Amidst the clouds, General Skyler set aside his jade scroll and brush, picked up a bamboo slip from the sandalwood desk, and walked over to Marshal Silver, offering it with both hands.
"Marshal, the Eastern Legion is being completely overwhelmed. This is the battle report."
"Oh?" Marshal Silver took a deep breath, reached out for the report, and glanced over it casually. "Who is commanding the demon side?"
"A monkey demon."
"No name?"
"We don't know yet. He's not on the wanted list."
Marshal Silver rolled the bamboo slip in his hand, slowly raised his head and pondered, "Do you think it could be the same one from Kunlun Mountain last time?"
"According to the scouts' description, it does seem similar."
"Dark golden fur, huh... Add him to the wanted list. Set the bounty at ten thousand gold essence." With that, Marshal Silver casually handed the report back to General Skyler.
Receiving the report with both hands, General Skyler asked, "Ten thousand... isn't that a bit much? We don't even know his true strength yet."
"From what we can see, it's likely the Drake King’s forces have turned on themselves, probably because of this monkey demon's rebellion. How many years has it been since a demon produced a real commander?" Marshal Silver turned to General Skyler with a smile. "This price is actually low. At present, there are three hundred and fifteen true demon kings at the Divine Transformation level on the Heavenly Court's wanted list, including the Drake King. But none of them dare to stand out. Yet this monkey demon—look at his tactics—don’t you think it would be easier for him to escape than to defeat the Black Tortoise Division? In comparison, this kind of demon is the most dangerous."
General Skyler nodded silently.
"How is the Western Legion?"
"They’re about to encounter the demon warships soon."
"And Demon City?"
"Still no movement."
"No movement yet..." Marshal Silver gave a short laugh. "Looks like the Drake King, General Shay, and General Zhuo are all the same—just empty reputations. Keep watching and monitor Demon City closely."
"Understood!"
...
At this moment, on the deck of the Western Legion, General Zhuo was gazing into the distance at four demon warships drifting slowly toward them.
These warships looked battered and broken, with planks occasionally falling off, making General Zhuo worry that they might crash before even reaching him.
"Traveling all this way... and this is what they give me!" He punched the ship’s rail in frustration. "Forget it, better than nothing. All troops, prepare for battle!"
"Understood!"
Behind him, in the pavilion that served as the warship’s command post, a small jade slip flashed with white light and buzzed incessantly, but no one paid it any mind.
...
After firing all the signal flares, General Shay took out the jade slip for direct contact with General Zhuo and shouted into it a couple of times.
"Still no response?" a nearby junior officer asked anxiously.
"Nothing. Maybe it's broken. Don't worry, everyone—hold your ground! Once General Zhuo sees our signal flares, he’ll send reinforcements soon! When his fleet arrives, these demons will be nothing to worry about." He panted as he spoke.
Sweat was already pouring beneath his heavy armor.
His eyes were full of unwillingness, yet there was no fighting spirit, only endless resentment.
Right now, his mood was worse than ever before.
Originally, getting this risk-free assignment from King Virūḍhaka should have been a blessing for a Heavenly General like him, who rarely earned military merit at the South Heaven Gate. Even in his dreams, he would have laughed awake. But who could have imagined it would turn out like this?
He blamed himself for being too careless. The Black Tortoise Division had been suppressed many times before—in fact, out of over a hundred campaigns, General Shay had participated in more than thirty.
He had always handled things this way, and nothing had ever gone wrong. Who would have thought the tamed Drake King would rebel this time!
Now, with his forces dead or wounded, even if he managed to break through and return, he’d surely be blamed for poor command. Such a good opportunity might never come his way again.
Blazing anger burned in his heart.
No matter what, if he made it back alive, he would make the Drake King pay. No matter where he ran, even to the ends of the earth, he would not escape!
Determined in his heart, General Shay clenched his fist and shouted, "All Heavenly Generals, activate the Flow-Blocking Technique! Rotate in groups of a hundred, and use the Fish Scale Formation to hold the enemy! If we win this battle, I will reward you handsomely!"
"Yes, sir!"
At General Shay’s command, every soldier was shaken to the core.