"Su Yan! What's going on? Didn't I tell you to dispatch the mortal army? Why are so many cultivators here?" Han Shi descended with Han Li and Meng Lu. As their flying skiff landed, it rapidly shrank and then drifted into Han Shi's hand like a piece of paper, a sight that made the surrounding cultivators' eyes gleam with envy.
"Master, they are all acting out of good intentions, thinking of using this opportunity to eliminate the Human race directly," Su Yan said with a cupped fist.
"Moreover, with these two covering for us, it will be much easier for us to act in the future. You two, why haven't you paid your respects to Master?!"
"Greetings, Master. From now on, I belong to Master. Please take good care of me." Under the astonished gazes of Su Yan and Elder Xiao, He Lin knelt before Han Shi, her words laced with a hint of seduction.
"Hmph!" A cold snort echoed from behind Han Shi. Meng Lu's face was as frigid as ice, but she merely expressed her inner displeasure without intervening.
Han Shi was the most promising prodigy among all the Holy Sons of the Meng Tian Sect, which was why his father had spared no effort in having her accompany Han Shi. Over time, she had gradually become one of Han Shi's followers.
"Xiao Yuan pays his respects to Master!" Compared to Su Yan and He Lin, Elder Xiao was undoubtedly more composed.
"Mm, let those mortals begin. Since you've all brought cultivators, then make sure those cultivators are prepared. Destroying a race is not that simple," Han Shi said to Xiao Yuan, his gaze indifferent.
To him, both He Lin and Xiao Yuan were merely superficial additions; they were far from earning his trust, especially when this matter involved the abhorrent act of refining blood pills.
"Yes, I will arrange it immediately." Xiao Yuan cupped his fist, then flicked his hand, sending a strand of true essence shooting into the sky. The true essence then exploded like fireworks, forming the shape of a flower.
"Heh, I really don't understand your Kui Mei race. Such a vast tribe, yet you use a flower as your totem," Han Shi remarked with a hint of disdain, looking at the alluring flower in the sky.
"Master, legend has it that our Kui Mei race was originally born from this sea of flowers, so this totem has been passed down from ancient times. It's not something we can change," Su Yan replied awkwardly to Han Shi. After all, among the thirteen races in the world, the Kui Mei race's totem was the most peculiar, lacking the imposing aura of the other races.
For instance, the Meng Tian race was said to have originated from the chaos before the world was fully formed. They then miraculously survived the process of creating the heavens and earth. To show their reverence for the creation of the world, their totem was a colossal axe of creation. Even to this day, axe-type weapons remained the mainstream for the Meng Tian race.
Xiao Yuan's signal was like a stone thrown into a lake. The military camp, which had been stationed tens of miles away, was instantly engulfed in dust as bugle calls sounded.
The scene of thirty million mortal soldiers advancing together was like a tidal wave of a tsunami, surging towards the border of the Tian Yu Kingdom.
"Marshal, what do those cultivators from the Bei Kui Sect intend to do this time? Annihilate the Human race? Then there's no need for our three great empires to expend so much effort, is there? Couldn't they have easily resolved it with more of their high-flying cultivators?"
A troop of Snow Wolf Riders moved silently at the very front of the entire army. They were from the Snow Wolf Empire, one of the three great empires in the northern region of the Bei Kui race. Because their empire produced abundant snow wolves and their Snow Wolf Cavalry was renowned throughout the northern region, they named their nation after the snow wolf when it was founded.
"How can I know the thoughts of those big shots?" The Marshal of the Snow Wolf Empire was a Kui Mei race member over three meters tall. His muscular upper body was exposed to the cold air, and a massive saber was strapped to his back.
He was the supreme commander of the Snow Wolf Empire on this expedition, holding the lives of ten million soldiers in his hands: Xiao Han. Walking alongside him was his brother and strategist, Xiao He.
"Indeed. However, Marshal, don't you think this is the best opportunity for us to widen the gap with the other two empires?"
"Although we have soldiers from subordinate kingdoms filling the ranks, with such a vast number, even our Snow Wolf Empire has mobilized five million elite soldiers. The number of soldiers from other empires will surely not be small."
Xiao He narrowed his eyes, a cold smile playing on his lips.
"I understand what you mean. You want them to sacrifice themselves while we reap the rewards from behind? But we have a full million Snow Wolf Knights accompanying us this time. I doubt those cultivators will allow our knights to remain in the rear."
The Snow Wolf Knights were the greatest reliance of the Snow Wolf Empire in their rivalry with the other two empires. There were just over three million in the entire empire, and each Snow Wolf Knight could be considered an elite among elites within the entire empire.
"Marshal, we have brought a million Snow Wolf Knights, that's true, but their elite forces have also come in considerable numbers. If we can trade these million Snow Wolf Knights for an equivalent number of their elites plus four million elite troops, wouldn't the gap widen instantly?"
Xiao He turned his head and looked towards the churning clouds ahead, his eyes filled with an icy glint.
"Little He, those are the Flowing Oriole Knights from the Flowing Oriole Empire. What? You want to drag them down too?" Xiao Han asked his strategist, who had been so cold-blooded recently.
Flowing Orioles were a type of flying beast capable of reaching altitudes of a thousand meters. Apart from their slightly slower speed, they were the perfect mounts in the eyes of their imperial soldiers.
Unfortunately, this mount had always been under the control of the Flowing Oriole Empire's royal family.
"Heh, this time the Bei Kui Sect has mobilized a million cultivators. The number and strength of these cultivators are unprecedented. Therefore, I estimate that all the Human cultivators will be involved this time."
"Once all Human cultivators are involved, the Flowing Oriole Knights' only advantage in flight will be greatly diminished."
Xiao He said, a sinister smile appearing on his lips, revealing how deeply he resented the Flowing Orioles.
"Hearing you say that, it does seem so. But, Little He, can't you let go of this hatred? You know, our Kui Mei race has always been open about love and relationships. For the sake of such a..."
"Marshal!"
Xiao He interrupted Xiao Han.
"I joined the army to serve you long ago and explained my reasons. If Marshal is afraid, I will leave."
"This… Alright, Little He, it's my fault. I apologize. Since you hate those Flowing Oriole Knights so much, I'll give you a chance to vent this time. This invasion of Tian Yu will be under your command."
Xiao Han's heart sank upon hearing Xiao He's icy words. The Snow Wolf Marshal, renowned throughout the northern region, was so doting towards his younger brother.
*Crack...*
*Screech...*
Lightning flashed across the sky. The Flowing Oriole Knights army flying ahead was like torn clouds. Countless Flowing Oriole Knights were struck by lightning, their charred remains, accompanied by wisps of black smoke and the pungent smell of roasted meat, falling from the sky like rain.
"What's going on? Is it an enemy attack?" Xiao Han exclaimed in alarm.
"I don't know. I don't see any enemy traces," Xiao He also said, his face changing drastically.
The Flowing Orioles were under attack, and the entire army formation was disrupted. Before they could react, they felt a surge of heat. Then they found themselves engulfed in flames.
"Don't you think these guys are very powerful? Look at them now. Remember their expressions," Sun Xiaoshan stood on a colossal sword ten thousand meters in the sky. Beside him, thirteen true disciples trembled.
"Sect Master, we were truly wrong. Please let us down." One of the true disciples looked at the mountains and rivers below, which were as small as the palm of his hand. He tightly gripped another disciple's arm, fearing that a single misstep would send him plummeting to his death.
In this world, constrained by the laws of this realm, cultivators at the Enlightenment Realm could at most fly at an altitude of one to two hundred meters. Even cultivators at the True Person Realm like Dongfang Dao could only hover below a thousand meters.
And now, what did they see? Their Sect Master, while carrying thirteen of them, could stand in the sky at an altitude of ten thousand meters. This immense power surpassed their understanding of cultivation realms.
"Are you sure you want to go down? You know, the flames below can kill even your most respected Dongfang Dao." Sun Xiaoshan was truly disappointed by their performance.
For the Human race to rise, apart from needing leaders with foresight, the most crucial element was a courageous heart that feared nothing. Without such a heart, even possessing immense power would be in vain.
Sun Xiaoshan had spent thirteen years in the Qing Yue Sect, from the outer sect to the inner sect, but he hadn't found such a person. Even Dongfang Dao, while possessing great vision and foresight beyond his predecessors, still harbored reservations about facing the entire world alone.
However, fortunately, this fellow had enough self-awareness and immediately yielded his position, supporting Sun Xiaoshan.
"No… No way?"
Sun Xiaoshan's words startled them. They had assumed the flames below were ordinary and posed no threat to them as cultivators.
Sun Xiaoshan shook his head and controlled the giant sword beneath his feet, accelerating downwards like lightning. This sudden descent caused the Enlightenment Realm true disciples to let out screams of fear.
*Boom...*
*Crack...*
The flying sword tore through the flock of Flowing Orioles. Before everyone's astonished eyes, Ye Yun's true essence transformed into tens of thousands of half-meter-long slender swords, acting like a grinder over ten thousand meters in diameter, slaughtering all the Flowing Orioles and their riders.
"This… This is too terrifying…"
"Sect Master, what… what is his strength? Why are his skills so terrifying?"
"Flames covering a radius of a thousand li, how profound must one's true essence be to achieve this?"
...
Exclamations mingled with screams of agony. Endless blood splattered in the air, drop by drop falling onto their bodies and faces. By the time Sun Xiaoshan led them to a hilltop, they were covered in blood as if they had been drenched in it.
"Mm, now that's more like a true cultivator," Sun Xiaoshan said with a smile.
"You believe cultivators contend with the heavens for their destiny. But you fail to realize that the greatest struggle for cultivators is not with heaven or destiny, but with this." Sun Xiaoshan pointed to the ashes covering the mountains and the converging rivers of blood.
"Luck!"
All living beings survive by luck. It is something that transcends all laws and the Way of Heaven. For example, the clan destiny and national destiny that Ye Yun competed for in the Ten Directions Universe, or individual fortune, are all merely subsets of luck.
*Gag...*
Sun Xiaoshan's hopes for these useless disciples were destined to be dashed. The true disciples, having followed Ye Yun, had forgotten everything in their nervousness.
However, as soon as they stopped, their tension eased. The smell of blood filled their nostrils, and they saw bits of flesh stuck to their companions' hair. Half of them immediately vomited, while the rest were either slumped on the ground or staring blankly, their minds wandering.
Shaking his head in disappointment, Sun Xiaoshan's gaze shifted further afield. With a thought, he teleported hundreds of kilometers away. After several such instances, Sun Xiaoshan stopped in a vast, open wilderness.
"When did the Bei Kui Sect gain such courage, mobilizing a million elite cultivators at once to attack my Human race? Could they be aiming to annihilate us?" Sun Xiaoshan did not conceal his presence. He appeared directly in front of the million-strong slowly advancing cultivator army, effectively blocking their path.
"A Human?" Su Yan was taken aback. As the actual commander of this army, he and Xiao Yuan were at the forefront. As for He Lin, she had already entered the Holy Son's flying skiff, which was the greatest advantage a beautiful female cultivator could have.
"I didn't expect to encounter a Human cultivator in this desolate place. Su Yan, since he has delivered himself to our doorstep, there's no need to be polite," Han Shi's voice came from behind, tinged with excitement and a hint of exhaustion.
"As you command." Su Yan cupped his fist towards the rear.
"You are Su Yan? The Sect Master of the Bei Kui Sect?" Sun Xiaoshan was surprised, not expecting the leader of this army to be the Sect Master of the Bei Kui Sect himself.
"Since you know it is I, then being killed by me should be considered your honor," Su Yan said indifferently, looking at Sun Xiaoshan. Two fireballs, each the size of a fist, appeared in his hands, and under his control, they hurtled towards Sun Xiaoshan.
"Playing with fire in front of me? Don't you know I'm your ancestor when it comes to playing with fire?" Sun Xiaoshan chuckled at the two approaching fireballs. After all, the cultivation technique he practiced was the 'Primordial Fiery Heaven Art', a technique that could burn even the heavens. How could it be compared to the fire cultivators of this world?
*Whoosh...*
The two fireballs, carrying Su Yan's divine sense, struck Sun Xiaoshan forcefully. Without even looking, Su Yan was absolutely certain that the Human cultivator who dared to block his path was doomed.
"Everyone, continue to advance..." Su Yan, full of confidence, prepared to order the army to press on. However, after the smoke and flames dissipated, all his words caught in his throat.
"You… How are you still alive?"