Chapter 492: Night Raid

Ning Zhuo's face was ashen.Though he and Mu Lan were husband and wife, it was but a political union, devoid of true affection.For a long time, this fact was concealed from the public, known only to a select few at the time.This was an unspoken understanding of the righteous path.Ning Zhuo was not surprised that Shuang Ling knew of this situation. After all, she hailed from the royal family, so it was normal for her to be privy to inner workings.But at this very moment, in the presence of a large crowd, she had brazenly revealed this secret.Shuang Ling had shattered this righteous understanding, which was undoubtedly a grave provocation.Ning Zhuo gazed intently at Shuang Ling.Shuang Ling sneered: "Little child, is this the upbringing of your Ning family? I am a princess of Liang Zhu Kingdom,a Soul Transformation cultivator, your elder. You are overly impolite."Ning Zhuo smiled faintly: "I am a man of Nan Dou Kingdom, answering the call of your esteemed ruler this time to uphold the righteous path and resist the evil demonic cultivators of Qian Feng Forest.""I have always believed the ruler of Liang Zhu Kingdom to be a paragon of virtue, treating the wise and humble with respect. But today, from the princess,I have gained a different impression.""You, as a princess, would thus aggressively press me, a junior, for what reason?"Is this the attitude of Liang Zhu Kingdom towards the rogue cultivators who have joined the war?"Shuang Ling's expression immediately changed slightly.Ning Zhuo had instantly affixed a large hat, making her noble status a weakness instead.The City Lord of Cang Lin Immortal City, seeing that the situation was unfavorable, quickly stepped forward to mediate.Shuang Ling let out a dry laugh, pointing at Ning Zhuo: "Sharp-tongued little fellow, somewhat interesting. The battlefield is perilous; I hope I can still see you after this great war."Shuang Ling, lacking eloquence, had been struck by Ning Zhuo's soft sword. Following the steps offered by the City Lord of Cang Lin Immortal City, she slowly sat down, no longer entangling with Ning Zhuo.However, although she had no subsequent verbal clashes, in the auction that followed, she repeatedly targeted Ning Zhuo. Whenever Ning Zhuo took an interest in a mechanism or creation, she would purchase it at a high price, using her influence to suppress him, her hostility quite evident.So much so that by the end of the auction, Ning Zhuo had gained very little."I'm a bit angry," Ning Zhuo said to Mu Lan on the way back.Mu Lan mused: "After all, she is a figure of the royal family who has been famous for a long time. Princess Jiqiao's name is known throughout the kingdom, a major sign of the Soul Transformation stage within the royal family.""There's no need to contend with her; we've suffered too much."Mu Lan was not willing to support Ning Zhuo.Although Shuang Ling had exposed her and Ning Zhuo's marital relationship, breaking the righteous understanding, Mu Lan did not care too much.On one hand, she had been educated by General Mu since childhood to be loyal to Liang Zhu Kingdom. On the other hand, she also did not care about such matters of reputation. Deep down, she even wished for the marital relationship to be exposed, solidifying her connection with Ning Zhuo.If Ning Zhuo's engagement with the Nan Dou Kingdom's royal family could be destroyed, binding him to General Mu's mansion, Mu Lan would be extremely happy.The longer she spent with Ning Zhuo, the more interested Mu Lan became in him."Uncle Zhang is much older than me and has discerning eyes. He knew early on that Ning Zhuo was my ideal husband."Ning Zhuo was young and wealthy, his Five Elements realm extraordinary, controlling numerous mechanisms. Although he only had Foundation Establishment cultivation,he possessed the powerful combat strength of the Core Formation level.Ning Zhuo's strategies, his ability to handle people and affairs, and his role as the military advisor in the Three Generals' Camp, always completing his duties quickly – Mu Lan had seen all of this."Those three old roughnecks in the Three Generals' Camp need Ning Zhuo to keep accounts and calculate. Do I not need the same in my Red Flower Camp?"Mu Lan was calculating Ning Zhuo.After probing, Ning Zhuo immediately understood Mu Lan's intentions and stopped speaking.The two remained silent throughout the journey. After leaving the city gates, Ning Zhuo immediately parted ways and returned to the Three Generals' Camp to sleep.In the days that followed, he mainly focused on training troops, followed by cultivation.In his free time, Ning Zhuo would return to the Immortal City to purchase mechanism pedestals, only to find that they had all been monopolized by Princess Jiqiao."Guye! The Guye of the Upper General's Mansion, truly congratulations!""Lord Ning, please take a seat.""Lord Ning, my young master has prepared a small banquet at the restaurant. Please grace us with your presence."With the exposure of Ning Zhuo and Mu Lan's marital relationship, Ning Zhuo's every move in the Immortal City attracted significant attention.Ning Zhuo had no choice but to disguise his identity and attempt to procure goods.However, he still could not purchase any mechanism pedestals.These pedestals had been monopolized by Shuang Ling, who had used her status to pressure all the shops."This is too much. Little Zhuo, perhaps it's time for us 'Old Monsters in Stone' to make a move!" Sun Ling Tong felt extremely indignant on behalf of Ning Zhuo.But Ning Zhuo shook his head, calmly pondering: "Princess Jiqiao Shuang Ling is also skilled in group control. Her arrival at Cang Lin Immortal City was very rushed, and even Shuang Jing was unaware.""Now that she has arrived at the Immortal City, she is extensively acquiring various materials and monopolizing all the mechanism pedestals, evidently preparing actively for battle.""Suppressing us is just a side effect.""Since she is a princess of Liang Zhu Kingdom, she must know more information. Perhaps, the day we set off for the front lines again is not far off."Ning Zhuo's analysis was not incorrect.The date of the rear army's departure was much earlier than he had anticipated.Just three days later, military orders were issued. That very night, the rear army set off again.Throughout the march, the various military camps formed formations in unison, exercising extreme caution. At the slightest hint of disturbance, they would immediately halt and prepare for battle, showing that the previous ambush had indeed left many with a significant psychological shadow.This march, however, was uneventful.The Golden Halberd Army, Red Flower Camp, Savage Demon Camp, White Jade Camp, Three Generals' Camp, and Fire Cloud Camp all successfully reached the main army's station – Mu Lun Town.Du Tiechuan, the commander of the Liang Zhu Kingdom's three armies, summoned the various generals in batches.When it was the turn of the Three Generals' Camp, Du Tiechuan personally ordered that the military advisor Ning Zhuo also be brought to see him.Thus, Ning Zhuo, along with Liu Guan Zhang, had close contact with Du Tiechuan, a great cultivator at the Divinity Transformation level.Du Tiechuan was relatively thin, with angular features, eyebrows like blades, and deep, calm eyes. His skin was slightly pale. He wore a silver wire hair crown and a gray-blue long robe, with silver armor on the outside, exuding an aura of toughness.After Liu Guan Zhang Ning reported their duties, Du Tiechuan hummed and cast his gaze upon Ning Zhuo.He spoke: "Young Master Ning Zhuo, please be seated."Liu Guan Zhang had respectful expressions, only Liu Er raised his eyebrows slightly.Ning Zhuo thanked him and sat on the edge of the chair, his hands on his thighs, sitting upright.His identity as a military advisor and his identity from the Ning family were not enough for a great cultivator at the Divinity Transformation level, the commander of the three armies, to treat him with such courtesy.His identity as Mu Lan's husband, the Guye of General Mu's Mansion, was the key!Du Tiechuan encouraged the four of them for a while and then had them withdraw.On the way back, Liu Guan Zhang Ning used divine sense transmission to discuss their views on Du Tiechuan.Liu Er was distracted.He couldn't help but think that Ning Zhuo was treated with such courtesy because he had become Mu Lan's husband. But according to the royal decree, he should have been Mu Lan's true husband!Thinking of this, Liu Er felt very unpleasant in his heart, and occasionally a few cold glints flickered in his eyes as he glanced at Ning Zhuo.Let's say Ning Zhuo returned to his own tent and began his usual cultivation, circulating the cultivation base in his three dantian to nurture precious medicines.Around midnight, the alarm bell suddenly rang out, echoing throughout Mu Lun Town."Enemy attack!""This bell signifies an enemy attack!""And a powerful enemy at that!!"Each army immediately responded, and from this moment, one could see which army was the most well-trained.Undoubtedly, the Red Flower Camp took the lead, but the gap between it and the second-place Golden Halberd Army was not large.Ning Zhuo immediately interrupted his cultivation, ran out of his tent, and met with the three generals Liu Guan Zhang.They had acted even earlier than Ning Zhuo, each riding their warhorses, and were already mobilizing the army.Ning Zhuo's mechanical army was much more convenient than living people and could be carried with him.But at this moment, Ning Zhuo still integrated into the army of the three generals first, to ascertain the true enemy situation before making other decisions.After waiting for a while, the scouts returned to report that there were no signs of any enemy troops in the surroundings."Is it a false alarm?"Just as he thought this, a military order was transmitted.The content of the order was too shocking. To avoid causing unrest among the troops, only the generals and important higher-ups were informed."What? Commander Du Tiechuan was ambushed and is now severely injured?!""Who attacked him?""Young Master Sheng Xu?!"