Chapter 2684

Bolang Kingdom had just arrived and was unfamiliar with the local climate, perhaps turning this rainstorm into a downpour.

No matter what, it seemed as if the heavens had torn a great hole, and the sky kept pouring water onto the earth. By rights, this was the perfect time to unleash water-based divine powers, and even some sea clans could use the flood to sneak onto the city walls. But Hui Xuan Fortress was no fool—it opened the Escape Technique Forbidden Formation at all costs, and even in the downpour, it reinforced the walls with extra troops.

At this moment, a strategist advised the Bolang King, observing the storm's intensity and estimating it would last at least the whole night. As the saying goes, misfortune may bring opportunity—better to wait until dawn, when the ground is flooded and mountain torrents form, then Bolang's great army could divert the flood to strike Hui Xuan Fortress. This region had long suffered drought, the soil was dry and sandy, and after prolonged soaking, the walls might not withstand the flood.

Such a natural disaster—no amount of fortifying the walls would help.

Moreover, in the flood, Bolang's great army's divine arts and techniques would be like adding wings to a tiger, achieving at least twelvefold effectiveness.

Upon hearing the strategy, the Bolang King agreed: let it be so. Bolang's great army would remain still in the first half of the night, then later divert the flood to crash into the fortress.

Indeed, the first half of the night unfolded as the strategist predicted—the torrential rain drove water levels to surge across the mountains, streams became rivers, and previously dry areas became extensively flooded. By the second half of the night, flood formation seemed imminent.

Who could have foreseen, the rain night brought change.

Suddenly, outside Hui Xuan Fortress, the earth trembled, and the forests and mountains beside Bolang's camp collapsed first, countless boulders, gravel, and trees tumbling down the slopes,

straight toward Bolang's great camp.

Alarms rang in the camp; numerous spellcasters rushed forward, urgently casting spells to block and resist.

But just then, the ground beneath the camp suddenly split open, tearing the flat earth into a fissure zone, and it split right down the middle of the camp.

What camp could withstand such physical division? Countless military supplies, horses and wagons, personnel, and weapons had no time to dodge, tumbling one after another into the deep chasms of the cracks.

With the earth torn open so wide, the accumulated water across the region gushed away with a splash, Bolang's great camp was in utter chaos—men and horses overturned—and only the cries of "Guard the Imperial Carriage!" echoed without cease.

Just then, two elite forces emerged from behind Dashan, marching straight for Bolang's great camp!

Under the cover of the earlier downpour, these two troops approached Hui Xuan Fortress silently and unseen. For at that time, no avian demons could fly in the sky, and the mountain forests were filled with howling thunder and rain, masking all other sounds.

Yet how could Bolang's troops have anticipated that Hui Xuan Fortress possessed such powerful reinforcements? If so, why had they not appeared earlier?

Hui Xuan Fortress also opened its gates at the same moment, its troops shouting as they charged toward the Bolang forces.

One force inside, one outside—Bolang's camp was caught in a pincer attack.

Seize the chaos, take their lives!

The radiant light of countless divine arts and techniques illuminated the rainy night of Hui Xuan Fortress.

The newly dispatched reinforcements from Wusong Kingdom—immortals, great demons, mighty warriors—none lacking. When the top powers of both sides clashed, Wusong Kingdom faintly held the upper hand.

The ferocity and brutality of this great battle, those roars and anguished cries, were all muffled by the continuous downpour.

Until the next morning's dawn.

After daybreak, corpses lay scattered before Hui Xuan Fortress, so many that even the rainwater could not wash away the blood-red ground.

The Bolang King led 120,000 troops on a distant campaign; after this night of chaotic battle, only 70,000 escaped from Hui Xuan Fortress. The pursuing troops behind chased them all the way, launching repeated encirclements and assaults. Bolang commanders several times tried to regroup and regain footing, but each time their formation just began to take shape, it was shattered by the charge.

Defeat collapsed like a mountain.

Finally, those who could flee back to Wusong Harbor or escape into the sea numbered fewer than 30,000!

The Bolang people's spirit was broken, for the Bolang King, who personally led this expedition, had collapsed in a pool of blood before Hui Xuan Fortress before dawn!

At the moment of mountain collapse and earth splitting, Bolang's royal tent became the primary target of enemy fire—no one knew how many beams of rainbow light launched simultaneous attacks from heaven and earth at that time.

The protective forces around the Bolang King were strong—dozens of officers of various ranks, and the immortals and demons accompanying the army exerted themselves to the utmost.

Yet no one could say exactly what had happened amid the downpour. Bolang soldiers only knew one thing for certain: the enemy's vital energy was deep crimson!

In this battle, thirty percent of the commanders fell in action;

Bolang Kingdom's immortals and demons who came to protect the carriage all perished together, with only one immortal barely escaping.

And because of the interference from the rainstorm and earthquake, the withdrawn Bolang soldiers, most of them, could not clearly explain what had happened, only knowing that when the earthquake struck, the enemy surged from all directions, and extraordinary talents kept appearing in endless succession.

When the news reached Beijia, court and populace erupted in an uproar.

When the news spread to all corners of the world, the nations stared in disbelief.

This how could it be possible!

Who could have predicted that the Bolang King's personal campaign against Wusong Kingdom would end like this?

Originally thought it would only take expending a bit more strength to conquer it—who knew the end would be his own defeat and death?

Everyone only pursued one question:

Why did this happen?

Bolang Kingdom raged in fury, pointing at Cangyan for assassinating the sovereign, declaring it a national disgrace and feud, demanding blood for blood!

Everyone knows Wusong Kingdom cannot defeat Bolang Kingdom—proven by the first three wars. This time, Wusong's Dead Snake made a stunning comeback, and during the Battle of Hui Xuan Fortress, it suddenly shifted allegiance to Cangyan—anyone with sense would link these two events.

Could it be that Cangyan secretly dispatched troops to Wusong, assassinating Bolang's sovereign? Or not!

If it were another country, perhaps it could not deploy troops ten thousand li away, especially with a vast ocean in between.

But the Nine Abysses Great Emperor had, three years ago, subdued a divine beast named "Earth Mother." It is a mobile fortress, a super platform for transporting troops!

The Bolang King had been on the throne less than five years, was in his prime, and had not designated an heir. Since a state cannot go a day without a ruler, his heirs immediately launched a succession struggle—though they claimed to avenge their father, for a time Bolang Kingdom could not present a unified front to the outside world.

Within the Lingxu Wang Ting, discussions also repeatedly revolved around this matter.

One faction of ministers insisted that the Bolang King was one of the Thirteen Barbarian Demon Kings, that he met his harm overseas, damaging Beijia's prestige, and therefore Beijia should strike the culprits with thunderous wrath!

Yet including the Grand Minister of Works, many senior ministers argued that Bolang Kingdom had unilaterally attacked Wusong Kingdom, and Lingxu City itself did not support it. Barbarian demon kingdoms' external campaigns must first obtain Lingxu City's consent. Since Bolang Kingdom attacked without notice, the resulting consequences should be borne solely by itself.

Put another way, you wage war without my consent, take the spoils mostly for yourself, and when you run into trouble, you still have the nerve to come to me for help?

Who could do such a thankless, laborious task?

But no matter what, the Thirteen Barbarian Demon Kings, each a weighty figure in Beijia, and Lingxu City could not treat this lightly—thus it formally sent a sternly worded inquiry to Cangyan.

Cangyan's reply was also very formal:

I did not!

It denied Bolang Kingdom's accusations, denied sending troops to Wusong Kingdom, and denied killing Bolang's sovereign.

The only thing Cangyan admitted was transporting strategic supplies to Wusong Kingdom and providing tactical guidance.

This is the duty of a suzerain state toward its vassal—nothing objectionable about it.