Chapter 211: The Army Assembles!
"Xiao Yan, it's time!"
Within the Pill Tower, Yao Chen's face bore a smile as he gazed at the tightly shut door and called out softly.
"Creak."
The door opened in response. Xiao Yan walked out from the room at a measured pace. As his footsteps fell, the energy of this stretch of heaven and earth faintly began to stir. Divine light flickered within his pair of pitch-black eyes.
In just a few days, his cultivation had advanced yet again.
"Let's go, Teacher. The alliance forces are already waiting." Xiao Yan raised his head, gazing at the void above Holy Pill City. He could feel a large number of powerful auras rapidly converging there.
The appointed day for the great battle between the two sides had arrived. In the past few days, Xiao Yan had made time to visit the Gu Clan, learned of the challenge Hun Tiandi had issued, and discussed matters with the various clans.
The alliance side would dispatch ten Dou Shengs to participate in the four-clan battlefield. The remaining experts, led by Half-Saints, would launch an all-out assault on the Soul Hall's remnants across the continent.
The three clans were surprised that Xiao Yan's side could send ten Dou Shengs. Low-level Dou Shengs like Ancestor Huo Yun and Yao Chen didn't concern them much, but the Pill Tower Ancestor, Shen Nong the Old Man of Agriculture, and even Xiao Yan, who had just broken through to five-star Dou Sheng, were the powerful reinforcements they needed.
With these three individuals present, the alliance army's strength was already close behind that of the Yao Clan.
Yao Chen nodded. The two no longer hesitated. Their figures flickered, and they shot into the sky.
When Xiao Yan and Yao Chen appeared in the sky in front of the mountain, the air was already filled with a scattering of figures. Numerous experts had risen into the air, forming orderly ranks in the sky. As their vast auras surged, they seemed like a single entity, a majestic presence that even Xiao Yan couldn't help but glance at sidelong.
"Is everyone assembled?" Xiao Yan swept his gaze over the crowd, his eyes finally resting on the Pill Tower Ancestor.
The Pill Tower Ancestor nodded, then looked at Xuan Kongzi beside him and said, "After we leave, the allied forces shall launch a full-scale attack and thoroughly eradicate the Soul Hall's power from the Central Plains."
"That Netherworld Sect was also a former pawn of the Soul Hall. Senior Xuan Kongzi, do not forget them," Xiao Yan couldn't help but add. The Netherworld Sect... they had some grudges from back when he hadn't yet risen to prominence.
But before he could take revenge, a series of events had made him temporarily forget about their existence. Now that he had grown into a five-star Dou Sheng, personally dealing with them held little interest. Fortunately, this opportunity had presented itself.
Xuan Kongzi was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then nodded, indicating he would remember.
After instructing everything, the Pill Tower Ancestor looked at the assembled Dou Shengs and slowly spoke, "Everyone should understand what we are undertaking today. I won't say much more. You all should be clear in your hearts about the Hun Clan's strength. When we engage, absolutely do not harbor any thoughts of underestimating the enemy or relying on luck!"
Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement.
"Since everyone understands, then... let us move out."
"Heh heh, such a major event—I, as a candidate for the three great heads of the Pill Tower, cannot fail to participate!"
Just as everyone was about to set off, a hearty laugh came from the distance. A spatial rift tore open in the void not far away, and Jiang Yun, leading Qing Lin and the Little Medical Fairy, slowly appeared before everyone's eyes.
"Jiang Yun!!!"
Seeing Jiang Yun appear, the crowd immediately cried out in shock, their faces full of disbelief.
The Pill Tower Ancestor, Shen Nong the Old Man of Agriculture, and Xiao Yan, however, looked at Jiang Yun and his two companions with traces of deep shock.
One knows one's own affairs best. Xiao Yan had thought that with his continuous fortuitous encounters, plus the inexplicable boost of four star-levels, he had already become the foremost figure of the younger generation on the current Dou Qi Continent.
The Central Plains' former number one prodigy, Jiang Yun, whom he had once looked up to, had been overtaken by him. But now, what was he seeing?
Setting Jiang Yun aside for the moment—whose unfathomable aura even he couldn't quite gauge—the strength of the two women beside Jiang Yun was something he could clearly perceive.
Four-star Dou Shengs! And both possessed soul power at Heaven Realm Great Perfection! This exaggerated enhancement made him believe it if someone told him the three were the offspring of some Dou Di.
Compared to Xiao Yan, the shock of the Pill Tower Ancestor and Shen Nong the Old Man of Agriculture was even greater. Why were monsters appearing in clusters recently? Had the Dou Qi Continent quietly evolved? Had cultivation become easier? Why wasn't I included?
"You obtained the Bodhi Heart?" Shen Nong the Old Man of Agriculture looked at Jiang Yun and the Little Medical Fairy. Memories from the past instantly surfaced in his mind. He looked at the two with sudden understanding.
Jiang Yun and the Little Medical Fairy merely smiled without speaking. Then Jiang Yun looked at the crowd and spoke out, "Are we about to head to the decisive battle with the Hun Clan now? As a member of the Pill Tower, I am naturally duty-bound. Besides, within the Hun Clan, there is still a troublesome fellow waiting for me!"
As he spoke, a cold gleam flashed in Jiang Yun's eyes. In the void before him, a swift arc of lightning streaked across, slicing open a spatial rift. The sight made the surrounding crowd's hearts palpitate with fear.
A trace of awe towards Jiang Yun gradually rose in their hearts. The number one prodigy of the continent—his reputation was truly well-deserved!
Hearing Jiang Yun's words, the crowd nodded in sudden understanding. In the minds of Xiao Yan and Yao Chen, the figure they had encountered back in Wu Tan City resurfaced—those cold, emotionless eyes.
Recalling those scenes from the past, Yao Chen subconsciously shivered. That had been the closest he had ever come to death; he had almost perished completely.
Xiao Yan, noticing Yao Chen's change, stepped forward and patted Yao Chen's shoulder, looking at him seriously. "Teacher, your disciple will help you take revenge."
"Don't be reckless!" Yao Chen nodded, patting his shoulder with concern.
"Mm!" Xiao Yan nodded upon hearing this, cold light surging in the depths of his eyes. Yun Yi... the grudges of those years... it was time to settle them.
"In that case, let us depart!" The Pill Tower Ancestor nodded after hearing Jiang Yun's words. He then looked at the crowd and spoke in a deep voice.
The group nodded. The Pill Tower Ancestor waved his sleeve, tearing open a massive passage in the space before him. He took the lead and strode straight in.
Behind him, the solemn-faced Shen Nong, Xiao Yan, and others swiftly followed. Further back, the various Dou Shengs filed in one after another. Only when the last person had entered did the spatial passage gradually dissipate.
Just as the allied forces from the Pill Tower's side were mobilizing in large numbers, countless streaks of light also suddenly shot out from the great realms of the three clans, sweeping overwhelmingly towards the northwest region of the Central Plains...
With such a large-scale mobilization of experts from the three clans and the allied forces, the entire Central Plains was thrown into an uproar. Everyone understood: the only hostile force in the Central Plains that could make the Heavenly Court Alliance deploy all its strength was the mysterious and unfathomable Hun Clan...
The shadow of war instantly enveloped the Central Plains.
The Heaven-Burial Mountain Range was located in the northwest region of the Central Plains. People in the current Central Plains might find this area unfamiliar, but for some elders of the ancient races, it was still a name that rang like thunder in their ears.
Because this was also the site where the Hun Clan and the Xiao Clan had once waged war. That great battle had once made the entire Central Plains tremble.
Deep within the mountain range lay an ancient battlefield. The battlefield was vast in scope. Ordinarily, it was teeming with magical beasts, making it somewhat of a dangerous area, and thus carried an air of being rarely visited by humans.
Today, this ancient battlefield seemed slightly strange. The many magical beasts that usually roamed freely had all completely vanished today. Not a single shadow of a magical beast could be seen across the massive battlefield. It looked almost as if they had sensed the earth-shattering battle about to erupt here.
"Swoosh swoosh!"
In the mountain range, where even the roars of beasts had fallen completely silent, the loud sound of rushing wind suddenly arose. Then, at the edge of the sky, a vast number of figures emerged. After a few flickers, they appeared in this ancient battlefield.
"We've arrived..."
The group landed lightly. Xiao Yan's gaze swept over this battlefield, now reduced to ruins, a trace of complexity in his eyes.
This was the place where the Xiao Clan and the Hun Clan had fought back then. A thousand years ago, this was where the prelude to the Hun Clan's plans had begun. And now, would the curtain fall here as well?
"Search the mountain range."
As soon as they landed, quite a few experts flickered out, swiftly conducting a rough search of the mountain range to prevent the Hun Clan from having laid an ambush beforehand.
"The Hun Clan isn't that foolish. This battle won't be decided by schemes and tricks."
Xiao Yan stepped forward, his soul power sweeping over this somewhat desolate ancient battlefield. He withdrew his soul power after a moment and spoke.
Yao Chen nodded slightly. Besides the magical beasts shivering under their pressure, there were indeed no auras of Hun Clan experts within the mountain range.
"The people from the three clans are here!" Suddenly, Jiang Yun raised his head and looked towards the distant sky, where hundreds of terrifying auras were speeding towards them.
Hearing Jiang Yun's words, everyone's expression tensed. They followed his gaze but saw no sign of anyone. Just as doubt arose among the crowd...
The Pill Tower Ancestor, Shen Nong the Old Man of Agriculture, Xiao Yan, and a few others who had reached the Heaven Realm Great Perfection soul realm looked at Jiang Yun with traces of surprise.
This Jiang Yun's soul realm... was probably already exceedingly close to the Emperor Realm...
Seeing Jiang Yun's calm, composed expression, Xiao Yan naturally knew the other wouldn't stoop to deception or grandstanding on such a matter. It must be that his soul realm was indeed a level above his own.
Before long, the sound of rushing wind indeed came from the northern sky. Then, a dense mass of dark figures swept over overwhelmingly. Their numbers were more than ten times that of the alliance they had assembled.
"It seems the various clans have also deployed all their forces!" Gazing at that vast formation, Yao Chen sighed in a low voice. Immediately, his expression drastically soured, for within the Yao Clan's ranks, he saw a figure he least wished to see.
"Teacher..." Yao Chen's abnormality naturally drew Xiao Yan's attention. He looked at Yao Chen and saw him, at this moment, body trembling slightly, staring fixedly at Yao Wangui within the Yao Clan.
"I'm fine..." Xiao Yan's call brought Yao Chen slightly back to his senses. He slowly exhaled and shook his head.
"Teacher, your disciple promises you, Yao Wangui will certainly pay the price for what happened back then." Knowing the grudge between Yao Chen and Yao Wangui, and now seeing the culprit, he gently patted Yao Chen's arm. A smile surfaced on his face—a smile filled with a chilling murderous intent.
"Heh heh, it seems we haven't arrived late..."
By now, the people of the three clans had swiftly appeared above the mountain range. Naturally, there was no shortage of greetings and pleasantries upon meeting.
"I didn't expect the Pill Tower to have gathered such a group of experts." Gu Yuan's gaze swept over the Pill Tower Ancestor and the others, lingering particularly on Jiang Yun, the Little Medical Fairy, and Qing Lin for a moment.
"You must be Jiang Yun!" Gu Yuan looked at Jiang Yun and said amiably.
Instantly, the two drew everyone's attention. The people of the Lei Clan and Yao Clan also looked curiously at Jiang Yun, this young man hailed as the continent's number one genius.
"Greetings, Clan Head Gu Yuan!" Facing the numerous gazes, Jiang Yun was neither servile nor overbearing. He cupped his fist towards Gu Yuan with a calm expression.
"To hear of you is not as good as to meet you, and to meet you surpasses your fame. The number one genius of the continent—you truly deserve the title!" Gu Yuan looked Jiang Yun up and down for a moment, then sighed and spoke with emotion.
Hearing Gu Yuan's words, the crowd was greatly startled. Their astonished gazes fell upon Jiang Yun. With an endorsement from the continent's strongest expert, it was as if Jiang Yun had received official certification, thoroughly solidifying that title.
Among them, the expressions of the Yao Clan members completely changed. They knew that they had once feared Jiang Yun's talent and had secretly employed quite a few methods against him. Now, he had unexpectedly grown to such an extent. Even with the great battle imminent, they still felt deeply uneasy.
Unfortunately, no one cared about the expressions on the Yao Clan members' faces. Time slowly passed in waiting. When the dazzling sun in the sky reached its zenith, Gu Yuan's deep voice rang out beside everyone's ears.
"They've arrived..."
At that moment, Jiang Yun's gaze had long since turned towards the distant sky. There, layers of black mist suddenly surged forth. The black mist coiled and finally transformed into a massive spatial passage. One after another, vast and sinister auras surged out violently.
The black mist churned at the horizon, directly cutting off the sunlight. Instantly, the temperature between heaven and earth plummeted. A chilling, gloomy aura spread outwards.
"Heh heh, this Heaven-Burial Mountain Range has not been this lively for many years..." In the sky, the black mist seethed, and Hun Tiandi's figure materialized out of thin air. His gaze swept over the grand army below, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Behind Hun Tiandi, Nihility Devouring Flame, Yun Yi, the Hun Clan's Four Demon Saints, and numerous other Hun Clan experts also flashed into existence.
Xiao Yan, who had been keeping a close watch on Yun Yi's figure, suddenly contracted his pupils. He noticed that Yun Yi's position among the Hun Clan members was actually above the Hun Clan's Four Demon Saints...
In the Hun Clan, a race that vividly embodied the law of the jungle, such positioning spoke volumes.
"Hun Tiandi, where is my father?!" Without delving into the issue of Yun Yi's position, Xiao Yan stared fixedly at Hun Tiandi at this moment, his tone unyielding.
Hearing this, Hun Tiandi glanced at Xiao Yan and chuckled lightly. With a wave of his hand, the space behind him suddenly rippled. The sound of clanking iron chains followed. Immediately after, a cage formed from condensed black mist appeared in the sky.