Chapter 554: Melee
Chaos—everything had fallen into chaos.
The order that had existed during the Duel of Generals completely collapsed at this moment, and the entire battlefield plunged into disorder.
Because the Mechanism Princess Shuang Ling fully blocked Xiang Yue’s charge, many Nascent Soul–level cultivators were freed as a result. One after another, they took the lead and attacked the camp’s city walls.
The Blood Shadow Cave Master rejoined the battle. With a wave of his hand, he released more than a hundred crimson streaks.
The streaks pierced through the lightning net, though only half remained. When they struck the city wall, blood seeped into the bricks, causing the structure to rapidly collapse.
Zhao Xi shouted sharply and threw out a military token, releasing Iron Wall Dao Soldiers. With military formation reinforcement, they temporarily suppressed the demonic blood.
The Poison Scorpion Cave Master let out a coquettish laugh. Her gauze veil fluttered lightly as the poisonous stinger on the scorpion tail behind her stabbed forward dozens of times.
Each thrust condensed into a shimmering purple tail-hook needle phantom that shot through the air and pierced the city wall. Three watchtowers on the wall exploded violently. Purple poison mist spread rapidly with the explosions, and before the bricks even fell, they were corroded into flying ash by the mist.
“Demoness, die!”
The army stationed beneath this section of the wall was precisely the Red Flower Camp.
As the commanding general, Mu Lan naturally would not sit and wait for death. She immediately drew her bow like a full moon and aimed at the Poison Scorpion Cave Master.
Mu Lan’s divine ability, Red-Heart Swan Arrow, possessed unparalleled power and was already well known to both allies and enemies.
Thus, when the Poison Scorpion Cave Master saw Mu Lan raise her bow and prepare to shoot, she immediately screamed and retreated far to the rear like a startled bird, not daring to linger even for a moment.
Previously, Mu Lan’s divine ability had severely injured Lord Long, killed Di Lu, and defeated the Ancient God of the Pale Moon. Its ferocious reputation was terrifying.
Although the Mechanism Princess Shuang Ling had also defeated many Nascent Soul cultivators, she had not managed to eliminate them completely—Bi Teng Yi and the others had all escaped with their Nascent Souls.
From this perspective, even though Mu Lan was only at the Golden Core level, in the enemy’s eyes she was even more terrifying than Shuang Ling.
Mu Lan sneered and put away her bow in the next moment.
Military Art—Bluffing!
This military art consumed military power and allowed a cultivator’s aura to shift unpredictably. Mu Lan had therefore disguised herself as if she were about to unleash the divine ability Red-Heart Swan Arrow, deceiving the Poison Scorpion Cave Master.
With this move, she frightened off a powerful enemy at the smallest possible cost.
The Poison Scorpion Cave Master, though deceived, was not angry. Instead, she covered her mouth and laughed softly.
However, the other generals of Thousand Peaks Forest all felt their hearts tighten.
Now that Mu Lan had revealed this tactic, every time she used the Red-Heart Swan Arrow in the future, they would have to be extremely cautious.
Because they could no longer distinguish truth from deception. Even if it were fake, they would still have to defend with full effort.
What if it were real?
Wolf howls rose loudly.
Gu Ya pointed his wolf-tooth club forward, and countless wolf packs surged one after another, gathering into a military tide that slammed fiercely against the city wall.
Azure Sea Military Tide Formation!
The formation masters within the Liangzhu Nation camp immediately activated the array—one of the three great defensive formations of the city.
In an instant, towering azure waves burst from the surface of the wall, washing over all enemies.
The wolf packs were submerged by the waves, and more than half were destroyed on the spot.
The surging waves quickly reshaped the battlefield, turning the rocky ground into a shallow marsh.
Gu Ya cast spells to support the remaining wolves, urging them to continue charging the wall.
But in the next moment, large numbers of soldiers rose from the emerald pools.
These Dao Soldiers formed from green water rushed toward any nearby enemy.
Clearly, they possessed no intelligence and formed no battle formations. They simply attacked with all their strength—attacking endlessly.
Gu Ya sighed inwardly and had no choice but to redirect the wolf packs to fight these Azure Wave Dao Soldiers.
Li Jiuchu laughed eerily. He put away the Corrupt Immortal Poison Basket and released a large swarm of Golden Silkworm Gu.
The Gu swarm gathered into a mass, flashing with dark golden light. It directly bored through a large section of the city wall, smashing and gnawing it into a honeycomb.
Zhao Xi raised the ceremonial staff in his hand. The patterns on his official robe suddenly lit up.
“The king’s command is as immovable as a mountain—evil forces disperse!”
National Art—National Might!
Zhao Xi was an imperial envoy and carried the strength of the nation upon him. As a result, his battle power was formidable and far beyond what his Golden Core cultivation alone would suggest.
The overwhelming National Might swept across the Golden Silkworm Gu swarm.
Crackle, crackle.
In an instant, countless Gu insects either exploded under the pressure of the National Might or fell to the ground, completely suppressed.
Zhao Xi wiped out more than half of the swarm yet still looked spirited.
National Arts consumed national power, and Zhao Xi’s own magical reserves had not decreased in the slightest.
Li Jiuchu’s face turned ashen as his venomous gaze locked firmly onto Zhao Xi.
Zhao Xi, meanwhile, held his head high and chest out, fearlessly staring back across the chaotic battlefield.
Suddenly, Zhao Xi bent over and began vomiting violently.
From his mouth poured out large numbers of centipedes and maggots.
Li Jiuchu chuckled darkly. “I have never seen anyone who could stare at me for long.”
Nearby cultivators immediately rushed over to assist and treat Zhao Xi.
Zhao Xi’s face was pale as he continued vomiting, his heart filled with shock.
“What method was that? How did I fall for it?”
Compared to Mu Lan’s Bluffing military art, Li Jiuchu’s methods revealed no aura at all—there had not been the slightest warning.
Bai Ling flapped his wings and flew higher into the sky. As he passed over the battlefield, he shook his wings, and countless white feathers shot downward, each as sharp as a blade.
A rain of silver-white blades descended from the sky, shredding the military flags atop the walls into countless holes.
“Wah!” Jia Wan ran about with a large iron pot over his head, scrambling under the blade rain.
Ding Bi drew out his kitchen knife and swung it in a whirl of snowy light.
The light reflected the white feathers and sliced them into countless fragments.
“Disciple, light the fire and heat the pot!” Ding Bi called out softly.
Jia Wan immediately obeyed, cheering excitedly. “Alright! Time to eat again!”
This battlefield spirit chef began cooking.
The many Nascent Soul cultivators of Thousand Peaks Forest launched a terrifying offensive wave, but under Zhao Xi’s leadership, the Nascent Soul cultivators of Liangzhu Nation also actively defended.
Song Ji took action, scattering countless rays of clear radiance.
Mo Yechen’s myna spirit beast had already grown larger and served as a mount, allowing Mo Yechen to ride through the air above the battlefield. He repeatedly cast spells, doing his utmost to support the defenders of Liangzhu Nation’s walls.
In addition to cultivators, two types of heavy military weapons were also at work.
North Abyss Freezing Ray!
Life-and-Death Separation Flame!
Faced with such attacks, Nascent Soul cultivators mostly chose to evade. After receiving military reinforcement, the power of these heavy weapons became quite formidable.
Lord Long sighed deeply.
Once the order for a full army assault had been given, the battlefield situation changed drastically.
Although the Thousand Peaks Forest allied army launched a powerful offensive wave, Liangzhu Nation still held their ground thanks to the formidable defenses of their city walls.
“It is time for you and me to take the stage, Daoist Friend Lu,” Lord Long said to Lu Hongtu beside him.
The latter nodded slightly.
Lord Long and Lu Hongtu entered the battlefield simultaneously.
In an instant, the morale of Liangzhu Nation’s army dropped. Lord Long and Lu Hongtu had already proven their strength in the previous ambush battle.
With these two Nascent Soul powerhouses joining the fight, it also signified that nearly all the high-ranking forces of the Thousand Peaks Forest allied army had entered the battle.
Lord Long’s body gradually expanded. His once-hunched figure straightened, and fierce light burst from his eyes as he rapidly transformed into a robust middle-aged man.
Lu Hongtu took out the Six Cavern Sect’s sect-protecting treasure—the Light Mountain Heavy Mist Painting. Although the scroll remained unopened, thick clouds of mist already emanated from it, enveloping his entire body.
Boom!
Lord Long struck with overwhelming force. Each attack was fierce and heavy, smashing the Azure Wave Dao Soldiers to pieces and causing sections of the city wall to collapse one after another.
Wherever Lu Hongtu went, Liangzhu Nation’s cultivators were sucked into the painting, cutting off communication between the inside and outside.
“Damn it.” Shuang Ling hovered in the air, surrounded by various mechanical constructs that formed layers of defensive lines.
Embarrassingly, amid such a chaotic battle, she had instead become someone no one paid attention to.
Shuang Ling had to devote most of her energy and spiritual sense to the Mechanical Puppet—Rougu Xuannü, using it to restrain Xiang Yue. As a result, she could only watch helplessly as a ferocious enemy like Lord Long rampaged without being able to intervene.
“Zhao Xi, you are currently the supreme commander of the entire army. The enemy commander has already entered the battlefield—why are you still sitting there?!” Shuang Ling transmitted through spiritual sense.
Zhao Xi immediately refused.
“I am only at the Golden Core level and temporarily acting as the commander of the army. The responsibility is enormous. If something happens to me, damaging the army’s morale, what then?”
“That old fellow Lord Long suddenly went mad and launched a full assault. I’m neither mad nor stupid—I won’t risk my life so easily!”
Shuang Ling was furious. She knew many of Zhao Xi’s secrets. If he truly used all his methods and trump cards, even as a Golden Core cultivator he could briefly contend with Lord Long or Xiang Yue.
But Zhao Xi clearly lacked the spirit and determination to fight personally.
A thought flashed through Shuang Ling’s mind, and she voluntarily descended into the camp.
Her mechanical constructs followed closely around her, escorting her safely to the ground.
“Aunt.” Shuang Jing arrived immediately after receiving her spiritual summons. “What are your orders?”
Shuang Ling’s expression turned solemn.
“Next, I will use my Nascent Soul to fully control the mechanical puppet Rougu Xuannü.”
“During this time, my physical body will lose all sensation. I need you to personally guard it!”
Shuang Jing gasped in surprise but nodded firmly.
“Aunt, the White Jade Camp and I will fight to the last soldier to protect your body!”
Shuang Ling forced a smile and patted her shoulder.
“The situation is complicated. You’re the only one I truly trust.”
Shuang Jing immediately led the White Jade Camp to retreat to the second defensive line, protecting Shuang Ling.
Shuang Ling remained alone inside a house. Even with Shuang Jing and the White Jade Camp guarding outside, the Mechanism Princess still did not relax her vigilance.
Before meditating, she set up three layers of defensive formations around herself, activated protective talisman runes, and placed her most convenient magical treasures within immediate reach.
After successfully casting the spell, Shuang Ling’s head drooped downward. Her Nascent Soul flew out of her body and was teleported through the formation into Rougu Xuannü.
In an instant, Rougu Xuannü let out a delicate shout, her movements becoming twice as agile as before.
She activated a mechanism technique, first using softness to overcome strength and neutralizing another of Xiang Yue’s fierce assaults. Then both her palms struck Xiang Yue’s chest, knocking him directly to the ground.
Boom.
Xiang Yue’s massive body crashed down, producing a heavy rumble and raising a large cloud of dust.
Many cultivators of Thousand Peaks Forest widened their eyes in disbelief when they saw this scene.
Boom!
Almost at the same moment, a large section of the city wall collapsed.
The culprit was none other than Lord Long.
Lord Long glanced back at the fallen Xiang Yue before charging directly into the military camp, stirring up a storm of blood wherever he went.
Although the soldiers of Liangzhu Nation fought desperately, the disparity in strength was far too great, and they were easily slaughtered by Lord Long.
Lord Long’s performance greatly boosted the morale of the allied army.
Chen Lingfeng, Wu Hen, and other Golden Core cultivators either fought individually or led troops forward like a surging tide into the battlefield.
Countless soldiers poured through the breaches in the walls like a mighty river, engaging the Liangzhu Nation army in fierce combat within the camp.
The Red Flower Camp activated the Red Flower Battle Formation. The White Jade Camp stood firm. The Fire Cloud Camp rose into the sky and unleashed a rain of flames.
On the side of Thousand Peaks Forest, their armies also advanced. The Iron Bone Army charged into the city without fear of sacrifice, the Shadow Assault Army wielded twin blades with vicious strikes, and the Mystic Witch Army unleashed strange and mysterious spells.
Seeing that Lord Long could not be restrained, the Mechanism Princess made up her mind and activated a mechanism technique—
Soft Bone Formlessness!
In the next moment, her mechanical body became as flexible as willow branches or a serpent, turning extremely soft from head to toe.
From within the puppet, waves of flexible force spread outward, wrapping around everything in their path and crushing it into fragments.
Xiang Yue clashed with her, and after several exchanges many of his fingers were crushed. Even his elephant trunk was broken in half, blood flowing endlessly as he suffered heavy injuries.
After repelling Xiang Yue, however, Shuang Ling did not pursue.
This was because Xiang Yue activated a divine ability to fully defend and accelerate his recovery. He could not be defeated quickly.
Meanwhile, Lord Long was wreaking slaughter throughout the city. The screams of allied soldiers placed immense pressure on Shuang Ling, forcing her to temporarily abandon Xiang Yue and rush back to stop Lord Long.
But the moment Xiang Yue was no longer suppressed, he regained momentum and began wreaking massive destruction again.
Shuang Ling was forced to fight on two fronts, constantly rushing around to put out fires, completely exhausted.
“Zhao Xi! If you still refuse to act, when we return I will fight to the death to have you removed from your position!” Shuang Ling finally exploded in fury.
Zhao Xi replied, “Shuang Ling, I am not fighting passively. Liu—someone there! Lead the Three Generals Camp and go stop Xiang Yue!”
Seeing that the situation was becoming increasingly dire everywhere, Zhao Xi did not dare remain careless and quickly dispatched the Three Generals Camp.
“Us, deal with Xiang Yue?” Guan Hong narrowed his eyes.
Zhang Hei looked eager. “That’s great. I’ve never fought Xiang Yue head-on before.”
Liu Er sighed bitterly. Now that he served under Zhao Xi, he knew this was a terrible assignment, yet he had to carry it out.
After all, it was rare among the upper ranks for someone willing to accept a mixed-blood like him.
The Three Generals Camp formed an Iron Barrel Formation, channeling military power onto the three generals.
Holding the Profound Yellow Sword, Liu Er charged first toward Xiang Yue—only to be swatted away instantly.
Liu Er spat blood. Three of his ribs had broken, yet he showed a look of joy.
“Xiang Yue has weakened a lot. With the combined strength of the three of us brothers—we can fight!”
Guan Hong and Zhang Hei also rushed out. Neither could withstand even a single exchange with Xiang Yue, but they were still able to barely preserve their lives.
“Three rats. Annoying.” Xiang Yue was extremely displeased at being entangled by the three generals, as it severely restricted his movements.
As for Liu, Guan, and Zhang, they fought with absolute focus, not daring to relax for even a moment.
Xiang Yue could afford countless mistakes, but if any one of them made a single error, they might die on the spot.
“Little Zhuo, an opportunity!” Sun Lingtong suddenly said.
“Yes, I see it,” Ning Zhuo replied. He had been watching the battlefield the entire time.
He saw that the Demon Heart Cave Master had rejoined the battle.
As a result, the Demon Heart Cave Master had become separated from his son, Lin You.
Ning Zhuo had never forgotten the purpose of coming to Liangzhu Nation.
That was—to reclaim the relic left behind by his mother.