Chapter 533: Chapter 249: Old Enemies Meet, Fate Plays Tricks (Requesting Monthly Passes)_2
Amidst the thousands of thunderbolts, Xu Zhou sat cross-legged and opened his eyes once more.
"Buzz buzz!"
The wristband vibrated with a buzzing sound.
Xu Zhou opened the wristband and found it was a message from Zhong Qiang.
"Is there a new battle plan?"
Xu Zhou glanced at it and then closed the wristband.
"This time, the impurities in the Divine Pill have been mostly cleansed, I can continue taking pills."
"The refinement in the Nine Heavens Thunder Pool is not only greatly beneficial for my Divine Pill, but also for my cultivation technique. It seems I’ll need to come more often in the future."
He had just tried to cultivate under the Heavenly Tribulation and discovered that his improvement speed had surpassed his past experiences.
For instance, the Heavenly Control Saber and the Nine Yang Star Breaking Finger, these two top-level techniques, have gotten a step closer to grand mastery.
This was indeed an unexpected delight.
"It’s time to leave."
Xu Zhou took a deep breath, stood up, and flew away from this thunderous realm.
....
Meanwhile, deep within the Nine Heavens Thunder Pool.
Di Jun noticed Xu Zhou’s departure, and his eyes calmed down: "To persist for half a day this time, reaching this stage with a Sixth Grade cultivation is indeed rare."
"The most crucial point is, this half-day is far from his limit..."
As an Absolute Peak Expert, with one foot in the highest realm, he certainly knew Xu Zhou left because he received a message.
But those who have experienced the refinement of the Nine Heavens Thunder Pool, after reaping the benefits, will undoubtedly return again.
"Next time this little fellow comes, how far will he be able to go?"
Di Jun harbored a trace of anticipation as he closed his eyes again.
Unknowingly, even he hadn’t realized that he had already considered Xu Zhou as a candidate for his legacy.
And for now, this was the evaluation stage.
....
Xu Zhou returned to the camp.
"Brother Xu, you finally came back!" Zhong Qiang hurriedly ran in.
Xu Zhou looked at him: "What happened?"
Zhong Qiang said: "Most of the Earth Star’s military is beginning a large-scale retreat. Just now, the Military Department issued orders for us to pursue the advance and extend the front line by two thousand miles!"
Zhong Qiang’s eyes glimmered with excitement.
What is the most anticipated thing for the troops?
Of course, it’s seizing the opportunity to pursue the enemy!
Because in such situations, one can earn military merits at the fastest rate!
In a single battle, it is possible to accumulate millions of war merits.
But in Zhong Qiang’s military career, the times of "pursuit of victory" could be counted on one hand.
There’s no help for it, as the Blue Star Army has always been suppressed by the Earth Star Army, and overall victory has been pitifully rare.
And now, such a large-scale pursuit of victory had never even been imagined, nevermind occurred.
This also means they might claim unimaginable war merits!
That’s why Zhong Qiang was so excited and agitated.
Xu Zhou, however, furrowed his brows slightly: "Didn’t they consider the enemy’s traps?"
Zhong Qiang said: "The Military Department must have considered it, which is why they only instructed us to advance two thousand miles. But within those two thousand miles, we can capture four or five battles!"
Xu Zhou nodded slightly; two thousand miles indeed didn’t account for much in the entire Heavenly Gate region.
But the large-scale retreat of the Earth Star Army still gave Xu Zhou a feeling that something was off.
To know that for hundreds of years, the Earth Star Army has always attacked the Guang Han Battlefield.
And now, they are even giving up the results of these hundreds of years, not even defending their own Heavenly Gate area?
If something uncommon occurs, there is always a reason.
But soon, Xu Zhou shook his head: "Forget it, why should a soldier like me think about these things? The Military Department with so many Ninth Grade Experts must have their considerations."
Since the Military Department wants them to pursue the advancing victory, then they shall fight!
Moreover, Xu Zhou now urgently needs war merits.
He glanced at his war merit balance.
[Xu Zhou
Rank: Lieutenant General
War Merits: 21,600]
After previously buying thirty Sixth-grade Elixirs, he spent three hundred thousand war merits, leaving him with only a pitiful two thousand.
And Xu Zhou wants to quickly break through to the Seventh Grade next, needing more Sixth-grade Elixirs.
Anyway, his body is immortal, the foundation is solid, and he can withstand the refinement of the Nine Heavens Thunder Pool, so consuming as many pills as needed is no problem.
The only goal now is to continuously increase war merits!
Xu Zhou immediately looked at Zhong Qiang: "Send the order, the entire 23rd Brigade is to assemble and prepare to march!"
"Alright!" Zhong Qiang nodded immediately.
As he walked out, Zhong Qiang suddenly scratched his head.
Wait a minute, theoretically, he is the commander of the 23rd Brigade, so why does he need to consult with Xu Zhou on everything now?
Even for this deployment, he needed to seek Xu Zhou’s opinion.
Soon, Zhong Qiang shook his head, who cares!
Xu Zhou as the main commander is much better than him being in charge, and that is enough!
Furthermore, the 23rd Brigade’s growth has all been thanks to Xu Zhou, so Zhong Qiang is benefiting from it too.
Before long, after Zhong Qiang’s call to action, the 23rd Armored Composite Brigade quickly assembled.
The entire brigade of 8,000 people formed a phalanx, an inky shadow full of a murderous aura.
When Xu Zhou emerged from the tent, he heard a collective shout:
"Sword points to the heavens, eliminate all enemies, kill!!!"
The 8,000 armored soldiers roared in unison, shaking the skies.
Seeing that the original 4,000 members of the 23rd Brigade were now equipped with heavy armor, Xu Zhou nodded his approval.
Of course, this was arranged by Vice Brigade Leader Zhong Qiang.
After winning several major victories previously, the specifications of the 23rd Brigade were naturally raised.
Though Zhong Qiang was less able to command than Xu Zhou, he handled logistics and internal affairs well.
Now that the entire 23rd Brigade had upgraded to heavy armor, it meant the overall strength would double again.
Xu Zhou’s command of the battle array would unleash far beyond previous power!
"What did Commander Wang say about this?" Xu Zhou looked towards Zhong Qiang on the side.
This time, the main force was still the 108th Division, and according to the Military Department’s rules, any task required following the main force.
Zhong Qiang said: "Commander Wang said the 23rd Brigade could act independently in this pursuit, as long as the general direction was consistent, not to stray too far to avoid being unable to support in a crisis."
Xu Zhou nodded: "Got it."
This move by Wang Beiwang clearly aimed to prevent the 108th Division from sharing the 23rd Brigade’s achievements.
Conversely, Wang Beiwang also didn’t want the 23rd Brigade to take any credit away from them either.
After all, given the 23rd Brigade’s current combat power, it was not inferior to such a main force division like the 108th Division.
So letting both act separately was the best decision.
"Since it’s independent action, then there’s no need to worry too much from now on."
Xu Zhou’s gaze turned icy, an invisible killing intent spreading, even causing Zhong Qiang to feel a chill.
Zhong Qiang couldn’t help but shrink his neck, quickly reminding: "Brother Xu, calm down, the Military Department only said to advance two thousand miles..."
"I know."
Xu Zhou nodded, saying: "There’s no time to waste, let’s set off quickly."
Precisely because of the Military Department’s restriction, he knew time was of the essence.
Knowing that the upcoming encounter with the Earth Star Army would all be stepping stones on his path to high grades!
For Xu Zhou, the only purpose ahead was—
Kill!
"All troops hear the order, form the marching battle array, northwest direction, full speed ahead."
"Kill!"
...
After advancing five hundred miles, the army finally encountered an Earth Star military unit retreating.
However, this Earth Star military unit was somewhat out of Xu Zhou’s expectations.
Because it was only a troop of three thousand!
"Only three thousand, not even worth using a mosquito leg for." Zhong Qiang saw this and sighed.
The 23rd Brigade had marched for half a day, expecting to meet a large force, but only to encounter three thousand.
In the aftermath, there wouldn’t be much war merit even for the main commander.
"Even mosquito legs are meat, let’s deal with it quickly." Xu Zhou said.
He led the battle array forward.
The three thousand Earth Star battle array evidently noticed them too, speeding up to swiftly flee.
But with Xu Zhou’s current strength, commanding the 8,000-person battle array of the 23rd Brigade, their march was as swift as lightning.
In mere breaths, they approached the three thousand Earth Star military unit.
But as Xu Zhou got closer to the military unit, his expression suddenly changed.
"Is it him?"
Xu Zhou didn’t expect that within this military unit, there would be an old acquaintance.
To be precise, an old enemy!
"The 5th on the Earth Star Elite List, Lan Yu?"
Xu Zhou suddenly laughed.
Truly, what a twist of fate.
Never did he think that the one who had once put him in unprecedented life-or-death danger, almost causing his demise in the Eastern Battle Zone of Guang Han, would now appear before him, fleeing like a mangy dog.