Starting with the titmouse, seventy-two transformations

Chapter 293 The Green Serpent Saintess Infiltrates the Camp

Outside Shanyang Prefecture, there are thousands of miles of green fields and towering trees.

"Light and rain, the growth of heaven and earth... three years have really passed!"

Du Bingyan stood with her sword in her arms, and after listening to Liu Sheng's account, she sighed with emotion.

She paused for a moment, then roused herself:

"Is that Green Serpent Saintess... truly Miss Yue'e?"

She had met He Yue'e before and had a good impression of her.

It's hard to connect that introverted and shy little girl with the Green Snake Saintess who now commands over ten thousand troops, entrenched in Crouching Tiger Ridge, and has been dealing with the imperial court for over a year.

Liu Sheng nodded and began to recount the information he had gathered:
"That prefect only knows that the Green Snake Saintess's surname is He, and that she does have a five-headed snake spirit and a tiger demon to assist her."

The Suspended Mirror Bureau only found out that she was originally a surviving mountain dweller who was conscripted to build a city. Later, when the White Lotus Rebellion broke out, she was forced to leave the city.

More than a year ago, the Suspended Mirror Bureau and the Demon Suppression Bureau joined forces to ambush and surround the rebel army. Their leaders and chiefs were killed one after another, and the army was in imminent danger.

It was this Green Serpent Saintess who stepped forward and, in the face of dire straits, led a group of the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled to break through the encirclement and retreat into Crouching Tiger Ridge.

Over the next year, they successively repelled numerous encirclements and suppressions by the imperial court, gaining great fame and attracting righteous armies from all over the country to join them.

The number of people grew like a snowball, reaching 100,000.

Clinging to the Wohu Ridge, they became a major threat to Shanyang Prefecture.

"So, the imperial court specially dispatched 50,000 elite troops, led by a demon-slaying general, just to deal with her?"

"No, attacking Crouching Tiger Ridge is just a side project. The real goal is to reinforce Black Wind Mountain and seize the immortal treasures from the ruins..."

Liu Sheng shook his head, a strange look on his face.

The two military towns in Black Wind Mountain face each other across the lake, and are roughly equal in number and size.

However, the Prince of Jin's residence possesses a strategic location, a large army, and considerable strength. Now, with the world undergoing changes and the land vast and the sky high, the imperial court faces difficulties in supplying supplies, which inevitably leads to unrest among the people.

But with the reinforcement of these 50,000 elite troops, the outcome is still uncertain.

We must get these 50,000 elite troops into the mountains as soon as possible to reinforce the area, so that the imperial court and the Prince of Jin's mansion can continue their infighting.

The more fiercely they tear each other apart, the better.

He raised an eyebrow and began to speak of the changes in the imperial military system:
"Do you know that the 'elite troops' of the court today are at least muscular martial arts masters, and the banner officers must at least be internal organ martial arts masters?"

Only by advancing to the True Form level can one assume an official position of over one hundred households.

To be appointed a general and lead an army, one needs more than just the strength of a Qi Refining cultivator; that's simply not enough.

Liu Sheng slowly exhaled a breath of stale air, his voice unconsciously rising a few decibels.

Back then, a master of internal organs could serve as a demon hunter in the Demon Suppression Division, while a master of true form was a demon-slaying captain stationed in a county, holding a high position and great power.

Now he can only serve as a mid- to low-ranking officer.

The changes that have occurred in the past three years are far greater and faster than those of the past few decades.

"Times have changed... I wonder how much my Du family and my sect have changed..."

Du Bingyan sighed, her eyes darting around.

She misses home!

Liu Sheng held her hand and chuckled softly:
"Once this matter is settled and you find Grandma and the others, you should go back and see your relatives and teachers to put your mind at ease."

"Okay!"

Du Bingyan grasped his hand in return, their fingers intertwined, her face beaming with joy:

"Shall we head to Crouching Tiger Ridge now?"

"No, I'll kill one person first."

Liu Sheng shook his head, his eyes revealing a sharp edge.

My master once beheaded Xie Zheng in the midst of a vast army in his military tent.

Today, as his disciple, he should emulate his master and perform a feat of taking the enemy's head from among ten thousand troops as easily as taking something out of a bag.

Now, the world is undergoing dramatic changes, spiritual forces are resurfacing, and demons are appearing...

This world is about to descend into chaos!
Preparations must be made in advance.

Just then, Xiao Yan's ghost died, leaving a vacancy for the position of Imperial Guard.

If we can indirectly control the court's 50,000 elite troops through this treacherous spirit, we can completely open up the space for maneuver.

They could either infiltrate the imperial system, secretly develop their power, collude with those inside and outside the court, expand their influence, and become powerful ministers and warlords. Or they could gather together various rebel armies, form alliances, carve out a territory, and wait for a better price to sell.

As for relying on others and achieving success through their connections...

They've all time-traveled, they've all gained cheat codes, they've all acquired the "Eight-Nine Arcane Arts," yet they still have to be subordinate to others and be bossed around?
That's so spineless!

Furthermore, the use of the [Seventy-Two Transformations Dao Fruit] requires a large amount of spiritual energy.

With this auspicious change in the heavens, dragons and snakes will rise from the land, and a large number of ancient artifacts will surely appear in the world. It will also require manpower to search for and collect them.

“But in that military camp, if there are 50,000 elite soldiers, the number of auxiliary troops, laborers, and craftsmen will be several times that, and there will certainly be more than one Qi Refining cultivator. You…”

Du Bingyan pursed her lips, a worried look on her face, and suggested:

"How about we lure him out and ambush him halfway?"

"There's not enough time, and others might not fall for it."

Liu Sheng patted her, indicating that she didn't need to worry, and said in a deep voice:

"If things can't be done, I won't force it, don't worry."

He now has nine avatars, which is equivalent to having nine top-tier Qi cultivators assisting him, in addition to the combat power of his main body...

As long as we don't get caught up in the army's formation, we can fight even if a Yellow Court cultivator comes.

After a short while, Liu Sheng comforted Du Bingyan and told her to stay outside the military camp while he transformed into a sparrow and flew towards the distant camp.

As soon as you enter, a menacing aura hits you, making your heart pound.

"Indeed, they are an elite force!"

Liu Sheng felt a chill run down his spine, took a closer look, and immediately became more vigilant.

This elite force, including soldiers, auxiliary troops, laborers, craftsmen, and others, numbered over 200,000.

The camp, nestled against the mountains and near the water, resembled a giant beast lying prone, its tents densely packed and its banners like a forest.

Scouts patrolled along the wooden fence in the camp, and soldiers moved about like a woven tapestry, relaying messages. Supply wagons rumbled, cattle and horses neighed, and cooking smoke mingled with the smell of leather and blood, lingering deep within the camp.

On the battlefield at North Point, the army rallied, their flags changing, their spirits soaring to the heavens, their battle cries shaking the earth.

The atmosphere was somber, tense yet orderly.

"That should be the commander's tent..."

Liu Sheng's eyes sparkled with interest, and finally he set his sights on a large tent located slightly to the northwest and on slightly higher ground.

A nine-foot-long red banner stood in front of the tent, with a gate and watchtowers set up, guarded every three steps and sentry every ten steps, making it heavily guarded.

All around the large tent were armored soldiers, each as strong as a tower, with robust blood and qi, exuding a murderous aura, guarding the tent so tightly that not even flies or insects could get in.

"How could a mountain sparrow dare to enter the camp?"

Just then, the patrolling scouts spotted Liu Sheng in mid-air and were quite surprised.

You should know that the military is filled with a fierce atmosphere, keeping birds and beasts away and preventing flies and insects from breeding.

Suddenly, a ditto that looked around blankly appeared, immediately attracting the attention of the sentries.

"Oops!"

Liu Sheng knew something was wrong and tried to fly away, but then he heard a whooshing sound.

"call out!"

An arrow flew through the air, piercing towards him with incredible speed.

These scouts were ruthless; upon noticing something amiss, they acted immediately and decisively.

"Wow!"

The next moment, white mist emerged from under the mountain sparrow's claws, and its body suddenly swelled up, transforming into a ten-zhang-long demonic bird. It easily blocked the arrow and rushed straight towards the commander's tent.

It was none other than the Sky-Splitter!

"Oh no! A demonic bird has attacked our camp!"

"Mingdy!"

The scouts immediately sprang into action, firing whistling arrows in quick succession while simultaneously volleying arrows at the Sky-Splitter in mid-air.

The entire camp erupted in chaos.

After the scouts had gone far away, a small black snake, about a foot long and as thick as a chopstick, flicked its red tongue and quietly followed them.

(End of this chapter)