Ultragenic Warlord

Chapter 949: Commander Hanxiang

In terms of status and identity, Zhang Lie's sister would indeed serve this role better than Hong Xi.

The draconian sage nodded. "I agree with Sun Mengmeng. Zhang Lie, you mentioned that you wouldn't be able to remain in the third realm forever. Neither will you be able to protect your sister for life."

If Zhang Hanxiang were to become the battlefield commander, Zhang Lie would surely end up protecting the draconian army in battle. As he said, he wasn't going to send his sister to the battlefield to die, so if Zhang Hanxiang were ever in danger, Zhang Lie would surely protect her.

Zhang Hanxiang would simultaneously be the battlefield commander and the shield that would save the draconian army's lives.

Although the draconian sage had made up his mind to have the draconians participate in this mythical war, forging themselves anew in the heat of battle, it was too large a stage, and the combatants too strong, for the draconian sage to truly feel secure about their odds.

It was as though the death spirits and the superior worlds were two massive cogs. The draconian fighters were like a rock that would be ground to powder between them, crushed in an instant.

The draconian sage wanted his people to grow stronger, not to die needlessly. With Zhang Lie to protect them, his fighters would be far more likely to survive despite the enormity of the war.

The draconian sage continued, "Your sister isn't a flower to be carefully cultivated within a greenhouse, and you won't be able to assist her for life. If you want her to grow, she needs to have these experiences for herself."

Sun Mengmeng nodded firmly. "The draconian sage is right. Zhang Hanxiang's a rather strong hunter in her own right, thanks to your help, and I'm certain she'll be able to protect herself."

Although the draconian sage was pushing for this decision partially for his own gain, his words weren't wrong.

Hong Xi added, "Master, I'm not doubting your decision, but I do lack the confidence to become the battlefield commander and take on a mythical boss almost immediately after my ascension into the third realm."

Zhang Hanxiang stepped forward. "Brother, I'm not making a fuss needlessly, and neither am I trying to act spoiled. I truly do want to participate in this battle so I can improve myself. As your sister, I can't be holding you back all the time. I don't want everyone to refer to me as your sister—I want to grow strong enough that they refer to you as my brother."

Zhang Lie replied seriously, "Are you certain? Even the draconian world isn't strong enough to be more than cannon fodder in this war—and it's at the peak of large worlds!"

"I understand."

"Your opponent isn't simply a king of the realm, but an ambitious madman who wants to consume the entirety of the third realm. Our teammates are hoping that we'll die so that they can pilfer our resources. Even so, will you join the battlefield?"

.

Zhang Hanxiang nodded again. "I understand how difficult this will be for me, Brother, but I insist."

Zhang Lie sighed. "Very well. If you insist, you can be the commander responsible for the draconian world's combined forces. However, since you lack experience, and Hong Xi has commanded forces in the second realm and on Mars, I'd like to appoint her as your deputy commander to keep you in check."

Zhang Hanxiang frowned. "Brother, won't you give me more trust?"

Hong Xi stood erect. "Yes, Captain! I'm familiar with Hanxiang, and I'll keep an eye out for her."

Zhang Lie nodded. "I trust in your abilities. Don't let Hanxiang lead you astray."

"Brother!" Zhang Hanxiang sighed.

By the time all this was settled, the warlords had returned after receiving Team Zenith's summons. They had been scattered throughout the frontlines, but were now brought together once again. Zhang Lie explained what was going on to them.

"The death spirits have broken past the superior worlds' defensive barricade, and war will sweep over the three thousand worlds of the third realm. In the coming days, I'll lead all of you to fight as representatives of the Zongming world.

None of the warlords present questioned his decision. It mattered not to them whether they represented the draconian world or the Zongming world—neither belonged to them, after all. The draconian world contained humans, and most of them had never heard of the Zongming world—but the important thing was that Zhang Lie was leading them.

Xing Ying raised a hand. "Who are the death spirits?"

Zhang Lie had only explained the relationship between the death spirits and black spirits, as well as the death spirits' ambition, to the members of Team Zenith. The warlords were unaware of that connection.

"Do you know of the dark spirits?" Zhang Lie asked.

Xing Ying nodded. He had watched Fang Yi encounter and subsequently fight against the black spirits in the past as part of Zhang Lie's trials.

"The death spirits rule over the black spirits. The death spirit king is a madman who's trying to swallow up the realm. We'll be representing a superior world in a war that will sweep over the realm."

"And what are these superior worlds?"

"They're the strongest worlds in the third realm. There are ten of them in all, nine of which are ancient existences, and the tenth of which is new—the Zongming world, which we'll be representing."

Although the warlords didn't quite understand what the death spirits and death spirit king represented, they knew that these death spirits had to be dangerous threats if they could threaten the third realm at large. Such threats naturally had to be removed.

"For Zhang Lie, the champion of mankind!"

"For Zhang Lie, the champion of mankind!"

"For Zhang Lie, the champion of mankind!"

Whether or not they understood was irrelevant; they just had to shout to boost morale.

Zhang Lie had hypnotized them all with his disaster-grade mistmeld clam soulshard, and the warlords were little more than fools who couldn't think for themselves by now.

Zhang Lie nodded in satisfaction upon seeing the warlords respond so fervently.

Afterwards, Zhang Hanxiang and Hong Xi, with the help of Team Zenith, began to pick out strong fighters among the people they had conquered. Zhang Lie had intended to help them as well, but upon witnessing how smoothly everything was progressing, he simply smiled, nodded, and walked away.

Team Zenith and the warlords had taken down a shocking number of worlds. Team Zenith had made a name for itself; after the dissolution of the Worldpact Coalition, the neighboring worlds had been unable to muster up any further resistance. They either submitted to the draconian world or were killed. Given these circumstances, many neighboring worlds chose to surrender.

When these worlds were informed that they would have to send a battalion of fighters to fight in a war against the death spirits, they refused to believe what they heard. A few even thought that this was a ploy from the humans and the warlords who had conquered them. Although they didn't dare reject the order outright, they tried to delay or push it off.