Chapter 336 — Two Generations of Shadow Thief Masters

When Lame Elder and Shen Mu walked out of Qingmen Pass, many of the great generals within the pass frowned deeply. Bian Zhenyun hastily sought the Jingping Imperial Preceptor's guidance, but the Jingping Imperial Preceptor shook his head and said, "There is no need to aid them. With that Lame Elder present, no one can kill Sect Master Shen."

"Lame Elder?" Everyone turned to look at him. The old man had sound limbs and walked briskly—where was he lame?

"Lame in heart."

The Jingping Imperial Preceptor's expression turned somewhat grim. "Lame in conduct, crooked in body and shadow, lame in heart and mind. Say no more of him. Shan Youxin, how many Shenxiao Rings have the Ministry of Works and the Grand Academy refined?"

"Fourteen thousand have been refined."

Shan Youxin said, "They have already been loaded onto the True Essence Cannons. In another day, the remaining several thousand can be refined, and then we may attack the enemy camp."

The Jingping Imperial Preceptor gazed at the towering pass opposite and said calmly, "There is no need to wait another day. Pass the order to every army: prepare to march at once. Tower ships, open formation—push straight through! General Bian, Grand Commandant, General Who Supports the State, General of Agile Cavalry, Supreme Pillar of State, Duke of Weiguo, Pillar of State General, Champion General, General Who Cherishes Civilization!"

He called their names one by one, and one after another the generals of Jingping stepped forward to await his orders.

Following the rebellion of the former Crown Prince Ling Yuxia, the officials of Ling Yuxia's faction had been purged clean. But Jingping was, after all, a land blessed with outstanding talent; the emperor had promoted many new officials to take up the posts, and there was no gap between old and new.

The Jingping Imperial Preceptor said in a deep voice, "Mobilize the armies behind the pass. They will follow behind the tower ships; the tower ships will open formation, and the great army behind will sweep clean. As for you, keep your eyes fixed on the enemy's Spirit Bridge and Life-and-Death realm masters, and be ready to strike them down at any moment!"

The generals felt a chill in their hearts. The Duke of Weiguo said, "Jingping Imperial Preceptor, Sect Master Shen is still at the front. If we attack rashly, I fear the enemy will strike at Sect Master Shen."

The Jingping Imperial Preceptor smiled. "The moment he retreats—that is when we attack. There is no need to worry for his safety. And with that Lame Elder at his side, there are few in this world who can harm him."

Bian Zhenyun said, "Who will command the tower ships?"

The tower ships had originally been dispersed among the various armies, commanded and maneuvered by each army's generals. Now that the Jingping Imperial Preceptor had changed tactics and would use all the tower ships to clear the way, a separate army had to be established—one led by a powerful expert skilled in storming strongholds, capable of commanding the tower ships one by one to meet the ever-shifting tides of the battlefield.

The Jingping Imperial Preceptor's eyes flickered. He said in a deep voice, "Summon the mid-ranking officers of every army! And have all the Grand Academy's students come as well!"

A short while later, several hundred mid-ranking officers and numerous Grand Academy students hurried over.

"Two hundred and forty-five tower ships—equivalent to two hundred and forty-five flying swords."

The Jingping Imperial Preceptor swept his gaze around and said in a deep voice, "Those skilled in sword arts, those capable of wielding two hundred and forty-five flying swords at once—step forward."

More than fifty from among the mid-ranking officers and Grand Academy students stepped forward.

The Jingping Imperial Preceptor's vital essence erupted, transforming into flying swords that circled his body. "Attack me. Whoever breaks through my sword formation and lands a strike on my body shall be the new army's commander!"

Hearing this, the fifty-plus experts each unleashed their sword arts and attacked the Jingping Imperial Preceptor. In an instant, countless sword lights whirled at flying speed, and the clang and clash of collisions rang out in dense succession!

The Jingping Imperial Preceptor stood motionless, his mind directing countless sword lights to block every attack from these fifty-plus generals and Grand Academy students.

Suddenly, a general was struck in the chest by a sword, though the Jingping Imperial Preceptor's sword light did not wound him. The general immediately withdrew.

After a while, one after another was struck and withdrew, until only a dozen or so sword masters remained on the attack.

The Duke of Weiguo, Bian Zhenyun, and the others watched this scene and silently marveled. Those remaining dozen or so were the most outstanding in sword arts, their attainments at the level of masters—their only lack was cultivation.

Jingping's talent flourished generation after generation—a heartening sight.

After another while, only three remained of the dozen, still attacking the Jingping Imperial Preceptor. Suddenly a sword-sun burst forth, red light like fire, illuminating the surroundings with dazzling brilliance. A sword light thrust out from the red sun, pierced through the Jingping Imperial Preceptor's sword defense, and punched a small hole in the hem of his robe.

The Jingping Imperial Preceptor raised his hand to stop the three and looked at the one who had pierced his robe. "A student of Hanguang Hall?"

Yuyuan Chuyun bowed and said, "Jingping Imperial Preceptor."

The Jingping Imperial Preceptor smiled. "Jian Sansheng, you shall be the new army's commander. Yuyuan Chuyun, you shall be the new army's vice-commander. I give you half an hour to familiarize yourselves with the names of each ship's captain and the ship numbers. Memorize them all. Remember: when commanding the tower ships, do not think of them as tower ships—think of them as your flying swords!"

The Jingping Imperial Preceptor pointed at the towering pass opposite. "Level Helan Pass to the ground!"

Meanwhile, Shen Mu and Lame Elder had already arrived at the Duck Tongue region.

"Shen Gongcuo, have you been well?" Shen Mu called out with a laugh.

Ban Gongcuo smiled slightly and said, glancing around at those beside him, "Luandi Khan, this is the Nether Demon Sect Master. Not much of a figure who can unleash a sea of swords, is he?"

Behind him, Luandi Khan's gaze flashed like lightning toward Shen Mu. He said in a deep voice, "It was this youth. When he came to the battlefield, the terrifying sword art that erupted from him was suffocating."

Shen Mu looked behind Ban Gongcuo and was slightly taken aback.

Behind Ban Gongcuo followed the various khans of the steppe, as well as the Witch King of the Loulan Golden Palace—but one among them drew the eye above all.

"The steppe's overlord, Luandi Khan!" Shen Mu felt the fire-like, predatory gaze of Luandi Khan and at once guessed his identity.

In years past, the Witch Venerable himself had bestowed the title of khan upon this man. Luandi Khan meant "the world's finest archer," and his tribe was also master of horse and bow. From that time, Luandi Khan rose from the steppe, his power growing ever greater.

Luandi Khan's martial might was absolutely of the highest order—he was far more than a mere archer. Back then, when Shen Mu and the Bashan Libationer had seen Ban Gongcuo on this pass's tower before he was possessed, Ban Gongcuo's fist art had made both Shen Mu and the Bashan Libationer look at him with new eyes.

And at that time, the source of Ban Gongcuo's fist art had been Luandi Khan. It was clear that his combat prowess was not limited to the bow and arrow.