"Marshal Shen, it has already been three shichen."
The Black Armor general had stood beside Shen Zhao for another full hour.
The weather had grown even harsher, with snow and fierce winds whipping across the training grounds.
Yet the soldiers standing in formation remained perfectly motionless, as though nothing in heaven or earth could distract them.
"What an army... I've never seen anything like it."
Su Yunying couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
Yu Xiyan bit her lip, overwhelmed with shame.
In her previous life as the Empress, she had never once reviewed this elite force—the very army that had expanded the Yintian Dynasty's borders and struck fear throughout the Nine Realms.
At that moment, Shen Zhao's words in Biyun Palace echoed once more in her mind.
Every sentence pierced her heart like a blade.
"Assemble!"
Wheeeeee!
With a single command from Shen Zhao, all one hundred thousand Iron Flame soldiers moved in perfect unison.
The heavy iron boots struck the ground together, shaking the heavens and the earth.
Shen Zhao slowly swept his gaze across the parade ground before taking a deep breath and shouting,
"Only sons! Those who are unmarried! Those without children! Those whose parents depend solely on them for support—step forward!"
Instantly, thirty thousand soldiers marched out in perfect order and formed ranks on the right.
To them, Shen Zhao's orders were absolute.
They obeyed from the depths of their souls.
Even if he ordered them to die, they would not hesitate.
Looking at the thirty thousand who had stepped forward, a rare trace of warmth appeared in Shen Zhao's normally icy eyes.
"You will remain to guard the Pojun Manor."
"All remaining soldiers shall receive three years' worth of military pay."
"You are granted three days of leave to bid farewell to your families."
"Three days from now, assemble here again. We march for Huangquan Pass."
"Dismissed."
After speaking, Shen Zhao turned to leave.
"Marshal Shen!"
Suddenly, a young commander wearing a feathered helmet rushed out from the ranks.
Ignoring everything else, he ran to the foot of the reviewing platform, dropped to one knee, and clasped his fists.
"Marshal Shen, I am Qin Ling."
"I have followed you through countless campaigns over the past four years, never retreating a single step."
"We have finally earned this glorious achievement."
"Why must you leave me behind?"
"I beg you to rescind your order and allow us to march with the army!"
"Marshal Shen, please rescind your order!"
All thirty thousand soldiers knelt on one knee simultaneously, their voices shaking the heavens.
Shen Zhao frowned.
He leaped down from the platform and stopped before Qin Ling.
"You dare disobey military orders?"
"I would never dare."
"I only beg the Marshal to let me accompany you."
"Stand up."
"Unless you withdraw your order, I will remain kneeling forever."
Shen Zhao sighed softly, his tone becoming gentler.
"This campaign is unlike any before."
"You are unmarried."
"You are your family's only son."
"If something happens to you... what will become of your elderly parents?"
"If I die fighting for all living beings..."
"My parents will be proud of me."
"You fool."
"Do you know the pain of white-haired parents burying their black-haired son?"
"You are the pillar supporting your family."
"If you're gone, who will care for them?"
"For all these years serving under you, Marshal..."
"The rewards you've bestowed upon me have long allowed my parents to live comfortably."
"Even if I die in battle, they will have no worries."
"I beg you... please grant my request."
Shen Zhao fell silent.
"Marshal Shen!"
"We beg you to let us fight!"
"Allow us to protect all living beings of the Nine Realms!"
The thirty thousand soldiers shouted once more in unison.
Shen Zhao looked across the crowd.
Most of them were still very young.
The youngest was only fifteen.
Yet there were no recruits in the Iron Flame Army.
Every one of them had survived countless trials of life and death before earning the right to join Pojun Manor.
From the moment they became Iron Flame soldiers, they were already seasoned veterans.
"You..."
"Are forcing my hand?"
Shen Zhao's face turned cold.
"Then let me tell you the truth."
"This time..."
"Even I have no confidence that I'll return alive."
"I left you behind because the Iron Flame Army must leave behind seeds."
"If we fail to stop the Nine Nether invasion..."
"You will bear the responsibility of resisting the evil."
"The fate of the Nine Realms may one day rest in your hands."
"Do you understand what I'm saying?"
Qin Ling immediately replied,
"Marshal Shen is the soul of the Iron Flame Army."
"Without you, there would be no Iron Flame Army as it exists today."
"We don't possess such lofty ambitions."
"We only wish to follow you into battle..."
"...and tear those bastards from the Nine Nether to pieces!"
"Marshal Shen!"
"Please lead us into battle!"
Then all one hundred thousand soldiers recited their battle anthem together.
"Dark clouds gather over Qinghai's snow-covered mountains!"
"From the lonely fortress we gaze toward Jade Gate Pass!"
"After a hundred battles, our armor is worn through!"
"Until Loulan falls, we shall never return!"
"Charge!"
"Charge!"
"Charge!"
One hundred thousand warriors raised their arms and roared.
Shen Zhao let out a long sigh.
"...Return to your ranks."
"In three days..."
"...we march."
Su Yunying covered her mouth as tears streamed uncontrollably down her cheeks.
The spirit of these soldiers had etched itself deeply into her heart.
"So..."
"So this is my Iron Flame Army?"
"The invincible force my husband built with his own hands?"
"Why... why did I..."
Yu Xiyan could no longer finish her sentence.
Apart from overwhelming shock, all that remained inside her was boundless guilt and remorse.
The scene shifted once again.
"Marshal Shen, you mustn't!"
Inside Pojun Manor, Bai Qi shouted as he lunged forward, attempting to snatch the scroll from Shen Zhao's hands.
Shen Zhao easily sidestepped him.
"General Bai."
"What are you doing?"
Pointing at the scroll, Bai Qi pleaded desperately.
"Marshal Shen..."
"You absolutely cannot cultivate the Heart Demon Seed Art."
"It devours one's sanity."
"A single mistake will result in qi deviation, shattered meridians, and death."
"You must not cultivate it."
Shen Zhao calmly replied,
"If I don't take the extreme path..."
"How can I suppress the Nine Nether offensive?"
"You've read Ji Bingyan's intelligence report."
"The Six Sects of Nine Nether possess one hundred and ninety-eight Quasi-Emperors."
"They have no fewer than a thousand Manifestation Supremes."
"Each sect is guarded by a late-stage Great Emperor."
"Faced with such terrifying power..."
"If I don't stake everything..."
"How can I possibly defeat them?"
"Then let me cultivate it instead!"
Bai Qi declared.
"I once lived in the Demon Domain."
"I carry demonic qi within me."
"No one is more suitable than I am."
"Your cultivation isn't sufficient."
"The demonic qi in your body isn't enough to withstand the Heart Demon's backlash."
"My decision has been made."
"There will be no further discussion."
"Marshal Shen!"
"Go inspect the expedition supplies immediately."
"There must be no mistakes."
"Marshal Shen!"
"Do you intend to defy orders?"
"...This subordinate obeys."
Unable to argue further, Bai Qi left the room, suppressing his grief.
Shen Zhao slowly opened the scroll.
His eyes had never looked sharper or more resolute.
"Nine Nether..."
"Prepare yourselves..."
"...to face the wrath of Pojun Manor."
"The Heart Demon Seed Art..."
Su Yunying murmured in disbelief.
"That's the Demon Domain's supreme cultivation technique."
"It can force out every ounce of a cultivator's potential..."
"But the Heart Demon eventually devours all consciousness..."
"Reducing the cultivator to nothing more than a mindless killing machine."
"Boss..."
"He actually cultivated such a terrifying technique..."
"Even the Lord of the Demon Domain dared not touch it."
Once again, she was deeply shaken by Shen Zhao's willingness to sacrifice himself.
Beside her, Yu Xiyan collapsed onto the ground, staring blankly at the image of Shen Zhao holding the Heart Demon Seed Art.
"Why..."
"Why were you so cruel to yourself?"
"You didn't have to shoulder all of this."
"Couldn't you have been just a little selfish?"
"Couldn't you have lived an easier life?"
"I could have given you the tenderness and love you wanted."
"But why..."
"Why did you never tell me about everything you endured?"
"We were husband and wife..."
"Couldn't we have simply lived together peacefully?"
"Why would you rather destroy yourself than lower your pride and lean on me?"
Lost in their own thoughts, the two women watched as the illusion shifted once more.
Shen Zhao stood with his hands clasped behind his back atop a towering cliff where yin and yang energies surged into the heavens.
"What is he trying to do?"
Both Su Yunying and Yu Xiyan stared at the scene, utterly bewildered.
-----------------------
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