The sky was a dull, ashen expanse, barely revealing any vague light, one could just make out that it was probably the sun. A faint, cold wind blew, scattering the grey dust and ash in all directions, like countless resentful spirits, baring their fangs and brandishing their claws, swirling in the frigid heavens. Wisps of smoke drifted everywhere, tattered banners fluttered weakly in the breeze, and the solitary, cold sun—like the icy pupil of a death god—stared down grimly upon the blood-soaked earth, which resembled a purgatorial slaughterhouse.
Blood streamed down my wrist, followed the long, slender blade of my sword, passed through the edge, and dripped onto the ground. I couldn't say exactly how many I had slain. The escape of Mo Luo Tianfeng and his cohorts left me with no choice but to vent my accumulated rage upon the warriors of the Ao Tian Legion who had fought to the death!
Dragon shadows flashed, and everything became a hazy, blood-red mist!
When I regained clarity, there was not a single living thing within a hundred meters.
The Dragon Shadow Sword, normally a brilliant azure, appeared eerily scarlet at this moment, making me involuntarily recall the Crimson Blood Demon Sword. Was it just my imagination? Why could I feel the Dragon Shadow Sword in my hand seemingly suppressing something, possessing an ineffable agility and strangeness, as if what I held was not a lifeless object, but a venomous, bloodthirsty serpent? Yet, this peculiar sensation vanished as quickly as it came. When I tried again to recapture that odd feeling, my hand only registered the familiar coldness. In an instant, the Dragon Shadow Sword reverted to its pure azure sheen! The blood that had coated it dripped away, like beads of water from a lotus leaf, leaving not a single trace on the blue steel!
Of course, at this moment, I had little mind to dwell on such details! The battle was finally over! Looking out, the blue banners of the Prague Legion were fluttering everywhere in the wind!
Prague had finally won!
But my heart held no trace of joy or elation!
Pain suddenly surged through my entire body, a throbbing soreness spreading rapidly, as if I were about to be torn to shreds!
I knew this was fatigue and agony brought on by severe depletion of my Dou Qi and stamina. Stumbling forward, I reached the edge of a heavy crossbow siege chariot lying overturned on the ground and leaned against its chassis, struggling to sit down.
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
Turning toward the voice, I saw Jin Yaohong and the rest of my personal guards approaching. Their faces were a mix of excitement, fervor, and a hint of dread and unease as they looked at me!
"I'm fine," I forced a bitter smile. "Sorry for making you worry." Looking past them at the mounts they were leading, I couldn't help but think of Da Lei!
Instinctively, I scanned the surroundings. The sky remained frighteningly overcast. Through the thin grey haze, several massive, dark shapes circled slowly and deliberately, occasionally letting out heart-palpitating, strangely hoarse cries—they were the Vulture-Wolves of the Mafa Continent, creatures that fed exclusively on carrion. A brutal battle inevitably left behind countless corpses. And their target was a mass of mangled flesh! Human bodies, and the remains of giant mounts, massive as small hills—the Forge War Beasts and Cloud Thunder Steeds. Even in death, their intimidating bulk and savage countenances forced one to imagine the ferocity and terror they commanded in life.
But now they were dead, and nothing more could be done. No one feared that which was dead, no matter how powerful it had been in life. This truth applied equally to these irritating Vulture-Wolves.
In their eyes, these towering mountains of meat were the most delicious feast. Undeniably, this moment was a carnival for the vultures, their rapid, harsh cries revealing an unusual excitement and anticipation. Perhaps deterred by the numerous Prague soldiers present, they hesitated to land! But they possessed endless patience.
Though tinged with helplessness and sorrow, I felt somewhat numb at this moment. The only thing that truly pierced my heart was the tragic death of Da Lei, and the many Cloud Thunder Cavalrymen who had charged alongside me, now permanently resting in this blood-soaked expanse. Amidst the mountains of corpses, friend and foe alike, bodies piled upon one another, entangled, evoking a feeling of helpless bitterness, despair, and absolute stillness.
Why must humans pit themselves against one another in life-or-death struggles? Suddenly, I recalled this question, seemingly long forgotten. The endless centuries of conflict and slaughter made all killing and war appear commonplace; no one cared to delve into a deeper layer of thought.
On the Mafa Continent, there were only two kinds of people: Black and White, or perhaps the Holy Word Alliance and the Mo Luo Alliance!
These two factions seemed destined for eternal hostility. But for what purpose?
The thought flashed through my mind in an instant!
But what about Da Lei? That towering figure who carried me, charging recklessly into the enemy lines, remained vividly etched in my memory even now. Though we had spent only three short days together, the image of Da Lei being blown into bloody fragments mid-air, and his earth-shattering roar before death, echoed clearly in my mind.
"General, we only found this." Jin Yaohong respectfully presented a severely deformed piece of saddle wreckage before me.
"Da Lei!" It felt as if my heart had been pierced by something. Though unrecognizable, I immediately recognized the remains of the saddle Da Lei once wore! Instinctively taking the fragment, a wave of overwhelming grief washed over me.
"I never thought he wouldn't even have a complete body left." Tears flowed uncontrollably again!
And the one who killed Da Lei—Mo Luo Ao Tian and those detestable mages—I hadn't managed to kill a single one. Thinking of this filled me with a profound sense of guilt.
"General!" Jin Yaohong and the others could only sigh helplessly, unsure of what to say.
Just then, I sensed several powerful auras rushing rapidly towards my location!
It was Jidu and Jin Yao and the others!
That familiar aura, I could distinguish it without even intentionally turning back!
In the blink of an eye! Several golden figures leaped down, it was Jidu, Jin Yao, Luohou, and the rest!
"Your Highness, are you unharmed?" Jidu asked anxiously.
Jin Yao and the others also wore expressions of worry and unease!
"Sorry to make you worry," I quickly replied. "I'm fine." As I spoke, I instinctively looked at Jin Yao with guilt. "I apologize."
"Your Highness has done admirably," Jin Yao said, taking the saddle fragment from my hand. Though Jin Yao appeared outwardly calm, I could feel the intense grief and heartache radiating from him at that moment. "Da Lei has completed his most magnificent run; there is nothing to regret."
"But I still couldn't..." Thinking of Mo Luo Tianfeng's escape, I didn't know what else to say!
"Your Highness did your utmost," Luohou comforted me. "That is enough."
".........." Yes, I truly did my utmost, but this matter would not end here! The Feng Mo Empire, you just wait!
The early morning of late autumn was met with a cool breeze.
Dragon Demon City, nestled among the embrace of endless mountains, was engulfed by the vast sea of crimson covering the landscape. Late autumn in September was the season when the red maples blazed like fire during harvest.
A deep, resonant bell shattered the silence of this fiery, dawning morning!
Under the rising sun, the majestic heights were overlaid with a hazy, golden-red hue, making them appear even more solemn and august.
Inside the Sun Rise Palace, the civil and military officials of the Dragon Demon Empire had already gathered! Every face was alight with excitement and elation!
Nine Yao Chongyang, seated high on the Dragon Throne, was equally stirred, clutching a battle report tightly in his hand!
The Battle of Yung City: The Prague Legion achieved a resounding victory! The Ao Tian Legion retreated towards Cicheng!
This was followed by a succession of detailed records regarding captured spoils and spoils of war!
A Resounding Victory!
Nine Yao Chongyang reread these four words again and again!
In memory, the Dragon Demon Empire had never gained any advantage in battles against the Feng Mo Empire. The craving for victory among the Dragon Demon soldiers had never ceased, but countless engagements and the terrible price paid had forced the entire empire to confront a cruel reality!
That is, in a head-on confrontation, the Dragon Demon Empire could never defeat the Feng Mo Empire. Facing the formidable magic legions of Feng Mo, the Dragon Demon Empire, relying only on unique geographical advantages, barely managed to hold on without any real chance of winning.
Now, everything had changed. In the Battle of Yung City, the Prague Legion had not only won, but they had crushed the arrogant Ao Tian Legion in a straightforward, decisive victory!
This victory! The Dragon Demon Empire had waited five hundred years for it, so much so that upon receiving the report, Nine Yao Chongyang almost thought he had misread it.
Along with the battle report, a Soul-Devouring Staff and a Fire Dragon Heart were delivered to Nine Yao Chongyang.
In the report sent back by Jin Yao, the events surrounding the Battle of Yung City were meticulously documented. Nine Yao Chongyang read it no less than ten times! Yet, even so, he could not suppress the almost frantic surge of elation!
"The Demon Devouring Body! Is this the terrifying power of the Demon Devouring Body?" Nine Yao Chongyang desperately wished he could fly to Yung City on wings.
Unfortunately, he had missed this great battle firsthand, as had the death of Huo Yao Jialie. Perhaps this was the only regret Nine Yao Chongyang held at this moment.
"My Emperor is blessed with Heaven's favor! Now we can finally hold our heads high!" The Right Chancellor, Tianhe, was so moved that tears streamed down his face, while the assembled civil officials repeatedly chanted long live the Emperor.
I must stress here that this book by Xing Xing (Star) was first released on [Specific Literary Platform]; all others are pirated websites. I hope everyone can support the legitimate version and the original creator. Even if you cannot afford to subscribe, I at least hope you can register an account and leave a book review when you have time, to increase activity in my review section, letting Xing Xing know that you support me. I would be eternally grateful. Otherwise, if my next book is nowhere to be found, and we part ways here, wouldn't that be a pity? New Book Group: 48855208. Looking forward to your joining.
"Indeed, we have waited too long for this victory," Ming Jianhao from the military ranks stepped forward. "I propose that we leverage this great triumph to completely shatter the Ao Tian Legion and drive them out of the Dragon Demon Continent."
"And we must celebrate this victory grandly! I believe this will be an enormous morale boost for our Dragon Demon Empire," Tianhe exclaimed excitedly. "Not just for our Dragon Demon Empire, but I believe this victory will be critically important for the entire Holy Word Alliance."
"Not only should we celebrate grandly, but we must also bestow generous rewards upon the soldiers who distinguished themselves in meritorious service! Without them fighting and dying on the front lines, how could this operation have succeeded?"
"Rewards and celebration are a given, naturally. However, I believe that using the momentum of this victory, we can change our long-standing posture of passive defense and strive to seize the initiative in all war zones—that is the most crucial thing."
"The strategy for all war zones must be adjusted, shifting from passive to active. Simultaneously, the Prague Legion, after crushing the Ao Tian Legion, must be ordered to further pressure the Feng Mo Empire. By then, Feng Mo's overly stretched battle lines will certainly suffer."
"Exactly! The current mage legions of Feng Mo are no match for the new General Huo Yao! While they haven't figured out how to counter General Huo Yao, we must expand our gains..."
The civil and military officials, amidst their excitement, did not forget how to maximize their gains; after all, such an opportunity was too rare!
The victory at Yung City sent waves of celebration through the Dragon Demon Empire, from the nobility down to the common laborers, everyone rushed to share the news!
Blue Lightning, Thunder Mage—at this moment, Xing Chen's reputation in the Ranger World reached its zenith, far surpassing even that of his master, the Dragon Shadow Sword Spirit, Jian Li!
The events of the Battle of Yung City were meticulously recorded by the accompanying Red Cloaks. Xing Chen's assassination of High Priest Lanling, seizing the Soul-Devouring Staff and the Fire Dragon Heart, and then breaking the Ao Tian Legion's Blazing Heaven Magic Array on the battlefield were all documented in detail by the Red Cloaks traveling with the army!
Such records were immediately posted on the most conspicuous Red Scrolls displayed in inns and taverns across the land. Suddenly, the gold-bordered Red Scrolls representing the royal court, and the blue-bordered Red Scrolls representing the Ranger World, both carried reports of the Battle of Yung City in their most prominent positions.
The victory at Yung City made all citizens ecstatic! Who wouldn't wish for their nation to grow stronger? Unprecedentedly, the Red Cloaks from all sectors simultaneously turned their gaze toward the various commanders involved in the Battle of Yung City. And Xing Chen, who almost single-handedly stood against the entire Ao Tian Mage Legion on the battlefield, was undoubtedly the most eye-catching superstar among them!
The royal courts, political circles, military strategists, merchant guilds, and the Ranger World of every nation were swept by a lightning storm!
Huo Yao Xing Chen! His name echoed across the continent! And with Xing Chen's rapid ascent, earth-shattering storms brewed within the Ranger World!
The Coiled Dragon Yun Family!
"This... how is this possible?" Jian Li stared dumbfounded at the Ranger Times in his hands, scarcely believing his eyes. "Xing Chen actually became a Heavenly Demon Warrior! This kid is truly..." Jian Li didn't know what to say.
"Not only that, but he achieved immense military merit on the battlefield," Bi Yan Nannan remarked. "Old Ghost, your disciple is far more accomplished than you are."
"I knew from the start this kid wasn't ordinary," Lu Tong said proudly. "I knew I chose correctly. This boy is getting more and more formidable."
"Xing Chen! This guy!" Lu Zhao could only clench his fist tightly. After such a short time away, he had improved again! Just how much potential did this fellow possess?
"Heavens above, in just this one engagement, he stirred up such a commotion," Gao Huan exclaimed in surprise. "Perhaps before long, he might even don the Thunder Armor."
"Perhaps," Jian Li replied, his face filled with emotion, feeling a complex pang in his heart. "This kid once solemnly promised me that he would inherit my title of Sword God."
"Haha, Brother Jian Li, your disciple is truly remarkable," Yun Peng commented with a wry smile. "His current title as a Heavenly Demon Warrior rings louder than your Dragon Shadow Sword God. It seems the next Sword God of the Dragon Shadow Villa will have to be someone else."
"Perhaps," Jian Li's old face flushed with embarrassment. "He probably won't even care for the title of Dragon Shadow Sword God."
"Look at you," Feng Yuanming said with unconcealed envy. "You must be absolutely delighted inside."
"Haha." Jian Li could only offer a wry, helpless smile. Others might not know what Jian Li was truly feeling, but Jian Qiu and Jian Fei knew him too well.
"Heh, it feels quite bittersweet," Jian Fei whispered quietly.
"Tell me about it," Jian Li sighed helplessly. He had only ever hoped to train a disciple who could surpass him. He had dedicated time and effort to meticulously teaching Jian Chi and Jian Chen, but unfortunately, their cultivation progress was always unsatisfactory. Conversely, he and Xing Chen had spent little time together, and the actual time he spent instructing him was minimal. Yet, among all his disciples, Xing Chen's cultivation was the highest, and now he had even pulled ahead of his master, Jian Li.
Thinking of this, although Jian Li was happy, the dominant feeling was an inexpressible melancholy and frustration. Having a monstrous disciple was proving to be a considerable trial for him as a master!
As a teacher, he had absolutely no sense of accomplishment!