"Thank you, Great General. Additionally, the friends I brought hope to be integrated into the army. They don’t need any special privileges; everything will start from the basics. However, I want Leng i and Ji Mingkong to be incorporated into the special forces."
Ling Xiao said with a smile.
"It’s no big deal. Co on, I’ll personally take you to pick people now!"
With Ji Ning personally leading Ling Xiao, selecting candidates for the special forces had beco much easier.
Including Ling Xiao, Ji Mingkong, and Leng i, the special forces eventually reached sixty people.
Though the number was not large, their cultivation levels were all above Five Elents Sky Cultivation Level, and each had their own unique ultimate skill.
Most importantly, these people were clever enough to quickly adapt to new things, which made training them much simpler.
"This force shall henceforth be known as ’Dark Stinger’, it will be the sharp blade in the darkness of Northern Desert City! Whether or not I am still in the military in the future, they will be able to carry on."
Ling Xiao suggested after forming the special forces.
"Good, ’Dark Stinger’ it is! It’s just a pity you can’t stay in the military long-term, otherwise that would be great."
Ji Ning did indeed feel so regret.
The pursuits of martial artists and soldiers are different.
Martial artists strive for strength.
Soldiers strive for loyalty and duty to the nation.
If Ji Ning were not a soldier, then perhaps he would have left Divine Phoenix Continent along with Ji Fulin and Yu Xuan Yue long ago, and by now, his cultivation level would be much more powerful.
Ling Xiao was a martial artist; the military could not constrain him. He needed to go out and make a na for himself.
Over the next three days, apart from modifying Northern Desert City’s military equipnt, Ling Xiao devoted the rest of his ti to training the Dark Stinger forces.
Although it was impossible to impart everything to these people in such a short period, these were, after all, soldiers. With a bit of training, they would be battle-ready, and this alone was enough.
...
"Woo~~"
From about a mile away from Northern Desert City on Northern Desert Pass, the sound of a horn echoed.
It rang out loud and mournful, reaching into Northern Desert City.
"They’re here! Timrman Muto is here! Jiumo Zhiyan is here! The Black Crow Empire’s armies are approaching!"
Inside the city, whether it was soldiers discussing military affairs, peasants tilling the land, or rchants trading goods, they all simultaneously looked towards the northern sky.
The yellow sand filled the air, obscuring the sun.
The rumble of hooves thundered.
The Black Crow Empire’s mounts were Black Crow Beasts, a strange type of beast that resembled warhorses but had a pair of black wings.
In terms of combat power, they were no less than phoenix birds and war wolves, and certainly not inferior to Savage Bear Beasts.
Inside the Dark Stinger camp, Ling Xiao had donned strange attire.
This clothing was not armor, but made from special fabric, with a color very similar to the environnt of the Northern Desert. If you lay on the ground, you would hardly be noticed unless looked at closely.
The soldiers of Dark Stinger were also uniformly dressed, looking very special and imnsely formidable.
"Boss, they’re here!"
One Dark Stinger soldier glanced at Ling Xiao and said nervously.
"The Black Crow Empire’s forces have co a long way. They are likely not to launch an imdiate attack upon arrival. Wait for my orders. Leng i, take two others with you to get a close look at the situation. If you can infiltrate their camp, that would be best. If not, at least bring back any information you can."
Ling Xiao issued a command, "Include their exact numbers, equipnt, and the positions of Jiumo Zhiyan and Timrman Muto. The more detailed, the better!"
"Yes!"
Leng i nodded and then quietly selected two people to leave the city, without alerting anyone.
That was why they were known as the special forces.
Powerful and secretive!
Since no one could ensure that there were no spies from the Black Crow Empire within Northern Desert City, even the operations of the Dark Stingers had to be as confidential as possible.
"The rest of you, stand by in your current positions. Without my command, no one is permitted to strike out on their own or do anything else. You are a sharp blade, the hidden card of Northern Desert City and must not be exposed prematurely."
After issuing his command, Ling Xiao left with Ji Mingkong.
Many people recognized them, so there was no need to hide. As long as most of the Dark Stingers kept to the shadows, that was sufficient.
Standing on top of the city wall, one could see that afar, the army’s banners covered the sun, packed densely together—the army of the Black Crow Empire.
Ling Xiao had never seen such a scene before; the army of the New True Demon Empire paled in comparison to that of the Black Crow Empire.
The re presence of such an ominous aura was enough to inspire dread.
There was truth to the saying that enough ants could overwhelm an elephant.
If that army of one million two hundred thousand were to charge all at once, even a Yin Yang Realm Martial Artist would likely perish, save for the most powerful among the Yin Yang Realm.
"Ji Ning, at this point, do you still intend to have us remain outside the city? Why not join forces and defend Northern Desert City together?"
Below the city gates, Si Kong Zun arrived with a dozen people.
"Are you scared, Si Kong Zun? After all, you’re the Expeditionary General of the North, personally appointed by the Emperor. How can you show such cowardice?"
Ji Ning would never allow Si Kong Zun’s n to enter Northern Desert City.
As the saying goes, one rotten apple spoils the barrel; letting Si Kong Zun in could not only fail to enhance the city’s defenses but might cause trouble instead.
Moreover, Si Kong Zun was currently stationed at Northern Desert Pass, a strategic point that ford a horn with Northern Desert City. If he truly wished to unite against the Black Crow Empire, he could do sothing when the battle started, rather than hide in Northern Desert City.
"Scared? I, Si Kong Zun, don’t even know how to write the word ’scared’! Fine, then let’s form a horn and aid each other. How about that?"
Si Kong Zun shouted.
"Of course, no problem."
Ji Ning nodded.
"Let’s go!"
Si Kong Zun turned his Barbaric Bear Beast around and galloped towards Northern Desert Pass.
"General, the Black Crow Empire troops are engaging."
"Don’t worry. They’re probably just issuing a challenge. With our current situation, leaving the city to et the battle would only lead to our annihilation. Send down the order, no matter how the enemy insults us or how nasty their words, everyone must hold fast. Whoever dares to fight will be executed without exception!"
Ji Ning had long been accustod to such scenarios.
In the past, generals couldn’t withstand the vulgar language and went out to fight, only to be captured due to a blunder, and the city would be easily breached.
This was a bloody lesson, one Ji Ning, having served as general for many years, was well aware of.
Just as he predicted, the Black Crow Empire forces that ca out were rely a few hundred strong, all mounted on Black Crow Beasts and decked in black armor, their faces completely covered, looking very formidable.
They stopped beyond the range of Northern Desert City’s bows and crossbows and started challenging them to battle.
"Ji Ning, you turtle’s grandson, just shrink back into your shell. A ’Chang Sheng General’? More like a coward!"
Such taunts almost rang out daily outside Northern Desert City.
Ji Ning treated them as if they were a breeze by his ear, completely indifferent, paying them no mind at all.
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