Not Only Beauties Are Ill-Fated, but Loyal Generals as Well

Zhenyuan, the Everlasting Sage, Patriarch of Earth-Immortals. Even the Jade Emperor of Heaven must show him respect.

Upon hearing Marshal Silver's words, Zhenyuan only smiled faintly, raising his head to gaze at the dim sky and the drifting clouds barely visible above.

"Is it truly my fate to be that one clear spot in this sky of swirling yellow sand?"

Marshal Silver maintained his respectful posture, head bowed and motionless.

A gust of wind swept by, stirring up yellow sand and lifting Zhenyuan's beard.

Zhenyuan parted his lips slightly and said, "Do you know how much profit my Five-Fruits Temple makes each month by supplying weapons and elixirs to the demon kings?"

"Around one million Gold Essence."

"Mm. You know it quite well. Since you know, why do you ask me to stop supplying them?" Zhenyuan turned to look at Marshal Silver, sighing slowly. "If you want me to halt my supplies, how does Marshal Silver plan to compensate my temple for the loss?"

Lowering his hands, Marshal Silver's face remained expressionless as he replied quietly, "There is no way to compensate."

"Heh. No way to compensate?" Zhenyuan stroked his long beard, eyes lowered. "Then what reason do I have to stop?"

Zhenyuan smiled faintly, 'Even if you risk death and destruction, you still want to disrupt my plans?'

Placing his teacup back on the table, Marshal Silver smiled lightly, 'Then let me die remonstrating. Throughout history, loyal generals have died for their remonstrance. As a celestial immortal, how could I do less than they?'

'Scholars die for remonstrance, warriors die in battle.' Zhenyuan also picked up his teacup and took a sip, 'Great generals more often die in court than on the battlefield—isn't that lamentable?'

'Circumstances force my hand, I have nowhere else to go. I ask for your understanding, Daoist brother.'

Turning his face aside, Zhenyuan stared at his teacup for a long time, took a deep breath, stroked his beard, and sighed, 'Since that's the case, I'll temporarily halt the supply of weapons and elixirs to the demon kings. But you'd better hurry—if a demon king offers a price even I can't refuse, I can't guarantee anything.'

Marshal Silver rose and cupped his hands, 'Thank you, Daoist brother. I will repay this favor one day.'

Zhenyuan snorted, 'Forget about favors—I'm only doing this to avoid the blame for driving Marshal Silver to his death. One person can't hold up the sky; Heaven's corruption is more than you alone can change. I only came today to see if the legendary Heavenly Sword, Marshal Silver, really had three heads and six arms. I didn't expect this meeting to cost me a million Gold Essence a month. Truly expensive. Don't invite me again.'

Shaking out his sleeves, Zhenyuan slowly stood up. As he passed Marshal Silver, he gently patted his shoulder and sighed, 'Since ancient times, not only beauties but loyal men have had ill fate. Take care of yourself.'

With that, he walked away, disappearing into the sandstorm.

Marshal Silver stood there, dazed, not turning back.

A gust of wind swept by, lifting his tattered cloak, making it flutter.

Squinting up at the sky, he saw only a bleak, sand-filled sky, with not a trace of light.

He took a deep breath, put on his bamboo hat, and lowered his head to walk onward.

He didn't know how far this road would go. But there was no turning back; he could only keep walking until he could walk no more.

...

One month later, Cloudwatch Harbor was completed on schedule. With its logistics in place, the Heavenly River Navy mobilized two hundred thousand elite troops to attack the demon settlements in the Western Ox Continent. The six great demon kings, well prepared, led a million demons to confront them head-on.

Eyes from Heaven and Earth alike were waiting to see Marshal Silver make a fool of himself.

Yet, just at that moment, the demon army was informed that their much-needed supply of elixirs and weapons had been cut off, throwing them into chaos.

With their most critical supply line severed, after a month-long standoff, the six demon kings fled by night, the demon army collapsed, and the Heavenly River Navy won a sweeping victory without a fight, purging the Western Ox Continent. Demon casualties were heavy, and the land was filled with wailing.

Yet, what greeted this great victory was not a grand celebration. Criticism of Marshal Silver in the Heavenly Court grew ever more severe.

Six months later, Grandmaster White led the immortals to raise the issue of Marshal Silver and the Moon Tree Blossom Bud in the High Sky Throne Hall, formally impeaching him. The Jade Emperor urgently summoned Marshal Silver to court.

When the news reached Guanghan Palace, Fairy Nishang sat dumbly in the courtyard, tears falling one by one, soaking her handkerchief as she wrung it over and over.

'Why must you be so foolish...?'

She couldn't help but sob.

A thousand miles away, a hundred generals came to say farewell, as Marshal Silver stood at the prow of his ship, dressed in white.

The massive formations marched past him one by one, their iron armor towering like mountains, their weapons gleaming with silver light.

Behind him, the Waveblade Banner fluttered in the wind.

Through a thousand years of effort, though nameless on the Investiture of the Gods, he had forged this force into one of the greatest legions between Heaven and Earth—the very foundation of the Heavenly Court.

From now on, even without him, they would carry on their mission.

A somber mood gradually spread through the ranks.

Everyone knew that once the marshal left, even if he survived, he would never again be their Marshal Silver.

Smiling, he stood at the prow, watching the last formation with satisfaction. With a long sigh, he turned and walked the deck, reviewing the elite generals he had cultivated.

'Skyler, you're too straightforward—even more so than me. The men below won't be able to take it. You'll need to change that temper in the future...'

...

'Trent, confidence is good, but don't go too far. Remember, arrogance leads to defeat. Every time I send you out, I always worry a bit...'

...

'Quinn, I don't object to your camaraderie with your subordinates, but if personal bonds drag on too much, it'll harm your command in the future...'

...

'Ward, your talents are exceptional, but you're too lazy. I've never seen you volunteer for anything...'

...

A lifetime spent fighting for Heaven, hunting demons—yet in the end, he would not die by a demon’s hand, but by Heaven’s?

A heart-wrenching cry erupted from the ranks.

'Marshal, don’t go! Let’s rebel!'

'Yes, Marshal! We’ll follow you—we refuse to recognize the Jade Emperor!'

'We are the Heavenly River Navy! Marshal Silver’s Heavenly River Navy!'

Marshal Silver’s lips trembled. He pressed them together, lowered his head, then lifted it again, repeating several times before blinking his bloodshot eyes and choking out, 'This may be spoken only once—if I hear it again, I will execute the offender.'

But would there ever be a next time?

One by one, the burly warriors in iron armor broke down in despair, sobbing in front of him.

Patting Ward’s shoulder, Marshal Silver straightened his armor and said quietly, 'I will recommend you to the Jade Emperor as the new marshal, but it may not be accepted. If another is appointed, you must obey the new marshal’s orders—never act rashly.'

This was his final order...

Ward, already sobbing uncontrollably, summoned all his strength, struck his chestplate with a heavy fist, dropped to one knee, and roared, 'I will obey! Even unto death!'

Head bowed, tears dripped from his nose, and the old general’s body shook uncontrollably.

Raising his head, Marshal Silver shouted, 'The same goes for all of you!'

'We obey the marshal’s command! Even unto death!'

'Farewell, my Heavenly River Navy.'

Rows of soldiers knelt like a receding tide on the sand, accompanied by thunderous cries.

A great wind swept past, lifting his cloak and tossing his hair, making him look all the more heroic.

Looking over the ranks of silver-armored soldiers, he smiled with satisfaction and shouted, 'This is the Heavenly River Navy I have forged!'

The warship drums thundered, bidding him farewell.

The sunset at the horizon was as red as blood, just like the day he first took command—a thousand years ago. In the end, he had not failed.

But he was truly exhausted.