Martial Cultivator

Pine Pavilion Pass.

An old sword immortal with a withered face swept back onto the city tower, holding a head in his hand, which he casually tossed onto the city wall, his expression indifferent.

Though the old sword immortal appeared calm, his long robe was already tattered beyond repair.

Yu Xiyi clicked his tongue. “Martial Uncle Gan, you’ve really picked up this enormous military merit.”

The old sword immortal Gan Tang was one of the leaders of the batch of sword cultivators sent by the Sword Sect to the Northern Frontier. He had made his name sixty years ago, and among the sword immortals of that time, he ranked among the foremost. His lifeblood flying sword was called Murderous Aura, and the path he walked was one of fierce and overbearing sword dao. In those years, while traveling through Great Liang, he had indeed slain many demons that brought calamity to various regions.

Later, the old sword immortal reached the peak of Nepenthe, only one step away from entering the great sword immortal realm, and so he returned to the Sword Sect to enter seclusion. However, after returning to the Sword Sect, an entire sixty-year cycle passed without him stepping into that realm. When the Sword Sect’s Sect Master selected sword cultivators to head to the Northern Frontier this time, he had taken the initiative to request this journey.

On one hand, he wanted to see whether he could use this opportunity to break through to the next realm. On the other hand, this old sword immortal, despite having practiced the sword for many years, still truly regarded himself as a citizen of Great Liang.

The old sword immortal turned his head, glanced at Yu Xiyi whose face was pale, and said indifferently, “Little Yu, this old man thought you would be able to slay the demon princess with your sword and bring fame to the Sword Sect.”

Picking the sore spot, Yu Xiyi felt somewhat embarrassed and chuckled, “Almost, just a little bit short.”

The old sword immortal narrowed his eyes. “Just a little short, and you would have been killed by that woman?”

Yu Xiyi said somewhat helplessly, “Martial Uncle Gan, your flying sword is called Murderous Aura, why is your mouth also full of murderous aura?”

Toward this old sword immortal, Yu Xiyi still held a few parts respect in his heart. In earlier years, when this Martial Uncle Gan was not in seclusion, he had also given him guidance in sword dao.

The old sword immortal ignored him and instead looked toward the woman at the side, cupped his fists slightly, and said with some sincerity, “General Xie’s strategic planning is masterful. This old man admires it.”

Xie Nandu smiled. “It is thanks to Elder Sword Immortal Gan’s profound cultivation realm. Otherwise, even with such arrangements, I fear it would have ended in failure.”

The old sword immortal smiled it off.

Yu Xiyi came closer and said with a grin, “Martial Uncle Gan is indeed remarkable. In today’s world, below the great sword immortal realm, who would dare say they can definitely defeat Martial Uncle Gan?”

It was meant as flattery, but Yu Xiyi accidentally struck the wrong note. Gan Tang’s greatest wish in life was to step into a higher realm of sword dao, so such words were naturally unpleasant to hear.

Thus, the old sword immortal merely glared at him and flicked his sleeve before leaving.

Yu Xiyi rubbed his head, somewhat helpless.

Xie Nandu turned and asked, “This Sword Immortal Gan, does he have any chance in this lifetime to take another step forward?”

Yu Xiyi glanced around, confirmed that this Martial Uncle was no longer present, then shook his head. “Very difficult. Martial Uncle has lingered at this point for sixty years. Without a true moment of enlightenment, he likely has no chance of reaching a higher realm.”

Speaking of this, Yu Xiyi also felt a trace of shared melancholy.

In this world, who knew how many sword cultivators spent their entire lives hoping to reach the end of Nepenthe, yet in the end, those who could truly get there were very few.

Many things were not accomplished simply because one wished them to be.

Xie Nandu nodded; she also understood this point.

Just like the northern campaign, it required the right timing, the right location, and the right people -none could be lacking.

Yu Xiyi asked, “Will there be no battles for the time being?”

Xie Nandu did not answer this question, but instead said on her own, “Actually, Liu Xiang should not have been killed. His command ability is lacking, if he were still in command next time, he would be easier to deal with.”

Yu Xiyi frowned. “But you still gave the order to kill him.”

“Yes. Keeping him alive would be beneficial to the overall situation, but we need a great victory. We need his head to boost morale, because the battles ahead will only become more difficult... Besides, I also needed to kill him, because I need this military merit.”

Xie Nandu was very frank and did not hide anything.

Although it was Gan Tang who killed Liu Xiang, she was the one commanding the army, so the military merit naturally belonged to her.

Yu Xiyi felt somewhat lost, unable to make sense of it, and could only mutter, “You two are always like this, thinking about so many things others can’t understand. It’s really exhausting.”

Xie Nandu just smiled and said nothing.

Yu Xiyi thought for a moment, opened his mouth as if wanting to ask something, but in the end did not ask.

Xie Nandu knew what he wanted to say and said calmly, “When the next battle begins, these passes will most likely not be able to be held. This is not a matter of military strategy, but...”

At this point, Xie Nandu paused, then changed the topic and said, “Great Sword Immortal Yu can return south.”

“At least go to the General’s Office.”

Xie Nandu said, “I also need to return to the General’s Office.”

Yu Xiyi gritted his teeth and asked, “Those sword cultivators from my Sword Sect, next time... how many will die?”

“Many.”

Xie Nandu glanced at Yu Xiyi and said calmly, “But even more soldiers from the frontier army will die, so Great Sword Immortal Yu, do not harbor resentment.”

Yu Xiyi gave a bitter smile. “Naturally, there’s no resentment. Presumably before they came, they were already prepared. Moreover, over these years, how many people has Great Liang lost for them? They can die as well.”

After a pause, Yu Xiyi smiled. “Even I, Yu Xiyi, can die.”

Xie Nandu looked at him and said something somewhat cold, “If Great Sword Immortal Yu is to die, it must be worth it. In any case, not now.”

Yu Xiyi was not angered and only smiled. “My death doesn’t matter, but if I die, can that stinking brat not die?”

Xie Nandu said, “I also do not want him to die.”

......

......

The remaining ten thousand or so demon infantry returned to the depths of the desolate north and regrouped with the gathering demon army.

The military tents were set up again. Several great generals of the demon race, all with distinguished military achievements, listened to the reports brought back by the demon scouts, their expressions dark.

Liu Xiang was dead. In their view, he deserved to die. With two hundred thousand troops deployed, ending in such a result, his death on the battlefield was only fitting.

However, after Liu Xiang’s death, who would command the army next was what they truly cared about.

In terms of prestige and military merit within the demon race, each of them was actually qualified.

But who would ultimately take command depended on the will of that Demon Emperor.

Outside the military tents, beyond the demon army’s encampment, on a low hill, Autumn stood there, her expression calm.

A figure appeared at her side, it was precisely the demon High Priest.

The High Priest glanced over there and shook his head. “Liu Xiang still underestimated that woman. I’m not surprised he met such an end.”

Autumn asked directly, “Who is the new commander?”

The High Priest smiled and asked, “Who does Your Highness think it is?”

Autumn said nothing.

The High Priest said, “Does Your Highness think His Majesty might personally lead the campaign?”

Autumn glanced at the High Priest and shook her head. “In Royal Emperor’s eyes, there has always been only one opponent. If the Great Liang Emperor does not move, neither will he.”

The High Priest smiled. “It seems Your Highness understands His Majesty very well.”

Autumn said, “Liu Xiang taking command was already somewhat forced. Since he had commanded before, it barely made sense this time. Unfortunately, he is already dead. As for the remaining people, no matter who takes the position of commander, it will be difficult to convince the others. Even if they appear convinced, it will only be lip service, not true acceptance.”

The High Priest sighed. “So this time, it must be someone whom no one can refuse to accept.”

Autumn said nothing.

......

......

Far away at Southern Frontier City, there was also a demon army fully prepared for departure. At the very front of the formation was a phoenix carriage, and within it sat a woman in a red dress, looking ahead.

Some things, after many years, are forgotten.

Just as Liu Xiang had won battles for many years and people forgot that his ability in commanding troops was actually ordinary, this woman had lived in seclusion for many years in the Southern Frontier, and people had forgotten that she was actually very capable at leading troops in battle.