Chapter 352: Chapter 214: Winds Rise, War Drums Thunder Across the Land!

"Swear allegiance to the Celestial King to the death!"

The Blind Swordsman and the burly man, their faces full of fanaticism like two moths seeing the fire in the dark night, shouted aloud and trembled all over as they knelt at the feet of Wang Xuantian, who held the Black Mountain Blood Banner.

The others, including the Four Protectors Wei Ming, Xie Li, and others, all displayed varied expressions, ranging from fanaticism, awe, to solemnity, and then they all quickly knelt to the ground, loudly echoing the cries.

Wang Xuantian scanned the crowd in the hall with his clear and bright eyes, observing everyone’s expressions. Under all those gazes, the power in Wang Xuantian’s hand surged, and black mist roiled, scooping up the corpse of Gong Ming from the ground.

In the next instant.

Blood splattered.

In front of everyone, Wang Xuantian decapitated Gong Ming, and for a moment, more golden light of destiny surged from the corpse.

"Those who follow me will share in the blessings... I hereby appoint you as the Black Mountain Celestial Generals!"

Wang Xuantian stepped on the blood and corpse of Gong Ming, shattering the golden light of destiny, and with a casual wave, the black mist surged forth, splitting the golden destiny light into a dozen parts.

Buzz!

In the next moment, the closest Blind Swordsman and burly man shuddered all over, groaning softly, and then the densest black mist swirled, flooding their heads with golden light of destiny.

Instantly, the power and qi blood within the two surged, and the aura around them began to rise rapidly at a terrifying speed.

Witnessing this scene, the remaining dozen people all displayed expressions of longing.

Wang Xuantian waved his hand again, and the golden light of destiny shot out, flooding more people’s heads. Shortly after, one person out of the dozen or so started convulsing violently, letting out a grimacing howl.

Crack, crack!

Amidst the sound of bones and tendons snapping, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi surrounded him. Instantly, his qi blood was agitated, filling the Ten Thousand Man Commander of the Black Mountain Army with intense joy, as he felt the bottleneck leading to the Middle Third Grade being burst open with a crack by the destiny granted by the Celestial King.

"Thank you for the Celestial King’s technique transfer, I will not hesitate to face fire and water for you in the future!"

"No worries... Focus and clear your mind. Immediately operate the Five Elements Technique I previously taught you. I will protect you!"

Wang Xuantian, with no joy or sadness, rewarded another black mist with a flip of the palm. The Ten Thousand Man Commander of the Black Mountain Army, who received the black mist, immediately felt his mind settle, and his breakthrough proceeded more smoothly.

After the first person broke through, others followed successively in breakthroughs. Throughout the night, the sounds of breakthroughs continued without end at the Changfeng County Magistrate’s Office. The Five Elements Spiritual Qi swirled above the office, various dazzling colors interweaving like a myriad of rosy clouds.

At that time, the already high-spirited Black Mountain Army soldiers in the city were even more motivated, each looking towards the magistrate’s office with eyes full of admiration and fanaticism.

Inside the county magistrate hall, Xu Zhen, the Changfeng Demon Slayer Director, who witnessed all this firsthand, was overwhelmed with fear, yet Wang Xuantian did not make a move against him.

...

Hundreds of miles away.

The long night passed, and morning light spilled across the earth. As County Captain Li Qiu returned, uniting the troops, tens of thousands of soldiers camped outside the city. Even the most dull-witted understood by now that a great battle was imminent.

Before the battle, all major forces in Qingyun County had already received orders from Qingyun County Magistrate Tao Xingzheng to send troops to join forces with the Cyan Cloud Army to wipe out the rebel army.

Yet these major forces of the Cyan Cloud Army simultaneously made two preparations: while responding to the call to eliminate the rebel army, they also began to store and transfer wealth, each leaving a retreat route.

Although they were informed that strong support from Qingzhou would arrive, the power of the Black Mountain Rebel Army was great, and the news of the overnight attack on Changfeng County Town was like a bolt from the blue. Though the information was ordered to be blocked by Tao Xingzheng, it could not be hidden from the major forces, as they were not ordinary people.

These major forces were not fully confident about wiping out the Black Mountain Rebel Army this time.

"Good, it’s about time. Those wicked bandits should have been dealt with long ago!"

"Evil deeds will bring their own demise; no matter how fierce those bandits are, they can’t withstand the edge of the court’s grand army!"

The citizens in the city, upon learning that Qingyun County Magistrate would annihilate the Black Mountain Rebel Army with thunderous might this time, mostly cheered and spread the news, seeing the prepared army outside like waves of wheat.

"Mother, don’t worry. This time I must kill more rebels to avenge father."

"Son, your father will bless you from heaven. When on the battlefield... never act impulsively, you must come back alive... Mother will be waiting for you at home."

A woman, proud, tidied her third son’s belongings, repeatedly urging him with tears as she bid him farewell.

This scene unfolded simultaneously in every corner of the city. Watching their sons’ figures disappear completely, they silently prayed back home for County Magistrate Tao and the soldiers, hoping that this time the rebel army would be utterly crushed, returning a clear sky to Qingyun.

Meanwhile, in an unnamed small courtyard on Yanque Street in Qingyun County.

Swoosh!

The young boy in the courtyard slightly opened his mouth, like a great whale, inhaling all the surrounding air into his body. His naked torso squirmed, and three-inch crimson flames danced wildly all over him.

"Huff, huff, huff!"

In an instant, a more terrifying blue flame emerged from the crimson flame, and as the blue flame roiled, the air within a few dozen feet around the boy seemed to ignite, twisting rapidly.

Poof!

The flames suddenly swirled through the nearby locust tree, separated by a dozen feet, igniting it instantly. Before the flames grew large.

The boy in the courtyard slowly opened his eyes, and with a breath condensed yet undispersed, he blew out the fire on the locust tree with a breath of fresh air.

Cultivation knows no day or night, and in the blink of an eye, two days passed.

The boy in the courtyard completed his cultivation.

"Time to set off."