Lord of the Earth

Summer Solstice - A Spiritual Realm

Military Affairs Office - Skynet Observation Platform!

Bai Qi stood with his hands behind his back, a sea of ​​blood stretching for millions of miles behind him, reflecting the 108,000 examination halls simultaneously unfolding in the Skynet screen.

The "God of Slaughter - Dao Fruit Prototype" above his head was operating at its peak at this moment - not just watching the battle, but feeling it together.

The murderous aura of every battlefield, the rise and fall of the morale of every army, and the decisiveness of every general drawing his sword were all captured in those eyes as deep as a sea of ​​blood.

On the right, Yue Fei, dressed in a black, gold and red robe, stands with his spine straight as a pine tree, his right hand resting on his sword.

Above their heads, the inscription "Loyalty to the Country: The Initial Form of Dao Fruit" resonated with the military spirit of millions of Qianxia soldiers in the Heavenly Net.

For these 100,000 assessments involving "military affairs," he didn't care about the outcome; he only cared about one thing: whether the general's heart was connected with the soldiers' heart, and whether they were loyal to the human race!

On the left, the "Immortal of Military Arts - Dao Fruit" above Han Xin's head is predicting every possible branch of the battle situation at a speed beyond comprehension.

His expression was serious, his brows sometimes furrowed and sometimes relaxed, carrying a hint of appreciation.

Because some generals' strategies of warfare require him to deduce five hundred steps in order to understand the profound meaning behind each move.

The Skynet feed was zoomed in.

A desolate land in the far north of Qianxia appeared, where a sacred mountain made entirely of white bones pierced the sky—the Wolf Clan's sacred land, Wolf God Mountain!
Occupying this place is the "Sky Wolf Clan," a race known for its ferocity and bloodlust, whose members possess extraordinary combat power upon reaching adulthood!

The current Wolf Lord "Lietian" is an absolute god at the peak of the Third Heaven, whose true form is an ancient demon wolf that has devoured hundreds of millions of living beings!
The various subordinate wolf-blooded creatures under its command number in the hundreds of billions, and there are also forty-nine Heavenly Wolf Gods guarding the holy peaks in various places.

Over the centuries in the Eternal Land, countless races have been reduced to dust under its iron hooves. Even the humans in this region once had to sacrifice millions of their people every year as blood offerings!
However, this day was different.

"Boom!"

The sound of iron cavalry trampling the earth rang out, and suddenly a ripple appeared in the space above the plain, revealing a human cavalry force of about a million men, all clad in black armor!
"Oh no, is it the enemy?"

"Humans, how did you appear on our border!"

"Quickly inform the general... Awooo!"

The expressions on the faces of the Sirius clan members changed drastically.

The howls of wolves shook the heavens, but the speed of these sounds was no match for the speed of this human cavalry's movement!

Clang!
Without any pre-battle planning, scouts, or even a rearguard... a million Xuanjia Iron Cavalry shot out like an arrow, drawing a straight black line across the vast snowfield, heading straight for Wolf Dwelling Divine Mountain!

Han Xin frowned slightly, his fingertips flashing with light as he instantly deduced 108 possibilities on the sand table—a lone army deep in enemy territory, supply lines cut off, encirclement from all sides…

Of the 108 types, 72 are considered dead ends, while only 28 offer a chance to escape unscathed...

As for a complete victory, even under his command of a mere million soldiers, it would be difficult to achieve.

But the next moment, he saw an incredible scene: a "prototype of a Dao Fruit" suddenly appeared above the head of a young commander who looked no more than twenty years old at the very front of that iron cavalry!
With a burst of Daoist energy, the million-strong army vanished into thin air!
The next moment, when they reappeared, they had already crossed the border defense line of the Sirius Clan, which was three thousand miles away, and appeared directly outside a wolf clan camp eight hundred miles east of the Wolf Dwelling Divine Mountain!
"This is... a large-scale spatial teleportation, and it can maintain formation and even the speed of the charge?"

Han Xin's fingers paused slightly, and the sea of ​​blood behind Bai Qi also trembled slightly. The Dao rhyme drawn by that "prototype of Dao Fruit" was clearly not an ordinary spatial rule - but a manifestation of pushing "speed" to the extreme!

And this person was even able to envelop the entire army with the power of the rules of this Dao Fruit.

Let a million iron cavalry accompany him "through" the battlefield!
Before the warriors of the Sirius clan could react, the iron cavalry, like a drawn sword, slashed straight into the camp.

Puff, puff, puff!

There was no lingering combat, no maneuvering, not even a moment's pause—wherever the iron cavalry passed, everything was crushed, torn apart, and pierced. That wasn't a battle; that was cutting.

The million-strong cavalry, as one, used their young commander as the blade, the momentum of their galloping horses as the back of the sword, and the combined killing intent of the entire army as the edge, to cut through everything in one fell swoop!

The camp collapsed, and the defending general perished.

Then, the iron cavalry disappeared again.

The next moment, they appeared outside another major wolf stronghold.

One slash, and it's over.

It disappeared again.

If it reappears, it will be slain again.

On the sand table before Han Xin, the red dots representing the wolf clan's troop strength were extinguishing at an incredible speed. They weren't being defeated one by one, but rather being sliced ​​away piece by piece by an invisible heavenly blade.

Every strike hits the most critical spot—the heart of the supply depot, the command center, the assembly point for reinforcements, and the lair of vassal tribes!

"Damn it, human, stop him!"

The wolf lord's roar came from the Wolf-dwelling Sacred Mountain.

Forty-nine Sirius deities simultaneously ascended into the sky, attempting to lock onto the elusive iron cavalry.

But just as their divine senses dispersed, the Heavenly Blade appeared in another location.

One cut after another.

Within seventy-two hours, that million-strong iron cavalry, like ghosts, drew an incomprehensible trajectory across the vast northern snowfield.

They never divide their forces, always remaining united; they never linger in battle, striking and retreating in an instant; they never linger, for every appearance is a prelude to the next strike.

They broke through the Sirius Clan's thousand-mile defense line, the layers of encirclement by vassal tribes, and the inescapable net laid by the forty-nine Sirius Gods.

Because of their speed, the enemy's encirclement could never catch up with them.

Their appearance is always in the most unexpected places for the enemy; their blades are always aimed at the enemy's weakest link.

tenth day.

When the enraged wolf lord "Rending the Sky" finally harnessed his own "divine kingdom" and set up a decisive battle formation at the foot of Wolf-Dwelling Divine Mountain, preparing to surround and annihilate this damned iron cavalry with five hundred billion wolf riders—

That celestial blade actually appeared directly on the summit of Wolf Dwelling Divine Mountain.

The young commander stepped out of the void, his boots crushing the permafrost of the Wolf Clan's sacred mountain.

Behind him, a million iron cavalry surged out of the void like a tide, instantly turning the entire mountaintop into a battlefield. The Wolf Lord roared and soared into the sky, while forty-nine Heavenly Wolf Gods rushed in from all directions.

This time, the young figure did not attempt to "dodge".

Instead, he sneered and drew his sword, charging directly at the billions of Sky Wolf Clan troops who were waiting in battle.

"kill--"

At that moment, the Heavenly Blade, which embodied the full strength of a million iron cavalry, used the young commander as its blade and the indomitable will forged by the entire army after its long march of thousands of miles as its back.

A single slash!

The Wolf Lord's protective divine light shattered, and the forty-nine Heavenly Wolf Gods were blasted back by a single strike. The entire Wolf Dwelling Divine Mountain trembled under the impact of this strike!

After a short while, the head of the Wolf Lord "Lietian" was nailed to the very center of the altar on Wolf Dwelling Mountain. Of the forty-nine Heavenly Wolf Gods, thirty-nine died in battle, and the rest fled.

The extremely young commander stood at the top of the altar, reached out and broke off the holy flag embroidered with the Sirius totem, and planted Qianxia's own "Seven-Colored True Dragon" flag on it!
When the news spread, the various tribes of the Sirius Clan collapsed. The three thousand alien races that were originally subordinate to them were terrified. The SkyNet screen then froze on the young figure standing atop the altar.

"Raiding a hundred million miles, defeating a thousand troops in ten days, sealing the Wolf God Mountain?"

The sea of ​​blood behind Bai Qi surged endlessly.

"Of all battle formations in the world, none can be broken by speed! This person not only possesses unparalleled speed, but also an indomitable will of a war god... In the future, he will surely become a true god!"

His voice was deep, carrying a hint of emotion that even he himself was unaware of.

In the sea of ​​blood behind him, countless cities he had slaughtered, surrendered soldiers he had buried alive, and kingdoms he had razed to the ground appeared... This scene intertwined with the fleeting glint of a blade in the Skynet.

Even though the trajectory of that celestial blade evolved into a large army to intercept it, it was still cut off by this "celestial blade"!
"If I were to meet him on the battlefield for the first time, the outcome would be uncertain."

"It's not because his command ability is stronger than mine, but because—he's too fast. So fast that the moment my killing intent was gathered, his blade had already struck."

Bai Qi closed his eyes.

He did not say "admitted".

But both Han Xin and Yue Fei knew that this person could definitely rank among the top three in this "Immortal Dynasty Imperial Examination"!
As for this person's identity, there's no need to elaborate.

Throughout the entire history of China, there is only one person who, at the tender age of twenty, was able to compete with the most outstanding generals of all time—the Champion Marquis, Huo Qubing! The SkyNet screen shifted to the northwest corner of Qianxia, ​​a dead land covered by endless lava and ash—the theocratic dynasty of the Flame Demon Sect, the "Burning Heaven Sect".

At its core is the "Holy Temple of Flame," a structure built from the blood and flesh of over 10 billion slaves and entirely composed of obsidian and lava.

The Flame Demon Cult worships a quasi-god, the "Burning Sky Flame Demon," who slumbers in a sea of ​​magma beneath the earth. The cult has 107 high-ranking shamans who sacrifice foreign creatures to please the Flame Demon in exchange for power.

For several years, people have gone missing from time to time along the border between Qianxia and Gansu.

The Imperial Guards discovered that these humans had been abducted into the Holy Temple by the "Burning Heaven Sect" and were about to become sacrifices in the next blood sacrifice!

Twelve hours later, the Qianxia Military Affairs Bureau issued the order to launch a punitive expedition, and six armies were closing in. There was no way to escape from any direction!

"What? The Qianxia Immortal Dynasty of the human race intends to wage war against us?"

"Damn it, didn't I tell you not to offend the human race so easily?!"

"This is what the gods require. To awaken Lord Flame Demon, a sufficient number of human sacrifices are needed!"

"Never mind, the human reinforcements shouldn't arrive that quickly. As long as we complete the ritual and awaken Lord Flame Demon, we can slaughter all humans..."

However, even the fastest army will probably not arrive for another three days, while the blood sacrifice is to begin today!
"This is the place!"

At this moment, a figure in silver armor and white robes, leading an elite cavalry force of three thousand men, suddenly stepped into the entrance of the Burning Heaven Domain.

Before him stood a massive army of three million extraordinary-level members of the Flame Demon Cult.

He is a great shaman of the 107 divine level, a slumbering quasi-god, and the 300 million lives that will be sacrificed in 12 hours.

Behind him were only three thousand cavalrymen!
"A large number of alien races dare to attack our human race! They're courting death!"

Faced with the alien army that attempted to intercept him after discovering him... the white-robed general slowly raised his right hand and made a gesture.

Three thousand cavalrymen reined in their horses and formed a battle formation at the same time—this was no ordinary battle formation, but a military formation guided by "military spirit," with "morale" as its backbone, and "belief" as its flesh and blood.

The auras of the three thousand men instantly merged into one, resonating with the silver-robed general on horseback, forming a soaring battle intent!
Above the silver-robed general's head, a nascent Dao Fruit slowly rotated... emitting a Daoist aura that enveloped the entire army... taking the army's morale as their own, and the soldiers' will as their own, the entire army was as one, and the man and the formation were one!

Immediately afterwards, a longbow appeared in his hand.

The first arrow was shot into the sky.

The arrow pierced the perpetually blazing crimson clouds of the Burning Heaven Domain, drawing down countless golden serpents of true solar fire from a radius of 30,000 miles. This torrent of true solar fire scorched the three million extraordinary-level believers surrounding the temple into glass!

The first arrow cleared the field.

"Oh no, it's a powerful human?"

"How did they arrive so quickly!"

Enraged, the enemy sent 107 great shamans into the sky to set up a Heaven-Burning and World-Destroying Array, engulfing the entire temple in flames powerful enough to incinerate even gods. The Flame Demon Pope—the supreme deity "Crimson Nether," at the peak of the Third Heaven—stood at the eye of the array, overlooking the 3,000-strong cavalry.

"A mere three thousand people dare to trespass into my divine realm?"

The silver-robed general did not answer.

He drew the bow again.

The second arrow was shot into the void.

Where the arrow passed, the flow of time suddenly stopped.

This arrow was also propelled by the combined efforts of three thousand cavalry! The will of three thousand men locked onto the trajectory of the arrow, forcibly delaying time in that area!
The silver-robed general leaped out on his horse, his movements swift and precise, following the trajectory of the arrows, he instantly bypassed the blockade of 107 great shamans and appeared at the main gate of the temple.

His three thousand cavalry, drawn by the army formation, followed closely behind, like a silver torrent rushing into the temple. The fire demon priests and guardian generals along the way could only watch helplessly as they stormed in, their movements as slow as snails.

The second arrow pierced the city!
Deep within the temple, over three hundred million captives of various ethnicities were bound on the altar. Among the captives were dozens dressed in the attire of the Qianxia merchant caravan.

The silver-robed general's gaze lingered on their faces for a moment.

Then, he turned to face Chi Ming, who had already chased into the hall, the 107 divine-level great shamans, and the colossal figure slowly emerging from the lava pool—

The Blazing Demon, a quasi-god, has awakened from its slumber.

“Those who sacrifice themselves to me deserve to die.”

The Flame Demon's voice made the entire temple tremble... The pressure of the quasi-true god was so real that the three thousand cavalrymen could hardly breathe.

But the silver-robed general drew his bow for the third time.

The third arrow: man and arrow become one.

A white rainbow pierces the sun—this arrow embodies the full strength of three thousand cavalrymen, every bit of the military formation's power, and the lifelong belief of the silver-robed general!
The arrow pierced through Chi Ming's protective demonic armor, through his chest, and pinned him to the altar. Blood splattered onto the huge fire demon statue and onto the faces of the prisoners who were about to be sacrificed!
"Damn it! We offer our blood and souls as a sacrifice, begging Lord Burning Heaven to resurrect and avenge us!"

Seeing his carefully cultivated situation crumble with just three arrows, the dying Crimson Nether roared in fury…

The immense sacrificial power poured into the magma, replacing the original human essence being worshipped and completing the ritual...

Roar!
The roar of the Blazing Demon shattered the dome of the temple, the sea of ​​magma boiled, and a giant beast formed from pure flames rose from the ground, opening its maw large enough to devour the heavens and the earth, and lunged at the three thousand cavalrymen!
When a near-true god is angered, the heavens and earth change color.

But the silver-robed general did not retreat.

He sheathed his bow, drew his sword, and shouted sternly:
"Form the formation!"

Three thousand cavalrymen responded simultaneously, their military spirit boiling and their fighting will soaring to the sky!

A massive battle formation took shape beneath their feet, with the silver-robed general at its core. The power of three thousand men merged into one, transforming into a "military formation" capable of contending with quasi-true gods!
The silver-robed general leaped up and slashed at the Flame Demon with his sword!
That sword strike was not the power of one person alone—it was the belief of three thousand people, the courage of three thousand people, and the determination of three thousand people to protect the three hundred million lives behind them!
The sword light clashed violently with the Flame Demon's fiery claws!

The sky of the Burning Heaven Domain shattered.

More than 300 million prisoners witnessed firsthand that the silver-robed figure clashed head-on with a quasi-true god with a single sword strike, before being blasted away a hundred miles by the recoil.

But the three thousand cavalrymen behind him were also knocked away, yet not one of them retreated—their battle spirit would not be extinguished as long as their formation remained intact!

The silver-robed general rose from the ruins, his face filled with fighting spirit... He raised his sword again, and the three thousand cavalrymen also stood up and raised their swords, and the battle formation was formed once more!
"Slay again!"

Another sword strike.

Another sword strike.

Another sword strike.

Each sword strike was delivered by three thousand people working together.

Each sword strike left a wound on the Flame Demon; each sword strike consumed the power of that quasi-true god.

When Qianxia's army arrived, all they saw was that 3,000-strong cavalry force, of whom more than a thousand had already fallen.

But the remaining two thousand men, together with the silver-robed general, maintained their formation, slashing at the already wounded Flame Demon with their swords.

The silver-robed general was covered in blood, and a deep, bone-revealing wound on his chest was still oozing blood, but the sword in his hand remained as steady as a rock.

At this moment, as reinforcements had arrived, he let out a long roar to the sky.

His aura suddenly surged, and with a single sword strike, he combined his power with that of the two thousand soldiers to unleash boundless energy, which landed on the nascent Dao Fruit atop the head of the "Burning Heaven Flame Demon"!

The screams of the "Burning Heaven Flame Demon" echoed through the heavens. The Dao Fruit above its head shattered, and its enormous body, which covered thousands of miles, turned into countless fragments of flames that dissipated into the world!
This battle is enough to ensure that there will be no war in the Burning Heaven Domain for three hundred years.

At this moment, the sand table in front of Han Xin simultaneously presented 3,600 different scenarios.

Every deduction points to the same conclusion.

Without that military formation, without the three thousand men who were of one mind and one heart with their commander, and without the two thousand men who were determined to fight to the last moment, it would have been impossible to win such an easy victory!

He raised his head, gazing at the imposing figure in silver robes, as radiant as the sun and moon, and said softly:

"This man's approach to warfare differs from mine. I defeat the enemy through strategic deduction, choosing the optimal solution from countless possibilities. But he, on the other hand, maximizes both his own strength and the strength of his army..."

"His army formations are not tools, but extensions of his body; his soldiers are not pawns, but extensions of his limbs. This way of leading troops is worthy of being called a peerless general, possessing the qualities of a true god!"

He paused, a rare look of admiration in his eyes!
Immediately, the person's name was checked through the Skynet system.

Xue Li, courtesy name Rengui, was described below by a line of Heavenly Net's assessment: "The general's three arrows subdued the Demon Mountain, and the soldiers sang their way into the Immortal Pass!" (End of Chapter)