Chapter 694: The Great Daluo Army
After Mandala departed, she left behind a bamboo slip faintly stained with dark red blood.
Xiao Ze examined the slip, his gaze thoughtful as he felt the overwhelming aura of iron blooded battle intent emanating from it.
The idea of becoming a war formation master intrigued him. In the Great Thousand World, where countless paths of cultivation competed for dominance, mastering an additional skill was akin to possessing another trump card.
In battles against formidable foes, such a trump card could often mean the difference between life and death.
Of course, Xiao Ze knew this was contingent on his ability to cultivate as a war formation master. If he couldn't succeed, he wouldn't force it.
"Heart of the War Formation…" he murmured, reading the blood red inscription on the bamboo slip.
Feeling the slip's chilling battle energy, he smirked slightly, then placed it against his forehead without hesitation.
The bamboo slip burst into a brilliant crimson light. The sound of fierce battles echoed in his mind as an ancient and blood soaked scene slowly unfolded.
A boundless army marched through the heavens and earth, their movements synchronized with unrelenting precision.
Each step they took seemed to shake the heavens, exuding an aura of unstoppable force.
At the forefront of this terrifying army stood a single figure, their build thin and frail, not at all resembling a hardened warrior.
Yet, with just one glance, it was clear that this figure commanded the entire formidable legion.
"Battle!"
The figure raised their hand, and the army erupted with a thunderous war cry that shook the heavens.
Boundless battle intent surged, forming a near tangible sea of energy. From it emerged a nine headed dragon, each head emanating monstrous energy.
As the nine headed dragon materialized, the space within tens of thousands of miles shattered into darkness.
The dragon opened its colossal mouths, unleashing nine beams of blinding light entwined with devastating power.
The beams traversed millions of miles, piercing into a vast spatial fissure that revealed an otherworldly realm controlled by the Extraterritorial Evil Race.
Without a sound, the realm was obliterated entirely.
The sheer destructive force of this attack left Xiao Ze deeply awed.
"A single strike that erases an entire plane... This power must be on par with a Heavenly Sovereign," he thought, his mind racing.
As Xiao Ze processed this incredible sight, the ancient scene dissolved into fragments of information that flowed into his mind.
However, the bamboo slip was incomplete, containing only scattered phrases. The full legacy of the war formation master was missing.
In ancient times, war formation masters had shone brilliantly during the war against the Extraterritorial Evil Race. But with the Great Calamity that engulfed the Great Thousand World, many war formation master legacies were lost.
This once glorious cultivation path had since fallen into obscurity.
"'The way of war formations: to guide with power is the lesser path; to lead with the heart is the supreme path,'" Xiao Ze softly recited the slip's most profound phrase.
"Still, I've never experienced battle intent before. It's too soon to talk about cultivation."
Setting the bamboo slip aside, Xiao Ze left the hall, heading toward a secret location mentioned by Mandala.
Since he had never encountered battle intent, it was time to find an army to hone himself.
Turning into a streak of light, Xiao Ze soared across the skies of Daluo Heaven. Along the way, some of the Daluo Territory's powerhouses sensed his presence but didn't intervene.
Xiao Ze's frequent comings and goings from Daluo Peak had made his aura familiar. Many knew him as the mysterious alchemist guest elder and wouldn't dare to disturb him without good reason.
Still, some were surprised to sense that Xiao Ze was heading toward the training grounds of the Great Daluo Army.
Xiao Ze's destination, the Daluo Flame Pool, was a unique training ground formed by the fusion of geothermal energy and spiritual power.
As he approached the towering black peak housing the Flame Pool, he was intercepted by a towering man clad in battle armor.
"Halt! Are you Elder Xiao Ze?" the armored giant asked, his voice firm and resonant.
Xiao Ze withdrew his concealing spiritual energy, revealing himself and producing the command token Mandala had given him.
"It's me. Mandala should have already informed the Daluo Army of my arrival."
The towering man examined the token, a trace of astonishment flashing in his eyes. He quickly bowed respectfully.
"Greetings, Elder Xiao Ze! By order of the Territory Lord, you are now the Supreme Commander of the Great Daluo Army. I am Feng Huo, the Grand Commander of the Daluo Army."
Feng Huo's imposing presence was akin to a living mountain. Yet, as he studied Xiao Ze and found him unfathomable, he grew increasingly wary of the new Supreme Commander.
With a polite nod, Xiao Ze followed Feng Huo toward the peak.
"Supreme Commander, this is the Daluo Flame Pool, a training ground where geothermal energy fuses with spiritual power," Feng Huo explained as they ascended, keeping a close eye on Xiao Ze's reaction.
The pool's intense heat, amplified by spiritual power, was notorious for being unbearable to newcomers. Even Feng Huo had to summon a protective barrier to shield himself from the searing pain.
But to his astonishment, Xiao Ze seemed entirely unbothered, casually strolling alongside him without any visible discomfort.
The black peak resembled an active volcano, with molten lava roiling below. Suspended above the lava were black platforms, each occupied by black clad soldiers who turned their eyes toward the newcomers.
Feng Huo addressed the soldiers.
"This is Elder Xiao Ze, personally appointed by the Territory Lord as the Supreme Commander of the Great Daluo Army!"
The soldiers on the platforms hesitated momentarily before bowing respectfully.
"Greetings, Supreme Commander!"
Though they showed respect outwardly, some soldiers harbored doubts about this "parachuted" leader. Gaining their trust would require time and effort.
Xiao Ze, however, sensed their thoughts and smiled faintly. Turning to Feng Huo, he spoke decisively.
"Grand Commander, summon the entire army at the Flame Pool. I'd like to conduct a battle drill!"
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