Chapter 213: Chapter 149: The Army Approaches the City, The Powerful Black Tiger Army
Translator: 549690339
Cloud Dream Mountain Range runs through the Hundred-Thousand Mountains, its depths perennially shrouded in a thick, mysterious mist—long regarded as off-limits for human martial artists.
With the accelerated territorial expansion of Morigin, these forbidden areas gradually contracted.
However, the demon beasts within the range were not idle, periodically initiating beast tides, attacking human cities, and massacring human martial artists and civilians.
In the Morigin Era, year eight hundred and thirty-five.
With endless wilderness monster disturbances, the demon beasts deep within the Hundred-Thousand Mountains were unwilling to remain quiet, simultaneously harassing the counties surrounding Ling Province.
Spirit Martial Prefecture, White Cloud County, Golden Light County, and other counties, in a short few days, had witnessed the fall of over a dozen cities. Martial artists and civilians suffered innumerable deaths, with only a handful of martial artists surviving.
These six counties had one common factor: they were all close to the Hundred-Thousand Mountains.
The invasions in these six counties were carried out by demon beasts from the depths of multiple mountain ranges such as Cloud Dream Mountain Range, Hundred Beasts Mountain Range, and the View End Mountain Range.
The Demon King deep within the Cloud Dream Mountain Range was a Seventh Rank Demon Beast known as the Shadow Fox. Rumored to have a trace of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox bloodline, this beast was renowned for its formidable strength and cunning, managing to escape from the siege of three powerful Rune Seed Realm fighters.
Furthermore, it commanded many Fifth and Sixth Rank demon beasts, causing much havoc in Spirit Martial Prefecture for a long time.
The Demon King of the Hundred Beasts Mountain Range was also a Seventh Rank Demon Beast, the Rugged Bull. This bull possessed mountain-moving strength, with its pillars-like legs causing havoc every time it descended upon a city. In one of its fits of rage, it had consumed hundreds of thousands of humans.
The invaders in Spirit Martial Prefecture were the demon beasts from deep within the Cloud Dream Mountain Range.
This invasion was not like past minor harassments but a solid full-scale attack.
Within just a few days, several counties had fallen, with millions of people becoming fodder for the beasts.
Spirit Martial Prefecture had been established for three hundred years, and it was not until recently that it had managed to build up a population of over fifty million.
Nevertheless, the full-scale invasion by the Cloud Dream Mountain Range demons claimed the lives of millions of people within days, undoubtedly a colossal loss for Spirit Martial Prefecture.
Add to that the beasts’ method of attacking in waves; if this situation doesn’t change, the losses will continue to grow.
Within Cloud Water County, an intense battlefield unfolded, with Lu Liangpeng slaughtering with bloodshot eyes.
In his eyes, this was indeed a massive battlefield.
After years of honing, he had transformed from an inexperienced recruit to a battle-hardened veteran who had survived several major and minor battles.
Lu Liangpeng, with his Two Star innate talent, had taken less than three years to open his first meridian, becoming a Meridian Passage Realm martial artist and a skilled soldier on the battlefield. The effort and sweat he had put into it were known to none.
But now, facing a group of powerful demon beasts, he felt incredibly powerless.
He slays the beast in front of him with all his might, but his gaze inadvertently swept across the battlefield, miles away. Amidst the rising dust and strong demon energy, there was a giant beast wreaking havoc. Each of its attacks seemed capable of collapsing mountains.
Upon witnessing this, Lu Liangpeng felt a sense of despair.
His innate talent limited him to reach the True Qi Realm in this lifetime at most, and that too was under favorable circumstances.
However, the giant beast, despite being besieged by several transforming Origin Realm masters, seemed to be having an easy time.
This realization only intensified Lu Liangpeng’s feeling of powerlessness.
Roar!
Not far off, a Second Rank demon beast came charging.
Beasts below the Sixth Rank were generally much stronger than martial artists of the same rank.
Although Lu Liangpeng had broken through to the early stage of the Meridian Passage Realm, he stood no chance against a Second Rank demon beast.
After a brief fight, he quickly retreated.
He had experienced this situation numerous times before, and that’s how he managed to survive every attack.
A green light flickered in the sky, and the Green Jade Gourd gradually enlarged, appearing over the city of the Spirit Martial Prefecture.
Accompanied by a booming sound, Lu Yun, who had been sitting cross-legged, abruptly opened his eyes, radiating an intimidating brilliance.
“Have we arrived?” Seeing the vast city beneath him, Lu Yun muttered softly.
As the Green Jade Gourd gradually descended onto the vast square of the Alchemist Alliance’s Spirit Martial Prefecture, he bid goodbye to Qu Feng and others, leaped down, and quickly disappeared from everyone’s sight.
“Grandfather, it’s too dangerous for Lu Yun to return to Cloud Water County alone.”
Watching Lu Yun’s departing figure, Di Ruoling’s eyes reflected a trace of worry.
Di Qing revealed a helpless look and sighed, “It was his choice. Besides, with his transforming Origin Realm strength, he should be able to fend off even a Fourth Rank demon beast.”
After putting away the Green Jade Gourd, Qu Feng laughed and said, “Little girl, don’t worry. All the reinforcements have arrived now, and the war is temporarily at a deadlock. Lu Yun will be fine.”
“Really?”
Of course. Otherwise, why would 1 let him go?”
After bidding goodbye to Qu Feng and others, Lu Yun, that very day, rode on a Black Wind Demon Horse, leaving the county capital to head towards Cloud Water County.
Cloud Water County, being closer to the county capital and on the outskirts of the Cloud Dream Mountain Range, only suffered attacks from stray small groups of demon beasts. Coupled with the buffer of the surrounding smaller counties, it did not immediately plunge into war.
That day, Lu Yun arrived at Cloud Water County.
The city was in a state of panic and the streets were quiet, showing signs of an impending storm.
“The demon beasts haven’t arrived yet?”
Regardless, upon seeing that Cloud Water County was unharmed, Lu Yun finally breathed a sigh of relief. He spurred his horse, and the Black Wind Demon Horse galloped out of the city.
Outside Cloud Water County.
There was a vast open area with tents set up. One could see numerous soldiers patrolling back and forth.
This was the main camp of the Black Tiger Army.
Ling Province was a newly developed territory, close to the boundless great wilderness and the Hundred-Thousand Mountains, so every city and region had a large army stationed.
Now with the night falling, torches were rising within the camp, their fiery glow and the oppressive atmosphere dispelling the darkness that was about to arrive.
In the center of the military tent, a brawny man who seemed rugged sat on the top position. Below him, four others were seated.
Three of them, clad in black armor were commanders of the Black Tiger Army. These were Sun Da, Wang Junhao, and Liu Zhong.
The fourth person was dressed as a civil officer, this was Lord Jiang, the County Magistrate of Cloud Water County. Although his cultivation was only at the peak of the True Qi Realm and he wasn’t as strong as the three, his status was not their inferior.
“Although the main force of the demon beasts from the Cloud Dream Mountain Range is mainly attacking the East Field Giant City, they’ve diverged into multiple units, rushing toward all directions like a beast tide. This has led to the counties along the border falling one after another, and they’ll soon reach Cloud Water County.” The relatively young and mild-mannered Wang Junhao, who looked gentle despite his armor began analyzing. “Under this great pressure, whilst seeking reinforcements, we should also join forces with the martial artists in the city to ward off the enemy together. Otherwise, our five thousand Black Tiger Army cannot handle the ferocious beast tide.”
After he spoke, Sun Da also offered his own insights.
“According to the scout reports from the front, nearly eight thousand demon beasts are heading toward the territory of Cloud Water County. The demon beast leading them has reached a terrifying Fifth Rank, which was the very one that had broken through View Plan County.”
“Within these demon beasts, there are even four at the Fourth Rank level. If we cannot intercept them outside the city, then unfortunately the millions of people in Green Cloud County will likely fall prey to these demon beasts.”
After saying this, Sun Da’s face appeared to be filled with concern.
Currently, the Black Tiger Army stationed outside the city was only made up of five thousand men, comprised primarily of soldiers at the Origin Fluid Realm, and three at the Transforming Origin Realm, while the demon beasts amounted to eight thousand.
Whether in terms of sheer numbers, or top-level power, the Black Tiger Army could not compete with the demon beasts.
At these words, Liu Zhong at the side abruptly slammed his palm on the table, his face brimming with indignation, “Wuzhong Xinming is hateful! Over seven thousand of the Black Tiger Army were sacrificed in the belly of the demon beasts. If it wasn’t for him, how could we be facing such pressure?”
The Wuzhong Xinming he was referring to was the former commander of the Black Tiger Army in View Plan County. Two days ago he died under the hooves of a Fifth Rank demon beast. His whole army of seven thousand Black Tigers was obliterated whilst buying time for the local residents to evacuate.
All this while, Lord Jiang remained silent.
Feeling the increasingly oppressive atmosphere inside the tent, the brawny men in black heavy armor atop the main seat finally spoke up.
“East Field Giant City is the gate to Spirit Martial Prefecture. If it’s breached, the demonic beast army undoubtedly will invade unhindered. Therefore at this moment, Spirit Martial Prefecture’s defensive core is East Field Giant City. It is unlikely for Cloud Water County to get any support.”
Seeing the gloomy expressions of his three commanders, he continued, “However, 1 have already sent a message to the Flying Spirit Martial Academy for reinforcements. A Heavenly Pride will soon be coming to our aid and this way, we would have reinforcement in terms of top-level combatants.”
Immediately after, he turned to look at Lord Jiang, his tone more amiable.
“As for the basic power, Lord Jiang, you and the common folk of Cloud Water County handle this matter. Mobilize the families and martial artists in the city to defend against and resist the demon beasts together.”
Unlike Wang Junhao and others, Lord Jiang was the head of a county and held quite a high position, so he felt the need to exercise some courtesy.
Upon hearing this, Lord Jiang agreed, “Commander Wang can rest easy. Even before this, I have been coordinating and rallying forces, and I’ve organized close to a thousand martial artists to assist the Black Tiger Army in resisting the beast tide.”
“Good, very good!”
Commander Wang Yingwu of the Black Tiger Army said in a deep voice: “All of us, the soldiers, and civilians, united as one, surely will block this wave of demon beasts outside the city wall!”
“Report!”
Just then a squad leader burst into the tent, saluting him. “Commander, a scout from the front lines reports that the demonic beast horde has already reached thirty li away!”
“Are they here so quickly?” Wang Yingwu pondered for a while, then immediately motioned with his hand: “Reconnoiter again!”
“Yes!
The squad leader left to carry out his orders.
Wang Yingwu stood up. He wore heavy armor, a black sword was hanging on his waist, a black spear was in his hand, and he walked out of the tent.
His gaze was focused and in a stern voice he said, “Wang Junhao, Liu Zhong,
Sun Da.”
“I am present!”
“The demonic beast horde will soon arrive, I command the three of you to lead your Black Tiger armies, prepare for battle!”
“Yes!
Wang Junhao, Liu Zhong, Sun Da, immediately took their leave.
Moments later, five thousand men wearing black helmets, donning black armor, and wielding black long knives, spears, and shields convened.
In this cold night, a pair of icy eyes shone from the helmets, just like hungry black tigers ready to hunt, making people shiver.
“Worthy of being the Black Tiger Army under Commander Wang Yinghu, such terrifying momentum.”
Upon seeing this, Lord Jiang couldn’t help but sigh.
The Black Tiger Army before his eyes, the weakest were in the intermediate stage of the Body Tempering Realm, combined with their fierce momentum, they likely parallel the late-stage Body Tempering Realm martial artists.
But if they were to form a military formation, then ten Black Tiger soldiers could counter a martial artist of the Meridian Passage Realm.
If all five thousand Black Tiger soldiers attacked simultaneously, even a peak Origin Fluid Realm cultivator could get killed in an instant without careful attention.
The oppressive impact of a concentrated force of five thousand Black Tiger soldiers was just too terrifying!
As the County Magistrate of Cloud Water County, he had a deep understanding of the strength of the Black Tiger Army.
Over the years, Cloud Water County had avoided attacks from demon beasts, and the Black Tiger Army played a key role in it.
Just as Wang Yingwu was preparing to appoint his soldiers and delegating tasks, a guard came to report.
“Commander Wang, there is someone asking to see you outside. They say they are a disciple from the Flying Spirit Martial Academy!”
“Hmm, has the support from Flying Spirit Martial Academy arrived so quickly?” Wang Yingwu was surprised, because according to his estimates even if the Flying Spirit Martial Academy had seen his letter for help and dispatched their disciples right away, they would still need several hours to reach them.
Though he was puzzled he did not delay and immediately led everyone out to meet them..