Xuan Qin Jun Zhong

At the same time Qin Ran's main body arrived in Wuyi City, his water clone had already reached the Xuanqin Military Camp.

First, he turned invisible by utilizing the transparency of his water form to sneak into the Xuanqin camp. Then, he took the opportunity to kill a soldier on patrol and transformed into that soldier to blend in with the patrol unit, infiltrating the military camp disguised as one of them.

Qin Ran's water clone basically possessed near limitless shapeshifting abilities. Moreover, what he did was actual transformation instead of illusion or concealment. That meant that even Foundation Establishment cultivators would find it hard to see through his disguises, let alone ordinary people.

Without a Yuanying, Foundation Establishment cultivators' naked eyes perceived the world much the same as low-level cultivators.

For Qin Ran to infiltrate an army of mortals with his water clone, it was practically effortless, like walking into an uninhabited land, allowing him to do as he wished.

He mixed in with the patrol squad, wandering the camp collecting all kinds of intelligence.

A general leading troops into battle... Most people thought "leading troops to do battle" was a set phrase, but actually they were two separate actions: leading troops, and doing battle. The difficulty of leading troops was hardly less than that of doing battle itself.

An armed force of 10,000 combat troops needed at least 20,000-30,000 logistical personnel. That meant if a general led 10,000 men to fight, he had to be responsible for the food, shelter, transportation and more of at least 30,000-40,000 people. And because they were fighting a war, he also needed to handle their weapons, armor, horses and vehicles.

Being able to provide well for those 30,000 people, keeping things orderly without major incidents, bringing back as many people as he took out... that made a qualified general. Being able to take those 30,000 and lead them anywhere he wanted, ready to enter battle, that was what made an exceptional general.

As for actually fighting, that was another matter entirely.

...Consider this - Qin Ran was accompanied by just one Danfeng Peak disciple, Yan Yi and Zhou Fu included, so four people and four monsters in total. Just eight lives, and not of one mind. If Qin Ran led those eight on a sect mission, it was uncertain whether all eight would return alive.

(PS: If you were class monitor, charged with taking your entire class on a field trip, forget everything else, could you mobilize everyone to set out together and then bring them all back safely? And that's just a few dozen students.)

I mention this to illustrate how exceptionally capable Zhao Li was as a general, deserving to be called a formidable commander. This armed force of 200,000 combat troops and correspondingly massive logistical personnel, encamped together in a gigantic barracks constructed here, had been arranged by him in perfect order without any problems arising.

At this time, Qin Ran was patrolling around with the squad, and everywhere they went was flat, orderly ground with neat barracks, no dirt or mess in sight, which could be called a miraculous feat.

This offered a glimpse into Zhao Li's capabilities at leading troops.

Moreover, that Zhao Li was able to conquer nearly half of North Chu's territory within three months demonstrated his prowess at waging war.

In summary, Zhao Li was an extremely mighty commander, someone even worth rousing killing intent towards in Qin Ran's eyes.

"If there's a chance, take out Zhao Li while retreating," Qin Ran pondered thusly.

Just then, the patrol squad walked past a barracks, outside of which four soldiers were squatting in the snow drinking wine.

The wine was from a single jar, and the drinking snacks were peanuts. Each person clutched a few peanuts, passing the wine jar around between them.

As they drank, they chatted idly.

From a distance, Qin Ran heard one man with chops say, "The North Chu people here are so weak and fragile, even the snowfall is fine and light. The North Chu men are probably the same."

Speaking of such matters prompted knowing chuckles from them all.

Then a square-faced guy who'd just taken a drink sighed, "Ah, it's snowing now. At this rate, looks like we'll be spending New Year's here this year."

"Can't be helped..." A dark-skinned man picked up the thread of conversation. "Don't know what Command is thinking, not attacking, not retreating, just leaving us here drinking in the northwest wind."

"Right, the North Chu army is soft as mush, they can't withstand one fierce assault from us." A skinny man chimed in. "We could just charge right in and be done with it!"

The chops-faced man took up the wine jar and pointed at the galaxy sword qi before Wuyi City, scoffing, "You want to try breaking that immortal magic?"

"That kind of immortal magic still takes an immortal to counter it..." The square-faced man glanced towards those bands of sword qi, unease apparent in his eyes. "Where are our Xuanqin immortals?"

When he said that, the skinny man seemed to recall something. Lowering his voice, he said, "I heard that last time we attacked the city, we lost more than a few immortals. Remember those flashes of light in the night sky? That was Xuanqin immortals dying."

"Shh!" The dark-skinned man glared at him. "Don't talk nonsense, how could immortals die?"

But the original chops-faced man continued off the skinny man's words in a low voice, "I heard about that too..."

The others all looked towards him as he went on, "The tale is too many immortals died, they fell out with the general. He wants to take the city, so we can go back sooner, but the immortals fear death..."

"Right, right..." The skinny man said, "I heard the general is looking for other immortals, wanting to deal with North Chu's Sword Immortal himself."

Upon hearing this, the dark-skinned man popped a peanut into his mouth and said, "I heard that Lady Yaqing has returned to the Zhao clan too..."

"Quiet over there!" Just then, a female voice shouted sharply, interrupting them.

The four were badly startled, hastily looking towards the origin of the voice. Approaching them was an elegant, beautiful maiden leading a bewitchingly pretty matron.

The shouter was the matron.

"Princess Yaqing!" The dark-faced man exclaimed in panic.

Abandoning peanuts and wine, the four men leapt to their feet, bowing to Princess Yaqing.

Princess Yaqing arrived with her female protector, surveying the men briefly. Then she declared coldly with the haughtiness of a superior, "Firstly, you violate military law by drinking. Secondly, you commit blasphemy discussing state secrets so rashly. Both offenses are punishable by execution!"

The four paled in fright, quickly kneeling down. "Princess, spare us!"

Yaqing shot them a disdainful look and called to the patrol squad who'd already walked some ways off, "You're not going to do anything about these offenders?"

The patrol squad had no choice but to double back and salute Yaqing.

The patrol captain stepped forward to say politely, "Esteemed Princess, may you be lenient and allow this humble officer to take them for disciplinary action."

Drinking in the army was against regulations indeed, but... given the freezing winter, most turned a blind eye. As for loosely discussing state secrets, who didn't gossip privately? The ones kneeling before Yaqing just happened to encounter her, when she was in a bad mood.

And why was Yaqing in a bad mood? Look at the sword qi before Wuyi City! A detested man had become so powerful, how could she possibly be happy?

"You will handle it?" Clearly Yaqing saw through his perfunctory manner. If this captain took away the offenders where she couldn't see, he would surely secretly release them. Her mood fouled further as she shouted, "Humph! Come, take these people to my tent. I will carry out the punishment personally!"