"I ask you all, are you willing today to follow me and raze Shangxiao Mountain?" The voice was clear, neither too high nor too low, yet it carried perfectly over the thunderous gallop of mounted beasts and the dense clash of armor across the entire battlefield. (Sanctuary 7*24-hour non-stop update pure txt hand-typed novel) Lei Dong paused, and even as an Eighth-Tier peak martial artist, his spirit was momentarily overwhelmed by the vast momentum of the one thousand two hundred Dao Soldiers and the hundreds of thousands of iron cavalry charging toward them. It was Zong Shou’s words that snapped him back to attention. His eyes immediately filled with confusion.
What was Zong Shou planning?
As this thought arose, Lei Dong noticed the surrounding situation was even stranger. Apart from him and Jin Buhui, everyone else showed not a trace of worry. In fact, when Zong Shou tore his outer robe, revealing the crimson battle armor beneath, every single person's spirits lifted. Xuanyuan Tong, standing nearby, murmured softly.
“—It’s finally starting? Witnessing the demise of a Sect—”
Zhao Yanran was also muttering under her breath, but her eyes were filled with an irrepressible excitement.
“It’s finally beginning? The fall of Shangxiao, the decline of Lingyun!”
“Heh heh! Kill! Kill! Kill! How dare they provoke our Qiantian Mountain. Today, we must slaughter every single one of the four million people here before we stop!”
The demise of a Sect? The fall of Shangxiao?
Lei Dong and Jin Buhui exchanged bewildered glances. What did Xuanyuan Tong and Zhao Yanran mean by those words?
At this moment, hundreds of thousands of iron cavalry were charging in. Even drowning them would be an easy fate. With those one thousand two hundred Sixth-Tier Dao Soldiers present, were they seriously intending to destroy the Shangxiao Sect with this meager force instead of planning an escape?
As for the last remark, it came from Hu Zhongyuan. Lei Dong had long known this fellow was an idiot. He had spent the last hour below the slope, leading ten thousand Qiantian Mountain’s elite cavalry in battle, sustaining countless injuries of all sizes. His mind was already muddled, so Lei Dong couldn't be bothered to pay much heed.
But the words of Zhao Yanran and Xuanyuan Tong were surely not without reason!
Lei Dong suddenly looked behind him, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.
As this thought took root, he heard the voices from within the mist—thousands of voices rising as one.
“We are willing to obey your command! Today, we shall raze Shangxiao!”
This sound was also deep and subdued, neither high nor low, yet it resonated for tens of miles. The moment the words faded, thousands of crimson iron riders slowly emerged from the black mist. Tian Qi smiled and simultaneously dropped the illusionary spell. Instantly, a pillar-like surge of crimson essence shot toward the heavens. As a blood-red fog dispersed, a terrifying killing aura that made every expert present’s heart tremble permeated the area.
The appearance of this cavalry force, numbering only four thousand two hundred, seemed to completely eclipse the sounds of the hundreds of thousands on the battlefield. Even the one thousand two hundred Sixth-Tier Dao Soldiers charging from afar seemed less daunting!
What was this?
Lei Dong felt a piercing ache in his heart. Even when witnessing the charging formation of the Eastern Ling Sect’s one thousand two hundred Dao Soldiers earlier, he had only felt a slight shock. But at this instant, seeing these four thousand blood-red riders emerge from the black mist, it was the first time in his life he had felt such profound fear, such true awe.
Gazing closely at these crimson knights, their blood-red armor and great halberds, Lei Dong vaguely recalled something. He seemed to have heard mentions of this scarlet cavalry long ago in his memory.
But for a moment, he couldn't recall the name from his mind.
It wasn't until a woman’s voice nearby spoke in stunned reverence: “The Blood Cloud Cavalry, it is indeed the Blood Cloud Cavalry! The invincible Dao Soldiers of antiquity—”
Lei Dong turned his head and saw a maiden with exquisite and beautiful features, in no way inferior to Zhao Yanran, standing not far away.
It was Kong Yao? Wasn't this woman serving as the Great Merchant Inspector Marshal? Why was she here?
Then, in the next instant, he finally understood.
—The Blood Cloud Cavalry! It truly is the Blood Cloud Cavalry! So that’s it. Has Zong Shou brought back this invincible cavalry that was once the backbone of the Wulie Kingdom’s dominion over the world?
But where did Zong Shou find so many Martial Sovereign experts? And where did he acquire so many suits of Blood Cloud Armor?
He counted them—there were fully four thousand two hundred!
Legend held that the Blood Cloud Cavalry, though Fifth-Tier in strength, could contend with Sixth-Tier Dao Soldiers. Latest chapters of Sanctuary.
If that were true, didn't that mean Zong Shou’s current combat strength was sufficient to rival any Holy Land or Great Sect in the world?
He abruptly turned back and saw the crimson knights had already wheeled their mounts to form ranks behind Zong Shou.
Perhaps due to previous suppression, although the thousands of men maintained cold expressions, their battle intent was palpable just by looking at them.
What was more intense was their killing intent—fierce, savage, and dominant, pressing down upon the entire area below Shangxiao Mountain.
Zong Shou, meanwhile, raised the blood-red great halberd in his hand high above his head.
“Wedge Formation! Today, we shall be invincible!”
The four thousand blood-red riders responded with silence. They arranged themselves perfectly behind Zong Shou in a wedge formation.
As they circulated the Blood Cavalry Killing Intent Art, bursts of sound erupted throughout the ranks. Their energy meridians connected, fusing all four thousand two hundred and fifty-two individuals, including Zong Shou and Zong Yuan, into one entity.
Then, they too raised their great halberds high, pointing them toward the front.
“We, the Blood Cloud Cavalry, are destined to be ever-victorious and irresistible in attack!”
Zong Shou smiled with satisfaction, spurred his Sixth-Tier Dragon Horned Winged Horse forward, and began to accelerate slowly.
When they reached a hundred zhang, the ground beneath them shook violently as the hooves of thousands of Dragon Horned Winged Horses rose and fell in unison.
In the distance, he could clearly see the faces of the one thousand two hundred Sixth-Tier Dao Soldiers opposite them.
Especially the first few men—the Lingyun Sect clearly held him in high regard. Among the Dao Soldier contingent were three Ninth-Tiers! And twelve Sixth-Tiers!
But so what? With the appearance of the Blood Cloud Cavalry, the millions of living beings here are destined to be sacrificed!
The great halberd in his hand must first taste the blood of these strong experts!
They were less than three thousand zhang apart. Though the two cavalry forces had not yet collided, their mental projections and auras began to clash and impact.
But as soon as they engaged, the thousand two Dao Riders collapsed. The martial intent of the thousand two men, and even the previously terrifying momentum of their iron cavalry, were torn apart, shattered like dust!
The warhorses grew panicked, neighing in terror. The cavalry formation completely broke down at two thousand six hundred zhang. All twelve hundred men were pale with fear, oppressed by the searing killing intent and baleful aura emanating from the opposite side.
And in the sky, the voice of the demonic sect member suddenly rang out again: “The Blood Cloud Cavalry, it is the Blood Cloud Iron Cavalry of the Wulie Kingdom! The invincible cavalry of antiquity, how can this be? How could such an invincible Dao Soldier reappear in this world?”
The words were filled with disbelief, faintly tinged with alarm.
At this moment, everyone watching the battle from the peak of Shangxiao Mountain was equally stunned and bewildered.
“The Blood Cloud Cavalry! So that’s it, so that’s it! But where did Zong Shou find so many Fifth-Tier Martial Sovereigns? And where did he get so many suits of Blood Cloud Armor?”
“As far as I know, the inherited cultivation method of the Wulie Kingdom’s Blood Cavalry Killing Art exists only in three copies, all recorded on bronze tripods hidden within the Lie Ruins—”
Han Nishui’s lips were the color of parchment. He recalled Xuanyuan Yiren’s words again—Did you know what Zong Shou’s first transaction with the Kongqi Sect was? Could it be...?
A thought stirring, Han Nishui stood up abruptly: “I remember the Kongqi Sect used to store several thousand suits of Blood Cloud Armor that they never sold!”
At these words, everyone in the hall realized the truth with a flash of understanding.
“Damn it! These people from the Kongqi Sect deserve to be cut into ten thousand pieces! No wonder they dared to ally with Qiantian Mountain; they must have known this long ago—”
Many questions remained unanswered—where the cultivation method came from, and how Zong Shou found these four thousand Martial Sovereign realm experts—but these were no longer important.
“What are you all still standing around for?”
Wuyue also shot up, her voice tearing at her throat: “Tell them to pull back immediately! They know it’s the Blood Cloud Cavalry, yet they dare to charge blindly? Are they looking to die?”
Daoist Yuan Kong felt only bitterness in his mouth. The moment he saw that cavalry force appear, he knew things were ill-fated. The regret churning in his chest was almost indescribable.
“Brother Dao, do not be alarmed! The invincible reputation of the Blood Cloud Cavalry is just a legend; it might not truly be so—”
But as he spoke these words, even Yuan Kong himself didn't believe them.
The scene below was laid out before them—a defeat evident before any real engagement even occurred.
Before any command could arrive from the peak of Shangxiao Mountain, the thousand two Dao Riders, already close to two thousand three hundred zhang away, began to scatter and flee.
The four hundred Cloud Dragon Sword Masters of the Lingyun Sect directly abandoned the beasts beneath them. Their four hundred energy meridians merged, manifesting countless wisps of cloud, transforming into a cloud dragon that soared into the sky, turning back toward Shangxiao Mountain.
The two hundred Shangqing Thunder Shamans were surrounded by crackling lightning, rising into the air.
The Dao Spirit Profound Wind Masters of the Daoming Sect similarly rode the hurricane, soaring toward Shangxiao Mountain. The Dao Soldiers of the other sects also utilized their respective skills.
They all fled at maximum speed, seeking only to put as much distance as possible between themselves and the charging crimson knights.
The formation of the thousand two cavalry instantly dissolved, incredibly swift and clean.
The entire battlefield fell silent. Everyone watching the scene displayed expressions of shock.
Especially the city iron cavalry forces following closely behind, their eyes filled with confusion.
—These were the Eastern Ling Sect’s most elite and formidable Sixth-Tier Dao Soldiers! Weren’t these thousand-plus cavalry supposed to crush the Qiantian Mountain forces opposite them into powder?
Why did they break rank before even engaging in a true clash? They didn't even dare to face them head-on once?
—Could this be considered fleeing upon sighting the enemy?
What exactly were those crimson knights opposite them? Why did merely their killing intent send chills down their spines, making their limbs difficult to move?
These thoughts flashed through the minds of almost every knight.
Zong Shou, however, narrowed his dangerous eyes.
Flee?
If you are allowed to escape before my eyes, then the Blood Cloud Cavalry is unworthy of its invincible name!
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