Chapter 336 — Two Generations of Shadow Thief Masters
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 1 of 4
When Lame Elder and Shen Mu walked out of Qingmen Pass, many of the great generals within the pass frowned deeply. Bian Zhenyun hastily sought the Jingping Imperial Preceptor's guidance, but the Jingping Imperial Preceptor shook his head and said, "There is no need to aid them. With that Lame Elder present, no one can kill Sect Master Shen."
"Lame Elder?" Everyone turned to look at him. The old man had sound limbs and walked briskly—where was he lame?
"Lame in heart."
The Jingping Imperial Preceptor's expression turned somewhat grim. "Lame in conduct, crooked in body and shadow, lame in heart and mind. Say no more of him. Shan Youxin, how many Shenxiao Rings have the Ministry of Works and the Grand Academy refined?"
"Fourteen thousand have been refined."
Shan Youxin said, "They have already been loaded onto the True Essence Cannons. In another day, the remaining several thousand can be refined, and then we may attack the enemy camp."
The Jingping Imperial Preceptor gazed at the towering pass opposite and said calmly, "There is no need to wait another day. Pass the order to every army: prepare to march at once. Tower ships, open formation—push straight through! General Bian, Grand Commandant, General Who Supports the State, General of Agile Cavalry, Supreme Pillar of State, Duke of Weiguo, Pillar of State General, Champion General, General Who Cherishes Civilization!"
He called their names one by one, and one after another the generals of Jingping stepped forward to await his orders.
Following the rebellion of the former Crown Prince Ling Yuxia, the officials of Ling Yuxia's faction had been purged clean. But Jingping was, after all, a land blessed with outstanding talent; the emperor had promoted many new officials to take up the posts, and there was no gap between old and new.
The Jingping Imperial Preceptor said in a deep voice, "Mobilize the armies behind the pass. They will follow behind the tower ships; the tower ships will open formation, and the great army behind will sweep clean. As for you, keep your eyes fixed on the enemy's Spirit Bridge and Life-and-Death realm masters, and be ready to strike them down at any moment!"
The generals felt a chill in their hearts. The Duke of Weiguo said, "Jingping Imperial Preceptor, Sect Master Shen is still at the front. If we attack rashly, I fear the enemy will strike at Sect Master Shen."
The Jingping Imperial Preceptor smiled. "The moment he retreats—that is when we attack. There is no need to worry for his safety. And with that Lame Elder at his side, there are few in this world who can harm him."
Bian Zhenyun said, "Who will command the tower ships?"
The tower ships had originally been dispersed among the various armies, commanded and maneuvered by each army's generals. Now that the Jingping Imperial Preceptor had changed tactics and would use all the tower ships to clear the way, a separate army had to be established—one led by a powerful expert skilled in storming strongholds, capable of commanding the tower ships one by one to meet the ever-shifting tides of the battlefield.
The Jingping Imperial Preceptor's eyes flickered. He said in a deep voice, "Summon the mid-ranking officers of every army! And have all the Grand Academy's students come as well!"
A short while later, several hundred mid-ranking officers and numerous Grand Academy students hurried over.
"Two hundred and forty-five tower ships—equivalent to two hundred and forty-five flying swords."
The Jingping Imperial Preceptor swept his gaze around and said in a deep voice, "Those skilled in sword arts, those capable of wielding two hundred and forty-five flying swords at once—step forward."
More than fifty from among the mid-ranking officers and Grand Academy students stepped forward.