Chapter 82: Initial Success (Seeking First Subscription)

He flashed aside with astonishing agility, hiding behind a massive boulder.

Seeing the arrow whistling overhead, his expression changed.

Deng Qian also noticed that the arrow was soaked in black dog blood, with a jet‑black talisman bound to its upper half; the talisman exuded a strong aura of spiritual energy, clearly extraordinary.

"When did the Fengxi County office become so extravagant!"

"Not only do they have cinnabar‑breaking arrows, but also talisman support—could they have encountered the procession of the National Preceptor of the Cavern Spirit Observatory?"

Deng Qian felt somewhat shocked.

No wonder he thought that way.

He had been to many places, had been wanted for crimes, but relying on his techniques, even if pursued by martial artists from the officialdom, he always escaped; yet a situation like today's was something he had never seen before.

At that moment, his peripheral vision swept over the several small paths down the mountain; just a glance at Deng Qian made his heart secretly groan.

The several small paths had been completely sealed off.

This time, escaping would be difficult.

Seeing that the first wave had already suppressed the middle‑aged Daoist, Zhang Jian waved his hand, and immediately dozens of county militia wielding iron‑tooth shields and swords slowly closed in.

Moreover, several divine archers secretly changed position; they were a few retainers of the Zhang family, originally skilled jianghu fighters, who instantly transformed into divine archers, holding talismans, their lethality greatly increased.

Deng Qian narrowed his eyes, a wooden rod appearing in his hand; relying on his connection with the natal spirit ghost within the rod, he could sense the surroundings as clearly as observing fire, but knowing what he knew, he had no way to break the situation.

"Charge forward, save the senior brother!"

But just then, shouts came from behind.

Deng Qian's expression changed; he was about to shout to stop when suddenly a yin wind rose on the mountain, the earth trembled, deep underground came a series of booms, and a terrifying corpse ghost emerged amidst the yin wind and black mist that blocked the scorching sun, charging at the soldiers surrounding Deng Qian.

The foul stench mixed with the bloody wind, causing the soldiers' faces to change and their emotions to panic uncontrollably.

Several soldiers, caught off guard, were flung away by a single swipe of the giant corpse ghost and knocked to the ground.

Fortunately, the iron‑tooth shields protected them; though their tendons and bones were injured, they were not directly killed.

"Listen to my command: first squad, first volley, fire!"

Beside him, Zhang Lu swiftly entered combat mode; shouting from his horse, he commanded, and the soldiers behind steadied their minds, instinctively drawing and loosing arrows in one smooth motion—dozens of red streaks of light shot through the air and pierced the towering corpse ghost.

Crackle—pop!

As if a dozen firecrackers went off.

Accompanied by a mournful horn blast, countless green blood dripped from the wounded spots of the towering corpse ghost; beneath its surface, dozens of continuous explosions erupted, instantly shattering it into fragments that burst apart.

That was the power of the Purifying Soul Spell!

As that corpse ghost was shot down, one of the Daoists coming from behind suddenly changed expression and collapsed silently to the ground.

"Sixth Junior Brother!"

Seeing this, the other Daoists' expressions shifted dramatically.

"Wood Ghost Soul Seizure, kill!"

The tall, lanky second senior brother was the most ferocious; behind him, a hunting banner fluttered—a green banner bearing a one‑horned ghost head that came alive, swooping out in the yin wind like a beast seeking prey.

As it flew out, it actually sank into the undergrowth beneath their feet; instantly, seven or eight thick vines as wide as wrists burst from the earth like pythons, sweeping toward the crowd.

In an instant, the few soldiers nearest the front were seized by the serpent‑like vines and flung into the air.

Zhang Jian saw this, gave a faint cold snort; with a flick of his finger, his Wind Travel Technique formed a symbol, turning into a stream of light that fell on the flung soldiers, lightening their weight to prevent them from falling to their deaths.

These elite troops are the seedlings of the Zhang Clan Army!

They must not be lost lightly!

His vast divine sense swept out, and his keen divine sense instantly locked onto a faint wood‑ghost qi on a nearby vine.

He signaled to Zhang Lu beside him and pointed to the wood ghost's hiding place.

"Second squad, Wind and Thunder Squad, advance!"

As his words fell, five men in red undergarments and iron armor stepped forward.

Zhang Lu gave a slight wave and shouted loudly.

"Fire!"

Several archers instantly nocked and drew their bows.

Upon hearing the order, the five archers locked onto their targets and loosed an arrow each.

The five arrows shot through the roadside tree like streams of light.

Boom—rumble!

At that moment, it was as if heavenly thunder descended; another five thin crimson lightning bolts tore the sky, crashing onto the great tree, within which a faint scream could be heard; instantly, the Daoist preparing to aid Deng Qian, who had been radiating divine might, widened his eyes and collapsed straight to the ground.

"Ghost‑Raising Technique!"

Immediately, Zhang Jian watched this scene, his eyes flickering slightly.

The Ghost‑Raising Technique usually refers to left‑path cultivators who nurture their natal spirit ghost; they share weal and woe with it, making them highly prone to backlash.

His Breaker Squad truly is the nemesis of these people.

Those talismans differ from others, relying on passive activation.

Only those bearing yin energy, or demons and monsters, can trigger them passively.

If it is an ordinary mortal's flesh‑and‑blood body, those talismans are ineffective; one can only rely on the sharpness of the cinnabar‑breaking arrow itself, but that sharpness inflicts limited harm on a cultivator.

"Second Senior Brother!"

On the other side, seeing that only two volleys had been fired, two of their own had already fallen; the remaining four Daoists, angry and resentful, hurried to find shelter from the arrow rain, daring no longer to clash head‑on with the soldiers' arrows.

Deng Qian's eyes reddened; this time he also abandoned the idea of surrender.

Two of his fellow disciples had already died, stirring the hatred in his heart.

He immediately turned to the few fellow disciples behind the rock wall, speaking in the hometown dialect of Shanyang Commandery, and shouted loudly: "Third Junior Brother, you cover us; Fourth Junior Brother, you control the Great Strength God Demon to move the boulders—let us carve a bloody path out!"

"……"

As soon as he heard the middle-aged Daoist shout loudly, Zhang Jian felt strange, thinking that if he used his hometown dialect, the man wouldn't hear clearly.

He immediately extended his divine sense, signaling the few archers in position to change their positions again.

Those few divine archers, upon hearing the command, immediately shifted their positions again; moments later, as a few miserable cries rang out, the figures that had just leapt out instantly became tragic targets.

The arrows failed to pierce the bodies, each one lamenting in the mountains.

Zhang Jian merely gazed indifferently at the scene, but deep down he still had some thoughts.

In this expedition to suppress the bandits, he also discovered several problems: the way orders were transmitted in the army was still too primitive, relying entirely on legs and shouting, which easily revealed one's intentions and position.

Zhang Jian felt somewhat helpless; he knew that at this time he should establish corresponding hand signals and flag signals, which could effectively avoid such problems.

It's a pity that in his previous life he was unlearned and ignorant, knowing only to seek novelty.

Now he clearly knows those things are treasures, yet he cannot use them, and still spends a great deal of energy to practice and create.

Zhang Jian felt some sigh; the elite forces were just beginning to form, and to cultivate a hundred-battle elite army, the Zhang family still needed to spend a lot of silver.