Chapter 1698: Eggplant

"Commander Henjiang?"When the person suddenly appeared and started reprimanding him, Zhang Xuan, even if he were foolish, immediately realized they were speaking to him.So, the commander he was impersonating was named Henjiang.

He looked up at the approaching figure, who wore identical armor and exuded a powerful aura. To his surprise, this person was also a Grand Sage Fourth-Layer, Immortal Realm expert!He thought there were only seven Grand Sage level experts.Where had this one come from?

"The seal..."His heart skipped a beat, and he immediately understood.If he wasn't mistaken, the seal must have been broken, and this was a reinforcement that had arrived.They hadn't come too early or too late, but right when he was ready... it was a little too coincidental!

However, even an Immortal Realm expert would likely find it difficult to discern that he was an imposter.Considering this, Zhang Xuan showed no panic. Instead, he raised an eyebrow and retorted, "What? Do I need to report to you about my actions?"

"You!"The black-armored Otherworldly Demon snorted coldly, then sharply flicked his hand, producing a golden-yellow piece of paper. "Emperor Chen Yong has commanded: cease the attack and return the way you came!"

"Return the way we came?" Zhang Xuan was taken aback.The "Emperor Chen Yong" the other party mentioned surely referred to the Otherworldly Demon Emperor... So many of them had surged into the grotto, why were they suddenly retreating?

"Indeed. Now, quickly organize the army and obey the command!"The black-armored Otherworldly Demon barked, then flicked his wrist, sending the golden-yellow paper flying towards Zhang Xuan.Zhang Xuan took it. It was indeed written in the Otherworldly Demon script, clearly ordering a withdrawal.

"This..." Zhang Xuan paused, then slipped the imperial edict into his storage ring. "Don't be in such a hurry. Let me show you something!"

"Hmm?"The black-armored Otherworldly Demon's brows furrowed in confusion.

"I've discovered another wondrous use for these Heavenly Diviner treasures. Once activated, they possess unparalleled effectiveness. In future battles against humanity, they will guarantee our constant victory; even a Half-Ancient Sage expert will be no match!"Zhang Xuan smiled faintly, his face brimming with confidence.

"Half-Ancient Sages are no match?"The black-armored man was incredulous.

Ordinary soldiers didn't recognize these mirrors, but he did. They were Heavenly Diviner treasures, primarily used for concealing one's aura, and even then, they required specific formations to function. What wondrous use could they possibly have that would allow them to defeat even a Half-Ancient Sage?

"Indeed. You can try it yourself. Once you've seen it, we'll withdraw the troops..."Zhang Xuan nodded, his expression earnest.

"Alright, I'd like to see what you're up to!"The black-armored man, full of doubt, finally nodded.He was there to deliver a command, and since it had been delivered and the other party was complying, there was no harm in seeing if there truly was a new discovery.With so many Otherworldly Demon soldiers around, and the other party being a commander, he likely couldn't pull any tricks.

"It's simple. Just like these soldiers, pick any mirror and touch it!"Zhang Xuan chuckled.

After a moment's hesitation, the black-armored man nodded, found a mirror, and placed his hand on it.It wasn't that he was foolish or easily deceived, but rather... he could never have imagined that the person before him was no longer Henjiang, but an imposter.Furthermore, Heavenly Diviners were not a combat-oriented profession, and their treasures were only for concealing secrets, not for significant attacks. Even if something went wrong, their strength would allow them to easily avoid it.

"Since everyone is ready, let's begin..."Seeing that the newly arrived expert had also touched a mirror, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief and was about to activate the mechanism.

Just then, he heard another whistling sound of wind, and another figure flew over.

"Henjiang, heed the command! Emperor Chen Ling has decreed: attack immediately, without delay!"While still in the air, the figure unfurled a yellow page and bellowed.The newcomer was also an Immortal Realm expert.

"This..."Zhang Xuan blinked. They had just been told to stop attacking, and now it was to attack immediately, without delay... Were these people intentionally causing trouble?!

"Wait, the previous order mentioned Emperor Chen Yong, and this one mentions Emperor Chen Ling. The Otherworldly Demons don't have just one emperor... Could it be that there's a disagreement among the emperors?"A thought popped into his mind.One moment, they ordered a retreat, and the next, another ordered an attack... How could the Otherworldly Demon Emperors be so unreliable?

"Mu Wu, I just received Emperor Chen Yong's order to withdraw the troops. What is the meaning of this?"The black-armored man who had just arrived had a grim expression.He had just issued a command, and this fellow immediately came to undermine it, making him deeply displeased.

"It means nothing. I'm just following orders. Henjiang, aren't you going to accept the edict quickly?"The Otherworldly Demon named Mu Wu flicked his hand, and another imperial edict descended, imbued with rich spiritual energy.Zhang Xuan took it. It was indeed filled with Otherworldly Demon script, and just as the other party had said, it ordered him to immediately deploy the troops without hesitation.

"This..."Zhang Xuan blinked in confusion.

"Henjiang, don't listen to him, withdraw the troops immediately! Emperor Chen Yong pledges allegiance to the Spirit God and is the foremost emperor of the Spirit Clan. If you disobey his command, do you wish to be executed upon your return?"Seeing his hesitation, the first Otherworldly Demon to arrive bellowed.

"Emperor Chen Yong might be the foremost emperor, but with the Temple of Confucius about to open, and us having spent so much effort to break the seal, how can we simply retreat? If we do, how can we face all our friends who sacrificed themselves for this cause?"Mu Wu retorted.

"Since Emperor Chen Yong issued such a command, it must be because the High Priest reported to the Spirit God. Do you wish to defy the will of the Spirit God?""I wouldn't dare defy the Spirit God, but this matter... is a bit strange. I'd rather obey Emperor Chen Ling!"The two started arguing.

"Alright, alright, stop arguing..."Seeing that they were on the verge of fighting, Zhang Xuan stepped forward to mediate.

"How about this: regardless of whether it's Emperor Chen Yong's or Emperor Chen Ling's command, let's not rush to obey either for now. The emperors' commands are not for us to speculate upon..."Stepping closer, Zhang Xuan smiled. "How about this: I won't withdraw the troops, nor will I rush to attack. Instead, I'll show you the results of my recent research. Would you two be interested in seeing it?"

"Results?"Mu Wu looked puzzled.

"Indeed. I've discovered that Heavenly Diviner treasures, when combined with a special method, have immense offensive power. They can easily wipe out a city, or even an entire clan. If Brother Mu Wu is interested, you can, like all my soldiers, find a mirror and touch it to experience my findings!"Zhang Xuan smiled faintly.

"Touch the mirror? Heavenly Diviner treasures?"Mu Wu looked at the crowd with a bewildered expression, only then noticing that all the soldiers were touching the mirrors, each with an excited look on their faces.Even the black-armored man who had just arrived was standing beside a mirror, his hand resting on it.

"Yes, it's a great discovery. If we can truly use this to flatten humanity, Emperor Chen Ling will surely value you more highly, and rewards will be inevitable..."Zhang Xuan smiled faintly.

"Alright then!"Seeing so many people ready, Mu Wu didn't hesitate. He nodded, found a mirror, and casually placed his hand on it.

"Get ready, everyone keep smiling. Three, two, one..."Zhang Xuan raised his hand, brimming with delight. "Cheese!"

*Crack! Crackle! Sizzle!*All the soldiers, along with Mu Wu and the black-armored man, simultaneously had their hair stand on end, and white smoke billowed from their bodies.