The Demon-Extermination Army martial artists had already clashed with scattered demon tribes on their way here, even suffering some casualties, so not everyone had arrived yet.
Some were too far away and were still on the road.
Currently, thirty thousand martial artists had gathered, and you felt you could wait no longer. It was time to set out to suppress the more severe demonic infestations within the Five Regions.
You heard some cities had already been occupied by the demon tribes.
For demonic infestations of this scale, ordinary armies with many commoners couldn't solve them; the Demon-Extermination Army had to go assist.
"Is this the commanding marshal arranged for us by the Sword Lord? This old man could be my grandfather! Can he even go to battle? Hope he doesn't end up on a plank halfway there!"
Inside the Divine Arms City military camp.
When you first appeared before the martial artists, your withered hair, graying beard, and face full of deep, trench-like wrinkles truly gave these warriors, still in their prime youth, quite a shock.
Many people mocked your age, their words revealing their lack of respect.
You didn't say much.
A few days later, the demon tribes launched a premeditated attack on Divine Arms City, attempting to disrupt the Demon-Extermination Army's assembly.
You punched and exploded the head of the leading Spirit Sea realm rhinoceros demon.
The entire army was stunned.
There were martial artists present who were also at the Spirit Sea realm.
But for them to blast apart a demon of the same realm with their bare hands, especially a rhinoceros known for its thick, tough hide?
Yeah, right!
"Grandfather!! I'm your grandson!!"
The martial artist who had offended you the day before publicly apologized to you.
He was afraid you'd get carried away with killing and blast him apart too, mistaking him for a demon.
Actually, you didn't mind.
You were so old now; even these martial artists in their thirties or forties seemed like little brats in your eyes.
A great man doesn't bear grudges against lesser men.
Some of the demons attacking Divine Arms City were under the Golden-Haired Rat King from the Eastern Wastes. When they saw you, they immediately pissed themselves in fear.
"It's Demonbane!!"
"How is he still alive?!"
"He even broke through to the Golden Body realm! We're screwed!!"
"Run! He's a devil, he kills demons without blinking!!"
When part of the demon force started fleeing chaotically, their offensive immediately fell into disarray.
You alone chased after the backs of over a thousand demons, firing Shattering Star Ripple Finger strikes one after another, shredding demon after demon, leaving the ground littered with dismembered corpses, blood staining the entire city!
You wielded the Bronze War Sword, cutting down one little demon friend with each swing.
These demons cried out: Scared to tears!
Now everyone understood why the Sword Lord chose you as marshal.
Zhen Pin remarked, "It had to be the Sword Lord, knowing people and putting them to good use."
You also stopped hiding the Ten Thousand Souls Banner.
What kind of critical moment was this?
If the human race lost this round, it would be racial extinction. Who would care if you used an evil artifact to kill demons?
These days, even if you were once part of the Demonic Path, as long as you participated in demon-slaying, past transgressions could be forgiven.
Besides, you weren't part of the Demonic Path anyway.
The current Ten Thousand Souls Banner had already been upgraded to Earth-Grade, with greater internal capacity and more, stronger killing moves!
Once the Ten Thousand Souls Banner emerged, ten thousand demon souls surged forth like ten thousand stampeding horses!
You alone possessed the momentum of a thousand troops and ten thousand horses, utterly decimating this demon force attacking Divine Arms City!
After killing them, you even used their flesh and blood to reward the entire army, then collected their souls into the Ten Thousand Souls Banner, refining them instantly!
Before Divine Arms City, you, the old marshal, stood majestic and awe-inspiring.
Seeing this wave of over a thousand demons, the Demon-Extermination Army thought they were going to die before even achieving anything.
—Demons' individual combat power is generally stronger than martial artists of the same realm, but their overall numbers are fewer than humans'.
Who would have thought the old marshal alone would be enough to repel them.
Now, no one was unconvinced.
However, a reckless youth asked a question.
"Marshal! What kind of banner is that? Why is it emitting black smoke? It looks quite sinister! Really resembles the Ten Thousand Souls Banner!"
Someone fiercely smacked the reckless youth on the head.
"Idiot! What Ten Thousand Souls Banner! That's the Demon-Subduing Banner! Subduing demons, transforming beasts, breaking through the swift wind, stopping in an instant! Haven't you heard of it?"
The sixty-fifth year, eighty-three years old.
In your advanced years, you took command and set out on campaign, leading the Demon-Extermination Army, treading upon the Cloud Summit Flying Boat, sweeping across the Five Regions.
Cities occupied by the demon tribes were gradually recaptured by you all.
The Great Qian's Dragon Protection Department provided you with intelligence, guiding the Demon-Extermination Army to places where large-scale demonic infestations appeared.
The Five Regions' Demon Slaying Divisions served as your guides and support in various locations, cooperating in battle.
The demon tribes that had broken into the Five Regions' territory split into smaller groups; it was difficult for them to assemble.
But your Demon-Extermination Army grew larger the more you fought, because you continuously recruited martial artists encountered along the way.
The Cloud Summit Flying Boat didn't have any special functions; it was just big enough and could fly, so it was sufficient to carry the entire army.
During your second simulation, you served as a Military Advisor under Border Army General Sun Cheng'en in Suzhou, so you actually had some experience in leading troops and fighting battles.
After putting it into practice these past few years, your command ability became increasingly proficient.
Because you were so fiercely effective against the demon tribes.
So fierce that the entire army felt you shouldn't be here; you should be on the front lines at Cangqiong Ridge.
Thus, your prestige within the army had become unassailable; the entire army bowed in admiration.
Because of your great age and white hair and beard (the red hair from training had also turned white due to excessive age).
So many Demon-Extermination Army officers and soldiers directly addressed you as "Grandfather."
Having inexplicably gained a bunch of grandsons, you felt it wasn't too bad either.
The sixty-sixth year, eighty-four years old.
The Demon-Extermination Army advanced triumphantly, killing until the demon tribes in the Five Regions fled at the mere whisper of their approach.
Driven to desperation, the demon tribes also launched counterattacks.
Scattered demon tribes converged, concentrating their attacks on key departments like the local Dragon Protection Departments and Demon Slaying Divisions, depriving you of assistance and intelligence.
During a battle to reinforce the Jizhou Dragon Protection Department, Zhen Pin, while saving a group of commoners, was ambushed by several Spirit Condensation realm great demons and couldn't hold on.
After all, he was also getting old. Although his martial arts cultivation wasn't low, time was even more merciless.
"Old monk! You hold on! The spirit medicine from Danxiang Valley will be here soon! Take it and you won't die!!"
Zhen Pin's eyes were half-closed, a calm smile on his face.
"Amitabha. This humble monk is about to see the Buddha. This is a good thing, Marshal. There's no need for sorrow."
"Nonsense! You old bald donkey are about to die, I should be overjoyed! Don't you know I hold grudges? I still haven't settled the account of you stealing my things back in the Eastern Wastes!"
"The Marshal really is getting old, forgetful. Didn't I return it?"
"You didn't! You're the forgetful one, you..."
Your words cut off abruptly because you knew the other couldn't hear anymore.
With a serene expression, hands clasped together, Zhen Pin went to seek the Buddha in his heart.
That day, the Demon-Extermination Army witnessed what true rage looked like.
Their old marshal, without any weapon in hand, bare-chested, alone, charged into the horde of demons attacking Jizhou City.
Tearing everything apart with his bare hands!!
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