: Nine Dragon Shadow Pillars

Ning Zhuo felt a stir in his heart upon hearing Song Ji's comments.

His immediate thought wasn't of the Dice Bone Demigod, but of that Void Evil God's marrow.

The Demigod was merely at the Golden Core level, but the Void Evil God's marrow was at the Nascent Soul level.

"The marrow is the biggest gain that consumed my fortune!"

"Before Bikong Mountain, I was still impersonating the Old Monster in the Stone and robbed the transport teams of the Two Pillars Nation, obtaining countless military supplies. Even now, that treasure-grade storage pouch hasn't been opened yet."

"There must be many good things inside!"

"Plus, later I used talismans to teleport to the Red Flower Camp, helped Mu Lan shoot Di Lu, and drove away the Cang Yue Ancient God. This military merit also counts as my gain."

"Calculating it this way, hiss..."

Ning Zhuo couldn't help but secretly suck in a cold breath.

The more he calculated this messy account of fortune, the more alarmed he became.

This strong fortune had brought him too many benefits, with much remaining even after the fierce battle at Moon Hook Mountain.

"How enormous must this fortune have been initially!"

"Who was so kind-hearted to secretly sponsor me?"

"If I ever get the chance to find them, I must repay them somehow."

Ning Zhuo still didn't know the truth.

Song Ji's calculations also verified Ning Zhuo's previous suspicions.

"My fortune is declining; I must firmly remember this change. If I become complacent and rely on my strong fortune, I might suffer setbacks."

"So, humility and caution are the best strategies for traveling the world and conducting oneself over the long term."

"I must continue maintaining this good habit!"

Ning Zhuo secretly admonished himself.

Du Tiechuan, learning about Ning Zhuo's fortune, set aside some of his hidden worries.

He spoke calmly: "Steward Song, take Ning Zhuo and inquire about the enemy's internal details."

Ning Zhuo immediately stood up and cupped his hands: "Commander Du. In this battle, I assisted General Mu Lan, killed one Nascent Soul cultivator, repelled another, and gained some military merit."

"Now, with a major battle imminent, if I could use my merits to obtain some rare elixirs in advance to enhance my physical foundation, it would allow me to serve the army better!"

"Hmm?" Du Tiechuan looked at Ning Zhuo, his gaze stern and expression displeased. "I have always governed the army with clear rewards and punishments, strictly enforced."

"According to military discipline, now is not the time for awarding merits."

"Everyone in the army, including us and the soldiers, must strictly comply."

"This is no small matter! If I agreed, it would undoubtedly undermine the kingdom's systems, harm military discipline, be unfair to other officers, shake morale, and cause great harm."

Ning Zhuo smiled wryly: "Sir, it's just drawing some elixirs to enhance my physical foundation."

"You might be aware of my situation, sir."

"As you can see, I only have a mere Foundation Establishment cultivation. Going into battle carries too much risk."

"If my physical body could advance rapidly in a short time, I could definitely add a quasi-Nascent Soul level combat strength to our army!"

Du Tiechuan slightly shook his head, his expression icy: "What good effect can a mere quasi-Nascent Soul level have on the overall battle situation?"

"Don't mention this again."

"Get out!"

Ning Zhuo had no choice but to salute: "As you command, I take my leave."

Song Ji also saluted, preparing to leave.

Du Tiechuan sent a mental message, secretly communicating with him: "Who gave Ning Zhuo such strong fortune? Can Steward Song calculate it?"

Song Ji secretly replied: "Extremely difficult."

"I find it strange too."

"Normally, such vast external fortune加持 would require the caster to pay a very heavy price."

"Who would make such a sacrifice to boost Ning Zhuo?"

"Even if he were a scion of a great clan, the most promising one, why help him to this extent?"

"Also, there's another somewhat strange point."

Du Tiechuan: "Hmm?"

Song Ji continued: "Normally, external fortune added by such means would be consumed very rapidly and couldn't last."

"But my recent calculations show that the consumption of fortune on Ning Zhuo isn't that intense."

"Even showing signs of recent nourishment."

Du Tiechuan pressed: "Why is that?"

Song Ji shook his head: "Fortune is an obscure study; what I've learned is merely superficial. Methods to nourish external fortune are varied and each has its merits. I can't judge either."

Du Tiechuan: "Then forget it."

"Next, I'll trouble Steward Song to thoroughly probe the enemy situation."

"I believe with your methods, you'll detect anything the Dice Bone Demigod or Ning Zhuo might be hiding."

Song Ji immediately accepted the order, stating he would spare no effort in carrying out this command.

Song Ji took Ning Zhuo alone to a tent.

Ning Zhuo released the Dice Bone Demigod: "Old Dice, try to be thorough in what you disclose. But if it involves your own safety, don't force yourself."

Ning Zhuo specifically instructed.

The Dice Bone Demigod said: "Master, this old servant wasn't close to those people from Thousand Peaks Forest. Everything I know, I've already told you."

Ning Zhuo nodded: "This time, just repeat it here in front of Lord Song."

Then, Ning Zhuo mentally messaged Song Ji: "Trouble you to cast spells to detect and strictly prevent the Dice Bone Demigod from bringing false intelligence to mislead our army."

"To be honest, subduing him was entirely by chance."

"Even now, I'm still somewhat uneasy about it."

Seeing Ning Zhuo's active request, Song Ji didn't hold back, openly performing many divination methods.

After about the time for two cups of tea, Song Ji saw Ning Zhuo off.

Ning Zhuo wasn't disheartened by failing to obtain elixirs to enhance his physical foundation from Du Tiechuan.

Returning to the Three Generals Camp, he briefly informed the three generals of the situation.

All three generals breathed a sigh of relief.

Zhang Hei: "So, we slipped through?"

Guan Hong shook his head without speaking.

Liu Er said: "Shen Qinghe has been secretly following us. It's just that we subdued the Dice Bone Demigod and returned victorious this time. For the greater situation, Commander Du didn't settle this account with us."

"From my understanding of Du Tiechuan, this account will be settled sooner or later."

Ning Zhuo nodded, quite agreeing with Liu Er's analysis.

Among the three Liu-Guan-Zhang, Liu Er was the best at discerning others.

Bidding farewell to the three generals, Ning Zhuo returned to his own tent, entered the Mechanical Roaming Dragon, and started making mechanical puppets again.

Sun Lingtong learned在一旁, gaining much.

By the next afternoon, Sun Lingtong could operate one of the mechanical platforms, saving Ning Zhuo much time and effort.

Ning Zhuo entered the Fetal Breathing Spiritual Boat, using the Innate Fetal Breathing Technique Restriction, wrapped in thick stone clothing, to enhance his physical foundation.

Late at night, he broke free from the stone clothing, regaining freedom.

He seized every moment, pushing himself, and immediately began repairing Yuan Dasheng and Meng Yehu without pause.

These two Golden Core-level mechanical puppets, though split into several pieces, hadn't had their spirituality damaged, so repairing them wasn't very difficult.

"The effect is truly outstanding, boss!" After his first cultivation session ended, Ning Zhuo clenched his fists, feeling unprecedented power brewing within.

Ning Zhuo sincerely praised Sun Lingtong: "To invent this cultivation method, boss, you're truly a genius!"

Sun Lingtong was overjoyed by the praise, hands on hips, laughing heartily: "That's right, that's right. I am your boss, after all."

After several days of such cultivation, Commander Du issued a new military order.

He commanded the Red Flower Camp, Three Generals Camp, and other troops to pack up and move out several miles.

Then, he ordered the dismantling of Mulun Town's four walls, using over a dozen armies as defensive lines, and began large-scale construction.

In the logistics army, many formation masters, artifact refiners, and even a few mechanical masters collaborated simultaneously, employing various methods.

With ample resources, hundreds of cultivators worked day and night, quickly building the foundation of a massive structure.

Since Du Tiechuan didn't prohibit others from watching, this project attracted the entire army's attention from the start.

Anyone would naturally be curious—what was the purpose of such a grand, high-profile project?

In the evening, Ning Zhuo also took time to leave the Three Generals Camp and observe this building foundation.

He saw that the foundation was square-shaped, wide on all sides, and though only the base, it already appeared majestic.

The foundation was paved with large amounts of Dragon Chant Stone.

On the surface of these Dragon Chant Stones, dragon patterns appeared and changed. Pressing an ear to the stone, one could hear faint dragon chants.

As the stones piled up and the scale increased, the dragon chants became clearer and more powerful to outsiders.

Around the foundation, railings were installed.

The railings were thick and heavy, made from Thunder Cloud Iron, inherently hard and capable of absorbing and storing thunder and lightning.

In the center of the foundation, a giant pillar was erected.

The top of the pillar was inlaid with a dragon soul pearl the size of a basin. With just his naked eye, Ning Zhuo could see a dragon soul roaming and roaring inside the pearl.

"Dragon Chant Stone is stone from dragon veins, its essence升华 after long-term immersion in national power. Thus, it's an excellent medium for bearing and exerting national power."

"The dragon soul inside the Dragon Soul Pearl was at least at the Nascent Soul level in life. Dragon souls are also best at stirring dragon vein power."

"Looking at this, it seems like an altar, meant to sacrifice a Nascent Soul level dragon soul?"

"Truly worthy of the three-army commander; his first move is a grand gesture!"

Ning Zhuo sighed with emotion, returned to his tent, and continued苦修.

In just three days, his strength surged over tenfold, his skin and flesh becoming hard and tough, as if his whole body was wrapped in a treasure-grade leather armor.

Hearing that the "altar" was 60% complete, with various speculations and discussions in the army reaching a fever pitch, he took advantage of rest time to observe from afar.

The massive structure was mostly built, showing a trapezoidal overall shape.

Dragon Chant Stone remained the main material, paved from the foundation upwards,垒得越来越高.

At the structure's base, cultivators began laying large amounts of Glazed Golden Light Bricks on the Dragon Chant Stone surface. These tiles were typically used in royal palaces, made of glazed material, shining with golden light, resplendent and magnificent, containing dignity within their grandeur.

Ning Zhuo felt puzzled: "Using Glazed Golden Light Bricks doesn't seem like building an altar anymore."

He also saw eight giant pillars built around the structure. Each pillar was the same height, half as tall as the central Dragon Soul pillar.

Each giant pillar was carved with intricate, ornate patterns. The tops of the pillars had patterns of auspicious clouds and golden light rocs.

Ning Zhuo narrowed his eyes, barely making out some talismans and array trends from the various patterns on the pillars.

"At least eight defensive talismans, twelve辅助 array coordination talismans."

"As for arrays... can't see the full picture, only discern at least four layers of arrays."

At this point, Ning Zhuo realized his array foundation was completely insufficient.

He remained calm.

"Although I've read many books, my level is only that of the clan school and the clan's publicly open library."

"Among the hundred arts of cultivation, arrays are known for complexity, depth, and difficulty to learn."

"I've only learned some皮毛; my accumulation in this area has just begun."

Though Ning Zhuo hadn't yet discerned Du Tiechuan's intentions, he clearly saw that Du Tiechuan's moves were growing grander.

He was placing heavy bets on this!

"What is he trying to achieve?" Not only Ning Zhuo, but other officers kept guessing incessantly.

Three more days passed.

This massive structure that had captured the entire army's attention was finally completed!

The trapezoidal platform had a flat surface, with the central Dragon Soul pillar standing tall.

Around the platform were thick railings and eight Auspicious Cloud Golden Roc pillars guarding it.

With the arrays activated, the Glazed Golden Light tiles on the platform surface became seamless, no longer divided. The dragon shadow projected from the Dragon Soul Pearl roamed on the golden bricks, its posture vigorous, full of power and舒展.

As the dragon shadow roamed, the surrounding officers could hear dragon chants echoing from the depths of their hearts.

If they focused attention, the dragon chants sounded恢弘有力. If attention was elsewhere, the chants were almost inaudible.

Two military banners were planted on the platform surface, flanking the Dragon Soul pillar.

The banners fluttered in the wind, multiple arrays协调运转, the entire structure exuding majestic military might.

Thus, the answer was revealed—this was a reviewing stand.

The Nine Dragon Shadow Pillars Reviewing Stand!

On the day the reviewing stand was completed, Du Tiechuan ordered a military review for the entire army.

The day after the reviewing stand's completion, Du Tiechuan, fully armed, stood on the high platform, operating the military tactics within the reviewing stand.

Hands behind his back, looking down from above, he watched troop after troop march past around the Nine Dragon Shadow Pillars Reviewing Stand.

The Three Generals Camp and Red Flower Camp were among them.

Ning Zhuo, as Army Advisor, rode a horse, positioned beside the three Liu-Guan-Zhang generals.

During the review, he could clearly feel layers of invisible force sweeping over him, then层层迭加.

After the review ended, Ning Zhuo was drenched in sweat, muscles sore and weak.

To resist the叠加 of invisible forces, he had struggled to hold on.

"If I hadn't recently全力 improved my physical cultivation, I might have fallen off my horse during this review, disgracing myself publicly."

While庆幸, Ning Zhuo also gained more insight into Du Tiechuan's intentions through this personal experience.

Not only him, but many officers also guessed Du Tiechuan's想法.

"So that's it!"

"Commander Du is going to use his trump card."

"To think the commander would go all out before the battle even starts. Really looking forward to it!"

"Iron Flow Levels the Plain! How many years has it been since Commander Du used this move?"

(End of )