Chapter 35: March of Crimson Might

The morning air was sharp with the scent of steel and bloodroot incense. Disciples bustled through the Crimson Blood Sect, preparing for the grand march toward Jade Spring Fortress. The fortress, once a neutral ground for rogue cultivators and wandering merchants, had recently fallen under the control of a minor righteous sect—Heavenly Jade Pavilion. They'd erected banners claiming the area for their own, and more importantly, blocked several merchant routes that Jin Zhen had silently brought under his control.

Standing atop the Sect's crimson dais, Jin Zhen surveyed the army forming before him. Three hundred puppets stood in silent rows, each shimmering with eerie crimson light. Eighty inner disciples in matching armor formed the vanguard, while twenty elite crimson puppets—each nearly as powerful as a Foundation Establishment cultivator—hovered slightly off the ground, bound to his will.

At his side stood his most trusted inner circle—Elder Hei, silent as always; Elder Yuan, the master of logistics and external relations; and Yu Lan, the Alchemy Peak's genius who had recently been promoted to Crimson Pill Emissary after producing her fifth batch of Tier-4 spirit recovery pills.

"Today," Jin Zhen began, his voice enhanced with qi, "we claim what is ours. Let the world see that the Crimson Blood Sect does not ask for permission."

His words rolled like thunder across the square. Cheers erupted, some fanatic, others simply in awe. He raised a hand, and silence returned as swiftly as it had vanished.

With a nod, he activated the [Puppet Command Network], now a passive linked to every artificial soldier in his army. Lines of will stretched from him to the furthest puppet with seamless control.

A crimson portal opened at the gates of the sect, shimmering with layered formations that linked directly to a clearing near the fortress. His researchers had created a localized teleportation field using a rare scroll Jin Zhen had acquired through the system.

As the army began to move through the gate, Jin Zhen called up his system.

—

[SP: 3,500]

[Spirit Stones: 21,000]

[Available Actions:]

Enhance Elite Puppet Core (Advanced AI): 800 SP

Create Specialized Crimson Siege Puppet: 1,500 SP

Unlock Technique Upgrade Slot (1x): 2,000 SP

Enhance Spiritual Domain: 2,500 SP

—

He selected "Create Specialized Crimson Siege Puppet."

The system hummed.

[SP -1,500 | Crimson Siege Puppet Created]

[New Unit: "Bloodshatter Mammoth" — Tier: High Foundation | Equipped with Soulflame Cannon, Crimson Armor, Auto-Regen Array]

At the rear of the formation, crimson light flared as a massive four-legged construct rose from summoning smoke. It looked like a war elephant sculpted in obsidian and bloodsteel, its glowing eyes scanning the terrain.

Jin Zhen smirked. "Let's see how your fortress holds."

— — —

By midday, the Crimson Blood Sect army stood a mile from Jade Spring Fortress. Scouts had reported only moderate defenses—fifty cultivators, including four in Core Formation, and a host of mercenaries.

"Too easy," Elder Hei whispered.

"Exactly," Jin Zhen said. "That's the problem."

He raised a hand.

From the skies descended two more puppets—winged horrors made in the image of vultures, each bearing soul-bombs in their talons.

The fortress sent out flares, activating its protective barrier just as the sky darkened.

"Formation!" shouted an elder from the Heavenly Jade Pavilion. A dome of light surged around the structure.

Jin Zhen whispered, "Break it."

The Bloodshatter Mammoth stomped forward. Its cannon rotated once before firing a bolt of soulflame at the barrier. The impact sent shockwaves across the valley. The dome flared and shimmered, but held.

He turned to Elder Yuan. "Launch."

The inner disciples stepped forward, forming seals. Rows of puppets surged forward, flooding the slope.

The vulture puppets dropped their payload—explosive qi grenades forged in the alchemical labs.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

Cracks spread across the barrier.

Then Jin Zhen himself stepped forward, holding the Crimson Chain Execution Technique in his palm.

He formed a single long chain of blood qi that writhed like a serpent.

"Open."

He lashed it forward, and the barrier broke like glass.

Chaos erupted inside the fortress. Enemy cultivators scrambled to defend, but Jin Zhen's elite puppets moved like shadows, cutting down the defenders one by one. Yu Lan personally led a strike team toward the alchemical vault.

Three enemy elders confronted Jin Zhen directly.

"You've gone too far, devil!" one cried.

He responded by flicking his wrist.

Crimson chains burst from the ground, impaling two. The third tried to flee, but was caught by Elder Hei's shadow technique—his throat sliced before he could cry out.

By nightfall, the fortress was his.

—

[System Notification: Jade Spring Fortress Conquered]

[Reputation +300 | Fear +120 | Spirit Stones Acquired: +6,000]

[Bonus Reward: Artifact Chest — "Twilight Jade Compass" (Rare)]

[SP Gained: +2,500]

—

Jin Zhen stood on the tower of the now-defeated sect and looked down at the kneeling survivors.

"You have two choices. Serve, or perish."

Nearly all chose service.

He turned to Yu Lan. "Convert this place. Establish a Crimson Branch Sect. Make it self-sufficient."

"Yes, Sect Master."

He gazed at the moon and opened his interface again.

—

[Status]

Name: Jin Zhen

Realm: Peak Core Formation

SP: 4,500

Assets: 27,000 Spirit Stones

Reputation: "Crimson Devil" (Infamy Rising)

Allied Forces: 1 Branch Sect, 1 Trade Caravan, 300+ Puppets

—

In the shadows of the nearby ridge, a pair of robed figures watched the fortress burn under crimson light.

"The devil rises quickly," one said.

"We must inform the Pavilion."

They disappeared, unaware that a small crimson spider puppet had already tagged them with soul-ink.

Jin Zhen watched through its eyes, a lazy smile on his lips.

"Let them come."