"Alright, we will follow Chief of Staff Zhang's advice and withdraw the army immediately." The Evil Dragon Marshal was not a stubborn man; he knew full well what the consequences would be if they clashed head-on with the Heaven Dou Royal Family at this time.
Hearing the commander-in-chief's order, many officers felt a sense of relief as if they had survived a disaster. Their rebel army had survived years of struggle against the empire precisely because they had the means to disappear and protect themselves at any time.
Once they took off their military uniforms, they could be ordinary people of any profession, making it extremely difficult for officials to discover their true identities.
"Judging from the enemy's current movements, there is still one day before the Body Sect's support troops arrive at the battlefield. During this period, we must have a covering force and some soul master experts stay behind to hold the line."
Zhang Lexuan's gaze was firm as she swept her eyes around the tent. "Is there anyone willing to stay behind with me to confront the upcoming experts from the Body Sect?"
"Chief of Staff Zhang, staying behind carries a certain risk. You are still young, how about..." The Evil Dragon Marshal's expression changed, and he couldn't help but try to persuade her.
In everyone's eyes, no matter how talented Zhang Lexuan was, she was currently only a level 90 Titled Douluo who hadn't even had the chance to acquire her ninth spirit ring yet. With her talent, she could achieve much greater things in the future; there was no need for her to risk her life for their rebel army.
Hearing this, Zhang Lexuan shook her head. "No matter what, I still came from Shrek's inner court. Although that Du Busi is a level 98 Super Douluo, given the relationship between Shrek and the Body Sect, I imagine he won't do anything to me."
When the people present heard this, they felt that what Zhang Lexuan said seemed to have some truth to it. Only Wu Feng, sitting in the last seat, knew that Zhang Lexuan had a death wish.
They both came from Shrek Academy. Not long after Wu Feng arrived here, she met this senior sister from the inner court. Although Wu Feng was still technically a rogue student from Shrek, Zhang Lexuan still gave her the greatest care.
After several years together, the two had become close friends. From this little spitfire who couldn't go three sentences without mentioning a certain someone, Zhang Lexuan had come to know the legendary Demon King in a new light and had developed a strong curiosity.
Speaking of which, Huo Yuhao was three or four years younger than the students of Bei Bei and Xu Sanshi's year. To achieve so much at such an age, it was no wonder this little spitfire, Wu Feng, was so devoted to him.
However, that boy Huo Yuhao's stance... was almost in opposition to all of humanity on the continent. The future, I'm afraid...
But perhaps she would not live to see any of it. The moment Zhang Lexuan learned the truth, the gentle and graceful senior sister of the inner court had already died. The person here now was just someone with no home to return to.
"Since Chief of Staff Zhang insists, I will not persuade you further. Please be sure to cherish your life." The Evil Dragon Marshal did not know what had happened to Zhang Lexuan, but from her calm exterior, he seemed to have discerned some hidden story.
From the day Zhang Lexuan joined the Evil Dragon army, she had placed herself in the most dangerous position in every battle, fighting enemies several times stronger than herself, as if she were madly pursuing self-destruction.
Indeed, hadn't Zhang Lexuan thought about fighting her way back to the rebuilt Shrek Academy in Sunfall City, finding Mu En, grabbing him by the collar, and demanding the truth about what happened back then? However, every time she thought of Mu En's earnest teachings, his kind and amiable aged smile, her tense nerves would instantly relax. She had even recalled more than once that little boy who had been so dependent on her, and those eyes full of admiration and attachment.
She couldn't bring herself to fight her way back to Shrek.
How could she possibly do it? She was the one upon whom all the teachers of the inner court had placed their hopes, the one who had received the academy's abundant resources, the one who had received the meticulous care and guidance of the strongest expert in the Sea God's Pavilion. She was the senior sister of Shrek's inner court, destined only to swallow this hatred.
She couldn't find the descendants of the original culprits, and even if she did, what could she do? Kill her with her own hands? How would Bei Bei see her then?
Therefore, she could no longer find a reason to live. She had even made up her mind to burn herself out completely in this battle, to at least let the Heaven Dou Royal Family feel a sliver of her pain.
Just as Zhang Lexuan's thoughts were racing, an urgent report came from outside the tent.
"Report—The Heaven Dou Royal Family's one hundred thousand Imperial Guards have joined the battlefield! The situation is critical!"
"What?" The Evil Dragon Marshal stood up almost instantly, his face extremely grim. "You said the Heaven Dou Royal Family's Imperial Guard is here?"
"Reporting to the Marshal, I saw it with my own eyes. The army of over one hundred thousand soldiers shattered the first line of defense of our formation in a single encounter. According to estimates, there are at least a thousand soul masters among them." the guard reported with a nervous expression.
"The deployment of the Imperial Guard means they don't intend to drag this out any longer..." The Evil Dragon slammed his fist on the table and issued a series of commands to those outside the tent. "Effective immediately, our army will retreat. The rearmost troops are to break up into small units and hide within the city!"
"The troops on the front line must hold back the enemy's advance. Even if it means death, you must block the enemy with your own flesh and blood!"
"The second and third defense lines are to form a pincer formation..."
Just as the Evil Dragon Marshal was reacting swiftly, a commotion suddenly erupted outside the tent.
"What's going on?" Zhang Lexuan frowned. The Evil Dragon army was strictly disciplined; there shouldn't be a disturbance near the command tent.
"It's the Young General, the Young General has come out of seclusion! The Young General has charged out alone!" a guard excitedly came into the command tent to report to the Evil Dragon Marshal and the assembled officers.
"Huanyue?" The Evil Dragon's resolute eyes widened slightly. The reason his army had been able to hold on until today was almost entirely due to his son, who had traveled thousands of miles to reinforce him, taking on the main burden. Just a short while ago, Xie Huanyue had announced he was going into seclusion to break through to the Soul Douluo realm.
"This is too reckless!" Zhang Lexuan's pretty face turned cold. Xie Huanyue and his companions almost never listened to her advice, acting as if they could just rampage through the enemy ranks with their own strength. If they encountered a treacherous enemy who launched a sneak attack, they would inevitably be trapped in a difficult situation.
"I'll go take a look!"
As Zhang Lexuan said this, she immediately rushed out of the command tent. Wu Feng was even faster. The moment she heard the guard's report, Wu Feng had quietly slipped out.
They were all close partners! Even without Huo Yuhao, they would never stand by and watch a partner fall into crisis.
At the same time, a red figure instantly descended upon the battlefield.
When all the soldiers on the Evil Dragon army's side saw this figure, they almost simultaneously erupted in cheers.
Xie Huanyue, along with Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan, appeared on the battlefield. His appearance hadn't changed much from three years ago, he had only grown a few centimeters taller, appearing a bit shorter than Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan beside him.
However, with him as their leader, no one dared to underestimate him. For the past three years, this Young General had turned the tide on multiple occasions, saving the army from crisis.
"You all fall back." Xie Huanyue said faintly to the troops at the forefront, and pushing aside Ji Juechen and Jing Ziyan, he walked slowly toward the enemy army.
"The... the Young General said to fall back!" the vanguard troops quickly relayed.
The Heaven Dou Royal Family's army would not let such a good opportunity pass, especially since they had long heard of the importance of the young man before them to the Evil Dragon Marshal.
Seeing this boy walking towards their army without any defense, the Heaven Dou Royal Family's army was instantly excited.
"Kill him!"
"His head is mine!"
"..."
Xie Huanyue's advancing steps suddenly paused, and his eyes narrowed.
The next moment, an extremely terrifying aura erupted from him, instantly sweeping across the entire battlefield!
Everyone felt as if they had seen a primeval beast. An extreme fear arose spontaneously, and those with weaker mental states fell to the ground almost instantly, losing all will to fight.
An aura similar to Elder Mu's kingly presence, reigning over the world? From a distance, Zhang Lexuan witnessed the shocking scene, her small mouth slightly agape in astonishment.
It's not just the protagonist; the protagonist's group has also made considerable progress. Fatty is already an 80th-level Soul Douluo. Guess what the other members' soul power levels are!