Chapter 2007

Outside the city, the Black Armored Army split into three routes: two charged toward the besieging bandits to relieve the siege of Miancheng; the third, led by Wanqi Liang, burst out from behind Guo Bai Yu's army.

Viewed from above, it was as if three fresh waves violently struck into the old sea, instantly raising towering waves that crashed against the shore—but all the spray was blood!

The detachment charging Miancheng was led by Pu Hua and Wanqi Xing, one from the east, one from the west, advancing in a pincer movement straight for the city gate.

The besieging bandits, unable to see clearly in the night, only knew that suddenly, shouts of battle shook heaven and earth—and the attackers were none other than the famed Black Armored Army!

Just the name of those three words was enough to frighten; listeners would soften by three parts.

The Black Armored Army, relying on the force of their charge, tore a vicious gap in the enemy ranks.

Two bandit commanders climbed high and shouted, "Don't panic, the Black Armored Army is few in number!"—only to be shot down by two arrows.

On this side, Guo Bai Yu's army held the high slope, gaining the terrain advantage; the Black Armored Army attacked from below up the slope, yet their momentum was in no way inferior.

First came arrows like rain, then blades and spears followed.

Such a solid, head-on clash favored the experienced Black Armored Army—see, the front lines of the two armies were instantly pressed back up the slope. The bandit vanguard was horrified, their formation nearly collapsing.

Guo Bai Yu, watching from above, secretly marveled:

They fight with fierce courage—no wonder they are the main force under the Dragon God.

But this time he used the weak as vanguard; the Black Armored Army first charged the cannon fodder driven out by Guo's direct troops, while Guo Bai Yu's direct troops remained packed in the middle. Once the Black Armored Army's charge spent itself, Guo Bai Yu's main force, resting and waiting, would surge forward to fill the gap.

He came prepared this time. If the Black Armored Army did not appear, he could easily take Miancheng; but once they showed up...

Guo Bai Yu called out to those behind him:

"Release the god-slaves—quickly!"

Soon, strange figures appeared on the battlefield between the two armies.

One monster stood about a zhang tall, overall resembling a stretched baboon, but hairless over its entire body, with its tail making up two-thirds of its height—extraordinarily thick, and on the tail tip were embedded a series of round rings, arranged in sequence.

At first glance, it looked very much like the iron rings on the back of a nine-ringed broadsword—similarly shaking, they rang out with a clamor that made people dizzy and anxious.

Its upper body was frail, but its tail was so thick it looked mismatched—yet when that great tail swung, everyone would know its purpose:

With a powerful flick, it could fling the bone rings on its tail into the air. These spun at high speed, too fast for the naked eye to follow.

Just then, a warhorse blocked the way; onlookers heard only a cry of anguish as both rider and horse were cleaved cleanly in two!

The bone rings still carried momentum, slicing through four more people.

The monster's tail swung left and right, the bone rings flying in all directions. Everyone paled, none failing to dodge.

When the bone rings had all been flung, the monster's tail tip rattled rhythmically, like a rattlesnake. Thus summoned, the bone rings flew back to their master, each finding its place along the long tail.

This monster's name was simply: Nine Rings.

Wanqi Liang personally kicked flying a bone ring, secretly thinking, "Not bad." This thing was heavy, powerful, and sharp—ordinary soldiers found it hard to resist.

The Emperor had predicted that such a battlefield would likely see demon puppets—and he was not wrong in the slightest.

Only when truly clashing with Guo Bai Yu's main force did he realize this troop was somewhat formidable; their strength, speed, and fighting will bore no resemblance to the city militias and bandit gangs they had previously swept aside with ease.

Orders were transmitted smoothly, formations changed swiftly and varied.

It was said that Guo Bai Yu's main force consisted partly of veterans he brought from the Ya region, partly of fierce bandits he had recruited in Shanjin—all screened.

With demon puppets aiding them, they were even harder to fight.

But such an opponent made the fight worthwhile—what fun was there in merely beating up shrimp soldiers and crab generals?

As the battle raged indecisively, a avian demon scout flew down from the sky, perched on a horse's head, and said to him: "When our army arrived at Luofeng Pond, we found battle already underway there—it was in full swing."

Wanqi Liang blinked in surprise: "Whose troops?"

He had sent men to seize Luofeng Pond precisely to cut off Guo Bai Yu's rear—so where had this force come from, arriving first?

The scout asked him: "Is Luofeng Pond still contested? Commander Qian, please decide."

"No matter whose troops they are, help them beat the bandits!" Wanqi Liang turned his eyes and decided instantly: "If I'm not mistaken, that's the Southern Rong family mobilizing!"

Luofeng Pond originally belonged to Southern Rong He, but was later taken by Guo Bai Yu. This man truly knew how to endure—he said nothing, until Guo Bai Yu emptied his nest to attack Miancheng, then he came out to retake Luofeng Pond.

"Then what?"

"After beating the bandits, we don't enter the city—we turn back immediately." Our current target is Guo Bai Yu; we must not create enemies out of thin air.

Having finished giving those instructions, the scout flew off—and the warhorse suddenly neighed and dodged backward.

Wanqi Liang then saw something long and thread-like sweep past before him, vanishing with a swish.

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This mule-beast of his was not only experienced but spiritually attuned—it had once led a mountain bandit chief out of a labyrinthine marsh. With this dodge, Wanqi Liang finally noticed a grayish, indistinct thing hidden in a rock crevice nearby, two zhang away, its body covered in hemp-like spots, nearly blending with the stone; in the dark it was invisible, only revealing itself when it spat out this white thing.

Yes, what it spat out was its tongue.

This thing was also clever—if one strike failed, it shifted target to shoot another Black Armored soldier. That one wasn't as lucky as Wanqi Liang: his mount was struck in the belly, and amid its cry of pain, it collapsed.

This tongue was sharper than a springing blade. Fortunately, the knight wore black armor—otherwise, being pierced through the belly would have been him.

Wanqi Liang raised his hand to shoot an arrow—but as he lifted his arm, the thing was startled and slipped into the ground with a hiss.

Burrowing into earth was easier than into water.

Earth escape.

Though Miancheng's walls had a no-escape formation, the wild battlefield had no such restrictions—everyone could unleash whatever abilities they possessed.

This monster lurked ghostlike underground, and combined with the other that could throw flying discs, it caused the Black Armored Army much trouble alongside the bandits.

Having just dodged two arrows from Black Armored soldiers, Nine Rings—behind it, the thin mist disturbed by the movement, a sturdy figure suddenly burst forth, swinging a massive club downward.

Nine Rings was also clever—it rolled on the spot, flicked its tail, and two flying rings shot forward with the motion.

It then realized its opponent was an armored giant ape—though stocky, when waving the club it moved with tiger-like vigor and extraordinary agility.

The ape's club tail jerked up, knocking away two bone rings. Nine Rings grabbed one bone ring in each hand, clanged against it, and they fought—surprisingly, with some technique.

The ape let out two howls, then launched a smooth combo attack.

This ape, forged through a thousand tempers, had a particularly effective three-strike opening move; Nine Rings failed to block the third blow before being struck in the waist by a heavy club—his organs displaced, he collapsed, vomiting blood.