Chapter 725: Chapter 227: Navigating the Battlefield_2
When a cultivator ascends into the sky, one of the predicaments they face is the ease with which the enemy could launch a ranged spell attack simply by looking up.
Only the strongest among the cultivators can withstand such concentrated fire.
And if these strong cultivators can dominate the skies, they will inevitably exert significant pressure on those on the ground.
Thus, in the clash between two armies, the battle for control of the aerial battlefield has been intense from the start.
Divine Skill — Crane Cry!
Bai Ling suddenly halted in mid-air, letting out a long, resonant cry. The surging sound waves rapidly spread in all directions. Mo Yechen retreated, while the rest of the soldiers staggered wildly, with many cultivators perishing amidst the chaos.
Following the sound waves, countless cultivators experienced deviation.
Retreat!
Ning Zhuo hurriedly retreated, abandoning the majority of his mechanical puppets.
The divine skill ravaged his Divine Sea, causing his face to turn pale.
Blazing God Flame!
He formed a finger technique, igniting a blaze in his Divine Sea.
The harmful thoughts conjured by Bai Ling’s divine skill in Ning Zhuo’s Divine Sea were all burnt to ashes by the flames.
Meanwhile, Ning Zhuo’s own thoughts remained intact.
After exhaling a breath of turbid air, Ning Zhuo stabilized his foothold once more.
Before the battle with the Twin Ghosts, handling the impact of Bai Ling’s divine skill would have been extremely troublesome for Ning Zhuo. After all, the Buddha Heart Demon Seal only activates at critical moments.
But now, Ning Zhuo can deal with such troubles on his own.
Ning Zhuo reached into his storage bag and, with a wave of his arm, replenished his mechanical army.
He probed the bottom of the storage bag with his Divine Sense and found that half of his reserves were already consumed.
Such a level of depletion was unprecedented.
His Divine Sense spread out around him; Ning Zhuo helplessly realized that his direct assault had driven him further away from Lin You.
Leading his army, relentless pressure and sudden blows forced Ning Zhuo and his mechanical army to constantly adjust their route while avoiding attacks.
As a result, they were merely drifting along, and the distance to their target had extended rather than decreased.
However, Ning Zhuo’s fighting spirit was strong, and with resolute determination, he took a deep breath and charged again.
Three Layers Fire Separation Shield!
Earth Armor, Rock Plate!
With fire- and earth-element defensive spells reinforcing him, and the Heroic Return Skill continuously elevating his combat power, Ning Zhuo could clearly feel the pressure on him rapidly diminishing!
Wood Element — Root Vine Entanglement.
Vines emerged from the ground, instantly strangling over a dozen barbarian cultivators.
Earth Element — Earth Python!
A massive yellow-brown python formed from soil and rock surged forth. As thick as an ancient tree trunk and both heavy and agile, it swept across the battlefield, knocking away several pig demons, clearing a path for Ning Zhuo.
Fire Element — Nine Heavens Fire Dragon Technique!
Three fire dragons roared into existence, igniting a sea of fire that neutralized the encirclement against Ning Zhuo, giving him a moment of safety.
“I’m still getting stronger!” Ning Zhuo celebrated inwardly.
The current Nine Heavens Fire Dragon Technique was visibly more powerful than before.
Cultivators who failed to dodge the fire dragons’ advance screamed in agony, engulfed in flames.
Ning Zhuo’s performance on the battlefield became increasingly striking, finally drawing significant attention.
Three Golden Core adversaries blocked his path, their combined spell casting a bright swath of blades lighting up the world.
Mechanical puppets were shredded into countless fragments by the blade light.
Ning Zhuo’s mechanical army suffered massive losses instantly!
Ning Zhuo snorted coldly, stomped his foot, and clapped his hands in front of his chest.
Wood Element — Tree Realm Descent!
Ancient trees broke through the ground, forming a vast forest. The battlefield surrounding Ning Zhuo was completely transformed within a few breaths.
The ancient trees created a natural barrier to resist the sharp blade light, but they were ultimately chopped into countless wood pieces.
The blade light’s power significantly diminished after heavy consumption.
Taking advantage of the respite, Ning Zhuo replenished his mechanical puppets and led his army to charge out!
Various Five Elements Magic spells fell upon the three Golden Core adversaries.
The three Golden Core cultivators hastily cast defensive spells, struggling to withstand the onslaught, looking utterly disheveled.
Just as they were about to counterattack, Ning Zhuo opened his mouth and expelled a spell.
Gold Element Technique — Mystic Gold Slash!
A bolt of golden lightning, unstoppable and piercing, struck through one Golden Core enemy, who perished without even managing a scream.
The remaining two Golden Core cultivators stood in shock.
Ning Zhuo repeated the technique, spewing two more bolts of golden lightning, directly slaying them.
Huff, huff, huff!
Ning Zhuo panted heavily, his mana depleted to the warning line.
He quickly swallowed an elixir pill, restoring his mana reserves.
Mystic Gold Slash, a Gold Element technique he focused on after mastering the Gold Element Lung Temple, boasted immense offensive power but also came with great consumption.
Of course, whenever Ning Zhuo released this technique, he also concentrated on the Gold Element Lung Temple.
The combination further magnified the offensive power, killing three Golden Core enemies consecutively.
Seeing his formidable display, some surrounding enemies began to avoid him actively.
Ning Zhuo successfully established his presence, feeling a significant reduction in the opposition ahead.
He advanced swiftly, closing the distance between himself and Lin You.
“You shall go no further!” An eagle-headed, human-bodied demon cultivator shrieked, intercepting Ning Zhuo.
It was Chen Lingfeng!
He hailed from Wind Pillar Peak, his exceptional innate talent drew the attention of the Ginseng Whisker Dragon King, and he was nurtured as one of Lord Long’s trusted aides.
Wind Element — Hundred-blade Storm!
In the next moment, Chen Lingfeng pushed his palms forward, his mana surging out, transforming into hundreds of wind blades swirling and shooting towards Ning Zhuo.
Ning Zhuo cast spells to protect himself.
But his mechanical army suffered severe damage, with only one in ten remaining.
Chen Lingfeng’s combat power was extraordinary, standing at the peak of the Golden Core level. Just this one strike nearly annihilated Ning Zhuo’s entire mechanical army.
Military Art — Heroic Return Skill.
Ning Zhuo’s combat power surged again.
Mechanism — Heavy Blood Ape: Dasheng.
Mechanism — Shadow Blade: Yehu.
With a grim expression, Ning Zhuo knew Chen Lingfeng’s combat power was formidable. While he could hold his own, breaking through Chen Lingfeng’s obstruction required strong reinforcements.
And reinforce he indeed did!
So, he unleashed his two mighty warriors.
One, nearly two meters tall, donned in heavy armor made of Redsun Copper, Wanji Xuan Iron, Vajra Stone, and other treasures, focusing on defense — Yuan Dasheng. The other, an eight-foot-tall, dark-bodied figure with silver and white stripes, a tiger-headed, human-bodied figure exuding fierce authority — Mengye Tiger.
Wind blades attacked again.
Yuan Dasheng stepped forward, like a city wall, shielding Ning Zhuo entirely.
Raising both arms, Yuan Dasheng crouched down slightly, saying, “My Lord, I will protect you.”
“Hmm.” Ning Zhuo nodded slightly, then glanced at Mengye Tiger and whispered, “Go.”
“Yes, Father God.”
He respectfully accepted the command, activating a talisman to conceal himself and quietly advancing towards Chen Lingfeng.
Chen Lingfeng’s face grew stern, his eyes squinted, ears perked up, and Divine Sense active, instantly casting a spell.
Wind Element — Listening Wind Positioning!
From countless noises, he precisely captured Mengye Tiger’s footsteps.
Several wind blades shot forth, compelling Mengye Tiger to defend, forcing him to reveal himself.
Though Mengye Tiger’s ambush failed, Ning Zhuo didn’t stand idle.
With the two Golden Core-level puppets stabilizing the situation, Ning Zhuo replenished his mechanical puppets while casting long-range spells.
Ning Zhuo’s current combat power wasn’t at the Golden Core peak, but sufficient to threaten Chen Lingfeng.
Chen Lingfeng had to summon strong winds to retreat, unwilling to face spell bombardment head-on.
After several rounds of offense and defense, the surrounding cultivators from both sides dared not come close, keeping their distance voluntarily.
After a few exchanges, both Ning Zhuo and Chen Lingfeng were out of breath.
“Indeed, one of the top Golden Core level cultivators of the Thousand Peak Forest Alliance!” Ning Zhuo exclaimed.
Chen Lingfeng was surprised: “A mere Foundation Establishment can match me. Is this the Human Clan’s top genius…”
“I am also a top talent of the Demon Race!”
Chen Lingfeng felt a competitive urge arise.
From a young age, his innate talent caught the eye of the Ginseng Whisker Dragon King, always boasting great pride in his excellence.
Innate Ability — Mad Wind Bone!
A wild wind erupted from his bones, blowing through all forty-three thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven pores of his body, causing his hair to stand wild, and his eyes to scatter slightly.