Yamafu Military Affairs

Chapter 647 Lama
Outside Xijing City, under the supervision of Prince Li Dingguo of Jin, in the Sixteen Camps of Anxi.

"It's the general! Quickly move the barricades!"

More than a hundred cavalrymen galloped back to camp, the ground rumbling. Li Dingguo led the charge, his bright red steed under the saddle dazzling the eye.

The gates were wide open, and within a dozen breaths, the menacing soldiers entered the camp, charging relentlessly toward the most conspicuous blood-red tent.

Qin Huai watched as Li Dingguo, who was at the front, dismounted, picked up his long sword, and opened the tent. He stopped and hid on the outer edge. His eyes flashed slightly, and countless tiny snakes and wind spread out from him, covering the entire camp.

【Word of Power - Serpent of the Vacuum】: Releases the electrical signals stored in the central nervous system, transforming them into an invisible serpent spirit to explore the surrounding environment and reproduce it in the brain. The lower the resistance of the surrounding environment and the more obvious the change in the electric field, the better the reproduction effect.

Note: If you understand the magical numbers 3, 6, and 9, you will have the key to the universe!
【Word of Power - Kamaitachi】: The caster constructs a large domain centered on themselves, establishing complex sound channels within the domain, thereby gaining control over all the subtle sounds within the domain.

The purer the dragon blood of the Tianrui species, the larger its domain. Legend has it that ancient dragons, through this power of words, could hear the whispers of humans from the heavens above.

Note: Listen to the moonlit, quiet night; how can the sounds of nature and the wind in the pines be spared?

With the snake swarm and Feng Liu's meticulous feedback, even if Qin Huai stood ten miles away, he could clearly know what was happening in the blood tent through his extraordinary perception.

“Sa Shi”.

With a harsh, dry greeting, Qin Huai "saw" an old lama sitting upright in the center of the blood-stained tent, wearing a black sheepskin coat.

The trumpeter had a small, yellowish-brown drum hanging from its waist, and a necklace made of small bone biscuits around its neck and on its wrists.

Hearing someone enter, the lama opened his eyes, revealing a pair of pure black pupils beneath his tall rooster-comb hat, staring intently at Li Dingguo, who was holding a knife and on guard with a solemn expression.

"General, has something happened?"

"Yuan Er, the commander of the Heavenly Expeditionary Camp, led a team of Blood Guards to wipe out the Qingcha Sect. When they were escorting the evil cultivators to the execution ground, they were ambushed by the culprit and killed. Before leaving, that villain left a blooming blue lotus illusion at the Xijing execution ground, publicly provoking the court. I feared it was a diversionary tactic, so I specially rushed back on horseback. Master Sa, is the lotus seed alright?"

Li Dingguo stared at the bronze coffin inside the blood-stained tent, his long sword showing no sign of being sheathed.

"No trace of bandits was found near the camp, so the lotus seed should be safe. The Qingcha Sect is just a small sect, and even if those bewitched lotus followers offered up all their lifespans and blood, the green lotus seed would not bloom. It's not a big deal. The culprit, however, [Kucha Zi], may have really been hiding his true abilities, but he shouldn't be one of those half-immortals in the Hundred Lotus Sect. Otherwise, His Majesty should have noticed it long ago."

As the old lama spoke, he stretched out his withered, bony hand and pushed open the cracked bronze coffin.

buzz~
The heavy, scarlet tent moved without wind, and specks of spiritual light seeped out from it, gathering in the bronze coffin and instantly transforming into a pool of blood.

Inside the bronze coffin filled with crimson blood, there was a vibrant, pure lotus flower, half-open and half-closed, radiating a rich vitality. It was a miniature version of the giant blue lotus from Qin Huai's original memories!

"Master Sa, do you really think these lotus seeds, which the Hundred Lotus Demons regard as priceless treasures, can help the Emperor overcome this calamity?"

Li Dingguo stared at the delicate blue lotus, no bigger than the palm of his hand, his tone somewhat inexplicable.

"Military strategy is a way of engaging in worldly affairs, cultivating one's spirit and body, fighting in battle, vanquishing bandits, slaying demons and evil spirits, protecting one's home and territory. However, without cultivating one's life force, one's lifespan will not exceed a hundred years. Your Majesty was born into poverty and rose from humble beginnings, so your foundation was not strong. Coupled with years of bloody battles, you have suffered from the five to seven injuries. Even a man of iron would find it difficult to endure until now. If Your Majesty had not been born with the Greedy Wolf star in your destiny and had not brought the Seven Killings star into the palace and gained the favor of the God of War, you would probably have been worn down to death on the battlefield by the Jianzhou Jurchens fifty years ago. How could you have created this unparalleled achievement?"

The old lama seemed to be an old acquaintance of the Great Western Emperor, speaking without restraint. He pointed to the blue lotus in the coffin and said, "Your Majesty's time is nearing its end. If you wish to preserve your imperial body and continue the dynasty, you must pass the Trial of the God of War, fight your way out of the mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and become a true immortal. Although the Hundred Lotus Sect is an unpardonable heretical sect, the lotus seeds that can only mature by absorbing the lifeblood and bones of the living are rare and precious. They are full of vitality and can heal the soul. If Your Majesty carries a few more, you will surely be able to use the pure energy of the Hundred Lotus to dilute the bloodlust of the Asuras, successfully ascend to immortality, and live as long as the heavens!"

"I hope so. Over the years, that shepherd boy from Da Shun, relying on his vast territory and abundant resources, has gathered many talented people and has been pressing us step by step, which is quite hateful. If it weren't for the fact that those scoundrels from the Southern Ming and Northern Qing are not easy to deal with and have tied up many Da Shun soldiers, my Asura Blade would have been upgraded several times over. Go and see the Great God Si Chen for me first. If I'm lucky, I might even gain some good fortune."

Perhaps seeing that Qinglian was unharmed, Li Dingguo, who had become slightly complacent, patted the precious sword in his hand and said to the old lama, "What should we do with the Hundred Lotus Demon [Kuchazi] who is still at large, as seen by Master Yisa?"

"The general makes the decision. I can cast a divination for you to predict the whereabouts of that sorcerer."

Having said that, he extended his five fingers, which were bent into claws, and a lustrous skull hidden under the blood curtain was instantly drawn into his hand. Drops of bright red blood floated out from the coffin and were drawn on the very clean human skull.

"!"

As the old lama exhaled a breath of black smoke, enveloping blood and bone, a cracking sound rang out, and the skull in the old lama's hand split open with seams.

The old lama, his expression as calm as still water, examined the cracks on his skull. For some reason, he immediately thought of the blood-soaked camp he was currently in.

"General, six feet seven inches to the left rear, kill!"

Before he could finish speaking, the experienced Li Dingguo didn't hesitate. His long sword swept through the air, and an extremely fierce crimson sword light pierced through the tent, shattering the humanoid afterimage that was now just a few specks of blue light.

"Huh? So accurate?"

Qin Huai's figure slowly emerged in the distance, and the feeling of the camp in front of him changed drastically. Military flags fluttered and murderous aura soared into the sky, as if Li Dingguo's knife had triggered some switch, turning the Anxi Sixteen Camps into a ferocious beast with bared fangs and sharp claws in an instant!
While Li Dingguo was talking to the old lama, Qin Huai, who had been using the snakes and the wind to shroud the entire camp, gathered a lot of information, including the words that the drill instructors repeatedly used when training new recruits, which gave him a better understanding of the fruit.

Since the Tianqi Explosion, the Ming Dynasty's dragon veins have been severely damaged, the gates of the three realms have been opened, and the land's veins have become chaotic, making it extremely prone to the growth of evil spirits and miasma. There is spiritual energy, but even more so, there is an endless stream of demons and evil spirits.
At the same time, various cultivation sects that struggled to survive by relying on the power of evil spirits and demons gradually flourished. The three religions and nine schools of thought, the five elements and eight professions, and the various magic and supernatural powers were dazzling. Among them, the most powerful were the four schools of Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism and military strategy that have existed since ancient times.

Military strategy is a method of engaging in worldly affairs and a way of killing. It does not require any additional supernatural power. One only needs body tempering techniques to temper the physical body a thousand times, draw the blood and evil of the battlefield into the body, create a divine weapon body, quickly form combat power, and kill with astonishing speed.

Whether it was Xiang Yu, the Hegemon-King of Chu-Han Contention, or Han Xin, the God of War, or Guan Yu, the God of War who shook China at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, or Lü Bu, the Marquis of Wen, they were all powerful military figures who had established great achievements. Although they did not live to be over a hundred years old due to their lack of self-cultivation, they were undoubtedly the best choice for the common people at the bottom of society.

It was precisely because of the existence of military strategists skilled in warfare that the Ming court had the confidence to suppress the evil demon army surging out from the Gate of the Three Realms after the Tianqi Explosion. At the heavy cost of losing all three major camps and the Japanese pirate defense army, the Ming court sealed the Gate of the Three Realms and protected the capital.

Unfortunately, after that, the Beijing Garrison became a mere shell of its former self. The Jianzhou Jurchens seized the opportunity, raised the Seven Grievances, rebelled against the Ming Dynasty, and marched south, approaching Shanhaiguan within a few years.

The Gate to the Three Realms, sealed by the Ming court at the cost of half its resources, reopened when Emperor Chongzhen, the Chongzhen Emperor, and Li Zicheng, the rebel leader, breached the capital. This was due to the Chongzhen Emperor's own blood sacrifice, which triggered a resurgence of the dragon veins. Countless demons and monsters then occupied the Beijing-Tianjin area, becoming a formidable barrier between the Northern Qing and the Great Shun. "It seems the Apocalyptic explosion shattered the barrier between the two dimensions, giving those strange, celestial powers an outlet, which explains the rapid pace of their invasion of the human realm."

Qin Huai stared at the blood-red tent not far away, lost in thought.

"My lads, come out and meet the enemy at once!"

As soon as he finished speaking, hundreds of valiant soldiers equipped with heavy armor, crossbows, talisman arrows, and fast horses poured out from all parts of the camp and immediately formed a military formation behind Li Dingguo. The thick, bloody aura almost solidified into a tangible substance.

The rather mystical old lama also rode a jet-black wild yak and slowly walked out of the blood-stained tent, staring intently at Qin Huai, whose illusion had been seen through.

"These are absurd words, meant to deceive the heavens and the sea. It is the general's keen intuition that has allowed such a Hundred Lotus Half-Immortal to infiltrate our Great Western Capital!"

As he spoke, the old lama gently raised his bony right hand, and the small, yellowish-white drum at his waist immediately sounded. The camp, shrouded in the light rain, became extremely dark, and the sky above everyone's heads instantly turned black, so dark that not a single ray of light could be seen.

"kill!"

At the same time, Li Dingguo roared, and a dense aura of malevolence gathered into a scarlet light that completely enveloped Qin Huai's figure, making him appear like a bright and dazzling light bulb in the darkness.

"The Sumeru Illusionary Realm?"

Qin Huai glanced at the old lama whose background was unknown, and then his True Qi surged out, causing billowing black smoke and raging dark clouds to appear in the sky.

"Roar!"

With a deafening roar and thunderous sound, scales and claws appeared in the dark clouds. Suddenly, a huge dragon head emerged, with thorny horns, a beard, and ferocious fangs. It opened its mouth wide and suddenly spewed out Samadhi Fire, instantly clearing away the heavy, turbid ape blood energy.

All the soldiers were dumbfounded and trembling.

"What's there to be afraid of? The Ming Dynasty's dragon vein has long since perished. This is just an illusion created by the Hundred Lotus Demon!"

Li Dingguo let out a cold snort, stabilizing the morale of his troops. The Seven Killings Demon-Slaying Blade on the saddle rack was drawn by the evil energy and fell into his hand, the blade drawing out a blood-moon-like radiance.

It should have been described as a crescent moon, but the blade's arc was long and wide, making it far too magnificent and imposing.

Such magnificent radiance appeared under the dark sky, making even the ferocious dragon head look like a mere backdrop, while the sun, obscured by rain clouds, could only remain silent in the face of it.

The sky was dark and gloomy, with only the blood moon shining down.

Qin Huai raised an eyebrow, drew his Sin Dragon Crescent Blade to block the crescent moon of blood, his feet planted firmly in the ground, causing the surrounding ground to explode and crack.

Li Dingguo advanced aggressively, employing the "dragging sword technique" and the "Azure Dragon Turns Over," unleashing a full-force attack under the blood moon. His imposing aura at the moment of striking out even overshadowed Qin Huai's restrained ferocity.

But no matter how hard he pressed the blade down, Qin Huai's crescent-shaped blade, pressed against the base of the swallowing blade, remained motionless and showed no sign of yielding.

"How is that possible? This strike combined the strength of the sixteen battalions of Anxi, even the Emperor couldn't withstand it head-on. You bunch of smooth-talking devils, what makes you think you can do this?!"

Li Dingguo felt a chill run down his spine, and a surge of murderous aura rushed into the broadsword in his hand like a flowing stream of blood.

"You thief, prepare to die!"

The two broadswords from the Spring and Autumn Period rubbed together, producing a deafening sound.

His blood surged, and Li Dingguo felt hotter than burning coals. His heart was filled with rage, and a pure, extreme desire for destruction overflowed from his eyes.

"Out of control."

Qin Huai exhaled and slashed down with his sword. The powerful energy surged and repeatedly washed over the surrounding land, making the ground sink deeper and deeper, as hard as rock. The sword light flared up, and together with the Qi dragon claw above his head, it directly cleaved Li Dingguo away.

"Blood will settle the land, only killing can end all evil!"

With his toes touching the ground, Li Dingguo gradually dissipated the force and stabilized his body. He then shouted loudly and unleashed the "Asura Body Forging Technique." The vast blood essence and the gathered military formation's baleful aura merged into one within his body, circulating as smoothly as if they were his own limbs.

Because the soldiers' cultivation methods differ, the military formation's aura is often impure, making it difficult to control precisely. However, the "Asura Body Forging Technique" is a unique technique bestowed by Si Chen [Blood Asura], which uses blood aura as a hub to connect and mobilize soldiers, making it perfectly suited for military formations.

For Li Dingguo, he didn't care about the ferocious Qi Dragon that was all show and no substance. In his view, the only way to determine the superiority of the two great swords was through a pure contest of martial arts skills and fundamental abilities.

—Perhaps we should also add a contest of fighting spirit. People with high fighting spirit are often able to become stronger when faced with strong opponents, and are unyielding. They may even make progress in the midst of fierce battles. In this respect, Li Dingguo has unparalleled confidence.

All the military techniques for body tempering throughout the world are easy to learn but difficult to master.

But Li Dingguo, who had fought in the military for seventy years, conquering the east and west, killing both Jurchen Tartars and corrupt officials of the Southern Ming Dynasty, was undoubtedly a true battlefield demon!

How to stop the fighting? Only by killing!

Not far away, an old lama holding a leather drum had begun to sing a deep and rhythmic Tibetan song.

(End of this chapter)