Chapter 146: Chapter 145 Xia Ji_1
Casually deflecting the two Hidden Weapons, Elder Tianxing’s gaze fell upon the figure dashing out of the tavern’s door. He threw his long-handled great blade, then kicked its end.
WHOOSH!
The wooden wall of the tavern was blasted open, and the great blade flew out like a startling rainbow.
The next instant, a scream came from outside. Looking through the hole, Elder Han’s body had been pierced by the great blade and lay in a pool of blood.
Ling Chen looked at Elder Tianxing. What powerful Martial Arts Cultivation, he thought. He killed Elder Han, a Great Master Level Powerhouse, with a casual move and without even using his true strength.
However, the Cultivation gap between them was indeed significant. Elder Tianxing was already a Grand Master of the Seventh Realm, while Elder Han was merely a Grand Master of the First Realm. Being killed instantaneously was nothing unusual.
Elder Tianxing was a powerful figure stationed in Stone City by the Sect Alliance. He was also a core elder of Sky Void Palace, exceedingly strong and holding great prestige in the Jianghu. Otherwise, he would not have been assigned to guard such an important place as Stone City.
After killing Elder Han, Elder Tianxing approached Ling Chen and the others, a hint of appreciation on his face. "You’ve completed this mission splendidly," he said. "If it weren’t for you, this spy might have caused serious trouble at a critical moment."
Hearing this, Mu Feng and the others’ eyes brightened. Perhaps, like the first part of the mission, they had exceeded expectations once again.
Their previous doubts about Ling Chen had completely vanished. It turned out Ling Chen was indeed exceptionally insightful, able to use such a method to lure the snake from its hole and complete the mission so flawlessly. Being chosen by Ling Chen as team members now seemed like a very fortunate thing.
"Ling Chen, you are very capable," Elder Tianxing said, looking at Ling Chen with admiration. "I’ve heard Lv Meng mention you before, saying you’re a promising talent. Now that I’ve seen you, it’s indeed true." He knew that today’s operation was entirely planned by Ling Chen, who deserved significant credit for achieving such results.
"Elder, you flatter me," Ling Chen said modestly. "We were merely fortunate. If the spy had remained hidden, we would have been helpless. I truly wouldn’t have been able to complete this mission then."
In front of an elder, Ling Chen naturally had to be modest.
Still, managing to expose Elder Han was indeed an unexpected boon.
"Elder Tianxing!"
Just as Elder Tianxing was about to offer more praise, and perhaps discuss Ling Chen and Xu Ruoyan’s matter, a Deacon Disciple on a galloping horse suddenly came charging recklessly through the city, stopping right before them.
"What happened? Why are you in such a panic?" Elder Tianxing asked, an ominous feeling washing over him.
"The enemy’s main army is attacking!" the Deacon Disciple said, his face fraught with panic.
"What? So soon?" Elder Tianxing’s expression changed drastically.
"If Elder Han had succeeded, this would indeed be the perfect time to attack the city," Mu Feng, beside Ling Chen, suddenly interjected. "Think about it. If General Yue were assassinated now, the army would be leaderless. A successor would likely be found within half a day. Even if their command skills didn’t match General Yue’s, they would at least be a battle-hardened veteran.
"But it just so happens that Stone City’s defenders are at their weakest right now. With no one to command them, the enemy has chosen this moment to attack."
"Your analysis is sound," Yue Chaoqun, who was nearby, nodded. "The enemy’s leader is a formidable individual indeed. I sensed this earlier."
"Then let’s go and meet this person," Elder Tianxing declared, flicking his sleeve. He leaped onto his horse and galloped towards the city gate.
"Let’s go take a look too," Ling Chen said to the other four. A major battle might erupt from this siege. They couldn’t just stay in the city waiting for death; if they could help, they definitely had to participate in its defense.
However, in such a vast battle, the impact they could make would be minuscule.
「Before the city gate.」
The main army of the Earth Country had reached the city walls, arrayed in an extremely disciplined formation. Their numbers were at least one hundred thousand.
This army was uniformly clad in black Armor, appearing as a dark, oppressive mass. The intimidating ranks of soldiers stretched as far as the eye could see, exuding a terrifying aura, like dark clouds pressing down on the city.
Beyond the countless soldiers, well-trained war beasts and large Siege Equipment were also visible below the city walls.
"What a magnificent army! No wonder they’ve been invincible and pushed all the way here," Ling Chen and the others exclaimed, having already ascended the city wall. They were deeply shocked by such a formidable military display.
"The Demonic Sect has always been teeming with talent; never underestimate them," Ling Chen said, his expression grave.
"Look! There’s more in the sky over there!" Bai Qianxing suddenly exclaimed.
Ling Chen looked up. Indeed, in his line of sight were a dozen or so large black specks. Focusing his True Qi into his eyes, he could finally see clearly: they were enormous black eagles, and upon their backs, human figures stood distinctly.
"Those are Skywind Hawks!" Mu Feng, beside him, gasped in surprise.
Skywind Hawks were a type of flying Exotic Beast. The dozen or so in the sky were clearly tamed. Taming Skywind Hawks was no small feat. Major Sects like Myriad Dao Sect, Sky Void Palace, and Divine Intent Sect also possessed Skywind Hawks, but only in small numbers.
Within the Demonic Sect, the Myriad Beasts Sect excelled at beast taming, which was why they could deploy so many Skywind Hawks at once.
Vaguely, Ling Chen discerned on the largest Skywind Hawk a Black-robed woman wearing a fanged mask. Her silhouette struck him as somewhat familiar.
"That woman in the Ghost Mask must be the enemy commander," Mo Yu said, nocking an arrow to his Bow and Arrow and aiming at that Skywind Hawk. However, he quickly shook his head and lowered his Bow and Arrow. At such a distance, only a top-tier Archery Grandmaster would have any chance of hitting the target.
"That woman... I feel like I’ve seen her somewhere before," Ling Chen murmured, deep in thought. Soon, an image flashed through his mind, and his eyes lit up. "I remember now! She’s the one who commanded the forces that destroyed the Fire Blade Sect!
"But... it feels like I’ve seen her more than just this once."
Seeing this figure, Ling Chen’s thoughts churned. He felt a strong sense of familiarity, yet he couldn’t pinpoint why.
Noticing Ling Chen’s peculiar expression, Bai Qianxing couldn’t help but ask, "What’s wrong, Boss? Do you know her? That seems impossible. This woman is Xia Ji, leader of the Ten Outstanding Talents of the Demonic Sect. If you’d met her before, you’d likely have been dead long ago."