Thirty-two
At dawn, Zhan Zhao summoned his generals for a meeting. The atmosphere inside the tent was heavy. Generals such as Di Qing and Agula stood on both sides, and all eyes were on Zhan Zhao.
"Gentlemen," Zhan Zhao unfolded the map, "according to the latest intelligence, Chai Siyi has set up three lines of defense in the Ailao Mountains. The first is the poisonous miasma forest near the Black Miao Village, the second is the rolling stone formation at Broken Soul Cliff, and the third is the main peak where the Holy Altar is located."
Agula added, "The Poisonous Forest is teeming with Gu worms, making it difficult for ordinary soldiers to pass. The Broken Soul Cliff is an even more formidable natural barrier; one man can hold it against ten thousand."
Di Qing frowned: "If we launch a direct attack, the casualties will likely be heavy."
Zhan Zhao's gaze swept over the generals: "Therefore, we must use strategy. Chief Agula, do you have a way to get through the poisonous miasma forest?"
Agula pondered for a moment and said, "My tribe has a secret medicine that can ward off miasma. However, the quantity is limited, enough for only a hundred people."
"A hundred men are enough." Zhan Zhao pointed to a hidden path on the map. "We can send an elite force to infiltrate from here and take the altar directly."
Di Qing said worriedly, "It's too risky. If we're discovered, there's no going back."
"Therefore, someone needs to launch a feint attack from the front." Zhan Zhao looked at Di Qing, "Please lead the main force to launch a feint attack at Broken Soul Cliff to draw the rebels' attention."
With the plan finalized, Zhan Zhao personally selected one hundred elite soldiers. These soldiers were all skilled warriors, each with exceptional abilities.
Before his departure, Zhan Zhao handed a secret letter to Di Qing: "General, if I do not return within three days, please deliver this letter to Bianjing."
Di Qing solemnly accepted the document: "Take care, Commander."
That night, Zhan Zhao led a small team of a hundred men and set off quietly. Agula personally led the way, following a little-known path deep into the Ailao Mountains.
Mist filled the dense forest, and strange fluorescent lights flickered among the trees. Agula whispered, "These lights are poisonous insects. Everyone, follow me closely and don't touch them."
The group trudged through the dense forest, with venomous snakes frequently dangling from the treetops, which Zhan Zhao gently deflected with the tip of his sword. The deeper they went, the thicker the miasma became, and even after taking miasma-repelling medicine, the soldiers still felt dizzy and lightheaded.
As they traveled into the night, a strange noise suddenly came from ahead. Zhan Zhao raised his hand to signal the group to stop and listened intently.
"It's a patrol," Agura whispered. "About twenty men."
Zhan Zhao thought for a moment and then made a hand gesture. The soldiers understood and quickly dispersed into the bushes.
The patrol, carrying torches, approached. Leading them was a burly man with a face covered in tattoos. Just as they passed the bushes where Zhan Zhao was hiding, several dark figures suddenly darted out and silently wiped out the entire patrol.
"Put on your armor," Zhan Zhao ordered.
The group changed into rebel armor and continued their journey. With this disguise, the rest of the journey went much more smoothly.
At dawn, the group finally traversed the poisonous miasma forest and arrived at the foot of the Broken Soul Cliff. Looking up, the cliff face was steep and sheer, with only a narrow stone staircase winding its way up.
Agula pointed to the top of the cliff: "The mechanism for the rolling stone trap is located up there. If we launch a direct assault, the defenders on the cliff will push the boulders down."
Zhan Zhao observed for a moment, then suddenly said, "I have a way."
He untied the rope from his waist and tied it to the hilt of his giant sword. Gathering his inner strength, the giant sword shot towards the cliff top like a meteor, embedding itself deeply into a crevice in the rock. Zhan Zhao tested the rope's strength and said to the others, "I'll go up first; you wait here for the signal."
Before anyone could object, Zhan Zhao had already begun climbing up the rope. The cliff face was slippery, and a slight misstep could send him tumbling into the abyss. But he moved with agility, as nimble as a monkey, and in no time he was near the top.
Just then, footsteps sounded from the top of the cliff. Zhan Zhao immediately pressed himself against the rock face, holding his breath and focusing his attention.
Two rebel soldiers walked to the edge of the cliff to inspect it.
"I heard the fighting down there is very intense."
"Don't worry, with the rolling stone formation in place, even an army of 100,000 wouldn't be able to break through."
Zhan Zhao seized the opportunity and suddenly leaped to the top of the cliff. The giant sword flashed with two cold lights, and two soldiers fell to the ground.
He quickly located the mechanism of the rolling stones – a thick wooden bar wedged several boulders. Once the bar was removed, the boulders would roll off.
Instead of destroying the mechanism, Zhan Zhao took out a signal flare and lit it.
Upon seeing the signal, the team below the cliff immediately began their ascent. At the same time, Di Qing's troops, who were feigning an attack from the front, intensified their offensive.
Shouts of battle echoed from below the cliff, drawing more defenders to the front. Zhan Zhao led the soldiers who had just reached the summit, silently eliminating the remaining defenders and charging straight towards the altar.
The altar, a massive stone structure, stood atop the main peak. Chai Siyi stood in the center of the altar, surrounded by an eerie red light. Before her, a pool of blood teemed with venomous insects, emitting a nauseating stench.
"Zhan Zhao, you've finally arrived." Chai Siyi turned around, a strange smile on her face. "Unfortunately, it's too late."
She formed a hand seal, and the poisonous insects in the blood pool suddenly surged violently. Even more chillingly, a thick black mist rose around the altar, enveloping the entire mountaintop.
"It's the Myriad Poisons Formation!" Agula exclaimed upon arriving. "Retreat!"
Zhan Zhao stepped forward, his giant sword pointing directly at Chai Siyi: "Chai Siyi, it's not too late to turn back now."
Chai Siyi laughed wildly: "Turn back? From the moment my brother was captured by you, there has been no turning back!"
From within the black mist, countless Gu worms surged forth like a tide. The soldiers brandished their weapons to defend themselves, but there were simply too many Gu worms, and soon some were bitten, letting out shrill screams.
Zhan Zhao channeled his inner strength, and the giant sword gleamed with a faint golden light. Wherever the sword light passed, the Gu worms turned to ashes. But more Gu worms followed one after another, seemingly without end.
"This can't go on!" Agula exclaimed urgently, "The Myriad Poisons Formation will exhaust our internal energy!"
Zhan Zhao's gaze swept across the entire altar, and he suddenly noticed a bronze mirror hanging above it. The mirror faced the blood pool directly, and its surface was covered with strange runes.
"The key to breaking the formation lies in that bronze mirror!" Zhan Zhao shouted, leaping towards the altar.
Chai Siyi's expression changed drastically: "Stop him!"
Several black-clad cultists rushed out from the shadows, heading straight for Zhan Zhao. But Zhan Zhao's swordsmanship was divine; his Juque sword transformed into a golden rainbow, unstoppable in its path.
Just as Zhan Zhao was about to touch the bronze mirror, Chai Siyi suddenly bit her finger and dripped her blood into the blood pool. The blood pool immediately boiled, and a huge black shadow slowly rose up.
It was a gigantic Gu worm unlike any I had ever seen before, its body covered in a hard carapace, spewing poisonous mist from its mouth.
"The Gu King!" Agula's face turned ashen. "She actually cultivated a Gu King!"
The Gu King let out a piercing screech and lunged at Zhan Zhao. Zhan Zhao raised his sword to meet it, and the Juque sword clashed with the Gu King's claws, producing a metallic clang.
Even more terrifying, the Gu King's poisonous mist caused the surrounding soldiers to collapse one after another. Even Zhan Zhao felt dizzy and his internal energy circulation became sluggish.
"Watch out, Inspector!" A soldier suddenly rushed forward, shielding Zhan Zhao from the Gu King's fatal blow.
Zhan Zhao's eyes widened in fury, and his inner strength suddenly erupted. The giant sword shone brightly with golden light, and with one strike, he severed the head of the Gu King.
Almost simultaneously, he leaped into the air and shattered the bronze mirror.
The moment the bronze mirror shattered, the Myriad Gu Formation collapsed. The black mist dissipated, and the Gu worms retreated like a tide.
Chai Siyi coughed up a mouthful of blood and staggered backward, uttering, "Impossible...this is impossible..."
Zhan Zhao stood with his sword drawn, his body covered in wounds, but his eyes remained resolute: "Chai Siyi, surrender."
Chai Siyi gave a bitter laugh and suddenly jumped off the cliff. Zhan Zhao tried to stop her, but it was too late.
The battle was over. The soldiers began clearing the battlefield and treating the wounded.
Zhan Zhao stood on the edge of the cliff, gazing in the direction where Chai Siyi had fallen, but felt no joy of victory. Although this battle had quelled the rebellion in the southern border, he knew that the crisis in the court had only just begun.
"Supervisor," Di Qing arrived with the main force, "the main rebel force has surrendered."
Zhan Zhao nodded: "Thank you for handling the aftermath, General. I must return to the capital immediately."
Di Qing asked, puzzled, "Why the rush?"
Zhan Zhao looked north, his gaze deep and thoughtful: "I'm afraid Bianjing can't wait any longer."
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