Great Demon Leader: Start By Refining Flying Zombies

Chapter 38: Times Have Changed

"Hurry up! Hurry up!"

"The Grand General has ordered that these checkpoints be heavily guarded, and no one is allowed to pass!"

Within the capital city, apart from the imperial palace, the highest-ranking and most luxurious establishment was the Grand General's Mansion in the west of the city.

Yan Wuxie resided here all year round. His power was overwhelming, and it was rumored that someone was planning to assassinate him, someone who was also a master listed in the Divine Weapon Catalog.

Thus, a military order was sent directly to the Imperial Guard Camp guarding the capital.

At this moment, three thousand iron-armored Imperial Guards had already been mobilized. They had set up barricades and stationed heavy troops at several street intersections nearby.

On the nearby high towers and pavilions, archers lay low, their feathered arrows already nocked and poisoned.

The once bustling streets were now desolate and filled with an eerie silence. The doors and windows of every household along the street were tightly shut, and no one dared to venture out. Otherwise, they would be immediately arrested as spies.

Inside the Grand General's Mansion, a middle-aged scholar with a gentle appearance shook his folding fan as he listened to a report from a captain. He hummed lightly, neither too lightly nor too heavily.

"The assassin targeting the Grand General this time is formidable. We must not underestimate them as ordinary martial artists. Make sure your subordinates are on high alert!"

"Otherwise, if anything happens to the Grand General's Mansion, it will be a capital offense punishable by exterminating three clans!"

"Captain Zhao, do you understand?"

Captain Zhao, who had the build of a young bull, stared straight at the ground, trembling slightly. The armor on his body rustled as he moved.

He swallowed hard but, thinking about the trap he had set up, confidence surged within him. He clasped his fists and said, "I understand the severity of the situation. Please rest assured, the Grand General's Mansion is as solid as a fortress. The thieves will have no chance to escape!"

After Captain Zhao finished speaking, the middle-aged scholar picked up a teacup and leisurely took a sip. When he looked up, he saw Captain Zhao still hesitating in place, causing his eyebrows to furrow.

"Um, sir, a few days ago, I sent something to your residence. Did you receive it? Is it to your satisfaction?"

Captain Zhao gritted his teeth and finally spoke in a low voice.

The middle-aged scholar paused for a moment, clicked his tongue, and stared at the pitiful man in front of him. He said, "So it was you who sent that blood coral. It's rare to have a hint of spiritual energy. It suits my taste."

"Hehe, as long as you like it, as long as you like it."

Captain Zhao forced a smile. Although he didn't understand what spiritual energy meant, he figured he hadn't sent the wrong thing.

"In return for this blood coral, I'll give you a chance."

"Sir, are you willing to speak a few good words to the prince on my behalf and help me with my promotion?"

"What you've given me is not enough."

The middle-aged scholar raised an eyebrow slightly and shook his head in response to Captain Zhao's disappointed expression. He casually said, "The opportunity I'm referring to is for someone else to replace you in guarding the Grand General's Mansion, reducing many risks. What do you think?"

Captain Zhao's heart trembled. He thought the middle-aged scholar didn't want to help and had casually found an excuse to use up his favor.

Although there would be severe punishment for a failed defense, if he performed well, he might catch Yan Wuxie's attention.

Thinking of the future glory and wealth, he gritted his teeth and said, "Thank you for your kind offer, but I have confidence in my subordinates. The three thousand iron-armored soldiers are all elites, wielding excellent bows and powerful crossbows. Even if several Innate experts join forces, they won't stand a chance!"

After speaking, Captain Zhao bowed and left with large strides.

Little did he know that the middle-aged scholar shook his head behind him, cursed "stupid bull" while sipping his tea.

He never expected that there would be people eagerly competing for the arduous task of using mortal lives to deplete the cultivation power of cultivators. This was the allure of power.

As Captain Zhao stepped out of the Grand General's Mansion, it felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from his heart. He turned around and glanced at the majestic and solemn gate, taking a deep breath.

Just as he was about to leave and inspect the surrounding defense arrangements...

Suddenly, a thunderous explosion came from a distance, followed by the trembling of the earth. A cloud of black smoke rose in the distance, accompanied by faint screams.

Captain Zhao's footing became unstable, almost causing him to fall. Fortunately, he was a top-notch expert and quickly regained his composure.

Looking at the soldiers around him with panic on their faces, he also felt a hint of unease in his heart, but he still sternly rebuked, "Don't panic, stay calm!"

"Perhaps the enemy used some trickery, nothing to worry about!"

Zhao Xiaowei, who had long been known for his power, still had some ability. He hurried towards the explosion site, and he had also heard that some martial arts sects in the martial world were skilled in using secret medicines that could create thunderous sounds.

However, this kind of secret medicine was not only complicated to make and difficult to store, but its destructive power was also scattered. A slight mistake could harm the user themselves.

They were not opponents for a large army, only able to deceive some rural women.

"Sir Xiaowei, your warhorse and weapons!"

A attendant holding a spirited horse stopped Zhao Xiaowei. The horse was adorned with a large axe.

"Just in time!"

Zhao Xiaowei's eyes lit up. He mounted the horse, his right arm bulging with muscles as he held the large axe. He crossed the wide street, and with each hoofbeat, he brought a powerful impact.

He was a military general, and with a warhorse and weapons, he could exert his maximum strength. Even an Innate expert would have to temporarily avoid his edge at this moment!

Zhao Xiaowei's warhorse was very fast, and soon arrived at the scene. He saw a street intersection that was heavily guarded, now filled with smoke. There was a large blackened hole on the ground, about three feet deep.

About ten bloodied iron-armored guards lay on the roadside like rag dolls that had been smashed by a heavy hammer, their life or death unknown.

The remaining guards gathered together, holding spears, their expressions fearful as they looked ahead, like startled birds.

"Where is the enemy?"

Zhao Xiaowei swung his axe, his eyes widened as he roared, but he didn't see any trace of the enemy around him.

Just then, he heard a rumbling sound coming from the end of the street, like an angry growl of a monster, getting closer.

The warhorse beneath him became restless, snorting and pawing the ground. If Zhao Xiaowei hadn't held onto the reins, it would have likely fled.

"What kind of ghostly thing is that!"

Suddenly, Captain Zhao's face showed confusion and fear. At the end of the wide and classical streets of Wangdu, a monster in full-body armor appeared.

This monster was pitch black, massive in size, and almost filled the entire street as soon as it appeared. It had several pairs of wheels on its sides, with tracks-like armor covering the wheels.

It was almost like a moving fortress.

There were no war beasts pulling it, yet it moved forcefully. In an instant, it was like a giant elephant stomping on the ground, causing the sand and soil to fly, and even the bricks along the way were crushed.

"Perhaps there is an immensely powerful warrior hiding inside this armored fortress? Do they think they are invincible inside there? Playing tricks, they are truly seeking death!"

Captain Zhao's hands and feet turned cold, but he quickly thought of a possibility. He forcefully controlled his horse and charged forward, wielding his flower-patterned battle axe with a fierce wind.

However, when he reached the front of the armored monster, Captain Zhao had no idea where to attack. He randomly swung his axe, leaving only a shallow mark on the front plate of the monster, and sparks flew.

Just as Captain Zhao was stunned, the armored monster was not polite at all. It directly rammed into him, with its tracks first trapping the horse's hooves, and then pulling the rider on top of it.

"No, no, no!"

Captain Zhao's foot got stuck in the stirrup, and he immediately shouted in alarm.

He tried to use his flower-patterned axe to block the wheels, but he immediately saw that the finely crafted iron weapon, under the heavy pressure, quickly deformed and twisted into a lump of scrap iron.

Then, without even a moment to catch his breath, he was directly crushed under the tracks of the speeding armored monster.

Captain Zhao let out a short scream and then fell silent, leaving only a pool of blood on the road.

If there was a Blue Star person here, they would be able to recognize that the tyrannical armored monster running rampant here, unheard of by the people of Yan Kingdom, was a modern tank, and it had many special modifications.

Thicker armor, more powerful engine, and a larger gun!

Inside the tank, Liang Xiao flipped through a tank driver's manual while commanding Qin Long and Pandora to operate this behemoth. He hardly noticed the commotion outside.

"Liang Xiao, is this the mechanical puppet you brought back from your previous trip? Its structure is quite peculiar, it doesn't consume any mana at all, nor does it require the use of spirit stones."

Qin Long's face showed an interesting expression as he took the initiative to sit in the driver's seat and operated various mechanisms according to Liang Xiao's instructions. As a cultivator, he quickly adapted, so in no time, he was operating it skillfully.

However, she soon felt some slight bumps from the tank and asked in doubt, "But how can this mechanical puppet explore the outside? I seemed to have bumped into something just now. Are we under attack?"

(End of this chapter)