Chapter 543: Wound Cai Qiu, Then Kill Twenty More |
"Trickery, wasn't it supposed to be unusable?"
"Great Xia's method of suppressing Trickery, does it only target others?"
"We're finished!"
………………
Over a dozen weapons struck Yuan Cheng's body. The highest quality armor Great Xia could currently forge was only at the Ten-Thousand-Forged silver grade. Although the set Yuan Cheng wore was equipped with Flood Dragon scales and incorporated Thunder Kui skull material, Caiqiu's weapon-forging craftsmanship was no slouch either.
The key point was that over a dozen Sun Manifestation Level experts attacked simultaneously. While their combined force couldn't simply be calculated by adding everyone's strength together, having over a dozen body parts simultaneously subjected to immense pressure—how could mere Ten-Thousand-Forged silver armor possibly withstand it?
The upper body armor instantly shattered and exploded. The inner padding had long been crushed into fragments, revealing Yuan Cheng's burly physique in its entirety.
The skin membrane beneath Yuan Cheng's armor had already taken on a faint golden glow. Shockingly, the blades of over a dozen weapons were blocked by this skin membrane in nine out of ten cases. Only two long swords managed to cut through the membrane. Although they barely sliced into flesh, they only penetrated about half an inch, still far from reaching bone.
Seeing the faint golden glow emanating from Yuan Cheng's skin membrane, the Caiqiu group instantly understood—their opponent had employed Trickery methods.
Some quick-thinking, more alert individuals even directly cried out that they were finished.
"You're indeed finished! Sun Manifestation Level experts who can't levitate are just tigers without teeth. Over a hundred thousand troops have surrounded Jinyang. Today, you have no way to escape!"
Yuan Cheng had taken two sword strikes to his body, but his ferocious aura remained undiminished. After coldly roaring his rebuke, his Giant Axe once again swept through the air in a downward chop, trailing a dozens-of-meters-long cold edge. His already burly frame, combined with the faint golden glow radiating from his skin membrane, made him resemble a terrifying axe-wielding demon god, his menacing presence overwhelming the heavens.
Boom…………
The Giant Axe smashed down ferociously. Yuan Cheng's attack this time wasn't indiscriminate—he targeted the weakest among the dozen-plus Caiqiu members. The axe blade chopped down savagely, cleanly severing the man's right shoulder along with his entire arm.
"Ah…"
The enemy's scream didn't cause Yuan Cheng to pause for even a moment. He yanked the axe back and swept it horizontally, deflecting several surrounding enemies who tried to rescue their comrade. Tipping his head back, he roared at the sky, "What are you all still standing around for? Charge in through the main gate! Annihilate the enemy troops! Wipe out these Caiqiu dog bastards!"
"Kill them…………"
Initially, Yuan Cheng had led his troops in assaulting the South Gate. Only after completely securing the South Gate did he ascend the city wall. Seeing the group of Caiqiu Sun Manifestation Level experts wreaking havoc, he couldn't hold back and was the first to leap down from the wall.
The Rear Route Army actually had quite a few Sun Manifestation Level experts—a full eight of them—but compared to Caiqiu's numbers, they were stretched thin. However, on this battlefield, the outcome was no longer dictated by Sun Manifestation Level experts.
Of the allied forces from Jinshan and Wuchuan, only about twenty thousand had successfully entered the barbican. After several volleys of arrows rained down from the barbican's walls on all four sides, coupled with the intermittent screams and surrender cries coming from outside the city gates, their morale shattered completely. They had long since broken ranks, with many already discarding their weapons and kneeling to surrender.
Therefore, apart from sporadic soldier resistance within the barbican, the most intense fighting currently was among Caiqiu's hundred-plus Sun Manifestation Level experts, plus maybe Qin Feng and Shangguan Yang, and the eight Sun Manifestation Level experts from the two towns.
In a normal battle between two armies, over a hundred Sun Manifestation Level experts might not directly decide the outcome, but they would significantly tip the scales of victory. Yet here, they couldn't exert even half their effectiveness.
Most critically, their levitation ability had been stripped away.
Without the ability to levitate, even escape had become a distant hope!
Following Yuan Cheng's order, the Rear Route Army troops surrounding the South Gate outside surged into the barbican like a tidal wave, swiftly crushing the last pockets of resistance inside the South Gate. Then, the various army Battalion Commanders and Commanders-in-Chief formed spearhead teams, rapidly charging toward Yuan Cheng's location.
Their target was naturally those dozen-plus Sun Manifestation Level experts.
With thousands upon thousands of armored Warmth Realm soldiers charging at them, even Sun Manifestation Level experts felt their psychological pressure skyrocket instantly.
The middle-aged Caiqiu swordsman was the first to be entangled by Xia troops. Seeing the leader who thrust a sword at him possessed only around 50 Zong of strength, although somewhat panicked, he instinctively raised his sword to parry, knocking the man's long sword away. His blade then swept horizontally with lightning speed.
Clang…………
With 12 Jun of strength, the horizontal sweep of his blade naturally carried formidable force, sending that Xia soldier flying over a dozen meters and knocking down over ten surrounding soldiers.
"Only broke the armor, didn't kill him!"
However, instead of showing any hint of joy, that Caiqiu Sun Manifestation Level expert who had sent the Xia soldier flying wore an expression full of shock and astonishment.
12 Jun versus 50 Zong—a 24-fold difference. Although this was just a simple strength comparison, it represented a massive gap between the two individuals in every aspect, from skin membrane and flesh to bones. Under normal circumstances, his slash should have cleaved both armor and person in two.
Merely splitting the opponent's armor and sweeping him away—how was that possible?
Unless... that person wasn't actually at 50 Zong strength!
"Brothers, fight with everything you've got! The Department Chancellor made it clear before the battle: a Sun Manifestation Level expert with 3 Jun strength is worth 100 military merits; 5 Jun is 200; 10 Jun is 300. If you can capture one alive, the military merits double again. What are you all still waiting for?"
The one sent flying by that Caiqiu Sun Manifestation Level expert was none other than Xiang Liang, who had been promoted to Punishment Officer of Hongmen the year before last.
Great Xia's northern expedition aimed to unify the Southern Foothills territory, so of course all elites were deployed. District officials like Xiang Liang, who possessed some strength, had been temporarily transferred to the military.
Of course, people like Xiang Liang didn't want to miss this major battle in the first place. After all, opportunities to earn military merits were exceedingly rare.
Xiang Liang rubbed his aching arms. Seeing the soldiers charging forward under his encouragement, a flicker of fervor passed deep within his eyes. He immediately gritted his teeth, endured the pain, picked up his long sword, and charged forward again.
"This person's strength should be above 10 Jun. According to the rules set by the Department Chancellor, he's worth at least 300 military merits. Whether I can advance to the eighth-rank nobility depends on him!"
Five years ago, relying on his merit of infiltrating Dajue Temple, Xiang Liang not only successfully received the title of ninth-rank Mystic Plume viscount but also entered the view of Great Xia's upper echelons. He first served in the Penal Department, then was later appointed as Deputy Punishment Officer of Hongmen, finally securing a solid position within Great Xia's middle ranks.
Over these five years, thanks to the generous treatment for middle-ranking personnel and his own diligent, unceasing cultivation, Xiang Liang not only broke through to the peak of the Warmth Realm, increasing his strength all the way to 40 Zong, but also got promoted to Punishment Officer of Hongmen. While helping his father gain a firm foothold in the military, he also supported his younger siblings in their cultivation, managing the family affairs with great success. Without exaggeration, the Xiang Clan already had the bearing of a prominent noble family in Great Xia.
But human hearts are never satisfied. Although the Xiang Clan had risen, his own noble rank had never advanced further, remaining stuck at ninth-rank Mystic Plume viscount.
Now that he finally had a chance to earn military merits, he naturally had to risk his life.
Actively attacking a Sun Manifestation Level expert—based on what Xiang Liang understood from the Cultivation System Section of the Xia Rites about the differences between cultivation realms—under normal circumstances, he'd have to be out of his mind to do such a thing.
But right now, if he didn't go, others would!
When he was ennobled five years ago, his military merits totaled 500 points. Over these five years, he had accumulated over 300 more points. Now, he was less than 200 points away from advancing to the eighth-rank Crimson Sky viscount.
This Caiqiu Sun Manifestation Level expert before him was worth 300 military merits. The temptation for him was immense.
Whoosh…………
Countless thoughts raced through Xiang Liang's mind, but his hands moved without the slightest delay. He was almost among the first batch to charge forward alongside everyone.
And Xiang Liang's situation was merely one microcosm of the battlefield.
He wanted military merits. From the various army Commanders-in-Chief at the top, to the Battalion Commanders in the middle, down to the most ordinary Team leaders and soldiers in the Xia army—who didn't want military merits?
Fortunately, the Rear Route Army outside the South Gate was too numerous; tens of thousands couldn't all enter the barbican at once. Only the most elite spearhead teams had gotten in.
Similarly, on the other three sides of Jinyang City, the Right Route Army led by Yuwen Tao, the Central Route Army led by Luo Yuan, and Li Yangtian's forces that had merged with the Xia army midway—all three armies dispatched several thousand elites each. Some descended from the city walls, others charged in through smaller gates, instantly filling the barbican.
Sun Manifestation Level experts who couldn't levitate—even if there were a thousand, not just a hundred—couldn't cause much of a stir now.
The Caiqiu group could initially resist somewhat relying on their strength. But as Xia troops numbers became overwhelming and they achieved few kills, casualties quickly appeared among them. Their fighting space kept getting compressed, gradually shrinking toward the very center of the barbican, concentrated in an area less than a hundred meters in radius.
Great Xia didn't only have ordinary soldiers. Over thirty Sun Manifestation Level experts—Yuwen Tao, Yuan Cheng, Luo Yuan, Xiang Fuhai, Mu Longhe, Xu Ning, Xu An, Hong Tian, Hong Guang... and others—were all present as well.
Great Xia's Sun Manifestation Level experts might be individually weaker than Caiqiu's, but the problem was they had Sacred Marks and Martial Arts enhancements. More crucially, their Trickery methods hadn't been suppressed. Thus, with the army's coordination, it was no surprise they pushed the Caiqiu group into steady retreat.
"Fang Bo, Little Fang Bo, and the honorable sirs? Weren't they outside the city the whole time? Why aren't they coming to save us?"
"Fang Bo won't abandon us! Brothers, hold on!"
………………
Feudal Towns were still Feudal Towns after all; their cohesion was indeed stronger than ordinary camps. Although over a hundred Sun Manifestation Level experts had been reduced to just over seventy, they still showed no intention of surrendering.
Cai Qianshan had yet to appear. Some were growing anxious, but the smarter ones didn't recklessly cry for help. They just wore increasingly grim expressions, clearly having sensed something.
"All Wuchuan personnel, drop your weapons and surrender!"
"Jinshan, surrender!"
But eventually, someone did call for surrender first.
It was Qin Feng and Shangguan Yang.
Their clothes were now tattered and torn, bearing no trace of their former lordly demeanor. Their appearance was utterly wretched. When they finally shouted their surrender, their faces were full of bitterness.
Only at this moment did they truly recognize that Great Xia's unification of the Southern Foothills was an established fact. They also truly accepted that the town legacies of Jinshan and Wuchuan had been completely extinguished.
Thud…………
"Surrender? After my Caiqiu has sacrificed so many lives, you think you can just surrender now?"
However, the moment Qin Feng's words fell, a sword tip suddenly descended from above, plunging straight into the crown of his head.
Not just Qin Feng—another green spear tip also shot down directly toward where Shangguan Yang stood.
Clang…………
But the difference was, a long saber flew swiftly from afar, striking the spear tip and deflecting its trajectory, saving Shangguan Yang beneath it.
"Break the rules, then we'll kill twenty more of you!"
Xia Hong's clear, cold voice came from above. Below, Yuwen Tao and the others immediately sprang into action upon hearing it, continuing to compress the Caiqiu group's space. They quickly joined forces to kill several more, showing no signs of stopping. Clearly, they intended to follow Xia Hong's command—they wouldn't cease until twenty were slain.
The ones who struck to kill Qin Feng and Shangguan Yang were Cai Qiuyang and Zhu Huorong, who were respectively tasked with watching them. The difference was, Cai Qiuyang succeeded, while Zhu Huorong was thwarted by the Dragon Sparrow Saber Xia Hong threw over, failing to finish off Shangguan Yang.
When the two heard Xia Hong's voice, their expressions instantly darkened considerably. Subsequently, seeing the Xia army kill several more Sun Manifestation Level experts in succession, their faces naturally became extremely ugly.
But no matter how ugly, they didn't continue to attack. They merely hovered in mid-air, turning their heads to watch Xia Hong and his group slowly flying over from above the South Gate, along with Cai Qianshan and six others not far from Xia Hong.
"Lord Xia, this Fang Bo admits defeat this time. Let them go!"
Cai Qianshan's single sentence instantly brought the battlefield to a standstill.
The few dozen Caiqiu Sun Manifestation Level experts who had been fighting desperately froze, their pupils filled with shock. They all looked up at Cai Qianshan in the sky, their faces full of disbelief.
Yuwen Tao, Yuan Cheng, Luo Yuan, and the other Great Xia higher-ups, along with all the Xia army soldiers fighting within the barbican, had eyes brimming with excitement. Their already flushed faces gained additional tinges of fervor.
Cai Qianshan's yielding represented Caiqiu's yielding.
That arrogant Feudal Town could only yield before Great Xia!
All Xia army soldiers at this moment wanted to roar at the sky, venting all their impassioned emotions.
But they didn't do so. Instead, they all focused their gazes on Lord Leader Xia Hong hovering in mid-air, awaiting his command.
'Know when to stop while ahead'—these four words spontaneously arose in the minds of the smarter Xia soldiers.
Great Xia's unification of the Southern Foothills territory was already an indisputable fact.
Making Caiqiu bow and yield had already proven Great Xia's strength. Continuing to press relentlessly served little purpose.
"What are you all standing around for? I just made it very clear—kill twenty more. Are your ears all deaf?"
Huh?
Xia Hong's voice descended, causing the Xia soldiers' expressions to momentarily stiffen.
But only for an instant.
"The Lord Leader commands, continue killing! What are you all standing there stupidly for!"
Yuwen Tao was the first to react. He had clearly discerned Xia Hong's intent. His broadsword shot through the air, heading straight for the person nearest to him.
He had already been fighting at the forefront. The Caiqiu group, their minds in disarray due to Fang Bo Cai Qianshan's yielding, couldn't react in time to his sudden explosive assault.
The person directly in his path, in a panic, tried to raise his sword to block. But before he could even draw his blade, Yuwen Tao's broadsword had already smashed into the crown of his head.
Thump…………
A Sun Manifestation Level expert's strength lay in their bones. Yuwen Tao's strike directly blasted away the skin membrane and flesh from the man's skull, smashing a large hole into his cranial bone.
With his skull shattered and half his body embedded in the ground, the man died instantly without uttering a single scream.
"Kill!"
"The Lord Leader orders, keep killing."
"The Lord Leader is letting us continue earning military merits!"
"Charge!"
………………
Yuwen Tao's fierce and sudden attack was just the beginning. Yuan Cheng, Luo Yuan, Xiang Fuhai, Mu Longhe, and the other Sun Manifestation Level experts quickly followed suit.
The remaining soldiers needed no urging. Although their individual strength was lacking, they had numbers on their side. They took turns advancing, continuously wearing down the Caiqiu Sun Manifestation Level experts' strength and compressing their space. Some top-tier Warmth Realm experts lurked in the shadows like venomous snakes, seizing opportunities to deliver a fatal blow to heavily wounded Sun Manifestation Level experts.
The already dwindling Caiqiu group lost another batch in moments.
In mid-air, Cai Qianshan watched quietly the entire time. But the fists within his sleeves had long been clenched so tightly they drew blood. When he turned to look at Xia Hong, the chilling intent deep within his pupils grew increasingly pronounced.