As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 368 Agreement
Libu Pass was destroyed, and Qian Yuan withdrew his troops to defend Xingtai Pass.

The Northern Army has made another big step forward, pushing the battle line forward.

Qian Yuan now only has Xingtai Pass left. As long as we can break through this pass...

Under the command of the Northern Fierce Army, they marched straight into the northern border of Qian Yuan and directly attacked the old capital, Yueyang.

Winter is now completely over and the weather is warming up.

Although Ji Yuting was injured.

However, the soldiers of Beilie still launched a fierce offensive, their invasion as raging as fire.

Ling Yu gritted her teeth and held on, relying on the pass.

We cannot give up on this final hurdle so easily.

She was determined to hold this pass until reinforcements from the south arrived.

Night fell, and the sky grew dark.

Outside Zhenling Pass, a flash of red light appeared.

Although the battle line has advanced to Xingtai Pass, Zhenling Pass is the main base of the Northern Lie.

The headquarters of senior military commanders were located here, and provisions and supplies were also stored here.

But tonight, a special guest has arrived.

"Such a good city, it would really take a lot of effort to take it by force!"

Under the cover of night, Mingchen quietly arrived outside the pass and, aboard Fuyao's back, looked with great interest at Zhenling Pass, which had been repaired by Deng Yingcheng.

Although Deng Yingcheng was tricked by Ming Chen, this general is indeed a capable city defender.

This strategic pass was already easy to defend but difficult to attack, and now Deng Yingcheng has built a new city around it.

If the two armies were to confront each other here in the future, it would be even more difficult.

"Fuyao, let's get to work!"

Mingchen glanced at it briefly, then patted Fuyao's head and smiled faintly.

Come and don't go indecent.

While he was away, Ji Yuting staged a midnight raid, using magic to destroy the city wall.

Long Lian was injured and hasn't recovered yet.

Now, Mingchen has to pay it back.

He took out a bell and shook it gently.

"Lingling~"

The clear sound of the bells seemed particularly distinct at night.

The next instant, dark clouds gathered in the dome, and arcs of electricity flickered.

"Boom boom boom!"

A thunderclap followed closely, striking down from the sky.

It struck the sturdy city wall with pinpoint accuracy.

"Uh... what's that?!"

Suddenly, the ground shook violently, and the patrolling soldiers were startled by the inexplicable thunderclap, quickly looking up at the sky.

Strange things seem to be happening a lot lately.

A few days ago, there was lightning and thunder in the direction of Libu Pass, and a divine dragon descended to earth.

What's going on tonight?
Thunder has struck their Zhenling Pass again?
"quick!"

"Go and report to the general immediately!"

"what is that?!"

"There seems to be someone in the sky!"

……

As the crescent moon's light spread down, they vaguely seemed to catch a glimpse of a figure flashing through the air.

The Thunder Bell is a gift from Long Lian to Ming Chen after she successfully transformed into a dragon, fulfilling her vow.

It is a magical artifact that can summon thunder.

He used it when he attacked the cultivator who knew the Dragon Subduing Technique.

Another one is Gale Sand, which, when thrown out, transforms into a fierce gust of wind that destroys everything.

When Long Lian faced his tribulation, he was forged by heavenly lightning and corroded by yin wind.

After becoming a dragon, he also fulfilled his vow by giving Mingchen Fenglei a magical artifact.

"stop!!!"

Just as Mingchen summoned the thunder, a loud shout suddenly came from afar.

A figure moved with lightning speed, flashing past and arriving in front of Mingchen in the blink of an eye.

Mingchen narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing the person in front of him with great interest.

He has excellent eyesight and can see the other person's face clearly even at night.

He was a middle-aged man dressed as a Taoist priest, standing in mid-air, his robes fluttering and moving without wind. He held a whisk in his hand, had thick eyebrows and large eyes, and sported a goatee. He was tall and looked quite dignified and upright.

Then, a few more people arrived.

They have different appearances and different body shapes.

Some people rode on strange beasts, some carried strange objects, and some stood in mid-air like the middle-aged Taoist priest.

Mingchen glanced at the group of people and frowned slightly.

It seems that the entity behind the Northern Lord is also preparing to reveal its hand.

These cultivators possessed a more refined demeanor and carried more powerful weapons than those who had sought refuge with Xiao Xinyue.

While Mingchen was sizing up these people, they were also paying attention to him.

He rides a divine phoenix, and he possesses many secrets and mysteries, as well as many strange and mysterious powers.

Despite having no magical power whatsoever, it gave people a strong sense of oppression.

The middle-aged Taoist recognized Ming Chen's identity. His expression remained calm as he repeatedly questioned Ming Chen, "Lord Ming, a battle between cultivators is a battle between cultivators, and a war between soldiers is a war between soldiers."

"Why lower yourself to launch a nighttime attack, using the immense power of heavenly thunder to destroy the fortress painstakingly built by mortals?"

"Don't you realize that abusing your power to bully others and disgracing your principles are shameful?"

"Hey!"

Upon hearing the other party's righteous and indignant question, Mingchen laughed.

He glanced sideways at the middle-aged Taoist priest and sneered, "You old Taoist priest, you've got a good hand at moral blackmail!"

How did Libu Pass disappear?

"Why don't you ask what that young general of your Northern Lie did not long ago?"

"So you'll admit it just because you weren't caught?"

"Are you allowed to attack my Libu Pass with heavenly lightning, but I'm not allowed to strike your Zhenling Pass with lightning?"

Mingchen considers himself no good person.

He takes advantage of his strengths and bullies others when he has power; he also admits to having double standards.

However, he would never say such disgusting things like this Taoist priest.

And they never forbade the other party from taking action.

Of course, it's best to be able to withstand the other party's retaliation after they strike.

"Forehead……"

The Taoist priest wasn't annoyed even after being slightly rebuffed by Mingchen.

Instead of falling into the trap of self-justification and continuing the topic that was unfavorable to him, he changed the subject and said to Ming Chen, "Lord Ming, we each have our own unique abilities, how about we make an agreement here?"

Mingchen raised an eyebrow: "Oh?"

The Taoist priest paused for a moment, then continued, “If cultivators from both sides were to enter the arena and, like Lord Ming’s nighttime attack, destroy the enemy’s fortifications and kill stray soldiers… this would only disrupt the overall course of events, disturb the heavenly order, create unnecessary karmic obstacles of slaughter, and cause countless soldiers and civilians on both sides to die in vain.”

He used Mingchen as an example, and also made a few pointed remarks about Mingchen.

Mingchen neither got angry nor argued, but listened with great interest as he continued.

"Lord Ming is a pillar of the nation and a talent capable of saving the world. I believe Lord Ming would not want to see such a situation, would he?"

"In worldly wars, the struggle between armies is based on the general's talent and the soldier's courage to fight, conquer cities and seize territories."

"As for the contest between you and me regarding supernatural powers and magical strength, it will only be between cultivators of our respective sides. In the future, the cultivators of Qian Yuan and Bei Lie will compete in magical arts and magical treasures to determine the winner."

"If one side loses and no one can break the spell, the other side can do whatever they want, what do you say?"

The Taoist priest finished explaining his thoughts in one breath, staring intently at Mingchen.

"That's it..."

Mingchen narrowed his eyes upon hearing this. Soldiers against soldiers, generals against generals, cultivators against cultivators—this had always been Mingchen's philosophy.

However, his idea is very flexible.

It's not that it has to be this way.

Mingchen's focus was actually on ensuring that there was sufficient strength to counter the enemy's cultivators and prevent them from bullying our soldiers.

But on their own side, they can be quite flexible at times, and can bully those below them from above.

The other party has now put it out in the open and established strict rules.

He put his arms behind his back, gently beckoned with his fingers, looked up at the other person and smiled, "I don't seem to have any reason to refuse."

The Taoist's suggestion seemed to be in the best interests of both parties.

Mingchen has no problem protecting himself.

Even he couldn't be on guard against enemy attacks on his army at all times.

The slightest mistake could result in the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers.

Currently, due to the strategic pass, the two sides are locked in a stalemate. In the future, whether Bei Lie attacks in or Qian Yuan attacks out, the battle lines will need to expand, and Ming Chen cannot cover everything. At this time, the cultivators' management skills will become very important.

Soldiers may seem strong to ordinary people, but they are quite vulnerable in the face of powerful supernatural abilities and magical artifacts.

This is a power belonging to a different dimension.

Even on the main battlefield, cultivators cannot fight against the army.

However, on the other hand, practitioners have many ways to change the overall situation.

For example, the method Mingchen used to flood Cheng Jincheng.

The number of cultivators is small, and there are many restrictions.

Ultimately, conquering cities and seizing territories still relies on the nation's army.

The entry of cultivators from both sides, regardless of the means, will indeed hinder the overall situation, create unnecessary bloodshed, and cause many unnecessary casualties.

With that thought in mind, Mingchen nodded to him: "I agree!"

An expected answer.

Making the agreement binding is a good thing for both parties.

The Taoist priest twitched his beard, nodded slightly, and was about to say something polite.

"but……"

However, at that moment, Mingchen on the other side suddenly changed his tone and revealed a carefree smile: "Let's start the agreement next time."

"It doesn't count this time!"

I didn't sleep with my older sister tonight. Since we've already come all this way, we can't just leave empty-handed.

Mingchen is never one to suffer a loss.

While the Taoist priest was babbling away, a grain of sand drifted away in the wind.

I don't know when, but I landed in the city.

No one noticed, and no one cared.

It's just the most ordinary, insignificant grain of sand.

However, these seemingly insignificant grains of sand contain an unspeakable and terrifying power.

But Mingchen's words had barely faded when...

"Hoohoo!"

A fierce storm suddenly swept through the new city of Zhenling Pass, and the violent wind gathered into a huge tornado. The wind blades cut wildly everywhere, destroying ships and barren land.

Before some unfortunate soldiers could even realize what was happening, they were swept up in it and crushed into powder by the sand carried by the fierce wind, their blood pooling in the sand, giving off a foul and eerie smell.

In an instant, the new town of Zhenlingguan, which Deng Yingcheng had painstakingly reinforced, was almost completely destroyed.

"what?!"

The expressions of the cultivators opposite them changed abruptly.

Everything happened so fast; they never expected that Mingchen was pulling this stunt while he was talking to them.

That's despicable and insidious.

None of them realized how Mingchen used magic.

This person is truly mysterious; his unorthodox methods are impossible to guard against.

Several figures flashed and disappeared from the spot, trying to stop Mingchen's methods, protect the pass, and minimize losses.

"you!"

Several hot-tempered individuals immediately glared at Mingchen, their eyes wide with anger, and shouted out in fury.

A figure flashed by, and someone had already arrived in front of Mingchen.

His magical power surged, and he was ready to fight.

"Stop!"

However, he was stopped by the middle-aged Taoist priest.

The little bird's eyes flashed, and its magic power poured out like a flood, instantly engulfing the approaching people in a huge fireball.

Everything returns to calm.

"Comfortable!"

Mingchen retrieved the Gale Sand, cupped his hands in greeting to the group in front of him, and said with a smile, "Gentlemen, let's see who's the best in the future!"

Having said that, without waiting for their reply, he vanished from the spot in a flash of red light.

He lacked complete intelligence and was not fully prepared.

Mingchen was also worried that the other party might have some trump card that could deliver a devastating blow.

Since the agreement is to have a contest of magic later, let's take it slow then.

Mingchen's retreat was swift and decisive, leaving a few people standing there quietly watching his departing figure, their expressions varied.

Throughout the entire ordeal, the middle-aged Taoist priest who was in the lead remained calm and unmoved.

Seeing Mingchen leave, he turned and glanced at Zhenling Pass, which was in ruins after suffering an undeserved disaster, and said loudly, "Everyone, quickly cast your spells to save the city."

"Ow~"

A figure flashed by, and a leopard on the ground growled softly.

The cultivator who had just been engulfed by the soaring flames suddenly appeared on its back, staring grimly in the direction Ming Chen had left, and spat repeatedly: "What a despicable villain."

He looked up and called out to the Taoist priest who had appeared out of thin air, "Master, let me have a go at him first!"

……

On the other side, the night was dark, and dark clouds covered the sky, making it hard to breathe.

"This...is unfair, what should we do?"

"I heard that the floodwaters have inundated Chengjin City, and Tian Hong has already been driven away by Mingchen!"

"We have no way of forming an alliance with Beilie!"

"Xiao Ling of Qian Yuan has already led an army of 100,000 and will soon be able to enter Xinhe City!"

Xinhecheng
The Grand Marshal's Mansion was magnificent and several times more imposing than the imperial palace.

The fat, big-eared man looked panicked, sweat pouring down his face, and kept asking the strange monk in front of him questions.

Du Yun'an, the new Grand Marshal of Qi, held a high position and great power. He had been completely corrupted by power and desire, and had utterly forgotten his original bravery and sincerity.

They became the most hated group of people by the Blood-Clad Army.

Unfortunately, he happens to be the supreme leader of the remaining Blood-Clad Army.

"Hmm...it's alright..."

Upon hearing this, Bu Gong frowned slightly.

Mingchen flooded Chengjin City and drove out the invading army of Beilie, an action that was actually unexpected and unfair.

He never expected that a great general like Tian Hong could last so short a time.

Tian Hong made a mistake here, and all subsequent plans collapsed as a result.

The land of Qianyuan has endured so many hardships, and was nearly destroyed by war, yet it still possesses such resilience.

Right now, the priority is to stabilize the overall situation. He lowered his eyes and said to Du Yun'an, "General, don't be discouraged. The situation in the north is tense. Qian Yuan won't be able to hold out for long. We..."

Before he could finish speaking, he seemed to have noticed something, and his brows furrowed.

The air was filled with the stench of blood.

"Da da da……"

Sparks flew as the broadsword cut across the ground, and the sound of footsteps grew clearer.

The monarch, suppressing his rage, returned from purgatory.

(End of this chapter)