Zhang Ruochen’s emotions stirred. Ji Fanxin’s standards were exceptionally high, so anyone she esteemed was no ordinary figure.
To become an array master in just two hundred years was truly formidable.
The fact that the Five Elements Temple could nurture such a young array master spoke volumes about its profound foundation.
“We launch the attack tomorrow morning. Brother Lu will first dismantle Xianji Mountain’s arrays and then keep the Death Clan’s array master occupied.”
“Scouts report the Death Clan has set up eight camps at Xianji Mountain, arranged in a Bagua formation, with many variations. We must attack all eight simultaneously to avoid complications, which brings us to personnel allocation.”
“Brother Xuanyuan and I propose that Junior Brother Zhang and Fairy Hundred Flowers handle one camp. You don’t need to overrun it—just keep it pinned down.”
Zhenyu outlined the plan.
Undoubtedly, the eight Death Clan camps were formidable. Even pinning one down required top-tier warriors.
Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin, having decimated hundreds of thousands of Immortal Blood Clan troops, slain divine sons, and seized the divine python corpse from the Rakshasa Clan, had proven their strength.
Exchanging a glance with Ji Fanxin, Zhang Ruochen said, “Since Brother Zhenyu and Brother Xuanyuan trust us, we’ll give our all.”
“It’s settled then. The Northern Region Base will assemble an army for you to command. I’ll take you to see them shortly,” Zhenyu smiled.
Zhang Ruochen nodded, asking, “Besides us, who else will serve as commanders?”
He wanted to know which powerhouses were at the Northern Region Base to prepare accordingly.
Before Zhenyu could reply, Xuanyuan Liekong chuckled, “The commanders for the other eight armies were already chosen: Fairy Yuan, Lingkongzi, Red Fox King, Feng Wuxing, Nie Yundao, Ten-Eyed Qiankun Insect, and You Yuexin. With you two, that’s complete.”
“Won’t Brother Xuanyuan and Brother Zhenyu lead armies?” Zhang Ruochen asked curiously.
Xuanyuan Liekong shook his head, “Zhenyu, I, and a few others have different tasks. We’ll oversee the battlefield and deal with the Death Clan’s trickiest figures.”
Zhang Ruochen understood. Those Xuanyuan Liekong deemed tricky were likely divine or imperial heirs, not to be underestimated.
Clearly, Xuanyuan Liekong and Zhenyu had prepared thoroughly for the Xianji Mountain assault, and many formidable figures would emerge once the battle began.
With countless Celestial Court cultivators in the Kunlun Realm, the Northern Region Merit Battlefield, the fiercest front, naturally drew a host of powerhouses.
After further discussion, Zhenyu personally led Zhang Ruochen’s group to the army’s gathering point.
The Xianji Mountain assault was critical, so only warriors above the Saint realm were selected—lesser cultivators wouldn’t even qualify as cannon fodder.
For efficient coordination, Zhenyu and Xuanyuan Liekong had established a dedicated camp at the base, where all selected warriors were already assembled.
Zhenyu brought Zhang Ruochen’s group straight to the main tent and summoned the other seven commanders via transmission, allowing everyone to familiarize themselves.
Zhang Ruochen noted that he’d met most of them before, but a few were unfamiliar.
He recognized Fairy Yuan, Ten-Eyed Qiankun Insect, and You Yuexin, representing Shangyuan Sect, Nether God Hall, and Black Demon Realm, respectively.
You Yuexin, also from the Black Demon Realm, was far stronger than Shi Lingkun. She cultivated the *Heavenly Demon Nether Moon Diagram*, one of the Thirty-Six Blessed Heavenly Demon Stone Inscriptions, like Murong Yue, but with deeper mastery.
He’d seen Red Fox King at the council hall but hadn’t interacted.
As for Lingkongzi, Feng Wuxing, and Nie Yundao, Zhang Ruochen had no recollection, but their selection as commanders marked them as exceptional.
“Big Brother, Feng Wuxing is from our Feng Clan, my cousin. He has strong Great Saint bloodline and reached the peak of Sky-Connecting Realm. He’s the Feng Clan’s leader at the Northern Region Base,” Feng Yan transmitted.
Zhang Ruochen’s interest piqued. A peak Sky-Connecting Realm Great Saint heir, likely matching Precept Domain warriors, far surpassed Black Flame General.
“I’m Lingkongzi, a disciple of Ten Thousand Swords Mountain. I’ve long heard of Brother Zhang’s renown. Meeting you today, your presence is indeed extraordinary,” Lingkongzi said, cupping his hands.
Zhang Ruochen returned the gesture, “Brother Ling flatters me. Ten Thousand Swords Mountain is a sword path sanctuary I’ve long admired. I hope to learn sword path mysteries from you someday.”
Ten Thousand Swords Mountain was the top sword path sanctuary in Sword King Realm, with a storied history and deep foundation.
Sword King Realm ranked among the universe’s top hundred worlds, boasting multiple deities.
Zhang Ruochen sensed Lingkongzi’s potent Great Saint bloodline and formidable sword intent, marking him as a serious contender.
Lingkongzi smiled, “I’ve heard your sword path is profound. We must spar sometime.”
“Absolutely, I’ll seek your guidance then,” Zhang Ruochen replied.
With Lingkongzi showing goodwill, Zhang Ruochen wouldn’t rebuff him. A friend was better than an enemy.
Fairy Yuan, Feng Wuxing, and Red Fox King nodded slightly in greeting.
Nie Yundao, Ten-Eyed Qiankun Insect, and You Yuexin were cold, clearly disdainful of Zhang Ruochen’s group.
Zhang Ruochen was mildly surprised. It was expected for Ten-Eyed Qiankun Insect and You Yuexin to dislike him, but why Nie Yundao?
As if reading his thoughts, Feng Yan transmitted, “Big Brother, Nie Yundao is from Soul Realm, aligned with Paradise Realm’s faction. You targeted Princess Daxie, so he harbors deep resentment. Be wary.”
Zhang Ruochen understood. Soul Realm was close to Shang Ziyuan, so Nie Yundao’s hostility made sense.
Zhenyu spoke, “Tomorrow’s battle demands your full cooperation to take Xianji Mountain. Victory is the only option. A loss would severely disadvantage us in the Northern Region.”
With that, Zhenyu left, clearly with other matters to attend.
The tent fell quiet, the atmosphere slightly awkward.
“Zhang Ruochen, watch yourself. The battlefield is chaotic—don’t lose your life carelessly,” Ten-Eyed Qiankun Insect sneered, breaking the silence.
Zhang Ruochen replied, “You’re right. If you die, I’ll collect your corpse. After all, a Primordial Relic’s body is quite valuable.”
A cold killing intent flashed in Ten-Eyed Qiankun Insect’s eyes. If not for restraint, he’d have attacked Zhang Ruochen then and there.
“Hmph, we’ll see.”
Leaving those words, Ten-Eyed Qiankun Insect stormed out.
You Yuexin glanced at Zhang Ruochen silently before exiting.
Nie Yundao didn’t hide his killing intent, saying coldly, “Zhang Ruochen, I’ll take back what belongs to the Divine Maiden and kill you.”
Unlike the others, Nie Yundao was blunt, openly expressing his intentions.
Tempering his killing intent, he left, fearing he’d attack if he stayed.
Seeing this, the others lost interest and soon dispersed.
On the battlefield, one relied on oneself—others were unreliable.
Rather than linger, they’d conserve energy.
Fairy Yuan, more cordial, led Zhang Ruochen’s group to their camp zone.
The Northern Region Base formed eight armies, each with fifty thousand troops: one thousand Saint Kings and the rest Saints.
Upon entering the camp, over a dozen warriors approached, their gazes unfriendly, not seeming to welcome them.
Leading them were three identical handsome youths, exuding powerful auras at the Sky-Connecting Realm.
Behind them, eight others were Precept Domain warriors.
“Big Brother, those are the Tu Brothers—Tu Tian, Tu Di, and Tu Ren—sons of a top Great Saint from Wuxu Realm. Individually, they can sweep Sky-Connecting Realm; together, they rival Precept Domain warriors. I didn’t expect them in our army,” Feng Yan transmitted.
Knowing the Tu Brothers’ temperament, Feng Yan felt uneasy upon seeing them.
As expected, Tu Tian’s tone was hostile, “Zhang Ruochen, I hear you’re our camp’s commander?”
“Indeed,” Zhang Ruochen nodded.
Tu Tian’s gaze sharpened, “To be commander, have you asked us three brothers?”
“Is that necessary?” Zhang Ruochen said calmly.
Tu Tian retorted, “Of course. What qualifies you to lead us? Your Lesser Rule Heaven cultivation?”
“You seem unconvinced,” Zhang Ruochen observed.
Tu Di stepped forward, “To convince us, show enough strength.”
Tu Ren added, “Exactly. Defeat us three, and we’ll follow your orders willingly. Otherwise, you won’t command anyone in this camp.”
It was clear the Tu Brothers were picking a fight, rejecting Zhenyu and Xuanyuan Liekong’s arrangement.
They couldn’t defy Zhenyu and Xuanyuan Liekong directly but aimed to force Zhang Ruochen to relinquish command through strength.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t care about the title, but having agreed to Zhenyu and Xuanyuan Liekong, and faced with the brothers’ aggression, he was determined to take the role.
“Since you insist, I’ll oblige,” Zhang Ruochen said coldly.
The Tu Brothers grinned, relieved he’d agreed, avoiding complications.
Tu Di sneered, “There’s a training ground in the camp. Follow us.”
Zhang Ruochen said nothing, following calmly.
In the cultivators’ world, might made right—reason was won with fists.
Zhenyu and Xuanyuan Liekong assigning him as commander was a challenge, perhaps to test his strength.
Soon, they reached the training ground, already packed with the camp’s warriors, likely arranged by the Tu Brothers to witness the outcome, ensuring Zhang Ruochen couldn’t deny a loss.
The Tu Brothers entered first, forming a Three Talents formation, ready to fight.
Zhang Ruochen, expression calm, stepped into the training ground. Freshly broken through to Greater Rule Heaven, he’d use the brothers to test his progress.
