Ling Feng hovered in the air above the Shenwu Tomb, his breathing slightly rapid as he gazed at Narukami Island.
The Narukami army had all retreated to Narukami Island and were rushing towards Mount Yougou.
Ling Feng turned his head, his gaze extremely solemn. The thick, black mist had already spread to the Kujou Estate.
Ling Feng had tried to dispel this thick, black mist. The Earth Fire Origin could dispel it, but the speed of dispersion was far slower than its regeneration rate.
This thick, black mist was so profound that even his divine sense could not penetrate it very far; some power was interfering.
"It's almost time. We should leave."
Looking at the dense army of Abyss monsters on the ground, Ling Feng cast a final glance in the direction of Watatsumi Island.
"Orobas, I wish you good luck."
Muttering to himself, Ling Feng transformed into a rainbow and departed.
Not long ago, Ling Feng had used his divine sense to probe the situation on Watatsumi Island. A sea-blue protective shield covered it, blocking the black mist from the outside.
However, the black mist was corrosive. The protective shield shouldn't last much longer.
Ling Feng guessed that Orobas would lead the people back to the depths.
...
At the Grand Narukami Shrine, the unconscious Chiyo slowly awoke from her slumber, vaguely looking at the sakura-pink roof.
"Where am I?"
"You're awake?!"
Hearing the voice, Chiyo slowly turned her head and saw Yae by her bedside, instinctively asking.
"Yae, what happened to me?"
"Wait, I think I remember."
"I was ambushed by a creature with a tiger's body and a snake's tail. Then I felt like I was falling into an endless dark abyss."
"A force kept eroding my mind. I struggled hard, and then I couldn't remember anything."
Chiyo clutched her head, which was throbbing with pain, a pained expression on her face.
"Lie down first, don't think too much. You're severely injured and very weak."
"Here, take this medicine."
Yae gave Chiyo a pill. Immediately, Chiyo felt a warm current circulate through her body, bringing great comfort. Yae nodded at Chiyo, who looked comfortable.
This was a healing pill Yae had left behind by Ling Feng when he departed years ago. It could be preserved for a thousand years and had the effect of regenerating limbs, though its efficacy depended on one's strength.
"Right, those monsters..."
"Calm down first, I'll tell you slowly."
Yae soothed Chiyo and then recounted everything that had happened.
During this time, Chiyo's heart felt like it was riding a roller coaster, going up and down. When she heard that Ling Feng and Ei had rescued her together, Chiyo finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Thinking that Ling Feng had returned, Chiyo was also very happy and excited. After all, the six heroes of the past had reunited once more.
Soon, Kitsune Saiguu and Sasayuri pushed open the door. Seeing Chiyo awake, they also breathed a sigh of relief.
Despite the healing pill, Kitsune Saiguu and Yae still used healing spells to give Chiyo a full body treatment.
After Chiyo had fully recovered, the four of them walked out of the house and stood outside the Grand Narukami Shrine, looking at Inazuma enveloped in darkness with solemn expressions.
At the foot of Mount Yougou, the faces of the common people were filled with fear and panic.
Apart from those who were well-informed, most people still didn't know what had happened.
Such a large-scale evacuation made it easy to guess that something critical to the nation's safety had occurred.
The unknown was the greatest fear.
For a time, the populace was in turmoil.
Fortunately, the people from the three commissions were there to comfort and care for them. Although there were a few disturbances, they were quickly quelled.
A few hours later, Ling Feng returned to Mount Yougou with the Narukami army.
Upon their return to Mount Yougou, the Narukami army showed no signs of slackening. Following Ling Feng's orders, they began Level 1 war preparations with utmost urgency.
As soon as Ling Feng reached the mountaintop, he saw the four of Kitsune Saiguu standing side by side outside the Grand Narukami Shrine.
"Ling / Bastard, welcome back."
"It's been a long time, everyone."
Ling Feng landed and nodded in response.
As for the word "bastard," it was naturally Yae who had shouted it.
However, it wasn't the time for idle chatter.
"Kitsune Saiguu, Yae, Chiyo. The monster army will arrive before long. Quickly notify your clans and join the defensive preparations at the foot of the mountain."
"This battle concerns Inazuma's survival. We must be completely alert."
Ling Feng said with a grave and serious tone.
The three nodded and prepared to leave to notify their clan warriors.
Not only the humans, but the three clans had also already gathered in the vicinity of Mount Yougou.
Ling Feng had originally intended to help them organize the defense.
But Kitsune Saiguu and the other two insisted that he needed rest after fighting for so long, so they sent him to the bathhouse of the Grand Narukami Shrine.
After all, a bath could relax one's nerves.
While Ling Feng was bathing, a sneaky, fox-eared, pink-haired girl crept into the bathhouse like a hunter stalking its prey.
Looking at Ling Feng, who was soaking in the bath with his back to her, the girl revealed a mischievous smile. She concealed her presence and quietly approached Ling Feng.
When the girl was less than a meter away from Ling Feng, she felt the time was right. The corner of her mouth curled up, her eyes narrowed, and just as she was about to jump out and shout to startle Ling Feng.
"Yae, you're still the same. Still trying to scare me like before."
Ling Feng turned around and looked quietly at Yae, who had frozen in place after being startled herself.
"Hmph, I saw you were tired and planned to give you a massage. I didn't expect a certain bastard who abandoned his pet and left for a thousand years to see me like this."
Yae crossed her arms, glanced at Ling Feng with disdain, and pouted in dissatisfaction.
As expected of Yae, her act was very natural. If Ling Feng didn't know her true nature, he would have truly believed her.
He really should give her a small golden statue award.
"It seems Kitsune Saiguu has taken good care of you. Your appearance and demeanor are ever more natural, youthful, and beautiful, so enchanting and alluring."
Ling Feng praised as he looked at the young Yae.
To be honest, compared to the mature Yae Miko of the future, the youthful Yae was cuter and more beautiful.
"I am the future Guuji Yae. Naturally, I am endowed with both wisdom and beauty. A certain bastard actually abandoned me. He truly doesn't know what's good for him."
Ling Feng: ...
Can we please stop bringing up the abandonment?
Yae's mischief seemed inherited from Kitsune Saiguu, while her subtle cunning seemed inherited from Ei.
Alas, she was indeed the future Yae Miko. Fortunately, this girl didn't have the same power as in the future.
Otherwise, it would be hard to control her.
"As my caretaker, you abandoned me for a thousand years. Don't you have anything to say?"
"What is there to say? Weren't you living quite comfortably?"
"Didn't you say you left behind a few cooks who knew how to make fried tofu? Why don't I see any?"
Yae pouted and put her hands on her hips, very unhappy.
"Huh? That's impossible?"
Ling Feng was a bit confused. He had indeed taught some cooks, and he had also left behind the recipe for his self-created fried tofu.
"Those guys didn't make it taste like yours; it wasn't delicious."
Yae tilted her head and complained.
"Uh, your taste buds have become so picky?"
Ling Feng's mouth twitched.
"I don't care. You abandoned me for a thousand years, so you have to make fried tofu for a thousand years as compensation."
"What?! A thousand years? Can you even eat that much?"
"I won't get tired of it. Fried tofu is the most delicious food in the world."
"A thousand years is impossible. After this disaster in Inazuma concludes, I'll make you a full course of fried tofu so you can eat to your heart's content."
"Hmph, I'll reluctantly accept."
Ling Feng shook his head as he looked at the secretly pleased Yae.
...
A few hours later, the defensive measures at the foot of Mount Yougou were fully deployed.
Three layers of battle lines, inside and out.
Everyone was on high alert.
"They're here."
Outside the Grand Narukami Shrine, Ling Feng and the others gazed at the vast Abyss army surging towards them and the thick, black mist.
At the foot of Mount Yougou, ordinary citizens had been moved to the rear. The Shogunate and the warriors of the three Tengu clans were all guarding the front lines.
This was a battle for the survival of the nation. Everyone's face was filled with determination.
So what if there was fear? If their homes were gone, what else was there to fear?
At worst, they would die!
"Heaven and Earth Three Talents Formation, activate!"
Ling Feng took out his Qiankun Fan and activated the mountain-protecting formation.
Around Mount Yougou, thirty-six beams of light shot into the sky, and a massive formation materialized. Immediately, a golden, semi-transparent shield expanded, covering the entire Mount Yougou area.
"This is?!"
Sasayuri was shocked as she looked at the protective shield.
"This protective shield was set up by me a thousand years ago. If Inazuma faces a critical juncture, this can serve as the final safeguard."
Ling Feng said seriously.
"Then we should be able to hold on until Ei returns."
Sasayuri said excitedly.
Ling Feng shook his head, pouring a bucket of cold water on everyone's heads.
"Not necessarily. Although it was set up a thousand years ago and is filled with immense energy, these Abyss monsters possess the power to dissolve space."
"This power has a significant restraint on shields and the like. Moreover, the shield itself covers a vast area. I don't know how long it will last."
"Chiyo, Yae, Kitsune Saiguu, as powerful individuals appear in the Abyss army, we will need to deal with them one by one to reduce the energy consumption of the protective shield."
The three nodded, indicating they understood.
The entire Mount Yougou fell into a state of silence. All combat personnel, weapons in hand, watched tensely as the Abyss army surged forward.
When the Abyss army was less than a kilometer away from the protective shield, Ling Feng gave the order.
"Open fire! Organize attacks! If you can't hold on, retreat into the protective shield, and you'll be safe!"
Instantly, the Divine Power Cannons fired in unison! Countless arrows rained down upon the Abyss monsters.
The full-force assault caused the Abyss monster army to halt.
"Ling! There's thick, black mist appearing in the east, south, and north directions. There are a large number of enemies!"
Sasayuri said with a hint of panic.
They had initially thought they only needed to defend from one direction, but now, enemies were coming from all sides.
Ling Feng glanced at them. Some of these enemies were different from the Riftwolves; they were called Abyss Heralds.
The Abyss Heralds looked like human soldiers, clad in full-body armor, carrying flags, bows, and spears, wielding all sorts of weapons.
This wasn't the most important thing. These guys were called the Black Serpent Legion, and each of them possessed Elemental power!
And there were also countless war machines from Khaenri'ah.
How could the Shogunate army possibly fight against this!
At the same time, on the dark earth, black sludge began to appear. Ling Feng recognized this substance at a glance.
It was the same black mud he and Keqing had encountered when they were trapped underground!
However, this black mud felt more unsettling and ominous than what he had seen before.
Compared to this, the black mud he and Keqing encountered seemed weakened.
Troublesome!
Very troublesome!
"Everyone, split into four teams to defend Mount Yougou, one on each side: east, south, west, and north! If you see an enemy, hit them hard!"
"Yes!"
The strict military discipline had its benefits; their execution was very efficient. The main forces immediately split into three teams and rushed to the other three defensive positions.
Instantly, the sounds of artillery fire, shouts of battle, and roars mingled together, leaving behind a scene of carnage and rivers of blood.
Even during the Archon War, Inazuma had not experienced such a fierce battle, except for the chaotic Archon battles on Seirai Island.
In less than half a day.
The thick, black mist had spread to Mount Yougou, darkening the sky. If not for the Heaven and Earth Three Talents Formation blocking it, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
From then on, the entire Inazuma was shrouded in black mist.
Under the shroud of the black mist, the surrounding environment became even more gloomy. Only the brilliance of the protective shield still shone brightly.
Suddenly, a massive black hole appeared in the sky, and a colossal dark silhouette, as vast as the sky, appeared above Mount Yougou.
"Golden Wolflord! King of the Black Wolf Pack!"
Ling Feng's expression became extremely solemn as he looked at the creature that had suddenly appeared.
The aura of this Golden Wolflord was not much weaker than his or Chiyo's!
Furthermore, a large pack of powerful Riftwolves surrounded it, like personal guards.
At the same time, other types of Golden Wolflords appeared in the other three directions: a tiger-like one, a bear-like one, and a snake-like one.
My goodness, even the King-tier monsters had arrived!
"Yae, Chiyo, Kitsune Saiguu, it's time for us to act!"
"Understood!"
"I'll take care of the one in the west!"
Ling Feng, wielding the Blade of the War God, stomped heavily and charged towards the King of the Black Wolf Pack.
Sasayuri, Chiyo, and Kitsune Saiguu each chose a direction and a Golden Wolflord as their opponent.
Soon, the four of them were locked in a fierce battle with the Golden Wolflords, fighting as if the heavens and earth were collapsing.
Flames, lightning, storms, and rock breath erupted incessantly, like brilliant fireworks blooming.
"Die! Dragon's Roar of the Nine Heavens! Dragon Ascendant! Crimson Dragon Flame!"
Ling Feng, holding the Blade of the War God, was enveloped by a fiery red dragon that coiled around him, darkening the sky with its immense dragon's might.
With a swing of his blade, Ling Feng unleashed the fire dragon, which shot towards the Golden Wolflord. The Golden Wolflord, unwilling to be outdone, let out an angry roar and charged forward.
The two colossal beings immediately engaged in a fierce battle.
How could a mere wolf be compared to a dragon?
When the Golden Wolflord, covered in wounds, realized it was outmatched and tried to escape into the void,
The fire dragon, engulfed in flames, exploded like a time bomb, its brilliant light engulfing the entire sky!
The Golden Wolflord of the Black Wolf Pack perished!
Immediately after, Ling Feng rushed to support Sasayuri and the others, and together they slew the other three King-tier beasts.
However, although they had won the battles between the generals, the losses on Ling Feng's side were still extremely heavy in the battles between the soldiers.
Thousands of people vanished in an instant. If not for the protective shield, which allowed them to retreat while fighting, the Narukami army would have long been swallowed by the tide of countless monsters.
"Everyone, retreat into the protective shield!"
"Wounded personnel, quickly find medical personnel to recover. Those still able to fight, use long-range attacks to kill the enemies!"
The protective shield had an automatic identification capability. The Abyss army couldn't get in unless they breached the shield.
Space-travel?
Apologies, this space belongs to me!
However, a greater crisis soon arrived.