Chapter 195: Can Fate Be Changed? A Strange Encounter in the Flame Mountains!

"Commandant, I volunteer to go!" Long Xiao was the first to stand up.

"Commandant, I also volunteer to go!" Chen Shijie followed closely behind.

"Fire Camp Commander Zhang Lie requests to join the battle!"

"Earth Camp Commander Xu Quan requests to join the battle!"

"..."

As soon as Liao Liao Rulong spoke, numerous commanders stood up.

After preparing for so long, these commanders were all pent up.

It must be known that it is now mid-September.

Since July, the entire Pingman battlefield had been in a state of consolidation, but in August, the four powerful armies from the north—the Hu Jiao Army, the Xuan Jia Army, the Zao Yuan Army, and the Dan Xia Army—had already struck at the northern defensive line of the Fire Demon Tribe.

On the west, the Divine Thunder Army led by Lu Yuanwei had pierced Yang Qilin's first defensive line more than a month ago.

Both fronts were fighting fiercely, yet the eighteen armies on the east had made no progress whatsoever.

No battles meant no merit.

The Ministry of Agriculture officials and the Artificers could still perform logistical tasks, but for them, the martial artists, there was absolutely nothing.

Wasn't it no wonder they were pent up?

Now that they were finally going to strike at the Fire Dragon Pass, naturally everyone eagerly volunteered to fight.

Zhao Xing also stood up to request battle.

Although cultivating the Earth Fire Lotus had earned him considerable merit, it had also wasted a great deal of time in between; besides, who would ever complain about having too much merit?

"Good!" Liao Liao Rulong also stood up. "Everyone's courage is commendable; why worry about not taking the Fire Dragon Pass?"

"Chen Shijie, Long Xiao, Xu Quan, Zhang Lie, Gao Jue."

Liao Liao Rulong named five people.

"You five go and select your elite subordinates to form the vanguard camp for this mission."

"The camp commander shall be Chen Shijie!"

"Each camp must leave one deputy official behind; the selected personnel must not be below the eighth rank."

"Submit the list before the Hour of Wei; depart at the third quarter of the Hour of Xu."

"You will cross through the Seven Inches Valley of the Flame Mountain Range, then lie in ambush nearby."

"Once the battle outside the pass begins, seize the pass."

"Yes!" the four immediately responded.

Liao Liao Rulong gathered these people to discuss matters; naturally, those who participated in the discussion were already the personnel of this vanguard camp.

However, some people were still not assigned by Liao Liao Rulong; he had kept at least two deputy generals from the original Long Xing Camp, Nine Joints Camp, Five Elements Camp, and Divine Mechanism Camp in their original tents.

This vanguard camp consisted of elites drawn from eight camps.

After the secret meeting ended, Chen Shijie called Zhao Xing over.

Because after Zhao Xing transferred from City No. 92, he became Old Chen's deputy official; he was now a seventh-rank Nine Joints Commander, no longer a seventh-rank Equalization Commissioner.

"This time we will fight a hard battle; Long Xiao will also lead his own camp, so there will be no one specifically assigned to protect you."

"The danger of the mission is not low either; the Fire Dragon Pass has many barbarian experts. We cannot bring many divine weapons and treasures across the mountain this time. If you are unwilling to go, I can strike your name from the list," Chen Shijie said bluntly.

"You cultivated a fifth-rank Earth Fire Lotus; even if you stay in Zhiyou City after this conquest of the Fire Dragon Pass, your merit will not be lacking."

Zhao Xing knew Chen Shijie was doing this for his own good, not looking down on him.

But how could he retreat at this moment?

"No need to worry about me," Zhao Xing smiled. "Don't look at me being famous for farming abilities these past few months; I am also very capable in a fight."

"Of my nine high-level arts, only 【Instant Origin】 is a proper farming method; the other eight arts are for fighting."

Chen Shijie chuckled lightly. "I almost overlooked that point."

Indeed, Zhao Xing knew nine high-level arts!

Strictly speaking, the Volcano Art was not used for farming, but for controlling volcanoes to kill enemies.

It just so happened that the Earth Fire Lotus, such a strange object, required a severe flame environment.

Thus, the Volcano Art became a farming art.

The others, like 'Teng Snake Transformation', 'Dripping Rain', 'Yin Wind's Evil', 'Earth Evil Thunder', 'Lei Ting Breaks Delusion Finger', 'Startling Thunder Awaiting Change', and 'Five Elements Mist Concealment', could all be used to kill enemies.

Even the Startling Thunder Awaiting Change Art, although it could be used to cultivate strange beasts, depended on how it was used; if applied to enemy strange beasts, it could also be a damaging art!

"You are worried this is my first time on the battlefield," Zhao Xing said. "There is absolutely no need; I killed people back in Gucheng, and before, when we infiltrated the Fire Dragon Pass, we had seen blood."

"Although this time the scale is larger, you need not worry about me."

Chen Shijie did not drag things out and immediately said, "Good."

"However, for safety's sake, you should still take the Mountain Cat with you."

"Ao Tian?" Zhao Xing asked. "Can it manage?"

Chen Shijie asked strangely, "Do you look down on the Mountain Cat?"

"Now the Mountain Cat has reached the peak of the Earth Evil Realm; honestly, in an ambush battle, I might not even be able to defeat it."

"Huh?" Zhao Xing truly did not know; he had always practiced a free-range policy with the Mountain Cat.

Master Zhao himself was very busy cultivating, had little time to play with cats, and raised the Mountain Cat purely as a pet for amusement.

In his previous life, he had seen many powerful strange beasts.

In Master Zhao's mind, a beast used as a war pet had to be a strange beast born from the Millennium Awaiting Change.

Such as Kun Peng, Xuan Niao, and the like.

He never expected Chen Shijie to evaluate the Mountain Cat so highly.

Chen Shijie said, "While you were farming in City No. 92, the Mountain Cat mostly followed Long Xiao."

"A mountain cat has been to battle more times than you!"

"And during these few months you've been farming, what kind of people has the mountain cat been sparring with in daily training?"

"I, Long Xiao, Yu Ziqi, and even Liao Liao Rulong and Pu Zhong have occasionally sparred with it for fun."

Chen Shijie smiled: "If you don't believe me, go fight the mountain cat yourself and see the results."

Zhao Xing asked, "Where is it now?"

Chen Shijie said, "I previously had Long Xiao place it on the Weaving Law Tower Ship to have a cat-sized Fire-Aversion Law Robe custom-made for it, just waiting for your return so you could use it."

"I estimate it's nearly finished now; go ask and you'll know."

Outside the Weaving Law Tower Ship.

Seeing Zhao Xing's arrival, Che Shihai couldn't help but wink and grin: "Yo, boss, what brings you here?"

"Aren't you ambitious for the four corners of the world and unconcerned with such romantic trifles?"

"Have you stirred your mortal heart too? Did you arrange a meeting with some Weaver Girl?"

Zhao Xing looked at Che Shihai: "Get lost! I'm here for serious business. You brat, stay away from Han Bing; your lewd talk is getting worse and worse."

"Hehe. I get it, I get it." Che Shihai flashed a lecherous smile and walked away.

Zhao Xing took out a jade tablet, infused a wisp of Yuan Qi into it, and immediately a beam of light shot from the tablet into the Weaving Law Tower Ship.

Soon, a plain figure flew down from the tower ship.

"My Lord Tu," Zhao Xing bowed his hands toward the figure.

"My Lord Zhao," Tu Yao returned the greeting in a gentle voice. "Please follow me."

As soon as the two met, a round of teasing came from not far away.

"My Lord Zhao, your taste is excellent; this is Lord Huang's favorite disciple!"

"Miss Tu, My Lord Zhao is the youngest genius Farmer-Official in our Divine Might Army!"

"Ah~"

Zhao Xing glared fiercely at Che Shihai; that rascal was shouting nonsense there. He would definitely give him a thorough beating when they returned.

Tu Yao's face turned slightly red, seeming unaccustomed to such scenes: "My Lord Zhao, please follow me."

Zhao Xing nodded and followed behind Tu Yao.

The Weaving Law Tower Ship was specially dispatched by the Military Realm to craft Law Robes for the various armies.

Their duties were somewhat similar to the Transport Bureau, yet different from the Transport Bureau.

Because the demand for custom Law Robes was not great, they were only useful during certain periods.

Of course, some powerful armies were assigned a Weaving Law Tower Ship to follow them, but the Divine Might Army lacked the resources for that.

Among the Five Great Caverns, only the Zhao Shi Army and the Huan You Army possessed an exclusive Weaving Law Tower Ship.

For the remaining armies, if there was a need, they used such publicly assigned Weaving Law Warships.

Generally, only armies under a King's command would have a Weaving Law Warship, and also a Music and Dance Tower Ship.

Zhao Xing sized up Tu Yao; she was dressed quite simply.

At this moment, her long hair was pinned up, adorned on her head only by a single vermilion hairpin.

Her Law Robe was a seventh-grade Weaver Girl's Cloud-White Common Robe, with a golden silk sash tied at her waist, bearing a seventh-grade Green Ribbon Silver Seal.

The interior decoration of the Weaving Law Tower Ship was not gorgeous; although many Weaver Girls came and went, it did not give him the feeling of entering a Spider Cave, but rather possessed a dignified and grand beauty.

In a short while, Tu Yao led Zhao Xing to a spacious room.

"My Lord Zhao, previously Lord Long had a exclusive Law Robe custom-made for your battle pet."

"My teacher then assigned this task to me."

"Since it required a custom fit, it was kept on the tower ship. We had planned to send it down today, but unexpectedly My Lord Zhao arrived early."

Zhao Xing bowed his hands: "Trouble you, My Lord Tu. I hope the Mountain Cat did not cause you any trouble."

Tu Yao shook her head slightly: "No, it was very well-behaved and very cooperative during the making of the Law Robe."

"I just don't know what its name is?"

"Ahem, Long Aotian."

"... Good name." Tu Yao offered a forced compliment.

Indeed, this sounded like a name a general could choose.

"Meow~"

Hearing the conversation, the Mountain Cat darted out from behind the door curtain.

It ran to Tu Yao's feet and rubbed against her, looking utterly lazy.

The Mountain Cat's fur was originally a mix of gray and black, with a purple stripe running from its forehead through to its tail.

But now it had become a 'Red Cat'; except for its eyes, ears, mouth, and nose which were exposed, the rest was wrapped up, looking quite festive.

After rubbing against Tu Yao, it opened its mouth, seemingly waiting to be fed.

Upon raising its head, it saw Zhao Xing.

The Mountain Cat was clearly stunned, then shrank back two steps in a furtive manner.

Zhao Xing snorted, "You lustful cat, actually enjoying yourself here."

"My Lord Zhao, I wonder if you are satisfied with this set of Law Robe?" Tu Yao asked.

"Satisfied." Zhao Xing bowed his hands, "Thank you, My Lord Tu."

"Aotian, we should go."

Zhao Xing called out, and only then did Long Aotian step away from Tu Yao's feet.

Seeing that Zhao Xing had no intention of sitting down, Tu Yao stood up and escorted Zhao Xing and Long Aotian off the ship.

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"My Lord Tu, farewell."

"Farewell."

Zhao Xing got off the boat without looking back.

"Yao Yao, who was that person? You even personally escorted him." A Weaver passed by and asked Tu Yao.

"Zhao Xing, the Ninth Section Commander of the Divine Might Army," Tu Yao said, "It is said that these Earth Fire Lotuses were planted by him."

"Ah, it was him?" The Weaver was obviously excited. "I have heard this name many times recently; I have only heard of him but never seen him. Such a talented young man, why did you not invite him to sit a while longer?"

"That depends on whether he is willing," Tu Yao said helplessly, shaking her head. "He took the Dharma Robe and got off the boat."

Below the boat, Che Shihai ran over eagerly and asked:

"Boss, why did you come down so quickly? That's too fast!"

"Want to know? Then come with me." Zhao Xing narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Ah? Boss, did you hear that I..." Che Shihai instinctively stepped back half a pace.

Without a word, Zhao Xing grabbed Che Shihai by the neck, lifted him up, and soared through the clouds, bringing Shan Mao and Che Shihai to the training ground.

"Boss, what are we doing at the training ground?" Che Shihai had a bad feeling.

"Didn't you want to know what I went to the Weaver Dharma Pavilion Ship for?" Zhao Xing said with a half-smile, "Now I will let you know."

"Boss, I suddenly remember there are some matters to attend to in the camp; I will go first..." Che Shihai instinctively wanted to soar away on clouds to escape.

"Ao Tian, beat him!" Zhao Xing immediately ordered Shan Mao.

"Whoosh~" Shan Mao immediately pounced on Che Shihai.

"Bang!" Che Shihai had just soared on clouds and flown only two meters before he was knocked to the ground by a fiery red shadow.

"Cough... cough..." Che Shihai flew out dozens of meters directly and lay on the ground coughing incessantly.

"Don't pretend to be dead, get up," Zhao Xing said.

"Boss, please don't," Che Shihai said pitifully, "I know I was wrong."

"Do you know where you were wrong?"

"I should not have led people to make a scene."

"Weavers are official positions; how could you make a scene like a hooligan in front of a brothel? Knowing you were wrong and still doing it! Shan Mao, hit!"

Shan Mao pounced like lightning, and with another "Bang," kicked Che Shihai back like a ball.

"Do you know where you were wrong?"

"Boss, was what I said just now not right? Then I... don't know?" Che Shihai looked up cautiously.

"Don't know? Today I will let you know! Shan Mao, hit!"

"..."

Che Shihai finally understood; this beating today was unavoidable.

Zhao Xing said, "I observe that you have not undergone combat training for some time; today I will use Shan Mao as your sparring partner."

"Boss, then I will really fight back," Che Shihai got up again, a hint of battle intent flashing in his eyes.

"Use your full strength; do not fear injuring it; you do not have the power to do so yet."

"Do not have the power?" Che Shihai's battle intent rose high: "It is just a mountain cat; I am a genius Military Agriculture Official trained in the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven Grade A training!"

"Boss, you said it yourself!"

Che Shihai's figure became illusory; a green wind surrounded him, as if he had disappeared.

Subsequently, a cloud layer of a thousand li in all directions appeared above the training ground.

"Boom-Crack!"

Lei Ting struck down at Shan Mao.

Grounded Thunder Array!

In an instant, Shan Mao was bathed in Lei Ting.

"Meow-wooo!"

Ao Tian the cat moved like a nimble dancer, darting forward within the Lei Ting; all the lightning was dodged by it.

Those that could not be dodged were repelled by the purple light on Shan Mao's back.

"What?!"

Seeing this, Che Shihai was greatly shocked and immediately wanted to retreat.

However, before he could cast a spell, a tremendous force struck his chest.

"Bang!"

The clouds dispersed and the wind scattered; Che Shihai was knocked flying again.

Shan Mao lightly jumped over Che Shihai's chest; as it jumped over, it turned its head and flicked its tail at Che Shihai, knocking Che Shihai, who had just started to rise, back to the ground.

"Meow~"

As it jumped over, Shan Mao looked back once.

It seemed to say, a genius of the Ten Yang Grotto-Heaven, is that all?

"Shan Mao is quite strong," Zhao Xing saw this scene and was secretly shocked.

Che Shihai is now in the Seventh Grade Earth Fiend Realm; he is not weak.

But facing Shan Mao, he was still completely powerless.

"Shan Mao is originally a spiritual and exquisite strange species; after being fed multiple times by Long Xiao and Chen Shijie, it has climbed to the perfection of the Earth Fiend Realm. Its talents, 【Divine Speed】 and 【Nine Heals】, have further strengthened as it entered the growth period."

"Usually its sparring opponents are geniuses like Long Xiao and Chen Shijie; the secret techniques 'Thunder Splitting Sky Claw' and 'Wind-Riding Nine-Step Stomp' have both undergone transformation; with the support of the talent Divine Speed, they are comparable to high-grade Wu Ji."

Long Xiao also dotes on Shan Mao; now Shan Mao's strength has exceeded Zhao Xing's expectations.

Strange species are hard to cultivate, but if cultivated, their combat power is also astonishing!

Just a moment ago, Zhao Xing estimated that the mountain cat's speed had already surpassed the limit of the "One Cry Speed."

The talent 【Divine Speed】 brought the mountain cat's speed to a staggering degree; under this talent's support, the Wu Ji the mountain cat unleashed possessed shocking power.

"With the mountain cat for close combat, I enter the Flame Mountain with an extra layer of safety; Old Chen and Long Xiao truly have thought of everything."

Submit the roster at Wei hour; depart at three-quarters of Xu hour.

The three-thousand-person column crossed over from 【Seven-Inch Valley】, located a hundred li outside the Fire Dragon Pass.

The Flame Mountain Range to the east resembles a dragon shape, which is why the Fire Dragon Pass bears its name.

Apart from the Fire Dragon Pass, the place named 【Seven-Inch Valley】 by Liao Liao Rulong is the relatively narrow section of the mountain range.

When the three thousand arrived twenty li before Seven-Inch Valley, the sky had already brightened.

By the time they reached ten li, the sky was completely illuminated by this Flame Mountain Range.

"The never-extinguishing Flame Mountain Range." Zhao Xing looked at the distant line of mountains, coiled like a fire dragon upon the earth. "Legend says the Flame Mountain Range was a Fire Dragon King raised by the Divine Court in the ancient era; after being punished and cast down to the human world, it fell into the territory of the Fire Demon Clan."

"The Fire Demon Clan's totem is also a fire dragon, but this evil dragon refused discipline; after being punished and cast down, it continued to wreak havoc on the human world, becoming a demon dragon."

"Eventually, the Divine Court descended heavenly punishment to kill it; its corpse transformed into the Flame Mountain Range."

The Flame Mountain Range is rarely patrolled because it is cruel to enemies and equally cruel to its own people.

Only after passing the Fire Dragon Pass do large-scale patrol teams appear.

Of course, it is wartime now; who knows if some sixth or seventh-grade Fire Demon Clan experts might be patrolling within the Flame Mountains.

Therefore, the three thousand entered the mountains quietly in batches, and all proceeded only by foot.

"Sizzle~"

Without warning, a one-meter-high flame erupted from a rock crevice.

The flame formed a line, blooming like flowers within the valley.

Just as the flame was about to surge higher, a military boot suddenly stepped onto the crevice opening.

"Hush~" The flame instantly vanished.

The military boot moved away, and the fiery tongue erupted again.

However, another military boot immediately stepped on top of it.

"Hush~" "Sizzle~"

The valley constantly emitted the sound of burning flames; in this forbidden human land, an army was now advancing.

Zhao Xing stood on a rock, watching the path ahead, waiting for the army to pass.

"Meow!" Aotian Miao suddenly roared.

Zhao Xing looked down; it had taken advantage of Long Xiao's military boot moving away from the crevice opening and couldn't resist leaning over to lick the erupting flame with its tongue.

"This unlucky child." Zhao Xing pushed the mountain cat away. "Why do you want to taste everything?"

Shortly after, a figure leaped over from the distance, appearing before Zhao Xing; it was Long Xiao: "How is the rear guard? Any situations?"

Zhao Xing shook his head: "No discoveries. Even if there are Mountain Patrol Envoys, they shouldn't discover us this quickly; we have only just entered the mountains."

Long Xiao said: "Still be careful. In this place, the other soldiers cannot easily act; only seventh-grade Commander-level figures can fight."

"The Soldier Flag Battle Formation cannot be deployed here either."

"If we encounter a Mountain Patrol Envoy, it will be very troublesome."

Zhao Xing said: "Generally, there is only one sixth-grade Mountain Patrol Envoy per hundred li; my luck has always been very good."

Long Xiao nodded: "This ghost place is too hot; even if I exert my full strength, I can last at most a quarter-hour."

Zhao Xing said: "It is not purely due to the heat; the fire veins of the Flame Mountain Range have nearly reached the level of the True Lord of Departed Fire Dao."

"In history, a first-grade Minister of Agriculture once attempted to extinguish the Flame Mountain, but ultimately failed." "So terrifying?" Long Xiao asked in surprise.

"However, its area is large enough, effectively spreading out the power. We are also wearing magical robes made of Earth-Fire Lotus; this Earth-Fire Lotus itself belongs to a part of the Flame Mountain Range. Such fifth-grade rare treasures, born within the Flame Mountain Range, possess unique enhancement effects."

"Enough, stop talking; conserve your strength. If we get thirsty here, we cannot replenish water." Zhao Xing said.

The three-thousand-person army moved relatively slowly, and within the Flame Mountain Range, 【Seven-Inch Valley】 totals fifty kilometers in length; one hour after entering the mountains, they had managed to walk only one-tenth of the distance.

"Ah!" Suddenly, an eighth-grade martial artist cried out in agony, causing Zhao Xing to stop.

"What happened?"

"Someone has been burned."

"Where is the military doctor?!" Zhao Xing shouted in a low voice, "Come look immediately."

"Cannot be saved." A sixth-grade military doctor ran over, took one look, and pronounced the death sentence for this eighth-grade martial artist. "The fire poison instantly attacked the heart."

"How did this happen?" Zhao Xing looked at the teammate beside this person.

"While climbing, he happened to touch an extremely thin wisp of flame, which sprayed into his mouth."

Zhao Xing sighed; this was purely a matter of luck.

The magical robes made of Earth-Fire Lotus were merely just enough to protect people for passage; they only met the threshold for passage.

When earth-fire erupts, its power sometimes suddenly increases; if directly struck by the eruption on a fragile part of the magical robe, it still cannot withstand it.

Zhao Xing wore a fifth-grade supreme-quality Earth-Fire Lotus magical robe, but this eighth-grade martial artist wore only a fifth-grade inferior-quality one; there was no way around it. Even if he and Dong He worked themselves to death, they could not produce enough fifth-grade supreme-quality materials.

It was destined that only high-ranking officers could wear somewhat better magical robes.

"You cannot survive; I will send you on your way now, and you will suffer less pain." The military doctor squatted down, drew out a needle, and looked at this martial artist.

The latter could no longer speak, only nodding his head.

"Hiss~"

The needle pierced the injured person's neck, instantly ending his life.

The military doctor stood up: "Commander Zhao, let the brothers be more careful."

Zhao Xing silently nodded.

The camp moved forward another ten kilometers in gloomy silence.

Although utmost caution was exercised, casualties still occurred during this process.

The small squads, each composed of three thousand men, all suffered varying degrees of accidents while passing through.

By the halfway point of the journey, thirty-five deaths had already occurred.

Among them was even a seventh-rank martial artist.

Once injured in the Flame Mountain Range, death is practically certain.

There is no way to save them; removing the magical robe means death.

By the halfway point, the rear main force under Zhao Xing's command, totaling five hundred men, had lost only one person.

But under the other commanders, several people had died.

Suddenly—

Another accident occurred.

Zhao Xing rushed over and saw Chen Shijie standing before a crack with a face ashen as iron, his fists clenched.

"What happened?"

"Someone in the vanguard's front squad accidentally stepped on a fragile section. After the collapse, the entire ten-man team was swallowed by the thick fire veins," Long Xiao said in a low voice. "This is the twenty-first death under Old Chen's command."

Zhao Xing frowned; Old Chen's luck was simply too bad.

"Has his luck always been this bad?"

Long Xiao thought carefully, then nodded: "I faced two life-or-death crises ten years ago, both with Old Chen. But logically, since he has had his fortune blessed three times, it shouldn't be this bad now."

Zhao Xing's heart gave a sudden thump.

Fate and fortune are separate; if Old Chen's life path is fraught with misfortune, the fortune gained merely by advancing from the ninth rank to the seventh rank cannot solve much.

Moreover, he is currently shouldering command over three thousand men; this sixth-rank camp general position is temporary, not a truly granted sixth-rank official post.

If Chen Shijie is the type with a weak innate fate and poor fortune, he cannot currently bear the destiny of three thousand men; this burden is even greater for him!

That is why the main generals who hold command over hundreds of thousands of troops are almost all people with abundant fortune and blessings.

It is said that when one enters a dangerous place, their fortune wanes even more.

Zhao Xing currently possesses the Third Derivation Fortune; if he were to run to the Wang Ting of Jin Yu, he would be courting death, placing himself in a dangerous place, causing his fortune to fluctuate and temporarily drop to the First Derivation.

They are currently inside the Flame Mountains; for Chen Shijie, it is very possible his current fortune has already dropped to a dangerous level.

If only Old Chen had a panel, he could perceive it directly; unfortunately, he does not.

Recalling Old Chen's fate during the Great Campaign against the Man, Zhao Xing immediately pulled Chen Shijie back from the edge of the ground fissure.

"What are you staring at!"

Chen Shijie looked at his own hands, somewhat bewildered: "Do you think they died because of me..."

"Stop overthinking!" Zhao Xing shouted: "We are crossing the Flame Mountain Range; accidents happen and people die; this is normal."

"But the team I lead has the most accidents," Chen Shijie murmured to himself. "Could it be that my, Chen Shijie's, fortune is insufficient to support a sixth-rank official post?"

Since his youth, his fate had been fraught with misfortune; his aunt claimed he had killed his parents. Later, he met Yang An, joined the army when conscripted, and took five years to gather Yuan.

Later, through many life-or-death battles, he gained fortune from the imperial court, slowly rising to the seventh rank, but was then demoted to Gucheng.

Only after meeting Zhao Xing did his path become somewhat smoother.

Chen Shijie had thought he would never encounter such metaphysical problems again, but he did not expect that feeling of panic in his heart, which arose when crossing the Flame Mountains, to appear again today.

Zhao Xing actually thought the same in his heart, but he could not say so at this moment.

"Old Chen, remember one thing."

"What?"

"My fate is determined by me, not by Heaven!"

"At this moment, the more you hesitate in your heart and believe in that vague, ethereal fate, the more likely problems will arise," Zhao Xing said. "Fortune, fortune; a person's essence, energy, and spirit affect their luck. You are the general now; you must perk up!"

Seeing Chen Shijie's confidence wavering, Zhao Xing said: "Old Chen, if you don't believe me, Shan Mao and Long Xiao will accompany me to walk in front with you."

"Order Assistant Regional Commander Liu to take over your position and manage the rear unit, and transfer Long Xiao and me to your side."

Zhao Xing himself possesses the Third Derivation Fortune; Long Xiao will become the Marquis of Shenxiao in the future, so his fortune will not be too poor; Shan Mao has even consumed numerous spiritual essences and is already a 'Spiritual Essence Variant'.

Temporarily changing commanders is inappropriate; now Zhao Xing has decided to use his own, Shan Mao's, and Long Xiao's fortune to shoulder the burden together with Chen Shijie.

"Good." Chen Shijie immediately changed the deployment, bringing Zhao Xing and Long Xiao to his side.

In the vast Flame Mountains, within a valley, 'Pang Guangyao' was meditating in the valley where flames were rising.

He had only one horn on his head because he was not a pure-blooded Fire Demon clan member, but a hybrid of the human race and the Fire Demon clan.

Pang Guangyao was originally a scion of a great clan under the Jin Yu Wang Ting.

He was at the sixth-rank Tian Gang realm and had lived for one hundred and ninety-eight years.

In the early period of the Dingxin era, he lived very well in his family, but since Emperor Jing's policies changed.

Hybrids like him did not fare well even among the Fire Demon clan, and his family gradually declined.

Serving at the Fire Dragon Pass was originally a lucrative post, but Pang Guangyao was assigned the arduous duty of mountain patrol, and once assigned, he stayed there for fifteen years without moving a muscle.

He wanted to revive his family and regain a place in the tribal council of the Jin Yu Wang Ting.

Alas, staying here, he could see no hope at all.

"Unless I can break through to the fifth rank, I will have to stay here and wither away the rest of my life," Pang Guangyao sighed in his heart after finishing his cultivation.

But just then, the token on his body trembled.

"Hmm? Has the mechanism been triggered?"

Pang Guangyao looked at the token, extremely surprised.

"The ground fissure has collapsed; was it human-made, or a natural shift in the Flame Mountain Range?"

Out of habit, he immediately rose to investigate.

But halfway through his flight.

Pang Guangyao suddenly changed his mind.

At that moment, Zhao Xing happened to arrive beside Chen Shijie.

In some unseen way, Pang Guangyao felt a strange sensation arise in his heart.

"Why should I go check?"

"The Fire Lotus in the Magma Cave was stolen, yet Yuehai has not a single problem."

"I merely drank a cup of wine while guarding the pass, and was punished here for fifteen years without moving!"

"Is Wang Ting so unjust? Even if enemies truly crossed the mountains, what does it have to do with me?"

"Guarding the pass alongside such a stupid pig; even a mighty pass will eventually be lost."

The resentment Pang Guangyao had accumulated over many years suddenly erupted at this moment.

He roared at the sky, stomped his feet, and pounded his chest; the surrounding rocks and mountains trembled because of it.

Moments later, he recalled the situation from a few days ago.

Previously, a man with an ox head had quietly visited him.

He brought a handwritten letter.

The content stated that if he were willing to defect to Great Zhou, he could obtain a sixth-rank official position in Great Zhou, serve in a strong army, and would not be grouped with those barbarian troops wearing disguises.

This meant he would be regarded as a true Great Zhou military general, not a second-class Zhou citizen.

The identity of the letter's sender carried great weight.

Moreover, his son was also outside the pass.

Recalling these words now, Pang Guangyao's mind became active.

"I am nearly two hundred years old; if I cannot break through to the fifth rank, I will not live much longer."

"Why not defect to Great Zhou?"

Pang Guangyao thought for a moment, then continued moving forward.

He had not yet decided; he still needed to see if anyone had truly infiltrated Flame Mountain.

Zhao Xing and Chen Shijie walked together, accompanied by Long Xiao and Long Aotian.

The journey ahead indeed became much smoother.

No further casualties occurred.

Chen Shijie also returned to normal; he issued orders methodically and organized the army to advance.

Just as Zhao Xing thought Old Chen's fate had been secured by him—

Suddenly—

"Meow!"

The mountain cat suddenly arched its entire body, its fur standing on end, and roared toward a direction.

"Hmm?"

Zhao Xing and the others immediately looked in the direction the mountain cat faced.

They saw a cave in the cliff of the valley ahead.

Flames filled the surroundings, yet the area within ten meters of the cave entrance was completely clean, with no flames emerging.

In the shadows of the cave entrance, a figure in a fiery-red Dao robe stepped out.

Their gazes met those of Zhao Xing and the others.

"What? This...?" The man in the fiery-red Dao robe was stunned. "How did so many people appear in Flame Mountain!"

"Not good! Flee quickly!"

"Whoosh!"

The man in the fiery-red Dao robe immediately leaped and sprinted toward the distance.

In just an instant, he decided to run away.

Because he saw over a thousand people, and the feelings he got from Chen Shijie, Zhao Xing, Long Xiao, and the others were very dangerous.

He was a mountain patrol, not a mountain defender.

Facing such a situation, of course he would run away immediately!

"Kill him quickly!"

Zhao Xing reacted first.

If that man went to report the news, their stealth mission would fail.

"Whoosh~"

The mountain cat had already darted out before Zhao Xing finished speaking.

Long Xiao followed closely behind, stepping on a great sword to chase the man in the fiery-red Dao robe.

"What? A sword cultivator? And a strange beast?!"

The man in the fiery-red Dao robe was greatly frightened.

He was only at the early stage of the Tiangang Realm.

His strength was merely average; originally, this mountain patrol position was not a good job.

Why would powerful people be sent here?

"Why am I so unlucky?!"

"Patrolling the mountains for ten years might not even encounter enemy troops, yet I, having been in office for less than a year, encounter them? And so many at that!"

"Run!"

"Running back will be a great merit!"

The man in the Dao robe gritted his teeth, spat out a mouthful of fresh blood, and his speed surged dramatically.

He ran with single-minded focus, not daring to look back.

"Why is Old Chen so unlucky?" Zhao Xing watched this suddenly unfolding scene and began to doubt life itself.

"Liao Ru's dragon dispatched a small squad back and forth seven times, yet they never encountered him once; yet the moment he brings his troops, it's corpses and a Mountain Patrol Envoy?"

"Is his fate so unbreakable?"

Zhao Xing also chased desperately from behind.

As for Chen Shijie, he remained still, ordering the main army to hold their position.

Because the others could not catch up.

After chasing for ten li, the distance had only just narrowed slightly.

The Mountain Cat was even faster, while Long Xiao lagged far behind.

But the man in the Daoist robe ahead seemed very skilled at fleeing.

Ten li of road, yet they still hadn't caught up.

It seemed they were about to catch him.

Zhao Xing suddenly noticed another figure appearing ahead.

This fiery red figure radiated an even more powerful aura.

He was not a beginner at the Tian Gang realm, but had reached the peak of the sixth rank!

"Sss, this is truly uncanny."

"Another one?"

"Old Chen hasn't been this unlucky in the past two months; in fact, he even established quite a few merits during those two months."

"No, his luck has actually always been somewhat abnormal, but when Long Xiao and I followed him, it never showed." Zhao Xing recalled the scene when they infiltrated Huolong Pass.

"If I hadn't followed him, he would have been exposed when facing the Hidden Vein Sect."

"Later, disguised as Sang Ma and Luo Ba, he wouldn't have passed so easily; he might even have died there."

Zhao Xing had initially leaked some strategies to Old Chen and personally rushed over to accompany him, hoping to test whether he could alter a predetermined fate.

Now it seemed this fate was truly unpredictable!

"I simply refuse to believe in this superstition!"

"Die for me!"

Zhao Xing pointed with his hand, and all the primordial energy in his body was drained in that instant.

In the sky and earth ahead, the flames were suddenly dispersed, as if the entire world had been pressed down upon.

In that moment, Zhao Xing desperately wanted to change Chen Shijie's fate; his Teng She Transformation had actually advanced another level.

Breaking through to the High-Grade Sixth Turn!

Even the Liqiu Solar Term Token had broken through to the Knowledge Realm Sixth Turn!

Teng She Transformation, activate!

Jin Guang instantly crossed a thousand meters, catching up to that man in the fiery red Daoist robe.

"Ah—"

The man in the fiery red Daoist robe let out a wretched cry and fell from mid-air.

He called out for help to another Mountain Patrol Envoy approaching from ahead, 'Pang Guangyao'.

"P-Patron Pang, save me!"

Pang Guangyao, seeing the Mountain Patrol Envoy whose face had grown bizarre scales that had slashed through his skin, was also deeply shocked.

In a flash of lightning and spark, he immediately made a decision.

"Swish!"

Pang Guangyao suddenly dove down, heading straight for this man in the Daoist robe.

"Boom!"

Amidst the other's gaze full of hope, Pang Guangyao smashed his head to pieces with a single punch.

With celestial energy sweeping through his entire body, this man's bones were turned into pulverized dust.

"General of the Heavenly Dynasty, cease your attack for now!"

Pang Guangyao shouted at Long Xiao and Zhao Xing.

"I am one of your own!"

Swish~

The Mountain Cat had already appeared before Pang Guangyao, swinging both claws.

"What?!" Pang Guangyao instinctively raised both hands to block, but his arms immediately felt a burst of excruciating pain.

"Hmm?" Long Xiao, seeing this scene, instantly retracted his golden sword.

"Ao Tian, stop!"

Zhao Xing and Long Xiao shouted at the Mountain Cat together.

"Meow?" The Mountain Cat turned its head in confusion, meaning: Are we not killing this person?

He has horns growing on his head!

Everything happened too quickly.

In a flash of lightning and spark, the situation had already changed.

Chen Shijie was stunned; he immediately flew to Zhao Xing's side and slowly approached with him.

Long Xiao and the Mountain Cat were in front, stopping a hundred meters away from Pang Guangyao.

Pang Guangyao clasped his hands behind his back, hiding his slightly trembling hands.

Seeing the other party stop, he spoke: "I do not know which general is named Xia Jing? Are you from the Black Armor Army?"

"Oh?" The moment Zhao Xing heard the other party call out Xia Jing's name, he immediately understood what was going on.

Was this the spy Xia Jing had mentioned?

No, wait—if he were a spy, how could he not recognize the Black Armored Army insignia, and how could he fail to recognize Xia Jing?

Xia Jing had been to Fire Dragon Pass once.

Then this person was planning to defect to Xia Jing?

In a flash, Zhao Xing figured out the key.

Xia Jing is a good brother—why split hairs between yours and mine? Defecting to him is the same as defecting to me. Expediency rules in an emergency—first trick him over, then talk!

"Precisely!" Zhao Xing immediately stood up, walked to the front, and said, "This Young Lord is precisely Xia Jing."

"Whatever you have to say, you may speak directly to me!"

Pang Guangyao saw that Zhao Xing bore an extraordinary bearing, and that a seventh-rank had been able to slay the Mountain Patrol Envoy so cleanly and decisively—his appearance and ability both matched the characteristics of a Young Lord.

Without a shred of doubt, he immediately kowtowed and paid homage: "Guilty general Pang Guangyao, pays respects to the Young Lord."

Damn it, I had actually finished writing long ago, but then the writer's assistant crashed and just couldn't publish, and after logging out I couldn't get back in. Only now did I finally sort it out.