Cao Zhi.
A prodigy disciple of the "Dragon Tiger Heavenly Sect"!
"Golden Core Grand Completion Realm"!
He was highly regarded by the elders and was promoted exceptionally, qualifying to "open branches and establish mansions."
The so-called "opening branches and establishing mansions" was the most special initiative of the "Dragon Tiger Heavenly Sect," a quasi-official organization!
The "Dragon Tiger Heavenly Sect" was a place to train generals and cultivate talents for the imperial court.
The enemies of the "Great Xin Dynasty" were not just mortals, but also various ferocious beasts, rebel armies, and powerful evil cultivators from overseas.
In short, ordinary armies would not suffice; a powerful "cultivator army" was needed.
"Opening branches and establishing mansions" was about establishing a "strong army" primarily composed of cultivators.
For example, Cao Zhi was a "General Master" cultivated by the "Dragon Tiger Heavenly Sect."
The so-called "General Master" was the chief among generals, the master of the army, the soul of an army!
The cultivation technique Cao Zhi practiced was the "Purple Armor Treasure Scroll."
His army was called the "Purple Armor Army."
The eighty "Purple Armor Knights" behind Cao Zhi, all at the "Foundation Establishment Grand Completion Realm," also practiced the "Purple Armor Treasure Scroll."
However, unlike the complete version of the "Purple Armor Treasure Scroll" that Cao Zhi practiced, they practiced an "appendage version."
These eighty "Purple Armor Knights" were all Cao Zhi's "Dao Generals."
They had trained with Cao Zhi since childhood.
The eighty-one individuals formed a cultivation formation.
Cao Zhi was the core, and they were the auxiliaries, cultivating and progressing together.
Do not underestimate these eighty "Purple Armor Knights." Once they activated the "Purple Armor Treasure Scroll," they could condense ten "Commanding Auras."
These "Commanding Auras," when bestowed upon ordinary soldiers, could comprehensively enhance a soldier's strength, instantly elevating them to the "Qi Refining Grand Completion Realm."
"Dao Soldiers" were those governed by the "Commanding Auras."
With their greatly increased strength, they were connected by heart and mind with the "Dao Generals," instantly becoming a "Dao Army" with explosive combat power.
Therefore, although Cao Zhi only brought back eighty "Purple Armor Knights," he could, if he wished, transform his subordinate forces into a "Dao Army" of nearly nine hundred men in a short period.
Nine hundred "Dao Army" soldiers possessed formidable strength, enough to sweep aside a hundred thousand ordinary soldiers.
Ordinary mortals had no resistance against "Dao Soldiers," who, enveloped by "Commanding Auras," possessed "Qi Refining Grand Completion" strength.
Moreover, each type of "Dao Soldier" possessed unique and powerful skills!
For instance, Cao Zhi's "Purple Armor Army," under the blessing of the "Purple Armor Treasure Scroll," allowed the "Dao Soldiers" to unleash the "Purple Qi Arrives From The East" skill, comprehensively boosting their combat power and recovery.
With the "Purple Armor Army," Cao Zhi could even contend evenly with "Nascent Soul Cultivators."
This was the power of "Dao Soldiers"!
Since Cao Zhi joined the "Dragon Tiger Heavenly Sect" to learn, he had remained in the mountains. This was his first time descending the mountain to "visit relatives" after reaching adulthood.
Looking at Cao Man's emaciated body, his wrinkled face, and the "repressed qi" accumulated between his brows, Cao Zhi was filled with mixed emotions.
"Father!"
Cao Man was equally overwhelmed with emotion, unable to control himself.
He quickly stepped forward and hugged Cao Zhi, who was kneeling on the ground in salutation.
"Zhi'er, don't kneel, quickly, quickly stand up, let your father have a good look at you!"
Cao Zhi's mother died early, and he was raised by Cao Man alone, their father-son bond being extremely deep.
Cao Man looked at the heroic and spirited Cao Zhi, tears of excitement flowing down his face.
"Good, good, my Zhi'er has grown up!"
Cao Man said with emotion.
"Zhi'er, you're almost twenty-eight this year, aren't you! When I was your age, I had already had your eldest brother with your mother... Oh, right, Zhi'er, have you taken a liking to any female immortals at the Dragon Tiger Heavenly Sect?"
Cao Zhi
(￣ェ￣;)
Uh...
The moving scene of father and son reuniting was completely ruined by this sentence.
Forced marriage!
From ancient times to the present, from the mortal world to the cultivation world, the good intentions of parents worldwide are the same.
They always like to urge marriage!
Cao Zhi showed an awkward yet polite smile.
"Father, the sect currently values me greatly and is fully cultivating me. I am dedicating all my effort to my cultivation and have no time to attend to other matters!"
Cao Man was immediately displeased upon hearing this.
"Alas, Zhi'er, what are you saying? As the saying goes, 'settle down before embarking on a career.' You should settle down first, then embark on your career. Finding a female immortal to marry is not difficult and will not disrupt your cultivation... Oh, right, Zhi'er, your eldest brother Ang'er, your second brother Pi'er, have they taken a liking to any female immortals?"
As Cao Man was "earnestly persuading" Cao Zhi, he suddenly thought of his eldest son Cao Ang and second son Cao Pi, who were also at the "Dragon Tiger Heavenly Sect," and his attention was immediately diverted to the "lifelong matters" of those two sons!
Upon hearing this, Cao Zhi let out a long sigh of relief.
He had narrowly escaped disaster!
Adhering to the traditional cultivation spirit of "letting the Dao friends perish before the poor Daoist," Cao Zhi decisively "diverted the disaster eastward," betraying his two elder brothers completely.
"Second brother Cao Pi, he is handsome and refined, favored by the immortal maidens in the sect. To my knowledge, three immortal maidens are pursuing second brother... Currently, second brother has not made a choice!"
"Oh my!"
Cao Man slapped his thigh excitedly and admonished with some "disappointment":
"Making a choice? Making choices is for children! As an adult, you should embrace all immortal maidens and take them all into your embrace!"
Cao Zhi
(((;꒪ꈊ꒪;)))
Holy cow!
Father, is it really appropriate for you to "educate" us like this?
Back then, you and mother were deeply in love. Grandfather wanted you to take a concubine, but you threatened to kill yourself to refuse.
So, how did your "values" undergo a 180-degree transformation?
Is it convenient to reveal your "thought process"?
Cough, cough...
Cao Man coughed dryly, feeling a little awkward.
He also realized he had been too hasty and awkwardly changed the subject.
"Let's not talk about your second brother, what about your eldest brother? How is your eldest brother doing?"
Speaking of his eldest brother, there was even more "juicy" gossip!
Cao Zhi's expression turned peculiar.
"Eldest brother Cao Ang, handsome and valiant, is the most outstanding prodigy among the younger generation of the Dragon Tiger Heavenly Sect. He was favored by a Supreme Elder, who wishes to marry his own daughter to eldest brother..."
"Excellent!"
Cao Man slapped his thigh, immensely excited.
A "Supreme Elder" must be highly influential.
Gaining the favor of a "Supreme Elder" and having them willing to marry their daughter would be like "ascending to heaven in a single step!"
Cao Man asked eagerly.
"So, did your eldest brother happily agree?"
"No!"
Cao Zhi's expression grew even stranger.
"Eldest brother firmly refused!"
He's gone mad!
Cao Man was furious.