376: Private Army of the Northern Desert

On the ice table in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, a map of the Northern Desert was spread out. The location of "Black Wind Stockade" was circled in red, with a line of small text written next to it: "Private army garrison of the Ghost-Faced General, approximately five thousand men, equipped with black iron weapons."

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertip on "Wild Wolf Valley" next to the Black Wind Stockade, and the water mirror immediately reflected a scene of the vast, boundless grassland.

The cliffs of Wild Wolf Valley were riddled with caves. At the cave entrances, patrolling soldiers were faintly visible, clad in black armor and wearing bronze ghost masks on their faces, the scimitars at their waists gleaming with the cold light unique to black iron. In the clearing in the center of the valley, a burly general was practicing spear techniques. His spear shadows were like dragons; every thrust stirred up a sky full of yellow sand. He possessed the aura of a Mid-stage Terrestrial Immortal Realm.

"Is he the Ghost-Faced General, Zhao Xuan?" Jun Xiaoyao's voice came through the ice mist. The secret report on the table recorded the investigation results from The Net's "Wind" division: "Three years ago, he distinguished himself in battle in the Northern Territory, but because he was an illegitimate son, he was stripped of his title and turned to garrisoning the Northern Desert, secretly recruiting soldiers and buying horses."

Zhao Gao stepped out from the shadows, holding a black iron spearhead in his hands: "Young Lord, this is a weapon fragment that flowed out of Black Wind Stockade. The forging craftsmanship is identical to that of the black iron heavy sword in the Imperial Guard's armory. It is clearly forged from the same batch of Materials."

In the water mirror, Zhao Xuan retracted his spear and stood still, saying in a deep voice to the deputy general beside him: "The Emperor's secret decree has arrived. After the spring hunt in the third month, we will march south. By then, we will need to use the black iron mother lode from Hanyue Valley to forge more weapons. You must take the outer defenses of the mine before the third month."

The deputy general bowed in acknowledgment, a flash of hesitation in his eyes: "General, the forces of Beyond Heaven cannot be underestimated. It is said that even the Blood Shadow Cult and the Heavenly Silkworm Cult have fallen into their hands..."

"Just a bunch of rats hiding their heads and showing their tails." Zhao Xuan sneered, drawing a deep furrow in the ground with his spear tip. "This General has five thousand Black Armored Troops and three Terrestrial Immortal Realm retainers. Taking a single mine is as easy as turning over one's hand!"

Watching this scene, Jun Xiaoyao said to Zhao Gao: "Have Yue Fei take the Yue Family Spear Formation to the Northern Desert to guard the three passes on the perimeter of the mother lode. If Zhao Xuan dares to come, there is no need to show mercy."

[Character Panel: Yue Fei]

[Origin: World of the complete story of yue fei]

[Realm: Mid-stage Terrestrial Immortal Realm]

[Martial Skill: Yue Family Spear (Transcendent), Spear Formation (Can gather a thousand men into one entity, increasing combat power by 50%)]

[Current Status: Training troops]

[Special Ability: Loyal Devotion (Soldiers under his command never lose morale), Formation Breaking (40% resistance to formation-type attacks)]

[Loyalty: 90%]

In the water mirror, Yue Fei had already led three thousand spearmen to the outskirts of Hanyue Valley. The spear formation was arranged in three layers of defense on the snowfield—the front formation was the "Horse-Blocking Spear," with spear tips pointing obliquely at the sky; the middle formation was the "Coiling Dragon Formation," with spear shadows interweaving like a net; the rear formation was the "Captive-Breaking Formation," specialized in countering heavy cavalry. The frost on the soldiers' armor had condensed into ice, yet not a single person moved; their military bearing was so disciplined it was chilling.

"Young Lord, Zhao Xuan has sent two thousand Black Armored Troops, and they are rushing toward Hanyue Valley. The vanguard officer is his adopted son, Zhao Hu, who is at the Peak Grandmaster Realm and wields a black iron mountain-cleaving axe." Zhao Gao's voice carried a hint of gravity. The secret report contained a portrait of Zhao Hu—he was full-faced and fleshy, with ruthless axe techniques, and had once cleaved a Late Heaven-Man Realm barbarian leader to death with a single axe strike.

Jun Xiaoyao raised his eyes to look at the summoning array. Due to the impending military formation clash, the spiritual energy in the array's eye had risen to 93%. As the runes flowed, a figure holding twin whips emerged.

[System Prompt: Heavy armored military formation threat detected, triggering "Armor-Piercing" type summon.]

[Summonable Character: Huyan Zhuo]

[Origin: World of the water margin]

[Realm: Early Earthly Immortal Realm]

[Martial Skill: Twin Whips (Transcendent), Linked Armored Horse Formation (Can break heavy cavalry)]

[Specialty: Horse Taming (Skilled in training warhorses), Armor Piercing (Twin whips have bonus damage against heavy armor)]

[Summon Cost: 90% Spiritual Energy]

Jun Xiaoyao let his fingertip fall, and the summoning array suddenly erupted with golden light. Runes twined like iron chains, and Huyan Zhuo's figure, clad in black oil armor and holding twin whips, condensed in the light. He cupped his fists toward Jun Xiaoyao, his voice like a booming bell: "Huyan Zhuo, greets the Young Lord!"

[Character Panel: Huyan Zhuo]

[Status: Preparing for battle]

[Special Ability: Whip Technique (Twin whips can entangle weapons and discharge force), Armored Horse (The Snow-Stepping Black Steed under him has a 30% speed bonus)]

[Loyalty: 85%]

[Current Thought: Black Armored Troops? They are far inferior to the Iron Pagodas of the Liao Kingdom.]

"Zhao Hu's Black Armored vanguard is about to reach the first pass. Go assist Yue Fei and break his vanguard formation." Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the galloping cavalry in the water mirror. "Remember, leave live captives; I want to know Zhao Xuan's specific deployment."

Huyan Zhuo flipped onto his horse and struck his twin whips together in the air, producing a crisp sound: "Rest assured, Young Lord, I will certainly not disgrace this mission!" His Snow-Stepping Black Steed had wind beneath its four hooves, and in an instant, he stepped into the teleportation array. When he appeared on the snowfield, he was heading straight into Zhao Hu's vanguard cavalry.

"Who goes there? How dare you block this General's path!" Zhao Hu brandished his mountain-cleaving axe, the black iron axe blade cleaving through the wind and snow, aiming straight for Huyan Zhuo's face.

Huyan Zhuo neither dodged nor evaded. His left-hand whip parried the axe blade, while his right-hand whip took the momentum to wrap around Zhao Hu's wrist. He shouted loudly: "Get down!" With the power of both whips, he actually dragged Zhao Hu, horse and axe included, off his mount, slamming him heavily into the snow.

Seeing this, the Black Armored cavalry charged forward with their spears leveled, a forest of spears surging toward Huyan Zhuo like a tide. Huyan Zhuo maneuvered his horse in a circle, his twin whips dancing into a screen of iron. When the spear tips struck the whip shadows, they were all deflected, and instead, over a dozen cavalrymen were knocked off their horses by the force of the whips.

"General Yue, I have intercepted the vanguard for you!" Huyan Zhuo shouted loudly, his twin whips striking again, knocking the leading cavalry captain off his horse.

Yue Fei's voice came from behind the Horse-Blocking Spear formation: "Many thanks, General Huyan!" He pointed his long spear, and the Horse-Blocking Spears in the front formation suddenly leveled out, the tips pointing directly at the horses' bellies—no matter how thick the heavy cavalry's armor was, the warhorses had no protection, and instantly, men and horses tumbled, their formation falling into chaos.

In the water mirror, Zhao Hu struggled to climb up, and just as he was about to reorganize his formation, he was locked on by Yue Fei's spear shadows. The Yue Family Spear was like a spirit snake emerging from a cave, precisely flicking away the mountain-cleaving axe in his hand, with the spear tip resting against his throat: "Do you surrender or not?"

Zhao Hu's face flushed red, but he stiffened his neck and said: "I am the vanguard of the Northern Desert, I would rather die than surrender!"

Huyan Zhuo rode forward and lashed his whip against Zhao Hu's armor, sending sparks flying: "Stubborn fellow, I have plenty of ways to make you open your mouth!"

In front of the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao nodded to Zhao Gao: "Have The Net's 'Punishment' division interrogate him. Use the 'Soul-Searching Technique'; don't waste time."

"Yes." Zhao Gao paused, then added, "Zhao Xuan's main force has already assembled at Black Wind Stockade. 'Iron Fist' Xiao Ba, one of the three retainers, has already set off to come here. It is said that his 'Black Fiend Fist' can shatter black iron, and he is at the Peak of the Mid-stage Terrestrial Immortal Realm."

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the summoning array. Due to breaking the vanguard formation, the spiritual energy in the array's eye had risen to 96%. As the runes flickered, a figure holding a Zen staff emerged.

[System Prompt: Fierce and fierce Martial Artist threat detected, triggering "Defensive" type summon.]

[Summonable Character: Lu Zhishen]

[Origin: World of the water margin]

[Realm: Mid-stage Terrestrial Immortal Realm]

[Martial Skill: Mad Demon Zen Staff (Transcendent), Iron Shirt (Impervious to blades and spears)]

[Specialty: Defense (Can take a full-strength blow from a Martial Artist of the same rank), Formation Protection (Standing in front of the formation, soldier defense bonus 20%)]

[Summon Cost: 92% Spiritual Energy]

Jun Xiaoyao tapped his fingertip, and the summoning array erupted with red light. The runes rotated like prayer beads, and Lu Zhishen's figure appeared in the light. He was bare-chested, his muscles knotted like iron, holding a sixty-two-catty water-polished Zen staff, and he bowed to Jun Xiaoyao with palms pressed together: "I, Lu Zhishen, greet the Young Lord."

[Character Panel: Lu Zhishen]

[Status: Angry Eyes]

[Special Ability: Vajra Body (Physical defense increased by 50%), Zen Roar (Can intimidate enemy morale)]

[Loyalty: 88%]

[Current Thought: That so-called Xiao Ba, let me give you a taste of my Zen staff.]

"Xiao Ba's iron fist is incomparably fierce; I must trouble the Master to face him head-on." Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the figure galloping on the snowfield in the water mirror. Xiao Ba was bare-chested, his fists wrapped in black wind, and every step he took caused the ground to shake; he was clearly channeling his Black Fiend Fist.

Lu Zhishen shouldered his Zen staff and strode toward the teleportation array: "I hate bullies the most; leave this Xiao Ba to me!"

In the water mirror, Xiao Ba had already rushed to the front of the Horse-Blocking Spear formation. He struck with both fists, and the Black Fiend Fist energy actually shattered several black iron spear shafts, leaving charred marks at the break points. Yue Fei frowned and was about to face the enemy personally, but he saw a flash of red light; Lu Zhishen's Zen staff had already collided with Xiao Ba's iron fist.

"Clang——" The sound of metal clashing shook the snowfield, causing it to crack. Xiao Ba stumbled back three steps, the skin on his fists splitting and oozing blood; Lu Zhishen did not move an inch, only rubbing his bald head and laughing: "Satisfying! Come again!"

Xiao Ba was both shocked and angry. He pushed his Black Fiend Fist to the limit, his fists smashing toward Lu Zhishen like a violent storm. Lu Zhishen planted his Zen staff on the ground and let the fist shadows land on him. When the Iron Shirt was activated, his skin glowed with golden light, and the fist energy was completely rebounded; Xiao Ba was instead shaken until his arms went numb.

"Is that all the strength you have?" Lu Zhishen violently swung his Zen staff, the Mad Demon Zen Staff crashing down with the force of ten thousand jun. Xiao Ba hastily raised his fists to block, but with a "crack," his right arm was actually broken by the Zen staff, and he flew backward, screaming.

Seeing their main general defeated, the morale of the Black Armored Troops plummeted. Yue Fei seized the opportunity and pointed his long spear: "All troops, attack!"

The Yue Family Spear Formation advanced like a tide. Huyan Zhuo's twin whips tore openings in the enemy formation, and Lu Zhishen's Zen staff was like entering a land without men. The Black Armored Troops collapsed, fleeing in all directions.

In the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace, Jun Xiaoyao watched the victory in the water mirror and said to Zhao Gao: "After this defeat, Zhao Xuan will not dare to invade again for a short time. Let Yue Fei garrison the Northern Desert, with Huyan Zhuo and Lu Zhishen assisting him, and while you are at it, clear out the surrounding barbarian tribes to expand our influence."

"Yes." Zhao Gao handed over Zhao Hu's confession transcript. "Young Lord, Zhao Xuan indeed planned to make his move during the spring hunt in the third month. The Emperor secretly gave him a secret decree, promising him a princely title after he takes Hanyue Valley."

Jun Xiaoyao placed the transcript on the table; the cold air from the ice table made the paper tremble slightly. "The spring hunt in the third month... it's a good opportunity to wipe them all out in one go."

The spiritual energy in the summoning array had begun to slowly recover, and as the runes flickered, it seemed to be anticipating an even greater storm.

Jun Xiaoyao knew that the victory in the Northern Desert was only the beginning; the final showdown with the Imperial Dynasty was not far off. And the territory of Beyond Heaven was extending, bit by bit, toward the Northern Desert grassland along with the cold light of the spear tips.