The atmosphere in the Council Hall was so heavy it felt like it could be wrung out like water. As soon as Fang Hao’s words, "I am willing to go," left his mouth, his heart began to thrum like a drum. This was a life-or-death situation! It was no joking matter. But the words were out, and like spilled water, they couldn’t be taken back; he could only brace himself and see it through.
Steward Mu Chengen acted with thunderous efficiency, giving no one a chance to regret their decision. Once the candidates were finalized, he imdiately began distributing supplies. Fang Hao received three bottles of dicinal Pills—one bottle of "Spirit Recovery Pills" for rapid Spiritual Qi recovery, one bottle of "Life-Sustaining Pills" for treating severe injuries, and one bottle of "explosive essence pills" that could stimulate potential for a short ti. The latter had significant side effects, but it could save one’s life at a critical mont. Additionally, he received a stack of various offensive and defensive Talismans of good quality. Finally, he was given a Jade Slip containing known Formation layout maps of the Black Wind Canyon defense line and an analysis of several Formation weaknesses the enemy might exploit.
"It seems that breaking Formations is the key to this mission." Fang Hao understood perfectly. The Prince’s Mansion had recruited them, especially Formation Masters like him, likely to serve as "sappers" specifically to deal with the enemy’s turtle shells.
Preparation ti was extrely short. In less than an hour, the group of twenty boarded three extrely fast military "cloud-piercing shuttles" in the backyard of the Prince’s Mansion. These shuttles were pitch black and streamlined, looking much more aggressive than the silver light shuttles used by Guest Elders. Leading the team was an Early Golden Core Stage commander from the Prince’s Mansion nad Commander Lei. He was dark-faced, stern, and had eyes as sharp as knives.
"Depart!" At Commander Lei’s order, the three cloud-piercing shuttles rose silently into the air and transford into three black lines, hurtling toward the west. Almost no sound of breaking air could be heard, as they were clearly enhanced with concealnt Formations.
The space inside the shuttles was small, and the atmosphere was oppressive. No one spoke; most were closing their eyes to regulate their breathing, seizing every mont to recover their condition. Fang Hao also leaned against the cabin wall, seemingly resting his spirit, but his mind was rapidly digesting the information within the Jade Slip.
He knew of Black Wind Canyon. It was a massive rift valley stretching across western Qingzhou, thousands of miles long and bottomless. Black winds howled through the canyon year-round, filled with a grim Yin Qi, making it a natural barrier. The Mingling Empire had built sturdy fortresses and interlocking grand Formations at the most dangerous passes of the canyon, making it easy to defend and hard to attack. He hadn’t expected such an important place to be breached by the Great Qin Empire!
The information in the Jade Slip indicated that the enemy launched a surprise attack during a rare weakening of the "Black Wind Tide." The Black Wind Tide is a natural phenonon in the canyon that erupts every few years, during which the power of the black wind increases drastically, so much so that even Golden Core Cultivators dare not cross easily. However, there is a brief period of weakness after the tide. The Great Qin army had clearly seized this window of opportunity with precision and utilized so powerful Formation-breaking Magic Treasure or special Formation to capture the outermost Panshi Fortress and Tiebi Pass in one fell swoop. The defending generals were killed, and casualties were heavy.
"Panshi Fortress... Tiebi Pass..." Fang Hao silently noted these nas. Their primary mission was to assist Luoxia City, which was still holding out, and to seek an opportunity to retake these two fallen passes.
The shuttles moved at extre speed, traveling day and night. Along the way, many fleeing civilians and reinforcing armies heading west could be seen, creating a tense atmosphere. The further west they went, the more turbulent the Spiritual Qi in the air beca, mixed with a faint scent of blood and gunpowder.
Two days later, a massive black rift appeared on the horizon like a scar across the earth. That was Black Wind Canyon! Even from a great distance, the sound of the wind, like the wailing of ghosts and howling of wolves, could be heard coming from the canyon.
"Prepare to land! The alert zone outside Luoxia City is ahead!" Commander Lei’s voice echoed within each shuttle through a sound-transmission Formation.
The cloud-piercing shuttles began to descend, flying close to the ground to avoid potential enemy reconnaissance. Soon, a majestic city built against a mountain and shrouded in a faint light barrier appeared before them. The city walls were covered in battle scars, charred black in places, and the flags were sowhat tattered, yet it still stood tall. This was Luoxia City!
The shuttles stopped at a hidden landing point outside the city. As everyone stepped out, a strong sll of blood and charred flesh hit them, mixed with the moans of wounded soldiers. The soldiers on the walls looked exhausted, but their eyes were firm, exuding a murderous aura.
An injured Great Perfection Foundation Establishnt Captain wearing battered armor ca forward and saluted Commander Lei: "Commander Lei! You’ve finally arrived!"
"Captain Wang, what is the current situation?" Commander Lei asked in a deep voice.
Captain Wang’s expression was grim: "Very bad! The main enemy force is stationed at Tiebi Pass thirty miles away, attacking our City Defense Formation day and night! The Formation’s energy consumption is massive; it won’t hold for much longer! Moreover, their small units constantly penetrate our lines to harass our supply routes. Yesterday, another grain transport team was intercepted!"
Commander Lei frowned deeply: "Take us to see General Li!"
The group followed Captain Wang into Luoxia City. The atmosphere inside was even more tense, with patrolling soldiers and laborers transporting supplies everywhere. The infirmaries were overcrowded. Fang Hao saw many Cultivators who were also injured, sitting in ditation to heal.
At the command center in the heart of the city, they t the defending commander, General Li, a veteran at the Middle Golden Core Stage. His face was weary, but his eyes were sharp. He briefly explained the situation between the two sides, which was similar to what was in the Jade Slip, but hearing it in person made it feel even more severe.
"...The enemy’s offensive is very fierce, and their Formations are very strange; our Formations have difficulty fully resisting them. Most importantly, there is at least one Nascent Soul Cultivator overseeing their army. Although he hasn’t directly intervened yet, that pressure has been constantly looming over the battlefield, greatly affecting our morale." General Li sighed. "Commander Lei, you’ve co at the right ti! What are the Prince’s instructions?"
Commander Lei repeated the orders from the Prince’s Mansion and then said, "The urgent priority is to stabilize the defenses of Luoxia City. General Li, we need the cooperation of people familiar with the frontline Formations to find the flaws in the enemy’s Formations and see if we can counter-attack or sabotage them."
General Li nodded. "I will have Steward Liu from the Formation Master Battalion assist you. He has been observing at the frontline."
Soon, a white-haired old Cultivator with bloodshot eyes was called in. It was Steward Liu of the Formation Master Battalion, a Great Perfection Foundation Establishnt Cultivator.
"Steward Liu, these are Guest Elders sent by the Prince’s Mansion who are proficient in Formations. Take them to the forward positions and carefully scout the enemy’s Formations. You must find their weaknesses!" General Li ordered.
"Yes!" Steward Liu replied respectfully, then looked at Fang Hao and the others. "Everyone, please follow . The frontline is dangerous, so be careful!"
Fang Hao and the others followed Steward Liu onto the city wall of Luoxia City facing Black Wind Canyon. Upon reaching the wall, the biting black wind made their clothes flutter loudly, and the air was thick with Evil Qi and the scent of blood.
Looking out, the area outside the city was scorched earth, filled with craters from Spell impacts and broken weapons. In the distance, Black Wind Canyon lay like a ferocious giant python crawling across the land. Across the canyon, the outline of a majestic pass was faintly visible—that was the captured Tiebi Pass! Flags fluttered on the pass walls, and the figures of patrolling soldiers could be seen. Furthermore, a powerful Formation fluctuation was constantly battering Luoxia City’s protective light barrier like a tide!
"That is Tiebi Pass." Steward Liu pointed into the distance, his voice raspy. "Look at that dark red barrier shrouding the pass walls; that is the ’Blood Evil Immortal-Slaying Formation’ set up by the enemy! This Formation is extrely malicious, capable of absorbing the blood-evil aura from the battlefield to increase its power. It is highly corrosive to our City Defense Formation!"
Fang Hao activated his Clear Spring Spirit Eyes and looked closely. Indeed, that dark red barrier emitted a heart-palpitating aura of malevolence. The surface of the barrier seed to have countless vengeful souls wailing, constantly eroding Luoxia City’s pale gold barrier with a sizzling sound.
"In addition to this main Formation, the enemy has also set up several auxiliary Formations in front of the pass. So interfere with Divine Sense, while others weaken Spiritual Qi. They are very troubleso," Steward Liu added. "We have tried several counter-attacks, but all were in vain, and we lost many n."
Fang Hao’s brow furrowed. He had seen brief ntions of this Blood Evil Immortal-Slaying Formation in ancient records; it was one of the malevolent Formations passed down from ancient tis. He hadn’t expected the Great Qin Empire to actually possess it. This Formation, built upon the slaughter of the battlefield, was extrely difficult to break head-on.
"Steward Liu, do you know how they were able to quickly break through the Formations of our Panshi Fortress and Tiebi Pass?" Fang Hao asked. Only by knowing the enemy and oneself could a counter-strategy be found.
Steward Liu shook his head, his face showing confusion and a hint of fear. "I’m not sure. The Black Wind Tide had just passed, and the Formation’s operation was already sowhat sluggish. But when the enemy attacked, our Formations collapsed almost instantly, as if... as if they were disintegrated from the inside by so kind of power! It was very eerie!"
Disintegrated from the inside? Fang Hao’s heart stirred. Could there be a traitor? Or did the opponent have so special ans?
While he was deep in thought, suddenly, a low horn blast sounded from the direction of Tiebi Pass!
Wooo—!
Imdiately after, the dark red light of the Blood Evil Immortal-Slaying Formation flared brilliantly! A thick pillar of blood-colored light, condensed from countless vengeful souls, lunged out like a giant python from its cave, carrying a shrill scream as it slamd fiercely into Luoxia City’s protective light barrier!
Boom—!!!
The entire city wall shook violently! The pale gold barrier flickered uncertainly, letting out a groan as if it were overwheld! Many soldiers on the wall were knocked off balance!
"Enemy attack! Prepare for battle!" The alarm bells rang out loudly! General Li’s roar echoed across the city wall!
Fang Hao watched the terrifying attack and felt the trembling of the wall beneath his feet; his heart also constricted suddenly.
War had descended once again, without any warning. And their small team was about to be thrown into this bloody at grinder! The true test had begun.
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