Chapter 455: Martial Arts Circles Muster Troops, Three Thousand March to War

One cannot help but sigh at the depth of the Fucheng's foundation, the high prestige of the Prefect, and the strength of the mobilization from all sides.

The quota for the ten-thousand-strong army was filled in just ten days.

At the same time, news arrived from all directions.

The Prefect's current conscription for the army is not limited to Fucheng, but also includes other cities within the prefecture, totaling over one hundred thousand people.

Most people are very optimistic, convinced that wiping out the Witch Tribe clowns will be a breeze and that the day of triumphant return is not far off.

But Zhou You has been deep into enemy territory and witnessed the might of the Witch Tribe army, so he harbors a few misgivings in his heart.

An army of one hundred thousand marching against the Witch Tribe—it truly makes one's blood boil just to hear it.

The Witch people were banished to the cold and barren lands of Beijing, yet they struggle tenaciously to survive and still preserve the civilization passed down from ancient times; one cannot say they are not resilient.

They also have master-level warriors and martial artists with Qi and Blood, and they are organized by tribe, far from comparable to ordinary roving bandits or thieves.

This time, the Prefect is leading the troops personally, specifically to engage the Witch Tribe army that has crossed the Su Cheng and Gongliang defense lines.

"I've found out."

"The enemy this time is led by the Zhongxi, Manyang, and Goumeng tribes; each tribe has a Great Witch participating in the battle, and their Great Witches are equivalent to strong warriors."

"The commander-in-chief is the Witch Chief of the Gaoyang Clan, equivalent to... a Human Sect master."

This conversation took place at the Overlord Martial Arts Hall.

As the commander of the martial arts circles, Yan Wanjun ordered the conscription of three thousand martial artists; although there was a small episode, the quota was ultimately met.

The so-called small episode was nothing more than some martial artists resisting the conscription and attempting to flee, only to end up having their entire families wiped out.

The gaps were filled again, and with that precedent, no one dared to defy the conscription anymore.

The martial artists invited to the Overlord Martial Arts Hall today number in the hundreds, the elite among the three thousand martial arts practitioners.

After all, although the Overlord Martial Arts Hall is large, there is no need to invite everyone; it is unnecessary! Take Zhou You for example; he himself was conscripted, and one must bring disciples and brothers when going to the front, which counts toward the head count. He attended as a representative to listen to the pre-battle mobilization by the head of the martial arts circles.

"Hall Master Zhou, how many did you bring?"

Zhou You gestured with a three; he still had no one under his command, and the two martial artists were just those who had defected from his former martial arts hall.

Therefore, this trip for the Daqian Martial Arts Hall, including himself, totals 3 people.

Of the three thousand martial arts practitioners, not to mention every one being a martial artist, the minimum standard is at least Qi Blood Late Stage, so they can at least wield a Qi and Blood divine weapon after entering the battlefield.

By the Prefect's conscription standards, every one of the ten thousand heads must have mastered a weapon technique; better to have a shortage than to accept the substandard.

Otherwise, with the prefecture's population of nearly ten million, they would not have stopped at selecting only ten thousand elites.

The Daqian Martial Arts Hall sending 3 martial artists is already quite a lot; some martial arts halls are even using Qi and Blood Disciples to make up the numbers! Qin Lie and Yang Kuoqiong smiled sheepishly when they heard this; the numbers they reported included Qi and Blood Disciples.

Although they knew the battle formation was dangerous and that nine out of ten Qi and Blood Disciples would not return, there was no choice; the martial arts halls also needed to leave people behind to guard the base, lest they be out on a campaign only to have their nest in Fucheng stolen.

"Hall Master Zhou has Gu Lao backing him, so naturally, there is no need to worry about the home front."

Gu Lao, this mysterious high-level martial artist, is not on the conscription list because he is not registered in Fucheng.

It is said that Yan Wanjun felt quite regretful about this and had mentioned it to those around him.

Zhou You shook his head; this time he is fighting the Witch Tribe, and that strong warrior is also among them. Once the Fist Intent Puppet appears, it would be like a meat bun thrown at a dog—gone forever—and he dare not take the risk.

Unless the Heart-Bewitching Blood Qi Gu has completely assimilated the Qi and Blood within the Fist Intent Puppet's body, he dare not let Gu Lao appear rashly.

Zhou You did not refute the explanation the two had imagined for themselves, feeling it was quite reasonable.

"... The Witch Tribe has a Witch Chief, and we have the Prefect; the Prefect is also a Human Sect master, so we need not fear a savage barbarian like him." Yes, that is correct; in the eyes of the Zhong Yuan humans, the Witch Tribe of the north are just a bunch of savages who drink blood and eat raw meat.

"Everyone, my master is here."

The one speaking was the Little Overlord Yan Wanjun, Yan Wanjun's nephew and also his direct disciple, standing tall in the courtyard with a Long Spear on his back.

The hundreds of martial artists fell silent one after another, quietly waiting for Yan Wanjun to appear.

"Sorry to have kept you all waiting." After Yan Wanjun appeared, he cupped his hands in a salute, "I won't waste words. By the Prefect's order, our martial arts circles will depart the city immediately to engage the Witch Tribe army."

"The armies from the other cities will provide support from the two flanks and eight directions, attacking the Witch Tribe's flanks and rear."

"The Prefect will personally lead the aristocratic armies to engage the Gu-Dao strong army led by the Witch Chief."

A series of military secrets, described clearly in a few words, brought a tsunami-like impact to everyone present.

This time, the prefecture is truly pouring out its entire strength; even the Prefect is going into battle personally.

Previously, some were still grumbling that the aristocratic families were strong and well-equipped, occupying massive resources, yet why did they not send their own people!

Now they know that this force of the aristocratic families is directly under the Prefect's command, and only his prestige and status qualify him to command this unruly force.

"The Prefect is loyal to the Monarch and also holds the rank of Marquis; without him presiding, it would be difficult to mobilize such a massive force."

"Magnificent, the Prefect."

Just listening to the grand scene described by Yan Wanjun, one can imagine the heroic and tragic nature of the battle between the prefecture's army and the Witch Tribe.

Many martial artists felt their blood boiling; the chance to perform meritorious service and establish a career is right before their eyes!

Whenever there is a great war, like waves on the ocean, there are bound to be ups and downs; no one cares about the dead, as more attention is paid to those who stand out.

Fighting against a foreign race, with the banner of righteousness in hand, there is no need to worry about anything else; one can kill to their heart's content.

The martial artists each harbored their own thoughts; after this pre-battle mobilization, morale was at an all-time high, and their minds were twisted into a single rope.

Even Qin Lie and Yang Kuoqiong were somewhat moved; if they could perform meritorious service in this battle, their martial arts halls would become famous, their status in the martial arts circles would rise, and they would further integrate into the local circles of Fucheng, which would be beneficial for their descendants.

Not to mention, the Witch Tribe savages have been reclaiming land and hunting in the north, accumulating massive wealth generation after generation; the spoils of war are incredibly tempting.

War, especially winning a war, is often a business with ten thousand times the profit.

Yan Wanjun's ancestor, a once-destitute descendant of the Vajra Mountain, didn't he become wealthy because he participated in the war for the throne many years ago?

Although the person is gone, the legacy has been passed down to the descendants, until it erupted in Yan Wanjun's generation.

Everyone wants to get rich, everyone wants to progress; the world is vast and does not lack people, what it lacks is opportunity.

Zhou You is the only one not infected by the fanaticism; just fighting the Witch people, who hasn't done that before? He plans to take Zuo Lv and Lan Chengxiu with him to participate in the battle, and will not take anyone else from the martial arts hall.

On the surface, the martial artists of the Daqian Martial Arts Hall have all left home, but in reality, the Fist Intent Puppet is hidden in the shadows, guarding Zhou You's family.

The battle formation is dangerous, so Zhou You is not stingy with equipping them, giving each person a matching Qi and Blood divine weapon, plus a Beast Skin War Robe.

The former were high-quality goods he had purchased in Chongguang Cheng, while the latter were items seized after killing the Shaman Tribe.

Do not think the Shaman Tribe are truly savages; although the weapons they forge are crude, their battle robes tanned from beast hide are unique in terms of defense, and wearing them can save one's life when encountering danger.

These actions were a matter of doing what one could and leaving the rest to fate; whether the two of them could return alive depended first on their willingness to risk their lives, and second on luck.

If they could return after a hundred battles and be reborn through fire, perhaps they might even have the fortune of a complete transformation!

(End of this chapter)