Chapter 679: Fire God Changqin

Shaoyang Stronghold.

The three Village Chiefs sat high on their parallel thrones, their gazes profound.

Just then, a beam of Spiritual Light flew in.

True Monarch Qinghuang sighed. “It has begun. The main assault, led by Dragon Head Stronghold, Yellow Rock Stronghold, Tongling Stronghold, Copper Drum Stronghold, and Celestial Fire Stronghold, has started. The eleven flanking forces have also begun advancing to their designated positions!”

“Word has also come from the Demon Suppression Palace. They will have several nearby major strongholds temporarily pin down the forces of the other Five Great Demon Countries for us!”

True Monarch Hong Yang shook his head. “The other Five Great Demon Countries—the Bright Demon Country, the Black Wind Demon Country, the Golden Ridge Demon Country, and the Donghua Demon Country—are all formidable powers. The time they can buy for us is limited. We must crush the Golden Light Demon Country in one fell swoop before they can react!”

After speaking, his gaze fell upon Nine Elements True Monarch. “Big Brother, we’re counting on you to handle the Golden Light Demon Monarch!”

Nine Elements True Monarch nodded. “Rest assured, Second Brother, Third Brother. Killing a Tier Six Demon Saint may be difficult, but trapping one is well within my abilities!”

“Excellent! As long as Big Brother can temporarily trap the Golden Light Demon Monarch, the rest is up to us!”

…

‘It seems Shaoyang Stronghold is dead set on making the Golden Light Demon Country the scapegoat this time.’

Atop a Desolate Mountain, Qin Feng gazed at a colossal city lying dormant on the distant plains, a faint smile in his eyes.

The giant city was built amidst the wilderness, connected to the Earth Vein, with countless streams of Demon Qi soaring into the sky.

Below the Demon City, many from the Barbarian Race, and even the Human Race, were performing back-breaking labor, treated like beasts of burden.

An important figure like the Peach Blossom Village Chief obviously couldn’t have died for nothing.

All Five Great Demon Kings were implicated in the Golden Light Demon Country, which gave Shaoyang Stronghold the perfect pretext.

At this moment, behind the Desolate Mountain, tens of thousands of Star Soldiers stood arrayed, their banners and countless Star Banners snapping in the wind.

Even the weakest of these Star Soldiers was in the Condensing Vein Realm.

Many of the Star Generals among them were at the Void Divine Profound Realm.

The ten Commanders were all experts at the Sea of Reincarnation Realm.

These individuals might be relatively weak in single combat, but if they formed a Battle Array, their power would be quite considerable.

A Counselor in Silver Battle Armor standing beside him looked at Qin Feng and spoke.

“General, when do we attack the city!” the Counselor asked with a frown.

“All eleven armies have already set out. We’re the only ones who haven’t moved!”

“General Changqin, do not be hasty. ‘The art of war is of vital importance to the State. It is a matter of life and death, a road either to safety or to ruin. Hence it is a subject of inquiry which can on no account be neglected.'”

Qin Feng said with a smile.

Looking at the valiant young expert before him, it was hard to imagine that this was the man who would one day become the renowned Fire God of the Spirit Sea Continent.

‘To think I’ve met another legendary expert.’

‘And in a dramatic twist, this future Fire God has been assigned to me as a subordinate!’

“Besieging cities and capturing strongholds is not an overnight task. It doesn’t matter much to me, your general, but you are all flesh and blood. Since the three Village Chiefs have assigned you to me, Qin Feng, then I, Qin Feng, have a responsibility to bring you all back in one piece!”

The young Counselor, whose name was Changqin, was slightly taken aback, seemingly not expecting Qin Feng to say such a thing.

But his expression did soften considerably.

Behind him, the many Star Soldiers and Star Generals also looked at Qin Feng with a newfound sense of approval.

A general who cherished their lives was one truly worthy of their loyalty.

The ten Commanders exchanged glances, their expressions shifting slightly.

“Then what is your plan, General?” Changqin was clad in silvery-white battle armor. He was exceptionally handsome, and his strength had reached the Giant Realm, giving him a valiant and imposing air.

His expression was solemn.

Qin Feng smiled. “The way of using troops boils down to just a few key points.”

Changqin’s eyes flickered. “May I ask, General, what are these points?”

“The Art of War states… ‘First is the Way; second is Heaven; third is Earth; fourth is the Commander; fifth is Method. The Way is that which makes the people’s will the same as their leader’s, so that they may die with him and live with him, unafraid of any danger. Heaven is yin and yang, cold and heat, the seasons and time. Earth is height and depth, distance and proximity, danger and safety, open ground and narrow passes, death and life. The Commander is wisdom, trustworthiness, benevolence, courage, and strictness. Method is organization, the roles of officers, and the management of resources. Every general is aware of these five factors. He who masters them wins; he who does not is defeated. Therefore, make your calculations based on these, and ascertain the true situation.'”

Qin Feng spoke eloquently.

These were the original words of a Military School Saint from a later era.

The ‘Way’ here refers to politics, meaning the support of one’s superiors.

Right now, Shaoyang Stronghold is throwing its full might at the Golden Light Demon Country, so you could say that the leadership and their subordinates are of one mind.

As for the concepts of heavenly timing, geographic advantage, and human harmony, those are even easier to explain.

The fourth, the Commander, naturally refers to the general, who is the soul of an army!

The general is the soul of an army and must possess certain qualities: resourcefulness, courage, decisiveness, and strict discipline. These are the basic qualities of a commander.

As for Method, that refers to the rule of law.

It refers to organizational structure, military training, and the laws of military command.

After taking command of this army, Qin Feng did not immediately lead his troops to charge like the other armies precisely because he was considering these five points.

First, he sent out his Heart Demon Body to scout the true situation in the Demon City ahead. Second, he is taking the opportunity to create chaos, manufacturing the necessary heavenly timing, geographic advantage, and human harmony.

Furthermore, he needed to establish his authority, take complete control of this army, and make it truly his own.

In Qin Feng’s view, an army’s greatest strength lies in its absolute obedience to orders.

If he simply swept the army up and charged forward, they would be nothing more than a disorderly mob.

According to the route given by Shaoyang Stronghold, the map showed that Qin Feng had to conquer at least three giant cities and eleven large cities.

The three giant cities were Giant Stone City, West Ridge City, and Lingxiao City, the strongest fortress before the Golden Light Demon Capital.

Qin Feng understood clearly that Shaoyang Stronghold required them to completely occupy these cities.

If his forces suffered too many casualties, a complete occupation would be impossible.

Unlike the other Mountain Lords who had numerous subordinates to assist them, Qin Feng had to be meticulous with his calculations!

Down to the very last Star Soldier!

“The General is brilliant!”

Changqin and the Ten Great Commanders exchanged a look, their eyes filled with shock. Apparently, none of them had expected a disciple who had just left the Star Sect to possess such insight.

Every word he spoke was a pearl.

If these words were to spread, they would likely become textbook maxims for the Military School of warfare.

Just then, in the distant sky, a wisp of black qi shot out of the Void and instantly merged into Qin Feng’s body.

“General?” Changqin’s expression changed.

“It’s nothing. That was formed by one of my Divine Abilities!” Qin Feng said, shaking his head with a smile.

His gaze fell upon the Demon City before them. “This city is called Golden Butterfly City. Its ruler is a Demon King from the Golden Butterfly clan. I have already investigated this. The full name of this Golden Butterfly is the Golden Four-winged Butterfly, an Ancient Spirit Species. These Spirit Insects are most adept at a type of Golden Wind Divine Power, which is extremely formidable!”

“However, there aren’t many Golden Four-winged Butterflies. Their leader, the Golden Butterfly Demon King, is merely a Tier Two Supreme Great Power. Below him are two Tier One Demon Race Great Powers from the Golden Four-winged Butterfly clan!”

“Aside from these leaders, there are forty thousand Little Demons. These Little Demons come from the depths of the Barbaric Wilderness and are of many different types, but their strength is not great!”

“General Changqin, tell the brothers to get ready. In a moment, we will charge into Golden Butterfly City and wipe out these Butterfly Demons in a single swoop! The Golden Butterfly clan is known for producing beauties!”