Chapter 124 - 106: Purgatory Battlefield and Choice

Chapter 124: Chapter 106: Purgatory Battlefield and Choice

The Seventh Prince raised an eyebrow. "In that case, I’ll have to ask you to select some talented individuals for me."

"That can be arranged," Xiao Heng replied in his hoarse voice.

A smile appeared on the Seventh Prince’s face.

While the men above chatted and laughed, hundreds of thousands on the battlefield below were struggling for their lives.

By now, even Lu Yuan felt the immense pressure.

The armor on his upper body was scarred and battered; some of the Armor Leaves had even been shattered.

The gaps in the Military Array around him grew larger and larger.

Although they had used "Shaking Mountains and Earth" several times to fend off attacks, the army had been fighting for so long that they no longer had the strength to use the technique.

Watching the Array gradually crumble, Lu Yuan naturally guessed Duke Zhenyuan’s intentions.

But besides fighting for his life, he had no other choice.

Such was the tragedy of the powerless.

For those who couldn’t grasp true power, death was the only path.

Another night passed. By the time the third day arrived, Lu Yuan’s initial three thousand men had been reduced to less than a thousand.

The Array had completely collapsed. Fortunately, the Xirong Wolf Soldiers were in just as sorry a state, hopelessly bogged down.

They could no longer retreat.

Wielding his Crescent Saber, Lu Yuan cut a swath through the battlefield, surrounded by his Warriors.

Every second, they were under immense pressure.

Li Feng was dead. Lu Yuan saw his body, impaled by a Battle Banner and pinned to the ground.

"ROAR!"

Lu Yuan had just finished off an enemy when an angry roar sounded.

Opposite him was a Xirong Gang Qi expert. He was clearly exhausted, and the glow of Gang Qi enveloping his body had dimmed.

He roared, swinging a heavy warhammer at Lu Yuan.

The force of the blow was immense, sending a dozen of Lu Yuan’s Personal Guards flying.

Their armor shattered on impact, and they were dead before they hit the ground.

Lu Yuan’s gaze turned cold. His Crescent Saber danced, becoming a blindingly fast beam of light that seemed to wrap around him, completely shrouding his body.

As he closed in on the Xirong expert, he twisted his body at an impossible angle to evade the warhammer, his blade flashing across his opponent’s neck in the same instant.

SCHLICK!

A head flew high into the air.

The Xirong expert was dead.

After nearly three days of hellish slaughter, Lu Yuan’s combat prowess had improved dramatically once again.

Granted, the Xirong Gang Qi Realm expert he had just slain was already on his last legs.

But Lu Yuan was just as exhausted.

Time ticked by. Finally, in the afternoon...

...the sound of retreating gongs echoed from the Dayong side.

In the next instant, nearly all the Border Army soldiers began a desperate scramble back toward their own lines.

They seemed to be using the last of their strength, all thoughts of enemies and military honors forgotten.

The Xirong soldiers didn’t give chase. They collapsed where they stood, pulling out dry rations and desperately stuffing them into their mouths.

CREAK!

Just then, the sound of siege crossbows cranking into position rang out.

THWANG! THWANG! THWANG!

Volleys of heavy bolts tore through the air, instantly killing the Xirong Warriors still on the battlefield with a dense barrage.

After three volleys of bolts.

"KILL!"

Clad in dark-gold armor, the Imperial Guard charged onto the battlefield, weapons in hand and in peak condition.

Their one-sided slaughter began.

Lu Yuan sat in an open area just off the battlefield, bandaging Zhou He’s wounds while stuffing dry rations and an Elixir into the man’s mouth.

"We made it, brother," he said. "We survived. Your old uncle didn’t die, and Wei Yong and the others are alive too. I swear, after this battle, I’ll be damned if I sell my life for anyone ever again."

His voice was ice-cold.

Zhou He’s abdomen had been pierced through. The wound wasn’t fatal, but it was severe.

Meanwhile, officers from the Imperial Guard were taking a headcount.

They also recorded the deeds in a merit ledger.

No one dared to steal credit for such military achievements, especially not under Duke Zhenyuan.

Once the records were complete.

They were brought before the commander’s tent.

The Seventh Prince’s eyes glowed with fervor as he looked at the ledger before him.

Xiao Heng knew what the prince was thinking. He turned to his Vice General and asked, "How many of the Captains survived?"

"Reporting to Marshal Xiao, thirteen in total. Roughly thirty thousand Warriors also survived," the Vice General replied quickly.

"Bring the Captains here. I want to meet them," Xiao Heng said softly. ’Anyone who can survive a battlefield like that is no simple man.’

The Vice General immediately withdrew. A moment later, thirteen blood-soaked figures were led before the Commander’s Banner.

Exhaustion was etched on their faces, but they still managed a bow. "Marshal Xiao."

Lu Yuan was among them. His gaze lingered on Xiao Heng for a moment before he lowered his head.

A cold glint flashed in his eyes.

’Zhang Zhe and Zhao Yu are here too.’

Across from them, Xiao Heng didn’t speak to them, but pointed to the thirteen men and said to the prince, "Your Highness, all of these men are talents. Especially this one, Lu Yuan. I was just looking at his file."

"He’s only seventeen, but he’s already accumulated numerous military honors. If he were to serve under you and be tempered in the Imperial Guard, he would surely become a great asset."

Xiao Heng’s words instantly piqued the Seventh Prince’s interest. He looked toward Lu Yuan and said, "Excellent. Then from now on..."

However, before he could finish, Zhang Zhe stepped forward and whispered something in the Seventh Prince’s ear.

A moment later, the Seventh Prince frowned, looking at Zhang Zhe. "Are you saying you have a grudge against Lu Yuan?"

Zhang Zhe nodded without hesitation. "He has a rift not only with me but with General Zhao Yu as well. We ask that the Seventh Prince render justice for us."

Xiao Heng’s brow furrowed.

After a moment of contemplation, the Seventh Prince looked at Xiao Heng and said, "I’ll take the other twelve, but not this Lu Yuan. Assign them to the Imperial Guard."

Xiao Heng nodded, but still asked, "Seventh Prince, won’t you reconsider?"

As he spoke, his gaze shifted to Lu Yuan.

The Seventh Prince’s words today had effectively severed Lu Yuan’s path into the Imperial Guard.

"No."

The prince was decisive. ’One is the son-in-law of a Commandery Prince, the other is the son of the General of Lingzhou. In my eyes, either of them is more worthy of my support than Lu Yuan, who is just a Captain.’

Seeing the Seventh Prince had made his decision, Xiao Heng said no more, just nodded, then waved his hand at Lu Yuan. "You are dismissed."

Lu Yuan acknowledged the order and departed from the area beneath the Commander’s Banner.

He also breathed a sigh of relief. ’In the past, I might have wanted to join the Imperial Guard. But after this battle, I have absolutely no desire to.’

’In the eyes of those high and mighty nobles, the lives and deaths of common soldiers are nothing but numbers.’

’Without powerful backing, even in the Imperial Guard, I’d just be more cannon fodder.’

’Following them might bring short-term benefits, but it would be nearly impossible for me to ever forge my own path.’

’My entire destiny would be tied to their whims.’

’So, I don’t want to follow any of them. I just want to go back to the Northern Border.’

With that thought, he dragged his exhausted body back to his tent.

Then, without hesitation, he swallowed the Meridian Fruit.

He was finally ready to break through to the True Essence Realm.