Chen Tian stood on the city wall, gazing at the dilapidated fortifications. The people on the wall, having endured this great battle, finally found respite. They all sat along the ramparts. Chen Tian spoke calmly, "Those in charge here, please come to the meeting room for a discussion. I am here to assist."
As Chen Tian finished speaking, his figure vanished. The Northern Fortress, and behind it, the town. The town was neither large nor small. In the central house of the town, Chen Tian sat in the main seat. On either side of a table sat warriors and cultivators.
Chen Tian asked with concern, "What is the current situation?"
Having just arrived, Chen Tian naturally needed to understand the circumstances. A young man in armor on his left stepped forward and respectfully reported, "Sir, the current situation is that only this fortress remains. All eight fortresses ahead have been destroyed, and the human warriors and cultivators of three cities have all been assimilated."
"This is the last fortress. If we cannot defend it, they will reach the capital directly, unimpeded."
After the young man finished his report, he returned to his original position. The cultivators present all held positions of importance, yet none dared to underestimate Chen Tian. Merely by the way he unleashed his attack to obliterate the enemy army earlier, they were already deeply grateful.
Had Chen Tian not appeared in time, it was questionable whether this fortress could have held. How could they blame him? Moreover, he was sent by that general, so they naturally showed him utmost respect.
Chen Tian nodded, not speaking further, then asked, "The three cities combined, how many people were there?"
"Sir, there were close to ten thousand people in total. Including the creatures, the enemy army exceeded twenty thousand. The army that attacked just now were likely ordinary human infected. Behind them, there should be two more armies: one of infected warriors and one of infected beings, as ordinary humans are mere dust in their eyes."
Chen Tian looked to his right and inquired, "How is the situation in your immortal cultivation world?"
"How would you know about the situation in our immortal cultivation world, Your Excellency?"
On the left was the faction of human warriors, and on the right, the faction of the immortal cultivation world. Only a sparse five individuals stood on the right. The speaker was the one in the foremost position. Chen Tian did not answer but instead asked, "How is the immortal realm? Has the Evil Spirit race breached it?"
"We are unsure. Ever since the immortal cultivation world encountered trouble, our contact with the sects has been severed. The passage back is now sealed. Those friends who were on missions outside are now here in the fortress resisting the invasion."
Jian Feng's face was filled with sorrow. They had lost too many companions and disciples in this battle. But there was nothing they could do; they could not return to the immortal cultivation world.
"It is good that the immortal cultivation world is alright."
Chen Tian sighed from the depths of his heart. He needed to quickly resolve matters in Huaxia and the immortal realm, then return to the game. With his current strength, Chen Tian felt he was not yet strong enough to annihilate the Evil Spirit race alone; he needed even greater power.
"Sir, what are our next steps? According to the pattern of their attacks these past few days, the next wave should arrive soon."
"Observe and wait. For the next attack, have your subordinates rest, and by the way, check the remaining supplies. The rest is up to me."
Chen Tian looked towards the door, his spirit soaring. *Dong, dong, dong.* The young general exclaimed in shock, "How is this possible? It's barely been any time, and the next battle is already here?"
Based on the previous patterns, an attack would usually occur several hours later. Why were they attacking so quickly? Something was wrong, very wrong.
A smile played on Chen Tian's lips, "As expected, an Evil General. However, his aura is stronger than that of a high-grade Evil General. Let me see what you are capable of."
Chen Tian's figure flickered, and the seat was instantly empty. If no one were watching, one might have thought the seat had always been vacant.
"Such speed and such a technique! Who exactly is this person?"
Jian Feng stared at the empty seat. He didn't sense any immortal cultivation aura from Chen Tian, yet the technique he just displayed bore the semblance of immortal cultivation. What was going on? He wasn't a cultivator, yet he could use immortal arts.
Little did Jian Feng know, Chen Tian practiced both martial arts and immortal cultivation, fusing two different systems from the Divine Spirit Realm and the immortal cultivation world. Jian Feng naturally couldn't detect Chen Tian's aura, let alone that Chen Tian possessed the ability to conceal himself. Even those two levels higher than Chen Tian couldn't see through him, let alone Jian Feng.
Meanwhile, on the city wall, soldiers stood in neat rows. The alarm blared, and they straightened up. The next second, Chen Tian appeared on the city wall, looking down at the pitch-black figures below. They were all humans infected and assimilated by the evil spirit aura, but these individuals possessed a trace of formidable power.
These were originally warriors, infected and assimilated by the evil spirit energy, becoming puppet beasts. Their strength from life was preserved, but their reason was erased. Chen Tian opened his eyes and looked to the other side, his gaze seeming to collide with something.
A black beam of light streaked across the sky and arrived before Chen Tian's section of the wall. The intruder was an Evil General. Chen Tian said coldly, "No wonder it felt familiar. It's you."
"Long time no see, Divine Lord."
"Long time no see, Xie Kai. It seems you have only recently broken free from your seal. They spoke of a high-grade Evil General, and it seems that was you."
"Hmph, there's no need for further words. Today, I will slay you, and then this world will be ours."
"Battle!"
Chen Tian gazed at the figure he knew all too well. Xie Kai, an Evil General who invaded the Divine Spirit Realm thousands of years ago and was defeated by Chen Tian in less than half a move. Now, Xie Kai encountered Chen Tian and sought to defeat him to wash away his shame. Chen Tian's back unfurled white and blue wings, and with his wings spread, he soared towards the heavens.
Xie Kai dared not be negligent. His full power erupted, clad in black armor. His innate armor: the Evil Spirit Armor.
Xie Kai's name was also derived from his innate armor. Clad in armor, Xie Kai lunged towards Chen Tian with his claws.
Chen Tian swung his fists. His fists collided with Xie Kai's claws, and both were pushed back. Chen Tian retreated one step, while Xie Kai was forced back three. Xie Kai exclaimed in shock, "Impossible! You cannot have recovered to this extent! By all accounts, you haven't even regained half your strength, how can you fight me?"
"The me of the past is the past. The me of today is the present. Thousands of years ago, I could defeat you. It is the same now."
"Arrogant! You haven't fully recovered, you court death!"
Xie Kai, provoked by the mention of his defeat thousands of years ago, lost control of his emotions. His claws became even sharper. He unleashed four or five strikes in rapid succession, countless claw marks attacking Chen Tian. Chen Tian stepped forward, moving as if strolling, and dodged all the attacks.
With each step Chen Tian took, he drew closer to Xie Kai. Seeing his attacks ineffective, Xie Kai clenched his fists tightly and thrust them forward. With a rumble, the entire sky shook. Xie Kai's attack, one punch, shattered the heavens, the ground trembled, and cracks appeared in the sky.
Chen Tian watched as the approaching Xie Kai extended his palm. With a bang, his palm met Xie Kai's fist. Chen Tian restrained Xie Kai's punch and said dismissively, "Compared to thousands of years ago, you have not grown at all."