At dawn, the bright sunlight chased away the lingering mist.
A droplet of dew slowly slid off a leaf and plunged swiftly to the ground.
In the distant mountains, thick clusters of cooking smoke rose into the air. One by one, silver-clad figures lazily emerged from their tents, soon crowding the camp's narrow pathways.
They sat together, chewing on flatbread and sipping steaming soy milk. Their lively chatter filled the air, making the camp as bustling as a marketplace.
“Aren’t we taking the warships today?” asked a Skyward Legionnaire.
“No,” replied another Skyward Legionnaire, shaking his head. “I heard we still have to march on foot. Who came up with that tactic, anyway?”
“Seriously? Marching on foot again? That’s just pointless trouble.”
“You two, watch what you say.” A junior officer standing behind them patted them on the shoulder.
Instantly, the two soldiers hurriedly stuffed their mouths with soy milk.
Casting a cold glance at them, the junior officer said, “If I hear anyone carelessly criticizing our strategy or tactics again, don’t blame me for reporting you to General Xue.”
Once the junior officer left, the two resumed their hushed conversation.
“Was this tactic set by General Xue?”
“Probably not. I saw General Xue’s face yesterday when he mentioned it—he didn’t look pleased. He’s been guarding the South Heaven Gate for years and is used to it. How could he like this kind of ground march?”
“Then who set it?”
“Probably someone even higher up...”
One Skyward Legionnaire glanced up at the sky, and the other sensibly fell silent.
Slowly but surely, one of the two divisions—five thousand Skyward Legionnaires—finally finished their meal and began preparing for battle.
“Leave all heavy equipment in the camp! Don’t bring heavy equipment—let me remind you again, don’t bring heavy equipment! Bring only your personal weapons and rations, and leave anything else behind!” A junior officer strode among the Skyward Legionnaires, shouting repeatedly.
In the distance, a weary-looking Heavenly General with a frown and a pair of thin mustaches approached.
The junior officer bowed respectfully upon seeing him. “General Xue, did you sleep well last night?”
“Well?” General Xue glared at him impatiently. “Well, my ass! What’s with this ridiculous weather in the mortal realm? And that roasted venison you gave me last night—gave me a stomachache. If it weren’t for your good intentions, I’d have whipped you all already!”
The junior officer shrank his head and lowered it immediately.
General Xue let out a heavy sigh, frowned, and swept his gaze around the camp. “Still not ready?” he asked.
“Just... just a little more. The troops are used to fighting aboard warships. Switching to ground combat, it’s hard for them to adjust.”
“Hurry up, hurry up. Get it done so we can go back to the South Heaven Gate. This place is unbearable. If the South Heaven Gate offered any military merit, I wouldn’t have come all the way out here.”
“Yes, sir.”
After much commotion, the five thousand troops finally finished organizing themselves.
Even the question of who would guard the camp caused another stir.
Everyone knew this was a chance to earn merit, so who would want to be stuck guarding the camp after coming all this way?
So General Xue proposed that those assigned to guard the camp would receive equal merit.
Now everyone scrambled to guard the camp, causing yet another ruckus. General Xue, already in a foul mood, finally lost his temper. In the end, everything was rearranged—the Skyward Legionnaires were sorted by rank, and the weakest stayed behind to guard the camp.
Normally, there would be more arguing, but seeing General Xue’s face grow darker and darker, the Skyward Legionnaires didn’t dare say another word.
So the weakest five hundred were left to guard the camp, while the remaining four thousand five hundred set out.
At long last, the silver-clad column set off, winding majestically through the mountain valley.
Unlike mortal armies, when these airborne celestial troops say they’re marching on foot, they truly mean it—after all, even their horses fly.
They hadn’t gone far before Skyward Legionnaires were already grumbling aloud.
The plan to march on foot was meant to avoid detection by ambush, since the enemy commander had been dealt with, but not the rank-and-file soldiers. The Serpent Lord couldn’t supply enough warships, and ground combat is different from fighting aboard ships—once scattered, warships can’t pursue.
That’s why they chose the canyon as the ambush site—once surrounded, no one could escape.
But looking at the ostentatious display of this army, it was hardly any less conspicuous than flying.
On a distant hillside, hidden among a clump of green leaves, a short-beaked figure curled up, parted the foliage, and stared intently at the slowly advancing silver column. He drew a Jade Tablet from his waist and brought it to his lips.
“They’re on the move. Definitely marching on foot, no heavy weapons. They’ve left their warships at the camp. Following the agreed route, but running a bit late.”
“Got it.”
“They’ve sent out scouts! Just now, two Skyward Legionnaires flew past—what should we do?”
“Get more people and take care of it. Be thorough—leave no loose ends.”
“Understood.”
“Just reduce their scouting frequency. If none of the Skyward Legionnaires they send out return, any commander will sense something’s wrong.”
“Got it.”
......
Dozens of miles away in a mountain valley, the Monkey King slowly set down the Jade Tablet and calmly swept his gaze across the assembled demon leaders.
Each of the demon leaders stared at him, fists clenched, cold sweat beading on their foreheads.
Below the slope behind them, a dense mass of demons was just as tense, nerves stretched to the limit.
So many demons gathered together, yet aside from the sound of strained breathing, not a single noise was heard.
“The enemy is following the agreed plan exactly. Can we relax now?” the Monkey King asked calmly, glancing at them.
“Uh... When have we ever not trusted you? Of course we believe in you!” said the Serpent Lord, flicking his tongue.
The demon leaders burst into laughter, though it sounded dry and forced.
In the end, they were still afraid.
The Monkey King didn’t laugh with them; he just stared coldly until each leader lowered his head.
A heavy silence fell.
At last, the Lion King managed to lift his head and force a smile. “Brother Monkey, you knew their marching route all along, didn’t you? Ha ha ha, you were prepared! Following you, we’re sure to win this time, right everyone?”
“Right! Right!” the leaders echoed enthusiastically.
The Monkey King looked at him expressionlessly and replied, “I didn’t know anything before. I only got this last night. The plan—I only thought of it yesterday.”
At those words, the leaders’ faces turned slightly ashen.
This time, survival really was a one-in-ten chance...
The atmosphere plummeted; all the demons fell silent, suffocating in the tension.
After a long while, the Lion King took a deep breath and, trembling, spoke: “Everyone, best steel yourselves. Only some of us will make it out alive—including me, anyone could die. But if we don’t go, we all die.”
Another silence fell, as dead as the grave.
“Let’s go for broke!” shouted the Elephant Lord, clenching his fist.
“Let’s unite and take down the Skyward Army!” roared the Tiger Shade, extending his hand.
“Damn it, even if I die, I won’t die for nothing!” snarled the Black Wolf Marauder, thrusting out his hand as well.
“Take a few of them down with us!”