Shadow Lotus Seed, General of the Northern City, 4th Golden Bell Qi Sea, Ma Qun, Deputy C

Chapter 79 Shadow Lotus Seed, General of the Northern City, Fourth Golden Bell Qi Sea, Ma Qun, Deputy Commander of Jingling [Please Subscribe!]

Jingling, the central army camp.

At 9 PM, the camp was completely silent, except for the occasional sound of footsteps from the night patrolling soldiers.

Inside the tent, incense smoke curled from the burner. Huang Zhenggang, dressed in blue, sat cross-legged, his fingertips lightly tapping the table, his mind completely focused on waiting for news from Yuwen Zhuo.

He had made a prior agreement with Yuwen Zhuo: Yuwen Zhuo would assassinate Su Yang in the first half of the night to disrupt the morale of the army, and then assassinate Fang Zetao in the chaos in the second half of the night. At that time, the Jianghuai army would break through the northern city and seize Jingling with the help of the enemy.

Sudden.

A Dark Lotus Guard, disguised as an ordinary soldier, rushed in, bowing deeply with a grave expression and urgently reporting: "My lord! Lord Yuwen Zhuo has been killed by Su Yang, and all eight Ice Fiend Guards are dead. Furthermore, news has arrived that the main force of the Jianghuai Army has been routed by Su Yang, General Li Lie has been captured, the vanguard has been burned, and the remaining troops have scattered..."

"What did you say?"

Huang Zhenggang's voice was deep and resonant, filled with suppressed rage and shock: "Yuwen Zhuo's martial arts are not weak, and he has the Ice Fiend Guards to help him. The Jianghuai Army also has superior numbers. How could they both be defeated by an unknown kid?"

His inner energy surged suddenly, and the cups on the table crashed to the ground with a loud bang, spilling tea all over the floor.

His eyes were so sinister they seemed to drip ink, and a chilling killing intent swept through the entire tent, causing the Dark Lotus Guards to involuntarily tense up, lower their heads, and hold their breath.

He had planned to seize Jingling tonight, but he never expected that his plan would be completely ruined by Su Yang!

The Dark Lotus Guard immediately knelt down, not daring to utter a sound.

Huang Zhenggang slowly clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white from the force. He stared intently in the direction of Beicheng, gritting his teeth and growling, "Su Yang—how could his martial arts be so high? An unknown brat has ruined my entire plan!"

As a "Lotus Seed" of the Heavenly Lotus Sect, he shoulders the heavy responsibility of expanding the sect.

With the sect leader stationed in Shu, the entire Jianghuai strategy relied on his cooperation with the Southern Lord to advance. Jingling, the throat of Jianghuai, was originally within their grasp, but now Su Yang has turned everything upside down!

Huang Zhenggang remained silent for a long time before saying in a deep voice, "Send a message to the Southern Lord: the plan has been thwarted; Su Yang's combat strength has exceeded expectations. At the same time, keep a close eye on the City Lord's Mansion, especially Fang Zetao's attitude towards Su Yang, and report back immediately!"

"Yes, my lord!"

The Dark Lotus Guard acknowledged the order and turned to leave.

The guards withdrew, and the tent returned to silence, with only the smoke from the incense burner slowly rising.

"Since the inside-outside collaboration isn't working, we'll have to resort to using our shadows!"

Huang Zhenggang slowly turned around, his eyes growing increasingly sinister, a ruthless smile curving his lips. He muttered under his breath, "Once Fang Zetao is dead, Jingling will be leaderless. Once Su Yang is eliminated, there will be no fighting force left to stop them. Then, under the pretext of 'stabilizing morale,' I can take over power, and Jingling will be mine for the taking!"

Inside the elite vanguard battalion's central command tent, candlelight blazed, creating a somber atmosphere.

After handling the post-war matters, Su Yang immediately summoned and interrogated Li Lie, the Jianghuai general who had been captured alive.

Inside the tent, soldiers stood at attention with their swords drawn. Li Lie, bound in iron chains, was dragged in, the dragging sound piercing.

Li Lie was covered in wounds, yet he held his head high with arrogance: "Kill me or torture me, it's all up to you. I'm no hero if I even flinch!"

"hehe!"

Su Yang stepped forward slowly and said calmly, "Colluding with the Yuwen Clan, working together from within and without, you call yourself a hero?"

Faced with Su Yang's questioning, Li Lie gritted his teeth and remained silent, only glaring at him with arrogant eyes, his whole body trembling slightly due to his injuries and anger.

Su Yang's eyes sharpened, and a chilling aura emanated from him, causing the candlelight to flicker.

His fingertips, icy cold, approached Li Lie's brow: "Do you really think I can't do anything to you? This chilling aura entering your body isn't pleasant."

The chill touched his brow, and Li Lie shuddered, veins bulging on his forehead, but he still gritted his teeth and endured it without uttering a sound.

A look of surprise flashed in Su Yang's eyes, and he withdrew his cold aura, saying in a chilling voice, "He's got a tough bone to crack."

He paused, his tone growing even colder, and said, "I'll ask you one last question: what kind of cultivation technique do you practice? Write it down."

Li Lie remained silent, turning his head to the side, clearly indicating his refusal to cooperate.

Su Yang sneered and said no more: "Fine, I'll give you time to consider. Remember, resisting to the end will only lead to death. If you're willing to confess, whether it's the inside story of the collusion or the secrets of the cultivation technique, you can exchange it for a way to live."

Having said that, he ordered his personal guards: "Take him away and keep him under strict guard. No one is allowed to contact him. The interrogation is suspended!"

"yes!"

The guards agreed and escorted the defiant Li Lie away.

"Li Lie's Pure Yang Technique is indeed extraordinary."

"

Su Yang tapped the table lightly with his knuckles, his brows slightly furrowed.

Li Lie's pure Yang martial arts technique was indeed extraordinary. When the cold air invaded, the intense internal energy deep within the opponent's meridians was able to protect his heart meridian.

Such a solid foundation in martial arts is far beyond the reach of ordinary military personnel.

The rarer Li Lie's martial arts skills are, the less one should rush them.

In the courtyard at the foot of the North City Tower, the night was deep, with only one room still lit by candlelight.

Inside the room, a large gilded bell lay upside down, its body engraved with ancient patterns; it was the very bell from the main hall of the Golden Bell Martial Arts School.

Su Yang used it to improve his proficiency with the Golden Bell Shield skill.

[Golden Bell Shield Proficiency +1!]

[Forty-Nine Styles of Overlord Blade Proficiency +1!]

[Snowflake-Treading Skill Level +1!]

[...]

]

Golden Bell Shield [Beginner Level 19/500]

Leave no trace in the snow (Beginner 756/1000)

Su Yang sat in the medicinal liquid, his feet on the chair outside the golden bell, treading on the snow. His hands were filled with the Bright Moon True Qi, which occasionally created snow. In his mind, the panel kept flashing.

"This Golden Bell Shield and Golden Bell Bath, one dose of herbs, soaking for fifteen minutes, can increase proficiency by approximately 500 points!"

"I'm using ordinary medicinal herbs. If Chen Wenyuan were to find better ones, would his skill level increase faster?"

Su Yang looked at the panel in his mind and thought to himself.

"Come on, let's change the dressing!"

Half an hour later, Su Yang spoke in a deep voice.

Hearing the call from outside, Chen Wenyuan immediately led two soldiers to carry a large bucket of boiled medicine and poured it into the golden bell.

To improve his proficiency with the Golden Bell Shield, he needed to take a medicinal bath. So, Su Yang asked Chen Wenyuan to find six people to brew the medicine, working in three shifts. The medicinal herbs were all transported from the Little Knife Society.

time flies.

[Golden Bell Cover Level 2 (1/2000)]

After an unknown amount of time, Su Yang suddenly opened his eyes, looked at the panel in his mind, and a look of surprise appeared in his eyes. He murmured, "My Golden Bell Shield has broken through to the second level. This night was definitely not wasted."

At the moment of breakthrough, a new, pale yellow internal energy surged out from the Shimen acupoint, pure and gentle, flowing throughout the body.

This pale yellow internal energy did not merge into the lower dantian of the original health-preserving and vital energy cultivation exercise. Instead, it condensed into a unique Golden Bell Qi Sea at the Shimen acupoint, two inches below the navel.

This Qi Sea is specifically designed to nurture the pale yellow internal energy unique to the Golden Bell. Its core function is to temper the physical body and strengthen muscles and bones, which complements the Qi-regulating and Yuan-strengthening properties of the Shimen acupoint.

"I never imagined that cultivating the Golden Bell Shield could actually lead to the formation of a fourth Qi Sea—the Golden Bell Qi Sea!"

Su Yang was overjoyed. Upon internal inspection, he found that the Golden Bell Qi Sea at the Shimen acupoint was adjacent to his original lower dantian but did not conflict with it. The former was mainly for defense and strengthening the body, while the latter was mainly for nourishing and cultivating the vital energy. The two internal energies were interconnected and complemented each other.

Su Yang clearly sensed that this pale yellow internal energy was like a warm stream, constantly nourishing his internal organs and limbs. Wherever it passed, his meridians slightly expanded, and even his muscles and bones felt warmer.

"Treading on Snow Without Leaving a Trace has also reached the proficiency level! That's really impressive."

Su Yang looked at the panel, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

He immediately flashed into the room and began practicing close-quarters footwork that allowed him to leave no trace in the snow.

He discovered that his "Treading Snow Without Leaving a Trace" technique had become more proficient, his movements were becoming increasingly fluid, and there was not a sound when he stepped up or down.

His figure moved swiftly from left to right, as unpredictable as willow catkins. Even in a confined space, he could move nimbly, his close-range dodges and weaving movements flowing smoothly and without any restriction.

After several practice sessions, Su Yang stopped, sensing the changes within his body. He was secretly delighted: "After mastering the 'Treading Snow Without a Trace' technique, not only has my lightness skill increased dramatically, but my agility in close combat has also improved by more than one level!"

"It's already past midnight, let's rest and continue tomorrow."

Su Yang looked at the moon in the sky, dried himself off, changed into light clothes, lay down on the bed in the next room, and soon fell into a deep sleep.

The next morning at 7:45 AM.

As soon as Su Yang finished dressing and opened the door, he saw a trusted confidant of the City Lord's Mansion waiting outside: "Commander Su, the City Lord has ordered that a victory celebration banquet be held at the City Lord's Mansion at 9:00 AM today. You are required to attend."

"Please inform me that I will be on time for the appointment."

Su Yang responded with a cupped-hand salute, already understanding that this was an offer of reward for meritorious service.

After his trusted confidant left, Su Yang had a simple breakfast, put on his armor and sword, and headed straight for the city lord's mansion.

The morning light illuminated his tall and straight figure, and a celebratory banquet concerning his status and position awaited him.

Su Yang, dressed in brand-new silver armor and with the Cold Abyss Blade at his waist, entered the banquet hall, his composed aura instantly attracting everyone's attention.

"Commander Su has arrived!"

The official in charge of ceremonies loudly proclaimed "Yes, sir!"

Su Yang strode into the hall, attracting the attention of many officers.

After Su Yang took his seat and several rounds of drinks were served, Fang Zetao, who was in the host's seat, immediately stood up and raised his glass: "Gentlemen, in this great victory at Beicheng, Su Yang led the charge, captured Li Lie alive, defeated 30,000 enemy troops, and defended the northern gate. Such a great achievement deserves a toast!"

"Commander Su, leading young heroes, achieved a great victory against a much larger enemy force; this is truly a blessing for Jingling!"

"Commander Su is both wise and brave; his military achievements are worthy of being recorded in the annals of Jingling. His promotion to general is well-deserved!"

"6

""

Everyone raised their glasses in agreement, and a chorus of praise and thunderous applause erupted throughout the room.

Su Yang bowed in return: "This is all thanks to the soldiers' bravery and the city lord's strategic planning; this humble general has only done his duty."

"What humility and modesty!"

Fang Zetao nodded approvingly, then changed the subject and said in a deep voice, "Merit must be rewarded! I hereby announce that Su Yang is promoted to General of the North City, in charge of the defense of the North City, and in command of all garrison troops and auxiliary soldiers. He is granted a general's seal and military tally, and will enjoy the salary of a third-rank official!"

The crowd gasped, then gasped in amazement.

It should be noted that the Jingling Army has a strict military rank system, and the general is the highest military commander of a major town.

Previously, Su Yang only led 500 elite troops, but now he controls 2,200 troops and has been granted the authority to independently recruit, train, and deploy troops.

"This humble general thanks the city lord for his promotion! I am determined to defend the northern city to the death and serve Jingling with all my might!"

Su Yang gave a firm reply, his heart filled with anticipation.

This moment.

Memories of past lives and encounters in this life intertwine in the mind.

Fang Zetao's death from infatuation with Wanwan's beauty, the chaos of the fall of Jingling City, and the future of rising heroes—these images made him even more convinced that a chaotic world was coming, and only by holding strong troops and defending a powerful city could he control his own destiny, and even the destiny of all people.

At this moment, the ambition in his heart, like a seed buried deep in the ground, finally saw the first glimmer of light breaking through the soil.

Fang Zetao personally presented the seal and insignia, patted him on the shoulder and instructed him: "Beicheng is the throat of Jingling, and the responsibility is heavy. After the banquet, come with me to the study for a chat; there are important matters to discuss."

"This subordinate obeys."

Su Yang's heart skipped a beat; he knew there was another plan.

After the banquet, Su Yang followed Fang Zetao into the study.

After dismissing those around him, Fang Zetao poured tea with a solemn expression: "Your promotion today has a deeper meaning beyond rewarding your military achievements. Are you aware of it?"

"This humble general is dull-witted, please enlighten me."

"I have seen the evidence you presented. Huang Zhenggang is a lotus seed of the Tianlian Sect and also controls Ma Qun, the deputy commander in charge of food supplies, weapons, and troop deployment." A sharp glint flashed in Fang Zetao's eyes: "Ma Qun is controlled by him through various means. In fact, all the military supplies of Jingling are in his hands. Any delay could lead to the collapse of the battle line."

Su Yang's pupils contracted slightly: "Does the city lord intend for me to check Huang Zhenggang and regain control of the horse herd?"

"Exactly."

Fang Zetao nodded emphatically: "Your base is in Beicheng and you have no connection with him, making you the best candidate. I am giving you authority so that you can openly repair the plank road while secretly advancing your own... On the surface, train troops to defend against the enemy, while secretly eroding their power, with the key being to reclaim the horse herd."

Fang Zetao lowered his voice: "Moving the horse herd requires strategy. He may not be willing to be controlled; he must be filled with fear and struggle. His only son is fifteen years old and studying at Qingsong Academy outside the city, where he is treated like a treasure. Huang Zhenggang may not know this. This is his biggest weakness and your opportunity to turn him against his master."

"Is the city lord instructing me to secretly protect or control his son, using him as leverage to instigate a mutiny among the horses?"

Su Yang suddenly understood.

"good."

Fang Zetao praised, "This matter requires utmost caution. I will give you the files on Ma Qun and his confidants. You should start with the grain and fodder accounts, and under the pretext of checking for war preparations, contact them to find out they are not under Tie Gan's command, and secretly gather evidence. I will create opportunities for you to have normal contact with them during the meeting. If they withhold your grain and fodder, I will use the city lord's order to ensure that you receive priority supplies to the North City."

Su Yang rose, clasped his hands in a respectful gesture, and said solemnly, "This subordinate understands! This is a long-term strategy. We must proceed step by step to dismantle their forces, break through the morale of the horse herd, and eradicate this malignant tumor from Jingling!"

At this moment, Su Yang was thinking a step further than Fang Zetao.

He remained outwardly calm, clasped his hands in agreement, but inwardly he was already planning a much larger scheme: Fang Zetao was trustworthy, but in chaotic times, only the power in one's own hands was truly reliable.

Turning Ma Qun to the enemy and taking control of military supplies was not only to remove Huang Zhenggang, a cancerous tumor, but also to pave the way for him to gain a foothold in Jingling and plan for the long term.

Fang Zetao clapped his hands and pushed over the sealed file: "This is a detailed file. Study it carefully. Remember to be steady and accurate."

Ruthless, but do not act rashly without absolute certainty; the North City is your foundation.

Su Yang solemnly accepted the dossier and nodded. He knew in his heart that he could simply gather evidence and hand it over to his subordinates. His main task was to improve his proficiency. After all, as long as one's martial arts skills were strong enough, no conspiracy or trickery could be hidden!