Listening to Ling Feng's words, Ying hesitated, looking at the vast abyss army approaching in the distance, and said with concern.
"Khaenri'ah, but what about Inazuma?"
"Ying, Inazuma will be protected by us. Go quickly and help Makoto."
Kitsune Saigu suddenly appeared beside the two, saying solemnly.
As for Konbu Maru, he consciously stood aside to wait, realizing this was not a place for him.
"But... there are quite a few powerful beings among them. If I leave..."
Ying's gaze fell on the dense black mist, she could sense that there were many beings comparable to Archons within.
"Ying... I promise you, we will protect Inazuma until you and Makoto return."
Ling Feng took Ying's hand, looking into her eyes and saying earnestly.
Ying felt the warmth from Ling Feng's hand, scorching and heartwarming.
She couldn't help but recall the past, when Ling Feng seemed young and immature, yet was surprisingly dependable.
Now, it was still the same.
Ying smiled gently, no longer insisting.
"Alright, but be careful. It's been a thousand years, sister and I and everyone else miss you dearly. When this disaster is over, we'll go to our usual spot and have fun."
After a few words of caution to Ling Feng, Ying turned into lightning and rushed towards Khaenri'ah at the fastest speed.
Ling Feng gazed at the disappearing purple light, a hint of apology flashed in his eyes, and he thought to himself.
"Sorry Ying, I might have to break my promise this time. Keep it up, you must save Makoto."
Ling Feng let out a long sigh, closed and opened his eyes, his gaze sharp.
"Kitsune Saigu, long time no see."
"Although I'd love to chat with you, perhaps next time. Organizing the civilian evacuation, that will be up to you and Sasayuri."
"I will lead the army and buy you time."
If this abyss army was truly inexhaustible, they would have to choose to retreat.
However, before retreating, they needed to buy time for the civilians to evacuate.
"Understood."
Kitsune Saigu nodded, transformed into a small bird using the art of transformation, and flew towards Narukami Island.
"Lord Ling."
Seeing that all the adults had left and only Ling Feng remained, Konbu Maru approached respectfully.
"You are Goro's disciple, excellent. At such a young age, to become a Hatamoto, you haven't disgraced your master."
Ling Feng said with a smile.
"Thank you for your praise, Lord Ling. A while ago, I am greatly indebted to your timely intervention."
Konbu Maru bowed deeply.
"A minor matter. Alright, listen to my command from now on. Are my battle formations still being practiced?"
"Lord Ling, Master has been overseeing this matter. Your battle formations are mandatory lessons."
"Very good. I led your ancestors into battle back then, and I hope you will not disgrace the ancestors."
"Absolutely not!"
"Excellent. Notify everyone to assemble for a pre-battle mobilization assembly."
"Understood."
Konbu Maru was about to leave to notify the army for a mobilization speech.
But Ling Feng suddenly stopped him.
"By the way, that weapon of yours, isn't it Mistsplitter Reforged that Ying gave you?"
"Yes."
Upon hearing this, Konbu Maru nodded and produced Mistsplitter Reforged, only the hilt remaining.
"Give it to me, I'll help you repair it."
"Speaking of which, since you are Goro's disciple, shouldn't you be learning archery? Why don't you even have a bow?"
"I saw Goro didn't use the Thundering Pulse Strings, so it should have been passed down to you."
"Why didn't you use it at that time?"
This puzzled Ling Feng. If he was learning, he should have learned Goro's archery skills, after all, among the Six Chous, Sasayuri was the top archer.
"Uh... I... the bow..."
Konbu Maru was startled, his face flushed, looking flustered, his eyes darting away, he stammered out a complete sentence.
Seeing Konbu Maru like this, Ling Feng could roughly guess where his bow had gone.
If nothing unexpected happened, it should be in the hands of his beloved.
"Alright, you may go."
"Yes."
Seeing that he was free to leave, Konbu Maru hurried away in a rush.
Ling Feng looked at the hilt of Mistsplitter in his hand and entered the main camp. Using the art of artifact refining, he re-forged Mistsplitter.
The abyss army was still some distance away.
——————
At the Kujou Kamijou Grand Training Ground, all available Shogunate soldiers and samurai, along with the three Tengu clans, stood in solemn formation.
Ling Feng scanned the ranks and nodded, their morale was good.
Although there were only a little over a hundred thousand, it was enough.
"I believe many of you already know my identity. A thousand years ago, I commanded your ancestors into battle."
"Today, let me see if your performance honors your fallen ancestors."
As soon as Ling Feng finished speaking, the crowd below shouted in unison.
"We do!"
"Excellent, full of spirit! All troops form up, each regiment adopts the 'One-Line Snake Formation' against the enemy!"
"Remember the two major formations, ready for rotation at any time."
"Artillery units, deploy the Divine Might Cannons to fire at distant enemies, reducing pressure on the melee troops."
"Shogunate samurai, Tengu, Kitsune, Oni, and other warriors, provide support wherever strong enemies are encountered."
"Do you understand?!"
"We understand!!!"
"Then! All troops prepare to face the enemy!"
After the pre-battle encouragement, Kujou Kamijou began the final preparations for battle in a tense and orderly manner.
Everyone gripped their weapons, standing ready.
"They are here!"
Facing the vast army of abyss monsters, many swallowed nervously. Fear was present, of course.
But thinking of their homes and families behind them, they gritted their teeth, their eyes filled with determination. Though fearful, no one chose to flee.
"All troops attack!"
Once the abyss monster army approached the warning line, the Divine Might Cannons unleashed their barrage, and the front-line troops charged!
Those with the Vision and Elemental power led the charge.
The battle was imminent!
The Shogunate army, with its years of training and coordinated efforts, handled the situation with ease.
The battle formations were very effective. Although the "One-Line Snake Formation" was prone to being broken, it was suitable for dealing with these sneak-attacking monsters and ensured the safety of their rear.
What is most important on the battlefield?
Trusting your teammates!
Ling Feng was also at the forefront, wielding Skyward Spine, clad in silver star-patterned armor, continuously slashing at enemies with his spear.
"Golden Scale Spear Art!"
Ling Feng was like a god of war, moving through the black wolf pack as if it were empty, his spear techniques sharp and swift, ruthlessly slaying, unstoppable.
With Ling Feng leading the army and ample elixir supplies, the advance of the abyss monster army was forcefully halted at Tatarasuna.
On Narukami Island, the Shogunate City's Sasayuri and Kitsune Saigu were organizing the evacuation of civilians.
The unconscious Chiyo was being cared for by Yae and other shrine maidens at the Grand Narukami Shrine.
After a thousand years, Yae had taken human form and grown into a graceful young woman.
Half a day later, Jinroukama was engulfed in smoke and flames, a scene of devastation, with corpses strewn everywhere.
This battle was particularly brutal, and the Narukami army suffered heavy casualties.
This was a battle that was destined to be lost. Most of the abyss monsters possessed some Elemental power, and their attacks were corrosive, like poison.
However, on Ling Feng's side, most of the Shogunate soldiers did not have Visions, only the Shogunate samurai and the Tengu, Kitsune, and Oni clans possessed Elemental power.
Even with Ling Feng's elixir support, if the injuries were severe, the elixirs would have no effect.
The power gap was too vast.
Moreover, those abyss monsters were endless, continuously emerging.
However, there was good news. Sasayuri arrived across the sea and informed Ling Feng that almost all the civilians on Narukami Island had been transferred to the foot of Mt. Yougou.
Hearing this, Ling Feng nodded, suspended in the sky, and looked at the abyss monsters still pouring out of the dense black mist, densely packed and stretching as far as the eye could see.
They had fought with all their might, temporarily annihilating the vanguard of the monster army and gaining a period of rest.
"Everyone! Retreat immediately! Return to Narukami Island at your fastest speed and set up defensive measures in the forests at the foot of Mt. Yougou!"
Ling Feng shouted several times, his voice covering the entire Jinroukama area.
"Lord Ling, we can still fight, why retreat?"
"Yes! We can still fight!"
For a moment, there was a clamor, and almost all the soldiers had expressions of unwillingness and determination.
"Quiet!!!"
"You have done exceptionally well. Compared to your ancestors, you have performed with even greater courage and bravery."
"I believe your ancestors would be proud and honored to see you like this."
"Does anyone still remember what I said before? This is what we call a strategic retreat! It is for the ultimate victory!"
"Everyone, obey the order and retreat immediately! Those who disobey will be dealt with according to military law!"
"I am very pleased that I was able to hold off those scoundrels for half an hour for you!"
With that, Ling Feng took a step and instantly appeared in front of the abyss monster army.
Originally, everyone wanted to defy Ling Feng's order simultaneously, letting their commander face so many enemies alone. Escape?
They could not do it!
But with Sasayuri holding the line, everyone had no choice but to leave.
Facing an endless, sky-obscuring enemy, ordinary people would have been terrified to death by the sheer pressure.
Ling Feng's expression was grave. He summoned the three divine weapons, Mists of the Tempest, Fenrir, and Frosty Snow, which circled around him.
Clad in star-patterned armor, holding the Blade of the War God, Ling Feng stood before the abyss army with the aura of a mountain.
"Sword Transformation into Ten Thousand!"
Ling Feng took out the Myriad Sword Box. Driven by True Essence, a hundred thousand spirit swords flew out like bees from a hive, forming a towering wall composed of spirit swords.
The hundred thousand spirit swords stood horizontally, their blades burning with earth fire.
"Now! Ten Thousand Swords Unleashed!"
Ling Feng snapped his fingers, and instantly, a hundred thousand spirit swords poured down like a waterfall.
A rain of swords fell from the sky!
The front-row monsters of the abyss army were instantly annihilated by the fiery sword rain descending from above.
Like harvesting rice, large swathes were cut down.
The hundred thousand spirit swords were planted neatly in the ground, like a sword forest, burning with earth fire, exuding a chilling sword intent, a grim and desolate aura.
"Roar!!!"
Suddenly, a group of giant abyss monsters, hundreds of meters tall, appeared in the sky. Some resembled wolves, others tigers, and still others, raging lions.
Their auras were all around the Golden Core stage.
Simultaneously, within the dense black mist on the ground, Khaenri'ah war machines appeared, densely packed.
Among them were even Ruin Golems, Cyclops... Mitachurls, and Ruin Hunters, each hundreds of meters tall.
"Damn it!"
Ling Feng cursed inwardly. Khaenri'ah sure knew how to stir up trouble!
With this kind of formation, even Ei would need considerable effort to annihilate them.
If the Shogunate army and the three clans' warriors encountered this, they would likely be sent to their deaths, except for the elite forces.
Even Chiyo would have a difficult time.
"Let me face you!"
Ling Feng soared into the air, his sleeves fluttering in the wind.
"Hoo... Ever since I became a Nascent Soul cultivator, I haven't truly exerted my full strength."
"If I recall correctly, a Nascent Soul sword cultivator should be considered a sword immortal in a certain novel."
"Then! Taste my sword!"
Ling Feng raised the Blade of the War God high, using his saber as a sword, and his sword as a saber; it was both a sword and a saber.
Ling Feng closed his eyes, slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, and tightened his grip on the hilt of the Blade of the War God. He concentrated his mind, and as Ling Feng entered a special state,
Instantly, the world's colors changed.
The sword intent emanating from Ling Feng began to blend and fuse with the sword intent.
If there was any weapon in the world that was fierce and domineering, it would naturally be the saber.
At the same level, even if a sword cultivator walked the path of ferocity and dominance, they would still be inferior to a saber. Integrating saber intent into sword intent, like a saber and like a sword, this was the ultimate ferocity and dominance!
The entire black sea of clouds in the sky was pulled by the surging sword intent and began to shake violently.
At this moment, the sword intent around Ling Feng surged with immense power, like the eye of a hurricane, with winds like blades, shredding all things!
When the intent of saber and sword reached its peak, Ling Feng suddenly opened his eyes and swung the Blade of the War God heavily.
Instantly, everything seemed to come to a standstill, silent.
Following that, from top to bottom, a straight white line appeared, connecting the sky and the earth.
Wherever it reached, abyss monsters and war machines, without exception, were annihilated by the fierce sword intent of this radiant line.
The sea of clouds in the sky was also split by this sword, forming a chasm, and golden beams of light returned to the earth.
A hundred-mile-deep沟壑 appeared on the ground, with remnants of sword intent lingering within.
With one strike, Ling Feng, who was suspended in the air, staggered slightly but quickly stabilized himself.
Upon closer inspection, one could see Ling Feng's arms trembling slightly, and sweat trickling down his forehead.
"Hoo... I can't use this move easily again, it consumes too much mental energy and True Essence. I must use it as a trump card."
Ling Feng twisted his neck and muttered.
Integrating saber intent into sword intent was very difficult and extremely taxing on the mind.
One wrong step, and he might even suffer a backlash.
Ling Feng performed a sword art, and the hundred thousand spirit swords trembled slightly, then rose from the ground, all flying back into the Myriad Sword Box.
Ling Feng, suspended in the air, controlled Mists of the Tempest, Fenrir, and Frosty Snow to traverse through the abyss monsters.
The three swords dealt with the stragglers in the front row who had not died from the world-shattering strike.
Twenty minutes later, Ling Feng looked at the "black tide" surging again, his face serious.
His previous strike had annihilated almost a hundred miles of the abyss army.
To have it replenished so quickly was incredibly troublesome.
Ling Feng glanced at the sea behind him, all the warships were sailing at full speed, and even Tengu were pushing from behind the ships while Kitsune used magic to accelerate their speed.
In short, every possible method was being used to increase their speed.
"Since I said I would buy you half an hour, I'll have to use some powerful large-scale spells."
Myriad Thunder Spell, Myriad Thunders Return to Sanctuary!
Sword Art! Sword Transformation into Ten Thousand!
Water Control Technique! Twin Dragons Emerge from the Sea!
Blazing Flame Saber Technique! Earth Flame!
...
Ling Feng's True Qi was poured out like it was free, and various powerful, wide-ranging spells were cast downwards, once again forcefully blocking the "abyss tide."