Martial Cultivator

The middle-aged scholar was taken aback, then immediately said with a bitter smile, "It's not that the Great General didn't know. It's just that pulling on one hair can move the whole body. The relationships within the Northern Frontier Army are intricate and deeply rooted. Any action could have countless repercussions. The impact on the stability of the Northern Frontier might seem small, but if the morale of the soldiers is lost, we would be unable to resist the demons, and this Great Wall will also fall."

The Lord Warden Commander shook his head and said, "Mister Yaochang, what truly supports this Great Wall isn't this official, nor these generals. It relies on the thousands upon thousands of soldiers. If their hearts turn cold, no matter how high my rank or how brave these generals are in battle, the Great Wall will collapse."

The middle-aged scholar murmured, "But this matter is truly too big. Doesn't His Majesty know how dangerous it is?"

The Lord Warden Commander said solemnly, "Wasn't the Xia Family big enough?"

The middle-aged scholar was rendered speechless. Although he was in the Northern Frontier, he had heard about that major upheaval in the Divine Capital at the end of last winter. Now, hearing the Lord Warden Commander mention it again, the middle-aged scholar sighed softly and said, "His Majesty's decisiveness is truly admirable."

"The Great Liang Dynasty appears to be flourishing and everything is seemingly peaceful. But beneath the surface, there are many undercurrents. Those with insight all know that His Majesty's actions are aimed at exposing the worms eating away at the Great Liang Dynasty, so that this large tree doesn't appear strong on the outside but is rotting within."

The Lord Warden Commander said, "If not, in a few years, history books might write, 'Dynasties fell due to decline, only the Great Liang Dynasty fell while strong?'"

The middle-aged scholar murmured, "Dynasties fell due to decline, only the Great Liang Dynasty fell while strong?"

After a moment, the middle-aged scholar returned to his senses, his eyes gradually becoming determined, and he said softly, "What does Great General intend to do?"

The Lord Warden Commander said calmly, "This matter is of great importance, and we should proceed cautiously."

The middle-aged scholar nodded and said, "Indeed, it should be."

……

……

On the banks of the Onan River.

After freezing over before the onset of winter last year, this river which the demons regarded as their mother river had not actually thawed yet. The demon territory lies in the far north. Even though the humans ceded the thirty thousand miles of desolate north to the demons countless years ago, the demon territory remained icy and snowy for most of the year. If humans were placed in this area, it would be extremely difficult for them to survive. It was largely thanks to the demons' much stronger physique compared to humans that they could endure such harsh cold. Even they would find it difficult to endure in this bitterly cold land otherwise.

At this moment, downstream of the Onan River, there was a group of demon scouts, numbering about a dozen, traveling downstream along the riverbank towards the humans' Great Wall.

After the war between humans and demons last winter, which ended with a slight victory for the humans, even to the extent that the human emperor ventured deep into the thirty thousand miles of desolate north to battle the Demon Emperor, the outcome of the battle was naturally inconclusive. However, after winter, the war ceased, and both sides tacitly agreed to stop fighting. In these days, there had not been any major conflict. But without the main armies in action, the protagonists of the thirty thousand miles of desolate north had become the scouts from both sides.

During this period, the scouts from both sides had engaged in skirmishes, with victories and losses on both sides. Although not many have died, there have been casualties nonetheless.

As the group of demon scouts crossed the Onan River and reached the desolate north grasslands, they soon encountered a group of Northern Frontier Army scouts. Upon meeting, there were no words exchanged, only silent drawing of blades. Then, a silent but deadly fight ensued just like that.

An hour later, one side emerged victorious. The demon scouts had a pyrrhic victory, with more than half of their members killed. The leader of the demon scouts silently walked up to the body of a human scout, wordlessly severed his ear, and placed it into the human skin pouch he carried with him. Then, he exhaled a cold breath and said softly in the demon language, "Continue south."

The remaining demon scouts said nothing and just climbed onto their respective mounts and continued to roam the desolate north plains. They knew deep down that by continuing like this, sooner or later, they too would die on the desolate north plains, and their ears would be placed into the humans' leather pouches. But for them, there was no other choice.

Death and bloodshed were already nothing strange to them.

……

……

Upstream of the Onan River, the snowstorm raged on.

In the midst of the snowstorm, the figure of the Demon Emperor was somewhat obscured.

This sovereign of the demon race had been severely injured and almost lost his throne after the battle with the Great Liang Emperor. Now that he recovered from his injuries, he left the capital city to come here once again.

By his side, the High Priest of the demon race accompanied the Demon Emperor as they gazed into the distance, looking towards the south.

"Winter is almost over. Next year, when the grass grows strong, we can all have a rest," remarked the Demon Emperor.

His gaze was deep, and within those eyes concealed the emotions of this sovereign of demons. But no one dared to meet his gaze, and naturally, no one knew what he was thinking.

The High Priest said softly, "Years of constant warfare have also left the army somewhat weary."

The voice of the Demon Emperor resounded through the wind and snow, "It may not necessarily be a good thing. The humans have gained another remarkable monarch. Even We find it troublesome."

The High Priest was taken aback by these words but quickly responded with deference, "Your Majesty's might is unparalleled, so there is no need to worry."

The Demon Emperor said with a cold laugh, "If you keep viewing the humans as mere lambs waiting to be slaughtered, then it won't be long before you become the lamb."

The High Priest immediately lowered his head and said, "Your Majesty's words are very true. In these two hundred years, we haven't been able to cross that Great Wall."

The Demon Emperor said, "I wonder how the human race's youths are faring."

Having a bold and talented emperor was not a terrifying prospect. What was terrifying was that if, after him, there would still be many outstanding young humans. That would not be good news for the demon race.

The High Priest did not know how to respond.

The Demon Emperor continued, "That person has visited the desolate north once, so We also want to go to the Great Liang to take a look."

The High Priest frowned and said, "Please think thrice, Your Majesty."

The Demon Emperor remained silent.