Chapter 385: Scorching Wait

"Chief, this is Wei Yuning, the chief officer of the Heavenly Fire Kitchen and also the new strategist of the Demon‑Eradication Army; most brothers of the Right‑Path Army know him!" a tall heavenly soldier said.

"Sorry, so it's General Wei!" the short stout heavenly soldier quickly apologized, "I didn't know General Wei had come for what business?"

"Hehe, it's not a big deal. Knowing you're going to fight tough battles, I had the kitchen brothers work day and night to prepare some food to reward you, so you won't lack strength in battle!" Wei Yuning said with a feigned easy smile.

"Delicacies from the Heavenly Fire Kitchen? Ah, that's wonderful, thank you, General Wei!" the short stout heavenly soldier said, eyes squinting with joy.

"Really? That's great! Our Right‑Path brothers were just complaining that they couldn't get Heavenly Fire Kitchen food when out on campaign. I didn't expect General Wei to be so considerate—truly… truly wonderful!" the tall heavenly soldier, excited, began to babble incoherently.

Wei Yuning nodded and smiled, "This time I've prepared plenty of food for you all—enough for at least three months!" He took two spatial rings from a pocket at his waist and handed one to each of the two.

"Besides food, I've also prepared a pill for you all called the Great Strength Pill; in battle it will make you even more valiant, haha!" Wei Yuning took out a small cosmic bag and gave it to the short stout heavenly soldier, "One bottle per person; remember to distribute them later!"

"Great Strength Pill—does it really work?" the short stout heavenly soldier asked doubtfully.

"Of course it works; it's most useful when charging into battle!" Wei Yuning smiled.

After handing out the items, Wei Yuning did not linger; amid the grateful shouts of the heavenly soldiers, he left the Celestial Shuttle.

Once Wei Yuning departed, the heavenly soldiers inside the Celestial Shuttle instantly became excited. They had little interest in the Great Strength Pill; as elite warriors selected from the various armies, they were already fierce and needed no morale‑boosting drugs. Yet, when it came to delicacies, ordinary people could not resist temptation.

The food came in portions, each packed in a bamboo tube about one chi in diameter and two chi tall, weighing roughly thirty‑five jin in total.

After discussion, the heavenly soldiers decided to sample first, opening one portion for every ten men.

After slicing the bamboo tubes with swords, an extremely rich aroma burst forth, making each soldier swallow their saliva.

The scent of meat, vegetables, fruit flesh, and several other indescribable aromas mingled; rather than creating confusion, they formed an indescribable, special food fragrance.

As soon as the food reached each soldier's hand, like wind sweeping away lingering clouds, within ten breaths the soldiers devoured their portions completely.

After eating, the soldiers cast hungry, watchful gazes toward the temporary commander of the Assault Force—the short stout heavenly soldier, Deputy General Chi Yan.

"Brothers, stop eating; we have many days ahead. Save it for when we kill the enemy! If we finish now, I fear no one will have the mind for battle!" Chi Yan, as an officer, unlike ordinary soldiers, must have greater resolve.

The soldiers reluctantly turned their gaze away.

Back at the rear of the plaza, Wei Yuning watched the Celestial Shuttles drift away, feeling a pang of sorrow. The scene seemed familiar; it recalled the time when disciples of the Cloud‑Hidden Sect were sent to foreign battlefields, a similar sight.

Back then over two thousand went, and only a few hundred returned. What about this time?

Di Kun Ju suddenly lost more than half its heavenly soldiers, making the kitchen's work much easier.

Qin Wu felt conflicted; he hoped the heavenly soldiers would fail in battle so he could seize the chaos to return to the Immortal City, yet as a living being he did not wish the Dark Clan to win.

"It would be nice if both sides were wounded!" Though a bit guilty, that was Qin Wu's genuine thought.

With his mind full of concerns, he actually started chatting with the insect cultivator Qiang Du. Qiang Du, being a rather unconventional insect cultivator among cultivators, was not well regarded. Yet after many days together, everyone found Qiang Du no different from ordinary cultivators; on the contrary, he was well‑read and witty, and gradually they treated him as a regular companion.

As they talked, Qin Wu discovered he was not alone in this view. Cultivators from the Heart Sword Sect, female cultivators of the Fragrant Breeze Sect, and several lone cultivators all shared the same sentiment.

Most cultivators under the starry sky cherished freedom, and staying in the regiment's many rules made them quite uncomfortable.

Still, ideas aside, as long as Di Kun Ju remains the heavenly soldiers' garrison, they have no chance to leave for now.

What Qin Wu didn't know was that after chatting, Qiang Du used the insect cultivator's unique messenger sphere to contact Wei Yuning, relaying Qin Wu's thoughts in detail.

After receiving Qiang Du's message, Wei Yuning had a plan; it seemed time to truly prepare a retreat.

This raid by the three immortals had only two possible outcomes: success or failure.

If successful, the Dark Army of the White Realm won't reach this star‑energy convergence point for at least a hundred years, during which the Immortal Realm will surely strengthen defenses; the longer they stay, the harder it will be to leave.

If the mission fails, it's even worse: the Demon‑Eradication Army alone cannot repel the Dark Army's assault, and if they remain here, they might not even be able to leave.

Among all members, even the supposedly steadfast Ji Qiu and others changed their minds.

Having gauged everyone's thoughts, Wei Yuning no longer considered whether to go, but how to depart with dignity.

In a period of scorching waiting, three months passed.

That day, just after the Heavenly Fire Kitchen finished serving lunch, the messenger Zhi Hua, sent by Wan Jun, arrived unannounced. She now regularly treats this place as a fixed free‑meal spot; this hour is truly the Heavenly Fire Kitchen's own dining time.

Wan Jun did not bring her on this campaign; she is now one of several liaisons between front and rear. Currently the entire camp is leaderless; among the generals, the highest rank is only Deputy General, and they lead the old, weak, sick, and disabled left behind in the rear.

The highest‑ranking civil official, Yao Guangyuan, remains aloof, and lower‑rank heavenly soldiers dislike dealing with him.

Thus, if ranks were strictly ordered, Wei Yuning would become the second‑in‑command of the garrison.

Today Zhi Hua was especially excited; she sat at the table and whispered a major piece of news to Wei Yuning.

The raid succeeded; the Yao large‑scale star‑sky teleportation array was destroyed by the three immortals, and the star‑sky messenger birds have already delivered the news to the General's Mansion.

Currently, the Demon‑Eradication Corps is clearing the remnants of the demon‑cult army at each teleportation point between the Yao large‑scale star‑sky array and Di Kun Ju.