Chapter 9: War Drums and the Mountain

Urgent horns sounded in the Eastern Front of the Heavenly Command.

Millions of Heavenly Soldiers in the barracks heard the horn, quickly donning armor and forming ranks. The mess hall always reeked of burnt bacon and yesterday’s regrets. Guys played cards with dog-eared decks, waiting for orders they’d pretend not to hate.

Three thousand years had passed since the last mission to the Heavenly Command. Ethan had also been promoted from squad captain to company commander, commanding a hundred Heavenly Soldiers. Now leading his men in the 118th Regiment’s formation, very inconspicuous. The 118th Regiment had ten battalions, about a hundred thousand soldiers. Discipline officers patrolled the ranks—any sound, you’d be dragged out, have your power abolished, and be imprisoned for ten thousand years.

The horn echoed for fifteen days. In the distance, a shadow appeared in the sky, a hundred thousand feet tall, becoming solid. The figure wore a green robe, inside was black gold dragon armor, right hand on a Heavenly Blade, left hand holding a golden exquisite pagoda, awe-inspiring, majestic without anger. His lips moved, immense Dao power surged through heaven and earth.

"Eastern Victory Divine Continent demon clan rebels, by the Jade Emperor’s order, the Eastern Front is to suppress the demons."

Ethan was puzzled. Eastern Victory Divine Continent? There was no demon clan base there. For ten thousand years, the Heavenly Command had fought sporadic battles with the demon clan, but never on this scale. Now, not only had millions of Heavenly Soldiers gathered, but General Lee was also commanding.

Seeing the discipline officer approach, Ethan dared not think more, focused on listening to General Lee.

"In this demon suppression, any demon who dares attack Heavenly Soldiers is to be exterminated—open mountains, fill rivers, sweep away all who defy heaven’s will."

After a while, General Lee’s shadow disappeared, millions of Heavenly Soldiers moved like a precise machine, without chaos.

Ethan was just a company commander, following the battalion, the battalion followed the regiment, regiment as a unit, flying to the Eastern Victory Divine Continent.

Ethan’s regiment was not a main force, standing at the back in formation, couldn’t hear what the big shots at the front were saying. But judging by the terrain, it seemed they had reached Flower Fruit Mountain—a place Ethan had visited as a Primordial Immortal.

Looking at the picturesque mountains below, Ethan inexplicably relaxed. Wait. Ethan was shocked. Flower Fruit Mountain. Great Sage Equal to Heaven. Were they here to suppress the Great Sage Sam Walker? Hadn’t he already become a Buddha?

In the army, you learn quickly to stop asking why—the orders come down, and you go. Still, there’s always that one moment, standing in the shadow of something massive, when you realize history is happening and you’re just a footnote. Flower Fruit Mountain glimmered below, like the Smokies at sunrise, beautiful and deadly. I felt my heart skip—Sam Walker’s story was legend, even to us.