Protect Our Patriarch
Book 5: Chapter 132: Greetings to the Little Demon Lord from my Ancestor!

...

Fortunately, the "United Volunteer Battle Group," though cobbled together, was quite formidable. After all, the Han Yue Wu Clan, Jiang Clan, Wang's Clan, Luo Clan, and others had good relations with the Northern Territory Wang Mansion. Due to organizational constraints and concerns for their own clan soldiers' safety, only the elite of the elite were brought out.

This resulted in the average cultivation level of this patched-together volunteer group being the highest among the three battle groups.

Thus, Wang Fugui was full of confidence in this battle.

After a round of tactical arrangements, where everyone's tasks were clearly analyzed and explained, the leaders dispersed to carry out their respective duties according to the plan.

The room fell silent once more.

At this moment, a graceful silhouette emerged quietly from the shadows behind Wang Fugui.

It was a stunning beauty.

She had bright red hair, snow-white skin, and a pair of eerie golden snake eyes. In the light, her pupils involuntarily contracted into thin slits, appearing particularly enchanting and captivating, yet possessing a uniquely striking beauty.

This great beauty was none other than Ji Yue'er, the Yin Snake Demon Concubine, a key figure in the "enmity" between Wang Shouzhe and the Little Demon Lord.

She was originally assigned to protect Wang Anye, but appeared here because Wang Anye, as a grandfather, feared for Fugui's safety due to his youth and inexperience on the battlefield, thus sending Ji Yue'er to protect him.

"I never expected Master Wang Shouzhe to go to such lengths for me," she said with a slightly complicated expression. "Under the threat of the Little Demon Lord, not only did he not hand me over, but he also confronted the Little Demon Lord head-on."

Ever since she learned that the Little Demon Lord had sent people to East Qian to demand her, she had been anxious, never expecting the subsequent developments to be so unexpected.

This made Ji Yue'er wonder if Master Wang Shouzhe had ulterior motives for her beauty and primal yin.

"Ji, don't overthink it. This matter has little to do with you," Wang Fugui yawned and glanced at Ji Yue'er. "My Ancestor Grandfather confronted the Little Demon Lord not for personal gain, nor for the benefit of our Wang's Clan, but for the fate of the entire human race."

"?"

Ji Yue'er was puzzled.

How did confronting the Little Demon Lord relate to the fate of the entire human race?

"Though the Immortal Dynasty and Demon Dynasty are rife with conflicts, they are fundamentally of the same origin," Wang Fugui sipped his tea, refreshed himself, and continued, "Now, with the outer region demons becoming increasingly rampant, the situation is deteriorating. If the Immortal and Demon races cannot join forces to resist the outer region demons, the fate of the human race is in jeopardy."

"And the Little Demon Lord is domineering and ambitious, with no limits to his methods, often inciting various disputes between the Immortal and Demon races. If he ascends to the position of Demon Lord... sigh~ it will inevitably reignite the immortal-demon war, causing untold suffering, and how will the human race drive away the outer region demons?"

"But this..." Ji Yue'er was conflicted, unable to understand, "Shouldn't this be something for the Immortal Emperor and Demon Emperor to consider? As the saying goes, when the sky falls, the tall ones hold it up. What does this have to do with our Wang's Clan?"

"Sigh~ People without foresight will have immediate worries," Wang Fugui glanced at Ji Yue'er, somewhat disappointed, "With the potential of our Wang's Clan, becoming the 'tall ones' in the future is a certainty. Rather than regretting when the time comes, it's better to plan and prepare early to face future crises."

Taking action while the situation is still stable allows for calm planning. If we wait until chaos ensues to clean up the mess, how much more effort and thought will it take?

"Ancestor Grandfather is truly remarkable, every move filled with profound meaning. It seems like a casual move, but it's a strategy spanning thousands of miles, a victory planned for millennia. His broad vision, deep planning, and grand heart are truly rare throughout history," Wang Fugui shook his head in admiration, his youthful face full of respect. "Unlike me, Wang Fugui, who only focuses on small gains."

"I must reflect on my shallowness and learn from Ancestor Grandfather, so I can better share his burdens."

Ji Yue'er was stunned.

Though she didn't fully understand, she was speechless with shock.

It turned out Master Wang Shouzhe had such a grand vision and deep strategy. For the first time, she felt a willingness to give her primal yin to someone without regret.

"Young Master, I will perform well in this battle to repay Master Wang Shouzhe's great kindness," Ji Yue'er said with a determined look. "That Nine Yin Corpse Real Person is just a small fry."

"No need. For this mission, Ji, you don't need to take action. Just stay by my side to prevent any accidents," Wang Fugui immediately stopped her, analyzing, "After this battle, the Immortal Emperor will surely take advantage of the situation, and there will be disputes with the Demon Dynasty. To ensure the Immortal Emperor has more leverage when demanding benefits, we need to match our opponents card for card, which is why Ancestor Grandfather only mobilized three elite battle groups."

"Soldier against soldier, king against king, we want the Demon Emperor to have no words, to swallow the loss with gritted teeth. As for any unauthorized actions, let the Northern Territory Wang bear the blame. Our Wang's Clan is still weak and should not be too high-profile."

"Master Wang Shouzhe is wise, and Young Master is insightful," Ji Yue'er quickly understood and was filled with admiration.

She was also secretly alarmed.

It was impressive enough that Wang Shouzhe was so formidable, but even this young Fugui had such foresight, understanding the intricate strategies and balances behind this battle, grasping the deep meaning of Wang Shouzhe's plans.

In comparison, she, a Lingxu Realm cultivator, seemed to have lived in vain for over a thousand years.

Initially, when she joined the Wang's Clan, it was out of necessity, somewhat reluctantly. Now, it seemed she had stumbled upon a blessing in disguise.

...

The night passed in the blink of an eye.

The twilight had faded.

A sliver of dawn appeared on the horizon.

The sun had not yet fully risen, and the morning light had not completely bloomed, but the coming day was faintly discernible.

Today promised to be a good day.

In the distance, the outline of a fortress began to emerge.

In the dim light, the fortress's shape was somewhat blurred, but its grandeur and magnificence were still visible.

The massive black fortress stood tall, its towering walls undulating like a solid barrier between north and south, resembling a crouching beast ready to devour any approaching forces.

That was Yingning Fort.

After nearly two hours of marching, the Demon Corpse Battle Group finally reached their predetermined destination just before dawn.

On a protruding rocky outcrop, Nine Yin Corpse Real Person stood against the wind, silently observing the distant fortress.

The distance to Yingning Fort was less than two miles. At such a close range, any probing methods could easily alert the fort, but as a Divine Realm demon envoy, his eyesight was exceptional, allowing him to clearly see the general situation outside the fortress even in the dim light.

Behind him, a dense mass of shadows was slowly gathering.

The cold morning wind stirred his robe, and in the thin morning light, his face, hidden behind a sinister ghost mask, looked particularly eerie. His long white hair fluttered in the wind, making him appear like a ghost from the underworld, sending chills down one's spine.

"Commander, all battle group members have assembled. Shall we proceed now?" a black-robed figure, face obscured, approached and asked in a low voice.

His aura was restrained, yet his presence was deep, indicating he was a figure of authority within the Demon Corpse Battle Group, with considerable strength.

"This battle is crucial to the Young Master's plans across the territory. If successful, all is well. But if we fail, those clowns in the True Demon Hall will surely seize the opportunity to cause trouble," Nine Yin Corpse Real Person's voice spread through the night wind, reaching the entire Demon Corpse Battle Group.

He knew well that although the Young Master's position in the True Demon Hall seemed stable, countless eyes were watching, waiting for a chance to pull him down. Old foxes like Tian Xie Demon Lord and Lin Yuan Demon Lord were particularly watchful.

If the Young Master's plan failed, those old fellows would not let it go, and would surely seize the opportunity to smear the Young Master before the Demon Lord.

As the Young Master's subordinate, his duty was to ensure the Young Master's plan was executed smoothly and perfectly.

"As members of the Young Master's Demon Corpse Battle Group, we must align our will with the Young Master's, make his goals our own, and spare no effort to complete the tasks he assigns." He turned, his cold gaze sweeping over the black-robed figures behind him, and said in a deep voice, "In this battle, we must win, not lose."

The black-robed corpse controllers looked up at him, their eyes igniting with a fierce light.

They were soldiers of the Chao Clan, raised and trained by the clan from a young age. Over the years, loyalty and obedience had been ingrained in their very bones.

Now was the time to serve the Young Master.

Seeing the fire in their eyes, Nine Yin Corpse Real Person nodded in satisfaction, then turned again, waving his hand decisively, "Follow my command, the entire army, attack! Capture Yingning Fort in the shortest time!"

"Kill!!"

"Kill, kill, kill!"

The eyes of all the black-robed corpse controllers gleamed with ferocity.

Amidst the thunderous cries, one corpse puppet after another soared into the sky, charging toward Yingning Fort.

Though speed was not the forte of corpse puppets, their bodies, specially refined, appeared as if cast from metal, possessing immense strength.

At this moment, the armored corpse puppets stomped the ground hard, leaping high into the air, reaching over thirty meters, before landing heavily and leaping again.

In an instant, they had advanced dozens of meters.

As the corpse puppets leaped, the ground trembled faintly.

Simultaneously, the black-robed corpse controllers waved their black banners, transforming into streams of black mist, flying toward Yingning Fort.

The black demonic energy and fiendish aura spread in the gradually brightening morning light, covering the mountains and fields, seemingly intent on engulfing the dawn before Yingning Fort.

The chilling killing intent brewed amidst the charge across the mountains and fields.

The less than two-mile distance was covered in a flash.

The soldiers patrolling the walls of Yingning Fort had just noticed the approaching black mist. Before they could react, shadowy figures were already leaping onto the wall, stepping on the bricks.

The dozens of meters high wall seemed like flat ground to them, posing little obstacle.

"Boom!!"

A massive corpse puppet landed heavily on the wall, cracking the bricks beneath it.

A huge metal warhammer swung in an arc, smashing toward the guards on the wall with the speed of wind and thunder, its momentum terrifying.

In the morning light, these tide-like corpse puppets, clad in armor, gleamed coldly. Their specially refined bodies were exceptionally tall and burly, like giants of steel and iron, exuding an intimidating aura.

At first glance, they seemed no different from puppets made of metal, save for the overwhelming stench of decay marking their true nature.

The guards on the wall, caught off guard by the sudden attack, were immediately sent flying.

As the Chao Clan's elite soldiers, the Demon Corpse Battle Group's corpse puppets included not only Lingtai Realm, but also Celestial Realm, and even a few Purple Mansion Realm puppets.

Though the guards of Yingning Fort were also elite, they quickly fell into disarray under the overwhelming power, unable to hold out for long before rapidly collapsing.

The walls were on the verge of being lost.

At this critical moment.

Two battalions from within the fort, about six to seven hundred men, charged onto the walls, blocking the fierce assault of the corpse puppets.

Their flags bore the names "United Battle Group Luo Clan First Battalion" and "Luo Clan Second Battalion."

Though the Han Yue Luo Clan was only a second-grade clan, they managed to muster two elite battalions, complete with their own weapons and equipment, whether to firmly grasp the thigh of the Princess of Chunnan or the Changning Wang's Clan.

These were elite Luo Clan members, including many mid to late Lingtai Realm and Celestial Realm cultivators. With their coordinated attacks, one corpse puppet after another was thrown off the walls.

With these two battalions defending the easily defensible walls of Yingning Fort, the tide-like assault of the corpse puppets was momentarily halted.

"Where did these elite battalions come from?" Nine Yin Corpse Real Person's expression changed slightly, his tone turning sharp, "Charge! We must not delay the battle and cause trouble for the Young Master."

But before he could finish speaking, two more battalions charged from the right rear.

"Vile Demon Dynasty, surrender at once."

These battalions, with different weapons and equipment from the Luo Clan, bore flags of different colors, inscribed with "Wang Clan First Battalion" and "Wang Clan Second Battalion," their morale extremely high.

Nine Yin Corpse Real Person's face changed again.

However, before he could react.

A large group of people charged from the left rear, shouting, "Old Demon Corpse, surrender now!"

This group numbered over a thousand, their armor bright and imposing, like a pack of unleashed tigers, their morale incredibly high.

Their unique flags bore the names "Wu Clan First Battalion," "Wu Clan Second Battalion," and "Wu Clan Third Battalion."

Nine Yin Corpse Real Person's face turned dark, beyond change.

Yet, it wasn't over.

As the Wu Clan's three battalions' shouts faded, several more battalions charged from the direct rear, yelling, "Brothers, the opportunity for merit and achievement has arrived."

These battalions' flags were even more chaotic, some bearing the character "Jiang," others "Ying."

The entire battle group was undoubtedly a patchwork.

But their combat power was formidable, especially as they flanked from multiple directions. The black-robed cultivators of the Demon Corpse Battle Group specialized in controlling corpses, not close combat, and the number of corpse puppets left in the rear was limited.

With this charge, the Demon Corpse Battle Group was thrown into disarray.

They had fallen into a trap!

Nine Yin Corpse Real Person's face turned ashen.

It wasn't surprising that Northern Liang's commander could predict their attempt to break through Yingning Fort. After all, there were few routes from Huaiyin to Huaiyang suitable for large-scale troop movements. Even with prior precautions, it wasn't unusual, merely indicating the opposing commander's clear thinking and meticulous planning.

He wasn't concerned about this, as the Demon Corpse Battle Group's strength meant that even with Yingning Fort's defenders prepared, the outcome wouldn't be affected.

However, this suddenly appearing ragtag battle group completely disrupted his plan!

This was too bizarre! Where did Northern Liang get such a powerful battle group?!

Could it be reinforcements from somewhere?!

Nine Yin Corpse Real Person's mind was filled with doubts, but his actions didn't falter. With a wave of his hand, a massive black coffin crashed to the ground with a "boom."

This black coffin, covered in eerie red markings, was specifically designed to store corpse puppets.

Almost as soon as the coffin hit the ground.

The lid was violently thrown open, and a massive corpse puppet flew out.

Its enormous wings unfurled with a "swish," its form illuminated in the morning light.

It was a giant corpse puppet, far larger than a normal human, its face twisted and grotesque, its body covered in thick bone armor. The massive wings on its back were riddled with holes, making it appear particularly terrifying.

Accompanied by a strong stench of decay, its terrifying Divine Realm aura swept across the battlefield like a tidal wave, causing the surrounding demonic energy and fiendish aura to churn slightly.

This corpse puppet was the most powerful in his possession, made from the body of an outer region demon he had slain. It had taken considerable effort and precious materials to refine.

Since its creation, this corpse puppet had been his trump card.

No matter the origin of that battle group, with this puppet, they would meet their end today!

Nine Yin Corpse Real Person sneered inwardly, his form blurring into a cloud of black mist as he charged toward the battlefield.

With a roar, the massive corpse puppet dove down, carrying immense momentum as it charged into the fray.

For a time, its terrifying presence spread across half the battlefield.

The elite of the Demon Corpse Battle Group were invigorated, the chaotic situation stabilizing somewhat.

With Nine Yin Corpse Real Person and his refined corpse puppet's combat power, once he entered the battlefield, the United Volunteer Battle Group's encirclement would be broken, making it difficult to form a siege.

The Demon Corpse Battle Group, being battle-hardened elites, would regain their formidable combat power once their morale stabilized. Retreating calmly would likely not be an issue, and with some luck, they might even seize the opportunity to capture Yingning Fort.

...

On the high watchtower of Yingning Fort, Wang Fugui stood with his hands behind his back, overlooking the battlefield.

The cool morning breeze stirred his robes, and from a distance, his not-yet-tall figure exuded a hint of authority.

Seeing the imposing Divine Realm outer region demon corpse puppet, he couldn't help but remark, "Though the path of corpse refinement is vile and brutal, its combat power is indeed strong."

"Young Master, the Nine Yin Demon Hall is a formidable faction within the True Demon Hall, and a staunch supporter of the Demon Lord," Ji Yue'er said, guarding Wang Fugui. "If necessary, let me deal with that corpse puppet."

Just as Wang Fugui was about to speak, the jade pendant at his waist trembled slightly, emitting a series of lights.

He smiled and said, "I didn't expect Mengyu to be faster than us. The Northern Territory Wang Mansion soldiers she led have already dealt with the Black Eagle Battle Group."

"It seems we should hurry and deal with the Demon Corpse Battle Group and proceed with the next strategic step. Also, let's send my Ancestor Grandfather's regards to the Little Demon Lord."

With that, Wang Fugui raised his voice, amplifying it with profound energy, "I ask all Divine Realm experts to swiftly capture Nine Yin Corpse Real Person, as we need to move on to the next venue."

His voice carried across the battlefield, youthful yet steady, exuding a commanding presence.

"Fugui Ancestor, how can you use the word 'please'?" Wang Yuxuan's "dissatisfied" voice echoed in the morning light.

"Exactly, exactly, Fugui little brother, what's our relationship?" This was Wu Zhide's voice, "No need for formalities among brothers."

"Young Master~ you're too kind," the voice of the office goddess Jiang Qinglian followed.

As these voices rang out, one Divine Realm expert after another appeared in the morning light.

Each occupied a position, surrounding Nine Yin Corpse Real Person, who was charging toward the battlefield, in the center.

Clearly, Nine Yin Corpse Real Person's reaction was within their expectations.

Three vast and powerful Divine Realm auras rose simultaneously, intertwining and forcefully suppressing Nine Yin Corpse Real Person and his controlled corpse puppet's presence.

At this moment, the morning sun leapt over the horizon, its brilliant light spreading.

Everything in the world became incredibly bright.

In the morning light, the outlines of the three Divine Realm experts seemed to be edged with gold, appearing incredibly sacred, dazzling, and awe-inspiring.

"?!!"

Nine Yin Corpse Real Person's pupils trembled violently, his expression as if he had seen a ghost.

This time, his face was truly beyond change.