War

"Master, I've heard a rumor that this Grand Marshal is being criticized by some in the court for his lack of military Grand Marshal skills, yet he holds the position without contributing anything. They say he's just occupying a position without doing anything, and this Grand Marshal wants to prove himself."

"Moreover, he recruited many capable and experienced generals as his deputies to assist him in commanding the army. In theory, as long as he knew how to appoint the right people and did not interfere with the military affairs at the Front Line, there should be no major problems."

"Great Chen has natural barriers and its generals are mostly skilled in defense, so resisting Great Zhao's attack shouldn't be a problem. After all, this isn't their first attack. In the past, Great Zhao's invasions only wasted money and supplies and never made any significant progress," Zhiming said, tilting his head.

"Hmm, that makes sense." Yang Tianyou nodded slightly, smiling with satisfaction. His strategist was becoming more and more competent.

"So, Long'an Circuit has also been mobilized?" Yang Tianyou continued to ask.

"That's right. Led by the Long'an Prince's Mansion, all sects and Lineage have received their missions. Our Three Origin Hall is currently working diligently to mobilize War Resources. A few months ago, the Hall Master sent a message saying that Talisman production needs to be doubled."

"Is that so?" Yang Tianyou pondered. Logically speaking, as Talisman Maker, he shouldn't need to go to the battlefield. As long as he honestly Talisman Crafting and provided them to the Front Lines, he would have a steady stream of Military Merits.

But Yang Tianyou had no intention of staying put; the opportunity he had been waiting for had finally arrived.

The most opportunities are found in war. Three Great Imperial Dynasties had the tradition of not being granted land and titles without Military Merit. To rebuild Lineage, one had to achieve Military Merit in order to obtain a fief and rightfully establish the Lineage.

Thinking of this, Yang Tianyou stood up, walked out of the cave abode, and flew towards the sect's main hall.

Upon arriving at the main hall, one could see disciples of the Three Origin Hall hurrying in and out, many with a gloomy expression on their faces.

War is never good news for Low-Rank Cultivators, especially Large-Scale War, which is a veritable Low-Rank Cultivator grinder for them.

On the chaotic battlefield, even the aftershocks of a single Greater Divine Ability can cause massive casualties among Low-Rank Cultivators. Therefore, apart from those Low-Rank Cultivators with powerful backgrounds and countless trump cards protecting them, everyone else avoids Large-Scale Wars like the plague.

Only a very small number of the lucky ones rise to prominence in war; most die in obscurity, their existence forgotten except by their family and friends.

Yang Tianyou shook his head slightly and entered the main hall. At that moment, the Sanyuan Hall Master was reprimanding a Dharma Protector. He did not disturb him and waited quietly to the side.

After the Dharma Protector had retreated in a disheveled state, Yang Tianyou stepped forward.

"Oh? You're Guest Elder Great White, please have a seat!"

The Sanyuan Hall Master was very polite to Yang Tianyou, who was a future Eighth-Tier Talisman Master. Even if he left the Three Origin Hall to seek other opportunities in the future, there would still be a bond between them. As long as they were carefully maintained, he would be an important connection.

After Yang Tianyou sat down, he cupped his hands and said, "Palace Master, in this war, could I be included in the list of Front-Line Combat Personnel?"

"Huh?" The Sanyuan Hall Master was taken aback and asked in great confusion, "Everyone else is scrambling to avoid war, so why is Great White Guest Elder offering himself up?"

Yang Tianyou didn't hide anything. The Three Origin Hall no longer posed much of a threat to him, so he said directly, "I want to rebuild my Lineage, but the Great Zhou has a tradition of granting land and fiefdoms only based on Military Merit. While it's safe to make a few Talisman in the rear, the Military Merit is very limited. Besides, I mainly cultivate the Blade Dao, which is brutal and can lead to rapid progress in war."

Upon hearing this, the Palace Master of the Three Realms gave Yang Tianyou a deep look and said, "I understand what Fellow Daoist Taibai means. However, in the war between the two great dynasties, even the three patriarchs are preoccupied with their own affairs, let alone us Void Returning cultivators. My suggestion is that Taibai focus on making talismans and not take any risks. Wouldn't it be more prudent to wait until you break through your cultivation and become a Integration Realm cultivator before planning your fiefdom?"

"Hehe, thank you for your kindness, Palace Master, but time waits for no one. We cultivators seize every moment... Besides, my cultivation has just broken through. I wouldn't say I've made great contributions, but I should be more than capable of protecting myself."

Yang Tianyou chuckled, and then slightly revealed a trace of the power of the Blade Dao Principle.

The Sanyuan Hall Master felt his body stiffen, a chill running down his spine, and a bead of cold sweat slid down his forehead.

"This is... the Power of Principle!!"

The Sanyuan Hall Master muttered to himself, a deep envy and longing flashing in his eyes.

He quickly realized what was happening and hurriedly stood up. His attitude was no longer as casual as before. Comprehending the Power of Principle meant that he had one foot in the door of the Body Integration Realm, and his status and position would soar, even surpassing his own as the Palace Master.

"Great White... Senior, please wait a moment, I will summon the Old Ancestor immediately." The Sanyuan Hall Master said respectfully, and then took out Communication Talisman to notify the Body Integration Cultivator.

A moment later, an Escape Light appeared, and the figures of the two old men materialized.

One of them was the Earth Origin True Person, and the other was the Human Origin True Person.

Both of them were at the Body Integration Early Stage Realm. The Earth Origin True Person cultivated the "Earthly Origin Canon of Bearing Things," and his aura was profound and vast, like a kind and benevolent old grandfather. The Human Origin True Person cultivated the "Human Origin Book of Severing Emotions," and his aura was as cold as Eternal Profound Ice, exuding an aura that kept living people away.

After the two arrived before Yang Tianyou, the Earthly True Man spoke first, offering his congratulations, and then exclaimed, "From the very first meeting with Fellow Daoist Taibai, I knew you were no ordinary person. I never imagined that in just over a hundred years you would comprehend the power of laws, especially the laws of swordsmanship, a martial art that excels in combat. You are truly a prodigy!"

"Not at all, Senior Di Yuan, you flatter me." Yang Tianyou appeared quite modest.

Earth Origin True Person's smile deepened, "Don't mention 'senior.' Now that you've comprehended the Principle, you'll be one of us sooner or later. If you don't mind, just call this old Daoist 'Senior Brother.'"

Human Origin True Person didn't speak. He was naturally cold and aloof. After cultivating the "Human Origin Book of Severing Emotions," he became even more withdrawn and almost became mute. This time, it was only because Earth Origin True Person showed his respect for Yang Tianyou that he specially pulled him over. Otherwise, Human Origin True Person would almost never leave his cave abode.

"Since you say so, senior, then I, Yang, will humbly address you as Senior Brother." Yang Tianyou said with a smile, then bowed solemnly. "Greetings, Senior Brother Diyuan, Senior Brother Renyuan!"

"Greetings, Junior Brother Great White!!"

Earth Origin True Person hurriedly returned the greeting, Human Origin True Person was a beat slower and was pulled by Earth Origin True Person, who also returned the greeting to Yang Tianyou.

After they addressed each other as fellow disciples, their relationship immediately became much closer.

Seated in rows in the main hall, Earth Origin True Person spoke first, "Junior Brother Great White wishes to establish Lineage, and I, as his senior brother, will naturally give my full support."

After pausing to think for a moment, Earth Origin True Person said, "How about this, I'll write a letter and give it to Senior Brother Heavenly Origin. He was appointed as the Azure Cloud Prefecture Deputy Chief of Logistics a month ago. Let him pull some strings and try to get you a good position."

In order to befriend Yang Tianyou, the Earth Origin True Person took it very seriously and sent Message Jade Slip in front of him.

Yang Tianyou naturally expressed his gratitude again, and after exchanging a few more pleasantries, Yang Tianyou took his leave.

Watching his retreating figure, Earth Origin True Person shook his head with a sigh and said, "It's a pity that such a person is not a disciple of my Three Origin Hall, otherwise the sect might have gained another Tribulation Transcendence Old Ancestor in the future!"

To be able to evolve the Blade Domain into Principle in just over a hundred years after Ascension —such talent and ability are both awe-inspiring and terrifying.

Having said that, he turned around and looked at the Sanyuan Hall Master standing respectfully behind him, instructing him. "From now on, treat Junior Brother Great White the same way you would treat us. Do not be negligent!"

"Disciple obeys!!" The Sanyuan Hall Master hurriedly accepted the order.

After glancing at him, Earth Origin True Person asked, "Have you slacked off in your cultivation lately?"

"I have not slackened, but I still have no clue about the Power of Principle. I hope Master will not blame me!" The Sanyuan Hall Master lowered his head with some shame, feeling that he had failed his master's earnest teachings over the years.

"Alas, the path to enlightenment is arduous, but it's not your fault." Seeing his disciple's fearful expression, Earth Origin True Person reached out and helped him up. "In this war, the Imperial Dynasty has initiated a Military Merit exchange system. Once I've accumulated enough Military Merits, I will exchange them for a Principle Crystal for you. Put aside your current affairs for now; the important military matters will be handled by the three of us Nascent Body Integration Cultivators. Just focus on your cultivation."

"Disciple kowtows to express gratitude for Master's profound kindness!!"

The Sanyuan Hall Master bowed deeply in excitement.

Located on the frontier, Long'an Circuit is separated from the Great Zhao Imperial Dynasty only by the Kuanglong River. Whenever the Great Zhao Imperial Dynasty launches an invasion, Long'an Circuit is always the first to bear the brunt. For this reason, the Court specially placed a prince there and set up a special border defense force, with the purpose of preventing attacks from the Great Zhao Imperial Dynasty.

The mobilization speed in the border area was very fast. Under the supervision of the Dragon King and the Golden Thunder Old Ancestor and other great cultivators who had undergone Tribulation Transcendence, all the supplies were in place in just one month. One after another, the Cultivator Legions set off, boarding various warships, and gathered in the three border prefectures of Huai'an Prefecture, Jing'an Prefecture and Zhen'an Prefecture.

Under the manipulation of the Heavenly Origin Old Ancestor, Yang Tianyou eventually became a member of the Vanguard Army of the Azure Cloud Prefecture Allied Forces, responsible for reconnaissance. This was something he requested himself, as it was incredibly easy for Zhiming to use intelligence to rack up merits.

The Azure Cloud Prefecture allied forces were responsible for defending Golden Pool City in Zhen'an Prefecture, which was on the right flank of the overall defensive line, so the pressure was not great.

The Yellow Dragon Boat, Ninth-Tier Upper-Grade warship, is one of the most famous Spirit Treasures of the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty. It has served as the Flagship in various wars, and no fewer than twenty Transcending Bandit Cultivators have perished under its Spirit Treasure, making it a renowned vessel.

At this very moment, in the main hall aboard the Yellow Dragon Boat, Ji Chengwu, dressed in Military Uniform, sat in the highest position, surveying the generals below.

His gaze lingered for a moment on one of the elderly men in golden armor, a hint of apprehension flashing in his eyes.

This general, named Wen Qun, is a cultivator who rose through the ranks of the army. He is skilled in military strategy, possesses formidable strength, and has a tough style, making him deeply loved by his soldiers.

With the decline of generals in the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty over the past few millennia, General Wen Qun's position has become increasingly important, making him a pillar of stability for the military.

Although Ji Chengwu was a member of the imperial clan, he had no experience in leading troops into battle. Although he had been able to control the government and wield immense power with the support of the Empress Dowager and many powerful clans over the years, many military generals did not submit to him. The reason was simple: without Military Merits and impressive achievements, no matter how skilled he was at internal power struggles, he could never truly control the military until he proved himself on the battlefield.

For the ruler of an empire, military power is the most important thing. Ji Chengwu urgently needed to do something in the military field to consolidate his authority. That is why, when the Great Zhao Imperial Dynasty launched an attack on the Great Zhou Dynasty, Ji Chengwu resolutely led his troops into battle despite the pressure.

Of course, he wasn't a fool who lacked self-awareness; he understood his lack of military knowledge, so he brought along many military-savvy staff members as advisors for this major battle.

"Actively sending troops?"

"No, Grand Marshal, absolutely not!!"

In the main hall, almost as soon as Ji Chengwu finished explaining his decision, he was met with a barrage of dissenting voices, including many of his own confidants.

Ji Chengwu did not speak; he had his own mouthpiece, his younger brother Ji Chengzong.

As expected, upon hearing that someone dared to oppose his elder brother, Ji Chengzong immediately stood up and sternly rebuked, "Why not? The Great Zhao has raised an army, its sharp edge aimed directly at Jing'an Prefecture. Why should we confront its sharp edge head-on? The best way is as my elder brother said: we should avoid its strength and attack its weakness, strike at the left flank of the Zhao Kingdom, and directly capture Jiangbei City."

"Is it only Zhao Kingdom that can attack our Great Zhou, while our Great Zhou can only cower in defense and cannot retaliate? Is our Great Zhou, which is ordained by Heaven, filled with cowardly and incompetent people?"

After Ji Chengzong finished speaking, his tiger-like eyes widened, and his Sha Qi aura filled the entire room. However, everyone present was a renowned figure with exceptional cultivation, so how could they be intimidated by him?

An elderly man dressed in a scholar's robe, with an upright face, stood up and pointed at Ji Chengzong's nose, scolding, "You brat, you know nothing of military affairs, so don't spout such nonsense! Jiangbei City has been fortified by the Zhao Kingdom with impregnable defenses. Just the defensive arrangements we know of alone include three Ninth Tier Formations, coupled with the Ninth-Tier Spirit Vein beneath the city and the millions of troops stationed within. Even if the Yellow Dragon Boat were to be dispatched, it wouldn't be able to take it. With the Zhao Kingdom's national strength, once they send their central army to reinforce, they'll be surrounded by enemy forces in front and the Kuanglong River behind, with nowhere to retreat. Wouldn't they be completely annihilated?"

"You..." Ji Chengzong was speechless, his face turning red. Just as he was about to utter a curse, Ji Chengwu quickly coughed to stop him.

The elderly man who spoke was no ordinary person; he was the head of the Tianshui Li Household.

The Tianshui Li Household is a behemoth that claims to share the world with the Ji Household. Countless clansmen hold high positions, and the clan's foundation is unfathomable. It is absolutely not to be provoked rashly.

"Hehe, Minister Li is right, it was I who failed to consider this thoroughly."

Upon hearing this, Old Ancestor Li's expression softened and he sat down.

The meeting ended abruptly, and after everyone had left, Ji Chengzong complained indignantly, "Brother, these old guys all disagree with your plan. What should we do?"

"It's alright. The only person I'm wary of is Li Shentong, but he's in charge of logistics. Once he leaves the Front Lines, there will be no more obstacles." A cold glint flashed in Ji Chengzong's eyes. Once he had military power, he would definitely teach this old man a lesson and show him who truly ruled the Great Zhou!