Chapter 2954: A Universal Deity’s Coveting

Zu An was concerned. In a sense, Dong Zhuo was the one who had destroyed the Eastern Han Dynasty. He was a major boss in the earlier years of the Three Kingdoms, overpowering future powerhouses like Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan, Yuan Shu, and Lu Bu to the point where they couldn’t breathe.

It would have been one thing if it was just history’s Dong Zhuo; Zu An had been through so much in the Myriad Worlds that he wouldn’t be intimidated by just that. However, the universal deities were secretly moving against one another in this world. Dong Zhuo could be representing one of them.

So, Zu An quickly rushed toward the commander tent. He noticed several soldiers running around, with some moving rations and the others doing a stock count of their weaponry. The metallic clinks of armor and weapons filled the air everywhere.

Yet the atmosphere felt weirdly silent despite the ruckus. Back when Lu Zhi was still the chief commander, the soldiers were still motivated and disciplined, but the atmosphere was lighter, and soldiers could be heard chatting casually and laughing.

But now that the chief commander was being replaced, the soldiers reined themselves in. Unease was visible in their eyes.

The commander tent was well-lit. Distorted silhouettes of the commanders were projected on the tent walls like dancing demons.

Dong Zhuo was seated on the principal seat. Instead of armor, he wore a purple silk robe fastened by a jade buckle. It was fastened so tight that it created a mark on his protruding stomach. He resembled a brute stuffed inside a silk robe.

His thick neck was almost as wide as his head. His cheeks were dragged down by fat. He had high cheek bones, a protruding forehead, thick eyebrows, and a pair of sharp eyes that were narrowed like a ferocious tiger pretending to rest.

Zu An couldn’t help but think that this man really fit the stereotypical image of Dong Zhuo.

Over ten commanders were gathered in the tent. They were split into two groups, and they stood with their hands behind them. Even the arrogant Yuan Shu dared not speak carelessly here.

Dong Zhuo had arrived shortly after Lu Zhi was escorted out of the camp. The first thing he did was to gather all the commanders. His decisiveness hinted at possible ruthlessness. No one wanted to become his sacrificial lamb to build authority.

Given his current official position, Zu An was only qualified to stand at the very end of the procession, but it was a good thing since he could discreetly observe Dong Zhuo. He wanted to get a grasp of Dong Zhuo’s depths, but to his surprise, he was unable to gauge the latter’s strength.

It felt like Dong Zhuo was shrouded in enigma. Even though Zu An had psyched himself up for this, Dong Zhuo still seemed more formidable than he had expected.

“Is everyone here?” Dong Zhuo asked.

His voice wasn’t loud, but it was deep like a drumbeat against one’s chest. He spoke with a rough accent that came from this world’s northwest. The air in the tent seemed to jolt with every word he spoke.

He rested his hand on the chief commander’s table as he leaned forward and slowly scanned the commanders present in the tent. His gaze felt like an invisible knife scraping one’s face. The commanders instinctively lowered their heads to avoid their attention.

Dong Zhuo’s gaze paused on Zu An.

Zu An narrowed his eyes. He sensed subtle pressure on him, as if the air in the tent was converging on him. It wasn’t a valiant general’s bloodthirst or a powerful official’s air of dignity. No, it was something more fundamental.

Dong Zhuo’s gaze only paused briefly on Zu An before moving on. There wasn’t any change in his expression.

However, Zu An’s palm was already soaked in sweat. There was no mistake. He was too familiar with this sensation.

Dong Zhuo had tried to conceal it, but after everything he had been through, Zu An was extremely familiar with the aura of Annihilation. This aura was far more concentrated and elevated than that of Annihilation envoys like ‘Dorgon’.

Only a universal deity could tower over their envoys like this. Zu An wondered, Did the Annihilation Progenitor descend into this world, or is it just a projection of his consciousness?

“Lu Zhi was too restrained.” Dong Zhuo reclined into his chair, causing the chair to groan under his weight. “He has spent months fighting that demon Zhang Jiao in Guangzong, but he wasn’t able to make a breakthrough. The imperial court’s resources aren’t to be squandered like that.”

The commanders in the tent exchanged looks, but none dared to speak. Lu Zhi boasted considerable prestige within the military, but Dong Zhuo’s outburst was clearly an attempt to establish dominance.

Dong Zhuo didn’t mind that no one answered him. He continued, “I don’t intend to let this folly continue. I have my own way of doing things, and I’ll make it clear now. I expect all of you to obey my orders on the battlefield. Anyone who defies me...”

He paused to survey the room with an eerie smile before continuing, “They will be dealt with by military law.”

Those words were spoken softly, but the air in the room became heavier. The commanders present could already imagine their heads being lopped off their bodies.

Dong Zhuo did a roll call and asked several simple questions, such as their troop count, the location where their troops were stationed, their commanding trait, and the amount of rations they currently had.

He was an impatient person. He would ask the next question even before the questioned commander could finish his sentence, almost as if he were interrogating a prisoner. Those who hesitated to answer or gave vague responses were lectured on the spot. Many commanders were so nervous that they were drenched in cold sweat.

In the end, Zu An heard his name.

“Liu Bei.”

“Commander Liu Bei pays respect to General Dong.”

The tent fell silent. Dong Zhuo narrowed his eyes. This time, Zu An got a closer look. Something seemed to flicker across Dong Zhuo’s eyes, reminiscent of a glint reflected on the surface of water, or a deeper will surfacing beneath Dong Zhuo’s human skin.

You have successfully trolled Dong Zhuo for +999... +999... +999...

Zu An was astounded, not because of the other party’s fury but because of the name reflected in the Keyboard System. It only shows Dong Zhuo’s name. This is indeed a special world.

A surge of energy flowed across Zu An’s body, enveloping his entire being, surveying his every single bone and meridian. It felt as if he had been stripped naked in the middle of a snowfield, or an invisible blade was dissecting him from the inside. It didn’t hurt, and it wasn’t cold, but it felt like he was completely exposed to his very core. It made him feel even more uncomfortable than any pain had.

Is this a universal deity’s power? Zu An thought.

At least this wasn’t his first time facing a universal deity, and after acquiring Heaven Plunderer, he wasn’t completely helpless against them anymore. At the very least, he could protect himself from their surveillance.

Doubt flickered across Dong Zhuo’s eyes. He seemed dissatisfied with the information he had gathered. The energy only lingered for two seconds before receding.

Dong Zhuo nonchalantly assessed Zu An while flipping a bamboo scroll. “Liu Bei... You’re the descendant of Zhongshan’s King Jing?”

“Yes, general.”

“The imperial bloodline has spread far and wide after so many generations.” Dong Zhuo tossed the bamboo scroll back onto the table, causing a light thud. He looked at Zu An with contempt in his eyes.

Yuan Shu was overjoyed. He felt like he had found a soulmate. As someone who had descended from an illustrious noble lineage, there was nothing who annoyed him more than charlatans who deceived others under the pretext that they were imperial relatives.

Zu An maintained an impassive front. Dong Zhuo’s response was extremely tame, considering the deep grudge between them. Is he being restrained by this world’s rules as well?

“I heard you recently secured consecutive victories against the Yellow Turban Army. Your accomplishments are spreading far and wide in the northern regions now,” Dong Zhuo calmly said.

“I was lucky,” Zu An replied.

“Lucky indeed,” Dong Zhuo snorted. “I heard your two female commanders have displayed exceptional valiance in previous battles, contributing greatly to your victories. It’ll be a waste to let such talents remain under you. They shall follow me from this day on. I shall nurture them into outstanding generals.”

Those words astonished the commanders in the tent.

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