Chapter 307

"Did this kid's old mother get screwed? Or did he take the wrong medicine and his brain went bad?" Xing Tianxian looked with ill will at the youth's back, loudly cursing: "How many of our Wu family have come, when did they arrive, when is it their turn to take charge?"

Within the sphere of influence of the Fuxi God State, the Wu family is undoubtedly a top-tier powerful clan.

The most interesting part is that the Wu family can be considered a vassal of the Fuxi God State, yet it is not a subordinate of the Fuxi God State.

More precisely, the Wu family are mercenaries hired by the Fuxi God State; the Fuxi God State provides various precious materials, and hires the Wu family and similar great clans to fight for them.

The Wu family exists outside the formal structure of the Fuxi God State, merely having occasional intersections, from which they obtain some of the good things they need.

This youth, with the attitude of a superior scolding a subordinate, so roughly berated the first batch of Wu family warriors that arrived; it's no wonder Xing Tianxian's tone turned so nasty. He even deliberately raised his voice, so that many people nearby heard his shouting.

Far and near, tens of thousands of soldiers in the camp tidying their equipment all looked up in this direction.

When they discovered that the one shouting was this group of rough Wu family men, many lowered their heads, pretending not to have heard Xing Tianxian's shout. Only a hundred or so cultivators with the strongest and most overbearing aura, smiling, intentionally or unintentionally, moved closer.

The youth with the rugged face just now naturally also heard Xing Tianxian's roar.

He immediately stopped his steps, turned around, ignoring the tugs of the few guards beside him, and strode angrily toward Xing Tianxian and the others.

From far away, this youth began to shout hoarsely: "You, do you want to rebel?"

Hehe, hehe, hehehe!

A group of Wu family men laughed with strange voices, each with arms crossed over their chests, riding on the backs of giant dragon lizards, staring wide-eyed at this youth.

Xuan Ming Die spoke with a strange voice: "Yo, yo, little brat's fired up, hey, go get a doll, beat him!"

Wu Tie's face turned as black as lacquer upon hearing Xuan Ming Die's words.

Xuan Ming Die's seniority is several times higher than Wu Tie's, but his words are easily corrupting to children.

The Wu family members traveling together all turned their gazes toward Wu Tie.

Among the first batch of one thousand Wu family members summoned, Wu Tie had the lowest seniority and was the youngest; since Xuan Ming Die said "go get a doll," everyone naturally looked at Wu Tie.

Wu family men are basically big-mouthed; the elders who have weighed Wu Tie's strength in Wu sorcery, Wu herding, and Wu conquest have long since spread the word of his "hard bone" throughout the clan.

Thus, many cousins of similar seniority but somewhat older also looked at Wu Tie with a hint of urging.

Many people's feelings were somewhat complicated.

Wu Tie shares their seniority, but is much younger; yet he is already at the Life Pool Realm, and his strength is said to be formidable. However, Wu Tie is the offspring of a clansman who traveled abroad; those who travel abroad have far inferior cultivation conditions and resources compared to those who stay at the main family.

Nobody harbors ill intent; they are simply curious and want to see Wu Tie's true ability.

This youth's aura is merely that of a high-level Chonglou Realm; among his few guards, only two are at the Life Pool Realm.

Furthermore, this youth speaks rudely, gesturing and scolding the Wu family warriors; using him as a target to test Wu Tie's strength is truly most appropriate.

Wu Tie shifted his leg and jumped down from the back of the giant dragon lizard.

Tilting his head, moving his arms and legs, Wu Tie's whole body emitted a dull "ka-ka" sound. He laughed heartily as he went up to the youth: "Rebellion? How could we possibly rebel? That is absolutely impossible. Our Wu family follows the rules."

"Just, some people rely on their power to bully others, greatly harming the hearts of us warriors who came to aid."

"I am the one relying on power to bully others, what can you do?" The youth rushed up to Wu Tie, his nose almost touching Wu Tie's nose, and growled low: "I am the one relying on power to bully others, what can you do? Dare you do anything?"

From the side came Xing Tianxian's laughter: "Whip him, bastard, never seen such a clueless brat who doesn't know life or death… where did this top-notch waste come from?"

Wu Tie, following the flow, slapped the youth's face with one ear.

With Wu Tie's current strength and his bodily toughness, that slap rang dull like thunder; a large spray of blood mist burst from the youth's cheek, he spun on the spot several times, and his mouth spat out "xili huala" a hundred or so tooth fragments.

The two Life Pool Realm guards behind the youth simultaneously roared in anger; they slapped their waist-worn swords, and two gleaming silver sword lights shot out over ten zhang, howling as they slashed toward Wu Tie.

Xuan Ming Die laughed strangely from the side: "Children's play, adults shouldn't interfere, look at you all being sixty or seventy years old, my little brat here is still young and tender."

Xuan Ming Die waved his right hand; two points of oily green yin fire flew from his fingertips, turning into two thumb-sized dark green cabbage white butterflies, which lightly landed on the two sword lights.

With a "si si" sound, the two sword lights, each over ten zhang long, suddenly collapsed; two excellent-quality side swords were wrapped in the green yin fire, and in a breath they burned into droplets of silver liquid that fell to the ground.

The two Life Pool Realm guards seemed to have been struck by heavenly thunder; their bodies violently shook, they spat a mouthful of blood, and staggered back several steps.

"Heng heng." A low, powerful cold snort came from the crowd; a burly man with a dragon's head and a human body, his whole body covered in dragon scales, grinned and said: "Wu family, you probably don't recognize this kid? He is the newly appointed Marshal of the March, Luo Lin."

Shaking his head, the dragon-headed burly man laughed: "We also don't know what rank a Marshal of the March is, but this kid seems to have considerable power; the several great generals under Marshal Xi all treat him with respect."

"Marshal? Xi Qi?" Xing Tianxian flicked his ear, indifferently said: "So what?"

The dragon-headed big man opened his mouth, then fell into a dazed state.

Yeah, what does it matter that Xi Qi appointed a Marshal of the March?

This bunch of coarse goods from the Wu family, even if they ignore him, Xi Qi can't do anything to them.

The Wu family itself is not part of the Fuxi God State's system; its relationship with the Fuxi God State is rather subtle. Sending clansmen to fight when summoned is a favor; not sending them is simply duty.

Even if Xi Qi wields great power in the Fuxi God State, what can you do to a colossus like the Wu family?

"Marshal of the March?" Wu Tie lightly patted the shoulder of Luo Lin, who had been struck half-unconscious by his blow: "Here, sorry, I hit too hard; I didn't expect your cultivation to be decent, yet your strength is so low?"

Wu Tie's mouth twitched.

Luo Lin's strength is pitifully low.

According to Wu Tie's judgment, although Luo Lin's cultivation has reached the high level of the Chonglou Realm, the number of heavenly earth shackles unlocked by each heavenly lock of the Chonglou does not exceed thirty thousand.

That is, his cultivation technique is extremely inferior; even after breaking through to the Chonglou Realm, the total number of heavenly earth shackles he has opened is at most around a million. Compared to ordinary people it's somewhat stronger, but in Wu Tie's eyes it's just that.

Luo Lin's body swayed; he trembled as he raised his hand, pointing at Wu Tie, his lips moving as if wanting to say something.

But Wu Tie's slap had almost deformed his face; now he cannot open his mouth or speak. Angry, anxious, and in pain, Luo Lin's mouth trickled a little blood, then he toppled backward headfirst.

"Hahaha!" Xing Tianxian and Xuan Ming Die laughed together, and the Wu family crowd also laughed.

"Go to the Hunting Camp." Xing Tianxian loudly said: "Hey, this idiot, back when our Wu family's lads also joined the Hunting Camp, freely hunting demons and evil spirits… and you let this green-headed brat call the shots for us?"

Xing Tianxian led his men mightily toward a row of camps in the distance, very familiar with the route.

The blood-covered Luo Lin was supported by two guards, who swiftly flew up into the sky, heading toward a glowing cave on a distant cliff.

After a quarter hour, inside a square hall hewn from the thick rock wall, Xi Qi raised his head, put down the document scroll and vermilion brush in his hand, narrowed his eyes, and looked at Luo Lin standing several meters in front of the case.

"Been beaten?"

The furnishings are simple; weapons of various colors hang on the walls; at the base of the walls are arranged hundreds of sets of heavy armor that can stand upright; inside the hall, pearl light sways, brightness like daytime.

Besides Xi Qi and Luo Lin, there is no one else here.

"Father…" Luo Lin stared at Xi Qi, trembling. In the span of a moment, it was enough for him to use spiritual medicine to properly treat the wounds on his face, and his mouthful of rotten teeth grew back. The process was a bit painful; Luo Lin's face still looked a bit pale.

"Remember, I am your mother's sworn elder brother; you should address me as uncle." Xi Qi, who had a long face, strange ancient appearance, and a large build, sat behind the case with great dignity and said calmly: "If you don't want to die, never call me 'father' again."

Luo Lin pressed his lips together and lowered his head.

"I have warned you before; this campaign gives you an opportunity to earn merit in the army, so that in the future you can surpass your few 'direct brothers.' If you can obtain a real military post, even a fief, and later take charge of the Luo family's estate, this life will be considered stable."

He stared deeply at Luo Lin; Xi Qi lowered his voice and admonished in a tone of frustration: "I have warned you before; the camps under my control are mostly unruly outsiders. Why did you provoke the Wu clan for no reason?"

"The Wu clan and the Xi clan are closely related by blood; the Xi clan treats the Wu clan with great favor, far more than other major clans. The Wu clan's temperament is… rough, violent, impulsive, reckless—even the eighteen princes of the previous Xi emperor have been beaten by the Wu clan… Why did you provoke them?"

Luo Lin opened his mouth and let out a listless sigh.

Xi Qi narrowed his eyes, took a deep look at the spiritless Luo Lin, and said calmly: "Forget it; no matter what, the Wu clan are merely outsiders—how dare they bully you? This debt must still be repaid… but, use your brain."

"A brain is a good thing; I hope you have one."

Xi Qi waved his hand and gave a soft shout. Inside the hall, a cool breeze stirred slightly, the candlelight flickered, and a figure wearing a green robe and a green wooden mask silently appeared beside the case.

"This is Mr. Mu; from now on, let him stay by your side as an aide. Listen to his opinions more, no matter what you do, hear him out." Xi Qi sighed: "Those useless people your mother placed beside you… well, just keep them like a few dogs; perhaps they still have some use."

Mr. Mu clasped his hands, raised them high above his head, then deeply bowed to Xi Qi.

Then, with a step, he stood behind Luo Lin.

Luo Lin glanced at Mr. Mu, feeling that his icy aura was no weaker than that of Xing Tian E or Xuan Ming Die, and couldn't help but laugh.

This is a Womb Storage Realm expert; such experts are extremely rare even in the Luo family, his birthplace—how could he normally be ordered around? Xi Qi assigned him a Womb Storage Realm aide… Luo Lin couldn't help but feel in his heart, 'This is truly a father!'

Luo Lin bowed to Xi Qi and eagerly left with Mr. Mu.

Xi Qi sat behind the case, candlelight shining on his distinctive long face; his expression shifted slightly, and after a long while he seemed to make a decision: 'Ah… the Wu clan, bullying people too much—after all, I appointed them as the army's commandant, yet they give no courtesy at all? Heh, heh…'

Laughing and shaking his head, Xi Qi took out a sheet of bright yellow official document and quickly wrote a military order with a vermilion brush.

"This campaign is highly valued by the Xi emperor and several great kings; therefore, the military merits awarded this time are extremely great."

"Issue the order: let this campaign's military merit be calculated by the top standard—Foundation Establishment and Perceiving the Profound Realm cultivators earn double merit, Chonglou Realm cultivators earn double merit as well, and if one can slay a Life Pool Realm cultivator, merit is awarded fivefold."

"If one can slay a Womb Storage Realm cultivator, merit is awarded tenfold."

"Send this order in writing to the Three Imperial Camp, Hunting Camp, Strange Soldiers Camp, and Strange Scholars Camp, so they can await an opportunity to act."

"The Main Soldiers Camp, Front Army Camp, Left Army Camp, and Right Army Camp under my direct command will move forward thirty thousand li, and uproot the twenty-nine hidden forts discovered recently."

"Open the supply depot, and let the commanders of each battalion in the Main Soldiers Camp take what they need."

"The supply for the Three Imperial Camp, Strange Soldiers Camp, and Strange Scholars Camp remains as usual; let them exchange military merit for goods."

"As for the Hunting Camp… those divine weapons can be exchanged as they wish; basic supplies like food, water, pills, herbal essence, arrows, etc., should be slightly restrained. Keep it slight, distinguish carefully, measure properly, and leave no room for criticism."

Xi Qi remained silent; a faint affirmation came from the air, and subsequently the military order he personally signed, 'Military merit granted according to the top standard,' vanished from the case at the same time.

Five twisted shadows flickered in the air, then turned into streams of fire that shot out of the hall.

Half an hour later, the Wu clan people, excitedly howling 'ao ao', under the leadership of Xing Tian E and Xuan Ming Die, rode giant dragon lizards swiftly up a sloping upward passage.