"Heh, just a pack of stray dogs. When Ning Tiance was schemed against by the Zhou Emperor and recalled to the capital all those years ago, why didn't I see you so enraged? Now you've learned to throw your weight around?"
Ling Xiao smiled faintly, but his figure didn't move an inch.
Not even a trace of spiritual fluctuation could be detected around him.
If he wished, he could enter his Domain World at any time to evade Yuan Fei's attack.
"Shut up!!! God Ning is forever the one true God! I won't allow you to insult the War God of our Northern Frontier!!!"
Yuan Fei was furious enough to split his eyes. Even after twenty years apart, Ning Tiance's weight in his heart was still greater than life, greater than imperial power, greater than everything!
He could die on the battlefield, be wrapped in a horsehide shroud, but he would absolutely not tolerate anyone insulting the faith in his heart.
Boom!
Overwhelming spiritual light surged like tidal waves, completely enveloping the void above Ling Xiao's head.
On the ground, divine trees formed rows, mountains crumbled, crashing towards Ling Xiao with an unstoppable force.
But!!!
Just as Yuan Fei's figure appeared three zhang in front of Ling Xiao, the latter suddenly raised his hand, instantly causing Yuan Fei's steps to halt abruptly.
Even the divine trees emerging from the ground strangely froze before Ling Xiao.
"Huh? What's wrong with General Yuan?"
The Great Zhou generals exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes filled with shock.
Then, everyone stared dumbfounded as the Northern Frontier general, who had been furious and indignant just moments ago, suddenly knelt on the ground.
I… Dammit?!
Has the General… switched sides?
How could that be?! I don't believe it!!!
General!! Should I… kneel too?
Instantly, many Northern Frontier soldiers widened their eyes, hesitation appearing on their faces.
"I pay respects to the War God!!"
At that moment, Yuan Fei suddenly shouted loudly, instantly making everyone's expressions stiffen.
War God?
Boom!!
Countless spiritual lights began to howl; overwhelming killing intent circulated.
Yuan Fei!!
You can defect to the enemy! You can cling to life ignobly, abandon your dignity!!
But you!!
Cannot disgrace the words 'War God'!!!
"Why aren't you kneeling? Have you forgotten the glory of the past?"
Ling Xiao's expression was solemn as he looked at the Great Zhou generals.
"Kneel? You think we're all as cowardly and afraid of death as Yuan Fei? Today, even if we die, we will surely kill you…"
Before the generals' voices faded, Ling Xiao gently waved his hand. A stream of light shot out and was caught by the leading general.
"Hmph, young man, no martial virtue, trying to ambush this gener…"
Thud!!
As the Great Zhou soldiers looked on in confusion, the general holding the golden talisman suddenly… knelt again!!
"I pay respects to the War God!!!"
I… Dammit?!
What the hell is going on?
Everyone's faces were filled with utter bewilderment.
Finally, Yuan Fei took a deep breath, looked up at the young man before him, and asked coldly, "Why is the War God Command in your hand?"
"What!! The War God Command?!"
Everyone stepped forward, gathering around the defending general. Looking at the ancient command talisman in his hand, their eyes suddenly widened in the next instant.
"War God!!!"
"Why is it in my hand?"
Ling Xiao raised his head, gazing at the sky, a trace of vicissitude faintly visible in his eyes.
"Do you think, if Ning Tiance hadn't given it to me, I could have snatched it from his hands?"
"But…"
Yuan Fei frowned deeply. Seeing the War God Command was like seeing the War God himself; it could command the Northern Frontier's million elite troops!
How could the War God casually give such an important token to a young man from an enemy dynasty?
"You think I led troops to attack Great Zhou for its cities and territory?"
Ling Xiao shook his head with a disappointed expression. "War God Ning Tiance has been trapped in the Great Zhou capital for twenty years, frequently bullied by the Legitimate Eldest Princess, even watched by Divine Marquises when he goes out! The mighty War God, commander of a million elite troops, undefeated for ten years, now… he's kept like livestock in the capital…"
Boom!!
Upon hearing this, Yuan Fei and the others clenched their fists, the murderous aura around them shooting straight into the clouds, stirring the winds for ten thousand miles.
How could they not know what Ling Xiao said?
But… military orders are like mountains. The War God returned to the capital to fulfill a vow.
They didn't dare act rashly!!
"And you? the mighty iron-blooded war generals, suppressed and humiliated by a dog sent by the Zhou Emperor? How absurd and ridiculous?"
Ling Xiao took a deep breath, golden light seemingly shimmering around him, filled with righteousness.
"I met Big Brother by chance, learned of his circumstances, and my heart aches for him. Today, I lead troops here not for mountains and rivers, but to rescue my Big Brother from his cage, to restore the War God's glory! You can not believe me, you can not cooperate with me. Then I will use the lives of a million Great Zhou beings to celebrate my Big Brother's return!"
Boom!!
This time, not a trace of hesitation or doubt remained on Yuan Fei and the others' faces.
They understood!!
So this young, mysterious Great Xia commander was the War God's sworn brother!!
But… why did he kill the War God's old troops and destroy the mighty Tiance City?
Dammit!
Why? Of course, to temper the demon blade… no, of course, to intimidate the Zhou Emperor!
"I know you must be wondering, since I'm the War God's brother, why I killed his soldiers…"
Ling Xiao sneered, a fierce light flashing in his eyes. "If I didn't do this, how would the Zhou Emperor release him to command troops and resist the enemy?"
"What… you mean…"
As generals, Yuan Fei and the others were naturally sharp-minded. They instantly understood Ling Xiao's meaning.
If Great Zhou's seven passes all fell, the Zhou Emperor would surely panic.
Although there were many Divine Emperors in the court now, the only one who could truly lead armies in battle was Ning Tiance.
Moreover, the Northern Frontier, with its united generals and people, were Ning Tiance's die-hard loyalists.
If someone else came, they certainly couldn't boost morale and turn the situation around…
Brilliant!!
As expected of the War God's sworn brother. Such scheming truly has the style of a commander!!
What does sacrificing tens of thousands of soldiers matter?!
As long as the War God returns, no longer imprisoned and constrained, even if we all die, what does it matter!!
"Gen… War… no, Young Master!! What should we do now?"
The expressions of Yuan Fei and the others had long calmed. The look they gave Ling Xiao was filled with reverence.
If not for this mysterious Young Master's brilliant strategy, they might never have laid eyes on the War God again in this lifetime!!
"Simple. Who in the Northern Frontier is one of us, and who is the Zhou Emperor's person, no one knows better than you, right? From now on, I will lead troops in pursuit, and you abandon cities and retreat. Of course, this process will inevitably cause some casualties. I hope you can understand."
Ling Xiao spoke indifferently. Yuan Fei and the others immediately nodded, wearing expressions of great righteousness. "Understood! Young Master, rest assured. As long as we can welcome God Ning back, we would die without regret."
"However…"
"We are God Ning's soldiers, naturally willing to die for him. But Young Master, it's best if you avoid harming the common people along the way. Otherwise, if God Ning finds out, he will surely be grief-stricken and angry, and blame us."
Yuan Fei pondered for a moment but ultimately spoke coldly.
"Oh?"
Ling Xiao raised an eyebrow slightly, a cold glint suddenly flashing in his eyes.
Although Yuan Fei had no luck, that Dao Principle of Divine Wood… was indeed quite interesting.
Using divine wood to form prisons, imprisoning heaven and earth.
Moreover, he was a Divine Emperor, his Dao Principle nearly mastered…
Wasn't this more appealing than that Vermillion Gold Dao Principle on Xia Feng?
Besides, the latter's mission wasn't complete yet, and Yuan Fei's loyalty wasn't to him.
Currently, Ling Xiao was just one Dao Principle short of gathering nine, and his Heavenly Demon True Form would fully advance to the third transformation.
By then… his strength would surely see greater improvement.
Previously, Ling Xiao hadn't been in a hurry to find Dao Principles and break through to the third transformation because he had some reservations.
Suppressing demonic intent at the Divine General realm was somewhat difficult.
But now he was at the Divine Marquis level. Even if he couldn't completely suppress it, he could just hide in his Domain World to cultivate; he definitely wouldn't expose his identity.
As a villain, if you don't want to die, don't get reckless.
As for Yuan Fei… he needed to find a way to make his death seem natural.
What?
I'm cruel, heartless, inhuman?
Pfft.
I just want to strive to improve my strength, to soon establish a stable, prosperous age for the common people of the Western Frontier!
Sorry, I'm indeed not human. I will be the only Immortal Deity in the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths.
Ding. Host's thoughts align with villainous conduct. Congratulations, Host, on obtaining system reward: 5000 Villain Points.