Free Web NovelChapter 303 - Flame Dragon Burns the Heavens, War Begins
In front of the white military camp, more and more border army cultivators caught the refreshing medicinal fragrance. They had never smelled anything like that before! They hurried over, surrounding the place until it was completely packed.
One cultivator was filled with shock. “W-what pill is this?”
Another person shook their head excitedly. “I don’t know. Just from smelling the scent, my old injuries seem to be recovering!”
In the crowd, Zhang Shan was so excited he could barely stay coherent. “I-I... I know! This is... the Emerald Condensation Pill! Sister Murong gave it to me before, I remember very clearly, this is the Emerald Condensation Pill!”
“It’s not just the Emerald Condensation Pill, I also smelled the Yi Wood Pill!”
“And the Wondrous Clarity Pill, Sister Murong gave me that to eat too!”
For a moment, many cultivators who had received pills from Murong Yan immediately recognized them. Everyone’s breathing became extremely heavy. These three types of pills had long been revered by the cultivators in the army as divine medicine. Having one was akin to being given an extra life.
Unfortunately, Murong Yan’s pills had almost run out, and only a very few individuals had the honor to taste these pills. However, now, they could actually be mass-produced! This meant that from this day forward, casualties on the battlefield would be greatly reduced, and moreover, with an unending supply of pills, a single cultivator could do the work of a few.
Zhang Shan murmured to himself, “So, Vanguard Gu wasn’t lying when he said he had a way?”
At this moment, everyone reacted. Vanguard Gu really did not deceive us!
Earlier, they had strongly supported Gu Han because of Feng Xi, his battle achievements, and their extreme dissatisfaction with the Yudan Sect. As for the solution he mentioned, they also thought it would be the same as before, providing those ordinary healing pills.
On the outskirts of the crowd, Murong Yan ecstatically slapped Shen Xuan on the shoulder. “I told you there’s nothing my brother can’t do!”
Shen Xuan winced in pain, cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He grimaced as he stuffed an Emerald Condensation Pill into his mouth. Since the pills could be mass-produced, there was no need to be frugal with them from now on.
If Junior Sister likes to slap, then I’ll let her! I’ll just treat it as body tempering in advance!
***
In a golden military camp, Fatty looked at Liao Zheng with surprise. “Done? So fast?”
Earlier, he felt he had been cheated by Old Liao. After thinking it over, he decided he had lost out big time. When he finally found Old Liao today, he demanded a title even bigger than grand vanguard, preferably a marquise!
Old Liao tried to make excuses at first, but unable to shake Fatty off, he eventually agreed to help.
Old Liao laughed heartily. “Done! A few of us just mentioned it to the princess, and Her Highness agreed. From today onward, you are the tenth marquis of the Great Flame Border Army!”
Fatty was taken aback and felt something was off. You just went out less than fifteen minutes ago and it’s done? Isn’t that too hasty?
“There’s no ceremony?”
“Everything is simplified during wartime!”
“What about the marquise’s seal?”
“Carve it yourself!”
The more Fatty asked, the darker his face became. “Then, what kind of marquis am I?”
“Whatever you want!”
Fatty’s face turned darker than before. Old Liao is so wicked!
Just as he was about to grab Old Liao and ask clearly, a commotion arose outside. After asking around, they learned the new alchemists had produced their first batch of pills through repeated experimentation.
Fatty’s smile was like a snake’s. “Old Liao, come on, let’s go pay respects!”
***
The moment Gu Han arrived at the central military camp, a sea of people tightly surrounded him, full of fervent admiration and reverence.
“Vanguard Gu!”
“Vanguard Gu!”
In the distance, cultivators from various armies and camps continued to gather, their numbers far exceeding those from the day Gu Han had slain those few war gods.
Old Liao appeared a bit dumbfounded. “What’s going on?”
Fatty ignored him, feeling a slight pang of sourness. He had thought of completely overshadowing Gu Han by securing the title of marquis, but looking at it now, Gu Han’s standing was already far beyond his imagination. Forget a marquis, even a prince wouldn’t matter.
At this moment, several other marquises came over, each with joy on their faces. “Old Liao, make sure to kowtow properly.”
“A real man keeps his word!”
Old Liao was dumbfounded. “It’s just a kowtow, why would you care about such a thing?”
The ability to mass-produce these three types of pills could definitely change the course of war. He finally understood why Gu Han had made such a bold claim, saying he could reduce casualties tenfold. These pills were the source of his confidence!
At the same time, Gu Han ran out, unable to bear the crowd’s enthusiasm any longer. He coincidentally arrived right beside them.
He smiled very amiably. “Marquis Liao? You’re here?”
Old Liao instantly flushed bright red as he gritted his teeth. “Your pills are truly excellent! With them, the border army will lose far fewer people! I shall keep my word, a bet is a bet. Today, in front of everyone, I will kowtow to you!”
With that, he cupped his fists, lowered his body, and prepared to kneel.
Gu Han supported his arm while chuckling. “Marquis Liao, my memory isn’t great. I don’t know what you’re talking about. What bet? What kowtow? I’ve forgotten all about it!”
Fatty curled his lip. You know how to forget? I bet that if Yun Lie offended you, you’d hold a grudge against him for life!
Suddenly, someone said, full of approval, “Good, Feng Kid’s eyes are indeed very good, better than all of us!”
Not far away, someone had appeared without anyone noticing. He was dressed in a green robe, with an imposing bearing and full of heroic spirit. Although he didn’t release his aura, everyone could still feel a trace of the saint's might. It was Yun Zhan!
Everyone quickly saluted. “Greetings, Prince!”
Upon hearing the title, Gu Han immediately deduced the identity of the person before him. He also performed a salute, secretly feeling amused. “Senior.”
Is Yun Fan really his biological son?
Yun Zhan smiled. “There’s no need for formalities. That brat Yun Fan even kept this from me!”
Gu Han also smiled. “Senior, if it was revealed, it wouldn’t be a surprise anymore.”
Yun Zhan sounded somewhat emotional. “These pills are of extraordinary significance. I didn’t expect you would be willing to give them up.”
Those three pill formulas had already been known to hundreds of people. No matter how strictly the empire protected them, there would always be a day they leaked sooner or later. Yun Fan also kept the unpublished ones, which was equivalent to giving them to the Great Flame Empire for free. Gu Han’s actions were tantamount to giving up immense benefits.
Gu Han shook his head. “There’s nothing to be hesitant about. My senior sister helps me, so I would help her back. It’s just that simple.”
Yun Zhan fell silent for a moment. “Feng Kid got it right. The Great Flame Empire owes you a tremendous debt of gratitude! Hmm... Oh! How about I’ll give you the title of prince?”
Gu Han politely declined. “Senior, I don’t like being constrained. I only came here to help my senior sister. Once the war situation here stabilizes, I will leave. If you feel bad, just look after Senior Xue for me.”
Yun Zhan was slightly disappointed, but he also knew that someone like Gu Han couldn’t be contained. Forget the title prince, not even the throne could keep him.
He immediately promised, “Rest assured. Xue Mao is a talented individual. Even without you, as long as he is within the territory of the Great Flame Empire, no one would dare harm a single hair on him.”
Fatty couldn’t hold back any longer. “Senior... I am Fu Yulin from the Central Continent, with nine rings of the Dao Bell, unworthy of mention. Uhm, I am sworn brothers with Gu Han. What’s his is mine. Ahem... that prince position, since he doesn’t want it, giving it to me would be the same thing.”
Gu Han had expected this. Given Fatty’s character, it would be strange if he didn’t say something like that!
Yun Zhan glanced at him. “You’re not bad. Your ancestor is Fu Dahai, right? I had a passing acquaintance with him back in the day.”
Upon hearing this, everyone wanted to laugh but held it in. Fatty was full of resentment. If you don’t want to give it, then don’t give it, but why expose people’s shortcomings?
Gu Han suddenly became curious. What was the name of the father Fatty was always talking about, the one he kept threatening to cut ties with?
“Enough! Wanting to be a prince isn’t difficult. Another day I’ll have my brother issue an—hmm?” Yun Zhan stopped joking. Before finishing his sentence, he suddenly looked into the distance, his eyes narrowing slightly. “They arrived just at the right time!”
Gu Han was stunned. “What is it?”
Yun Zhan sneered. “The barbarians are attacking! Notify the entire army to prepare for battle!”
He disappeared right after. When he reappeared, he was already on top of that mountain peak.
Elder Cen frowned slightly. “They’re a bit earlier than before.”
Yun Zhan sneered. “They’ve come for revenge! The War God Hall suffered such a tremendous humiliation. They must be eager to save face. Well then...”
A terrifying saint’s might instantly erupted from him. In an instant, clouds churned and were swept away cleanly, revealing the figures of two shirtless men opposite.
Yun Zhan’s eyes burned with a fighting spirit. “You two, accompany me while I loosen my muscles today!”
***
A hundred li outside the Great Flame Military Camp, the earth trembled incessantly. Amid the billowing dust, countless tall barbarians could be seen gathered together, surging toward the Great Flame border like a tide. Their vital qi joined as one, almost piercing through the clouds.
Looking closely, most of the barbarians were bare-chested. Only a few wore armor, clearly the chieftains of various tribes. Among the few at the front, one of them was Xian He.
Xian He raised his arm and shouted, “Today, we avenge past humiliation and restore the prestige of the War God Hall!”
“Prestige!”
“Prestige!”
The sound was like mountains roaring and seas surging, traveling to an immense distance.
***
Above the clouds was the void. There, a man stood quietly with his hands clasped behind his back, and his eyes slightly closed. Clad in a dragon robe, his countenance was dignified, traces of dragon qi coiling around him.
Just then, his eyes snapped open. His dragon qi instantly circulated, transforming into a vivid, hundred-zhang-long flame dragon. On its scales, scorching heat rose, distorting even the space itself.
A clear, resounding dragon’s cry resonated. The hundred-zhang-long dragon coiled once before settling beside the man. Its two fiery crystal-like eyes stared fixedly ahead, the scorching heat around it boiling, threatening to burn the heavens.
