Xu Qing never expected Zhu Huai'an to have such audacity. Regardless of whether the matter with the demons is true or false, anyone who consulted the Celestial Master's Mansion or other masters would know what price this action entails.
Beside him, a certain fox was still somewhat bewildered.
How could this human emperor really dispatch an army to aid in the battle?
The Gu family's Four Symbols Soldiers specialize in cultivating Battle Evil Qi.
At this moment, centered around the White Cloud Cave, the faint images of the Vermilion Bird, Black Tortoise, Cyan Dragon, and White Tiger began to manifest in all directions.
Xuan Yu looked at the soaring Battle Evil Qi, feeling inexplicably uneasy.
The Emperor exerted all efforts to help the Xu Immortal Family eliminate the demonic aura. Given the Xu Immortal Family's nature of repaying both grudges and favors, wouldn't they be heading to the Capital City to be officials together with the Emperor afterward...
Xu Qing was unaware of what the fox and cat behind him thought. He had only one thought in mind: to quickly find Wang Liang and the Four Symbols Soldiers Master and teach them a more perfected method of battle formations.
The military formation arranged by Wang Liang was still the Eight Doors Formation created by later generations. While this formation was certainly usable on the current battlefield, in Xu Qing's eyes, it couldn't even exert half the power of this hundred thousand soldier formation!
When Xu Qing performed funeral rites for Ji Lingzhou at the Ancient Yin River Dao, he acquired two techniques: one was the Human and Earth Odd Gate Dunjia, and the other was a battle formation method ranked as Earth Grade Lower, named the Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation.
This formation balances offense and defense, created by Ji Lingzhou's ancestor, the owner of the Qishan Tomb, during their lifetime. It's regarded as the grandmaster of human formations, achieving the pinnacle of battle formations. If deployed, it can realize a transcendent battle array's power.
Other formations such as the Eight Doors Formation, Odd Gate Formation, and Small Ten Formation all evolved from this formation.
The Emperor Zhu's generosity couldn't be declined. Xu Qing knew it was futile to make excuses. Rather than wasting time pondering future matters, it was better to enhance the living strength before him.
All other matters can wait until after this affair to discuss.
Xu Qing instructed Bai Qiuyu to maintain the array while patiently exhorting Xuan Yu to enter deep meditation and cultivation, not to be affected by the outside world.
He then descended the mountain alone, entering the midst of the hundred thousand soldier formation.
In the main command camp, Wang Liang sat discussing with the Four Symbols Soldiers Master Shang Shaoyang, Gu Yanshan, Gu Ziqian, and Gu Cheng.
Gu Ziqian was a direct descendant of the Gu family, well-versed in both civil and military affairs, yet he never took the talk of demons and monsters in Yunmeng Mountain seriously.
Born in the Sect Martial Mansion, he spent his early years either studying or mingling in military camps. With the fierce aura of soldiers, when had he ever encountered demons?
Any minor demon or spirit would immediately disperse upon encountering the army's aura!
Following his uncle-in-law Shang Shaoyang southward, Gu Ziqian drove the Southern Barbarians six hundred miles back into the Southern Territory, recovering three counties' lost lands in just a few years.
Yet even such achievements didn't earn the Emperor's attention as they did today.
What virtues and capabilities does this so-called Celestial Master possess, to have the Emperor dispatch an elite force of one hundred thousand to aid in Yunmeng Mountain?
And his uncle-in-law Shang Shaoyang, a person of integrity who broke with his family for the people's safety and married into the Gu family, someone whom Gu Ziqian immensely admired, also promptly proposed to the imperial court to bring the Sect Martial Mansion's foundational Four Symbols Soldiers to help.
What achievements does this Celestial Master possess?
It's not only Gu Ziqian who thought this way; many officers in the army also harbored doubts.
Wang Liang surveyed the camp and finally spoke:
"The Celestial Master taught me as well, though I am his poorest student, not even formally initiated into his teachings."
"I understand your thoughts, but I can assure you all, the Celestial Master's talents rival that of Taigong, and the threat of demons is far from simple."
"Everyone must unite with me, harness the fighting spirit we had when we campaigned the Empire for the Emperor, and face this battle head-on!"
"Doing so will show the world that the might of our Dayan Army is unparalleled, even against Immortals, gods, and demons!"
"Report—To the Marshal, there is a person outside claiming to be Mr. Xu requesting an audience."
"Mr.?!"
Wang Liang stood up, surprised and thrilled: "Quickly! Follow me to welcome the Celestial Master!"
Outside the military camp, Xu Qing was observing the changes in the battle formation. As he pondered, a dozen officers suddenly emerged from the main tent behind him.
Then he saw Wang Liang, the Marshal, bow deeply to him, addressing him as 'Celestial Master.'
Simultaneously, Shang Shaoyang, who enjoyed watching the commotion, also followed suit, bowing and chanting Celestial Master.
Xu Qing was momentarily stunned by this unexpected gesture.
"What is this? I am but a humble mountain man, how could I accept such grand courtesy from you generals?"
Seeing the look of shock on Xu Qing's face, Wang Liang felt somewhat speechless.
For when Mr. Xu slapped him in the funeral shop, he certainly wasn't as modest.
Wang Liang intended to invite Xu Qing into the tent for a discussion, but Mr. Xu raised his hand in refusal.
Knowing that there was no place for family in the army, Xu Qing realized he wouldn't feel comfortable entering the tent to interact with the Marshal, and it would be more efficient to explain everything outside the tent.
The matter of the demonic presence at White Cloud Cave was no longer a secret, and Xu Qing made no effort to conceal it. He immediately asked the soldiers to retrieve a branch and began drawing the formation layout of the Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation on the open ground in front of the tent.
"Marshal Wang, generals, this is the Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation, created by King Wen in the past. To unleash the full power of the army, this formation must be used!"
The Nine Palace Eight Trigrams Formation was extremely difficult to master. Xu Qing didn't expect anyone to grasp it fully. He dismantled each critical formation layout of the Nine Palace Eight Trigrams, allowing each general to learn one part.
Wang Liang possessed the talent of a commanding officer, and Shang Shaoyang was also quick-witted. Even Gu Ziqian, who initially viewed Xu Qing with indifference, now focused intently, like a child newly entering school, showing no signs of negligence.