Chapter 2783: The Plain's Counterattack

These monsters were about four zhang long, with large heads and flat bodies, heads like crocodiles but limbs like fins, and very short necks, brimming with powerful explosive force.

They were called Oyster-Stone Salamanders, innately possessing the ability of Earth Escape; within this Shi Lin they moved as freely as fish in water. Thus the valley floor of the Shi Lin was like a pool teeming with crocodiles — calm on the surface, but murderous intent lurking beneath.

Bin Yu Shen carelessly had his lower leg seized by an Oyster-Stone Salamander, which dragged him relentlessly toward a ground fissure; Bin Yu Shen drove a knife into its big mouth, finishing it off, blood spraying everywhere.

"These things are flesh and blood, not stone!"

Where exactly are they? Kui Fang suddenly realized: "We've fallen into a Secret Realm, go back quickly, retrace our steps!"

In the Yujing City era, Shangguan Biao collected many Secret Realms; this Earth Mother Plain must be no different. They explored and explored — how did they walk right into a Secret Realm!

An Oyster-Stone Salamander also lunged at Kui Fang; he slapped out through the air and sent the big fellow flying into a tree. But before this motion was even complete, a large boulder half a step away from him suddenly moved, transforming into a stone puppet in half a breath.

It was more slender and shorter than the common stone men the Heavenly Devil had repelled, but more agile; after clambering up it did nothing else, smashing two heavy fists onto Kui Fang's feet.

With two cracks, the feet of this physical body of his shattered.

He roared in anger, pushed back with his hand, and the stone man was shoved a hundred zhang through the air, smashing into the cliff wall and shattering to pieces.

Kui Fang looked down — both feet a mangled mess of flesh and blood. He secretly circulated divine power, wanting to quickly repair them, but from behind came the sound of rushing wind again, the enemy attacking once more.

At this moment, figure after figure suddenly emerged from the crevices of the cliff wall — the Shen Kingdom army and the Cang Yan people!

The next breath, a cold light flashed before his eyes.

Kui Fang's final thought was that it seemed this very thing had smashed his flying magic artifact just now.

…

He Yue walked out of the Shi Lin Secret Realm, raised his head to the sky, and let out a long breath.

He actually personally killed the Heavenly God Bin Yu? A few months ago, he wouldn't have dared dream it.

In the Shi Lin Secret Realm battle, his and Yang Sheng's tactics were very successful — not only luring the entire Heavenly Devil squad into the Shi Lin Secret Realm, but also annihilating them all!

Recalling the boiling blood during the battle just now, He Yue clenched his fists; the feeling of hunting Heavenly Devils was truly wonderful! The feeling of personally slaying his enemy was truly wonderful!

These Heavenly Devils were all the chief culprits who caused his eldest son's death. But before today, his greatest wish was only to kill Zhao Shuo. Behind him, Immortal Ming Ke, Yang Sheng, Immortal Qin, and the United Army also walked out of the Secret Realm. Everyone was covered in bloodstains; Yang Sheng's leg was also injured, and his personal guards were bandaging his wound.

The army rested in place for half a quarter-hour; Immortal Ming Ke entrusted the little stone men to deliver pills to everyone, then said to He Yue: "The Crown Prince's skills are also extraordinary."

This was not flattery; although He Yue did not personally enter the fray just now, the stone puppets he commanded fought nimbly, advancing and retreating with measure, the timing of their divine abilities grasped precisely, coordinating seamlessly with Immortal Ming Ke, Yang Sheng, and Immortal Qin, smoothly killing two Heavenly Devils within half a quarter-hour.

Although this kind of stone puppet is powerful, it requires fine manipulation to unleash its might. Immortal Ming Ke and the others had tried; they weren't cut out for it.

A technique tests craftsmanship, tests operation, and to a large extent still relies on talent.

The Jin Jia Divine General that He Lingchuan gave He Yue, the latter had long since controlled even better than the original owner. This stone puppet was simpler than the Jin Jia Divine General; He Yue tried for a little while and got the hang of it.

He shook his head and said modestly: "I wrecked three stone puppets; ashamed."

"Such a fierce battle — how could there be no losses?"

Just now was also a vicious fight; being able to wipe out the opponent this time had a large element of luck.

First, the battle took place inside a Secret Realm, our side held the terrain advantage — after all, the Heavenly Devils were completely unfamiliar with the topography of the Earth Mother Plain;

Second, although the Earth Mother was not present, the stone men and stone beasts dispatched by the little stone men were extremely powerful reinforcements; they charged forward without fear, bearing the brunt of the most dangerous opponents and the most terrifying divine abilities. With such tireless, unyielding powerful teammates, the human army could display its own flexible and changeable strengths.

Third, this ambush was a genuine case of the many overwhelming the few — the Black Armor Army fielded a full nine hundred men; the Shen Kingdom army's combat power was inferior to the Black Armor Army, but their numerical superiority was right there. Over three thousand people against a dozen-odd Heavenly Devils, plus several Cang Yan immortals personally taking the field — this battle's victory was only natural.

But even occupying so many advantages, the army still suffered not insignificant casualties. This group of Heavenly Devils was just as hard to fight as Immortal Ming Ke predicted.

The battles ahead will only get harder and harder.

He Yue asked the little stone man: "Are there any more stone puppets?"

A red light flashed in the little stone man's eyes as it tallied the count: "One hundred and sixty left."

More than enough; He Yue was eager to try: "Where is our next target?"

Immortal Ming Ke took out his portable sand table and glanced at it twice, then had the little stone man's avatar pull up the real-time surveillance feed, pointing at one frame: "Let's go with this squad. They have even fewer men — only nine Heavenly Devils — and they just happened to pass through Zhenan Town, where the terrain is very flat, suitable for large-force combat. Moreover, there's a Chan Yu Secret Realm nearby."

Keeping Secret Realms was a legacy style from the Yujing City era; the Earth Mother herself didn't care for it, but at this moment it has become one of the Earth Mother Plain's important shields against invaders.

Making good use of Secret Realms can greatly relieve the pressure of frontal combat.

"Fine, let's go."

Outside the Shi Lin Secret Realm, the little stone man was responsible for sending everyone to where they needed to go.

He Yue once again personally witnessed its marvel. Immortal Ming Ke said Zhenan Town; it merely gestured casually, and on the broad wall behind it a huge concave black hole opened by itself; the soldiers ran in and were instantly transferred to Zhenan Town.

This is even more efficient, flexible… energy-saving than the Great Mountain-Moving Array. He Yue inwardly exclaimed admiration, knowing this was because the entire plain is the Earth Mother's body; between its various regions and parts there can be internal accommodation, rules are relaxed considerably, not as rigid and exacting as external laws.

Otherwise why would it be called "distinction between inside and outside"?

…

Geng Yue Shen accompanied the Heavenly Venerate over two more high mountains, when an urgent message reached his ears.

The other Heavenly Devils also heard it, stopping their steps in unspoken unison.

A force was ambushed at a place called Zhenan Town; the enemy came in dark masses of three to four thousand troops — not only immortals and cultivators, but also an endless army of stone men. By the time nearby Heavenly Gods rushed over it was already too late; the opponent escaped by Earth Escape, our side seven dead, two wounded.

The Heavenly Venerate's complexion was ugly.