Heart Survey

Chapter 2780 Greed for Green and Hatred for Red
On the wing blade of the Phoenix Winged Gilded Halberd, hung a piece of rotten flesh whose original appearance was no longer recognizable.

Only the flickering, ever-burning flame of life, still proclaiming the indomitable spirit of a great demon saint, remained, proclaiming his unyielding will.

All the external features belonging to that extremely beautiful celestial demon were blurry and indistinct, lacking a complete demonic form. Only a pair of hands remained clearly visible, like vines coiled around a large tree!

Shu Xiulang stubbornly held onto the "horizontal branch" that held him.

"A crow pecks at a person's intestines, then carries them away to hang on a withered branch..."

His mournful voice churned within his flesh and blood, gradually fading into silence.

He once served the cat tribe and learned from them, but later, with a broader perspective, he considered the demon race as a whole and learned from the human race. He studied poetry and literature, inquired about etiquette and music... His entire life was a struggle against a certain destiny.

His eyes, swollen to just slits, gleamed with murky dark blood. He looked up at Ji Shouyu, who was in charge of the army, and his voice suddenly became fierce: "The Central Moon Gate was breached because of me! How will you face the fallen Jing soldiers if you don't take my head?"

Ji Shouyu was lured out of his hidden trap at the Moon Gate precisely because he wanted to completely annihilate a great demon like Shu Xiulang.

Even though he was on his deathbed, Shushu was still struggling. It wasn't that he didn't realize how impoverished his condition was, nor that he didn't want to be free—but this remaining life could still be of some use, and could delay Ji Shouyu's control of the army.

While Gong Xiyan's death certainly achieved its strategic objectives, the impact of the commander's loss on morale cannot be offset by a single dying wish. Ji Shouyu's directive to unify the command structure and reconstruct the defensive positions following the collapse of the Central Moon Gate cannot be simply agreed upon with a nod.

The Allied Forces of the Heavens did not simply form a circle, but under Zhan Shou's unified command, they were divided into sections with undulating contours, resembling the ranks of a military fortress.

Any troops that were entangled by the Jing state's rearguard were immediately locked in place and strangled, and were even allowed to retreat, thus creating a "concave eye" in the entire encirclement.

This hollowed-out area was very thick and clearly a sturdy sack. After stripping away the fierce spirit of the Jing soldiers who were covering the rear, it would then hold them tightly and slowly dismember them.

Next to the concave eye are the convex peaks. While the friendly forces held off the rearguard of the Jing army, these "convex peaks" did not stop, but raced against time and charged forward with all their might.

During this process of encircling the enemy and charging forward, Zhan Shou constantly made minor adjustments to the formation, moving or merging troops that were not strong enough—the Jing Kingdom's position was constantly shrinking and becoming more compact, and the weak offensive was giving the Jing Kingdom people time!

When it comes to the military prowess of the sea tribes, the great ruler Zhong Xi is always the most renowned. However, Zhan Shou's military talent is no less than his.

Because the quality of the Allied Forces varied greatly, his command of the army was not as meticulous as Gong Xiyan's, lacking the fluid and graceful beauty of his style. However, his command was extremely accurate, placing each unit in the most suitable position, making the most of its function, and maintaining perfect order.

In the central Moon Gate battlefield, the Allied Forces of the Heavens have already gained a considerable advantage.

Zhan Shou used this advantage to snowball his success.

The vanguard of this encirclement mostly set up positions on the spot, like reefs and islands at sea, supporting each other and providing strong support to the entire coalition forces.

The sharpest of them were twisted by Zhan Shou into thirty-six powerful arrowheads, evenly spaced across the encirclement. These thirty-six arrowheads, moving slowly while the enemy moved swiftly, surged like waves, constantly crashing against the main Jing army formation.

This forces the Jing army's main force to have every outer defensive line be sufficiently thick, making it absolutely impossible to take turns resting, catch one's breath, or have more time to adjust and replenish.

As long as there is even the slightest breach in the Jing Kingdom's defenses, the Allied Forces of the Heavens will surely be able to break through the defenses.

Shuro struggled under these circumstances!
He seeks to live in order to die.

It would require Ji Shouyu to expend even more energy to completely eliminate him. He wanted to press Ji Shouyu's "Yes, sir!" onto the very executioner's block.

He begged for a more agonizing form of torture, in exchange for a greater victory for the demon race.

Ji Shouyu simply lifted the Phoenix Wing Gilded Halberd lightly, and the rotten flesh on the wing blade detached and went away.

A hollow circle around the palm, with only half of the index finger bone hanging outside the metacarpal bone... This is the left hand that pressed down with extreme determination.

The hollow in the palm seemed to become a wind tunnel, and a sharp whistling sound startled the ears for a moment.

When he pressed down completely, he returned to the ruins of the central moon gate—the very center of the position that Gong Xiyan had drawn upon and guarded during his lifetime.

Holding this place means holding the main force of the Jing Kingdom's army, and also holding onto the "timeline" that Gong Xiyan risked his life for.

The sharp whistling sound was the malevolent spirit of the soldiers from different Jing army units on the battlefield.

Those who command a large army must share the same heart with millions, and also withstand the emotional turmoil of millions. Strict military discipline is used in peacetime to eliminate distracting thoughts in soldiers, so that the army can be less impacted in times of crisis. The irresistible distractions within the soldiers' hearts are a tsunami that commanders must confront.

Even with the divine sense of a Saint-level expert, Ji Shouyu, nakedly enduring all of this, was not immune to mental and spiritual damage. However, he completed the replacement of the army's commanders with lightning speed, then slammed his Phoenix-Winged Golden Halberd downwards!
The long pole pierced the void, as if cutting through the boundless earth.

Then the wing blades extend and meander into branches. The golden stem expands and stands as the main trunk.

This fierce weapon that had suppressed the Jing region for so many years, under Ji Shouyu's catalysis, became a golden tree that was 30,000 feet tall!

Gold is immortal.

The path that Ji Shouyu walked was the first of the Five Elements, the Western One.

Then the soldiers climbed its branches, woven them into leaves, and borne fruit.

Then, under the unified command of the great formation, the divine will of the generals Huang Fu, Cao Yuxian, Zhongshan Yanwen, Jiang Kelian, and Duanmu Zongtao intertwined and took root in the void, spreading throughout the entire Shenxiao world.

Thus it was completed...

[The Unfading Golden Branches Vow to Reign Supreme!]
This is the strongest military formation under Ji Shouyu's control, possessing unparalleled defensive capabilities and known as "Never Withering".

Without his mastery of the metal element, it would have been impossible for this near-immortal Heavenly Branch to take shape. Without the nourishment of the Dao, it could not shine so brilliantly.

This is also the most perfect Heavenly Branch he has ever nurtured in his entire life.

With 450,000 remaining soldiers from the seven strongest armies in the world as the main force, supplemented by 1.7 million elite troops from various towns and the imperial capital's reserve forces who were sent to aid Shenxiao, and with five famous generals of the time as the core, and with Ji Shouyu, the Grand Tutor of Jing State, as the leader, the whole army was united and the soldiers were of one mind, thus forming this formation.

In terms of positional defense alone, he was more suitable than Gong Xiyan. This was precisely why the enemy entrusted him with this mission.

He wouldn't allow himself to be even half a step slower.

The moment Tang Wenxue raised the wheel, the Jing army formed this formation.

The Thirty-Six Heavenly Dipper Arrow Formation, commanded by the Emperor Wuyuan Zhanshou, collided head-on with the nearly immortal golden branch.

There was a series of tinkling sounds, the crisp clinking of golden leaves.

Although the golden tree swayed, only a few specks of gold dust fell.

The arrows and spears from the different races returned empty-handed, and in several places, they were cracked!

Zhan Shou waited patiently for a moment, only to see that the Heavenly Branch remained unmoved, its golden branches and leaves swaying gently in the wind. The warriors in the formation did not covet the easy prey within reach outside the formation. He knew in his heart that Ji Shouyu would not give them another chance.

He looked up at the golden branch, and saw the light of longevity ripple on the Heavenly Branch, then bounce back like waves. Finally, it settled on the outer edge of the Heavenly Branch, forming three halos of light, each a different color: blue, green, and purple, each wider than the last.

This is how the range of the Heavenly Branch's counterattack was determined.

"Resume formation!"

Zhan Shou decisively ordered: "The thirty-six vanguards shall be stationed in the blue circle, maintaining a safe distance from each other, keeping watch over each other, and launching a general attack as soon as the golden branches open."

"Heavenly Demon of Ultimate Intent, please receive the order and drain all the Yuan energy within this raft."

"Ruichong, please receive the order to change the five elements' balance within this region. In the shortest possible time, make the fire element dominant and disrupt the balance of the other four elements."

"Hui Tianmu and Zhen Liangfeng, please receive orders to lead your troops outside and intercept any enemy reinforcements that may arrive at any time. If they are the rear guard of the allied forces, then construct an ambush on the spot..."

"Inform yourselves, and quickly send the corpse ships here, as well as the war sea beasts that are skilled in controlling fire. Summon all that you can—we will build a high earthen mound and a thick wall here to build a tomb for them. If they do not come out, we will bury them here."

The Allied Forces of the Heavens are not all under one command, and their battlefield coordination still needs to be cultivated. Although they are a gathering of elite troops from various factions, they are still far inferior to the perfectly coordinated military formation of the Jing Kingdom.

This caused Zhan Shou's command to become slightly hesitant. In a duel between top generals, it's inevitable to be a bit slower. But he played steadily and made precise moves.

In the extremely harsh environment of the ocean, he had long since learned how to make the best possible choices in impoverished circumstances.

He glanced again at the Asura King Yin Hui, who had dispersed into a mist of ignorance and swept over the human army, and used the Longevity Transformation to awaken the astrologer from his dazed state. He then conveyed his thoughts: "The people of Jing have retreated into their tortoise shells. Encirclement and annihilation are no longer feasible. If we are greedy for merit, we will only be plundered by the enemy. We have already won by shattering the central hanging moon, and we dare not be greedy for more. The only thing we can imagine now is how many enemy reinforcements we can take advantage of the opportunity to eliminate—please conceal this [Unfading Golden Vow to Protect the Heavens Branch] so that the outside world sees it as the hanging moon."

In a war of this scale, all methods of divination become ineffective. The new communication channels that each race painstakingly excavates are also unreliable… And in the current battlefield of Shenxiao, both sides have sufficient resources and are willing to use the highest peaks as their eyes and ears!

These supreme experts, who are usually extremely powerful, are often deployed as sentries to constantly observe all sides on the battlefield, using their extraordinary cultivation as the five senses of the army.

Deceiving the five senses and the divine is what Yin Hui excels at.

To truly confuse others' perceptions, obscurity is essential.

Looking across the entire Central Heavenly Realm, if the Jing Kingdom's position is a small circle, then the allied forces surrounding the Jing army form a large circle. Outside this large circle, a human encirclement could be formed at any time.

Zhan Shou was not blinded by temporary victory. He believed it was impossible to devour the nearly two million-strong Jing Kingdom army within the [Unfading Golden Oath Heavenly Branch] before the arrival of large-scale human reinforcements. To try and hold out here would likely result in losing a tooth.

However, to retreat at this point and let this turtle shell go is not the act of a great general.

He needs other human armies to confirm that the Central Moon Gate still exists, so that human support for the Central Moon Gate will be more urgent.

When the enemy is arrogant, they will be careless; when the enemy is in a hurry, it is difficult to prepare. This creates an opportunity for an ambush to strike at reinforcements.

If we can gain more benefits today and inflict more damage on the main human forces, the Allied Forces of the Heavens will suffer less once we enter a long-term stalemate.

In his brief moment of lucidity, Yin Hui fully understood Zhan Shou's strategy. Without a word, he put down his half-eaten snack and vanished into the void.

The next moment, in the vast void of the universe, those who looked out at the central heavenly realm of the Divine Firmament World all mistook the golden light for snow light and saw a bright moon that appeared and disappeared!

Shu Xiulang created an opportunity by maneuvering the battlefield, and Qiu Yurong shattered the moon with a stunning blow. Then, Gong Xiyan, the Grand Marshal of the Jing Kingdom's Expeditionary Force, died here, saving the Central Moon Gate from collapse. Now the Moon Gate hangs like a candle in the wind, and the entire Jing Kingdom's expeditionary position is in grave danger—this is the battlefield information that Yin Hui is conveying to the outside world.

Nine parts truth, one part falsehood, fishing in the human world.

……

……

"I don't like gambling."

"Once you're at the gambling table, winning isn't the only outcome."

"The more you try to win, the more you often lose."

"Those who greedily covet green eyes will eventually turn red with hatred."

Ying Jianghong sat high in the commander's seat, toying with the tiger tally in his hand, his voice calm and slow.

The Jing Kingdom army he led and the Allied Forces of the Heavens led by Qi Guanying had already fought seven battles, large and small, without a clear outcome.

Just like the original sword, it failed to cut down the Peng feather that once crossed the Chaos Sea.

That battle, which began before all other wars, seemed poised to end after all other wars. Both sides fought beyond the Divine Firmament World, chasing and killing each other in the vast universe. The only things visible to the onlookers were the remnants of drifting lightning in the void.

Peng Erlai is a renowned Great Sage of the Demon Clan.

It is already quite remarkable that Taiyu Zhenjun could fight him to such an extent.

Jiang Hong's last glimpse into the distance revealed that neither side's clothes were dirty... it looked like they could fight until the end of time.

But in this decisive battle of ultimate speed, danger lurks beneath the hem of a garment that flutters like a butterfly. Once a wound is inflicted, it often becomes a matter of life and death.

“But they had no other choice,” said Xian Nankui, his face as red as a jujube, in a deep voice.

Racing across the vast ocean of the universe, seizing a beachhead in the Divine Firmament World, and establishing a solid initial foothold... these are the shared early strategic goals of the six hegemonic nations.

Based on this fundamental goal, everyone's individual pursuits are determined by their own abilities.

To ensure a stable income regardless of drought or flood, one must proceed steadily and surely. To amass a fortune, one must invest enough capital.

Just as Qin State's Xu Wang was fighting against Shan Tan, he sent troops to build the first city in the Shenxiao World, choosing to win the advantage of the four lands and five seas of the Shenxiao Main World.

While the State of Qi dispatched troops to connect with the [All Qi Refining Nature Laws Heaven] and ascend to the Jade Universe Continent, the main force fought a decisive battle against the demon alliance. Jiang Mengxiong also managed to free up his hands to seize the ancient starry sky.

While Mu Guo slowly and methodically deployed his forces and engaged the allied forces in a protracted battle, he also launched a fierce attack on [Yaozhen Tiansheng Palace], aiming to establish an advantage in the Shenxiao Main World first.

While expanding the Heavenly Path of [Zhu Qi Refining Nature Law Dao Heaven] and embarking on an expedition to "Earthly Saint Yang Continent", the Chu Kingdom also made moves in the [Yao Zhen Heavenly Saint Palace].

All countries are pursuing progress while maintaining stability. Only the State of Qi, after absorbing the Eastern Sea and Southern Xia, seems somewhat eager to establish its dominance over the Divine Firmament.

But only the Jing Kingdom was making a desperate gamble, constantly increasing its stakes at the Moon Gate.

There's a reason to be steady and methodical, and there's a reason to gamble.

Xian Nankui was referring to the Emperor of Jing's predicament.

Although that emperor's words were bold, if he were to actually personally lead an expedition to Shenxiao... in the eyes of the Jing people, it would already be a defeat before the victory was even achieved.

When the Emperor of Jing personally led the expedition, it meant that the nation had staked its last move. It meant that the hegemony of this military empire, which had held global dominance for thousands of years, was no longer stable!

If Tang Xianqi were to lightly leave the capital and throw himself into the Shenxiao battlefield, then the vast territory and millennia-long reign of the Jing Kingdom would be rendered defenseless.

The demon Mingyue Jing, who seeks to bring disaster upon the country, the Li Kingdom, which is eyeing the Jing Kingdom covetously, and the Pingdeng Kingdom, which has disappeared without a trace... any of these three threats could have the opportunity to destroy the Jing Kingdom.

The point is not whether they would do it, but that they had the opportunity to do it!
Does such a weak empire still have the right to bully other powers and dominate the world?
Once Tang Xianqi enters the fray, it will be a last-ditch gamble with everything at stake. If he can establish a decisive advantage in a short time and completely reverse Shenxiao's defeat, there is still a chance for them to recover. If the war reaches a stalemate... Jing Kingdom will inevitably have to admit defeat.

“The most important thing is that there is no other choice.” Ying Jianghong stared at the mottled tiger tally in his hand: “The current Emperor of Jing is also a wise and ambitious emperor. Otherwise, why would he take such a risk?”

"In the end, the question from 3,900 years ago has remained to this day, and Hong Junyan is his biggest concern."

Of course, the oppression of the Central Empire and the rebirth of Mu State after eliminating its founding threat were the core reasons that pushed Jing State into a corner.

I recall those days when the banners of heroes flew high, conquering five kingdoms with unstoppable force—how powerful they were! But now, amidst the snow, the borders are locked.

First, the country's expansion was ineffective, causing its stability to crumble. Then, internal problems such as the proliferation of military garrisons and the lack of a royal successor began to emerge and shake the very foundations of the nation.

Jing Tianzi can only bet on Shenxiao, and he will inevitably be put on the hot seat by Chan Jingmeng, who sees through all of this.

Those who stand at the pinnacle of power are not fools, but rather fools forced into doing foolish things!

Such a desperate gamble, which may seem like a "foolish thing," is often the result of choosing the lesser of two evils.

Ying Jianghong said, "We must also leave them with no other choice."

"Only in this way will they take the path we want them to take."

He asked Ji Jinglu, who stood solemnly under his command, "Is the Grand Master of Ceremonies ready?"

Specifically, on this battlefield right now.

Ying Jianghong's individual strength is a notch above Qi Guanying's.

However, the Heavenly Soldiers of the Doubu are the strongest army of the demon race, an army inherited from the ancient Heavenly Court. Their glory is ancient and their foundation too deep. All the war resources of the entire demon realm are tilted towards this army.

The Dou'e Army deployed to the Shenxiao battlefield at this moment is not the same Eight Armor First Division commanded by Yu Que back then.

Ji Jinglu has trained this new army to the level of a powerful force in the land, but it is far from being the strongest in the world. In fact, it is currently the weakest among the Jingjia army.

It was entirely due to Ying Jianghong's formidable personal strength and the Central Army's top-notch military expertise that the balance of power was achieved between the two armies, [Dou'e] and [Shence].

With both sides roughly equal in strength, their initial strategic objectives were largely achieved... This is the fundamental reason why the battle has reached a stalemate.

But a mighty central empire, currently the strongest in the world, would not be content with merely achieving its basic initial strategic goals. That is the bottom line for a hegemonic nation, not for a Jing nation.

King Dajingdai sat upright: "The Grand Commander stealthily traversed the void and annihilated an enemy army. He used the cosmic turbulence to cover his tracks, but inevitably leaked some information... If Qi Guanying is truly a master of military affairs, he must have already captured him. The Grand Minister of the Imperial Clan has also arrived at the battlefield. He is well hidden; I don't even know where he is. It was only when the dragon flag turned north that he informed us."

The Bureau of Criminal Investigation was in charge of maintaining order throughout the realm, and its chief official, Ouyang Jie, should not have been on the battlefield. However, since the central government's retreat to the capital, Ouyang Jie's prestige had plummeted. Although the emperor's trust in him remained undiminished, there was much discussion about him throughout the court and among the people.

He volunteered to come to the Shenxiao battlefield to atone for his sins through meritorious service.

As for Ji Yumin, the Minister of the Imperial Clan Court, he was an old adversary of the demon race. He had followed Emperor Jing Taizu in establishing Tianjing City above the Ten Thousand Demon Gate and participated in the Tiger Chasing War. Only he was worthy of being the ballast stone for the Jing Kingdom's Shenxiao Kingdom, allowing the demon race to see the Jing Kingdom's ambition to achieve great things in Shenxiao.

Only in this way can the demon race be truly stirred up, making them... like a tiger exposing its belly, or a dragon exposing its neck.

"A general must adhere to three kinds of knowledge. You and I are known by Qi Guanying, the Grand Commandant is known by Qi Guanying, and the Grand Master is known by Qi Guanying."

Ying Jianghong placed the three-colored tiger tally on the long table with a crisp 'snap', the sound lingering long: "It's time for them to make their move."

"The central moon gate can't hold out for long."

"Now it all depends on how much force the King of Jing can mobilize in his personal campaign..."

"be prepared."

"Beat the war drums, and I shall once again fight Qi Guanying."

"As planned, we'll use rescuing Yuemen as the first layer of disguise, while making the devouring of this main force of the demon race our true objective..."

The war drums have already sounded.

The flags fluttered in the wind, and a whistling sound echoed outside the tent.

Ying Jianghong had already drawn his sword and stepped forward: "Come with me to see."

"Look at Ying and you all, how much is your head worth?"

"Let's see what lineup they're planning to use... to wipe us out!!!"

……

……

In the battlefield where flames can erupt at any moment, no amount of strength or strategy can guarantee the safety of the participants. There are always stronger opponents, and the most powerful are inevitably surrounded and attacked… When schemes clash, one will always miscalculate.

Those who survive are often the luckier ones.

Lin Guangming was drenched in cold sweat. He felt as if all the bones in this ghostly body, which could face the scorching sun, had been removed, and it was now a soft, rotten mess.

The good news is that the famous generals of Jing were not to be trifled with; as soon as Yuemen fell, they immediately established an impregnable position.

The bad news is...

He missed it!

The loyal Yamen General and his 30,000 Yangon troops are outside the defensive range of the [Unfading Golden Oath to Protect the Heavenly Branch].

Oh no, I should say that his 5,000 Yangon troops—only this many men remain.

It wasn't that they were trapped in the concave formation of the Allied Forces of the Heavens. Presumably in order to lure the people in the Imperial Heaven Branch Formation, the Jing soldiers who were covering the rear on the battlefield were not immediately wiped out, but were left in several piles, which were slowly gnawed at one by one.

It wasn't that Lin Guangming hadn't actually charged into battle. It was simply that his army was, at best, only a third-line force of the Jing Kingdom. They might be able to rampage in a small country, but on this battlefield at the highest level of the heavens... they weren't quite up to the task.

He was stopped by a detachment.

These are the troops of the "Nine Nether Shadow Clan." These things exist between ghosts and spirits, are less than two zhang long, have no specific form, and are extremely elusive, moving in shadows. The key lies in the "Shadow Soul Fire" that only appears when attacking.

They did manage to drive away a group of shadow beasts, who served as the vanguard of their army.

This was the first time Lin Guangming had encountered such an ancient race, and he suffered a hidden loss. The slogan "Enter the Three Rafts" was shouted loudly, indicating that they wanted to break through the main formation of the Allied Forces of the Heavens and penetrate the entire battlefield... In fact, they had not even broken through three hundred miles of void.

However, once they actually engaged in battle, they discovered that these Shadow Clan troops were far inferior to the armies of the four powerful clans.

The enemy force numbered over 40,000, while our army numbered 30,000. With such a relatively even numerical advantage, the so-called strongest army of the Shadow Clan was fighting a stalemate against this third-tier force from the Jing Kingdom!
This Shadow Clan army also has a leader who is a powerful expert at the Cave True Realm level.

However, the cultivation system was too backward. Its use of power was so primitive that even a self-taught cultivator like Lin Guangming found it "primitive".

If he were to fight with complete abandon, he was confident he could kill him within twenty breaths. Of course, given his usual caution, he would extend the time to fifty breaths.

But when they actually clashed... he was at a slight disadvantage!

Lin Guangming knew very well that covering the rear was suicide, abandoning his men was also suicide, and plunging headlong into the allied forces' trap seemed to be a death sentence as well.

Fortunately, they ran into the Shadow Clan.

The Shadow Clan expert named "Hidden Illness," who was at the Cave True level, transformed into a black, sixteen-legged octopus and was excitedly shouting for his allies not to steal his credit.

Of course, Lin Guangming also knew that the other party was just using a foolish appearance to deceive him, wanting to complete the hunt with minimal cost.

There are no fools among the enlightened ones in the world, and an enlightened being who achieves enlightenment under the harsh conditions of the Shadow Clan is even rarer, appearing only once every thousand years.

He also displayed a level of strength that was only slightly inferior, a casual attitude towards his intellect, and an ambition to turn the tables at all times... making his opponent feel that everything was under control.

He decided to wage a difficult, localized war against the Shadow Clan. He would fight for as long as it took, ideally until reinforcements from other powerful nations arrived.

The Shadow Clan, who wanted to annihilate the Yangon army on their own and truly held the advantage, were the best armor for the Yangon army. The Shadow Clan wouldn't allow allies to steal their credit, and the other armies of the Allied Forces wouldn't care about them at all.

With 30,000 troops in Yangon, and 2,000 dying every hour, they'll at least be able to hold out until reinforcements arrive.

Therefore, Lin Guangming was constantly boosting morale, sometimes coughing up blood, sometimes "fighting to the death," and sometimes "trading his life for the wounded." He had to command the army to hold the formation while also giving the enemy hope of annihilation... He was really busy.

He believed he had done his utmost, building a fortress to survive in dire straits. The only thing he hadn't expected was that after Zhongshan Yanwen and his Eagle Guard retreated, the mad, half-awake Asura Lord Yin Hui would actually pass by and casually grab a snack!
With one bite, Lin Guangming's vision vanished. His tortoise shell formation wasn't missing a corner; it was just one corner remaining!
At that moment, Lin Guangming felt an indescribable despair. He had seized every opportunity he could, only to be defeated by Yin Hui's mere passing by—any normal alien expert wouldn't steal the spoils of war from their own. If this expert had been even slightly weaker, he might not have been entirely without a chance of survival.

However, once the fog of ignorance and delusion creeps over him, he will forget all the ways to save his life and will be forever trapped in this state.

Lin Guangming did not die from the targeting of any peerless expert, but from an unpredictable fate!
This is what drove him to despair.

Even in despair, he didn't give up the struggle; survival was almost an instinct. He transformed into ghostly mist, like ink from a paintbrush, sketching on the edge of the fog of ignorance, attempting to disguise himself as part of it…

However, Yin Hui, whose mind was not normal, manifested a fog of ignorance that had no pattern whatsoever. One moment it was as gentle as a clear stream, and the next it was as sudden as a tsunami! With a single tumble, it enveloped the ghostly fog that Lin Guangming had transformed into.

Seeing that the fog of ignorance was about to fall inevitably, Lin Guangming was swallowing some of the strange poisons he had collected into the ghost fog, hoping to leave a mark on this mentally unstable alien peak—the fog of ignorance, surging like miasma, suddenly disappeared again.

Only a thin wisp of ghostly mist remained, trembling as it returned to the armored Lin Guangming.

A wrecked starship floated in the sky. The more than five thousand demoralized remnants of the Yangon army, crying and shouting, scattered like headless flies…

Having narrowly escaped death, Lin Guangming felt his own heart pounding for the first time in a long time. He didn't know if it was the cold ghost body recalling human sensations or a near-death hallucination!

The Shadow Clan powerhouse "Yin Yang," who had been trembling and hiding to the side, returned with renewed vigor: "Our Great Lord will break our formation; do not disappoint him—annihilate this army swiftly!"

Lin Guangming was filled with rage and malice! He drew his sword and charged back, continuing to fight him fiercely.

The more than 5,000 demoralized remnants of the Yangon army were reduced to nothing more than provisions for the foreign army.

Lin Guangming did not intend to use his divine will to touch every soldier and forcibly restore morale; with the limited military skills he had learned in Zhuangguo, it would be difficult to do so. However, in the core cabin of the dilapidated starship, he opened a gate to the underworld—the ghosts he had accumulated over the years would serve as his personal guard, replacing the Yangon army as consumables.

If given enough time to accumulate resources in the Hegemony Kingdom and utilize the advanced military formations and top-notch tactics he learned in the Jing Kingdom, he might be able to train a truly elite ghost army.

Unfortunately, fate played a cruel trick on him, and his life was often one of "having no choice" to live.

Now all that can be done is to burn everything we've built up so low, to use our souls as fuel and our bones as oil, hoping that this flickering lamp can help us get through this endless night.

Having lost his concept of time, Lin Guangming no longer had the energy to measure it.

The Shadow Clan expert known as "Hidden Illness" was not the strongest opponent he had ever encountered. But on this battlefield shrouded in ominous signs, the mental effort he needed to expend far exceeded that of the battle itself.

He needed a thorough understanding of the entire battlefield to avoid the dangers that could strike at any moment. He also needed to cooperate with the enemy's plans, offer them appropriate encouragement, and, most importantly, show sufficient respect to a true master...

Every moment felt like being slowly tortured.

His mind was swollen and numb, as if shrouded in a thick fog of ignorance. It was like the typhoid fever he had as a child—when he lay in bed in a daze, his grandfather came over, touched his forehead, and said, "It's so hot, this child is suffering." Zhengli was beside him, holding a bowl of medicine.

With the fighting over, Lin Guangming felt a sense of peace and tranquility.

He soon realized it wasn't a hallucination.

A terror emanating from the depths of his heart suddenly shook his soul!
A wet, viscous ghost clung to his ankles, chilling his senses. It made him examine this sensation.

The fear was so intense that it completely jolted him awake from the "serious illness" induced by his hidden ailment. He also saw the sixteen-legged, black octopus that had invaded his body, now vibrantly colored after ingesting the various strange poisons that had permeated his soul!
“恙” means worry or illness.

The Nine Nether Shadow Clan originated in ancient times. At its most illustrious, it was a powerful clan in the Nine Netherworlds, guarding the territory of the Demon Clan. Later, it successfully rebelled against the Demon Clan, but was banished from the mortal world, and even its territory in the Nine Netherworlds was destroyed! For a long time, it has been exiled in the universe, feeding on small worlds that have reached their end, and is a nomadic tribe.

Bearing the fate of his race and vowing to win a piece of land for the Shadow Clan in the mortal world, the reason he was willing to prolong the battle was to allow the "disease" he was born in the Void Badlands to grow on the enemy's body, devour the enemy's soul, and completely defeat the opponent.

The extremely cautious Lin Guangming was thrown into turmoil by the life-or-death crisis brought about by the Asura Lord Yin Hui. He was also distracted by the battlefield situation, which led him to fall into a trap without realizing it.

But Yin Yang never expected that the human race in the modern world had evolved to this extent—to actually poison his own soul!

The two combatants, one critically ill and the other on the verge of death from poisoning, were in a situation where they should perish together.

But the murderous intent shattered their dazed state, and in that sudden moment of clarity, they paid no attention to their opponent. Instead, they succumbed to the primal fear of survival, involuntarily gazing up at the heavens—

There is nothing there.

There was everything there originally.

There was the "Dried Yuan Demon Array," hastily constructed by the Supreme Demon Cai Xing, resembling a dark cloud dyed with thick ink. There were also the four elements of Dao—metal, wood, water, and earth—expelled by the Profound God Emperor Rui Chong, their energy mingling into a chilling celestial wind. And there was a two-thousand-foot-long corpse ship, riding on churning poisonous flames, just brought from the demon race's cosmic camp…

At this moment, everything has come to nothing!

After everything was erased, what appeared high in the sky was a touch of vermilion. It was like the cinnabar mark on a beautiful woman's forehead, placed in the very center of the central celestial realm. Its color was too bright, like blood that remained vivid even after soaking through paper and gauze!

The Central Celestial Mirror is the paper it has soaked in, and the vast universe is the gauze it has passed through.

It actually generated a power that could pierce through the vast universe, while gently breaking through the Divine Firmament World.

When this touch of vermilion enters the eyes of the soldiers, when the fear of death looms over the hearts of every living being on the battlefield, its form is revealed and it is then encompassed by their vision.

It was a long spear that exuded a terrifying aura. The flat, sharp spearhead resembled a greedy fang, while the hooked blades on both sides spread out like shark fins.

It was thirteen feet long, with a shaft shaped like a goose egg. The entire body was jet black, with frost-like patterns carved into it, except for a single bright red dot at the tip, like blood that could not be washed away.

Its appearance is not particularly splendid, but the ferocity it exudes is unparalleled.

Lin Guangming, having walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, studied countless tombs, and witnessed numerous ferocious towns, had never seen a weapon so terrifying.

It's as if a single glance would kill you with her gaze. A mere fraction closer would annihilate your soul.

He felt a chill run from his tailbone to the top of his head—a primal fear, a dread of a force that could control his destiny. Yet, an uncontrollable ecstasy arose within him—for he recognized the gun!

The personal treasure of Emperor Taizu of Jing, Tang Yu, was refined by Zhu Mingyao, the seventh-ranked of the Ten Great Grotto-Heavens. It once fought against Emperor Taizu of Jing, killed the Heavenly King of Shenchi, and shattered Hong Junyan's longevity body... Its name is [Dian Zhu].

This is the Emperor's vermilion approval, and the ancestral tablet's red decree!
The Emperor of Great Jing has arrived...

They came too fast!

The declaration made by this Emperor of the Killing Formation in Jidu City to Emperor Hong Junyan has already spread throughout the myriad realms.

However, everyone remained skeptical about the certainty of these words, especially the fact that the King of Jing said he was willing to personally lead the army.

Emperor Xianqi of Tang was an emperor who had proven his abilities countless times, a ruler fully deserving of his position as the Son of Heaven of a powerful nation. He was a rational political being.

Throughout history, has any wise ruler ever launched a military campaign out of anger? Has any truly shrewd emperor ever risked the fate of his kingdom?

Words can "topple a nation," and pronouncements can be made about life and death.

It seems there's an element of bluffing involved.

But he didn't.

His final declaration was a clear bottom line – to cross it would mean certain death, and to overstep it would mean national ruin!

In other words... Emperor Jing was indeed prepared for war with the Li Kingdom, and just like now, he personally carried a spear and charged into the Central Heavenly Realm.

This scene is truly unbelievable.

Even Ji Shouyu, the Grand Tutor of Jing, did not expect the emperor to arrive so quickly.

Almost as soon as the central moon gate rippled, the emperor of Jidu City had already drawn his spear and pierced the world.

He stood ready, waiting for the changes to occur on the entire Shenxiao battlefield, not wanting the emperor to take any risks. But now that the emperor had actually arrived, how could he remain unmoved?
What followed was the cry of all the Jing Kingdom warriors on the entire Central Moon Gate battlefield!

In the story of "The Unfading Golden Branches Vow to Protect the Heavens," the warriors, holding their ground and awaiting reinforcements, cried out in unison, "Our Emperor!"

Outside the Immortal Formation, the warriors responsible for covering the rear, who had been decimated by the Allied Forces of the Heavens, roared like wild beasts, their cries filled with surging blood, unable to utter any other words.

Despite being crippled and exhausted, they still drew their swords and charged back!

Even a ghost like Lin Guangming felt a momentary surge of emotion, and a terrifying thought of "dying to repay the emperor's kindness" suddenly crossed his mind—though he extinguished it in an instant.

Looking back, all he felt from Emperor Zhuang was cold calculation, the division of interests, and the conversion of value. Every person and every thing was given a price, and only what was useful was used.

I have never seen such courage as "the emperor dies for his country", nor have I ever witnessed such heroic sentiment as "the dragon flag saves me".

In an instant, the battlefield at the Central Moon Gate changed, and everything shifted.

The flag of stars, flying high, obscures the sky and the moon, as if the starry sky has reappeared.

Jing Tianzi's spear, like a red edict revising an imperial edict, completely altered the course of the war.

The Shenxiao Battlefield is now the home ground of the Jing Kingdom!
Yin Hui, the Asura King who was fishing for mortals with the moon as his hook, was forced to reveal his true Asura form, which was three zhang tall. He could no longer remain ignorant; the imminent danger of death had terrified him and forced him to face the situation with utmost clarity.

The Xuan Shen Emperor, Ruichong, had already erected a divine altar, presiding over the incantations and prayers. While completing the war mission entrusted to him by Zhan Shou, he was also collecting the souls of the battlefield—this was the right of the victor. But as soon as [Dian Zhu] arrived, she fell, and the divine altar beneath her turned into a cloud of green smoke.

Hui Tianmu and Zhen Liangfeng still led their troops outside, and had already set up an ambush on the spot, making full preparations to block enemy reinforcements.

But reinforcements arrived, and only one person came...

They could only watch helplessly!

Zhan Shou, who commanded the army, didn't say a word, only gritting his teeth and uttering, "Withdraw the troops!"

The allied forces of the heavens, which had surrounded the [Unfading Golden Oath Heavenly Branch], retreated like startled birds. Those "pockets" that had been gnawing at the Jing army's rear were now released like crab claws.

The war drums thundered, and the gong sounded.

The surging tide of soldiers receded like the ebb tide of the sea.

Just because of a touch of vermilion, hanging high in the sky.

See you on Friday.