Lin Zixiao's Grand Army, Return to Me, Bai Li

This army of ten thousand firearm-wielding soldiers made Ren Tianye feel an unprecedented amount of pressure. He was already beginning to consider using unconventional tactics.

For example, employing a scorched-earth policy, cutting off their supply lines, launching night raids, utilizing guerrilla harassment, or taking advantage of the cavalry's mobility to flank them and attack their logistics—all sorts of unconventional warfare.

After all, defeating them in a head-on clash was absolutely impossible.

However, attacking from behind still offered a glimmer of hope.

It was just that finding such an opportunity and firmly seizing it would not be easy.

While Ren Tianye was fretting, the Seven Heroes of Chifeng were all still immersed in joy, smiles plastered across their faces.

Their praise for Bai Zixuan was also overwhelming and continuous.

"Zixuan, you are truly amazing. Even a formidable figure like Lin Zixiao couldn't last half a day against you."

"Although we have seen these firearms before, seeing them deployed in such formations and unleashing such terrifying power is simply dreadful. This is truly an invincible army in this world."

"Zixuan, it is so good to have you!"

...

Bai Zixuan, whose face was still a bit pale and weak after giving birth, was also full of joy. "These are the strategic weapons of my Tongxin Alliance, an invincible existence under heaven. What does a mere Lin Zixiao amount to?"

"Even Ren Tianye in the Capital won't be able to stop us!"

"Moreover..."

"This is only a portion of them. In Yunjing, our Tongxin Alliance has even more."

Bai Zixuan said this with a sense of immense pride.

The Seven Heroes of Chifeng naturally didn't hesitate to flatter her. It was as if their mouths had been smeared with honey; their praises for Bai Zixuan flowed endlessly like a surging river.

Furthermore, Eldest Brother Xiao Lie praised her exactly where she liked it most.

"Zixuan, you always felt that your First Palace Master's favorite person wasn't you, and that in the future, when your three Palace Masters pass away, you wouldn't be able to take the position of Palace Master. But look at you now."

"With a single command from you, your Tongxin Alliance dispatched such powerful firearms. This shows just how much your Palace Master favors you."

"In the future, among the positions of the three Palace Masters, there will definitely be a place for you!"

The other six of the Seven Heroes of Chifeng had also figured out over the past two days that this was Bai Zixuan's greatest obsession. Thus, upon hearing Xiao Lie praise her like this, they all began to chime in along the same lines.

However,

This time, the Seven Heroes of Chifeng had clearly flattered the wrong way.

Not only was there no sign of happiness on Bai Zixuan's face, but the joy from moments ago instantly faded into desolation, and a hint of worry appeared between her brows.

She said, "These people were not sent to me by the Palace Master."

"Not sent to you?" Eldest Brother Xiao Lie was stunned. "In your Tongxin Alliance, there are the three Great Palace Masters, the two Great Protectors, and the Four Dharma Kings. Aside from the three Palace Masters, only the Right Protector is on the same level as you."

"So many people came for you."

"If they weren't sent to you, who else could they be sent to?"

"It couldn't be that one of your Palace Masters has arrived in person, right?"

Bai Zixuan shook her head, indicating that the Palace Master had not arrived.

Then she said, "They were sent to the Palace Master's direct disciple."

"Bai Li!"

"That Bai Li came to the Capital to carry out a task. The First Palace Master found out later and, worried that Bai Li might be in danger, hurriedly dispatched these ten thousand men here..."

Saying this, Bai Zixuan glanced at the Seven Heroes of Chifeng.

"You guys just got lucky."

"If it weren't for Bai Li, these ten thousand soldiers of the Divine Machine Battalion wouldn't be here at all, and they certainly wouldn't have come to assist you. And their assistance comes with a condition, which is..."

"To find Bai Li and protect Bai Li!"

Bai Zixuan's words left the Seven Heroes of Chifeng completely bewildered.

Although the Tongxin Alliance was powerful, it had always been secretive. They didn't know the full picture and had only heard bits and pieces from Bai Zixuan, getting a rough idea of the structure of this martial arts faction. But...

They had never heard of any final disciple!

Especially not a final disciple of the First Palace Master, Liu Ruyan!

"However..." Bai Zixuan tried hard to lift her spirits and said, "Although Bai Li is deeply favored by the First Palace Master and is the most likely person to become the Palace Master in the future, it doesn't mean I lack competitiveness."

"As long as we can successfully conquer the Imperial City."

"Subdue Ren Tianye, and make Lin Zixiao serve me."

"And help the First Palace Master realize her dream of a world where everyone has love."

"I might just be the future First Palace Master!"

Bai Zixuan suddenly revealing her ambitious side actually made the Seven Heroes of Chifeng feel quite pleased. After all, Bai Zixuan was their woman and had borne them a son.

They very much hoped that the future world would be exclusively enjoyed by Bai Zixuan.

Moreover...

They still had a massive army in their hands, currently numbering over a hundred thousand.

If it weren't for Bai Zixuan's extreme reverence for the First Palace Master, they would even want to proclaim Bai Zixuan as their leader, and then find a way to incorporate that ten-thousand-strong Divine Machine Battalion under their own banner. So what if it was the First Palace Master? So what if it was the Tongxin Alliance?

What could they possibly do to them?

Thus, they all spoke up in agreement.

"Zixuan, this position of the Tongxin Alliance's Palace Master must be yours."

"Zixuan, in my heart, you are already the Palace Master of the Tongxin Alliance."

"Zixuan, we support you!"

...

While the Seven Heroes of Chifeng were still singing her praises, a voice suddenly came from outside the tent. The voice wasn't particularly loud, but it was exceptionally cold, like the ice and snow of the Heavenly Mountains, carrying an aloofness that warned strangers to stay away.

"Is that so?"

"Bai Zixuan, do you actually dare to covet the position of the First Palace Master?"

The tent flap was lifted, and under the escort of several soldiers from the Divine Machine Battalion, a group of people walked in. The person in the lead was thin as a bamboo pole, with a very slender face. However, because she had a naturally round face shape, it gave her a somewhat refined and cute appearance, like a cold-faced doll.

Upon seeing this person, Bai Zixuan was instantly startled.

"Bai Li, y-how did you get here?"

"The army is here; I just followed their direction," Bai Li said in a plain tone. Her gaze then swept over the Seven Heroes of Chifeng, but she seemed to treat the seven men as thin air, her eyes not lingering on them for even a moment.

"I came..." Bai Li continued indifferently, "to take over the army in your hands. From today onward, the Lin Family Army under your command, including the Divine Machine Battalion from Yunjing, all belong to me!"

"I, Bai Li, am the supreme commander of this army!"

As soon as Bai Li finished speaking, Eldest Brother Xiao Lie coldly scolded, "Insolent! This army belongs to our Seven Heroes of Chifeng. Do you think you are worthy of laying a finger on it? I think you'd better..."

Xiao Lie didn't finish his sentence because Bai Zixuan reached out and stopped him. However, Bai Zixuan also didn't take Bai Li's words seriously, saying plainly, "You are merely the Palace Master's direct disciple. How dare you try to seize power from me, a Protector?"

"I think you..."

As Bai Zixuan spoke, her eyes couldn't help but widen.

Because she saw Bai Li take an object out of her hand.

And raise it high above her head.

Bai Zixuan's voice trembled, "Y-you, how do you have the Third Palace Master's token?"

Bai Li did not answer this question.

Instead, she said indifferently, "Before her passing, the Third Palace Master left her dying words: whoever holds the Third Palace Master's token shall be the future Third Palace Master."

"Protector Bai, you are in the presence of the Third Palace Master; why have you not bowed?"

...