With a crimson longsword in her hand, Ji Qianqing's strength as a peak Nine Heavens cultivator finally began to reveal itself.
Even though standing before the towering three-zhang Golden-Eating Ape, she seemed like a mere small beast, as if one stomp from the giant ape could crush her into the ground. However, the power emanating from her red longsword was terrifying.
The sword energy condensed into substance, forming a two-zhang-long blade of air. Each time Ji Qianqing dodged a powerful attack from the Golden-Eating Ape, leaping high and swinging her sword, she would leave a trail of blood on the beast's massive body.
As Ji Xia struggled to fend off the attacks from the evil dog warriors, he couldn't help but marvel at Ji Qianqing's incredible combat prowess.
"So, this is the strength of a Nine Heavens cultivator on the verge of reaching the Divine Realm?" Ji Xia thought, gripping the sword of vengeance, Flagrak, which had finally revealed its true form. The sword transformed into a flash of light, protecting Ji Xia amidst the brutal battlefield, allowing him to stay alive.
A burning excitement surged through Ji Xia's heart. "A single strike can cleave through solid iron and stone. A single punch can shatter the wolf-tooth clubs of those evil dogs. Such strength, I've only seen in movies in my past life!"
It felt as though the gates to a new world were slowly opening before him, and the dazzling realm of cultivation called to him with a magnetic allure.
The battle started to tilt in favor of the evil dogs. Despite the constant barrage of massive stones and arrows from the sky, the evil dog army relentlessly cut down the Cangshou troops. Within a mere quarter hour, more than two thousand of the six thousand Cangshou soldiers facing them had already fallen, and the deaths continued to mount.
Yet, not a single soldier retreated. Even as they perished at the hands of their enemies, their weapons were swung down upon their foes, leaving deep, unhealable wounds.
Ji Xia looked again at the massive Taicang youth, who had been grievously wounded yet still gritted his teeth and tore off a piece of his torn sleeve to bind his injuries before charging back into the fray. His heart stirred with emotion.
Before his eyes, the battlefield was engulfed in a red mist. He watched as Cangshou soldiers, with grim faces, charged at their enemies, only to die one after another. The evil dog warriors, with their ferocity, cruelty, and bloodlust, seemed to disdain even recognizing the Cangshou as worthy opponents.
Above the city walls, Lu Yu and Zhao Qu watched the battle unfold.
Zhao Qu's anxiety had been growing steadily since the battle began. Seeing the Cangshou army unable to withstand the evil dogs and still not seeing the Crown Prince summon the Yin Army, he couldn't help but panic. "Lu Shangyin, why hasn't His Highness summoned the Yin Army? If this continues, the Cangshou troops will be wiped out!"
Lu Yu shook his head. "The evil dogs are still too concentrated, and the Crown Prince is advancing slowly due to the need to deal with the enemy soldiers. The Yin Army has not yet entered the battlefield. Even if they did, according to General Ji's estimation, even if the Yin Army could suppress the evil dog army, it would be hard to cause substantial damage to them."
Zhao Qu watched as the Cangshou soldiers continued to fall. His face was filled with heartache and unwillingness, but he didn't speak further.
Ji Xia and the massive Taicang youth moved forward, back to back, slowly. Fortunately, the path ahead had already been cleared by Ji Qianqing's overwhelming strength. Although there were still many evil dogs attacking, the two were just about able to hold their ground.
At last, a particular evil dog noticed them—its fur soaked in blood, evidence of the many Taicang soldiers it had slain. It saw the Taicang youth wielding a heavy sword that cleaved an evil dog in half, while another evil dog was pinned to the ground by a strange weapon wielded by another human.
The evil dog let out a low, terrifying growl from its throat, its body darting toward them like an arrow. In a matter of moments, it had crossed dozens of meters and appeared before Ji Xia and the massive youth.
Two Cangshou soldiers tried to block its path, but it didn't pause. The evil dog barreled through them with no hesitation, sending them flying. They landed several meters away, their bones shattered, blood pouring from their mouths as they died instantly.
Ji Xia's face darkened, but before he could react, the evil dog raised its black wolf-tooth club, smashing it down with terrifying force. If the club struck Ji Xia's frail body, without any aura to protect him, he would be pulverized instantly.
Clang!
The sound of steel ringing cut through the air, and the strike of the wolf-tooth club slowed. Ji Xia turned to see the Taicang youth, who had raised his heavy sword to block the attack. Blood poured from his seven orifices as his hands trembled, but he refused to let go.
Only then did Ji Xia realize what had happened. Pointing at the evil dog general, he called upon the Sword of Vengeance, sending it flying toward the foe.
The evil dog general retreated a few paces, swinging the wolf-tooth club with full force, knocking the sword aside as he glared at Ji Xia and the Taicang youth.
"Sixth Heaven strength, and you can still block my strike?" the evil dog general sneered. "In the human race, you are considered a genius."
He then looked at Ji Xia with malicious amusement. "And you… I can smell the scent of the Taicang royal family. Ah, it's still so fragrant."
Ji Xia propped up the severely injured Taicang youth and helped him sit on the ground. The evil dog general taunted, "I don't understand Taicang. You outnumber us by three to one, yet we slaughter you like livestock, turning you into our food. The most laughable part is, right now, your friend here is already a worthless, useless human, and you should be running for your life."
Ji Xia glared at the evil dog general and replied, "Is this the usual nonsense from the generals of the evil dog army?"
The evil dog general swung the wolf-tooth club and killed four Cangshou soldiers, laughing arrogantly. "This is not nonsense. As a strong one, I have the right to look down on the weak, to mock them, to humiliate them. You, as weaklings, must endure my words, then die beneath my club."
"I enjoy this process, which is why I talk so much..."
Ji Xia slowly stood up and asked, "What does it mean to be strong?"
The evil dog general slowly advanced on Ji Xia, sneering. "My evil dog army is stronger than Taicang; we outnumber you. You, as a royal of Taicang, even if you have a strange weapon, are still pitifully weak in front of me. This is why I am strong; I will make you die. You and Taicang must die. Are you ready to die?"
"Don't worry. To die on the battlefield, as a member of the Taicang royal family, is the luckiest fate. Other royal families will truly feel the horror of the evil dogs..."
"Your point is that, because there are more of you, you consider yourself strong? Is that why you can bully us?"
Ji Xia's eyes flickered, and he noticed a shift in the battlefield's dynamics. He suddenly flashed a white smile and asked, "Tell me, general—are you ready to die?"
The evil dog general froze, just as he was about to strike down the helpless Taicang youth, when three overwhelming auras appeared around him, blocking all of his escape routes!
These three auras were cold and powerful, causing his fur to stand on end. Each aura was a match for him!
He stiffly turned around, only to see three desolate soldiers in black armor, silently watching him. Beneath their helmets, their bloodshot eyes showed no emotion, as though they were staring at a lifeless object.
Ji Xia cleared his throat and smiled brilliantly. "General, now I'm the strong one. Let me ask you..."
"Are you ready to die?"