If They Can Go, So Can I!
Watching the souls of the Qin elite warriors gradually disappear into the void, Zhao Feng could do nothing but stare.
He had no power to keep them here, nor the ability to bring them back to life.
"Brothers," he murmured, "safe journey."
"I hope that when you are reborn, it will be in a unified world, a world free of war."
As he gazed at the fading spirits, Zhao Feng pondered in silence.
Through this Netherfire, he had gained the ability to see souls and even communicate with them using his spiritual power.
This also confirmed one thing.
This world was far from being a mere small realm. It was a vast world with an underworld and reincarnation cycle.
Where reincarnation exists, gods and immortals must as well.
Yet in this land of Shenzhou, gods and immortals remained unseen.
Why was that? Zhao Feng had no answer.
But one thing was certain
There was always a higher plane beyond the heavens.
After all, with such abundant spiritual energy in this world, it would be bizarre if no cultivators existed.
"This world hides too many secrets," Zhao Feng thought to himself.
"Even with my current status as a top-ranking official, I cannot uncover them."
"Immortals, where are you hiding?"
"Or perhaps... they no longer dwell in this mortal realm?"
Zhao Feng's thoughts churned.
Meanwhile
The Netherfire continued to burn through the souls of the foreign invaders, consuming them entirely.
And as it did so, the Netherfire itself seemed to grow stronger.
Time passed.
Eventually, the void was completely emptied of souls.
Those that Zhao Feng burned were gone, and the rest had been pulled into the underworld by that invisible force.
Zhao Feng immediately recalled the Netherfire.
The moment the Netherfire returned to him
An unexpected notification appeared before his eyes.
"Burned souls detected, collected 2,976 soul power points."
"New attribute unlocked: Soul Power!"
"Reward: One Tier-2 Treasure Chest."
Hearing this, Zhao Feng was momentarily stunned.
"Soul Power?"
"What can this attribute do?"
Unable to contain his curiosity, he quickly examined his new attribute.
Soul Power: 2,976 points
(The greater the soul power, the more solid one's soul becomes. A sufficiently condensed soul can exist independently, even if the physical body is destroyed.)
Seeing this, Zhao Feng's eyes gleamed with excitement.
"This Netherfire, unlocked from a Tier-3 Treasure Chest, is far more powerful than I expected."
"It even granted me a unique Soul Power attribute!"
"This attribute strengthens the soul itself."
"And 2,976 points of Soul Power... That's exactly the number of souls I just burned!"
"This is an unexpected fortune."
From now on, the Netherfire would be an invaluable tool.
By slaying soul-based entities, he could continuously accumulate Soul Power.
Unlike other attributes, which increased by killing enemies in the physical realm, Soul Power seemed to be obtained through the destruction of spirits.
"Open the Tier-2 Treasure Chest!"
Without hesitation, Zhao Feng commanded the system to open his reward.
"Tier-2 Treasure Chest opened."
"Acquired: High-Grade Earth-Tier Artifact - 'Martial Root Testing Monument Refining Method'."
"A monument to test martial talent?"
"Not the most useful right now, but it will come in handy in the future."
"And it requires a skilled artifact refiner to craft."
Zhao Feng took a glance at the method and pondered.
Though he had the inheritance of an alchemist, he knew nothing about artifact refinement.
In the cultivation world, spiritual roots determine one's aptitude for immortality.
With strong spiritual roots, one could cultivate.
Without them, cultivation would be nearly impossible.
But martial cultivation had far fewer restrictions.
Martial root talent dictated a warrior's growth potential
The higher the martial root talent, the faster one could progress in martial cultivation.
For instance, among his subordinates like Yan Ting and the elite guards,
Despite training for the same duration, some had already reached the Xiantian (Innate) Realm, while others remained at the acquired stages.
Xiantian Realm was a major threshold in martial cultivation
A true divide in martial talent.
With this Martial Root Testing Monument, Zhao Feng would be able to screen recruits efficiently.
Talented individuals could be prioritized for training, while those lacking talent could be assigned elsewhere.
Of course, this would have to wait until he learned artifact refinement.
"This battle against the invaders has truly been rewarding."
Zhao Feng withdrew his gaze and sat back down.
For over an hour, the army rested in place.
Then
The logistics troops finally caught up.
They arrived to clean up the battlefield.
"General!"
Two men stepped forward Kui Pu and Yang Bo, the commander of the logistics army.
Both saluted Zhao Feng with deep respect.
Zhao Feng nodded slightly. "At ease."
"Report this battle to Xianyang."
"State that all invading forces have been expelled from our Shenzhou lands."
"We have slain nearly 200,000 enemies, but suffered nearly 40,000 casualties."
"In my name, I petition the king"
"To grant a rank promotion and increased pensions for all fallen soldiers."
"Additionally"
"Inform His Majesty"
"I will personally lead the army deep into the Northern Frontier."
"Return date indefinite."
"Tell him not to worry."
Zhao Feng's voice was firm.
Upon hearing this, Kui Pu and Yang Bo were visibly shocked.
"General!"
"The enemy has already been repelled, and their forces have suffered heavy losses. Your duty is fulfilled. There is no need to risk your life in the treacherous Northern Frontier!" Kui Pu urged.
"The Northern Frontier is a harsh and dangerous land. Please reconsider!" Yang Bo added anxiously.
Zhao Feng's expression remained resolute.
"These invaders have slaughtered too many of our people."
"Killing the ones who came is not enough."
"I will make them pay for their blood debt in full!"
His voice was cold and unwavering.
This time, the state of Yan had been subdued.
A king he had slain one.
If he did not continue his campaign now, the next expedition would be at least a year or half a year away.
Since the foreign tribes had dared to invade, Zhao Feng decided to go all the way and strike into their heartland.
Kuai Pu's expression was complicated; he wanted to dissuade him further.
"Commander Kuai."
"Remember this."
"If you want the foreign tribes to never dare invade again, you must make them fear."
"Throughout history"
"Why is it that only the foreign tribes invade our divine land of Shenzhou? Why have we never invaded them?"
"It is because we never made them truly fear us."
"And I will be the one to make them fear, the one who ensures they never dare step foot in Shenzhou again."
"If they can come, then so can we."
Zhao Feng's voice was resolute, carrying an undeniable aura of dominance.
Hearing this, Kuai Pu, who had initially wanted to argue, suddenly grew solemn.
Then, he bowed deeply to Zhao Feng. "This humble officer pays respect to the Grand General."
"Respect to the Grand General!"
Yang Bo also bowed immediately.
"Order the logistics to prepare rations and water for ten days for ten thousand soldiers."
"Tomorrow, we set out," Zhao Feng said to Yang Bo.
"This humble officer obeys!" Yang Bo responded at once.
"And since the logistics troops have arrived, the task of building the Jingguan will be left to you."
Zhao Feng turned his gaze to the many soldiers who were busy decapitating the foreign warriors and piling their heads on the battlefield.
The construction of a Jingguan was not simply stacking severed heads together. It required binding them with clay to form a structure like a city wall connected by heads, cemented with blood.
It was a chilling, terrifying sight.
Even the Qin soldiers who had personally slain these foreign enemies felt the presence of death looming over them.
Someday, when the foreign tribes saw this Jingguan, they might be so frightened that they would turn and flee.
"Don't kill me! Don't kill me!"
"I am a Huaxia man, not one of them!"
"Spare me, General please spare me…"
A panicked voice rang in Zhao Feng's ears.
A few Rui warriors had brought forth a middle-aged man, his clothes soaked in blood, his expression frantic.
"Grand General."
"This one was found playing dead in the pile of corpses."
"He claims to be one of our own and says he was forced into the foreign army."
Han Chenyan pointed at the disheveled man.
"General Zhao Feng!"
"I am Sima Lin, a minister of the Yan state!"
"I was coerced into the foreign army!"
"Thank you for saving my life, General I offer you my deepest gratitude!"
Upon seeing Zhao Feng, Sima Lin did not hesitate. He immediately knelt and performed a grand bow, his face full of what appeared to be sincere gratitude.
From his behavior, it truly seemed as if Zhao Feng had rescued him, and his gratitude was genuine.
The Rui warriors escorting him even loosened their grips slightly as if beginning to believe his words.
However
Zhao Feng scrutinized Sima Lin with a cold, piercing gaze.
"Do you take me for a fool?"
His voice was icy.
Sima Lin trembled, his voice shaking. "I wouldn't dare deceive the Grand General…"
"The foreign invasion."
"It was you who led them in, wasn't it?"
Zhao Feng's voice was like a sharp blade.
"You misunderstand, General!"
"I am just an ordinary man of Yan!"
"How could I have brought in the foreign army?" Sima Lin shook his head repeatedly.
"You think I don't know who you are?"
"It was you who advised the Yan king to ally with the foreign tribes to resist Qin!"
"It was you who caused the massacre of tens of thousands of innocent people in the northern borders of Yan!"
"You conspired with the foreign tribes, led them in, and caused the slaughter of our Huaxia people. Tell me how should you be executed?"
Zhao Feng's tone was frosty, his gaze merciless.
"I…"
Sima Lin was paralyzed with fear.
He never expected Zhao Feng to recognize him, let alone be so well-informed.
"A traitor to his people."
"Unworthy of life."
"You will die, and so will your family."
"I issue my command to cut him into pieces."
"Execute his entire family."
With a flick of his hand, Zhao Feng had made his decision.
"Mercy!"
"Grand General, have mercy!"
"I was wrong, I was truly wrong!"
"Kill me if you must but please, spare my family!"
Sima Lin wailed in terror.
But the Rui warriors beside him kicked him to the ground.
"You treacherous scum how dare you lie to us!"
"You filthy traitor!"
"You deserve to die!"
"Tens of thousands of innocent people perished because of you!"
"You deserve a thousand cuts!"
"Brothers, let's each take a cut and make sure he doesn't die too quickly!"
Two Rui warriors dragged Sima Lin away.
Before long, his agonized screams echoed through the camp.
A thousand cuts.
"Spread the word."
"From now on, all traitors will suffer this punishment."
"Their families will be executed as well."
Zhao Feng's voice was devoid of warmth, full of unmasked loathing.
…
Eastern Hu Royal Court!
Inside the main tent
There was singing and dancing.
The Eastern Hu King sat upon his throne, drinking wine and eating meat, basking in the revelry.
"Great King."
"This expedition into Yan state"
"Our tribe has profited immensely!"
"According to the reports from General Uwu, at least four to five hundred thousand slaves have been captured, most of them women!"
"Our tribe will soon grow even stronger!"
"With these women, our population will see yet another surge!"
"Congratulations, Great King!"
"Our tribe shall reign supreme over the steppes and deserts!"
"No other tribe will be able to rival us!"
…
Voices of flattery filled the tent.
Hearing these praises, the Eastern Hu King's face was full of smug satisfaction.
For Eastern Hu, this was indeed a great victory.
And the spoils were immense.
Not only the captured population
But also the vast amounts of grain, wealth, and, most crucially, the iron weapons so scarce among their people.
"The strength of Eastern Hu is thanks to all of you."
"This king toasts to you all!"
The Eastern Hu King raised his cup, laughing heartily.
"To the Great King!"
Inside the tent, all the Donghu generals raised their cups and shouted in unison.
"I wonder how far Wuwu and the others have advanced."
"It's been days, and there's still no news." The Donghu King set down his cup, his tone carrying a hint of seriousness.
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty."
"With two generals personally leading the troops, along with our 200,000 brave warriors"
"There's no way those Yan people can resist us!" A general responded proudly.
"Exactly!"
"Forget about mere Yan, even Qin what of them?"
"Would they dare challenge our tribe?"
"Our national strength is far superior to theirs!"
"If they dare oppose us, Your Majesty's wrath will wipe them from existence!"
"I vow to serve Your Majesty to the death! Anyone who dares oppose our tribe I will lead the army and destroy them!"
More waves of flattery echoed throughout the tent.
But amid the praise
"Report!"
A panicked voice rang out from outside the tent.
A soldier rushed in, his face full of fear.
"What is the matter? Why are you so flustered?"
The Donghu King's brows furrowed.
"Your Majesty!"
"General Taqiong has returned gravely wounded, retreating from battle!"
"Many of our warriors have also suffered severe injuries."
"Most of them have fled back to the royal court!"
The soldier's voice trembled as he delivered his report.
"What?"
"A retreat?"
"Gravely wounded?"
The Donghu King's brows furrowed deeper, a flash of shock in his expression.
"Your Majesty... I... I have failed you..."
At that moment
A weak voice came from outside the tent.
As the tent flaps were lifted, the once-mighty Donghu general, Taqiong, was carried in by a few Donghu soldiers.
Two arrows still protruded from his body, and his entire figure was drenched in blood.
He looked utterly wretched.
"What happened?"
The Donghu King's frown deepened.
The other Donghu generals also looked on with bewilderment.
They couldn't understand
Their tribe had sent out 200,000 warriors.
How could they have suffered such a crushing defeat?
Who could have inflicted such devastation upon them?
"Your Majesty!"
"It was... it was the Qin army!"
"Of our 200,000 warriors, fewer than 30,000 have returned!"
"The rest were all slain by the Qin army!"
Taqiong trembled as he spoke, his head bowed, not daring to meet the Donghu King's gaze.
"200,000 warriors, and fewer than 30,000 returned?"
"How many troops did the Qin army have?"
The Donghu King shot to his feet, his expression ice-cold.
For the first time, he could no longer remain seated.
Two hundred thousand elite troops
Not just men, but also more than 100,000 warhorses.
Even though Donghu was rich in horses, losing so many at once was still a devastating blow to their national strength.
Not to mention the countless young warriors lost.
"The Qin army had... only a little over 100,000 troops."
Taqiong replied anxiously.
But he quickly added, "Their combat strength is terrifying! Our warriors were no match for them at all!"
"That Qin general, Zhao Feng he's a madman!"
"He relentlessly led his troops in pursuit, giving no quarter!"
"Against the Qin army, our forces stood no chance!" Taqiong trembled as he spoke.
Looking at his fear-stricken face
It was clear he had been utterly traumatized by Zhao Feng's brutal tactics.
The Donghu King's face darkened.
"Two hundred thousand warriors."
"My tribe sent 200,000 warriors, and fewer than 30,000 returned."
"And yet you still dare to come back?"
The Donghu King glared at Taqiong, killing intent surging in his eyes.
"Your Majesty... I am guilty beyond words..." Taqiong dared not refute.
"Has General Wuwu also fallen in battle?" The Donghu King asked coldly.
"General Wuwu was caught and pursued by Zhao Feng. He is most likely dead by now." Taqiong replied.
"Qin... Qin State."
"Did I not instruct you to avoid conflict with the Qin army?"
"Why did you not listen?" The Donghu King asked furiously.
"Your Majesty!"
"It was the Qin army who struck first!"
"They slaughtered our warriors on sight!"
"They showed no mercy!" Taqiong quickly explained.
The Donghu King's expression grew even darker.
"Qin State, how bold of you."
"I originally had no intention of making an enemy of you, yet you dared to attack my warriors?"
"You slaughtered so many of my sons?"
"This is truly unforgivable."
"And that Zhao Feng..."
"I had heard tales of his name before. I never thought he would be so ruthless."
"To massacre my warriors like this."
Seeing the king's anger
The Donghu generals all stepped forward.
"Please, Your Majesty, give the order! I will lead our troops to annihilate the Qin army!"
"Please, Your Majesty, give the order!"
"We will fight to the death against the Qin army!"
The generals shouted in unison.
"Your Majesty!"
"You must not!"
"The Qin army is far too powerful!"
"Their cavalry is even superior to our Zhao Cavalry!"
"And now, they have already reclaimed all of Yan's cities."
"The border must be heavily fortified by now we have no chance!"
"At least, not right now. Our national strength has been gravely weakened..." Taqiong quickly advised.
Having personally witnessed the terror of the Qin cavalry, Taqiong was truly shaken.
And he also understood that their tribe's forces were no match for the Qin army's ruthless efficiency.
"Are you telling me to swallow this humiliation?" The Donghu King said angrily.
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!" Taqiong pleaded once again.
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