Two surprise attacks, narrowly missed, electrified both Chi Hao and Chi Ming! Stomp!
Stomp! The Nine Luminaries Divine True Being seemed infected by this energy.
After steadying himself, he took several more steps, advancing directly toward Ji Du and the others! Everyone felt the invisible pressure, the suffocating heaviness, as if what approached was no longer just the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being alone, but a moving, colossal mountain!
It left them with no room to evade! This situation utterly defied everyone's expectations; who could have predicted that the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being, relying purely on his aura, could press Bai Chuan, Yin Hu, and the others to the point where they could barely breathe!
Roar! The two Sacred White Tigers let out deep, muffled growls!
But they hesitated to strike. The power of the Sacred White Tigers largely depended on the mental fortitude of the Heavenly Venerable Daoist, and sensing their master’s mounting anxiety, the two beasts instinctively guarded his flanks!
How could Ji Du and Bai Chuan not realize that the dynamics of the field had been invisibly seized by the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being! It had to be admitted: only under such intense pressure could Bai Chuan and the others be forced to adapt quickly to duels between Heavy Armament Generals.
If they couldn't even survive this live combat drill, they would certainly be no match for the Heavy Armament Generals of the Demon Sealing Imperial Family on the actual battlefield later. On the other side, Chi Hao and Chi Ming, paired with the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being, were invigorated.
Even they were surprised by the astonishing power they displayed in their first coordinated effort. Both instinctively channeled even thicker waves of Magic Battle Qi!
Yes, perhaps they hadn't yet realized they were already being influenced by the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being’s aura. At this moment, facing opponents of the same rank who significantly outnumbered them, they felt no fear, but rather a restless eagerness and anticipation!
The cheers from the surrounding Blood Wolf Knights further fueled the duo's boundless fighting spirit! They moved in lockstep with the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being's measured advance!
It was as if they were unconsciously synchronized to some mystical rhythm, merging perfectly with his formidable presence! No!
Their momentum absolutely cannot be allowed to build further! Bai Chuan immediately understood that if he didn't launch an attack now, his side would inevitably be crushed by the suffocating aura of the three opponents until collapse!
Bai Chuan slammed his Frost Condensing Greatsword back onto his harness, replacing it with his Judgment Great Mace. Yes, earlier, fearing the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being’s speed, Bai Chuan hadn't dared to use his power-focused weapon, the Judgment, given how notoriously swift his opponent was—he had carried the moniker "Blue Lightning" long before becoming a Heavenly Demon Warrior!
But in this moment, Bai Chuan knew clearly that facing the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being without using his most proficient weapon offered no chance of victory whatsoever. As Bai Chuan switched weapons, Bai Yan and Yin Hong understood his intent.
Both simultaneously swung their Dragon Pattern Swords violently, Swish! Swish!
Four Soul Fire Talismans shot out like bullets from a barrel, hurtling toward the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being. Roar!
Roar! The two Sacred White Tigers followed close behind, lunging at the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being!
As the White Tigers attacked, Bai Chuan whirled the Judgment and charged in! Indeed, the two Sacred White Tigers and the four Soul Fire Talismans were merely meant to pin down the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being’s speed; the real killing blow was the assault launched by Bai Chuan!
A golden afterimage, two massive beams of white light, and four incredibly swift Soul Fire Talismans appeared almost simultaneously before the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being! The combined assault of the three figures and two tigers instantaneously formed a perfectly executed kill-zone in a flash of lightning!
Simultaneously as Bai Chuan, Bai Yan, and Yin Hong struck, Ji Du, Yin Hu, Yin Tao, and Chi Peng blurred into afterimages, shooting forward, but their target was not the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being, but Chi Ming and Chi Hao behind him. Clearly, Ji Du and the others were aiming for a strategy of breaking the enemy ranks one by one.
Everything happened in that brief instant! No one could fathom how the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being could possibly react under such circumstances!
Yet, facing the rapidly approaching lone figure and two tigers, the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being merely let out a soft snort! He didn't even glance at them!
He didn't move an inch! The Judgment Great Mace and the immense steel claws of the Sacred White Tigers swept toward the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being's chest.
It looked as if he was about to be struck by Bai Chuan’s Blazing Fire Sword Qi and the tigers' claws! Thump!
Rumbled! Suddenly, a dazzling burst of fire erupted from the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being’s body!
It exploded like a heavy bomb! A terrifying heatwave, accompanied by earth-shattering impact force, rushed out instantly!
Bai Chuan and the two Sacred White Tigers were instantly thrown backward, their bodies out of control! Even the Judgment, mid-swing, was nearly ripped from Bai Chuan’s grasp by the terrifying blast!
Ah! It’s Bursting Flame!
Bai Chuan reacted the instant the fire burst! He channeled his protective Battle Qi with every ounce of strength!
Yes, the sudden violent manifestation was Chi Hao’s Bursting Flame! Bai Chuan and the others weren't surprised by this fact; what they hadn't expected was that Chi Hao's Bursting Flame hadn't targeted the ground to explode, but had struck the body of the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being directly, detonating upon impact!
It not only neutralized Bai Chuan's and the Sacred White Tigers' attacks but, through the sheer force of the magical explosion, actually injured Bai Chuan and the two Sacred White Tigers! This unexpectedly coordinated rescue utterly surpassed everyone's imagination!
Who could have thought Chi Hao so reckless? An ordinary person hit squarely by that astonishingly potent Bursting Flame would have been shredded into fragments; even a Heavenly Demon Warrior clad in Heavenly Demon Armor would suffer grievous injury from taking that blow head-on!
Perhaps only the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being’s Demon Devouring Body could shrug off that terrifying Bursting Flame! Out of the flames, six peculiar, multi-colored streams of light suddenly shot out, sweeping towards Ji Du, Yin Hu, Chi Peng, and Yin Tao!
Simultaneously, a blurry golden afterimage flew out as well. Yes, although the Bursting Flame hadn't injured the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being, the horrifying shockwave had blasted him backward too.
However, the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being utilized that immense explosive momentum to charge toward Yin Hu and Chi Peng, who were flying close to Chi Hao! "Watch out for the Dragon Shadow," Ji Du shouted toward Chi Hao while rapidly closing in, without pausing.
He swept his Frost Condensing Greatsword in a fierce crescent arc, blasting the two Dragon Shadows flying toward him into the air! He continued his charge toward Chi Ming at an astonishing speed.
Yes, the most crucial thing now was to cut off the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being’s external support; otherwise, one melee fighter and two ranged attackers meant endless trouble. It must be acknowledged that Ji Du and the others’ strategy was highly successful!
However, just as his crescent arc knocked back the Dragon Shadows! A dazzling blue arc simultaneously swept in!
It was Chi Ming, who had been waiting patiently, unleashing the Rapid Light Movie! How astonishing was the speed of the Rapid Light Movie!
But Ji Du’s speed was even faster beyond belief! With a nimble, electric sidestep, he slipped away like a ghost from Chi Ming’s attack, and then his entire form seemed to vanish into thin air!
All the anomalies occurred at the same precise moment! Roar!
A mighty crescent arc swept out wildly! It instantly struck the sudden Dragon Shadow!
Boom! Followed by the explosion of a dazzling ball of light!
The astonishing Battle Qi explosion actually sent Yin Hu flying uncontrollably! "Ah!" Who could have imagined that this seemingly insignificant Dragon Shadow concealed such terrifying impact force!
The four Dragon Shadows were all sent flying far away by the crescent arcs swung by the four fighters, but Yin Hu, Chi Peng, and Yin Tao were also violently thrown into the air, losing balance from the explosion generated by the collision of the Dragon Shadows and the arcs! In a duel between Heavy Armament Generals, even the slightest crack will bring a fatal blow!
Among the four, at the instant three were thrown back, a golden afterimage flashed suddenly like a ghost in the direction they were falling! Whoosh!
Then! A blue light barrier suddenly appeared!
Ah! So fast!
Yin Hu's body had no time to react at all. His vision was enveloped by the sudden, flashing blue barrier—it was a sword!
The Nine Luminaries Divine True Being's Dragon Shadow Sword! Yin Hu had never seen a demonic sword so imbued with strange power.
It was just a flash of blade, yet it seemed like an expanse of sky, a deep azure firmament, encompassing everything between heaven and earth, as if all the colors, all the energy of the universe had been absorbed and condensed by this singular, strange demonic sword, forging an infinite killing intent! Then the azure light screen vanished instantly!
The Flashing Shadow appeared, gone in an instant! But Yin Hu, Yin Tao, and Chi Peng all felt a slight chill on their necks!
As if brushed by a gentle, cool breeze! Thump!
Thump-thump! The three landed softly at the same time!
On the other side! Roar!
A thunderous roar! A white light flashed!
Chi Hao felt as if his entire body was nearly torn apart. The magical fluctuations inside him surged uncontrollably, accompanied by a wave of chilling killing intent!
Ah! Not good!
Chi Hao had no time to raise a magic shield or use his movement technique to escape. A sword that suddenly flashed out of the void pierced him without warning!
How is this possible! By the time Chi Hao reacted!
Ji Du's icy blade edge was already pressed against his throat! Staring at Ji Du, who had appeared out of thin air like a phantom, Chi Hao could barely believe his eyes!
Everyone present was dumbfounded! "That is the secret technique of the White Tiger Luo family from the Demonic Dragon Continent, White Tiger Roaring Heaven," Yin Shuang exclaimed in shock.
"I heard the Demonic Luo Warhawk was killed by him using this very move," Chi Long added, horrified. The other Blood Wolf Knights were utterly speechless!
On the field! Yin Hu instinctively touched his neck; a smear of bright red liquid stained his palm.
Good! What a fast sword strike!
Yin Hu could scarcely believe his eyes! He watched the golden figure floating down!
Not just him; Chi Peng and Yin Tao were the same! Each of their throats bore a thin, fine slit cut by the sharp Dragon Shadow Sword!
Just one strike! Although Yin Hu, Yin Tao, and Chi Peng remained standing, a monstrous wave surged in their depths.
Yes! They knew clearly that if the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being had intended harm, even a slightly deeper angle of the cut would have left three headless corpses right there!
What kind of swordsmanship was that! If they hadn't witnessed it personally, they would never have believed that such terrifying swordsmanship could exist in this world!
Speed, power, technique—no words were adequate to describe that single sword stroke. "Flashing Shadow Appearing," Lan Da exclaimed excitedly, "It's unmistakable, it's the Marshal's famous signature technique, Flashing Shadow Appearing!" Long before the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being became a Heavenly Demon Warrior, five ultimate killing moves were already rumored in the Ranger World, and the one just displayed was the Flashing Shadow Appearing that Shatters the Firmament!
Clang! Crash!
The weapons of the three dropped simultaneously to the ground; their faces turned ashen! Defeated!
And defeated with absolutely no chance to fight back, completely subdued by the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being's blade! Chi Hao on the other side also wore an expression of utter defeat!
"Thank you, General Ji Du, for sparing my life with your sword," Chi Hao managed a bleak laugh. Bai Chuan, Bai Yan, and Yin Hong stood frozen, unsure whether to advance or retreat!
Chi Ming, too, was somewhat at a loss. If Ji Du had chosen him as his target, Chi Ming was certain he too could not have evaded that ghostly footwork and speed!
The gap in strength was obvious! There was no point in continuing the fight!
The surrounding Blood Wolf Knights were equally stunned, forgetting even to cheer! What they had just witnessed was too shocking!
Who would have thought that in just two exchanges, eight Heavy Armament Generals from the Blood Wolf, Raging Dragon, and Byron Tribes had been subdued, respectively, by Ji Du and the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being! The combat prowess displayed by both Ji Du and the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being far exceeded their imagination!
"You focused too much on the power granted by the Sixth Tier of heavy armor," Ji Du said gravely. "But you neglected that duels between Heavy Armament Generals are not won purely by strength." Ji Du sheathed his sword calmly.
"Speed, footwork, technique, and awareness are all indispensable." "............" Bai Chuan and the others looked crestfallen; Ji Du's words exactly described the mistakes they had made. Bai Chuan and his group admitted that their strength might not match Ji Du and the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being, but the sheer magnitude of the difference was beyond anything they could have anticipated.
They could admit that even they could barely keep up with the speed of that Flashing Shadow Appearing strike; the Eye of Dying Desire could only barely capture its afterimage—and under those conditions, their bodies simply couldn't react in time. "However, for you to possess this level of strength so soon after donning the Sixth Tier armor is already quite commendable," Ji Du said, not wishing to crush them completely.
"Know that I was once the same as you." "The General instructs wisely," Bai Chuan’s face was stripped of its former arrogant wildness, replaced by one of respectful piety, like an eager student facing a mentor's lesson. "It was our arrogance." ".........!" The Nine Luminaries Divine True Being remained cold-faced.
After sheathing his sword, he turned and departed. Everyone present was astonished, especially Chi Ming and Chi Hao.
No one knew what the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being was thinking. Perhaps he was slightly disappointed by their performance; at least, his expression betrayed no sign of joy.
But only the meticulous Yin Shuang noticed a faint, fleeting smile cross the corner of the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being’s lips! It had to be admitted that the coordinated tripartite tactic Ji Du proposed earlier was excellent in theory, practically flawless.
But this all hinged on one prerequisite. That prerequisite was that Chi Hao and Chi Ming needed to possess strength commensurate with the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being’s level.
Otherwise, they simply couldn't keep pace with his speed and awareness; how could they possibly cooperate with him then! Cooperation required reciprocity.
Without power sufficient to match the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being's speed, they would only become his burden. At that moment, the two clearly recognized the gulf separating them from their leader.
"I trust you now understand what you are lacking," Ji Du stated seriously. "Only practical combat is the most direct and effective method to test strength.
I have taught you all I can; the rest depends on your own efforts." As he said this, Ji Du's expression grew solemn. "Time is short.
The Heavy Armament Generals from the Biqi and Cangyue nations will arrive here in ten days. I hope you can accelerate your improvement before then." Indeed!
Once the Heavy Armament Generals from Biqi and Cangyue arrived, the final offensive would commence! It could be said they had only ten short days left to adapt.
It was believed that ten days would be sufficient for the Demon Sealing Empire to make corresponding military deployments; there was no doubt that an unprecedented, massive war awaited them ten days hence! Within ten days, they had to reach a level where they could effectively coordinate with Ji Du and the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being.
"We will definitely redouble our efforts," Bai Chuan and the others were utterly convinced now. "General Ji Du, you must train us even more strictly." Before this, although they had all heard the great names of Ji Du and the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being, they had assumed that their strength derived primarily from the power of the Heavenly Demon Armor.
They believed that once they possessed the armor, they too could reach that realm. This feeling intensified when they donned their Sixth Tier armor.
Thus, they had all been eager for this live combat exercise, but the brutal result felt like a bucket of cold water dumped over their heads. It had shattered their previously naive assumptions!
To think they were nearly neutralized in a single exchange—the disparity was simply too vast. "From now on, we will conduct combat drills every two days," Ji Du stated firmly.
"This is now the only way to force you to rapidly utilize the combat methods of Heavy Armament Generals." "Yes," Bai Chuan and the others replied in unison. "We will never disappoint the General or the Marshal." Outside the arena!
"Chief Yin Shuang, it seems your analysis was incorrect," Lan Ka said. "Well," a faint, embarrassed blush touched Yin Shuang's fair complexion.
"Who could have anticipated that Chief Bai Chuan and the others couldn't keep pace with General Ji Du and the Marshal? My prediction was based on an assumption of equal strength." "But speaking of which, the gap is truly immense," Chi Long recalled something.
"Remember, the Marshal only became a Heavenly Demon Warrior a little over three months ago. It is rumored that during the Battle of Yuncheng, the Marshal replaced the fallen Fiery Luminaries Heavenly Demon, Jia Lie, becoming the new Heavenly Demon Warrior.
Under those circumstances, the Marshal couldn't possibly have had simulated combat drills like Bai Chuan and the others; he went directly against the Heavy Armament Generals of the Proud Heaven Legion." "I have heard that as well," Yin Shuang admitted. "When the Marshal first became a Heavenly Demon Warrior, he entered a major battle and broke through three Heavenly Demon Warriors and intercepted two Heavenly Venerable Daoists in that single engagement.
Finally, he utilized the Dragon Shadow to cross over and break through Moluo Aotian's Fire Wind Soaring Heavens attack, plunging into the Proud Heaven Legion's main mage formation, ultimately causing their lines to collapse and leading to their final rout." "How could such achievements possibly be accomplished by a Heavenly Demon Warrior who had only just donned his Heavenly Demon Armor?" Lan Ka murmured, awestruck. In truth, Yin Shuang and the others were unaware that the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being achieved such astonishing results in the Battle of Yuncheng largely due to Da Lei’s sacrificial breakthrough.
Without Da Lei’s help, the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being could never have completed the task of penetrating the enemy lines. Regarding these rumors, Bai Chuan and the others had certainly heard them.
This led them to subconsciously form a belief: since the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being could enter combat immediately upon receiving the Heavenly Demon Armor, they couldn't possibly be that far behind, no matter how inferior they were! Furthermore, they instinctively felt that the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being's successes were entirely due to the power of the Heavenly Demon Armor.
And most importantly, the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being was only seventeen years old—a fact the Bai Chuan group found difficult to accept. These individuals, while not active in the Ranger World recently, commanded reputations and strength that rivaled Jian Li, the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being's master, known as the Dragon Shadow Sword God.
By seniority, even the youngest among them, Yin Hu, was Jian Li’s contemporary. Having such a junior as their Marshal truly sat poorly with them.
Although they admired the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being’s string of near-miraculous achievements, a streak of refusal to submit was still at work deep down. Humans are strange creatures; they often instinctively believe they should be able to achieve things others do easily.
Yet, they failed to recognize this subtle psychology in themselves. However, this certainly wouldn't escape the notice of the seasoned Ji Du.
Perhaps today's combat drill was the alarm bell Ji Du intended to ring for them. Looking at the receding figure of the Nine Luminaries Divine True Being, Bai Chuan and the others felt, for the first time, a profound sense of frustration and helplessness.
But simultaneously, they were filled with confidence and hope for the future of the Black Flag Legion. Yes—two monsters so strong they seemed inhuman were now their comrades.
What could be more exciting than that! This was followed by an irrepressible sense of pride and exhilaration.
It was only at this moment that Shirakawa and the others fully awoke to the realization that, without them even noticing, the duel between Jidu and the Nine Luminaries Divine Truth had sown a strange seed deep within their very souls.
At least now they understood the kind of near-blind frenzy and adoration that Red Dragon had felt back then. Subconsciously, they glanced towards Shiraiwa, Yin Hu, and the others, only to find their faces etched with the same steadfast resolve and profound emotion! “It seems we need to step up our game as well,” Yintao said solemnly. “We absolutely cannot afford to drag down the Marshal and General Jidu.” “The Black Flag Army will defeat every formidable enemy,” Yinshuang declared, her grip tightening on the dragon-patterned sword belted at her waist. Shirakawa and the others’ transformation did not escape Yinshuang’s notice. Yes, at this precise moment, Yinshuang clearly felt that the Black Flag Army had finally coalesced into a single entity. If their previous amalgamation was born of forced necessity, an awe inspired by the formidable reputation of the Nine Luminaries Divine Truth, then this current unity was born of genuine, heartfelt acknowledgment and worship! A single duel had, without fanfare, changed everyone present! What a simple yet effective method of command and governance! Yinshuang once again sensed the depth of the Nine Luminaries Divine Truth’s wisdom and skill—a maturity disproportionate to his apparent age. It made his baby face, which otherwise looked deliberately composed for effect, seem fathomless, mysterious, and terrifyingly profound. The Black Flag Legion was now an unbreakable monolith; no one would doubt the supreme command capabilities of the Nine Luminaries Divine Truth.