Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains

Chapter 296: 165, Xuzhou army arrives_2

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Zhao Qingxue saw this and a faint smile momentarily appeared in the depths of her eyes.

"Fan Longhe, Hou Yuxiao, I command each and every one of you to immediately straighten up the entire army and prepare to defend the city. As long as you can hold Tongling for one day, I will personally go to Yongdu and commend the both of you!"

To hold for one day, a sharp gleam flashed through Hou Yuxiao's eyes.

The words previously spoken by Master Fanyin, that the Xingnan Prefecture Army had already entered Xuzhou territory, and now asking them to hold for one day—the implication was very clear...

As long as they could hold for one day, there would be a new development on the Xuzhou side, and the forty thousand strong army led by Lu Guanqing and Tian Fazheng would then have no choice but to retreat.

"Your subordinate will obey Master's command!"

"Your subordinate accepts the order!"

Seeing Fan Longhe take the lead in expressing his stance, Hou Yuxiao did not hesitate even a bit; he directly clasped his fist and respectfully bowed to Master Fanyin, then immediately gave Hou Yucheng a look below.

Understanding his intention, Hou Yucheng quickly got up and called out loudly to those behind him: "The entire Hou Clan army, straighten up. All personnel ascend the city walls, prepare to defend!"

"Understood!"

Gui Yutang, who was beside them, also not to be outdone upon receiving Fan Longhe's orders, shouted loudly to the seven thousand Mansion Army soldiers: "The remaining Mansion Army, heed this command, straighten up military discipline, ascend the city walls, and prepare for defense..."

"By your command!"

The three thousand plus members of the Hou Clan, along with the seven thousand plus of the Mansion Army, totaling over ten thousand individuals, were all martial artists with a minimum of the five levels of body refinement. Together, they let out two earth-shattering shouts, and the powerful force of their qi and blood surged into the sky. All keen of hearing and robust of build, straightening up military discipline barely took any time, and quickly after uniting, they swiftly ascended the city walls.

At the forefront of Xuzhou's grand army outside the city, Tian Fazheng held a folding fan and upon hearing the two shouts from the city, as well as seeing the continuous stream of martial artists ascending the city walls, a shadow crossed his face. But looking up and sensing the two daunting presences in the sky, he showed a hint of relief, and his expression relaxed once more.

"Saint Heir Tian, the situation inside the city seems to differ somewhat from what you described?"

Although Lu Guanqing's face remained calm, the tone of his inquiry unmistakably contained a hint of displeasure. Although he was also following the orders of the Holy Sect's higher-ups in leading troops across states, the Holy Sect's instructions were primarily for him to coordinate with Tian Fazheng. As such, this operation was entirely orchestrated by Tian Fazheng; when to depart, when to arrive, all was dictated by him.

Previously, Tian Fazheng had confidently assured him that by tonight, demons would bring chaos to the city. Tongling would suffer heavy casualties, with barely one in ten of the Mansion Army surviving, and even fewer martial artists within the city to help with defense. Only then did he feel at ease to lead his men here. The situation in the city now was extremely at odds with what Tian had described.

At least ten thousand people were on those city walls, all of whom were martial artists with at least five levels of body refinement. Clearly, they were the Mansion Army stationed in Tongling. It was known that Tongling City had thirty thousand Xingnan Mansion soldiers. Now, only about ten thousand remained—a significant reduction, to be sure, but far from one in ten.

"It's only ten thousand defenders. With Lu Sword Executor wielding a forty thousand strong army, breaking through the city will be but a matter of moment's. Why worry? Furthermore, once my teacher slays the Blood Demon and breaks through to become a saint, let alone ten thousand defenders, even if all two hundred thousand of Xingnan Prefecture's troops were here tonight, they could not change the fate of Tongling changing hands!"

Clearly, Tian Fazheng's words were still very inspiring. As soon as he finished, Lu Guanqing's face immediately eased considerably. He looked up at the sky, probably also full of confidence in Ji Yanzhi, and slowly began to relax.

As the two conversed, the forty thousand strong army had also arrived about a hundred meters to the east of the city gate. Only when the military formation slowly halted and stood still on the spot did Lu Guanqing speak softly.

"Given the circumstances, I invite Saint Heir Tian to call out for battle at the front!"

Tian Fazheng nodded, his body emanating a quietly gathered Vast Righteous Qi. He stepped on his horse, leaped up, and stood at a position level with the rooftop of the east city gate, facing the ten thousand defenders within the city, especially Fan Longhe. A sharp gleam appeared in his eyes, then he suddenly shouted with a fierce voice.

"The Demon Sect perpetrates evil and breeds demons in Yongzhou. On this day of honoring the gods, such a great Blood Demon calamity has descended upon Tongling; this is truly intolerable by heaven and earth.

Today, my Master Ji Yanzhi, concerned about the hardships of the people, has personally gone to slay demons in the land of the Demon Sect to rescue the masses from dire straits. Tongling has been trapped by the Demon Sect for many years; the common people within this city have suffered untold hardships. This calamity is indeed the curse of the Demon Sect. I hope everyone can see the true colors of the Demon Sect. If you now join the Wanjian Holy Sect, tonight's situation can be settled amicably. Otherwise..."

"Twisting right and wrong, unable to distinguish black from white—if all of Confucianism's disciples are as cold-blooded and shameless as you, then the so-called Confucian Holy Land, the Bailu Academy, is nothing but a joke. Pah!"

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A voice of rebuke came through, and the confident expression on Tian Fazheng's face instantly froze.

His words were cut off before he could even finish speaking, and the target of the criticism was not just him, but the Bailu Academy as well!

Anger flashed across his face at first, but he quickly suppressed it and looked down, turning his gaze toward the source of the voice.

It wasn't just him; the expressions on everyone present froze. Their gazes all converged upon the city wall, or more accurately, on the young man wearing the same white Confucian robe as Tian Fazheng.

Hou Yuxiao's face showed a hint of helplessness. His hand was still on Hou Yuduan's shoulder. As soon as Hou Yuduan had stepped forward, he sensed that trouble was brewing and had tried to pull him back. Unfortunately, the anger in his younger brother's heart had clearly already reached a boiling point, to the extent that even the words of his elder brother were no longer heeded.

Publicly scolding Tian Fazheng in front of so many people was not a big deal; although he was the Saint Heir of the Bailu Academy, he was ultimately just a small Confucian of the Two Realms, merely at the level of a Second Realm Master in the martial world.

However, berating the Bailu Academy for being unworthy of being the Holy Land of the Confucian Sect was no small matter.

The Bailu Academy, the only Orthodox leader claiming two provinces, was the revered holy land that all students of Confucianism aspired to in their hearts; it would not tolerate such slander.

"This kid has guts!"

Zhang Yuning, one of the six great experts, looked at Hou Yuduan with a hint of admiration in his eyes, then turned to Tian Fazheng, wearing a mocking expression.

Although the other five did not speak, like Zhang Yuning, their faces showed similar mocking expressions.

Clearly, they were also happy to see the Bailu Academy be put in its place.

"If I remember correctly, half a year ago, the one from Zhaoyang County of the Hou Clan who cultivated some Righteous Qi was you, wasn't it?"

Tian Fazheng stared at Hou Yuduan for a long time, recognition dawning in his eyes. It seemed he saw many things in Hou Yuduan's gaze, and after a moment of silence, he slightly shook his head, showing a hint of a sneer.

"To be able to cultivate Confucianism proves that you are not witless, but unfortunately, you're just a mediocre person who perceives the world only through their eyes and emotions. Happening upon some guidance from the sages, at best you are but a half-baked scholar!"

As he spoke, he shook his head as if he was somewhat unwilling to continue the conversation with Hou Yuduan, his face gradually growing colder. He turned to Lu Guanqing behind him and said, "Sword Envoy Lu, the rebels of Yong Rong do not respect our teachings or honor the sages. They won't listen to reason or turn from their wicked ways. Let the Mansion Army begin the siege! If the Wanjian Holy Sect takes charge, I believe the moral climate will improve significantly."

It wasn't just him who wished to waste no more words; Lu Guanqing evidently felt the same. At his words, a sharp light flashed in her eyes. She drew her longsword and pointed toward the eastern gate.

"All troops, begin the siege."

"At your command!"

The unified voices of forty-thousand soldiers resounded in unison, their voices echoing powerfully across the land, the blood-thirsty energy making everyone but the six great experts feel a palpitation. Over forty-thousand soldiers drew their weapons, charging towards the eastern gate like tigers unleashed, scrambling up in a wild frenzy.

Martial Artists attacking cities and seizing lands are unlike ordinary people; the Holy Land's soldiers all start from the five levels of body refinement, known as Inner Membrane. At this stage, their internal organs develop a protective sheath, granting them some defense against the force of Qi, but true warriors who move beyond the talk of mere Qi Force are at least of the Yin Yang Holy Realm.

Therefore, this forty-thousand strong army was intimidating even to the Yuan Dan Realm Great Perfection experts.

The forty-thousand strong army frantically scaled the walls, leaping five to six meters at a time. Once at the foot of the city tower, they joined forces and furiously attacked upward.

Though the city walls were forged from steel and as smooth as ink, an unending stream of Martial Artists managed to find leverage and climb up.

At the same time, a large part of the Martial Artists, led by three Grandmasters, either used their weapons or bare fists, continuously striking the eastern gate trying to break through with brute force.

The great battle thus erupted!