Chapter 271:Heaven’s Law! Wind Ripper!

Chapter 271: Chapter 271:Heaven’s Law! Wind Ripper!

The Valley had a quiet air of anticipation as General Qi Tian led the Second Regiment of the Grand Xu Army away. Only the First Regiment remained, their eyes filled with a mix of envy and expectation as they watched their comrades depart. All attention soon turned to the commanding figure seated on the dais, Zhong Shan.

Zhong Shan, with a demeanor of calm authority, meticulously perused the records before him. These documents detailed the First Regiment's structure and its leaders. Apart from himself, the regiment boasted a single deputy general, Zhao Chuan, who had a cultivation level of Nascent Soul Stage. Accompanying him were forty other officers, each leading several thousand troops, including a formidable unit of one thousand tiger cavalry under a Nascent Soul Stage officer's command.

The First Regiment was a disciplined and elite force; even the lowest rank held a cultivation level of the Golden Core Stage. Satisfied with his review, Zhong Shan discarded the papers and rose to address the twenty thousand soldiers before him.

"Zhao Chuan," Zhong Shan called out sharply.

"Present," replied Zhao Chuan, stepping forward with a salute.

"Conduct a headcount," Zhong Shan ordered in a voice that brooked no dissent.

"Yes, sir!" Zhao Chuan responded, turning to the regiment. "All units, conduct a headcount!" he commanded.

The officers immediately sprang into action, rallying their troops for the count. Zhong Shan waited patiently, observing the proceedings with an unyielding gaze.

After a short while, Zhao Chuan approached with a furrowed brow, looking somewhat apprehensive.

"What's the count?" Zhong Shan asked in a stern tone.

"Five men missing," Zhao Chuan reported.

"Five men missing from the First Regiment of the Grand Xu Army?" Zhong Shan's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Yes, General. It's General Li Feng and his four subordinates. General Li Feng is related to the Fourth Princess Consort," Zhao Chuan said, glancing at Zhong Shan with a troubled expression.

As Zhao Chuan finished speaking, the entire regiment turned their eyes towards Zhong Shan, awaiting his judgment. The tension in the air was palpable. How would he handle this?

"According to military law, what is the punishment for abandoning the camp?" Zhong Shan asked, his voice as cold as steel.

"The punishment is death. However, General Li Feng is related to the Fourth Princess Consort, and this isn't the first time he's done this. He's likely in Grand Xu City, indulging himself again," Zhao Chuan responded, his brow furrowed.

"So, according to military law, Li Feng should be executed?" Zhong Shan's voice rang with finality.

"Yes," Zhao Chuan affirmed, albeit reluctantly.

"Zhao Chuan, take ten officers with you and bring Li Feng to me," Zhong Shan ordered, his eyes blazing with determination.

"Yes, sir," Zhao Chuan replied, accepting the command without hesitation.

Zhong Shan returned to his seat on the dais, settling in to wait for Zhao Chuan's return. The hours dragged on—one hour, two hours, three hours—and the soldiers grew restless. Yet Zhong Shan remained patient, a pillar of steadfast resolve.

As dusk began to fall, a group finally appeared on the horizon. Zhao Chuan led the way, and beside him was a man reeking of alcohol, a sneer of disdain etched on his face. This was Li Feng, accompanied by his four subordinates, who trailed behind him sullenly.

They landed before the dais, the ten officers taking their places, while Li Feng and his men began to retreat to their positions.

"Stop!" Zhong Shan's voice thundered through the air.

Li Feng turned, a forced smile playing on his lips. "Did you call for me, General?" he asked with a hint of mockery in his tone.

"Who are you?" Zhong Shan demanded, his voice cutting through the evening air like a blade.

"Under my command is the Twelfth Division of the First Regiment of the Grand Xu Army. My name is Li Feng," Li Feng replied nonchalantly, his tone dripping with disdain.

"Li Feng, where were you earlier?" Zhong Shan asked, his voice carrying an unmistakable edge.

"Oh, earlier? I was at my aunt's place. She was hosting a banquet, and I went to attend. I forgot to mention, my aunt is the Fourth Princess Consort," Li Feng said with a smirk, clearly proud of his connections. He turned to leave.

"Did you apply for permission to leave the camp?" Zhong Shan's voice was stern, demanding an answer.

"Apply? Why would I, Li Feng, need to apply to leave the camp? Especially when summoned by my aunt? What application?" Li Feng scoffed, his disdainful smile never wavering.

"Leaving the camp without permission during a time of war is punishable by death under military law!" Zhong Shan declared, his voice booming.

But under the might of the Heaven's Law, all of Li Feng's efforts were in vain. Despite being a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, he was bisected in an instant by Zhong Shan's blade, his blood splattering into the sky.

"Boom!"

The remaining energy from the Wind Ripper didn't dissipate. It crashed into a nearby mountain, cleaving it in two with a thunderous explosion.

Heaven's Law! Wind Ripper!

"Whew..."

Zhong Shan exhaled deeply. The technique, Heaven's Law: Wind Ripper, was a breakthrough following his previous success with Wave Cutter, which sliced through water. Wind Ripper cut through the air itself, greatly enhancing his power with the help of mental force.

As Zhong Shan's mental energy returned to the red lotus in his brow, he slowly sheathed his massive sword, Nightmare.

"Thud!"

Li Feng's four subordinates quickly fell to their knees. Staring at Li Feng's bisected corpse, they immediately kowtowed to Zhong Shan, their voices trembling with fear.

"General! General, we were wrong! It was Li Feng who made us do it."

"Please, spare us, General!"

"General, we were wrong!"

Their terrified pleas filled the air as they begged for their lives.

Zhong Shan shifted his gaze to Zhao Chuan, who felt a sudden tightness in his chest.

"Execute them!"

"Yes, sir!" Zhao Chuan replied promptly.

Without hesitation, Zhao Chuan drew his sword and swiftly executed Li Feng's four subordinates.

After the executions, Zhao Chuan couldn't suppress a shiver. This commander was ruthless and decisive in his killings, showing no mercy.

The other soldiers quickly straightened up, the sight of the prince's nephew's execution fresh in their minds. If he dared to execute a relative of the Princess Consort, there was nothing he wouldn't dare to do. And his power—it was certainly far beyond the Golden Core Stage. Without a doubt.

With a single strike, Zhong Shan had instilled fear and respect in everyone. He then turned his attention back to the twenty thousand troops.

"Distribute Li Feng's former subordinates among the other divisions," Zhong Shan ordered.

"Yes, sir!" the soldiers responded loudly, their voices echoing even more powerfully than the Second Regiment's under General Qi Tian.

Looking at the troops, Zhong Shan knew that authority must be balanced with both rewards and punishments. Discipline had to be strict and impartial.

"In my army, rewards and punishments are clear. Offenders will not be tolerated, and those who achieve merit will not be neglected. From now on, we face the army of the Great Yu Dynasty. Starting now, kill or capture five enemies of your rank, and you will be promoted unconditionally," Zhong Shan declared.

"Yes!" the soldiers responded, their eyes gleaming with excitement.

Five? They only needed to kill five enemies to be promoted? This was an incredible opportunity.

"After each battle, anyone who fails to kill at least one enemy will be demoted by one rank," Zhong Shan added.

"Yes!" the soldiers shouted again.

For the lowest-ranked soldiers, demotion meant nothing. For officers, it seemed easy to kill at least one enemy. Rank was not a matter of cultivation level here.

"Good. Rest for the night. We march at dawn," Zhong Shan commanded.

"Yes!" the soldiers roared.

Deputy General Zhao Chuan couldn't help but marvel at this commander. With subtle tactics, Zhong Shan had established his authority and united the troops. How long had it taken? Just half a day to completely control the army?