Chapter 544: Ning Zhuo Made a Great Contribution

Random Recommendations:Zhao Xi's current predicament is not favorable.This time, under his guidance, the main forces of the Two-Sutra Kingdom organized a battle team of Nascent Soul cultivators, specifically to deal with the Heavenly and Earthly Twin Fiends.Under the Twin Divine Abilities of Heaven and Earth's Combined Strike, only three Nascent Soul cultivators managed to escape with their lives. The rest were all annihilated.This dealt a tremendous blow to the main forces of the Two-Sutra Kingdom!And as the highest leader at present, Zhao Xi bears an inescapable responsibility."I should have adhered to my original intention; there was no need to provoke the Heavenly and Earthly Twin Fiends!" Zhao Xi's own fighting spirit was not strong.But he had no choice.In his position, he had to carry out his duties.Previously, the Heavenly and Earthly Twin Hooks, Fairy Crimson Sleeve, and others had been exceptionally arrogant, successfully snatching the spoils of war from the Two-Sutra Kingdom's main army.The generals of the Two-Sutra Kingdom all desired to reclaim their honor and boost morale.Naturally, this also carried the implication of testing Zhao Xi!If this battle were won, Zhao Xi could continue to solidify his authority. But the reality was, this battle resulted in a crushing defeat, and the fruits of Zhao Xi's initially excellent start were almost entirely lost.Zhao Xi strove to maintain a calm demeanor and tone: "Gentlemen, do not fret. In this battle, our Two-Sutra Kingdom shall surely emerge victorious!""This is merely a minor setback. For now, let us await developments. We shall have cultivators such as True Lord Blazing Sun return to camp to obtain the most detailed intelligence."A great general of the Nascent Soul rank snorted coldly: "At this juncture, that is the only course of action."Another great general also said: "I had suggested earlier that we should not take such risks. In military matters, one should never initiate hostilities out of anger. Alas, loyal advice is often harsh to the ear but beneficial to action."Zhao Xi's countenance turned frosty, and he coldly eyed the cultivators who had spoken.Those two cultivators, however, did not shy away, meeting his gaze with composure.The atmosphere in the room thus became stagnant.Just then, a subordinate arrived with a report, stating that the three Nascent Soul cultivators had returned from the front lines.Zhao Xi: "Let them enter."After a dozen breaths, the three Nascent Soul cultivators, led by True Lord Blazing Sun, entered the room and saw everyone."Alas, a defeated general, returning to beg for forgiveness!" True Lord Blazing Sun immediately cupped his hands in salute, his face etched with an ashen expression.Zhao Xi and the others cast their gazes upon them.They saw that the three Nascent Soul cultivators were all covered in blood, in a sorry state, their expressions filled with shame and still bearing clear traces of fear.Zhao Xi let out a cold snort: "I entrusted this carefully selected battle team to you. Blazing Sun, is this how you act?""You are indeed guilty!""Begin atoning for your sins now. First, confess everything you know and have seen, so that we may discuss countermeasures."True Lord Blazing Sun no longer possessed his former pride, akin to a Golden Crow. He sighed deeply and meekly complied: "Yes, Lord Zhao."Beside him, Daoist Master Floating Cloud shook his head: "It's impossible. There is simply no way to defeat the Heavenly and Earthly Twin Fiends!""Their Heaven and Earth Combined Strike is so powerful, there is no way to resist it.""You were merely lucky not to have been chosen, which is why you are still alive."Daoist Master Floating Cloud's expression was extremely dejected, utterly lacking in fighting spirit, his soul adrift.Zhao Xi snapped: "Silence!"He pointed at Daoist Master Floating Cloud: "It is understandable that your Dao companion, Master Mountain Peaks, perished and you are disheartened.""But with the great war imminent, if you continue to spout nonsense and shake military morale, I will surely execute you as a warning to others!"Daoist Master Floating Cloud stared blankly at Zhao Xi, then let out a mournful laugh: "So be it, so be it."A main general of the Nascent Soul rank, however, looked at Zhao Xi and suddenly spoke: "These three are brave warriors. They faced the Heavenly and Earthly Twin Fiends directly and managed to return alive. I personally believe there is nothing to criticize!"The unspoken meaning was that Zhao Xi, as the commander, bore unavoidable heavy responsibility.Zhao Xi glared fiercely at the speaker: "You!" Sword Master Big Dipper watched the argument among the crowd, his face clouded with gloom.He was a sword cultivator, but his flying sword, used for slaying enemies, had become his reliance for escape in this battle.His pride was shattered, and his only desire was to seek revenge immediately: "You discuss it. I must immediately enter seclusion to recover from my injuries as soon as possible.""If the Heavenly and Earthly Twin Fiends attack, summon me. I will undoubtedly fight with all my might to wash away this disgrace!"Having said this, Sword Master Big Dipper turned and left without looking back.Zhao Xi, as the presiding leader, naturally lost considerable face. Sword Master Big Dipper's self-serving behavior revealed a significant loss of Zhao Xi's authority.However, just as Sword Master Big Dipper opened the door to step out, a messenger cultivator rushed in, bearing an intelligence jade slip and beaming with joy."Victory report! A victory report from the front lines!!""Our army has won.""The Three Generals' Camp has won!""They drove off the Heavenly and Earthly Twin Fiends! In fact, it's highly probable that they inflicted casualties upon the Twin Fiends.""Uh!"The cultivator rushed into the hall and saw almost everyone's eyes fixed intensely upon him.In an instant, immense pressure like a mountain bore down on him, making it difficult even to breathe."This is impossible!!" Sword Master Big Dipper, the closest, his eyes wide as brass bells, blurted out.The messenger cultivator was so frightened his legs turned to jelly, and he collapsed onto the ground.Another general slammed his hand onto the table: "Spreading false military intelligence is a heinous crime! You should know you will be beheaded!"Even Zhao Xi himself couldn't believe it. He cried out: "What is this military intelligence? Present it first."The messenger cultivator's body trembled, and he was startled back to his senses. He quickly scrambled to his feet and, under everyone's watchful eyes, scurried to Zhao Xi, presenting the jade slip.He was too scared to utter a single word.Zhao Xi infused his divine sense into the jade slip, his face grim.The council hall was deathly silent. Everyone's gaze was fixed on Zhao Xi, such that any slight change in his expression would be captured by those with keen eyes.Then, they witnessed an unprecedentedly captivating expression on Zhao Xi's face.His eyes, which had been narrowed, suddenly widened dramatically, as if they were about to pop out of their sockets.The shock he experienced was so immense and violent that Zhao Xi, who had always paid attention to his official prestige and demeanor, instinctively parted his lips.He was utterly dumbfounded!Following the intense shock, his contracted pupils rapidly dilated. His ice-cold face instantly became like springtime, bathed in sunlight, with everything renewed in a moment."Victory! The Heavenly and Earthly Twin Fiends have fled in defeat!""The Three Generals' Camp has won!!""Great achievement! Ning Zhuo has rendered a great service!""Good, excellent.""Wonderful, truly marvelous!""Hahaha."The generals exchanged glances, all finding it hard to believe.Some stared at Zhao Xi, not forgetting to remind him: "Supervisor-General, please do not make hasty misjudgments. You are the highest leader of our main army."To their surprise, Zhao Xi merely cast him a disdainful glance. His laughter, far from ceasing, became even more forceful.For a time, Zhao Xi's booming laughter filled the council hall, echoing in everyone's ears."This military intelligence is conclusive. It not only contains detailed images but also recovered important treasures such as the bronze sundial!""In fact, the Three Generals' Camp is currently on its victorious return journey." "In this battle, our army suffered an initial defeat but achieved a subsequent victory. The Heavenly and Earthly Twin Fiends have fled in defeat. We have won!"Saying this, he directly flung the jade slip in his hand onto the face of the general who had just been insistent.The general quickly dodged, hastily catching the jade slip, and immediately infused his divine sense to examine it.The next moment, his expression also changed, becoming extremely astonished: "Ho... How could such a method exist!""What exactly happened?" someone anxiously inquired.The greatly astonished general was still digesting the military intelligence and did not respond."Oh dear, I'll just read it myself!" The general next to him was impatient and directly snatched it.The speed of viewing with divine sense is extremely fast. The next moment, his eyes also widened: "Ning... Ning Zhuo, that junior, what kind of demonic art did he employ? To actually make Heavenly Frost defect?""De... defect?!""Who defected???""Did I hear correctly just now? I think I heard, the Heavenly Fiend defected?!"The other generals erupted in uproar, unable to sit still, and all stood up, reaching for the jade slip.However, one person was faster than them.That was Sword Master Big Dipper.Sword Master Big Dipper held the jade slip, read through its contents, and stood rooted to the spot: "We truly won?!""Did the Heavenly and Earthly Twin Fiends perish!?" Daoist Master Floating Cloud became agitated.His Dao companion, Master Mountain Peaks, had died in the Heaven and Earth Combined Strike. The Heavenly and Earthly Twin Fiends were his greatest enemies in this life.Daoist Master Floating Cloud had felt that seeking revenge was hopeless for his entire life, and he had never imagined that he would receive news of the Heavenly and Earthly Twin Fiends' defeat.However, Daoist Master Floating Cloud did not manage to grab the jade slip. The generals surrounded Sword Master Big Dipper, several hands simultaneously pressed onto the jade slip, and several streams of divine sense simultaneously poured in, vying to read the military intelligence within the slip.For a time, exclamations of surprise rose one after another.Soon, the jade slip had been passed around and read by everyone.Zhao Xi's face remained as resolute as iron, seated in the main position. But anyone could sense his relaxation, his joy, his exhilaration.Zhao Xi coughed twice, attracting everyone's attention: "The Three Generals' Camp has rendered a great service this time and must be greatly commended.""You must know, the opponents were the Heavenly and Earthly Twin Fiends!"It was precisely because a large number of Nascent Soul cultivators had perished in the Heaven and Earth Combined Strike that the military achievements of Liu, Guan, Zhang, and Ning were even more outstanding."Reward them, we must heavily reward these heroes!""In this great battle, our Two-Sutra Kingdom shall surely be victorious!!"Zhao Xi still could not contain himself. Towards the end of his words, he clenched his fist and raised his arm, shouting loudly.The generals remained silent.True Lord Blazing Sun, Sword Master Big Dipper, and Daoist Master Floating Cloud had varied expressions.Zhao Xi glared, scanning everyone, and let out a threatening "Hmm" from his nose.The generals were startled into realization and quickly spoke up, expressing their joy, their firm belief in their side's great victory, and their recognition and allegiance to Zhao Xi as their wise leader."The Three Generals' Camp has achieved such a monumental feat. How should they be rewarded?" True Lord Blazing Sun suddenly asked, his expression complex.Zhao Xi did not catch the hidden meaning in his words. He waved his hand grandly: "Our army has always been clear in its rewards and punishments. Naturally, rewards will be given based on military merit, and these merits will be issued as quickly as possible to reward the heroes and boost military morale!"True Lord Blazing Sun nodded: "That is natural.""However..." He changed the subject, "This junior Ning Zhuo possesses remarkable skills and his future is boundless.""Being able to defeat the Heavenly and Earthly Twin Fiends, his strength is unexpectedly great and may influence the subsequent course of the war.""We ought to protect him properly!"These words caused the joy on Zhao Xi's face to noticeably subside.He immediately fell into contemplation. Many generals also understood the deeper meaning of True Lord Blazing Sun's words and fell silent in thought.After a long while, Zhao Xi spoke: "True Lord Blazing Sun's concerns are valid. Quick, let us dispatch a team to leave the camp and welcome them. Swiftly escort Young Master Ning Zhuo back to the camp! This is the greatest hero of this battle!!"However, when the generals, led by Zhao Xi, met with the Three Generals' Camp, they discovered that Ning Zhuo had vanished without a trace."Where is Ning Zhuo? Where is Young Master Ning Zhuo?!" Zhao Xi demanded of Liu Er.Liu Er cupped his hands in salute: "Reporting to Lord Zhao, after this battle, as our army was clearing the battlefield, a Nascent Soul cultivator appeared and revealed his identity as the protector of Advisor Ning Zhuo.""The Advisor had already been taken away by his protector.""Ah?!" Zhao Xi's eyes widened.The Nascent Soul cultivators in the entourage were also stunned.True Lord Blazing Sun anxiously asked: "Are you certain he is Ning Zhuo's protector? Liu Er, can you guarantee it? If we were deceived, the greatest hero of this battle will lose his life, and our Two-Sutra Kingdom will become a laughingstock!""Can you bear this heavy responsibility?"Liu Er looked calmly at True Lord Blazing Sun, straightened his chest, and said with immense confidence: "We are all very certain. This is because after this person revealed his identity, Advisor Ning revived and personally confirmed it."True Lord Blazing Sun's eyelids twitched, and he gritted his teeth, suppressing the regret in his heart. He forced a smile: "That's good, that's good!"Zhao Xi sighed. Without Ning Zhuo, he could not control the means to continue to check the Heavenly and Earthly Twin Fiends.His heart was filled with regret, but he could only show a smile to Liu, Guan, and Zhang: "You have all worked hard. This desperate battle has displayed the courage of the Three Generals' Camp and the military might and fighting spirit of our Two-Sutra Kingdom.""Follow me back to the main camp. You will surely be generously rewarded!"Liu Er immediately gave a loud bow of thanks, feeling happy for Ning Zhuo in his heart - he had avoided this calamity.It turned out that after Heavenly Frost pursued Earth Ash, and the battle concluded, Zhu Xuanji, who had been observing the entire time, furrowed his brow deeply.A huge doubt lingered in his heart - did Ning Zhuo truly possess the divine ability of Life-Threaded Puppet?The Royal Family of Southern Bean knew many secrets about this divine ability. One of them was that unless one mastered mysterious techniques, most people would find it difficult to detect the Life-Threaded Puppet.Cultivators who mastered the Life-Threaded Puppet divine ability, however, could detect it.Otherwise, the Royal Family of Southern Bean would not have gone to such great lengths to dispatch Shen Ling Shu to subtly probe for this answer."Ning Zhuo's state at that time, augmented by military strategies, was at the peak of the Golden Core realm. If he possessed this divine ability, he might have been able to connect with the Heavenly Frost Mask.""But divine abilities do not require physical contact. Yet, Ning Zhuo placed his palms on the back of the Fiend Mask. This action negates that possibility.""Is it possible to fill the Fiend Mask with Buddhist thoughts and then influence the main body with just my Buddhist Mind Demon Seal?""Regardless, Ning Zhuo's situation is not safe. It is better to rescue him first."Zhu Xuanji then had Lin Bu Fan come forward to escort Ning Zhuo back first.After Ning Zhuo fell unconscious, Sun Ling Tong controlled the Ten Thousand Mile Traveling Dragon and flew out from Ning Zhuo's waist.Although he did not leave the Mechanical Traveling Dragon, he still leaked his aura and voice, revealing his identity to the three generals.Guan Hong stroked his beard: "During the intense battle earlier, I did indeed sense someone acting, removing the ice cones from the Advisor's body. So it was you."Zhang Hei "guessed" Sun Ling Tong's identity and said knowingly: "Oh, I understand. You are the Advisor's little book boy."Liu Er looked at the Ten Thousand Mile Traveling Dragon. He had already noticed this mechanical creation, but at this moment, he still pretended to see it for the first time and sincerely sighed: "The Advisor is deeply affectionate and righteous, which is moving. With such a creation, he could have completely traversed through the void and retreated earlier. Yet, he remained with us, fighting to the death without retreat. How fortunate am I, Liu Er, to have encountered such a comrade?"Upon hearing this, Guan and Zhang's expressions also changed, revealing feelings of emotion.Sun Ling Tong rolled his eyes, thinking: "Did you think we really didn't consider retreating?"He naturally wouldn't say it outright. Looking at the expressions of the three generals: "Let this beautiful misunderstanding continue."At this moment, Lin Bu Fan actively appeared, arousing the vigilance of the soldiers of the Three Generals' Camp.Liu, Guan, and Zhang naturally did not trust Lin Bu Fan at the first moment.But Sun Ling Tong spoke up for Lin Bu Fan at this time.Lin Bu Fan then secretly showed the Wood-in-Fire to the three generals.The three generals finally began to trust him, but they still did not let Ning Zhuo leave. It wasn't until Ning Zhuo awoke and personally confirmed Lin Bu Fan's identity.Lin Bu Fan suggested to Ning Zhuo that he should separate from the Three Generals' Camp and not return to the main camp of the Two-Sutra Kingdom.Ning Zhuo also had this idea. So, after distributing the spoils of war, he temporarily parted ways with the three generals.