Slaying the Demon General Before the Pass, Summoning Rain to Drown Seven Armies!

Yuan Lake Water Palace.

There were many civil and military officials.

At the head of the table, the Yuan Lake Water Lord and the Min River Dragon Maiden sat upright.

From outside the palace.

Zhang Shu strode in, wielding Tortoiseshell Alligator-Dragon Spear in one hand and carrying a burly man several sizes larger than himself in the other. Upon entering the hall, he tossed the bound and immobile man to the ground, then bowed to the head of the hall, proclaiming, "This humble general greets Your Majesty! The demonic troops south of Serrated Mountain have been repelled. The demonic vanguard general, Zhu Shan, is here; Your Majesty, please grant him your judgment!"

Zhang Shu's voice was loud and clear, echoing throughout the hall.

Zhang Shu member of the Yuan Lake Water Palace for seven hundred years and is its first elder. He is skilled in training and commanding troops and is deeply trusted by Lu Qingfeng. He has been entrusted with important responsibilities and is now a fifth-rank water general of Yuan Lake, leading three thousand Fire Crow Soldiers. He has slaughtered no fewer than two thousand demon soldiers under his command and has a formidable reputation throughout the entire South Pass Circuit.

"Thank you for your hard work General Zhang."

"Someone come here."

"Three Tiger-Soldier Pill as a reward!"

Lu Qingfeng sat at the head of the table, his face beaming with joy, and shouted into the hall.

"Yes."

Immediately.

A maidservant then presented three jade bottles, the middle one containing the Tiger-Soldier Pill, made primarily from the flesh and blood of demons, which greatly benefits cultivators on the Fate Dao.

Zhang Shu's path is Fate Dao.

"Thank you for the reward, Your Majesty!"

Zhang Shu accepted the Tiger-Soldier Pill and respectfully withdrew. He stood second among the generals on the left.

The one in the lead was Lan Feihu.

Seeing that Lu Qingfeng had finished praising him, Lan Feihu couldn't help but step forward, his voice booming, "Your Majesty, the demon army must pass through the Eagle Pass of the South Pass Circuit to reach Serrated Mountain. This demon army is advancing straight towards my Yuan Lake; there's clearly something fishy going on!"

Five hundred years have passed.

Demon Marshes, who had been probing more and more frequently, finally couldn't help but start a war 380 years ago.

The Qixia Demon Kingdom launched an offensive along the southern border of the Qi Kingdom, simultaneously from the South Pass Circuit and Fenglin Circuit, dragging the entire Qi Kingdom into the war from both directions. The Min River Dragon Palace was located in Fenglin Circuit, and the Min River system, which crisscrossed the entire Qi Kingdom, could not escape either. All its subjects, generals, and thousands of naval troops were thrown into this battle.

Although Yuan Lake is located in the South Pass Circuit, with the South Pass Circuit serving as a buffer between it and the Demon Marshes, demon soldiers often invade its territory, sweeping through and then suddenly disappearing.

But this time...

This demon army arrived silently, reaching Serrated Mountain, less than 10,000 li from Yuan Lake.

No one on the Water Palace would believe that there was no deliberate indulgence by the soldiers of South Pass Circuit.

"That old scoundrel Pei Zhi!"

Lu Qingfeng cursed angrily and said to Zhang Shu, "General Zhang, quickly muster three thousand Fire Crow Soldiers and head to South-Guarding Pass. Slay this scoundrel in front of the pass as a warning!"

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Zhang Shu stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and respectfully accepted the offer.

He then grabbed the Zhu Shan on the ground and strode away.

Lan Feihu, his face contorted in a grimace, said coldly, "That's letting them off too easily. This humble general requests to lead three thousand troops to teach Pei Zhi a lesson!"

"There's no need for that."

"I have my own methods of punishment."

Lu Qingfeng waved his hand, ordering the court officials to disperse.

South of South-Guarding Pass, towering mountains form a natural barrier on both sides, stretching between Demon Marshes and South Pass Circuit. The most elite troops of South Pass Circuit are stationed on these mountains.

This day.

Inside the mountain pass.

Pei Zhi was in his command tent when a general stepped forward and laughed loudly, "I heard that the demon army marched straight into Serrated Mountain, catching Yuan Lake completely off guard. Yuan Lake Naval Forces suffered over a thousand casualties, which is truly gratifying!"

"It should have been done long ago!"

"The Demon Marshes's offensive is fierce. Yuan Lake is located in the middle of the South Pass Circuit, yet it relies on us to shelter it from the wind and rain. It's truly shameless. Now that the demon soldiers almost broke into Yuan Lake, let's teach them a lesson!"

Another general stepped forward, laughing heartily, which shook the command tent.

"Ha ha!"

"I wonder if the son-in-law from the Min River and the dragon girl are so frightened that they are hiding under the table, crying and begging the Dragon King for help!"

The general's tent was filled with a joyful atmosphere, and the generals grinned from ear to ear.

The defenses of the South Pass Circuit were all arranged by the military governor Pei Zhi. It was somewhat understandable for scattered demon soldiers to cross the defense line and enter the South Pass Circuit, or even the Yuan Lake region. However, the large force of demon soldiers this time, even led by a general of the Third Realm, was clearly intentionally allowed to run rampant.

This was all for the purpose of punishing Yuan Lake.

Firstly, during the great battle at Demon Marshes, Yuan Lake remained inactive, merely guarding its vast territory. The fact that it didn't send a single soldier to the border had long aroused discontent among the generals and soldiers of South Pass Circuit.

Secondly, all the generals present knew that as the war against the Demon Marshes began, the friction and conflict between the Min River Dragon Palace and the Nine Luminaries Extreme Fire Sect and the Yuanyou Divine Communion Palace gradually came to light under the cover of the war.

Or rather...

The superficial harmony has been broken ever since the Min River Dragon Lord personally attacked the Yuanyou Divine Communion Palace six hundred years ago.

Attacks and criticisms in the imperial court.

A battle of magic in the mortal realm.

They went back and forth, waiting for a trigger to completely ignite a decisive battle for supremacy within the Qi Kingdom.

Pei Zhi was born into the Nine Luminaries Extreme Fire Sect, Yuan Lake belonged to the Min River Dragon Palace.

The soldiers present were eager to take advantage of the opportunity to sabotage Yuan Lake.

Inside the command tent, the scholar sitting to Pei Zhi's left frowned slightly and said worriedly, "The Yuan Lake Water Lord has always acted without regard for the consequences. This move may provoke him."

"The strategist is overthinking it."

"Does this insignificant Yuan Lake Water Lord dare to raise an army to attack us over such a dubious matter?"

"If it's just verbal reprimand, we can simply ignore it!"

One of the generals burst into laughter.

The scholar thought it over and found it reasonable. However, when he thought of the battle six hundred years ago and the reputation of this Yuan Lake Water Lord, he felt a sense of unease.

Just then—

"Report!"

"Bandit-Quelling General Zhang Shu, the Zhang Shu of the Yuan Lake Water Palace, led three thousand Fire Crow Soldiers and arrayed them before the pass!"

Wow!

All the generals present, including Pei Zhi, stood up abruptly.

Pei Zhi's face was filled with rage as he roared, "Three thousand rabble dare to invade my Mountain Hero Pass! Men, prepare your troops and horses, and swiftly join me in annihilating this traitor!"

Suddenly.

The generals left the tent.

Beyond the Mountain Hero Pass.

The Western Heaven was ablaze with fire, where three thousand Fire Crow Soldiers stood in formation. At their leader stood proudly, holding Tortoiseshell Alligator-Dragon Spear.

"General Mao of Yuan Lake!"

"How dare you be so insolent in my Mountain Hero Pass?!"

On the city wall of the majestic pass, Pei Zhi, dressed in a general's robe, shouted at Zhang Shu.

Zhang Shu ignored him.

He uttered a soft whisper, "Bring it up."

Then.

Two Fire Crow Soldiers then pressed forward, pressing down on the Zhu Shan.

Upon seeing this, Pei Zhi and the others at Mountain Hero Pass all frowned, wondering what was going on.

But then Zhang Shu called out loudly towards Mountain Hero Pass, "That old traitor Pei Zhi is treacherous and despicable, allowing his demon soldiers to wreak havoc in the South Pass Circuit. They have already been driven back by my Yuan Lake Water Palace. This is Demon Marshes Zhu Shan. My lord has ordered me to come and behead him before Mountain Hero Pass!"

As he spoke.

Before the generals at Mountain Hero Pass could react, he suddenly kicked Zhu Shan, sending them flying.

"Spare me!"

The Zhu Shan were terrified, and they cried out desperately for mercy, their voices echoing through the Mountain Hero Pass.

Zhang Shu remained unmoved, and with a swing of his Tortoiseshell Alligator-Dragon Spear, he smashed it down with a thunderous roar—

"No!"

Zhu Shan was terrified and roared. Despite being Third Realm Destiny Cultivation, he couldn't withstand the attack and exploded in mid-air, turning into a shower of blood and flesh.

Brilliant yet tragic!

"What a wretched child!"

"How dare you insult my commander-in-chief of the South Pass Circuit! Don't you dare leave!"

At the top of Mountain Hero Pass, a general leaped out, leading seven thousand soldiers to charge at Zhang Shu.

A person's name is like the shadow of a tree.

The three thousand Fire Crow soldiers commanded by General Yuanhu were renowned even within the entire Qi Kingdom. No one expected that the Lord of Yuanhu's embezzlement of provisions would result in a sparse naval force on Yuanhu Lake. Yet, relying on his generals, he managed to train several highly elite units.

The three thousand Fire Crow Soldiers under the command of this Zhang Shu were the most famous among them.

The general on the Mountain Hero Pass spoke loudly, yet dared not be careless. He led more than twice the number of troops and charged down the pass in a mighty wave, heading straight for the three thousand Fire Crow Soldiers.

Zhang Shu held the gun, his expression unchanged.

The horizon.

Rumble!

Whoosh!

Suddenly thunder roared, and clouds gathered. The sky had been clear and blue, but suddenly a storm arrived.

The general paused.

Pei Zhi looked up, his gaze sharp, and said in a deep voice to the sky, "Guangyuan, what do you intend to do?!"

Manipulating the winds and clouds, wielding the thunder.

This is naturally a skill that the local water lord excels at.

Divine light appeared and disappeared in the sky, revealing that it was the Yuan Lake Water Lord himself.

"Pei Zhi, you have neglected your duties and harbored malicious intentions. I, on behalf of Heaven, hereby punish you by imposing a seven-day torrential rain upon the thirteen passes and thirty-seven military outposts, including Mountain Hero and Xiongying!"

A thunderous roar echoed from the sky, carrying a majestic and powerful sound.

"How dare you!"

Pei Zhi roared.

If the torrential rain continues for seven days, all thirteen passes and camps will likely be flooded. While they won't be completely defenseless, defenses will be difficult under floodwaters, and if the demon soldiers seize this opportunity to attack the passes, the losses will be substantial.

As the commander-in-chief of South Pass Circuit, if the pass falls, even if it is due to the flooding by the Yuan Lake Water Lord, Pei Zhi will not escape accountability and will inevitably have to face execution on the General-Slaying Platform.

It's a matter of Life and Death.

Enraged, Pei Zhi wielded his Thirteen-Jointed Steel Whip and soared into the sky, heading straight for the clouds.

However, when thunder and lightning struck and winds swept across the land, even a master of the Third Realm of Fate Dao could not contend with the might of heaven and earth.

Boom!

He had just leaped up when he was struck down by lightning and crashed to the ground with a loud thud.

"General!"

The generals rushed forward, exclaiming in surprise.

The scholar approached and said urgently, "The ability to control clouds and rain is the work of Heaven, and no mortal can contend with it. We must ask Lord Wenshan to intervene and use Divine Path to counteract it. However, it will take three days to reach South-Guarding Pass. The City God will then take another three days to arrive. In the meantime, we will need at least one day to make preparations."

"Seven days!"

Pei Zhi listened, his eyes bloodshot.

Lu Qingfeng had timed it perfectly.

One day is not too much.

Not a single day less.

The scholar continued, "Seven days of continuous rain have flooded the seven armies. Although it has not harmed the common people, such a defiance of the heavens will surely not be good for the Yuan Lake Water Lord. Burdened by Karmic Power, I fear he may not even be able to hold onto his position as Water God!"

"This will result in mutual destruction between us!"

Pei Zhi looked up—

Splash!

Thunder and lightning flashed, and a torrential downpour ensued.

In the rain, Pei Zhi looked at the faint divine light appearing on the horizon, and a sense of regret finally rose in his heart—

Knowing that the Yuan Lake Water Lord acted without restraint, we should not have resorted to underhanded tactics. Now, the seven armies are about to be submerged, and thirteen strategic passes are in grave danger!

"Go quickly and invite Lord Wenshan!"

"Order all troops to immediately construct flood control and drainage works!"

"Order all passes to be under martial law for seven days, in preparation for any movements in Demon Marshes and Yuan Lake!"

Pei Zhi, being a powerful regional official, regretted his decision for a moment but quickly devised a countermeasure. His face hardened, and he declared, "Seven days from now, I will still be the Military Governor of South Pass Circuit. And you, Guangyuan, will certainly lose your position as the Yuan Lake Water Lord!"