Lord of the Desert

Chapter 554 Pressure
At the same time, in the main hall of the garrison.

The incense sticks on the iron plate burned silently, a wisp of smoke rising and only dissipating into a clump after hitting the roof beams.

Eight people sat around the round table. They had been chatting and laughing half an hour ago, but now the tea had gone cold, and the seven or eight plates of exquisite and delicious dried fruit snacks remained untouched.

Everyone present knew that someone like Hong Fan was far beyond the reach of ordinary people—the plan was to maintain a 1:1 military balance within Fengsui City, and only by relying on the Left Guard General's Mansion to exert pressure could a balance of power be achieved.

But now, before the recruitment process has even concluded, more than half of the two thousand people have already voted for the position, and the situation has already collapsed.

"That bastard Yang Haorang actually kept it a secret until the very last moment, he's truly a heartless person!"

Guo Han's black beard trembled with shock and anger, and he lost his composure.

Song Mingjie and his nephew exchanged glances, clearly having his own thoughts.

"Don't panic, things haven't reached the point of no return."

Suo Chengzhou, sitting in the main seat, calmed himself down.

"Even if Yang Haorang's two battalions were combined, their fighting strength wouldn't match that of the Wu Hui Battalion, and we have many other methods..."

As he spoke, he instinctively reached for the handrail but found nothing. He then remembered that he had already slapped away the first batch of spies when they returned to report the news.

Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside.

"Sir, Captain Hong has arrived with the Red Sand Army and is blocking the entrance!"

The guards practically tumbled and crawled.

"how many people?"

Suo Chengzhou stood up solemnly and demanded an explanation.

Before the guards could reply, he heard a continuous rustling sound of armor rubbing against each other, rapidly approaching from several courtyards away.

"How dare you be so insolent?!"

Suo Chengzhou immediately realized what had happened, his face turned ashen, and his hands trembled with anger.

A short while later, the commotion reached the front of the palace.

The guard who was kneeling on one knee hurriedly stepped back.

Hong Bo, with his hand on his sword, led a group of guards to control the main gate, followed by Hong Fan, who was clad in silver armor, and Huan Chengji, who was leaning on a cane.

The wind, snow, and bitter cold washed away the warmth from the room.

"Guo Han, why haven't you arrived yet?"

Hong Fan stood firmly in the central hall, his gaze fixed straight ahead, like a cold, burning flame.

"Captain, please calm down. Lord Su has something important to discuss with you..."

Guo Han stood up, cupped his hands in a forced smile, but was immediately interrupted.

Do you know the consequences of disobeying military orders?

At this point, joking around is pointless.

"Captain Hong, it was I who invited Commander Guo to come over for a meeting."

This was the first time in his life that Suo Chengzhou had been so ignored. He was filled with resentment and anger, but he couldn't do anything about the situation.

"This is the beacon tower garrison headquarters, you..."

"Don't worry, Commander Suo, this is none of your business."

Hong Fan interrupted again, his gaze fixed on Guo Han, his contempt evident in his words.

"Commander Guo, military orders are as firm as mountains and military law is merciless. You must understand this principle."

Guo Han fully realized the seriousness of the situation and could no longer laugh.

"Does the captain have to press this so relentlessly?"

He adjusted his posture, his inner energy circulating rapidly as if ready to be unleashed.

Hong Fan couldn't help but laugh.

"It's really baffling; do you think I brought so many people from so far away just to play house?"

"Impossible."

He sighed.

Yi Hong split up and stepped forward, carrying an iron chain, ready to seize the man: "Guo Han, surrender now."

However, Guo Han had risen through the ranks from the lowest ranks to the position of Commandant, and he could not simply sit idly by and wait for his death.

With his black beard bristling, he took a step forward, grabbed a battle sword displayed on a wooden shelf on the side of the hall, and pressed the tip of the sword against Yi Hong.

Tensions were high, and even a drop of water could freeze.

Seeing this, Suo Chengzhou retreated to the side, and Song Mingjie silently escorted the former top expert of Fengsui City to his side.

Yi Hong and Guo Han are of similar cultivation levels, and Yi Hong may not be a match for Guo Han, but there is no need to take the risk.

"Hongbo".

Hong Fan spoke coldly.

"Understood." Hong Bo drew his crimson-faced lion from its sheath, unleashing a torrent of innate spiritual energy, and stepped forward to unleash a fiery blade of energy.

"Madam Yong!"

Knowing he was no match, Guo Han shouted urgently, and sure enough, a stream of extremely cold true energy arrived first, intercepting the light flame from a distance.

With divine weapons at his disposal and powerful backers, Hong Bo disregarded his opponent's skill level and was about to fight with all his might when he was grabbed by the shoulder.

"Does Madam Yong intend to get involved in this mess?"

This was the first time Hong Fan had properly looked at anyone other than Guo Han since he entered the room.

“I am unwilling to oppose the captain, but Commander Guo, the garrison commander, also has his own difficulties. Why don’t we each take a step back?”

Yong Yu felt that his words were sincere, but all he got in return was a sneer.

"Out of control."

As soon as the four words were uttered, a three-meter-tall, frost-white giant statue stood up with a snap in the icy wind outside the hall; it strode into the eaves, shaking off the ice shards and snowflakes covering its body, and then crouched down to enter, supporting the door frame with one hand.

"Sand Puppet".

Yong Yu's expression was solemn.

This deadly move, created by Wuxiangling, has spread throughout the world since it was unveiled on the Jietian Terrace, and everyone in the hall knows it.

Bang, bang...

His footsteps were like thunder.

The faceless and ruthless war monster was massive and inhuman. After it entered, it blocked half of the light at the entrance, and its oppressive power was indescribable.

Without anyone giving instructions, Suo Chengzhou, Guo Han, Song Mingjie, and several other officials quickly left the banquet table and retreated to the corners of the side rooms.

Yong Yu caught a glimpse of it out of the corner of her eye and her eyelids twitched with anger.

But she was, after all, the "former number one expert of Fengsui City," and the arrow was already on the bowstring and had to be released.

The sand puppet remained silent, pressing forward menacingly.

Yong Yu slightly twisted his right wrist, gathering all the wine and water on the table, which condensed into a five-foot-long ice spike on his right forearm, and then launched a flying stab at his chest.

Hit, harden, jam.

The sand golem made no attempt to dodge or block, relying solely on brute force to push against it, its outstretched arms forming a posture as if it were about to split a monument.

Knowing that it was pointless to fight the sand puppet head-on, Yong Yu slid back and barely dodged it. He then saw that the shockwave from the empty palm strike overturned all the bowls and plates on the table.

The Xiang family of Fengsui is the number one martial arts family in the city. Their ancestral "Heavenly Frost Transformation" is up to the fifth level of the innate realm and is known for its sharpness, speed, and ability to strike multiple times in one step. However, the sand puppet only attacks and does not defend, and does not engage in combat, adhering to the principle of "you fight your way and I fight my way", which subverts Yong Yu's actual combat experience.

The situation seemed to be one-sided.

The sand puppet advanced three steps at a time, finally cornering Yong Yu, leaving him with no way to escape.

Arms stacked on top of each other, armor hanging from frozen ice.

A powerful and magnificent punch.

They clashed.

Ice shards burst open, releasing freezing air everywhere.

Yong Yu felt as if his arm bone was cracked, and he felt an overwhelming force. He knelt on one knee, bleeding from his mouth and nose.

The sand puppet stopped in Hong Fan's mind, casting its terrified opponent into a shadowy corner like a statue.

Yong Yu's reputation as "the number one expert in Fengsui City" is well-deserved.

However, despite her martial arts prowess, she was not skilled in combat. Despite possessing the innate dual cultivation level, she was far from being a match for even those of equal skill level, such as Hong Jian and Li Heming.

The outcome was decided in just a few breaths, leaving the audience in the hall on the edge of their seats.

[I initially thought it was an exaggeration that the Blazing Star Sand Puppet was comparable to an ordinary peak-stage Innate Realm cultivator, but it turns out to be true? Even separated true essence possesses such power; if it were the real person…]

Huan Chengji was speechless, feeling that the trip had been worthwhile.

Guo Han felt a wave of dizziness and confusion wash over him, thinking, "Suo Chengzhou has ruined me."

Yong Yu wiped away the drops of blood from the corner of his jaw with his trembling forearm, his eyes still filled with fear: "Captain Hong, the Xiang family submits."

The sand puppet then straightened its body and strode out, collapsing back into scattered sand at the spot where it had been shaped.

At this moment, there was no other sound in the vast garrison.

"So, are you going to walk by yourself, or should I break your limbs and have someone carry you away?"

Hong Fan looked at Guo Han.

"I dare not trouble the blazing star."

Guo Han gave a bitter laugh, letting Yi Hong come up and bind his arms with iron chains, and followed dejectedly.

An hour later, the entire army without returning to camp assembled at the drill ground.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Hong Fan first executed Guo Han according to military law and displayed his head to the public. Then he ordered Huan Chengji to be transferred to the position of Commander-in-Chief and to lead the Wuhui Camp.

After this battle, Suo Chengzhou's prestige was greatly damaged, and the entire Fengsui City fell silent under the name of Chixing.

(End of this chapter)