Chapter 61: Chapter 61: Harvest
"Lord Fang, what’s the exact situation?" the Ning Family Patriarch asked, looking at Fang Xing.
"The rebel army’s Vice Marshal is dead. Is that enough?" Fang Xing said lightly.
What?!
Hearing this, the crowd could no longer sit still.
All eyes snapped to Fang Xing.
Zhang Chen stared at him, his face a mask of disbelief. "Fang Xing, is it true?"
’The rebel Vice Marshal... a key figure in this White Lotus Rebel Army contingent... and he’s just dead?!’
Even though it was a surprise attack, the news was still a massive shock.
In response to Zhang Chen’s question, Fang Xing nodded slightly.
Receiving a definite answer, a storm of emotion churned within the hearts of the crowd.
The Vice Marshal of the White Lotus Rebel Army had been killed, and by Fang Xing’s own hand.
This was an existence at the Peak of Neutralizing Force.
Even with a clear advantage, the difficulty of killing someone at the Peak of Neutralizing Force was immense.
To say nothing of doing it in the midst of an army of ten thousand men.
Looking at Fang Xing, the way everyone saw him changed.
If he could kill the Vice Marshal of the White Lotus Rebel Army, it meant Fang Xing’s strength had already surpassed all of theirs.
This wasn’t just a simple case of being stronger.
He had just broken through to the Peak of Neutralizing Force, yet he already possessed the power to slay another at the same level.
His talent alone was that of a Demon Fiend, and his Martial Arts were simply unfathomable!
Even with their strength, they couldn’t manage to kill a Neutralizing Force Martial Artist in a frontal assault.
Fang Xing paid no mind to their expressions. He strode forward and sat down brazenly in a chair.
Zhang Chen came back to his senses, but as he looked at Fang Xing, the shock in his eyes was still hard to conceal.
He knew Fang Xing was a Demon Fiend, but he had never imagined this level of unfathomable strength.
How hard was it to kill a Peak Neutralizing Force Martial Artist?
Everyone understood this point clearly.
In less than a year, he had undergone such a shocking transformation.
Such progress was truly beyond imagination!
"Lord Fang, have some tea." From the side, the Juyi Gang Leader cordially poured him a hot cup.
Fang Xing nodded slightly, took the cup, and had a sip. His gaze swept over the five standing men. "You’ve all worked hard. Please, sit."
"Thank you, Lord Fang." The five men bowed respectfully before taking their seats.
Seeing this, the expressions of the five great leaders couldn’t help but shift, but no one said a word.
For a moment, the Inner Hall was completely silent.
"Lord Fang, besides the Vice Marshal, what about the other Generals?" Lin Zheng broke the silence, his eyes fixed on Fang Xing.
The others also looked at him, their eyes full of curiosity.
Fang Xing took another sip of tea from his cup and proceeded to give a rough account of the situation. The Inner Hall immediately fell deathly quiet.
He hadn’t just slain the rebel Vice Marshal.
Many Generals and Commanders were also dead.
The scale of this victory was beyond imagination.
It would be no exaggeration to say it was a devastating blow to the White Lotus Rebel Army.
Every single person killed was part of their core leadership.
One didn’t need to guess to know the impact this would have on the White Lotus Rebel Army.
"Having suffered such a heavy blow, will the White Lotus Army change its target?" the Sun Family Patriarch asked.
Hearing this, everyone fell into deep thought.
If they changed their target, the crisis in Qingshan County would be resolved.
However, that was only the best-case scenario.
After all, the White Lotus Army was already on their doorstep. The possibility of them changing targets was slim.
Zhang Chen was silent for a moment before sighing. "It’s likely impossible for the White Lotus Army to change its target."
"Even if they were headed elsewhere, they would still have to pass through Qingshan County."
"They might be delayed, but it’s also possible they’ll launch an even more ferocious attack. I’m sure you all understand why."
Hearing Zhang Chen’s words, the flicker of joy in everyone’s hearts was extinguished.
Zhang Chen’s analysis was very much in line with reality.
The chances of them changing targets or retreating were both very slim.
The pressure on that front came from the Court’s army.
If they couldn’t take Qingshan County before the Court’s army arrived, they would be attacked from both front and rear.
The White Lotus Army surely understood this.
With the Court in pursuit, if their lines were broken, a devastating blow would await them.
By taking a city like Qingshan County Town, they could at least establish a defensive position and wait for other rebel forces to join them.
The probability of them continuing the attack on Qingshan County was almost one hundred percent.
Unless they killed all the Generals and Commanders.
However, a surprise attack could only work once.
A second time wouldn’t be a surprise attack; it would be a suicide mission.
"So, in that case, our only option is to defend and wait for reinforcements from the Court’s army," the Ning Family Patriarch said.
Zhang Chen nodded. "It’s the only way. But after dealing them such a heavy blow, the pressure on us has lessened somewhat."
Hearing this, the five great leaders fell silent.
However, this situation was also within their expectations.
What was coming would come. It was unavoidable.
Unless they relocated their entire operation.
But now, there was no time left.
Simply holding out would be a victory.
If the city fell, the consequences would be devastating.
They had already moved some of their assets away, but if Qingshan County fell, their former glory would be gone forever.
"Let’s stick to the original plan. This battle is inevitable," Fang Xing said.
Zhang Chen nodded, then looked at the five great leaders. "Gentlemen, we still need to make more preparations in terms of manpower, just in case."
The five great leaders nodded.
At a time like this, they could only hold them off by standing united.
Although the White Lotus Army was strong, as long as they were only defending the city, they still had a certain advantage.
As long as they could withstand the most ferocious wave of attacks, the scales would tip in their favor.
Once they waited for the Court’s reinforcements to arrive, the crisis would naturally be resolved.
"Lord Fang, you’ve worked hard tonight. You should go back and rest," Zhang Chen said.
Fang Xing nodded, then stood up and left the Inner Hall.
The toll of the night’s events was indeed considerable.
Even with his Cultivation and strength, he felt somewhat tired.
A great battle was about to erupt, and he had to be in his best possible condition to face it.
Watching Fang Xing’s departing figure, the gazes of Zhang Chen and the others turned to the five men who had accompanied him.
They asked for some details and learned more specifics from the five men.
At the same time, they were once again stunned by Fang Xing’s power.
Not only could he move freely through the army to slay their Generals, but more incredibly, he was also able to rescue others.
According to them, if Fang Xing hadn’t intervened, it was unlikely any of them would have escaped.
In the final battle, Fang Xing had even broken out of an encirclement of a thousand men.
All five men confirmed this point.
This level of strength made even the five great leaders feel a trace of fear.
’If it weren’t for this unexpected situation with the White Lotus Rebel Army, would Fang Xing have turned on them?’
After all, this Iron-blooded Yama was someone who killed without batting an eye.
Still shaken, the five great leaders took their respective subordinates and left the County Yamen.
In any case, Fang Xing’s immense power was, for now at least, a good thing.
With such an expert on their side, the probability of a successful defense was much higher.
As for the future, they first had to deal with the White Lotus Army before they could even think about it.
...
Returning home, Fang Xing took off his clothes and quickly rinsed himself off, washing away much of the smell of blood.
Entering his room, Fang Xing called out his status panel to check it.
Name: Fang Xing
Cultivation: Peak of Neutralizing Force!
Enhancement Level: Two-Star (66%)
Enhancement Points: 7,358
"Not bad. Quite a bountiful harvest," Fang Xing said with satisfaction as he looked at the Enhancement Points on his panel.
This wave of reaping was much better than cleaning up the dark forces in the County Town.
He had firmly grasped this opportunity.
Although it was fraught with immense risk, the rewards were equally delightful.
"Once this crisis is over, perhaps I’ll have the chance to break through to the True Qi Realm..."
Looking at the panel, Fang Xing’s gaze burned with fervor.
The True Qi Realm!
The stage of Extraordinary to Saint.
Compared to a Neutralizing Force Martial Artist, a True Qi Realm Martial Artist was on a completely different dimension.
A leap in the hierarchy of life itself!
Pseudo-Immortal Cultivation, Martial Dao God!
