After the pep-talk, the ships set out to the targetted planet. The Allied forces made all the plans they could make. Prepared all the equipment they could forge or refine. The advanced technology made the trip shorter to just a few hours.
A thousand ships surrounded the enemy planet. However, the other party did not seem to have any movement. Shi Lang and Unity glanced at each other, and they nodded. The sword spirit said, “Our calculation was correct. The enemy seemed to be in cultivation to prepare for the alignment in the upcoming days.”
The experts on various ships were all connected. They all nodded when they heard this statement. However, Shi Lang said, “We cannot be too sure. The entity we are up against is a demon. This thing is known for its treacherous nature. We can expect this creature to attack us when our guard is lowered. So, remember, none of you are allowed to lower your guard anytime. Understood?”
The people replied with a combined shout. Unity said, “Commence attack.”
…
Shi Lang, Amelia, and Shi Tao were standing on the surface of a spaceship, looking at the dark planet in front of them. Almost all the experts above the Mahayana realm were out of the spaceships. They were able to observe the deployment process with ease.
Theseus was the playmaker, and he used his ability to control the pace and deployed the primordial soul forces in four waves. This strategy will give them enough time to treat the injured while maintaining pressure on the enemy.
For every soldier, there were three replacements. The people were given spirit guns to fight the demons and moved into big units. The demons did not follow any military protocols at a lover level and swarmed at the enemy.
The armies held their grounds, and the damage reports showed greater value than the casualty reports. Shi Lang said, “Theseus is a good commander.”
He could see things as if he was on the ground. Shi Tao nodded and said, “He has honed his ability since you unveiled the reality to everyone. Sister Venessa supports him a lot.”𝒪𝔳𝑙xt.𝗰𝔬𝓜
Amelia nodded and then said, “I was wondering how he managed to marry her. I never found the answer.”
Shi Lang cast the lady a curious gaze, and Amelia replied, “What? I can gossip too, you know?”
Suddenly, a voice sounded on their communicators, “Teacher Amelia, can you please help me get a separation from this old man? He has been nothing but a pain in my neck. I also wonder what drugs I sniffed when I said yes to him.”
The voice belonged to Venessa. Soon after, Theseus said, “Can you please focus on the cover drones? They are missing more targets.”
The chatter vanished, and seemingly Vanessa got back to her task. Shi Lang smiled and said, “It is good to see them so happy with each other.”
Then he gazed at Shi Tao and asked, “Tao did not take a liking to anyone?”
The question was unexpected, and Shi Tao was taken aback. She glanced at Amelia for her defense, but the lady shrugged. Shi Tao had been hiding her cultivation sutra from her father since he returned.
After not receiving help, she said, “I took a liking for someone, but the other person did not like me. I was repelled, and thus I picked up the Jade heart Sutra.”
Shi Lang opened his eyes wide in shock and asked, “Are you kidding me?”
His voice was filled with disbelief. Shi Tao lowered her head and did not say anything. Amelia touched Shi Lang’s shoulder and said, “Calm down.”
Shi Lang shivered and said, “How can I calm down? Did you know about this? Why did you not tell me?”
Amelia did not have anything to say in her defense. She knew this day was going to come. Shi Lang would never be able to accept that his lovely daughter has given up on love and closed her heart.
She knew how much he missed Shi Tao and regretted missing all the important days in her life. The general looked at Amelia and watched her quietly sighing. He said, “You and your daughter can make such a stupid decision without telling me. I understand that I did not raise or give her the love and support she needed, but this attitude was incorrect. You knew it, yet you could not stop her? Was the hatred so strong?”
Shi Tao watched all Shi Lang’s anger for her unloaded on Amelia. She stepped up and said, “Baba, Mum is not at fault. It was my mistake.”
Shi Lang glared at her and reined in his temper. He said, “Fine, we will discuss this later. Amy, I am sorry, I lost control.”
Amelia smiled faintly and said, “It is fine. At least you did not blame me for all of it.”
Shi Lang turned his head to gaze at the planet. He did not wish to talk anymore. Shi Tao held Amelia’s hand and consoled her. They all had their reasons, and thus the situation was put aside for now.
The battle proceeded smoothly. Theseus’s strategy worked well, but they were almost through a quarter of their purification talisman reserves. However, the soldiers understood this and learned from each other’s actions. Over time the combat prowess increased, and the allied forces moved forward with great vigor.
Shi Lang suddenly said, “Theseus, deploy the early Mahayana experts.”
Theseus did not understand what happened that made Shi Lang issue the command, but he followed it regardless. And just as he issued the order, the monitors showed strong movement. The casualties spiked in an instant. The Mahayana experts timely reinforced the allied forces, and soon they turned the tides.
Theseus said, “Teacher, that is a grade six demon, and it does not seem easy to handle.”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “Have the lower units set fire to the demon corpses? Sweep the place. If these grade six demons absorbed them, problems would increase.”
Theseus understood, and the command was relayed. The ground units took action, and Shi Lang said, “Tao, prepare your team, go down, and combine forces to deal with higher-grade demons. They might be fewer numbers, but they are not simple to kill.”
Shi Tao heard it and nodded. However, her steps were not filled with the same vigor as before. Shi Lang said, “If you faltered just because I showed my emotions, then forget about ever seeing them again.”
The girl was stunned, she knew Shi Lang was telling her not to mind what happened and that he still loved her, but she could not help but have tears in her eyes. The next moment Shi Lang embraced her and said gently, “I am sorry, my dear.”
Shi Tao burst into tears but quickly took hold of her emotions and said, “I will deal with you later. Just wait, Baba.”
Shi Lang smiled and nodded. Shi Tao vanished from the place and took the twelve spears down to the planet with her. Again, Shi Lang’s instincts proved correct, and the team faced grade seven demons quickly as they entered the planet.
A few hours later, Shi Lang and Unity shouted in Unison, “All forces pull back.”
The people dared not delay and quickly used a small teleportation array to pull back from the planet. Then Amelia spoke up, “Initiate barrier formation.”
The spaceships were aligned, and they channeled spiritual energy from the cores of the vessels to the array of patterns engraved on them. The entire planet was isolated from the rest of the galaxy, and the demonic energy was also restricted.
Shi Tao asked while panting, “What is happening?”
Amelia said, “The big guy is out.”
The people all trained their gazes and scanners on the planet before them. However, the big guy they were talking about appeared in the void. The person looked no different than the humans, except he gave a dangerous feeling. Everyone could not help but sense a chill running down their spine.
Shi Lang said, “Recite your sutras, do not look at his eyes.”
The demon chuckled and said, “To think you will betray the agreement. Where is your honor, human.”
Shi Lang cracked his neck and said, “Honor, to deal with a coward like you? You think of yourself very nobly, don’t you, rat?”
The demon smiled and said, “You sure have a hard mouth. I wonder if it would work the same if I triggered the demonic change in the heart of your beloved daughter and made her my plaything?”
As he spoke, Shi Tao began to shiver. Shi Lang narrowed his gaze while Amelia rushed to Shi Tao. The lady asked, “Lang, what is happening?”
The demon spoke up for Shi Lang, “This woman has been infected, do not think that you need to be injured before you get inflicted by demonic energy, but having an extreme cultivation sutra can also be detrimental. Hahahaha, come now, what will you do?”