The Ascension of Contracted Spirits

Chapter 438 - 205: Cut Grass Lieutenant General_2

Du Yuanjia took a shallow breath. His brow remained furrowed, yet his voice suddenly rose, reverberating powerfully throughout the entire hall:

"The most urgent matter at present is border defense."

"Grass Frog Country had obviously planned meticulously, including their participation in the Five-Campus League. It is highly likely that they had plotted from the very beginning to decapitate the army of the Blue Frog Kingdom’s young elites and assassinate the King... Only to seize the opportunity once the country is in chaos."

"They have succeeded halfway. The other half lies in that Canghai Pavilion is still intact, and some of the royal nobles in Blue Frog Kingdom have survived. They can rekindle the structure— these are fortunate events in the face of the misfortune."

"Indeed." Qingyi nodded and said: "I understand that many people fear war, especially the Patron who are newcomers and have not even been on the path of cultivation for a whole year. Their foundation is not steep, yet they have to face battles daily, which is incredibly suffocating."

"After our persuasion, both of the Princes agree—"

"Firstly, our two academies will not be split up. We will gather together and assist in border defense."

"Secondly, the Patrons who are in tier 1 and are too weak can stay back at the academy for further refinement. Those who have reached tier 2 and above, without a proper reason, should all go to the border to join the army and the battles. The Blue Frog Kingdom will provide maximum protection, medicines, and equipment... They will try their best to protect the people in the rear and prevent your families from plunging into the depth of suffering..."

"But... But it’s a war..."

An elder student from Tianyu Campus said in a restrained and panicked tone:

"To go to the battlefield, it means risking your life."

"The war continues for even a day, how many lives of people or beasts do my Tianyu Campus or Canghai Pavilion have to sacrifice to see the end of this war?"

In the crowded seats, countless people bowed their heads, silent.

Whether it’s the usual competitions, challenges, the trials of training, or hunting in the wild—these, compared to war, are simply child’s play.

When it comes to war, it escalates to national issues. Everyone becomes insignificant, hardly carrying any weight."

"Unless the Grass Frog Country King collapses and triggers similar chaos, or the Blue Frog Kingdom beats them with absolute power, it’s going to be a protracted war with no end in sight."

"At this point, we must forge ahead."

Gold Indestructible· Jin Xiaohong, the leader of the Ten Talents, stated in a powerful and determined tone,

"If we evade war, or surrender, can our country survive?"

"Besides the Grass Frogs, we have to beware of the Red Frogs as well. These are two formidable enemies."

"While they haven’t formally teamed up, let’s show the courage and fearlessness of the Blue Frogs. Let’s fight a few brilliant victories. Once the Grass Frog Country harbors reservations or even fears, we will have the possibility of returning to peaceful development."

"Jin is right! We must forge ahead!"

Mo · Tan Ziping, the Nineth of the Ten Talents, said with a warlike spirit:

"Since we are gathering to assist, with our mentors leading the team, our chances of survival are definitely higher than ordinary soldiers."

"Let’s fight! This battle cannot be avoided. To protect our families, to defend our country, we must deliver a devastating blow to the Grass Frog Country!"

...

Underneath the war, the teaching stops.

From the time the royal mission conveyed the decree, the two academies, Canghai Pavilion and Tianyu Campus, have been in constant turmoil.

Even with the approval and mobilization of the headmasters, mentors, and top students, there is diversity in such a vast campus.

There are elder students who have reached the second tier, fleeing from the academy overnight due to fear of war, never to return.

There are also assistants and mentors who, for various reasons—like families needing care, or advanced age—don’t dare face the war.

Luckily, these are a minority among the people.

Of course, where there are evaders, there are also those who are fearless.

There are many elderly mentors that even the headmasters are not willing to advise them to go to the frontlines of the battlefield.

Among these people, many are familiar to Ye Hanjun, like Jiang Yongnian who retires all the time, and Zhu Zixin, Elder Xu, Elder Shan whom he has met more than once...

In times of national crisis, they insistently sharpen their weapons, proudly don their armor, shouting "My sword isn’t old, I can still fight," insisting on following the main force to the border.

This group even includes Dong Xuan and Zhi Zhengqing.

Indeed they are disabled. One is old and in danger, the other seriously wounded, and both are impossible to directly confront the enemy.

Yet they believe that their experience and insights, in the end, are a little more comprehensive than the students’.

Even if they can’t join the battle, they can still be field commanders, providing as much help as possible.

In these tumultuous times, after roughly three days, the first elite troop is fully assembled.

Du Yuanjia personally leads the team, with Bian Haoran, Qin Quan, and Sun Lin, the three vice principals assisting. All four of them are conferred the military rank of Cut Grass General, serving as the top protectors for the whole team.

The rest, Nanhua Qiu, Qian Xiaochuan, Wang Lin, and Ji Yan, the four old star mentors, are all present.

Ye Hanjun, as a new star instructor, is also on the team. The five are granted the rank of Cut Grass Lieutenant General, second only to the Cut Grass Generals, holding extremely high authority.

Further, there are 200 third-tier mentors and 600 second-tier students from the South Campus.

Today, due to the urgency of the war, all borders are in a severe lack of manpower for defense. The Blue Frog Kingdom has been recruiting broadly from social communities, absorbing as many as possible. As a result, two-thirds of the previous freelance mercenaries have joined the army, whether for the sake of the country or for the sake of money.