Chapter 146: Generals Arrive to Pledge Allegiance

"Well, everyone, please sit!" Wang Yuanfeng said unceremoniously after seeing the others stand up.

"Thank you, Young Master!" the group chorused in gratitude.

Since they had formed an alliance—even if it was merely a loose association—every single one of them was consciously aware that Wang Yuanfeng could lead them to immense wealth and glory, and truly propel them to the pinnacle of social standing.

Wang Yuanfeng picked up his cup, twirling it in his hands as he glanced at the dozen or so generals present. Every one of them was capable of leading troops into battle. Even if they currently had no soldiers under their command, if deployed, they would undoubtedly be able to organize a band of eighty or a hundred men in a short time. Furthermore, they were all elite commanders; securing one of them was essentially gaining an entire army. This illustrated the timeless truth that while a thousand soldiers are easy to find, a truly capable general is hard to come by.

Since they had delivered themselves to his doorstep, there was no reason to turn them away or refuse their allegiance. After a brief moment of reflection, he straightened his expression and addressed the crowd: "Today, I am honored that you gentlemen think so highly of me and believe that I can forge a path forward for everyone. I thank you all from the bottom of my heart."

Hearing this, the generals hurriedly replied, "We wouldn't dare! We wouldn't dare!"

Wang Yuanfeng remained unfazed and continued, "I am a practitioner of the Dao, and what I seek is to attain the Dao, achieve longevity, and live in freedom and detachment. To win the allegiance of you generals also helps to bolster my destiny and fortune."

Upon hearing Wang Yuanfeng mention the concept of destiny and fortune, everyone straightened their postures, cupping their ears to listen intently, terrified of missing a single word.

Seeing their expressions, Wang Yuanfeng understood the reason. This was likely the ultimate motivation behind their defection. Without fundamental benefits, relying purely on illusory ideological shackles to spur people into action was never a long-term solution; tangible, concrete rewards were always the most compelling.

It was precisely because the Great Liang Dynasty could no longer bring them benefits, but instead encroached upon their interests, that they had become alienated and disaffected. Yet, while the Marquis of Wu'an protected their interests, he could not bring them advancement. Thus, although they remained loyal, they always felt stifled and aggrieved.

It was only after General Fu returned and recounted Wang Yuanfeng's exploits, along with the personal transformation he had undergone, that these generals finally caught a glimpse of hope—a hope of rising above the ordinary.

Looking into the eyes of the crowd, Wang Yuanfeng knew that the time for an eruption had long since arrived. All it took was a single spark to ignite them, and they would risk life and limb to fight for their cause.

Wang Yuanfeng mused to himself that this was nothing short of an opportunity. Judging from the accumulated resentment among these people, how much of such resentment existed throughout the entire realm? The rampant spread of demons and monsters in the world was also summoned and drawn forth by this very resentment, bringing all sorts of heretical and unorthodox paths into action.

Because of this pervasive resentment, heretical sects sprouted like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, impossible to exterminate completely. If the realm could achieve universal harmony, then all heterodox paths would lose the soil required for their survival. Only thus could the world be cleansed, and with the heavenly cycle operating normally, the world could perfect itself and evolve.

"Why shouldn't I fan the flames a little?" Wang Yuanfeng thought to himself.

Then, he began to tap the table rhythmically with one hand. Knowing that Wang Yuanfeng was deep in thought and that whatever he said next would be of utmost importance, everyone gathered their focus.

After a long while, Wang Yuanfeng cast a glance at the assembly, composed his expression, and said, "The way of destiny and fortune is profoundly unfathomable. Those who attain sufficient destiny may be deified after death. I am the Supreme Lord of the Boundless Heavens, and I shall establish the Three Realms. The positions for heavenly soldiers are currently vast; should any soldiers die on the battlefield in the future, heavenly spirits will personally guide their souls to the heavenly realm, refine their yin souls to become heavenly soldiers and generals, bestow upon them the arts of cultivation, and spare them from the cycle of reincarnation."

The more they listened, the more startled and incredulous they became. However, when they saw an image manifest behind Wang Yuanfeng—depicting the very picture of the Three Realms, complete with heavenly palaces and the mortal world—a wave of excitement surged through them. If things could truly be this way, what was there to fear about death?

Seeing the flushed faces and bulging veins of the generals, Wang Yuanfeng nodded inwardly. This was precisely the effect he wanted. As long as one could provide sufficient fulfillment—whether real or illusory—it could drive people to fight as fanatically as devout believers.

Suddenly, someone took the lead and stepped forward to drop to their knees. At this sight, the rest of the assembly promptly rose and fell to their knees in unison, shouting with a momentum that shook the earth: "We swear our allegiance to the Supreme Lord unto death!"

The roar was so loud and the momentum so majestic that it sent a solemn and awe-inspiring tremor even through the distant military camp. Wang Yuanfeng himself felt his spirit surge, as if he were about to take flight. He hurriedly communicated with the Hunyuan Instrument. As the instrument flared with brilliant light and spun, the stimulant-like sensation vanished, and the streams of destiny and fortune belonging to the men flew out from the crowns of their heads, merging seamlessly with the Hunyuan Instrument.

Wang Yuanfeng thought to himself that political power was indeed formidable. No wonder so many people pursued it recklessly and regardless of personal safety. This group could easily be considered the elite among mortals and commanders of tens of thousands; how could their collective destiny be ordinary? Uniting all of them was equivalent to commanding the fortune of an entire prince or marquis. Had he not possessed the Hunyuan Instrument to suppress it, he truly would have made a fool of himself.

Given Wang Yuanfeng's current level of destiny, he could bear such a load, but there always had to be a transitional process. To have it all slammed onto him so abruptly almost caught him off guard. If someone with very low destiny were to be worshipped by so many people, their soul would likely have been scattered within a few bows, leaving them a raving madman.

Wang Yuanfeng also secretly admired his father, who had managed to gather so many generals around him. At his peak, his father had essentially controlled half the military forces of the Great Liang Dynasty, and relied on this immense momentum to cultivate all the way to the realm of a mortal immortal.

If it were an ordinary person, that would be one thing. As long as one's personal fortune was sufficient and accumulated virtues extended far, serving as a high-ranking official or an emperor posed no problem. However, as a martial artist, it was entirely different. Such a powerful psychic aura directly impacted the spiritual platform, which was the crucial nexus for a cultivator. Lacking a magical treasure to suppress this intense pressure, reaching the realm of a mortal immortal was practically a miracle.

Even ordinary practitioners attempting to accomplish great things in the mortal realm would find their minds driven deranged unless they possessed suppressing techniques or treasures.

Unless they were beings of profound cultivation—yet beings of profound cultivation would never deign to linger in the mortal world.

At that moment, in a distant grand tent, the Marquis of Wu'an suddenly sensed a shift in the ambient energy field throughout the entire military camp. After probing slightly, he discovered it originated from a particular tent. He was about to stand up when he sensed that his fourth son, Wang Yuanfeng, was also present. With a sigh, he sat back down in his original place.

Wang Yuanfeng suddenly sensed someone prying, though the presence vanished in an instant. Tracking the source, he realized it came from the very tent he had just left. The aura felt somewhat familiar, and he deduced it must be his father. Sensing that his father had no intention of interfering, he figured his father simply chose to let it be.

Wang Yuanfeng breathed a sigh of relief, thinking to himself that if his father had truly intervened, he wouldn't have known how to handle it next. The arrow was already notched on the bowstring and had to be released; had it been blocked, the army truly would have become impossible to control thereafter.

Looking down at the gathered throng, Wang Yuanfeng said, "Rise, everyone."

"Understood, Supreme Lord!" the crowd chorused before standing up and returning to their respective places.

Seeing that everyone was settled, Wang Yuanfeng stated, "I am already aware of the situation in Southern Prefecture. Dongting Lake is already in our hands and can form combat effectiveness within three days. Taixuan Lake has entered an alliance pact, allowing us to advance and retreat together. Meanwhile, Mount Ji's destiny is unstable due to internal strife, rendering them incapable of forming an effective fighting force. Once we capture the 'Three Dens' of the prefecture, Southern Prefecture will naturally be pacified."

Only then did a jolt of astonishment run through the assembly. None of them had expected that so much had already been accomplished behind the scenes, while everyone else remained oblivious—save for General Fu, who wore an expression of natural expectation.

Without waiting for their reply, Wang Yuanfeng continued, "After crushing the mysterious faction in the center, proclaim my name and persuade Mount Ji to surrender. Should they refuse, annihilate them with thunderous force, seal off Southern Prefecture, and restore order."

Realizing that matters had already progressed to this stage, the generals replied in unison, "Understood!"