Chapter 209: Immortal Army Soul

With the close cooperation of the Colonel Battalion Commander, Zhang Xingyu's flying sword succeeded repeatedly.

Half an hour later, three of the five demon lords were dead and two wounded, reducing the threat of the demon army's suicide squad to a minimum.

At the edge of his vision, the human army was rapidly approaching.

Our army has finally arrived.

It seems this blocking mission has finally been completed.

Zhang Xingyu let out a long breath.

In the battle just now, his internal Spiritual Aura had been completely exhausted.

Reluctantly, he recalled the Azure Dragon and the Fire Dragon.

Sitting on the ground, he used spirit stones to restore his mana while gasping heavily.

At the same time, the demon army's general Moluo also discovered the pursuing human troops.

He disregarded his own dignity and flashed to before the great formation.

Moluo held aloft a black demon sword one zhang long in his hand.

Demonic qi permeated the sword.

Moluo swung the demon sword, and with one strike he scattered the heavenly Star River.

"Ah!"

The Colonel Battalion Commander who was maintaining the formation suffered heavy injuries.

He spat blood, let out a loud cry, and collapsed to the ground.

Seeing this, the Pale-faced Lieutenant rushed forward anxiously to check.

"Quick! Quick! The main flag! The main flag must not fall!"

The Colonel Battalion Commander spoke in a weak voice.

The Pale-faced Lieutenant nodded and stepped forward to support the main flag.

He exerted all his soul power to restore the Star River above the formation.

"Damn it!"

Moluo cursed loudly and swung his giant sword again.

The sword light, like a dragon, instantly tore the Star River apart.

The Pale-faced Lieutenant collapsed.

Squad Leader Li stepped forward to support the main flag.

The Star River shone again.

Moluo swung his giant sword again.

Squad Leader Li collapsed.

Seeing this, Zhang Xingyu rushed forward.

Above him, the Star River sparkled.

"Damn it! This formation is truly damned! These ants are truly damned!"

Moluo raised the black giant sword once more.

Zhang Xingyu closed his eyes.

He knew that, with his cultivation, he could not withstand Moluo's strike either.

Was it about to end?

"Moluo, don't flee!"

A loud shout came from behind.

Moluo swung his giant sword, chopping toward the Star Sea.

The Star Sea dissipated, and Moluo turned into a stream of light flying into the distance.

Just as he passed above the formation, a green cage appeared out of thin air before him.

Moluo crashed headfirst into the cage.

This was a cage formed of sword light.

Moluo believed that, relying on his own strength, no matter how sturdy the cage, it could not hold him.

Moluo's judgment was correct.

In merely an instant, Moluo shattered the cage.

However, after breaking the cage, his hitherto relaxed expression suddenly changed.

A wave of intense pain came from his right shoulder.

His right arm severed at the shoulder, his right hand still gripping his black giant sword.

The giant sword fell to the dust.

Yet Moluo dared not linger.

Behind him, a human Nascent Soul cultivator had already given chase.

If he didn't leave now, he wouldn't be able to leave.

Moluo fled.

Meanwhile, countless demon soldiers behind him were being slaughtered by the approaching Volunteer Immortal Soldiers.

Zhang Xingyu wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, bent down, and picked up his flying sword.

He slowly walked to Squad Leader Li's side.

Squad Leader Li had already breathed his last.

Moluo's strike just now had not only shattered the formation's Star River, but also shattered his soul.

Not only Li Ban Tou, Captain Bai Lian and Lieutenant Colonel Battalion Commander also could not survive.

Earlier, if Zhang Xingyu had not abandoned the battle banner and used a flying sword to block, he would probably have ended up lying on the ground.

Outside the formation, shouts thundered.

Zhang Xingyu walked to the very edge.

There stood a massive arm, exuding thick demonic aura.

That arm was indeed Mo Luo's arm.

Zhang Xingyu kicked the arm aside with one foot, then lifted the nearby black great sword.

It was a demon sword, its blade pitted and dented, as if it had suffered considerable damage.

Zhang Xingyu stored the demon sword into his storage ring.

He had suffered heavy losses in this battle, and this demon sword could somewhat compensate.

Recalling the massive high‑tier spirit stones expended in this fight, Zhang Xingyu felt as if his heart had been stabbed, pain searing his soul, blood welling up.

He didn't know whether the army would compensate for those spent spirit stones.

Putting away the spirit stones, Zhang Xingyu walked out of the great formation again.

He wielded the fire dragon, reaping the demon troops.

He specifically targeted demon‑lord‑level opponents.

He killed enemies while seeking to make up the losses.

Demon lords' bodies were already encrusted with demon crystals, which are valuable items.

Moreover, those guys all carried magic bags, likely filled with many of the loot they had scavenged.

The sounds of fighting gradually ceased, and the canyon returned to silence.

The remaining soldiers of the battalion gathered beside the battle banner, unwilling to stop for a long time.

It was both a formation banner and a war flag.

The warriors guarded it with their blood, earning the final victory.

The warriors who came to pursue the enemy silently watched them.

Someone, unknown, led the gentle humming of a battle song.

"Come, my fellow human warriors, let us defend peace. Cross the towering snow mountains, protect the motherland and home. Come, raise your military saber and slay the vicious enemies..."

The battlefield was counted and cleaned up.

Xu Yun Lao Dao walked over, gently patting the warriors' shoulders.

In this battle, the battalion held back thirty thousand fleeing demon troops for three hours.

Of course, the cost was also steep.

Over five hundred warriors fell in battle, leaving only thirty‑six in the entire battalion.

The battlefield's smoke had cleared, and familiar smiling faces were gone.

Back in the familiar camp, everyone could no longer hold back tears.

After ten days of rest in the camp, the shouts and gunfire gradually faded.

That day, the entire camp was cleaned spotless.

In the center of the camp, a platform had been erected, with a shining banner hanging on it.

"Celebration ceremony of the River Valley Campaign of the Volunteer Immortal Army's 3rd Corps, 2nd Division, Southern Zhanzhou."

Below the platform, the warriors sat neatly, their faces radiating victorious joy.

Even the battalion soldiers who survived the calamity had emerged from the shadows of war.

Xu Yun Lao Dao and several senior division leaders ascended the platform, taking turns presenting medals to the meritorious units and individuals of this campaign.

The 4th Regiment, 1st Battalion was granted the title 'Heroic 1st Battalion' by the Volunteer Immortal Army Headquarters, and the battalion's 4th Company (engineer company) received the 'Iron Four Company' title.

All the battalion's soldiers were awarded a collective first‑class merit, the fallen comrades such as the Lieutenant Colonel Battalion Commander were awarded the Volunteer Immortal Army First‑Class Radiant Medal, and the thirty‑six surviving comrades received the First‑Class Eagle Medal.

Additionally, all comrades' ranks were promoted by one grade. Among them, Zhang Xingyu, for his outstanding contribution (spending a million high‑tier spirit stones), was exceptionally promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant, formally entering the officer corps.

In the dormitory, Zhang Xingyu smugly turned his body in front of the mirror.

A small star glowed on his shoulder guard.

From today on, bro is a Second Lieutenant.

A Second Lieutenant can serve as platoon leader, leading a dozen soldiers.

That means, from now on, bro is a leader.

Not bad, not bad.

Zhang Xingyu imagined the soldiers saluting him, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth.

Moreover, a Second Lieutenant's benefits are far better than those of a private.

He could receive a monthly cultivation subsidy of one hundred low‑grade spirit stones.

One hundred per month amounts to twelve hundred a year, and twelve thousand over ten years.

Damn, this business seems to have taken a huge loss.

These past few days, he only thought about earning merit and awards, forgetting to ask Senior Master Xu Yun for spirit‑stone compensation.

Shall I go ask later?

After a moment's thought, Zhang Xingyu decided to give up.

Never mind, compared with the Lieutenant Colonel Battalion Commander, Captain Bai Lian, Old Li Ban Tou, and those fallen heroes, I'm already pretty good.

Being alive is the greatest compensation heaven can give!