449: The destiny of the land is revealed! Lu Xuan's talisman fails for the first time.

Host: Red Dust Immortal Lu Xuan (Seventh Life)

Realm: Celestial Master (Major Achievement)

Cultivation Technique: True Scripture of Yang Flame Talisman Fire (11/9)

Points: 80000

"Celestial Master... Major Achievement."

Inside the quiet room, Lu Xuan slowly opened his eyes, and golden-red Talismans seemed to cycle through creation and destruction within his pupils.

He felt the boundless, pure Yang spiritual power flowing ceaselessly within his body like the Yangtze River, and an understanding that transcended the mundane surged into his heart.

From this point on, mortal weapons and ordinary magical arts would find it very difficult to harm him even slightly.

In this land of Qingzhou, Lu Xuan was a walking Deity whose words became law.

He got up and walked to the huge map of Qingzhou. His eyes swept over the intricate markings of various forces, finally settling on the prefectural capital, "Hejiang City."

"It is time."

"The farce in Qingzhou should end. The unification of the world begins here."

One month later, at the central border of Qingzhou.

"Stop! Your Dingnan Army has crossed the border! This is the territory under the jurisdiction of Grand Marshal Chen, the Military Governor of Qingzhou!"

On the towering city wall, the Qingzhou garrison was on high alert, their gun barrels uniformly aimed at the steel torrent below.

Hundreds of military trucks were parked quietly outside the boundary line. The unified "Dingnan" designation on the vehicles silently proclaimed the awe-inspiring military might of their owner.

The defending officer watched this scene, his palms slick with cold sweat. Although the opposing side had clearly crossed the boundary, he dared not easily order fire.

Who in all of Qingzhou did not know that Grand Marshal Lu of the Dingnan Army commanded an army of three hundred thousand elite troops, dominated the six northern counties, and used unfathomable Talisman Techniques to clear all the Demons and Monsters within his territory?

The uninvited arrival of such a powerful neighbor brought a sense of oppression that far exceeded any verbal threat.

"Open the city gates immediately!"

Deputy Officer Mo stepped out proudly from the military vehicle. He raised his hand, pointing at the city behind the high wall, and spoke in a loud, righteous voice.

"Based on our army's investigation, Demonic Qi is soaring within your jurisdiction, and evil creatures have been rampaging and harming the people for a long time! Since our Dingnan Army has witnessed this, how can we stand by and do nothing?"

Immediately afterward, Deputy Officer Mo took a step forward, expressionlessly sweeping his gaze over the unsettled defending troops on the city wall. His voice suddenly rose, as if he were proclaiming an irresistible Heavenly Mandate.

"Our Grand Marshal Lu is the Chosen of Heaven, who Acts under the Mandate of Heaven, swearing to cleanse the Universe, slay all Demons and Evil Creatures in the Mortal World, and restore Vast Righteousness to this Bright World!"

"The Blue Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise! In the Year of Jiazi, the World Shall Be Prosperous!"

"This Divine Land should be unified by Grand Marshal Lu, saving the Common People from suffering!"

"You all, open the gates and welcome the King's Army—"

War is a great matter of the state, a place of life and death. However, the Path of Conquest requires a righteous and honorable army.

A war must have a just cause; this is true both anciently and today. To carry out an act of thunder, one must establish a glorious reputation.

Lu Xuan was deeply versed in this Dao.

Before the Dingnan Army's sharp edge pointed directly at the Qingzhou Heartland, he needed not only to capture cities and seize territory but, more importantly, to conquer hearts.

What Lu Xuan needed now was a banner that could rally the People's Support and claim the Orthodox Legitimacy of the Heavenly Dao!

During this time, the Dingnan Army's Talisman Battalion Executed Evil Creatures, Quelled Demonic Disasters, and saved the Common People from suffering. Their formidable reputation had long since spread throughout Qingzhou.

Now, Lu Xuan intended to use this favorable wind to sow the seed of being the "Chosen of Heaven" throughout Qingzhou, and even across this chaotic world!

Therefore, when Deputy Officer Mo stood before the two armies and righteously shouted, "Cleansing the Demonic Aura, the Chosen of Heaven has arrived."

That was no longer just a slogan; it was justification for Lu Xuan's future actions in sweeping across the world.

"I'll f*** your mother!"

Facing this blatant provocation from Deputy Officer Mo, the defending officer's face instantly turned ashen, and the last shred of sanity in his mind was consumed by rage.

He fiercely raised his pistol and pulled the trigger toward the sky!

"Bang—!"

"Brothers! Someone wants to seize our Xinyu County! Shoot them dead!" the defending officer roared hoarsely.

Almost at the exact moment his voice fell, hundreds of gun barrels, both atop and below the city wall, simultaneously spat out deadly tongues of fire!

The dense bullets interwoven like flying locusts, instantly turning the Qingzhou Army near the city gate into a death zone where flesh and blood flew everywhere.

Clearly, this was not the fierce battle the defending officer had envisioned, but a one-sided massacre.

The Xinyu County garrison discovered in horror that the bullets they fired sparked slightly when hitting the Dingnan Army soldiers, emitting a grating sound like striking fine steel!

Every Dingnan Army soldier was enveloped in an Invisible Barrier, as if covered by an indestructible Steel Shell, which ordinary bullets could not penetrate in the slightest.

The Qingzhou troops, the defending army, went from initial frantic shooting to later confusion and panic, finally dissolving into boundless terror.

Watching the enemy steadily advance through the hail of bullets, completely unharmed, the belief system in their minds utterly collapsed.

At the same time, the defending officer personally witnessed this unbelievable scene, feeling a chill rush straight from the soles of his feet to the Top of the Head, frightening his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering.

He scrambled and tumbled down the city wall, running frantically toward the Command Post, practically slamming the door open.

"Major General Jiang... Jiang! This is bad! The Dingnan Army has attacked! They... they are Impervious to Swords and Guns! They are ghosts! Ghosts! Brothers... the brothers can't hold them back!"

He collapsed onto the ground, pointing toward the direction outside the city, his face completely drained of color.

"What!"

Major General Jiang abruptly stood up from his Desk, the color instantly draining from his face.

"Impervious to swords and guns..."

He repeated the four characters softly, and the various horrifying rumors about the Dingnan Army instantly flashed through his mind.

That Special Unit which used Talismans as armor and Talismans as blades, slaying evil creatures as easily as slicing melons and vegetables.

The Dingnan Army's Great Talisman Camp!!!

"It's the Talisman Battalion... Yes, it must be them!" Major General Jiang's voice was dry, carrying a tremor he hadn't even noticed himself.

"The rumors say they Repel Gods and Ghosts, and are Impervious to All Evil... I didn't expect, even Guns and Cannons..."

A bone-deep chill crawled up his spine, covering his entire body.

He involuntarily took half a step back, bumping into the Edge of the Desk. A thought he would never have dared to entertain before exploded in his mind like a clap of thunder.

"Could it be... that Lu Xuan is truly the Chosen of Heaven?"

After this question was asked, the Command Post fell into dead silence.

When the enemy transcends common sense, the belief that sustains their resistance begins to collapse.

Not long after!

Major General Jiang, who had just been deathly pale inside the Command Post, now forced himself to adopt an almost twisted expression of "eagerness," scrambling and tumbling down to the Archway Beneath the City Gate.

He snatched the Tin Megaphone from the Messenger's hand, hid most of his body tightly behind the heavy City Gate's Cover, and used all his strength to roar hoarsely toward the outside of the city.

"Cease fire—! Stop fighting! We surrender—!"

"The Dingnan Army is mighty! Grand Marshal Lu is the Chosen of Heaven! It is truly a blessing for This Jiang to be able to lead his subordinates to surrender and Join This Grand Endeavor!

For the sake of the innocent Common People of this world, I, Jiang Hengzhi... am willing to bear Eternal Infamy!"

He had completely memorized Deputy Officer Mo's rhetoric, shouting with raised arms.

"Grand Marshal Lu Acts under the Mandate of Heaven, swearing to cleanse the Universe and restore the Bright World!

The Blue Heaven is dead, the Yellow Heaven shall rise! In the Year of Jiazi, the World Shall Be Prosperous—Open the gates and welcome the King's Army!"

The heavy city gate slowly swung open under the bewildered gaze of the defending troops.

Jiang Hengzhi quickly stepped forward, his face covered in a humble smile, personally greeting Deputy Officer Mo.

When facing an unbeatable army, the wisest choice is to join them.

Moreover, the Dingnan Army was not an ordinary Warlord Force.

Their deeds of "Slaying Evil with Talismans and Pacifying the Region" had long since spread throughout Qingzhou.

Under the rule of that mysterious Grand Marshal Lu, this army not only avoided disturbing the populace but increasingly cherished the common people. Their excellent reputation made them an anomaly in a Chaotic World.

It is said that in the six northern counties of Qingzhou, the common people were even willing to Spend Their Entire Fortunes to support the Dingnan Army.

To manage a Regional Separatist Force to such a degree of popular support was simply unheard of.

Under the great righteous banner of "Chosen of Heaven" and the genuine Benevolent Governance, not only the six northern counties but even places like Xinyu County, which bordered the Northern Territory, had long seen Undercurrents Stirring among the populace.

Thus, the slogan, "The World Is Peaceful, Grand Marshal Lu is the Chosen of Heaven," was constantly and quietly circulating.

As the Highest Garrison Commander of Xinyu County, Jiang Hengzhi felt this most deeply.

He watched with his own eyes as the people's support slowly drained away, knowing that the city walls had long been breached from within.

Opening the gates and surrendering at this moment was merely conforming to this unstoppable Great Trend.

"Grand Marshal! This is terrible! The Dingnan Army has attacked! That Weakling Jiang Hengzhi opened the gates and surrendered—Xinyu County... has fallen!"

The urgent report from the front line exploded like thunder inside the Military Governor's Residence in Hejiang Prefecture.

Inside the bedroom, Chen Xiong, the vigorous Governor-General of Qingzhou, suddenly broke free from the jade arms and soft legs of several concubines.

He was bare-chested, his chest heaving violently, his sleepiness and drunkenness instantly vanishing, startled away by the terrible news.

"What? What the hell are you talking about!!!!"

Just a few days ago, he was still discussing with his advisors how to curb the increasingly expanding prestige of the Dingnan Army, pondering whether to ally with them or suppress them.

He never expected that while he was still weighing the pros and cons and hadn't mobilized troops, the opposing side would disregard all rules and directly launch an attack!

The young man possesses no martial virtue!!!!

"Lu Xuan... how dare you!"

Chen Xiong pushed away the maidservant who tried to drape a robe over him, his eyes filled with shock and fury.

Xinyu County was not an ordinary border town; it was the gateway to his heartland.

If this city fell, the Dingnan Army's sharp edge could drive straight through, reaching Hejiang City?

Having dominated Qingzhou for many years, this was the first time he had been forced into such a desperate situation.

Over the next half month, the war situation showed a one-sided trend of collapse.

Chen Xiong watched helplessly as the territory he had managed for years disintegrated like an avalanche.

Two crucial counties adjacent to Xinyu County fell into the hands of the Dingnan Army almost without bloodshed.

What made him furious was that the local populace spontaneously became "pathfinders," and scenes of them bringing food and drink to welcome the 'Royal Army' were commonplace.

Faced with the cruel reality of where the people's hearts lay, the generals defending the two counties knew the general trend was lost.

For the sake of their subordinates' lives and their own future, they all chose to be wise men who recognized the current situation.

In an instant, Chen Xiong's 500,000-strong Qingzhou Grand Army crumbled—over 400,000 soldiers turned their guns and became the new elite under the Dingnan Army.

Tens of thousands of loyalists were reduced to ashes during the resistance.

Ultimately, fewer than fifty thousand remnants remained, huddling with Chen Xiong inside the final fortress, Hejiang Prefecture, putting up a desperate last stand.

The once arrogant King of Qingzhou now only had a single isolated city left.

"Grand Marshal! That Lu Xuan is too wicked; we cannot stay here! We should abandon the city, break out, and retreat to the Capital!"

The Guest Elder under Chen Xiong, renowned for his Qi Observation Technique, was now pale-faced and speaking urgently.

"The Capital Region gathers the residual Luck of successive Dynasties, the place where the world's Dragon Veins converge, making it virtually immune to all magic!"

"Even if Lu Xuan possesses Heaven-Reaching Talisman Arts, he will surely be suppressed there!"

"We can still rely on the Foundation we established previously to rise again!"

"Flee? Heh heh... Hahahaha!"

Hearing this, Chen Xiong couldn't help but let out a bitter, miserable laugh.

His eyes were bloodshot, and he pointed towards the heavily besieged gate outside: "This Governor-General also wants to flee! But look at this formation—surrounded on all sides, impenetrable!

We are now turtles in a jar. Tell me, how do we escape? Do we sprout wings and fly out?"

After speaking, Chen Xiong slumped onto his marshal's chair, looking at the strange and talented individuals he usually treated as honored guests, revealing undisguised despair for the first time.

These masters, who used to command the wind and rain among the populace, appeared so pale and powerless before the Dingnan Army's mysterious Talisman Arts.

Just then, the leading old man, clad in a profound black Yin and Yang Dharma Robe, suddenly had a flash of brilliance in his turbid eyes.

He urgently spoke to him: "Grand Marshal! That Qingzhou Governor-General Document sealed by the Imperial Seal of the previous Dynasty! Bring it out quickly!"

Seeing Chen Xiong stunned, the old man excitedly explained: "That former Dynasty document bears the Vermillion Seal pressed by the imperial seal of china, carrying a wisp of the orthodox state's Luck!

This item is supremely firm and righteous; it might temporarily restrain the Dingnan Army's Great Talisman Dharma and tear open a gap in their encirclement!"

"At that time, we will concentrate all our elite forces and seize the opportunity to... break out while their Great Talisman Dharma is in chaos and their morale is shaken!"

"Is that true?"

Hearing this, a frightening light suddenly burst forth from Chen Xiong's despairing eyes.

He suddenly stood up, "Quick! Bring this Marshal's official seal and documents!"

Hejiang City occupied a vast area, its eastern side bordering continuous mountain ranges.

To cover this secret escape, Chen Xiong didn't hesitate to leave over forty thousand troops to guard the city, intended to draw the main force of the Dingnan Army.

As for himself, he personally led several thousand core personal guards, slipping out quietly under the cover of the deep night through a secret tunnel known only to a few trusted confidantes, escaping the isolated city that had been besieged into an iron barrel.

"We're out!"

Someone whispered in surprise.

Hundreds of people held windproof oil lamps; the faint flames flickered in the night wind, barely illuminating the long-abandoned, rugged mountain path.

The group moved forward silently and swiftly.

After several hours of arduous travel, the outline of flat ground vaguely appeared ahead.

A trusted general familiar with the terrain approached Chen Xiong, lowering his voice, unable to hide his excitement.

"Grand Marshal, we're almost there! Wanghe County is not far ahead. As long as we seize the military vehicles there, we can gallop along the official road straight to the Capital!"

Hope seemed within reach.

The next second, countless points of light suddenly lit up in the darkness ahead—they were dense oil lamps, thousands of them at a glance, illuminating the exit of the mountain path as brightly as day!

Hundreds of Dingnan Army military vehicles were quietly parked on the flat open ground.

All the vehicle lights were on, and cold beams penetrated the night, accurately enveloping Chen Xiong and his group who had just emerged from the mountain path.

Deputy Officer Mo and several capable individuals dressed as Daoists were leisurely standing at the very front of the convoy, as if they had been waiting there for a long time.

"Governor-General Chen," Deputy Officer Mo's voice spread through the silent night sky, "It must be hard on an old man like you to climb mountains late at night."

He made a "please" gesture, pointing to the military vehicle with its door open behind him, his tone abruptly turning cold: "The mountain road is difficult; why not switch to our vehicle?"

"Grand Marshal Lu specifically instructed us—to personally escort you on your final journey."

Chen Xiong froze in place, his face ashen.

He hadn't expected his last escape route to be predicted by the masters within the Dingnan Army.

"Grand Marshal, pardon me for the offense! I need to borrow some of your Vital Blood!"

Just as Chen Xiong lost his composure, the old man beside him, clad in the Yin and Yang Dharma Robe, flashed a fierce look in his eyes, and his bony, eagle-claw-like hand violently clamped onto Chen Xiong's wrist!

Before he could react, a sharp dagger quickly sliced across his palm.

A stream of dark red blood immediately gushed out.

Chen Xiong cried out in pain, shocked and enraged.

But the old man in the Yin and Yang Dharma Robe showed no intention of stopping. He quickly unfolded the Qingzhou Governor-General Document, which symbolized the orthodox lineage of the former Dynasty and bore the imperial seal of china, and pressed it without hesitation onto the fresh blood on Chen Xiong's palm!

"Glorious Heavenly Mandate, guided by blood! The Imperial Edict is here, the Luck of ten thousand miles of rivers and mountains blesses us—Open!"

The old man in the Yin and Yang Dharma Robe was bristling, chanting incantations with an ancient and hurried tone.

Instantly, the document, stained with Chen Xiong's Vital Blood and the old man's spell power, was like a sleeping giant Dragon suddenly awakened.

"Buzz!"

An extremely condensed golden pillar of light, containing majestic Dragon Qi, suddenly burst forth from the document, shooting up into the sky!

The intensity of the light instantly dispelled the darkness for several miles around, illuminating the entire mountain range as if it were a golden day.

A terrifying, ancient pressure descended with a crash!

"Open fire!"

"Protect the Grand Marshal and break out!" Chen Xiong's Personal Guard Captain shouted sternly upon seeing the situation.

Almost simultaneously with the command being issued, a gunshot ripped through the night sky.

The bullet was not aimed at the military vehicle, but precisely struck the thigh of a Daoist standing next to Deputy Officer Mo!

"Ouch! Damn it... Why isn't the Grand Marshal's Divine Talisman working!"

The Daoist screamed, looking at the Protective Talisman on his chest that showed no reaction, and scurried back behind the military vehicle to dodge the bullets.

Another knowledgeable old Daoist's expression changed drastically, and he shouted urgently: "No! It's not that the Grand Marshal's Divine Talisman has failed!"

"That is the State's Luck condensed by the former Dynasty's Imperial Seal. It is the supremely righteous power of the world. When we practitioners of Mystical Arts encounter it, we must naturally retreat three paces!!!"

Deputy Officer Mo reacted instantly, quickly crouching down and hiding with the masters behind the heavy military vehicle armor, while simultaneously shouting at the surrounding soldiers.

"Attention, everyone! Free fire, watch your cover!"

The Dingnan Army, which had been certain of victory moments ago, was now forced to temporarily avoid the edge of the conflict by the golden light.