Li Chao's figure blurred, transforming into a streak of light as he sped toward the central military camp. Meanwhile, the white-browed old monk from Mani Temple, who had been rendered speechless by Pei San's remark, suppressed his rage and walked back to the gathering place of the Void Realm powerhouses from Mani Temple, the Yu Emperor Sect, and the Ying Clan.
Although they often clashed in the past, their objective was the same today.
"Martial Uncle," the white-browed old monk looked at the chubby young monk, unable to contain his anger. "This Pei San is utterly arrogant! He is using our Mani Temple's ultimate technique, the Six-Syllable True Words, right in front of us—it’s truly..."
"Martial Uncle, what do we do now?" the burly monk beside him asked, electric light flickering in his eyes as he also looked toward the young monk.
The young monk remained silent. Instead, he approached the Ying Clan, smiling at Qin Seventeen, his eyes narrowed playfully. "Brother Qin, you just sparred with this Pei San. Tell us, just how strong is he? We are, after all, not yet at the Cave Void realm, and it’s hard for us to judge clearly."
Those from the Yu Emperor Sect also looked at Qin Seventeen.
They all knew that Qin Seventeen was exceedingly aloof and would not lie about Pei San.
"I could not ascertain his true strength," Qin Seventeen stated quietly. "Although our exchange was merely a spar, not a fight to the death, and neither of us used our strongest moves... looking at it now, Pei San's learning is incredibly diverse. In all of the Nine Provinces, I have never heard of anyone who divides their focus across so many paths and still reaches the Cave Void realm."
He learns saber techniques, then sword techniques, then the ultimate arts of Buddhism, and then studies the way of the beasts...
There are people who divide their focus across so many disciplines.
However, for such a person to reach the Innate realm is already impressive. To reach the Void Realm is another matter. As for the Cave Void realm... throughout history, no one has ever been heard of achieving Cave Void while dividing their practice across so many different methodologies. There are those who divide focus between two paths and reach the Cave Void realm.
But Pei San masters far too many things.
"Scattered learning prevents true mastery," Qin Seventeen said coldly. "Yet he has reached the Cave Void realm. I can only say that he should not be weaker than me." After all, this wasn't a life-or-death battle, and Qin Seventeen was not about to risk his life in a true fight.
"Not weaker than me." Qin Seventeen’s assessment caused the brows of the Yu Emperor Sect and Mani Temple members to furrow deeply.
They all knew...
This Qin Seventeen was certainly not someone who had just stepped into the Cave Void realm. Even among the historical Cave Void experts of the Nine Provinces, Qin Seventeen was likely one of the more formidable ones.
"Everyone, what is the plan?" The black-haired elder standing beside Yu Tonghai from the Yu Emperor Sect swept his gaze over the members of the Ying Clan and Mani Temple.
"If we cannot resist him, what choice do we have?" the chubby young monk smiled faintly.
"Observe the battle," Qin Seventeen uttered these two words.
Evidently, the Yu Emperor Sect, Mani Temple, and the Ying Clan had reached a unified decision—they would stand aside and not interfere. If Pei San had only just entered the Cave Void realm today, the three major powers like Mani Temple would certainly join forces to eliminate him immediately, preventing the rise of another force that could threaten them.
However, Pei San’s strength was too great. A direct confrontation would result in losses outweighing any gains.
"Hmph, so what if we let him have his moment of glory for now?" Yu Tonghai narrowed his eyes and sneered. "The 'Hong Tian' of the Northeast King once conquered half of the Nine Provinces, yet in the end, he was forced to retreat to the solitary region of Youzhou, and now even faces the threat of annihilation. Over thousands of years, there have been those who rose to prominence, a Cave Void expert appearing, who occupied two or three prefectures. But they were either destroyed or forced to shrink their territory."
"Let this Celestial God Palace run wild for a hundred years. A hundred years from now, we shall see if he is still so imposing," Yu Tonghai glanced at the people from the Celestial God Palace in the distance.
The members of the Yu Emperor Sect often spoke like this—waiting a hundred years to see.
Because the Yu Emperor Sect is the most ancient sect, they felt most entitled to say such things.
"Furthermore, it won't be easy for the Celestial God Palace to destroy Hong Tian City today," Yu Tonghai revealed a hint of a mysterious smile. "Hong Tian City also has a history spanning thousands of years. As a sect renowned for being the most fierce and insane, they are not easy targets to provoke." The other Void Realm experts also turned their gaze toward the battlefield far ahead of the massive army.
...
At the front of the vast, surging army, a single Innate realm expert stood alone, gazing at the distant Hong Tian City, and shouted in a loud voice: "Hong Tian City! The boundless army of my Celestial God Palace has completely surrounded your city. You have nowhere to flee. You have only two paths—surrender, or death!"
"I will give you ten breaths of time. If you do not surrender after ten breaths, we begin the siege!"
"Ten!"
"Nine!"
The sounds, like colossal drumbeats, hammered into the hearts of everyone within Hong Tian City.
Teng Qingshan and Li Jun stood together, while the silver-haired, purple-robed Li Hang also stood smiling beside them. While the Celestial God Palace Master, 'Pei San,' was calling out the challenge to the army, he instead approached Teng Qingshan's location.
"Hu He," Pei San smiled at Teng Qingshan.
"Palace Master," Teng Qingshan stepped forward.
"A battle is imminent," Pei San chuckled. "The people of Youyan Land would rather die than yield. Destroying Hong Tian City might take some effort. Moreover, Hong Tian City has two Void Realm experts, and... given its long history, besides the founding Patriarch, the Northeast King, another Cave Void expert was born here. Therefore, Hong Tian City possesses at least two sets of Divine Armors. Among them is the 'Hong Tian Divine Armor,' second only to the Supreme Battle Armor."
"Hu He, lend me the Saber Cicada for a while. After we kill those two Void Realm experts and seize the two sets of Divine Armor, the Hong Tian Divine Armor is of critical use to me, and the other set will serve as thanks for borrowing your Saber Cicada. What do you say?" Pei San’s words were stunning.
Lend the Six-Legged Saber Cicada once and receive a set of Divine Armor in return?
Of course, this was predicated on obtaining the Divine Armor first.
"Certainly," Teng Qingshan looked at Li Jun, who immediately let out a low roar.
"Whoosh!"
The earth shook violently, and a phantom shot out from beneath the surface, cracking a large pit in the ground. The phantom landed, revealing the Six-Legged Saber Cicada, entirely black, with four bladed arms and two bladed legs. Its blood-red twin eyes swept over the few people present, then it let out a series of low roars toward Li Jun.
Li Jun conversed with it as well.
"Mm, it agrees," Pei San smiled. Pei San understood the language of beasts; he was the one who taught the Beast King.
Pei San also let out a series of low roars to the Six-Legged Saber Cicada.
The Six-Legged Saber Cicada glanced at Teng Qingshan, who nodded.
Swish! Swish!
Pei San and the Six-Legged Saber Cicada simultaneously vanished from their spot like streaks of shadow.
"Haha, Brother Jing Yi," Li Hang beside him couldn't help but laugh. "Brother Jing Yi, having this demonic beast Saber Cicada is truly like guarding a treasure vault. Look... the Yu Emperor Sect, Ying Clan, and Mani Temple all came today with the intention of competing for Hong Tian City's Divine Armors. And you, without even needing to lift a finger, will get a set."
"Competing for Divine Armor?" Teng Qingshan couldn't help but glance at the forces of the Yu Emperor Sect and others.
"Of course," Li Hang smiled. "They came today hoping to stop the Celestial God Palace. If they can't stop us, they naturally plan to profit from the chaos! Otherwise, why would the Yu Emperor Sect bring that Void Realm demonic beast, the 'Rift Wind Dragon Falcon'? As far as I know, the Rift Wind Dragon Falcon should be the fastest Void Realm flying demonic beast in the Nine Provinces. Oh... perhaps the legendary Undying Phoenix surpasses it, but the Undying Phoenix hasn't appeared for thousands of years."
"Rift Wind Dragon Falcon?" Teng Qingshan looked at the streamlined, bird-like demonic beast in the distance. Judging by its build alone, it was clearly adept at flight.
"This Rift Wind Dragon Falcon accompanied the Yu Emperor back when he was around. After the Yu Emperor was gone, the Rift Wind Dragon Falcon stayed at the Yu Emperor Sect until this day," Li Hang explained.
"Hmm?"
The gazes of Teng Qingshan, Li Jun, and Li Hang suddenly fixed on the distant Hong Tian City.
...
"One!"
As the last count was called out.
"Rumble~~~"
The eastern gate of Hong Tian City burst open with a deafening sound, surprising many who saw it. Did Hong Tian City intend to surrender? Otherwise, why open the city gates?
The gates swung open.
Clop! Clop! Clop!
The sound of dense hooves rang out. A continuous stream of knights clad in black heavy armor emerged, riding warhorses draped in black horse armor. A large number of knights filed out of the city without a single word, all aligning themselves in perfect order outside the city walls.
A single line stretched for three li!
Hong Tian City was famous throughout the world for its iron cavalry. The lands outside all four walls of Hong Tian City were flat, ideal for cavalry charges.
A single line spanning three li.
Dozens of ranks deep.
"Just outside this east gate alone, there must be twenty to thirty thousand cavalry," Teng Qingshan felt an overwhelming imposing aura even from a distance. Ten thousand people already look like a sea of humanity. A formation spanning three li deep in dozens of ranks seemed like a terrifying flood constantly building pressure, ready to break its banks—
The foremost ten ranks of these twenty to thirty thousand cavalry were all clad in black heavy armor, their warhorses also wearing black barding. The middle dozen ranks of cavalry were entirely in blood-red armor, their warhorses likewise clad in blood-red barding.
The rearmost ranks of cavalry wore dark green armor, their mounts also covered in dark green barding.
The twenty to thirty thousand cavalry remained utterly silent, as still as the dead. The most striking similarity among them was the white cloth tied around their left arms. Their gazes were more terrifying than those of wolves—their eyes held killing intent, the aura of death, and a madness that sought to devour everything.
Two streaks of light flew out from within Hong Tian City.
"Boom!" "Boom!"
Like two falling meteors, these two streaks of light slammed down at the very front of the cavalry formation, standing perfectly upright.
One wore a suit of blood-red Divine Armor, holding two iron maces. The other wore a suit of azure Divine Armor, wielding a great saber. Both also had a strip of white cloth tied around their left arms. These two men shared only a tuft of hair on the very top of their heads.
"Celestial God Palace!" the bald man in blood-red Divine Armor holding the iron maces roared, his voice booming like a thunder god. "My brother and I are here!"
"Heavy Mountain Cavalry, eleven thousand and two men!" a cavalryman from the ranks clad in black heavy armor beneath the eastern wall shouted loudly.
"Blood Tide Cavalry, seven thousand six hundred and eighteen men!" beneath the eastern wall, a cavalryman clad in blood-red armor shouted loudly.
"Iron Swallow Cavalry, six thousand two hundred and sixty-seven men!" beneath the eastern wall, a cavalryman clad in dark green armor shouted loudly.
At this moment, similar shouts echoed from beneath the other three city walls.
Many of these cavalrymen already had wrinkled faces; there were many elders among them.
"All the disciples of my Hong Tian City have already been dispersed. These are all who willingly remained to perish with Hong Tian City. The Heavy Mountain Cavalry, Blood Tide Cavalry, and Iron Swallow Cavalry—the three great armies, totaling seventy-eight thousand three hundred and sixty-two iron riders," the bald man in blood-red Divine Armor roared, his voice shaking the heavens. "Seventy-eight thousand three hundred and sixty-two brothers, along with my brother and I, swear to perish with Hong Tian City!"
"Swear to perish with Hong Tian City!" The cavalrymen roared one after another. Among them were elders and sturdy men.
"Swear to perish with Hong Tian City!"
"Swear to perish with Hong Tian City!"
The roar shook the heavens, making the very firmament tremble before this force of nearly eighty thousand cavalry.
"Fight! No one can easily destroy my Hong Tian City!" the sturdy, blood-red armored man roared.
"Fight!"
"Fight!"
The shout of nearly eighty thousand men shook the heavens, the sound sweeping across the world like a monstrous tidal wave, causing even many of the Celestial God Palace soldiers to feel a chill deep in their bones. Soldiers who faced death without hesitation were the most terrifying.