Volume One: The Sovereign's Command Chapter 93: Six Unfortunate Souls

“Senior brother, are we still going to infiltrate Cui Ran’s main camp and kidnap people? These ghost generals are quite troublesome and difficult to deal with.” Wang Yi, Meng Gang, Li Chang, and Zhao Ye had been waiting for Ma Deren to give the order to enter Yanliang’s stronghold and seize Cui Ran. However, the ghost generals had stirred things up, blocking their own gates and trapping them at home.

The spectral soldiers and ghost generals sealed the camp gates tightly. Fortunately, the disciples from Mount Immortal risked their lives to assist, keeping the main camp stable and preventing it from collapsing like the other camps.

“We’re not going anywhere! Didn’t you see our own home is in danger? Let’s find a way to deal with these spectral soldiers first.” Ma Deren was furious; every time he came up with a plan, someone always appeared to disrupt it. This time, it was Xue Ren who urgently summoned everyone, making it impossible for him to leave.

Otherwise, he would be deep within Yanliang’s camp by now, holding Cui Ran captive.

Xue Ren paced restlessly inside the tent, sweat streaming down his brow. Though the front lines had stabilized, it was not a lasting solution—given time, changes were inevitable. The fallen soldiers would be eroded by the dark energy, turning into fresh recruits for the enemy.

“My son, what are you so anxious about?” Xue Pan sat calmly, sipping tea, his expression relaxed as though none of these events concerned him. “We’ve merely encountered a formidable foe—when soldiers come, we counter with generals; when floods arrive, we build embankments. Hold out until Changle City falls; then we’ll have a way out.”

“Father, Changle City is at least a fortified stronghold. Our camp’s outer walls are only hastily erected; they can’t compare to the city walls. How can we possibly hold out?” Seeing Xue Pan’s unruffled composure only fueled Xue Ren’s frustration.

His father, a veteran of the bureaucratic sea, had weathered countless storms. Nothing could shake Xue Pan’s calm, while Xue Ren yearned to seize the moment and prove himself—yet the old fox was always in control, making him uneasy.

“Have you heard of Pine Floating Mountain? Before the Iron Dynasty was founded, the capital was to be built within the territory of the Pine Floating Mountain sect. The Liao family, riding high after their victory, decided to attack directly, disregarding Pine Floating Mountain’s prestige. But they didn’t anticipate the sect’s formidable strength—the Iron Dynasty’s army was kept outside the gates for months. That battle was fierce, the sky darkened and the earth shook. The Liao family spent everything to summon heroes from all over the land, besieging Pine Floating Mountain’s sacred grounds until the entire mountain was leveled. They thought it was over, but today proves Pine Floating Mountain had more tricks up its sleeve.”

Xue Pan had foreseen today’s events and ordered the creation of Cloud Dragon Banners, specially designed to counter the dark energies at play. Now, at the camp gate, soldiers had erected tall white banners, each three fathoms high, arranged in a special formation. Mist billowed around the gate, shielding it. Every soldier inside felt lighter, accompanied by the distant roar of dragons.

“Yin and yang counter each other—a child could tell you that. With the Cloud Dragon Banner formation, even Changle City’s million-strong army can’t prevail. Go to the command platform and oversee the troops; keep them calm.” Xue Pan waved him off, urging him to hurry and gear up.

The presence of a commanding officer at the front changed the morale entirely. Xue Ren wanted to argue further, but seeing his father indifferent, he could only bow and leave.

“Father still clings tightly to power. I didn’t even know about the Cloud Dragon Banners—when did he have them made?” Xue Ren muttered, mounting his horse and heading to the command platform. Along the way, he met other generals, all rushing toward the headquarters.

Ma Deren was among them. He greeted Xue Ren in passing, as Mount Immortal and the Xue family army were allies, but not deeply entwined.

He had always known that, though the Xue father and son appeared harmonious, there was tension beneath the surface. These soldiers were all recruited by Xue Pan himself; Xue Ren was still too inexperienced to take over.

When Ma Deren reached the tent, he found the Four Elders of Spring and Autumn present as well. Mount Immortal and the Xue family army stood in two lines, listening to Xue Pan, who sat at the head.

“You’ve all seen it—the remnants of Pine Floating Mountain have emerged, with countless spectral soldiers and ghost generals, forming a formidable force. But I am prepared; the camp will not fall. Rest assured.” Xue Pan, with his snow-white hair, spoke sharply, his gaze sweeping over the assembled generals.

The Four Elders stepped forward, saying, “Prime Minister Xue, we represent Mount Immortal and have a question. Changle City itself is barely holding—are you confident? We don’t want so many disciples stranded when it’s too late to escape.”

“Hahaha! Have you heard of the Cloud Dragon Banner? I have nine! Is that enough?” Xue Pan laughed, producing a wooden box from his sleeve, inside which lay a dull gray stone bead. “If all else fails, there’s the Yin Soul Stone. What can the ghost generals do against that?”

Cloud Dragon Banner? The Four Elders understood at once why the old fox was so calm—he’d prepared ahead. Though he couldn’t find suitable fire-type artifacts, he had these water-type implements, and with the region’s loamy soil, they could suppress the dark energy.

“Nine banners? Truly worthy of the Iron Dynasty’s wise and courageous Prime Minister! With these Cloud Dragon Banners, the remnants of Pine Floating Mountain will be held at bay. I imagine our other senior brothers from Mount Immortal are arriving as well—then it will be the end for those remnants!” Chun Guang Lian offered congratulations.

In their view, powerful artifacts far outmatched mere soldiers. In the world of martial valor, the Cloud Dragon Banner was highly esteemed. Just the materials needed to craft one would pain the Four Elders greatly.

Let alone nine banners and mastery of the formation—who knew what price Xue Pan had paid to obtain it whole.

“I was thinking of launching a surprise attack on Yanliang’s camp, but it seems the Prime Minister has already planned everything. May I take my men and go?” Ma Deren chuckled, stepping forward to ask.

Xue Pan squinted at him; he’d never trusted Mount Immortal, especially the hot-headed Ma Deren, who was a thorn in his side.

“Exit through the right gate—I’ve arranged for cover. If you can’t catch Cui Ran, set the place ablaze and return quickly. We’ll still need you for the coming battles.”

“Much obliged, Prime Minister! I’ll be back in no time!” Ma Deren had been waiting for this. He dashed out of the tent, gathered his five junior brothers, and slipped out through the right gate, where few enemies were posted. With the guards’ help, they quickly reached the high ridge near Yanliang’s camp.

Ma Mingyuan carried a strange wooden box, making a racket as he walked, nearly alerting patrols several times, prompting Ma Deren to consider barging in.

“If it weren’t for that girl’s Heaven Yin Pearl, I’d have burned the camp and taken Cui Ran already.” Ma Deren was dissatisfied, but he knew that Xiao Qingshu, though young, was immensely strong. He couldn’t easily defeat her, and there were other helpers inside. If he acted rashly, he might lose his own life.

“Senior brother, I brought over a hundred puppet warriors. Once we sneak near Cui Ran’s camp, we’ll have at least the time it takes to burn a stick of incense to act freely.”

Ma Mingyuan had brought all his treasures, determined to win glory for his senior brother, regardless of the years spent collecting them.

“Getting in is easy. Senior brothers, let’s four go ahead and take out the guards at the side gate, then wait here.”

Wang Yi, Meng Gang, Li Chang, and Zhao Ye tied on cloth masks, crouched low, and darted among the rocks. Soon, they reached the side gate. In perfect unison, they rolled forward, attacked the gate guards with short daggers, quietly laid the corpses down, and swiftly donned Yanliang uniforms.

“Senior brother, I feel uneasy. Weren’t the Yanliang troops supposed to be fleeing in panic? Yet their camp is well-organized, as if they’re waiting for something.” Ma Mingyuan surveyed the brightly lit, orderly Yanliang camp and felt a sense of dread.

Ma Deren, gripping his bronze hammer, was impatient and paid no heed. “What are you afraid of, junior brother? Still scared from last time? There’s only one Dao Ruins cultivator with some skill—the rest are nothing. So what if there’s an ambush? We’ll fight our way through!”

As they spoke, they saw someone waving from the lookout over the side gate. Meng Gang, holding a small white flag, signaled to them.

Inside the scout tents near the gate, twenty-one scouts had been assassinated. The four were excited, unable to restrain themselves. While Meng Gang climbed the lookout to signal, the other three went to other camps, eager to test their skills.

This stirred up trouble. When Ma Deren arrived, cries erupted from three sides of Yanliang’s camp: “Assassins! Enemy infiltration! Alert!”

“Damn it! Couldn’t you wait until we reached Cui Ran’s camp? We’re still three hundred paces away! Hurry and follow me!”

Realizing their cover was blown, Ma Deren didn’t care about the others’ whereabouts. He swung his bronze hammer and charged straight for Cui Ran’s tent, knocking down every soldier in his path without mercy.

“Archers, hold them back! Shield troops surround them—leave none alive!” The guard commander on the lookout directed the defense, aiming to block Ma Deren’s advance.

“Take this!” Ma Deren hurled his bronze hammer, shattering the lookout and the commander atop it. The body fell from the height, skull split open. Ma Mingyuan smashed his wooden box, and puppets swiftly assembled, wielding swords and blades. Arrows struck their wooden bodies but did nothing to slow them. They quickly broke through the lines and surrounded the main camp.

Ma Deren summoned the Heaven Sun Pearl, held it aloft, and slammed his dual hammers into the ground. A crack of flame raced into the tent, the billowing heat upending the entire encampment.

But inside—no one! It was a trap!

Drums and shouts erupted on all sides, troops flooding in from every direction. Before the puppet warriors could act, earth surged up from the ground, climbing their limbs and locking them in place. Mud clogged their gears and joints, rendering them immobile.

As the Heaven Sun Pearl shone, torrents of rain fell on Ma Deren’s head. Xiao Qingshu appeared not far away, also wielding the Heaven Yin Pearl and a water-type artifact. With her water arts and the pearl’s power, she extinguished Ma Deren’s fiery assault—cold seeped from his toes to his scalp.

Three flagpoles were raised by soldiers, each bearing one of Wang Yi’s group, battered and unconscious.

“Senior brother, we can’t escape!” Ma Mingyuan trembled, fumbling for smoke pellets to create confusion and slip away, but golden light scattered the smoke, and someone seized him by the collar.