Chapter 508: Chapter 508
Under the gaze of the generals, a fiery passion flashed in Li Jing’s calm eyes.
Who, as a general, would not thirst for battle?
However, he was well aware that in the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court, teeming with stellar generals, he, lacking military exploits, had no standing to volunteer for battles, especially large-scale wars.
So, he had been waiting—waiting for an opportunity! He believed he could certainly accomplish the mission perfectly!
"Pass on my decree! Appoint Li Jing as the vanguard, to command the Xuanwu Army and carve a bloody path for me!" Qin Wudao ordered loudly.
Hearing the long-awaited appointment, Li Jing was ecstatic. He strode forward, knelt on one knee, and declared, "This general obeys!"
A potent battle aura erupted from him, soaring to the heavens. In terms of presence alone, he was not inferior to Zhao Yun, Guan Yu, and the others.
In his previous life, he was a war god of the Tang Dynasty. He conquered Xiao Liang, annihilated the Eastern Turks, and pacified Tuyuhun. For decades he fought countless battles, remaining undefeated and invincible.
In this life, he also aspired to be the war god of the Qin Dynasty, to wage war and achieve peerless merit!
The Court of Ten Thousand Demons would be his starting point on the path to becoming a war god!
The butchering blade of the Xuanjia Army was also ready to be unsheathed!
"You may rise!" Qin Wudao said with a smile.
Regarding Li Jing and the Xuanjia Army under his command, he was quite confident. Their only flaw, perhaps, was a lack of bloodshed, insufficient Evil Qi, making them seem slightly inexperienced.
However, he believed that after this battle, they would undoubtedly become a top-tier army corps that would terrify their enemies at the mere mention of their name!
Li Jing respectfully saluted again and retreated behind the other generals.
After the vanguard was confirmed, Zhao Yun, Guan Yu, Xiang Yu, and the others still had a fiery glint in their eyes, gazing eagerly at Qin Wudao.
Although the vanguard position was taken, the position of commander-in-chief of the three armies was still available!
Under the generals’ expectant gazes, Qin Wudao did not make an immediate appointment but fell into deep thought. In fact, the generals of the Qin Dynasty’s various main battle corps were all qualified to be commander-in-chief and capable of waging war brilliantly.
But the appointment of personnel is an art!
If the right commander-in-chief is chosen, the army’s combat power can multiply!
The alien races are bloodthirsty and fierce. Therefore, the general appointed to counter this characteristic cannot be a scholarly type. He must be ruthless, someone who can intimidate the alien races.
The Qin Dynasty’s generals each had different methods of deploying troops.
Zhao Yun’s approach to warfare was steady and meticulous.
Xiang Yu’s approach was to burn his bridges, leaving no path for retreat!
Huo Qubing excelled at lightning raids, penetrating deep into enemy lines to strike at their very heart...
After pondering for a moment, Qin Wudao’s gaze landed on Bai Qi. Undeniably, Bai Qi, among all generals present, possessed the strongest killing intent.
"Pass my decree! Appoint Bai Qi as the Demon-Slaying Marshal, to command the three armies and pacify the Court of Ten Thousand Demons!" Qin Wudao ordered in a deep voice.
Among the civil officials, Zhuge Liang, Guo Jia, Xiao He, Dong Zhongshu, Wang Yangming, and others suddenly looked up, their eyes narrowed. With their intelligence, they naturally discerned Qin Wudao’s intention.
To counter war with war!
To quell killing with killing!
To conquer hearts with blood!
His Majesty intends to instill terror in the alien races! Zhuge Liang pondered, then a cold smile touched his lips. They are merely beasts; killing them all is of no consequence.
It seems this battle will claim many lives! Dong Zhongshu sighed.
In his mind’s eye, he already saw beacon fires stretching for thousands of miles, the flames of war engulfing two continents, countless lives perishing, blood staining the land for ten thousand li, and white bones littering the wilds!
Surprisingly, he did not object to this. Between the death of his own people and the death of the alien races, he would not hesitate to choose the latter!
Even if all the alien races were exterminated, so what?
Bai Qi stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "This general obeys!"
His cold voice echoed in the Imperial Study, like the low murmur of a death god, sending shivers down one’s spine.
A brilliant smile appeared on his rigid, icy face. Those familiar with him knew that the more brilliantly he smiled, the stronger his killing intent.
The alien races are doomed! All the ministers in the hall could not help but mourn for the alien races in their hearts.
After confirming the declaration of war against the alien races, the enormous machinery of the Qin Dynasty began to operate at full speed.
Imperial decrees were issued from the palace, spreading in all directions!
Countless local armies were mobilized, transporting provisions and war materiel to Looking-West City!
The Hidden Guard and Abyss Guard, the two major intelligence organizations, also frantically dispatched more personnel to the Middle Region to gather intelligence on the Court of Ten Thousand Demons!
As the central organ of the state, the Imperial Court was not idle either. It dispatched over twenty diplomatic envoys to the other Sacred Lands to lobby them. Their mission was crucial: to secure the support of the other Sacred Lands, or, failing that, to ensure their neutrality in the coming war.
「Beast God Tao Domain」
"Damn Qin Dynasty!" Yinglong’s roar echoed throughout the Beast God Tao Domain. The overwhelming dragon might roiled the Heavenly Universe, causing countless members of the alien races to tremble, prostrate themselves, their spirits nearly shattering from terror.
They were all curious as to who had provoked the Demon Ancestor to such fury.
In the spacious Stone Palace, the stench of blood filled the air. The massive corpse of the Blood Lion Great Saint lay silently on the ground, devoid of life.
Yinglong sat on the imperial throne, gazing at the corpse of the Blood Lion Great Saint. His dragon scales bristled, wisps of destructive power emanated from him, and he was incandescent with rage.
His most valued subordinate was dead!
The Blood Lion Great Saint was his earliest follower, loyal and devoted. After countless eons of companionship, his affection for the Blood Lion Great Saint had surpassed even that which he held for the Demon Emperor!
"His limbs are crushed, his spine is broken, his skull is caved in..."
The Nine-tailed Sky Fox stepped forward. After examining the Blood Lion Great Saint’s injuries, her eyes turned red. She knelt and cried out, "Demon Ancestor, he was tortured to death by the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court!"
"That insignificant Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court dares to provoke our alien races! They must be annihilated!" the Water Monkey Great Saint roared, his eyes bloodshot, an endless killing intent swirling within them. His imposing body possessed immense strength; a casual movement could shatter the Void.
"As the ancient saying goes, ’When two states are at war, envoys are not slain!’"
"The Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court brutally killed the Blood Lion Great Saint; they must face our wrath!" another cold voice rang out.
A giant serpent, wreathed in black miasma, with a flattened head and a yellow tail, slithered forward and hissed, "Demon Ancestor, the Blood Lion Great Saint cannot have died in vain!"
Angry voices echoed throughout the Stone Palace.
Eleven powerful auras surged into the sky. Their boundless fury seemed to alter the heavens themselves: demonic clouds gathered, a fetid wind arose, and a rain of blood began to fall. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ noⅴelfire.net
The twelve Great Saints shared a bond as close as, if not closer than, that of blood brothers!
"Issue the order! Mobilize all tribes and declare war on the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court!" Yinglong commanded coldly.
He had to admit, he had underestimated the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court!
In his eyes, the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court was merely borrowing the prestige of Immortality Mountain to bluff, like a fox borrowing a tiger’s might. They wouldn’t dare resist the Court of Ten Thousand Demons, let alone kill the Blood Lion Great Saint.
It was his own recklessness that led to the Blood Lion Great Saint’s death!
However, as the Demon Ancestor, he could not be wrong, much less admit to any mistake!
All blame lay with the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court!
The eleven alien Great Saints saluted respectfully, then, filled with boundless fury, rode demonic clouds and soared into the sky.
Soon, only Yinglong and the corpse of the Blood Lion Great Saint remained in the grand hall.
Yinglong transformed into his human form and walked to the Blood Lion Great Saint’s side. "My brother, rest in peace!" he said. With some hesitation, he closed his eyes and extended his right hand. A black hole, radiating terrifying suction, appeared in his palm.
A stream of crimson energy, rich with pure power, flowed out from the Blood Lion Great Saint’s corpse and was entirely absorbed by Yinglong.
A few minutes later, the Blood Lion Great Saint’s corpse turned to ash.
Yinglong opened his eyes. His strength had increased further, and the aura he exuded had become even more terrifying.
"I’m sorry..." Yinglong whispered forlornly, gazing at the empty grand hall.
No one knew what he was apologizing for!
The fallen Blood Lion Great Saint would never have imagined that the Demon Ancestor he had served so loyally would, after his death, not bury his remains but instead devour his flesh and blood essence.
He treated even his own kin this way!
This revealed the ruthlessness of the alien races and the savage cruelty of Yinglong!