Chapter 254: Siege Battle
Su Yan used himself as bait, luring Zhao Wenxing to strike boldly.
Gu Sanqian rushed to save him with all his might, suppressing and killing Zhao Wenxing in the Pushan Mountain Range.
Pu Lengfeng colluded with Zhao Wenxing, nearly succeeding.
When the miasma of the Pushan Mountain Range dispersed, everyone finally learned what had happened in Pushan.
However, in this rumor, Su Yan was deliberately excluded by Gu Sanqian, merely entering the fray with his body.
But it made no mention at all of how he used his physical body as a bridge to bear the power of the Dharma Aspect and combat Pu Lengfeng.
Bailu County was pacified by everyone, and Gu Sanqian, Bi Qingman, and the others hurried through the night to Wan Ning County to aid Hu Yangming.
The remaining nine Dan Qiao Realm True Persons were all in this tent.
“The Head Seat has already gone to Wan Ning County. We remaining people must split into two parts: one part stays here to suppress the unrest, and the rest go together to Lishan County.”
Su Yan swept his gaze over everyone, then said: “Leave a thousand Mountain Guard here. One of you Senior Brothers must serve as Commander.”
A total of four Golden Core Realm Commanders from the Mountain Guard had come: Di Yining, Lü Yao, Yang Fangyi, and Yu Lexin, two men and two women.
The ones stationed must come from these four Mountain Guard Commanders; only they can better lead the Mountain Guard disciples.
“Four Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters, who is willing to stay?”
The few exchanged glances, and Yang Fangyi’s red lips parted slightly: “I’ll do it. The remaining matters in Bailu County are nothing more than suppression and reshuffling. People from the Sect Affairs Pavilion will arrive one after another, so it’s not too complicated. But for you all, the trip to Junlao Mountain requires extra caution.”
Junlao Mountain is the old nest of the Yan Ying Sect. Even without Dharma Aspect Realm True Persons there, it’s probably a powder keg right now.
A cornered beast fights back; for a chance at survival, there are likely no few frenzied Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artists.
……
After arrangements were made in Bailu County, the Cloud Beast Boat set off immediately, bringing a crowd of disciples back to Lishan County.
Over a dozen Cloud Beast Boats were like aerial carriers, piercing through the clouds and rapidly approaching Lishan County.
Cloud Piercing Sparrows continuously brought news: Lishan County was already armed and ready at this time.
The borders had all been sealed by the Beast King Sect’s Mountain Guard, while the side approaching the north was lined with Monster Suppressing Guard troops.
The Yan Ying Sect had gone too far; now, those wanting to exterminate them weren’t just the Beast King Sect.
However, the more this was so, the more mad the forces trapped in Lishan County became.
Lishan County City and Junlao Mountain had already gathered over ten thousand Martial Artists, with all Origin Stones piled into the great array.
Even a Dharma Aspect Realm powerhouse attacking would probably take some effort.
The original forces in all of Lishan County, especially the Qing Family, had fled where they could. The Qing Family’s main branch had almost all fled to Southern Sky City, while another portion had been directly forced back to the Hundred Peaks Barrier.
Su Yan and the others traveled for a day and finally arrived with the expeditionary force from Wan Ning County at the encampment on the edge of Lishan County.
As everyone landed, they saw Yan Yin standing outside the tent.
“Greetings, Senior Brother Yan Yin.”
The twenty-one Dan Qiao Realm True Persons saw Yan Yin and slightly bowed in salute.
Although all were Dan Qiao Realm, the gap between First Heaven and All Stars Heaven was no small difference.
Among those present, only Azure Dragon Peak’s Wan Ruicheng, White Python Peak’s Chen Xuanmo, and Shattered Moon Peak’s Liu Dongzhu—four people—had Third Heaven or Second Heaven cultivation in the Dan Qiao Realm.
The rest were mostly newly advanced to Dan Qiao, thus primarily Dan Qiao Realm First Heaven.
“You’ve all worked hard, Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters.”
Yan Yin was still his usual meticulous self, though he gave Su Yan an extra glance upon seeing him.
This Junior Brother was truly formidable—not only had he broken through, but he felt stronger than an ordinary Dan Qiao Realm First Heaven Martial Artist.
“Senior Brother Yan Yin, what are we to do next about the Yan Ying Sect rebels in Lishan County?”
Everyone sat down, and Chen Xuanmo from the lower seat spoke up to ask.
Yan Yin said indifferently: “Bing Zhongxing, the top Dan Qiao figure of Junlao Mountain, sent a challenge letter: two formations, seven people, nine matches to decide the life and death of ten thousand-plus Yan Ying Sect disciples.”
“What big talk.”
Wan Ruicheng’s eyes widened, his aura uncontrollably surging.
What was Junlao Mountain? They no longer even had Dharma Aspect Realm now. If not for the Head Seat and others deliberately letting everyone clean up the remnants.
If they struck, how could it not be breached.
Now they dared to propose terms—truly courting death.
Yan Yin said faintly: “If we don’t agree, they’ll destroy the entire spiritual vein of Lishan County, then slaughter Lishan County City.”
The Dan Qiao faces present all changed together, drawing in sharp breaths.
“Has Bing Zhongxing gone mad? If he really dares to do that, count them one by one—none of their lineage will be spared.”
Bing Zhongxing was the Sect Leader of Shamen Fort, his cultivation having broken through the four realms to reach All Stars Heaven.
He was advanced in years, nearly of the same generation as some Dharma Aspect Realm True Persons, and his skills were indeed solid, with eight or nine hundred disciples under him if not a thousand.
Sects and families similar to him but with lesser cultivation were actually not few in the Yan Ying Sect.
And these people, in such a great war where the sect had nowhere to retreat, would often preserve some seedlings, hiding them away to avoid extinction of their line.
For the Beast King Sect, after killing the Dan Qiao, even if some little whelps remained, the Beast King Sect wouldn’t bother pursuing them.
This wasn’t mercy, but the effort to hunt down the hidden sole survivors of those troublemaking sects was too great.
Often, the manpower invested far exceeded the threat they might pose.
Unless a certain force committed something utterly outrageous.
Or thoroughly offended the Beast King Sect.
Now, with all eyes on the Beast King Sect, if they really allowed the city to be butchered, there would be more and more opposing the Beast King Sect in the shadows.
Chen Xuanmo’s face darkened: “Are we really to agree to them?”
For the mighty Beast King Sect to be forced into agreeing to a duel—that would be the greatest joke.
Yan Yin looked to Su Yan and suddenly asked: “What does Junior Brother Su think?”
This question stunned everyone present slightly, as they looked at Su Yan in surprise.
Who was Yan Yin?
Yan Yin was third on the Dragon Ranking; above him were only Yin Yuxi and Huang Shuzhen.
In the Beast King Sect, from top to bottom, there weren’t many in the Dan Qiao Realm he held in regard.
And Su Yan was just a disciple who had newly broken through to Dan Qiao Realm.
For a moment, the Dan Qiao Realm people present showed varied expressions.
Though Su Yan was surprised, his demeanor remained very calm.
“Two formations, seven people—if we win their seven, will the remaining Dan Qiao Realm ones just bare their necks for slaughter? Our attack isn’t for contending resources, but to quell chaos.”
He cut straight to the point, saying indifferently: “If they slaughter the city, I’ll just butcher their ten clans in return. I want to see whether their slaughtering speed is faster or if they have more clansmen.”
Hiss
Everyone’s eyes widened as they carefully sized up this Junior Brother—he was truly a calm and ruthless one.
However, they all came around to it.
This wasn’t some gambling match to divide resources, but quelling chaos.
Stirring trouble came at a cost.
Otherwise, more people would follow their example and rebel.
Yan Yin nodded approvingly: “Junior Brother Su is right. Wrongdoing must have a price.”
His gaze sharpened: “The messenger was beheaded by me this morning. Tomorrow, just focus on breaking the two layers of mountain guard great arrays over Lishan County City and Junlao Mountain. I want no Dan Qiao Martial Artist left alive.”
Yan Yin was a sect loyalist, showing no mercy to those who wanted to overthrow the Beast King Sect.
Liu Dongzhu asked: “Senior Brother, have the great arrays at Lishan County City and Junlao Mountain been scouted?”
“The array at Lishan County City is the third-order great array Spirit Tiger Mountain Guard Array set up earlier by the Qing Family, with a hundred tiger souls sealed in the city wall, gathering into a spirit tiger to guard the city. If not for a traitor in the Qing Family who let someone break this array, Lishan County City might not have been so easy to breach.”
Everyone’s expressions tightened, and Yan Yin continued: “Junlao Mountain’s great array is likely similar, but the specifics are unknown—only that it may be Lu Wuyan’s handiwork.”
A third-order great array, if manned by over a dozen Dan Qiao Realm as formation eyes and burning Origin Stones without regard, its power might approach the Dharma Aspect Realm.
Everyone pondered gravely; tomorrow’s attack would likely require the Beast King Sect’s Mountain Felling Array.
……
Lishan County City
Throughout Lishan County City, doors were slammed shut one after another, and all the people were dragged by Martial Artists one by one to an open area.
Ordinary citizens knelt on the ground, watching the cold butcher’s knife inches from their necks.
They trembled incessantly, fearing they would be killed by these Martial Artist Lords.
At this time, the Martial Artists in the city numbered far more than ten thousand.
The original Yan Ying Sect members weren’t that many, but Bing Zhongxing was an old, cunning, and ruthless man.
From the time Lu Wuyan, Li Jiongcang, and others disappeared one after another, he had ordered all city forces seized—though without the Qing Family as the big player.
The remaining families had Family Heads only at Dan Qiao Realm First Heaven or even half-step Dan Qiao strength.
With such a gap, no force dared resist him.
In just three short days, he controlled the disciples’ families of major forces, ordered direct lineage disciples to slaughter citizens, and carried out the killings in front of the whole city.
This was the oath of allegiance.
One side slaughter, the other coercion of families.
In Lishan County City, over seventy percent of the forces were forced to become his pawns, and thus the Martial Artists in the county city exceeded fifteen thousand.
At this time, the whole city was filled with tension, a oppressive aura like a great mountain weighing on everyone’s hearts.
In the Qing Family’s great mansion, Bing Zhongxing sat boldly in the center position, his face as gloomy as if it could kill.
“Junlao Mountain’s earth vein is destroyed, and the array is fully activated. Now all thirty-seven of our Dan Qiao are in Lishan County City. Bing Zhongxing, you said you had a method to let us live.”
In the hall, a silver-haired old man opposite Bing Zhongxing pressed harshly with a hoarse voice.
Bing Zhongxing snorted coldly: “I dare not guarantee everyone lives, but I can give everyone a chance.”
Jia Wen swept his gaze over those present, his expression sinister; he could see the varied looks on their faces—now in crisis, everyone only thought of their own survival.
They gathered here only because Bing Zhongxing was stronger and had said he could fight for a chance.
“Today’s challenge was rejected—Yan Yin killed the messenger.”
Bing Zhongxing’s expression unchanged: “If Beast King Sect disciples agreed, that would be the strange thing. Tomorrow they should come to attack the city.”
A black-haired, long-faced man nearby said sinisterly: “And Junlao Mountain.”
The Yan Ying Sect had only two strongholds, naturally targeted first.
But everyone was even more curious what Bing Zhongxing really planned.
Bing Zhongxing swept his gaze over everyone, then said coldly: “Slaughter the city for blood sacrifice. Activate the array at dawn tomorrow.”
Among the Dan Qiao Realm True Persons present, many paled.
They were forces that had wavered or been forced to join; if the city slaughter truly began, they would have no way back.
Just as hesitation stirred in their hearts, the next moment they met Bing Zhongxing and the others’ gazes and immediately suppressed everything.
Bing Zhongxing and Jia Wen were both at All Stars Heaven cultivation; even that long-faced man Zhou Zhaowen was a Third Heaven Martial Artist—far from what they could oppose.
……
After dawn, blood-red light shot into the sky, enveloping all of Lishan County City.
A Mountain Guard spy saw this and immediately sensed something wrong. Just as he tried to scout, he discovered human heads being thrown out of Lishan County City one by one.
In mere moments, over a thousand round heads had fallen to the ground.
Big trouble!
The news raced back to the main tent, where Yan Yin and the other Dan Qiao Realm faces turned ice-cold.
“Seeking their own death.”
Killing intent had risen in Yan Yin’s heart; for Bing Zhongxing’s actions, it sealed his fate for total extermination.
“Assemble the Mountain Guard and attack Lishan County City.”
Mountain Guard disciples quickly assembled, along with over a thousand inner and outer disciples.
Cloud Beast Boats flew out continuously, hovering outside Lishan County City, troops pressing against the city walls like black clouds looming.
At this time, Lishan County City was shrouded in blood light, a misty barrier faintly visible.
Through this barrier, the city wall was full of Martial Artists, all clad in armor, holding sharp weapons.
Now it was a battle of life and death; all the city’s armor and sharp weapons were freely used, just to survive this great war.
Bing Zhongxing, draped in a golden robe, swept his gaze and locked onto the Cloud Beast Boats.
“Yan Yin, your Beast King Sect’s hearts are far more ruthless than ours. This city’s citizens blood sacrificed—you share the credit.”
Bing Zhongxing tried to shake Yan Yin and the others’ resolve, but Yan Yin coldly replied: “Since you dare slaughter the city, then your ten clans’ kin and close friends will all accompany you on the Yellow Springs Road.”
At these words, the Dan Qiao Martial Artists on the city wall changed expressions.
‘Such a ruthless young one.’
Bing Zhongxing cursed inwardly, but said defiantly: “If you have the skill, kill us first. Activate the array!”
As the great array activated, blood light surged, tiger roars echoing over all of Lishan County City.
Blood shadows coalesced into a city-guarding spirit tiger, endless spiritual energy gathering like a massive vortex.
At this time, all Martial Artists on the city wall simultaneously poured true essence in, contributing to the spirit tiger.
Under everyone’s gaze, the spirit tiger descended, its body growing from ten zhang long to a hundred-zhang behemoth in an instant, roaring skyward straight at the Beast King Sect.
Yan Yin’s eyes narrowed; his long sword slashed out, a hundred-zhang sword light aimed at the spirit tiger’s head.
Bing Zhongxing’s true essence churned around him, all injected into the spirit tiger, which swatted a paw to shatter the sword light.
The two clashed fiercely, plowing the ground wherever they passed, leaving gullies crisscrossing the earth.
Everyone watched intently when red light shadows gathered on the Dan Qiao True Persons atop the city wall.
In an instant, red mist rapidly spread as Dan Qiao Realm True Persons flew out one by one as formation eyes, proactively launching attacks.
“Such audacity.”
Seeing this, Chen Xuanmo charged forward, his blade straight at one Dan Qiao.
The remaining Dan Qiao Realm True Persons did likewise, pairing off for slaughter.
The formation continued to spread.
At this time, Yan Yin’s figure hovered mid-air; he struck to repel the spirit tiger, then shouted: “Mountain Felling Array!”
Mountain Guard disciples moved in unison, true essence surging to form a Mountain Felling Beast.
Yan Yin controlled the Mountain Felling Beast, directly clashing with the spirit tiger, turning the entire battlefield upside down.
