A few days later, all but one squad stationed to guard the underground city were mobilized by the Ascendant Faction. Their singular target was the nearest city of the Slaughter Faction, known as "Grey Leaf City," a mid-sized city.
It was currently under siege by the Husbandry Faction. Positioned outside the core region of the Slaughter Faction, Grey Leaf City faced frequent attacks and was beyond the reach of imdiate reinforcent from other Slaughter Faction soul clans. Despite this, the city's defenders had held out for three months.
The Husbandry Faction maintained their exhausting assault tactics—launching fierce attacks for a few days before needing to rest. This pattern allowed the defenders of Grey Leaf City brief respite.
Atop a low mountain peak, Yun Qi and his team had already taken their positions. They had twenty squads, a total of two hundred people, all of whom were great soul masters, equivalent to the soul clan's great specters.
Naturally, this force was not enough to take a city. Their goal was not to occupy the city but to seize resources amidst the ongoing conflict between the Slaughter and Husbandry Factions.
Although the Slaughter Faction delighted in killing, they also needed to nurture so soul beasts for sustenance. By capturing these soul beasts, the Ascendant Faction could continue to survive a bit longer.
"The eastern and northern walls of Grey Leaf City have already been breached by the Husbandry Faction; their main assault is now on the northern wall," Yun Qi explained. "We will take this opportunity to sneak in through the eastern wall. Do not engage any soul clans directly along the way; head straight for the livestock area."
"We need to capture the soul beasts, but also pay attention to the thods of nurturing them and the seeds of superior soul beasts," Yun Qi instructed as he looked at the captains of the other five squads.
"Understood," they nodded earnestly.
"Ding Heng, your squad will take this direction," Yun Qi directed.
"Bai Xin, your squad will lie in ambush here to counter any potential enemy forces," he continued.
Yun Qi surveyed the group, swiftly assigning tasks to each squad. A subtle, unusual gleam flickered through his eyes. Under the identity of Long Yuan, captain of the Dragonfly Squad, he was highly trusted by the queen. His orders were followed, but that did not an these followers would side with him if he ever opposed the queen. So squads were staunch supporters of the queen, obeying Yun Qi solely because of his favored status.
Thus, Yun Qi thoughtfully and kindly assigned the most dangerous tasks to these loyal squads. Other squads, harboring grievances against the queen, were given relatively safe assignnts. This way, he could weed out dissenters, ensuring that when the ti ca to rally the Ascendant Faction, its mbers would unite under his call.
Everything he did was ticulously aid at flawlessly executing the master's orders. How else could he demonstrate his own value?
At Yun Qi's command, all squads of the Ascendant Faction moved stealthily toward Grey Leaf City as planned. The continuous bombardnt between the two soul clans at the northern wall sent shockwaves across the city, their soul techniques clashing and exploding in the air, audible even outside the city walls.
With the Slaughter Faction's forces concentrated on the northern defense, the Ascendant squads made an unimpeded entry through the eastern wall and proceeded with their assigned tasks. Their mission was highly successful: not only did they capture a substantial number of ta soul beasts, but they also obtained several soul beast seeds for future breeding.
However, just as they burst out and attempted to retreat along their original path, they found themselves surrounded. The Husbandry Faction's soul clans had filled the exterior, and turning back, they saw a massive contingent of Slaughter Faction soul clans erging from within the city.
Specter Kings from both factions appeared soon after, sealing any possible escape for the Ascenders. The faces of all the Ascenders paled in that instant.
A Specter King from the Husbandry Faction cackled, "How laughable, these chickens of the Ascendant Faction trying to fish in troubled waters."
A Specter King from the Slaughter Faction sneered, "Do you even need to say it? Kill the Ascenders first! Attack!"
Although the internal strife between the Nurturing and Slaughter Factions was a soul clan matter, the Ascenders, being outsiders from another star, were a common enemy. Upon discovering the Ascenders' presence, it was natural for both factions to unite temporarily to eliminate these "easy targets."
Yun Qi shouted, "Form up and face the enemy!" He knew his master would appear, but he could not be sure exactly when. Until then, they had to rely on themselves.
The battle erupted instantly. The Ascendant squads found themselves attacked from both sides. However, these were warriors who had survived countless battles; they understood the importance of conserving their strength.
As the first group of Ascenders exhausted their soul power, they imdiately retreated to the center to recuperate, allowing the second wave to take over the defense. This rotation continued, ensuring their lines were not broken and even managing to kill several great specters.
The faces of both Specter Kings darkened with annoyance. "Enough of this nuisance, I'll handle it myself!" growled the Slaughter Faction Specter King. His soul power coalesced into a giant spear and he launched it with a mighty thrust. The terrifying force of the attack was felt by everyone.
Yun Qi, at the forefront, felt the breath of death envelop him. Just at that critical mont, two figures descended from the sky, plunging directly into the fray. With a clang, they effortlessly blocked the giant spear. In the next instant, they hurled their own trident with ferocious force.
The Slaughter Faction's Ghost King was montarily stunned before the trident pierced straight through his body. Simultaneously, cries of battle erupted from the outskirts as the Husbandry Faction's soul clans were swiftly decimated.
By the ti the Ascenders could grasp the situation, the soul clans from both factions lay defeated on the ground. They found themselves surrounded by a group of soul clans they had never seen before.
At the forefront were an imposing four-ard soul clan and a serpentine soul clan, both radiating incredibly fearso auras, powerful as mountains, seemingly capable of crushing them effortlessly.
The Ascenders looked warily at these powerful new soul clans, while Yun Qi and Ma Nanshan, on the other hand, revealed expressions of joy.
They had arrived!
Welcoming the king's troops!
Yun Qi and Ma Nanshan looked around, but their master was nowhere to be seen. The four-ard figure stepped forward, and as the Ascenders watched uncertainly, he chuckled, "Yun Qi, Ma Nanshan, father says you've done well. You will be granted a troop to take full control of the Ascendant Faction. Your task now is to continue encroaching on Slaughter Faction territory. Do you understand?"
Yun Qi and Ma Nanshan?
The Ascenders were astounded. Weren't they the captain and vice-captain of the Dark Cloud Squad? Hadn't they supposedly died on a mission long ago?
Yun Qi and Ma Nanshan dropped to one knee in unison, declaring reverently, "Yes! We will follow the master's commands, take control of the Ascendant Faction, and fight for our master!"
The Ascenders were even more shocked.
Wait a minute. Aren't you two supposed to be Long Yuan and He Qing? How did you beco Yun Qi and Ma Nanshan?
And especially He Qing, who was known to be a woman! How could she be a man?
Several male Ascenders suddenly changed their expressions. They had all pursued He Qing multiple tis!
Four Arms nodded and casually pointed, "I'll just give you so manpower for now. You, you, you, and you, from now on, you follow Yun Qi and Ma Nanshan." He waved his hand carelessly.
Instantly, fifty Ghost Commanders and five thousand Ghost Generals assembled beside Yun Qi and Ma Nanshan. Ghost Commanders are equivalent to Specter Kings, and Ghost Generals are equivalent to Great Specters.
At that mont, Yun Qi and Ma Nanshan ca to control fifty Specter Kings and five thousand Great Specters—a significant military force on Soul Star!
The Ascendant spectators were left dumbfounded.
You call this casually giving so manpower?!
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