!

They actually shook off the Red Flower Manifestation—the key to imprisoning the Nascent Soul demon cultivator.

Chen Lingfeng reacted the fastest, a chill running down his spine as he immediately flapped his wings and soared high into the sky.

The Golden Core cultivators on the ground were a step slower, as Zhang Hei rushed before them like a whirlwind, gently thrusting his Black Serpent Spear forward.

The Golden Core cultivator tried to evade but was restrained by Ning Zhuo's spell.

Thud.

The Black Serpent Spear, seemingly slow but actually fast, pierced straight through the Golden Core cultivator's heart, killing him on the spot!

Military Tactic – Speed is Paramount in War!

Liu Er executed the military tactic while shouting, "Quick, quick, quick!"

Military Tactic – Speed is Paramount in War!

Guan Hong also employed the same tactic, the叠加 effect making the Three Generals Camp soldiers run as if flying.

After killing his enemy with one strike, Zhang Hei immediately returned.

As one of the triangle's sharp points, he couldn't stay away from the battle formation for long.

Military Tactic – Speed is Paramount in War.

He too knew this tactic, using it to make the Three Generals Camp soldiers' legs move so fast they left afterimages.

While casting Five Elements spells, Ning Zhuo secretly envied, "If I too had cultivated military tactics, it would add wings to a tiger."

The advantage of the military battle formation was evident here.

Everyone casting the same spell could stack their effects. Though not perfectly叠加, with some inherent loss, this collective effort could turn possibility into reality.

Strictly speaking, Ning Zhuo's Five Elements spells didn't sync perfectly with the military battle formation.

He consumed his own mana, the military's mana pool, and drew upon external natural spiritual energy.

The reason his Five Elements spells' power surged was because he was enlisted, allowing national strength, military strength, and the battle formation to empower him.

If it were military tactics, the military strength's enhancement would be much greater.

Moreover, military tactics could directly consume military strength, greatly reducing the cultivator's own mana expenditure.

With Ning Zhuo's intervention, the Golden Core cultivators' speed dropped significantly, easily chased down and killed one by one by Generals Liu, Guan, and Zhang.

Chen Lingfeng only dared to circle high above, attacking from a distance, while Wu Hen outright hid in some shadow, not daring to show himself.

Substantial military merits were gained one after another, but Generals Liu, Guan, and Zhang still wore stern expressions.

They knew that what they faced next was a Nascent Soul-level demon cultivator!

Neigh!

The heavenly horse kicked out with its hind legs, finally shattering the Red Flower Manifestation.

The three generals, already prepared, commanded the battle formation and charged forward.

Ma Feitui, eyes bloodshot and ready to kill to vent his fury, saw the Three Generals Camp attacking, let out a shrill cry, and charged head-on.

His massive size, like a small mountain, charging headfirst stirred up fierce winds, terrifying the Three Generals Camp soldiers. Even before engagement, their morale wavered, and military strength dropped significantly.

After all, the Three Generals Camp was newly formed, not battle-hardened elite troops!

At the critical moment, Ning Zhuo shouted, unleashing Five Elements spells.

Golden blades shot out, mist and smoke blurred vision, vines entangled legs, fire snakes coiled around the body, and earth bricks tripped feet—Five Elements spells bombarded in succession.

Ning Zhuo cleverly focused on restraint rather than inflicting wounds.

Having fought until now, he was certain that, without using the Great Serpent Scythe, the three generals' attacks were far more lethal than his.

Despite Ma Feitui blocking the golden blades, crushing the earth bricks, shaking off the mist, breaking the vines, and enduring the fire snakes' burns, his speed inevitably slowed.

Liu Er, holding the Xuanhuang Sword with both hands, flew out first, colliding violently with Ma Feitui.

Ma Feitui stepped back slightly, while Liu Er's hands split at the tiger's mouth, vomiting blood as he was flung back into the battle formation.

Zhang Hei roared, "Take this spear!"

Ma Feitui glared at him, using demon arts to counterattack.

Zhang Hei's spear struck Ma Feitui but only left a mark; the horse's hide was unimaginably tough.

In contrast, Zhang Hei, hit by the demon art, had his chest slightly dented, his breastplate completely shattered.

As Ma Feitui was about to pursue, Guan Hong swung his blade with full force.

Military Tactic – Direct Single Blade Thrust!

The crimson blade aura, sharp and unstoppable, left a half-zhang-long wound on Ma Feitui's back, blood spurting out like a fountain.

Injured and startled, Ma Feitui quickly used demon arts to heal, but the bleeding wouldn't stop, only reducing from a fountain to a stream.

It turned out Guan Hong cultivated the demonic功 Crimson Face Blood Calamity Scripture, his mana carrying a mysterious power that made bleeding wounds hard to stanch without specific countermeasures.

Ma Feitui's anger was now overshadowed by shock.

He kept retreating, easily creating distance, trying various methods but failing to stop the bleeding.

Liu Er sighed deeply, watching the opportunity arise but unable to seize it.

"Even though we chose the triangular arrow formation, which is quite fast, we're still at a speed disadvantage."

"It seems this will be a war of attrition!"

After his full-force strike, Guan Hong's energy dropped significantly; he retreated into the battle formation for urgent recovery.

Liu Er had also caught his breath, holding the Xuanhuang Sword, stepping up again to block the heavenly horse's attacks.

When he was repelled, Zhang Hei took his place.

Ning Zhuo kept attacking, using various Five Elements spells to restrain Ma Feitui as much as possible.

The three generals—Liu Er mainly defending, Zhang Hei supporting, Guan Hong mainly attacking, with strategist Ning Zhuo restraining—became more skilled and coordinated, rapidly improving in the intense battle.

Even as a Nascent Soul-level demon cultivator, Ma Feitui was wounded in multiple places, gaining little advantage in direct confrontation.

The more he fought, the more alarmed he became, viewing the Three Generals Camp in a new light: "These people are not simple! The three generals are elites among Golden Core cultivators, their techniques suited for the battlefield. As for that Foundation Establishment mage, his Five Elements mastery is profound! Given time, this group will become very powerful."

Ma Feitui began to consider retreat.

He had joined the Thousand Peaks Forest side mainly to take revenge on the Red Flower Camp.

His earlier furious attack was just bullying the weak Three Generals Camp to vent his anger.

But after direct confrontation, it was an even match; he could hardly gain any advantage.

If only Chen Lingfeng and Wu Hen could cooperate now.

But after the Three Generals Camp abandoned the Red Flower Manifestation, they first attacked Chen, Wu, and the other Golden Core cultivators, killing several, terrifying them into fleeing, eliminating this threat in advance.

"Forget it, why should I fight the Three Generals Camp to the death?"

"My real enemy is the Red Flower Camp!"

Thinking this, Ma Feitui turned around, flapped his wings, and flew high into the sky.

"Don't run!" Zhang Hei grew anxious, leaving the battle formation, waving his Black Serpent Spear in pursuit.

"Third Brother, don't chase!" Liu Er exclaimed in alarm.

This was because he was still catching his breath, and Guan Hong's recent strike had left the military strength in a low state.

Zhang Hei's current sortie received little enhancement from the battle formation and military strength.

"Hmm?!" Ma Feitui saw this and was overjoyed.

He hadn't expected that as he was about to leave, the enemy, usually so coordinated, would show such a huge flaw.

Ma Feitui suddenly twisted his body, spewing a stream of metallic energy from his mouth.

Energy Weapon – Freezing Light Fierce Shadow Spear!

Martial Art – Returning Horse Spear!

The metallic energy instantly condensed into a long spear, shooting out like lightning.

Enhanced by the Returning Horse Spear martial art, it was extremely fast and fierce.

Even Zhang Hei couldn't react in time, watching helplessly as the energy spear shot past... brushing by him.

"Third Brother!" Liu Er shouted in despair, but saw Ma Feitui had missed.

Zhang Hei broke out in a cold sweat, shuddering, then heard Guan Hong exclaim, "Not good!"

Liu Er realized and hurriedly turned back: "Strategist, be careful!!"

It turned out Ma Feitui hadn't missed; he was aiming at Ning Zhuo, not Zhang Hei.

Throughout the battle, the one he hated most was none other than the mere Foundation Establishment cultivator Ning Zhuo.

This guy was too annoying, diverting too much of his energy and attention, making the fight frustrating and restrictive.

In comparison, the three Golden Core generals, who attacked head-on, were almost endearing.

Fast, fast, fast!

As fast as lightning.

The energy weapon, being intangible, shot by Ma Feitui at full force with the Returning Horse Spear enhancement, pierced through the battle formation and reached Ning Zhuo before he could even react!

The energy weapon whooshed through the battle formation, killing over a dozen cultivators in its path before scraping the ground.

Then, the next moment, the energy weapon dissolved into a ball of icy light carrying multiple fierce shadows, flying back into the heavenly horse's mouth.

"Strategist!!!" Only then did Zhang Hei turn his head, seeing the gap left in the dense battle formation by the energy spear's passage.

For a moment, Zhang Hei was furious, his killing intent soaring.

"Third Brother, calm down! The strategist isn't dead; before the attack hit, his talisman activated, and he's gone through space." Liu Er quickly reassured.

Zhang Hei's anger stalled, looking back at the heavenly horse: "You plague horse, with such malicious intent, nearly killed our strategist! Give me your life!"

Zhang Hei charged forward again.

Liu Er quickly commanded the soldiers to chase.

Fortunately, they had mostly recovered their breath and military strength, no longer as depleted as before, able to provide Zhang Hei with more support.

Ma Feitui, regretful he hadn't killed Ning Zhuo, grew annoyed seeing Zhang Hei charging again.

"Without that annoying mage, I can use my full power!"

"You mere Golden Core cultivators are too arrogant!"

Ma Feiu changed his mind again, deciding to stay and continue fighting, to teach the three generals a severe lesson.

Directional Void Escape Talisman!

Ning Zhuo suddenly appeared within the Ten-Thousand-Mile Roaming Dragon.

After the sudden teleportation, he staggered, nearly falling.

"So close, so close!"

Ning Zhuo looked down, seeing the Directional Void Escape Talisman in his bosom had just burned out, turned to ashes.

This Directional Void Escape Talisman was something he had obtained from Ning Jiufan in Fire Persimmon Immortal City.

Once activated by the cultivator in crisis, it could teleport the target away—a classic and common escape method.

But the earlier energy weapon attack exceeded Ning Zhuo's reaction limit; normally, he shouldn't even have had time to use his spiritual sense to activate the talisman.

"Thanks to the mechanical ring."

Ning Zhuo's face was pale, filled with fear.

It turned out, considering the battlefield's dangers, he had prepared defense and escape measures before the battle.

He connected the mechanical ring, capable of insight, with the Directional Void Escape Talisman, forming a simple array. Once the ring's spirituality detected a life-threatening danger to Ning Zhuo, it would trigger the talisman.

This measure saved Ning Zhuo's life.

"So dangerous!"

"This is the battlefield."

"One moment, we're chasing victory; the next, the enemy seizes a flaw, nearly killing me."

Ning Zhuo wiped his broad forehead, covered in fine cold sweat.

"Little Zhuo, you're finally here!" Sun Lingtong, noticing the movement, hurried over.

Unaware Ning Zhuo had just been on the brink of death, he was excited: "I didn't expect you to take so long!"

"Quick, how should we proceed?"

Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong, bearing divine decrees, had to act against the armies of Two-Pure Kingdom to meet the decree's requirements and survive this calamity.

Thus, after discussion, they had Sun Lingtong take the mechanical dragon away from the army, waiting for the right opportunity.

Ning Zhuo immediately used his spiritual sense to inform Sun Lingtong of the latest battle situation.

Sun Lingtong gritted his teeth: "Mu Lan is so unfair; shall we target them this time?"

Ning Zhuo shook his head: "What does the Red Flower Camp have? They're tough nuts to crack!"

He already had a target: "Let's go straight to the White Jade Camp; those noble youths are the wealthiest."

Though dissatisfied with Mu Lan, Ning Zhuo remained calm, not swayed by personal emotions.

He continued, "After fighting for so long, I can confirm from opponents like Chen Lingfeng that the divine decree's terms aren't too strict."

"Playing the 'Old Monster in the Stone' this time, robbing the White Jade Camp's military equipment and weapons should suffice to meet the decree."

Sun Lingtong, already impatient, rubbed his hands: "I'll move the stone ball; you recover quickly, we need to set off soon! Any later and we might miss the chance!"

Ning Zhuo's condition wasn't too bad.

He took pills to help recover his energy, then went to the dragon's head cabin.

Sun Lingtong had already moved the stone ball out, hiding the mechanical dragon inside it.

Ning Zhuo spat out the Earth Element Spleen Temple, merging it with the stone ball.

The three reunited in their former state; the "Old Monster in the Stone" was back.

The divine decree's power triggered instantly, like a rope tightening around Ning Zhuo and Sun Lingtong's necks.

The "Old Monster in the Stone" was complete, and the divine decree finally showed its true binding force!

"Quick, let's raid the White Jade Camp!" Sun Lingtong eagerly rubbed his hands.

The stone ball sank into the ground, moving swiftly forward.

Ning Zhuo focused his mind, using Earth Travel Technique to drastically increase the stone ball's speed and stealth.

White Jade Camp battlefield.

Shuang Jing struggled to hold on, using military strength to resist Long Ye. Deputy generals directed soldiers, sometimes assisting Shuang Jing, sometimes defending against external Golden Core cultivator attacks.

The White Jade Camp suffered heavy casualties, soldiers enduring attacks from both inside and outside, miserable.

If not for Mu Lan commanding the Red Flower Camp's timely arrival,分担 much external pressure, the White Jade Camp would have collapsed long ago.

A stone ball suddenly emerged from the ground near a mana pool.

Whoosh.

The mana pool was swallowed by the stone ball, disappearing.

"Wh-what is that?!" The White Jade Camp soldiers guarding the mana pool were dumbfounded.

"Attack!" someone shouted; others, waking from their daze,纷纷出手.

But the White Jade Camp's main military strength was focused on dealing with Long Ye; these soldiers' attacks felt like tickling to the "Old Monster in the Stone."

The "Old Monster in the Stone" didn't linger; the next moment, it钻入土中 and fled!

(End of )