There have been some inconsistencies in my updates recently due to a work reassignment, so please bear with me. However, starting tomorrow, I should be back to my normal update schedule! I hope I can continue to count on your unwavering support!
“..........。”Jiuyao Shenzhen stared intently at the incoming spear tip, suppressing the agony of his injuries as he drew the Dragon Shadow Sword from his waist.
Indeed, the Dragon Spear had been severed—a potentially fatal blow. While the Dragon Shadow Sword was sharp and durable, its effectiveness in mounted combat was severely limited. After all, compared to the spear’s impressive eight-meter length, the sword's meager meter-plus was simply too short!
But Jiuyao Shenzhen had no choice now! The strange rainbow light flashed as the sword was drawn, transforming into a shield of light to parry the torrential downpour of spear shadows surging toward him!
Clang! Clang! Clang!
A string of dazzling sparks and flashing light mixed with sharp, grating metallic screeches! Every single spear shadow was successfully blocked by the Dragon Shadow Sword!
And almost at the exact same moment!
ROAR! The Mammoth King let loose another earth-shattering bellow!
The terrifying resonance seemed to twist the very fabric of space, generating a vast, distorted ripple of sonic waves! It hurtled toward the Black Flame at an astonishing speed!
“Ah!” Moluo Yinfeng’s expression changed drastically!
The Black Flame let out a sharp, urgent cry! Its lightning-fast pouncing form suddenly curved in a bizarre arc, shifting laterally by a full ten meters mid-air!
CRUNCH! With a deafening boom!
A massive crater suddenly erupted in the ground, as if detonated by a heavy bomb!
Countless shards of rock sprayed outward like shrapnel!
Even though the Black Flame, carrying Moluo Yinfeng, had reacted quickly and dodged, its massive body was still struck by the terrifying sonic explosion, lifting it into the air as if slammed by a train! It was violently flung an incredible distance without warning!
Thud! Rumble!
Whoosh!
As Moluo Yinfeng was thrown backward on the Black Flame’s back, he saw a flash of white light! The Mammoth King’s colossal body shot forward like lightning!
By the time the Black Flame’s massive form crash-landed in disarray, the Mammoth King was already carrying Jiuyao Shenzhen, soaring over the city walls and vanishing without a trace!
“Damn it!” Moluo Yinfeng was so enraged he nearly spat blood. They had finally managed to injure Jiuyao Shenzhen, only to let him escape!
“Roar! Marshal! Marshal!” All the Byron Warriors shouted simultaneously. Although Jiuyao Shenzhen had been forced to retreat, he had killed two Heavenly Rainbow Arch-Mages and wounded Teng Kui and Teng Shuo. Moreover, the Mammoth King’s ferocious combat prowess greatly inspired all the Byron Warriors, who erupted in cheers.
Central Camp!
“The Marshal is safe!” Yinhui exclaimed happily.
“Order the retreat,” Yinshuang said in a deep voice.
Swish! Swish! Swish! Four dazzling magical flares burst into the sky simultaneously.
Over on the other side!
Moluo Yinfeng, though clearly unwilling to concede, dared not relax. The Eight War Generals of Thunderflame were indeed formidable, but the enemy camp was anchored by peerless masters like Jidu Jian Wucang Yue Zhenxian. A direct confrontation would yield no advantage. Furthermore, the loss of two Heavenly Rainbow Arch-Mages to Jiuyao Shenzhen, coupled with his own and Teng Shuo and Teng Kui’s serious injuries, meant the Thunderflame Legion was severely depleted. Continuing the fight was ill-advised.
Seeing the Black Banner Legion signal the withdrawal, Moluo Yinfeng could only grit his teeth and snarl, “Order the retreat. Recall the Eight War Generals.”
Swish! Swish!
Four dazzling blue flames shot up over Mancheng—the Thunderflame Legion’s signal to withdraw.
In the midst of the chaotic melee, heavy armored generals like Jidu Yin Nuqu Lei fought their opponents to a standstill. But upon receiving their respective withdrawal signals, all parties tacitly agreed to disengage.
Each side retreated to its main formation.
Before the Black Banner Legion’s lines!
The Mammoth King’s massive frame showed clear signs of exhaustion, yet despite this, all the Byron Warriors could feel the dense killing intent surging around its body.
And upon its back, Jiuyao Shenzhen was completely soaked in blood, looking as if he had been pulled from a pool of gore!
Even so, his frame, which was not imposing or magnificent, remained ramrod straight and rigid, as if the bloody wound in his chest and the blood slowly dripping onto the ground had nothing to do with him!
His cold eyes swept briefly over the assembled crowd before finally settling on Yinshuang!
“Marshal,” Yinshuang and the others felt as if they were being scrutinized by a hungry, bloodthirsty beast!
A wave of ineffable numbness and dread washed over them!
Whoosh!
The Dragon Shadow Sword held by Jiuyao Shenzhen slid back into its sheath. Like the receding tide, the suffocating, oppressive killing intent rapidly dissipated, as if it had never existed.
Had Yinshuang and the others not witnessed it firsthand, they would have assumed they had hallucinated.
The Jiuyao Shenzhen before them appeared weak and spent. His dark eyes, fixed upon them, had softened considerably—a stark contrast to his previous murderous demeanor!
“Marshal, you are badly hurt,” Yinshuang rushed forward with concern. But she quickly realized Jiuyao Shenzhen wasn't hearing her words; he pitched forward!
Ah! Yinshuang’s reaction was instantaneous; she caught him, preventing him from crashing to the ground!
However, Jiuyao Shenzhen tumbled directly into Yinshuang’s embrace! The situation was indescribably intimate.
Yinhui and the others nearby stared in stunned silence, nearly frozen in place.
How dare Jiuyao Shenzhen take liberties with Yinshuang in broad daylight!
But they soon realized something was terribly wrong: “Ah! The Marshal has passed out!” Yinhui and the elders gasped in shock!
“Silence,” Yinshuang’s face drained of color as she anxiously scanned their surroundings. She saw several soldiers approaching. “The Marshal is severely wounded and needs treatment. We absolutely cannot let anyone know he has fainted.”
“Quickly, help the Marshal back to the tent to rest!” Elder Yinxi, a man seasoned by experience, immediately grasped Yinshuang’s intent.
If the Commander-in-Chief, Jiuyao Shenzhen, had collapsed, and the soldiers found out, it would be a devastating blow!
After all, morale is paramount in warfare. News of the commander fainting would certainly shake the army’s will!
No wonder Yinshuang was so tense!
“Roar! Marshal! Marshal!” The Byron soldiers surged forward like a tide from all directions! Jiuyao Shenzhen, single-handedly, had slain two enemy Heavenly Rainbow Arch-Mages and seriously wounded two others. Although he was ultimately injured by Moluo Yinfeng, his ability to escape so easily and return to the main formation cemented his invincible image of traversing armies alone. This vision had driven every Byron Warrior into a frenzy of excitement!
For centuries, the Byron Tribe revered strength above all else. Jiuyao Shenzhen’s image of invincible valor had long been etched into their hearts during the previous battle. Now that their hero had returned safely, the crowd could no longer stand still, practically tripping over themselves to greet him! If strict military discipline hadn't restrained them, they might have charged forward long ago!
“Everyone, quiet down,” Yinxi waved his hand urgently. “Our Marshal is injured and needs rest. Let our Great Chieftain escort the Marshal back to his tent. Everyone please make way.” As Yinxi spoke, he glanced at Yinshuang.
“Ah, let me carry him,” Yinshuang’s fair face instantly flushed crimson! Looking down at Jiuyao Shenzhen, who was practically cradled in her arms and already unconscious, she felt intensely awkward!
She didn't know whether to hold him closer or push him away! Meanwhile, the few elders present, along with her deputy Yinhui, showed no inclination to offer assistance.
This gesture, however, provoked an even wilder wave of cheers: “Marshal! Great Chieftain! Marshal! Great Chieftain!”
“Hah! Great Chieftain! The Marshal is seriously hurt, you must take good care of him,” the scene became a lively spectacle. The surrounding Byron warriors erupted, their faces alight with knowing glances as they looked at Yinshuang and Jiuyao Shenzhen. Yinshuang was renowned as the beauty of the Byron Tribe, though her fierceness and martial prowess were equally legendary on the plains. Having reached the peak of the Crimson Moon Daoist cultivation realm while still young, she was unmatched among the younger generation.
Combined with being the only daughter of the former Great Chieftain, Yinhe, this made Yinshuang the undisputed Great Chieftain of the Byron Tribe in this generation, despite her youth.
Since her appointment, Yinshuang had displayed military genius disproportionate to her years! Though she couldn't breach Mancheng’s defenses, she had routed several large-scale sweeping campaigns organized by the Demon Sealing Armies into the Byron Great Grasslands with her Dragon Sword Riders. Consequently, Yinshuang’s command ability was fully recognized by her people.
Of course, as the current Great Chieftain of the Byron Tribe, every move Yinshuang made was closely scrutinized. What worried her people most was undoubtedly her marriage.
As the Great Chieftain, Yinshuang’s courage and strategy were unquestionable. However, being female meant she was destined to marry, which had caused endless headaches for her people, especially Yinhe and the dozen elders on the council!
It wasn’t that Yinshuang was unattractive; on the contrary, she was a rare beauty.
But having been groomed as the successor to the Great Chieftain from childhood, Yinshuang possessed a temperament starkly different from that of ordinary girls!
Valiant, aloof, and worst of all, stubborn and headstrong. Among her own tribe, only Yinhui could perhaps be considered her equal in talent and skill.
Thus, Yinshuang and Yinhui had become the most suitable match in the eyes of the tribe!
In fact, this had been carefully orchestrated by Yinhe and the dozen elders! If these two could unite, it would undoubtedly be of great significance to the stability and prosperity of the Byron Tribe!
Yet, the outcome defied expectations!
These childhood sweethearts simply didn't spark romantically. While affection existed between them, perhaps because they grew up together, their bond resembled that of siblings far more than romantic love. Despite spending over thirty years together, not a single spark of romantic fire had ignited!
This had given Yinhe, Yinxi, and the others a severe headache!
However, every unmarried youth in the tribe was brimming with ambition, each hoping to win the beautiful Chieftain’s heart! Yet, facing Yinshuang, whose strength reached the peak of the Crimson Moon, these young warriors felt immense pressure!
Especially since the haughty Yinshuang had publicly declared she wouldn't consider any suitor unless they were powerful enough to defeat her! Essentially, all the warriors within the Byron clan had given up hope!
Thus, the young, beautiful, yet immensely powerful Yinshuang became a unique figure in the Byron Tribe!
Most girls married around the age of twenty, and even Yinhui, who grew up with her, was already married with children.
But Yinshuang, well past forty, remained single. Although the average lifespan on the Mafa Continent was remarkably long, making fifty considered still youthful was not uncommon, a woman in her early forties who remained unmarried was a rare sight.
This situation was even more conspicuous within the Byron Tribe, known for its open-minded, passionate yet free-spirited culture.
The young men of the tribe had essentially abandoned the notion. To them, Yinshuang was like a star in the sky—visible, but eternally out of reach.
Nevertheless, everyone hoped that Yinshuang would find a good partner. After all, she was the Great Chieftain of the Byron Tribe! Who wouldn't wish for their respected leader to find happiness?
But as the years passed, it seemed Yinshuang still hadn't found a man who captured her heart, becoming a heavy stone pressing on the hearts of every member of the Byron Tribe.
That is why they were so astonished—and more so, filled with irrepressible excitement and anticipation—when they saw Yinshuang blush deeply, a rare occurrence.
Heaven had finally opened its eyes! The stone woman had finally shown emotion!
“Heh, I never thought the Great Chieftain would finally meet someone she favored.”
“Right? For all her power, the Great Chieftain is still a bit weaker than the Marshal,” a certain Captain analyzed solemnly.
“Weaker than the Marshal by a bit? Not even comparable,” the nearby private, ‘Mo Hui’ (Dust-Wiping), muttered instinctively. (Special thanks to Private Mo Hui, specially recruited from the fan group, provided by the loyal reader Mo_Hy—a deep bow.)
“Shut up! If you don't speak, no one will think you're mute! You’re penalized a month cleaning the supply barracks,” the Captain glared with bull-like eyes, irritated.
In terms of sheer power, Yinshuang and Jiuyao Shenzhen were naturally incomparable, but all the Byron Warriors chose to completely ignore this fact. For them, Jiuyao Shenzhen being stronger than Yinshuang was enough; how much stronger didn't really matter!
It was natural for men to be stronger than women! Moreover, this man was the invincible Marshal—what news could be more exciting than this?
And the unfortunate private, Mo Hui, looked utterly crestfallen; he had clearly angered the Captain!
“Ha! The supply barracks,” Private Mo Hui exclaimed in shock. “A whole month?” His face immediately crumpled into a bitter gourd. “Captain, you can’t do this to me! Remember when your wife made you kneel on the floor, and I secretly brought you a sheepskin cushion? And that time with Sister Chun, I covered for you too...” Facing impending doom, Private Mo Hui immediately counterattacked! A warrior could face death on the battlefield, but being sent to the supply barracks meant that girl would never stop laughing at him!
“........” The Captain was startled, suddenly remembering the leverage the young man held over him. He quickly forced a smile. “Stop that, brat.”
“What about the kitchen duty?” Private Mo Hui remained worried.
“Consider it unsaid,” the Captain muttered angrily!
The few soldiers watching Private Mo Hui looked at him with awe, nearly twisting their necks.
“Haha, that’s right. If even the Marshal isn't worthy of the Great Chieftain, then I suppose no one else in the world would be,” another Captain quickly chimed in diplomatically.
“But don’t you guys think this situation is a bit strange?” the Deputy Captain asked with a peculiar look.
“What’s strange?” Private Mo Hui asked curiously.
“I heard the Marshal isn't even twenty yet,” the Captain remarked. “But the Great Chieftain is already forty—a full twenty-year age gap. Isn’t that a case of an old cow eating tender grass?”
“Old grass, my foot!” Private Mo Hui and his Captain showed rare solidarity: “Our Great Chieftain isn't old at all; she’s only forty.” However, both sounded a bit uncertain, but having finally found an event that made the Great Chieftain blush and seemed to stir her affections, they weren’t about to let the opportunity slip away.
The surrounding soldiers stared at that Captain as if he were an idiot.
“Haha, that’s right, that’s right!” The Captain quickly corrected himself. “The Great Chieftain and the Marshal are a match made in heaven, a match made in heaven, haha.”
Of course, this small interlude within the Byron Tribe was not significant enough to cause a major stir!
The deafening cheers of the Byron Warriors continued all around them.
Amidst the clamor, the respected Great Chieftain Yinshuang, her face bright red, practically fled into the main tent, supporting the Marshal!
Only Private Mo Hui, standing off to the side, noticed a subtle, unusual detail: “The Marshal’s feet aren’t touching the ground, and his eyes are closed. The Great Chieftain is basically carrying him into the tent. Heavens, could the Marshal already be...” Private Mo Hui’s expression flickered, and he glanced around nervously.