Yellow Court Daoist-Chapter 401 - 377: Slaying the Demon General at the Gate, Summoning Rain to Drown the Seven Armies!

Yuan Lake Water Palace.

Civil servants and military generals stood in rows.

At the upper end, Yuan Lake Water Lord and the Min River Dragon Girl were seated with dignity.

From outside the hall,

Zhang Shu strode in with the power of a dragon and the grace of a tiger, holding a Turtle-Backed Alligator Dragon Spear in one hand and dragging a burly man whose size dwarfed his by several magnitudes. Throwing the bound and immobile man to the ground inside the hall, he bowed to the head of the hall, loudly proclaiming: "Your subordinate pays respects to Your Lordship and Your Highness. The demon troops at the southern side of Sawtooth Mountain have been repelled. The vanguard general of the demon army, Zhu Shan, is here; please, Your Lordship, deal with him!"

Zhang Shu's voice was loud and resonant, echoing throughout the hall.

Having served in the Yuan Lake Water Palace for seven hundred years, he was the first elder. Trained in military exercises and tactical maneuvering, he had gained Lu Qingfeng's deep trust. Entrusted with important duties time and again, he was now a Fifth-rank Water General of Yuan Lake, leading three thousand Fire Crow Soldiers and slaying no less than two thousand demons, enjoying a formidable reputation throughout the Southern Pass Road.

"You have worked hard, General Zhang."

"Someone."

"Reward him with three Hu Ben Pills!"

Lu Qingfeng, seated at the upper end with great joy on his face, bellowed to the people in the hall.

"Yes."

Immediately,

A servant girl presented three Jade Bottles, each containing a Hu Ben Pill, a concoction refined from the flesh and blood of demons that greatly aids Life Dao Practitioners in their cultivation.

Zhang Shu was a cultivator of the Life Dao.

"Thank you, Your Lordship, for the generous reward!"

Zhang Shu took the Hu Ben Pills and respectfully retreated, standing second among the generals on the left side.

The one at the front was Lan Feihu.

Seeing Lu Qingfeng distributing the rewards, Lan Feihu couldn't help stepping forward, his voice thundering, "Your Lordship, the demon troops headed for Sawtooth Mountain must pass through the Eagle Pass on the Southern Pass Road. This demon force charges straight towards us at Yuan Lake, there must be some trickery afoot!"

Five hundred years have passed.

The battles from the Demon Swamp became more frequent, and finally, three hundred and eighty years ago, the Qixia Demon Country could no longer resist waging war.

Launching attacks from both Southern Pass Road and Feng Lin Road along the southern borders of Qi Country, the Qixia Demon Country dragged the entire region into war. The Min River Dragon Palace, situated along Feng Lin Road with the Min River System running through Qi Country's fields and lanes, also could not escape the fray. All of its affiliated lords, generals, and tens of thousands of navy personnel were thrown into this battle.

Although Yuan Lake was in the midst of the Southern Pass Road and buffered from the Demon Swamp, it often suffered invasions from demon troops, which would sweep through and then suddenly disappear.

But this time,

The demon troops arrived silently, approaching Sawtooth Mountain less than ten thousand miles from Yuan Lake.

None believed that the Southern Pass Road soldiers deliberately allowed this without cause.

"That old coot Pei Zhi!"

Lu Qingfeng cursed loudly and instructed Zhang Shu, "General Zhang, quickly muster your three thousand Fire Crow Soldiers and proceed to Zhen Nan Pass. Execute this scoundrel before the pass as a warning to others!"

"Your subordinate obeys the order!"

Zhang Shu stepped forward with a fist salute and respectfully complied.

Immediately, he grabbed Zhu Shan off the ground and strode away.

Below, Lan Feihu's fierce face twisted with anger as he coldly said, "This is letting them off too easily. I request to lead three thousand soldiers and give Pei Zhi a lesson!"

"There's no need for such action."

"I have my own methods of punishment."

Lu Qingfeng waved his hand, signaling the courtiers to disperse.

...

To the south of Zhen Nan Pass, soaring mountains stood like fortress walls, spanning between the Demon Swamp and Southern Pass Road as an impregnable barrier. Upon them was stationed the most elite force of Southern Pass Road.

On this day,

Inside the mountain pass,

Pei Zhi sat within the primary tent while a general stepped out, laughing loudly, "I hear the demon troops made a direct charge to Sawtooth Mountain, catching Yuan Lake unawares. Over a thousand Yuan Lake Navy soldiers dead or injured—it's truly satisfying!"

"It was about time!"

"The assaults of the Demon Swamp are ferocious, yet Yuan Lake sits on the Southern Pass Road, relying on us to shield them from the elements, shamelessly. Now that the demon troops have almost reached Yuan Lake, it'll teach them a lesson!"

Another general laughed boisterously, shaking the tent with his voice.

"Ha-ha!"

"I wonder if that Min River son-in-law and the Dragon Girl are so frightened they're hiding under a desk in a panic, crying and begging the Dragon Lord for help!"

For a moment, joyful banter filled the tent as each general grinned ear to ear.

The defense of the Southern Pass Road was orchestrated by the Military Governor Pei Zhi. It was one thing for stray demon troops to breach the defensive line and enter the Southern Pass Road, even reaching Yuan Lake's Earth Realm. But for a large group of demon troops, led even by a Third Realm officer, it was clearly deliberate.

It was, indeed, meant to punish Yuan Lake.

Firstly, in the great battle of the Demon Swamp, Yuan Lake did nothing, staunchly defending its own territory of a hundred thousand miles. Not sending a single soldier to the border had long caused dissatisfaction among the soldiers of the Southern Pass Road.

Secondly, the generals present knew that, as battle with the Demon Swamp intensified, frictions and conflicts between the Min River Dragon Palace, the Nine Luminaries Extreme Fire Sect, and the Yuan You Tongshen Palace gradually shifted from secret to overt.

Or rather,

Ever since the Min River Dragon Lord personally confronted the Yuan You Tongshen Palace six hundred years ago, the facade of harmony had been shattered.

Courtly conflicts.

Mortal combat rules.

Back and forth they went, awaiting a spark to fully ignite a showdown within Qi Country.

Pei Zhi was from the Nine Luminaries Extreme Fire Sect, while Yuan Lake fell under the jurisdiction of the Min River Dragon Palace.

If there was a chance to undercut Yuan Lake, certainly no general present would hesitate.

Inside the tent, a civil servant sitting to Pei Zhi's left frowned with concern, "Provoking Yuan Lake Water Lord like this might only anger him."

"The strategist worries too much."

"Would that insignificant Water Lord of Yuan Lake dare wage war against us over such a dubious matter?"

"If it's just verbal condemnation, we can ignore it!"

Laughed one of the generals.

The civil servant thought it over and found it reasonable, but recalling the battle six hundred years ago and the reputation of the Yuan Lake Water Lord, he couldn't help feeling uneasy.

At that moment—

"Report!"

"Yuan Lake Water Palace's General of Dang Bandits, Zhang Shu, leading three thousand Fire Crow Soldiers, has assembled before the pass!"

Whoosh!

All generals present, including Pei Zhi, rose to their feet in shock.

Pei Zhi, in particular, looked enraged as he thundered, "Three thousand rabble, how dare they challenge my Mountain Hero Pass! Men, prepare the troops and horses, quickly follow me to crush these rebels!"

Thunderous commotion.

The generals emerge from their tents.

Outside the Mountain Hero Pass.

To the west, the sky reddens with fire—a mighty assembly of three thousand Fire Crow Soldiers. Leading them, a figure stands proudly, a Turtle-Backed Alligator Dragon Spear in hand.

"Yuan Lake's shabby generals!"

"How dare you come to our Mountain Hero Pass and act so brazenly?!"

Atop the walls of Hero Pass, Pei Zhi, clad in a general's robe, bellows down to Zhang Shu outside the pass.

Zhang Shu pays him no mind.

With a light command, "Bring him forward."

At once.

Two Fire Crow Soldiers escort Zhu Shan forward.

Atop the Mountain Hero Pass, Pei Zhi and the others frown upon sight, unaware of what is to come.

Zhang Shu then loudly proclaims towards Mountain Hero Pass, "Pei Zhi, you vile cur! Skulking and vile, you let demon troops wreak havoc on South Pass Road and have been repulsed by our Yuan Lake Water Palace. This is Zhu Shan, the vanguard general from Demon Swamp. By the order of our lord, I've come to execute him before Mountain Hero Pass!"

With that declaration.

Before the generals atop the pass can react, Zhang Shu violently kicks Zhu Shan, sending him flying.

"Spare me!"

Zhu Shan, horrified, cries desperately, his voice reverberating throughout Mountain Hero Pass.

Zhang Shu remains unmoved, his Turtle-Backed Alligator Dragon Spear soaring and crashing down with a roar—

"No!"

Zhu Shan, in utter terror, screams. Although he is a Life Cultivation master of the Third Realm, he cannot withstand the spear's blow, bursting into a shower of blood midair.

A dazzling and brutal spectacle!

"How wicked!"

"Dare you insult the commander of South Pass Road, don't think you can escape!"

A leading general from Mountain Hero Pass leaps out, charging with seven thousand troops towards Zhang Shu.

A man's reputation precedes him.

The three thousand Fire Crow Soldiers under the command of the Yuan Lake General of Dang Bandits, even within the entirety of Qi Country, are a formidable name. Unexpectedly, with food supplies withheld by the Water Lord of Yuan Lake, leading to a sparse navy in its midst, he still fosters a few fearsomely elite troops under his command.

The detachment of Fire Crow Soldiers led by Zhang Shu is one such renowned force.

The general atop Mountain Hero Pass calls out loudly, careful not to underestimate the enemy. He brings more than twice the number of soldiers, storming down from atop the heroic rampart, descending upon the three thousand Fire Crow Soldiers.

Zhang Shu, spear in hand, remains stoic.

In the skies.

A thunderous roll!

The whooshing of wind!

Suddenly, thunder cracks and the gathering storm clouds rush in. What was once a clear sky now heralds an approaching storm.

The leading general halts.

Pei Zhi looks up, his gaze sharpens, and he calls to the heavens sternly, "Guang Yuan, what are you attempting to do?"

To command the winds and hold dominion over thunder

is the prowess of a Water Lord.

In the skies, Divine Light flickers, with the Water Lord of Yuan Lake himself present.

"Pei Zhi you shirk your duties, your mind harbors venom. I shall punish you on behalf of the heavens, sentencing your Mountain Hero, Eagle Pass, and the thirteen passes, thirty-seven stationed locations to suffer non-stop rain for seven days!"

A thunderous declaration from above.

"How dare you!"

Pei Zhi roars in fury.

If it were to truly rain without cease for seven days, he fears thirteen passes and all the camps would be submerged. While they wouldn't be completely defenseless, the floodwaters would complicate defenses, and if the demon troops initiated an attack during this opportunity, the losses would be substantial.

As the commander of South Pass Road, should Hero Pass fall, even if it were due to the actions of the Water Lord of Yuan Lake, Pei Zhi couldn't avoid responsibility—a trip to the execution stand would be inevitable.

Faced with life or death.

Pei Zhi rages, brandishing his Thirteen-section Steel Whip, he charges into the sky, aiming for the clouds above.

Yet, thunder strikes, the storm rages, and even a Third Realm master of the Life Dao cannot withstand the might of the heavens.

Boom!

Just as he ascends, a bolt of lightning strikes, sending him crashing to the ground with a thunderous impact.

"The commander!"

The generals rush to his aid, exclaiming anxiously.

The civil servants approach swiftly, saying urgently, "Xingyun controls the rainfall on behalf of heaven, mortals cannot contend. We must ask Lord Wen Mountain to intervene with his Divine Dao to nullify it. But to reach Zhen Nan Pass, it would take three days. The City God is also three days away. And preparations will take at least another day."

"Seven days!"

Pei Zhi listens, his eyes bloodshot.

Lu Qingfeng has calculated the timing just right.

Not a day more.

Not a day less.

The civil servant continues, "Seven days of continuous rain, seven armies submerged. Although it does no harm to the people, such defiance of the heavens means the Water Lord of Yuan Lake will surely face repercussions. Karma will afflict him, perhaps rendering his position as Water Lord unsteady!"

"He seeks to damage both himself and the commander!"

Pei Zhi looks up—

Suddenly!

As thunder and storm clouds transform, pouring rain lashes down.

In the rain, Pei Zhi gazes towards the Divine Light in the sky, regret finally seeping into his heart—

Had he known the Water Lord of Yuan Lake was so reckless, he would not have engaged in underhanded tactics. Now, seven armies will be flooded, and thirteen mighty passes are in peril!

"Quickly, send for Lord Wen Mountain!"

"Order all troops to start working on flood defense and drainage immediately!"

"Instruct all passes to be on high alert for seven days, watching for movements from Demon Swamp and Yuan Lake!"

Pei Zhi might be a Sealed Border Official, but he swiftly lets go of regret and devises countermeasures. Soon, his face shows a ruthless resolve, "Seven days from now, I will still be the Southern Pass Road Jiedu Envoy. And you, Guang Yuan, the position of Water Lord of Yuan Lake will surely be no more!"

...