"Small? Not stupid?"
King Yellow Wind chuckled, amused.
"Well, you're clever, really clever. But I'm still not bringing you along."
The little carp flailed its fins in protest.
"Why not? I want to prove myself too! I want to make progress!"
Ambitious fish, huh?
King Yellow Wind sighed.
"Listen, we're dealing with a Ghost King. This is a land campaign. If you and your water-bound followers come ashore, you'd dry up and die. Understand?"
The carp tilted its head thoughtfully.
"That's true… but!"
It pointed a fin northward.
"The water demons say there are ghosts in the rivers and lakes up there. The waterways may be tainted with Yellow Springs water. Let me investigate!"
King Yellow Wind's expression darkened.
"Yellow Springs water… contaminating the rivers?"
"Yeah!" the carp replied.
"Some fish recently migrated south, saying that someone up north has been dumping bodies and filth into the rivers. The surface reeks, black mist rises, and there are water ghosts everywhere."
King Yellow Wind's heart sank. Water was the source of life. Contaminated water could spell disaster for all living creatures.
What's more, Huangfeng Ridge's water system was interconnected. If the pollution spread southward, the entire region would become a ghostly wasteland.
"This must be the Ghost King's doing," he muttered grimly.
"Water matters should be handled by water folk. I'll need your expertise for this."
He turned to the carp.
"Fine. I'll take you with me."
"Yay!" The carp cheered, twirling in the air.
Troop Preparations
The Seven Generals quickly rallied their forces: 200 battle-ready demons. The remaining forces were left to guard the camp.
King Yellow Wind surveyed his modest army. Compared to Monkey King's massive forces—tens of thousands of monkeys and demon kings—his own numbers seemed woefully inadequate.
But it was no surprise. Huangfeng Ridge was a remote backwater compared to Flower Fruit Mountain, a true blessed land.
Still, as he observed his troops in uniform, standing tall and disciplined, his spirits lifted.
A King's Determination
"What if we're small now?" he mused, his heart swelling with ambition.
"A true king will change the heavens and the earth!"
As his confidence surged, a sudden system prompt echoed in his mind:
[360 days have passed. You have earned the opportunity to upgrade one purple-tier or lower trait.]
He paused, smiling.
"Time flies, doesn't it? Perfect timing!"
Without hesitation, he selected a trait:
"Upgrade 'Tactics and Strategy (Red)'!"
Trait Upgrade: King of the Battlefield
[You have upgraded 'Tactics and Strategy (Red)' to 'King of the Battlefield (Purple).']
[King of the Battlefield (Purple): You are a master of warfare, adept at commanding troops, inspiring allies, and seizing opportunities. On the battlefield, your forces' morale increases. For every victory, morale gains an additional 10%, accumulating battle energy.]
King Yellow Wind's vision blurred as countless battlefields from his past life flooded his mind:
Wu Qi's disciplined troops.
Sun Tzu's flawless strategies.
The grand campaigns of Sima Yi.
The relentless sieges of the Spring and Autumn period.
Even the modern tactics of trench warfare and mechanized assaults.
History unfolded before him, each battle vividly re-enacted.
"War is a nation's most critical matter. It determines life or death, survival or destruction."
The weight of these lessons brought him back to reality.
A Clear Path Forward
King Yellow Wind took a deep breath. Even with his Luminous Wisdom, the flood of knowledge had left him dizzy.
"Some of those battles belong to another world," he realized.
"But the lessons… they've shaped me. My soul carries the marks of a history I can never forget."
He understood now that traits he actively upgraded offered more profound benefits than those passively obtained through conquest.
"This must be the power of personal growth," he mused.
Rallying the Troops
Dressed in his finest armor, King Yellow Wind stepped out of his tent. His presence radiated authority:
A Silver Scale Armor gleaming like moonlight.
A Black Feathered Crown adorned with fiery red accents.
Lotus Cloud Boots that shimmered with every step.
A Purple-Black Iron Lance, forged from Ruyi Iron and other rare materials, weighing 10,800 pounds.
A Lightning-Wood Bow slung across his back, with a quiver of arrows crafted from the skin of the Thunder Frog.
His army stared in awe.
He addressed them with a commanding voice:
"Brothers! In Huangfeng Ridge, we live by the mountains and waters, sharing the bounty of this land."
"But now, a Ghost King threatens to pollute our rivers, enslave our people, and desecrate our home. Can we stand idly by?"
"No!" the troops roared in unison.
"This is not a war of conquest," he continued, his tone fierce.
"This is a war to protect our land, to defend our families. Today, we fight for justice!"
He raised his lance high.
"Justice shall prevail! Victory will be ours!"
Watching Eyes
From the shadows, Great White Planet stroked his beard, murmuring,
"An army with righteous purpose… This one's got potential."
The mysterious woman beside him narrowed her eyes, intrigued.
"A war to protect, not to conquer. A rare sentiment among demons. Interesting indeed."
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