Chu Xiong

After changing back into his general's armor, Lu Feng arrived at the commander's tent.

"Lu Feng, what did you find during your trip to the barracks?" Lu Shuang asked as soon as he entered the tent.

"The soldiers in the Northwest Army Camp are mostly veterans, and they're all eager to go to the battlefield," Lu Feng said. "It's just that their equipment is too poor."

Xiao Zhenbei immediately replied, "Your Highness, our Northwest Army Camp hasn't achieved any military merits in recent years, and we don't have the extra funds to purchase equipment, so it's really..."

"If each soldier had a piece of equipment, calculate how much it would cost?" Lu Shuang interrupted him.

Everyone was secretly delighted.

Xiao Zhenbei hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, nearly a third of the men in the Northwest Army Camp are currently unequipped, and of those who are equipped, more than half are incomplete..."

"Just give me a number." Lu Shuang waved her hand.

"Equipping each soldier would require approximately two million Low-Grade Origin Crystal."

Lu Shuang hesitated. She only had a few hundred thousand Low-Grade Origin Crystal on her at the moment, and was thinking about how to start the conversation when Lu Feng spoke first, "I wonder how long it will take to procure all these equipment after we have the Origin Crystal?"

"As long as we have enough Origin Crystal, we can equip all the soldiers within a month... no, half a month!" Xiao Zhenbei said.

Lu Feng took out a storage bag from his pocket and handed it over.

"Here are three million Low-Grade Origin Crystal. Two million for equipment, and the remaining one million as rewards."

"What reward?" Everyone turned to look at Lu Feng.

"Rewards will be distributed according to military merit; you can discuss the specific procedures."

Xiao Zhenbei and the other commanders, their faces beaming with excitement, bowed to Lu Feng and Lu Shuang in unison. "Thank you, Your Highness! Thank you, Young Master Lu!"

Afterwards, everyone gathered around the map to discuss the reward system, while Lu Feng lay down to sleep. This time, no one in the tent felt anything was wrong.

The discussion concluded after an incense stick had burned for a while.

"Lu Feng, do you think this is okay?"

Upon hearing Lu Shuang's voice, Lu Feng slowly opened his eyes and glanced at her.

"Can."

Seeing him nod, Xiao Zhenbei's expression turned serious.

"Zhou Xiong!"

"Your subordinate is here!"

"Take your men to the city immediately, buy all the necessary equipment and materials, and then gather all the blacksmiths in the city to forge them!"

After Xiao Zhenbei finished speaking, he took out 200,000 Low-Grade Origin Crystal and handed them over.

"Your subordinate obeys!" Zhou Xiong took the storage bag, turned around, and left the tent.

"Your Highness, let's go to the barracks now."

Lu Shuang nodded.

Xiao Zhenbei immediately ordered, "Someone, summon the entire army to assemble!"

"Yes!"

Lu Shuang then led the way, and the group headed towards the barracks.

On the training ground, all the soldiers were lined up neatly, their swords and halberds like a forest. Xiao Zhenbei was very satisfied with what he saw and led Lu Shuang and Lu Feng up to the high platform.

"Who are these two? I've never seen them before, and one of them seems to be a woman!"

"Could it be one of the princes who led us to Wild Goose Return Pass to resist the Great Chu?"

There was a lot of discussion among the audience.

"Tie Niu, that general in white armor, doesn't he look familiar?" A soldier in the crowd nudged Tie Niu.

"It's Lu Feng, I can't mistake him!" Tie Niu stared at the stage, his eyes lighting up.

"It really is him! I never expected him to be a general; I thought I had mistaken him for someone else!"

"Now that you mention it, it really is him!"

"Quiet!" Xiao Zhenbei shouted from the stage, and the training ground fell silent instantly.

"Let me introduce you. Standing to my right is Her Highness the Princess; and to my left is Lord Lu!"

"The princess has come to lead us to Wild Goose Return Pass to resist the army of the Great Chu!"

The excitement in the soldiers' eyes gradually faded.

If a prince were leading the troops, they could earn some military merits by following him. But the princess, to put it bluntly, was just there to make a show of things. Not only would they not get any military merits, but these veterans with Ming Jin cultivation levels might also be used as cannon fodder.

These whispers, of course, did not escape Lu Shuang's ears.

She channeled her True Essence, and a chill spread down from the high platform, sweeping across the entire training ground. The 100,000 soldiers felt a chill run through them, and their whispers abruptly ceased.

"This princess's cultivation level is so high, she must be Great Grandmaster!" someone whispered in astonishment.

Seeing that the desired effect had been achieved, Lu Shuang glanced at Xiao Zhenbei. Xiao Zhenbei immediately understood and said, "Quiet!"

"Your Highness, you have now reached the Celestial Person Realm!"

These words caused an uproar in the audience.

"Celestial Person Realm? How is that possible?"

"I remember His Highness the Crown Prince is only at the Great Grandmaster Perfection. Doesn't that mean the Princess is even more powerful than the Crown Prince?!"

"I've never heard of this princess before. Could she be a trump card hidden by the royal family?"

The discussion continued for a long time, and the doubts from before were completely dispelled.

After everyone had been discussing it for a while, Xiao Zhenbei finally spoke again, "This time, there are a few more pieces of good news!"

"First, Her Highness the Princess has allocated a large batch of weapons and equipment, which are expected to arrive within half a month. At that time, each of you will receive your equipment!"

The soldiers below the stage could no longer contain themselves, and the drill ground instantly erupted in cheers.

"The princess is mighty!"

"The princess is mighty!"

The shouts grew louder and louder, making the flag flutter loudly.

"Secondly, the military merits for this trip to Wild Goose Return Pass will be doubled!"

"Not only that, kill five enemies and you'll be promoted to squad leader! Kill ten enemies and you'll be promoted to platoon leader! Kill one hundred enemies and you'll be promoted to centurion!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was stunned. This method of promotion had never been used in the Great Qian Army before.

Actually, this line was added by Lu Feng, Lu Shuang had no objection. Although Xiao Zhenbei felt it was somewhat inappropriate, he didn't say anything.

"All generals, listen to my command! We will depart for Wild Goose Return Pass in one hour!"

Xiao Zhenbei then gave a long speech, mostly about military discipline and marching orders.

Lu Feng and the others only left after the entire army was disbanded.

Meanwhile, a hundred miles away from Wild Goose Return Pass.

A barren wasteland had been trampled into a muddy swamp by 500,000 people and livestock. The camps stood one after another, stretching as far as the eye could see. After nightfall, the campfires burned together, turning half the sky yellow.

The camp contained more than just human soldiers. Between the animal pens and iron cages, a foul stench filled the air, and demonic beasts lay or stood, their howls rising and falling.

In the center stood a large tent, brightly lit by candlelight.

Chu Xiong stood with his hands at his sides in the tent. He was tall and burly, with dark skin and a cultivation Celestial Person Realm Fifth Layer. He had fought for half his life and had seen all kinds of battles, but at this moment he stood straight and even breathed softly.

Lying on the soft couch was a Profound Water Crocodile with the head of a crocodile and the body of a human. Its scales gleamed coldly in the candlelight, and its aura had clearly reached the Sixth-Transformation Demon Emperor.

Two alluring fox spirits, one on each side, massaged its shoulders with gentle touches, their eyes fixed on its nose, its nose focused on its heart, not daring to glance away even slightly.

"Lord Crocodile," Chu Xiong said, "We've been stationed here for a day. When will we attack Wild Goose Return Pass?"

"What's the rush?" The Profound Water Crocodile didn't even get up; it just slapped its long tail against the edge of the bed.

"Let's wait a few more days, let the demons grow even more restless. Only then can we unleash a beast tide and break through Wild Goose Return Pass!"

"But..."

"No buts!" The Profound Water Crocodile opened its eyelids, its vertical pupils turning towards it.

"What did your ancestor tell you before you set off? He instructed you to submit to my will. You haven't forgotten, have you?"

Chu Xiong was speechless, and bowed as he left the tent.

As soon as he stepped out of the tent, his face darkened. The night wind, carrying the stench of the animal pen, filled his nostrils, and he frowned.

"I don't know what the Ancestor was thinking, actually ordering the Profound Water Crocodile to attack the Great Qian alongside me..."

He glanced back at the brightly lit tent, but ultimately dared not say anything more, and strode towards his own camp.

When the Chu soldiers along the way saw him coming, they all stepped aside to salute him, but he just waved his hand and didn't look at anyone.