In the lower realm, south of the Human Realm, at Yumenguan.
Towering siege ladders were erected, swarmed by countless skilled barbarian archers who rained sharp arrows upon Yumenguan, forcing the outnumbered Cangnan Iron Cavalry to passively defend under their shields. Their offensive had been completely suppressed by the barbarian army.
Furthermore, trebuchets appeared on the ground, continuously launching massive rocks towards the fortress. Though Yumenguan was known as the foremost southern stronghold of the Human Realm, the trebuchets had already carved deep craters into its walls, and the cries of dying soldiers within were incessant.
Even more dire were the figures of the Southern Wilderness Strongmen appearing on the ground. These strongmen hailed from the giant tribe deep within the Southern Wilderness, each standing over ten meters tall and possessing immense divine strength. After their entire tribe was subdued by the Barbarian King Meng Rong, these Southern Wilderness Strongmen became auxiliaries to the barbarian soldiers.
At this moment, colossal Southern Wilderness Strongmen, clad in armor crafted from ancient tree bark, were shouldering massive stone pillars and charging towards Yumenguan. They slammed into the fortress, shattering the pillars and leaving terrifying indentations on the once-sturdy city walls.
If this continued, Yumenguan would surely fall.
On the city walls, Chen Xi gritted her teeth, leaped into the air, and brought down a fist that covered the sky, pulverizing two Southern Wilderness Strongmen into a bloody pulp. She returned to the wall, hovering upside down, her beautiful eyes filled with anger. However, killing two strongmen did not alter the overall situation.
"Divine Archers!"
Chen Xi clenched her fist heavily and said in a deep voice, "Nock all your arrows and aim for the eyes of the Southern Wilderness Strongmen, shoot them all down!"
"Yes, Commander!"
On the city, archer cavalry soldiers of the Divine Archer Camp appeared. Longbows were drawn to their full extent, followed by a ceaseless "swish-swish-swish." The densely packed Southern Wilderness Strongmen below immediately retreated, many of them shot in the eyes, clutching their faces as blood flowed incessantly.
Additionally, hundreds of heavy cannons on the ramparts simultaneously unleashed fiery barrages, causing mushroom clouds to bloom amidst the barbarian ranks. After continuous firing, the cannon barrels glowed red-hot, and countless soldiers rushed onto the walls with buckets of water to cool them down, only to be mowed down by enemy archers moments later.
Whether it was the volleys of cannon fire or the coordinated archery, both only slightly delayed the enemy's assault.
Chen Xi's willow-leaf eyebrows furrowed. She knew that under the barbarians' fierce onslaught, Yumenguan could not hold for long. Once the outer walls of Yumenguan began to collapse, it would immediately be overrun and flattened by countless barbarian cavalry. At that point… even the Cangnan Iron Cavalry would be of no avail.
"Commander!"
A隨軍修士 (attendant cultivator) drifted in on the wind and said, "Commander Bei Ming Hai of the North Sea, leading the 100,000 Dinghai Army, has arrived!"
"Excellent!"
Chen Xi couldn't help but smile. She turned and glided down from the wall, seeing the countless flags of the Dinghai Army fluttering in the wind within the pass. Bei Ming Hai, now an eleventh-level Sword Cultivator, had arrived personally. He cupped his fist towards Chen Xi and said, "Am I late?"
"No."
Chen Xi cupped her fist in return and said, "Commander Bei Ming, please immediately lead the Dinghai Army to the ramparts and relieve the Cangnan Iron Cavalry of their defense."
"Ah?"
Bei Ming Hai was taken aback. "So soon? Does the Commander have a plan?"
"We advance to engage the enemy!"
Chen Xi took a deep breath and said, "My 80,000 Cangnan Iron Cavalry has also arrived. Combined with the original defenders of Yumenguan, there are now 100,000 Cangnan Iron Cavalry at Yumenguan. These barbarians have complete siege equipment, and Yumenguan cannot be defended for long. We must lead the Cangnan Iron Cavalry out of the city to attack."
Bei Ming Hai frowned. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
Chen Xi looked north and sneered, "Wen Hao, that coward, sits with 500,000 troops yet dares not advance south by a single soldier, watching our Cangnan Iron Cavalry fight alone. There's no other choice but to rely on ourselves. If my 100,000 Cangnan Iron Cavalry are wiped out, we'll depend on you."
"Understood."
Bei Ming Hai cupped his fist. "Yumenguan is entrusted to me. Commander Chen Xi, charge forth!"
…
Chen Xi walked towards the formation of the Cangnan Iron Cavalry within the pass. She raised her hand and said in a deep voice, "Soldiers, all mount up and prepare to charge out of the city with me. Our target is to destroy a large number of barbarian siege ladders, trebuchets, and other siege equipment, forcing the Barbarian King Meng Rong to lead his cavalry to engage us in open warfare on the plains south of the pass!"
"Yes, Commander!"
"Chen Yu."
Chen Xi looked at her cousin Chen Yu, frowned, and said, "You will lead 500 cavalry to Furong Prefecture. Take my personal letter to Wen Hao and tell him I demand he lead his army out of the Southern Wilderness Ancient Road and flank the Southern Wilderness cavalry, to support the battlefield situation of our Cangnan Iron Cavalry outside Yumenguan."
"Yes!"
Chen Yu took the letter and cupped his fist. "Commander, any other instructions?"
"No, hurry!"
"Yes!"
Chen Yu mounted his horse and led 500 cavalry north.
Chen Xi, on the other hand, pointed south and said, "All men, near the pass! Defenders on the walls, heed my command, prepare to open the gate!"
"Yes, Commander!"
As the Cangnan Iron Cavalry, wielding swords, sabers, and spears, lined up behind the five city gates of Yumenguan, Chen Xi gave the order. The five city gates opened simultaneously, and Chen Xi, leading the charge, rushed out of the city gates with her cavalry. Behind her, five streams of cavalry surged out.
Chaos erupted below the city. Chen Xi drew her sword, and with the true qi of a martial artist warming her sword, she unleashed brilliant sword energy, turning two siege ladders below the city into dust.
The other Cangnan Iron Cavalry also charged forward with all their might, causing the towering siege ladders to topple one after another.
"Target: trebuchet positions, charge!!"
Chen Xi continued to lead the charge. In an instant, thousands of Cangnan Iron Cavalry had charged out behind her, like a steel torrent that dispersed the barbarian soldiers' arrow formations and spear formations below the city. They then charged into the trebuchet formations as if no one were there!
On the city walls.
Bei Ming Hai, leading the elite soldiers of the Dinghai Army to take over defense, looked down at the battle below. He watched the Cangnan Iron Cavalry Commander leading the charge, and the torrent of Cangnan Iron Cavalry, his heart filled with emotion.
Chen Xi, Lin Ruo, and Han Ye Tang – these three young commanders were known as the foremost generals of the new generation of the Great Shang Dynasty. This was not without reason. The Chen Xi before him was decisive and capable. Once she made a strategic decision, she immediately put it into practice with almost no hesitation, catching the barbarian soldiers completely off guard!
Lin Ruo's characteristic was "steadiness." As the commander of the Rock Army, Lin Ruo's command was always commendable, and his prestige in the army was extremely high. He and Chen Xi were once known as the twin pillars of the dynasty.
As for Han Ye Tang, the commander of Shanhai Pass had fewer troops and fewer recorded achievements. However, every achievement was outstanding, and he was not much inferior to Chen Xi or Lin Ruo.
At this moment, the old general Bei Ming Hai narrowed his eyes, his face filled with the smile of a gratified elder. The previous generation of commanders had either grown old or died, but there were successors!
…
In the upper realm, Void Mountain.
Water vapor condensed in the mountains, and in a flash, a woman in a blue robe materialized. She was Li Ruoxi, the Palace Master of Jade Purity Palace in the Sea of Heavens, a fourteenth-level cultivator. Li Ruoxi looked at the white-robed woman descending the mountain with her sword, her brow furrowed. She felt quite uneasy. Why had she come?
And why was she so rude upon arrival? Was she here to avenge Lin Qing'er of Shenjian Mountain?
"..."
Li Ruoxi looked at the other party. Although she had appeared, she didn't know what to say for a moment.
At this moment, golden martial luck surged over a mountain peak. An old man, hands behind his back, descended slowly on a breeze. He was Wei Lingyu, a peak thirteenth-level martial artist. His eyes gleamed with a cold light, and he smiled faintly, "Lin Qing'er disregarded the safety of the upper realm and insisted on descending, thus suffering this calamity. We ask for your understanding."
"Oh?"
The white-robed woman smiled slightly and said, "I am also going to descend now. Does that mean I am disregarding the safety of the upper realm? Will you also make a move against me?"
"This..."
Li Ruoxi's brows tightened, and she felt even more uneasy. This master of the Eternal Secret Realm clearly had ill intentions. She frowned and said, "The Sea of Heavens borders Void Mountain. Now that a trace of undefeatable demonic heart has appeared in the lower realm, guarding Void Mountain is our inescapable duty. We ask for Lord Bing Lan's understanding."
"Release Lin Qing'er."
The white-robed woman lightly raised her sword, pointing the hilt towards the depths of a distant mountain wall, and said with a faint smile, "Either you release her willingly, or I will release her. The consequences will differ."
"Immortal Bing Lan!"
Wei Lingyu's body was filled with surging true qi, and wisps of powerful and dense fist intent rose continuously. He clasped his fists behind his back, exuding the demeanor of a martial arts grandmaster. His gaze was cold as he looked at the seemingly frail woman, frowning, "Do not push your luck. Do you think our Sea of Heavens is made of mud?"
Li Ruoxi drew her sword, her gaze calm. "Sect Master Liu, are you still going to hide? If the master of the Eternal Secret Realm makes a move, the three of us must join forces, or we will have no chance of winning."
From the green mountain, with a sigh, a thirteenth-level female sword immortal in a fiery red dress, Liu Qianling, emerged from the sword prohibition. Her beautiful eyes held a hint of helplessness. In truth, she did not want to come out, nor did she want to fight the woman holding the imitation Dragon Slaying Sword.
What was the point of fighting her?
The dignified master of the Eternal Secret Realm, possessing a divine seat, was a fourteenth-level cultivator in sword arts, spellcasting, and deduction. She was known as the most comprehensive fourteenth-level cultivator in the Three Realms, hence she was not considered a fourteenth-level sword cultivator. But was she truly not a fourteenth-level sword cultivator?
Of course she was. Moreover, she was the esteemed teacher of Saint of War Ding Muchen, and her swordsmanship and sword intent were even stronger than Ding Muchen's!
"Hmph..."
The white-robed woman smiled faintly and said, "As expected of your Sea of Heavens. You killed the Confucian Saint back then, and now you want to kill me? Very good, very good. Since you wish to fight, I shall oblige you."
As she spoke, she slowly pushed her thumb forward. With a "clink," her immortal sword was unsheathed by an inch. Upon that exposed inch of blade, an immensely powerful sword intent erupted, seemingly enveloping the entire Void Mountain!
In an instant, she erected a fourteenth-level sword prohibition. In the small world, Li Ruoxi, Wei Lingyu, and Liu Qianling all felt as if they were under the weight of Mount Tai, extremely uncomfortable.
The next moment, the white-robed woman took a step forward, and ice-blue orchids bloomed at her feet and all around her.
Her name was Bing Lan, and those orchids were her life-bound objects.
In the blink of an eye, Li Ruoxi, Wei Lingyu, and Liu Qianling were all rendered immobile.