Martial Cultivator

Chapter 961.1: Inside the General's Office - Part 1

Gao Xuan had originally still been immersed in the excitement of obtaining this batch of armor. But the moment he saw the wolf smoke rise, there was no trace of excitement left in his heart, only deep concern.

Although most people in the frontier army knew that this battle could not be avoided and that it was only a matter of time before it broke out, such a fierce and sudden onset was still beyond expectations.

Gao Xuan turned his head to look at Yu Xiyi and said softly, “Great Sword Immortal Yu, please come with me to the General’s Office.”

Yu Xiyi also put away his usual carefree demeanor and nodded.

At the side, the young Yu Qingfeng swallowed, unable to say a word.

He felt that he had grievances he could not voice. He had originally been sent out by his master against his will. After enduring hardship all the way to the Northern Frontier, he had now run straight into something like this, which made him somewhat irritated.

Yu Xiyi glanced at the youth and, for the first time, spoke with incomparable solemnity, “Yu Qingfeng, you must remember whose disciple you are, and what you are supposed to do!”

Yu Qingfeng froze. That single sentence from Yu Xiyi was like a heavy hammer striking his head solidly, jolting him into sudden realization, as if waking from a dream.

Yu Qingfeng composed himself and, for the first time, sincerely bowed to Yu Xiyi.

............

Yu Xiyi followed Gao Xuan into the General’s Office and went straight into that great hall for deliberations.

The disciples Jiang Xiao'an and Yu Qingfeng were left outside.

The moment Yu Xiyi stepped into the great hall, he felt something was off. The air itself seemed filled with an intense tension.

Looking up, there were more than twenty generals in armor before him. They were the generals currently stationed at the General’s Office.

Among them was the cavalry commander Li Changling, whose name Yu Xiyi had deliberately memorized. Unlike the others whose expressions were grave, this cavalry general’s eyes were brimming with killing intent.

Aside from these generals, there were also some cultivators from the army present in the hall, all of them of no low realm.

After Gao Xuan entered the hall, he introduced Yu Xiyi’s identity. Among those cultivators, a sword cultivator clasped his fists and saluted Yu Xiyi. A great sword immortal, no matter where they went, so long as their reputation was not too foul, was destined to be treated with courtesy by most sword cultivators in the world.

Yu Xiyi nodded slightly and did not say much.

Ning Ping raised his head, looked at Yu Xiyi, and said with a smile, “Great Sword Immortal Yu has arrived at just the right time. Many thanks for your trouble.”

Yu Xiyi returned the salute with cupped fists. Toward this Great General of the Northern Frontier, even if he did not admire him, he would at least show some respect.

“If the military situation is urgent, I can remain here. I would not dare claim much else, but I can certainly kill a few great demons.”

Yu Xiyi’s expression was serious as he expressed his resolve.

Ning Ping shook his head. “Judging from past experience, when war first begins, there will not be such a large-scale clash. Both sides understand each other too well. Therefore, at the start, it will still be a process of probing.”

Every major battle would not be resolved within ten days or half a month. The confrontation between both sides often lasted months, or even years.

This time, with the demon race raising their forces and marching south, it would likely be the same.

Taking a deep breath, Ning Ping finally spoke of the main matter. “Everyone, news has just come back from the desolate north. The demon race’s vanguard army, roughly two hundred thousand strong, has already advanced from the lower reaches of the Onan River. They are coming in great force, without any intention of splitting their troops, heading straight for the General’s Office.”

Hearing of an army of two hundred thousand, the generals present did not feel as though the sky was collapsing. No matter what, an army of that size alone could not breach the Northern Frontier Great Wall.

But those two hundred thousand were only the vanguard. How many more troops the demon race would send south afterward, another two hundred thousand? Four hundred thousand? Six hundred thousand? Or even a million?

That was the real cause for concern.

But even if a million demons truly marched south, for them, it would simply mean gritting their teeth and holding the line. Whether they could hold was another matter, but they would never retreat or abandon the countless civilians behind them just because the enemy numbered in the millions.

That was a matter for later. The question at hand was whether to wait for these two hundred thousand demon troops to arrive beneath the Northern Frontier city walls, or to likewise dispatch a force to fight them in the desolate north.

Ning Ping looked at the sand table and narrowed his eyes slightly. After some thought, this Great General of the Northern Frontier said, “No matter what, it would not make sense to simply remain behind closed gates from the very beginning, would it?”

His words were met with agreement from many of the generals present. Li Changling said in a low voice, “Great General, give me a cavalry force, and this general will ensure that the demon vanguard comes and never returns.”

Ning Ping glanced at Li Changling, somewhat helpless. “Your martial cultivation has already reached the Nepenthe Realm, why do you still like to do something like charging into battle?”

Li Changling chuckled. “Great General, whatever cultivation realm, it just lets me kill a few more demons. Beyond that, it’s useless.”

Ning Ping could not be bothered to continue with him. Instead, he turned to Gao Xuan and asked, “What do you think?”

Gao Xuan had long had some ideas, but since Ning Ping had not asked earlier, he had held them back. Now that he was asked, he did not hesitate and said directly, “Send more scouts to weave around the flanks of the demon army and determine how many follow-up troops there are. We need to find out whether the demon race intends to mobilize the full strength of their entire race to march south, or if this is merely a show of force to probe us. If it is the latter, then these two hundred thousand demons, we can simply swallow them whole. But if it is the former...”

Gao Xuan took a deep breath and said softly, “No matter what, we must dispatch an army. Letting the demon race face this Great Wall directly from the very beginning is not a good thing.”

After saying this, Gao Xuan clasped his fists. “Great General, let me go!”

A lone force leaving the protection of the Great Wall, its role in the desolate north was still uncertain, but the danger was undoubtedly immense. One misstep could mean total annihilation.

And if the army were destroyed, the commanding general naturally would not escape either.

Li Changling said unhappily, “Gao Xuan, why are you competing with me for this?”

Gao Xuan looked at Li Changling and said seriously, “General Li can serve as a vanguard, charging and fighting within the great battle, but cannot serve as the main commander of an army.”

"You..."

Li Changling was somewhat embarrassed. Though it was the truth, hearing Gao Xuan say it so bluntly still made his face flush.

Ning Ping patted Gao Xuan on the shoulder and said with a smile, “So young, and already rushing off to die?”

“Even if someone has to die, it should be us old fellows first. Why are you, a young man, joining the excitement?”

At this moment, an old general with graying hair stepped forward, clasped his fists, and looked at Ning Ping. “Great General, this assignment should fall to me, should it not?”

Looking at this old general...