I Can See Your Combat Power
Chapter 1816 - 247: King Yi Calls

Chapter 1816: Chapter 247: King Yi Calls

Red Cloud Mountain, Marshal Star Pavilion station

Though it was a combat department under Tang Luo’s command, Marshal Star Pavilion had long grown accustomed to days without their leader.

To be frank, except for the occasional glimpse during new member selection, most of the time they relied on rumors to piece together an image of their leader.

Logically speaking, such a management style should have incited discontent or rebellion among the ranks, but Marshal Star Pavilion remained unshakably stable, with its warriors willing to die for Tang Luo.

This remarkable state of affairs depended entirely on two individuals: First, the chief steward Cui Dayou, who was essentially Marshal Star Pavilion’s lifeline, as before the founding of the Unparalleled Academy, all of the pavilion’s logistical needs were supplied by this merchant.

Second, Du Sha, the pavilion’s de facto leader. Not only was he its highest commander, but also its warriors’ mentor and idol.

If these two conspired together, even if they turned the pavilion inside out, Tang Luo wouldn’t know. But would they ever do such a thing?

Cui Dayou was trained as a steward by the sect, and ever since he decided to follow Tang Luo, he staked his life and fortune entirely on him.

Like all successful merchants, Cui Dayou was confident in his judgment. He believed this was the brightest future he could find, and indeed, even the most optimistic predictions paled in comparison to the reality of their success.

Thus, even after losing power in the Longxi Alliance, Cui Dayou still tirelessly managed Marshal Star Pavilion’s needs from the outside.

Then there was Du Sha, the Longzhou hero bound to Tang Luo through a disaster of flooding, driven initially by righteousness and loyalty.

To outsiders, Du Sha, awakened to the Stone Heart Bloodline, might seem cold and aloof. Yet those who truly knew him understood the tender and kind heart hidden beneath the invincible facade of his bloodline.

Though not inclined toward words, he cared for the disciples of Marshal Star Pavilion as if they were his own family.

And those warriors who sensed this responded with their entire lives.

Some disciples of Marshal Star Pavilion even obstinately believed this was the pavilion’s best possible state, wishing that Lord Tang Luo would remain a hands-off figure so Du Sha could continue leading them forever.

This kind of heartfelt admiration was perilous; a minor moral failing could lead to catastrophic mistakes or envy from above.

But he was Du Sha. As in every family, the true shaper of a son’s image of his father is the mother, not the father himself.

A woman who reveres a man will present him to her child as a hero.

If she denigrates him, the man becomes a coward in the child’s eyes.

From a small family to a large organization, the highest leader’s image is always created by those closest to them.

This image often becomes a lasting influence, shaping thoughts and actions over a lifetime.

Why did Marshal Star Pavilion’s warriors hold Tang Luo in such high esteem?

Because Cui Dayou and Du Sha respected Tang Luo. When these two consistently portrayed a lofty and majestic image, that image would inevitably take root in their minds.

Thus, even though Tang Luo had been absent from Red Cloud for an extended time, his commands could still reach all levels with perfect efficiency.

This was the result of the concerted efforts of Cui Dayou and Du Sha, rather than any inherent strength of Tang Luo.

After all, Marshal Star Pavilion had long since adapted—combat formations, sparring drills, martial arts classes, family-building.

Marshal Star Pavilion operated like clockwork within its complete cyclical system. As the first batch of its disciples matured, Du Sha could increasingly delegate tasks, gaining more time for self-reflection.

Now, the greatest challenge before Du Sha was battling the power of his bloodline.

The Stone Heart Bloodline’s rank was not high largely because it heavily influenced one’s Dao Heart; particularly with deeper research into the bloodline, it would strip away human emotions.

Tang Luo had warned multiple times that if Du Sha continued delving into it, he might end up becoming an emotionless "Stone Buddha."

But warnings were just that—a true cultivator ceasing their pursuit of mastery defied human nature.

Stubborn Du Sha ignored Tang Luo’s advice and pressed forward with relentless devotion.

In the past, Du Sha’s pursuit focused solely on himself. Now, as the First Star General of Marshal Star Pavilion, he spent more time studying how to mobilize collective power.

Apart from fortifying his mortal squads into war machines with the Crystal Iron Puppet, he researched numerous secret techniques to shield his team members.

Performing such operations in one go required pushing one’s spirit and mental strength to the limits, resulting in exhaustion within moments.

From a practical perspective, it would be more effective for him to act directly. For any other cultivator of comparable level, this low return on investment would prompt rational abandonment of the research.

But Du Sha was extraordinarily obstinate—rather than ceasing due to poor returns, he doubled his investment in research.

If his spirit lacked resilience, he cultivated soul-strengthening techniques; if his mental power lacked depth and breadth, he used pressure-training techniques to push its extreme limits.

Determined to encase all his squads in Crystal Iron Puppets, Du Sha’s control grew sharper by the day. In the faintest sense, he seemed to feel emotions long suppressed by the Stone Heart Bloodline reawakening.

Du Sha did not understand what this meant, nor did he dare to believe it might be an illusion from overexertion. But after the Red Cloud incident, his doubts dissipated entirely.

Cradling a mirror frame in both hands, Du Sha gazed at the reflection of a man with a faint smile on his lips and nodded, satisfied with his progress.

Tonight, he thought to himself, perhaps he could give his wife a genuine smile!

Just as the First Star General was about to set the mirror down, a powerful, overwhelming royal command descended upon him.

[The King of Luyang summons—under the Devil Lord’s banner, Du Sha of Spica must proceed to North Mountain for an audience]

The bronze frame of the mirror cracked under Du Sha’s grip. Bracing against the force of royal intent, he gently set the mirror down on the ground.

...

Dragon Continent Calendar, March 18th, Year 1796, evening

As Tang Luo entered the borders of Longzhou, he "saw" the unrest within his territory, piercing through Primary Qi with his Divine Eye and rushing through the vacuum pathways.

Covering ten thousand miles in mere moments, the overseer returned to Red Cloud and uncovered the source of the disturbance.

Marshal Star Pavilion’s First Star General Du Sha had vanished without a trace. His wife, Liu Chan, found only a bronze mirror with cracks in his meditation chamber.

Du Sha was known as profoundly reliable—but what defines reliability?

It’s the ability to account for every matter, ensure all tasks are completed, and provide answers to every question.

According to Liu Chan, she had been with Du Sha for thirty years and had never lost contact with him. Even when he traveled far, she always knew his destination and time of return.

But this time was different. She believed Du Sha was in danger.

Regarding this intuition from a woman, the municipal hall leaders scoffed dismissively. Yet Mi Bai treated it with utmost seriousness, immediately mobilizing the power of the Wind Media Department to search for Du Sha’s whereabouts.