Chapter 232: The Dust Settles, the Hive Secured

Pfft…

In the main hive zone, the sound of iron arrows piercing flesh rose and fell continuously; the Zhao Yang forces suffered even heavier casualties. Sensing the Xia Army's arrow rain growing denser behind them, they charged toward the hive with even greater recklessness.

"Charge! Only by pushing through is there a sliver of hope—don't stand still and wait to die!"

Hou Ming slashed through the front row of the hive's defenders with a single stroke, roaring in fury.

Hou Bing and Hou Ying followed close behind, one wielding a sword, the other gripping a staff.

Though Lin Ye was gone, the simultaneous charge of three Longshan Longshan Longshan Yuhan-level warriors immediately tore a gaping hole in the hive's defensive line.

The dense tide of Zhao Yang forces surged through that breach, finally flooding into the main zone's buildings; the front hundreds instantly mixed with the hive's defenders, closing into hand-to-hand combat.

"Hurry up, mix in—then Xia can't shoot arrows anymore!"

Hou Ying swung his staff, felling over a dozen men before him. Turning back, he saw those in the rear still falling under Xia's iron arrows, his eyes blazing with rage. He spun around and charged back, swinging his staff wildly to shield the rear ranks from arrows.

Too bad, the iron arrows fired by Xia were simply too numerous.

Even if he spun his staff until sparks flew, it was still like trying to bail out the ocean with a cup.

Like most camps in the Bingyuan World, the Xia Army's archery skills had been honed to perfection through countless hunts. And these thousand men? All members of intermediate hunting squads—their archery skill was beyond compare.

The moment Hou Ying stepped forward to block, everyone else immediately shifted their bows to other targets, avoiding him entirely.

Pfft… pfft… pfft…

Watching his men continue to fall, Hou Ying's heart burned with panic. Overcome by fury, he turned and charged straight toward the thousand-strong Xia force.

"Hou Ying, come back! Don't go over there!"

Hou Ming, already deep within the hive's ranks, caught sight of Hou Ying's move from the corner of his eye and roared in warning.

"Our men are dying by the dozen—can't let them keep shooting!"

Too bad, Hou Ying was already blinded by rage.

As a Longshan Longshan Longshan Yuhan-level warrior, and with most of Xia's iron arrows unable to pierce his skin, Hou Ying's reckless charge unnerved many, allowing him to burst straight to the front of the Xia formation.

Huh…

Hou Ying leapt high into the air, both hands raising his staff, and brought it down in a mighty overhead strike. A gale erupted, forcing the front ranks of the Xia force to instinctively step back two paces.

"What are you all panicking for? Keep shooting!"

Seeing his front line retreat, Brother Brother Director Yu Wen Tao's brow darkened. He barked an order, then raised his broadsword and charged straight at Hou Ying.

"Meng Yi, stay here and command the army. Hong Guang, go aid the Deputy Director!"

Clang…

The broadsword met the staff in a violent clash. Hou Ying's body was flung backward like a cannonball, crashing over ten meters away. His fury vanished instantly; staring at Brother Brother Director Yu Wen Tao, his eyes filled with terror.

Only now did he recall Lin Ye's warning: Brother Brother Director Yu Wen Tao's base strength was five zong—more than double his own.

Seeing Meng Yi still standing motionless behind Brother Brother Director Yu Wen Tao, a chill ran down his spine.

Can't fight—run!

Watching Hong Guang dash through the crowd toward Xia Chuan at the rear, Brother Brother Director Yu Wen Tao turned back to the fleeing Hou Ying, a cold smile forming. "Too late to run now."

His broadsword led the way; his body shot forward like a released arrow, carried by the blade's momentum. In less than three breaths, he caught up.

Huh…

The massive broadsword swept through the air, carving a horizontal gale. The force slammed into Hou Ying's back. Seeing the Zhao Yang forces just ahead, he gritted his teeth, refused to turn, and instead twisted his staff behind his back, vertical to block.

Clang!

The broadsword's overwhelming force struck. Hou Ying's staff did its job—blocking the blade's edge, shielding his body.

But was that all?

Bam…

His body was protected—but the force of the blow crushed him into the ground. His front half slammed down with a thunderous crash.

Blood gushed instantly from Hou Ying's forehead, nostrils, chest, and lower limbs.

"Pfft…"

He spat a mouthful of reversed blood before even rising. A cold sensation pressed against the back of his neck—he knew Brother Brother Director Yu Wen Tao's broadsword now rested there. His face froze. He dared not move.

Brother Brother Director Yu Wen Tao did not kill him. He gestured to Meng Yi behind him.

Meng Yi understood, waved his hand. Four Xia soldiers surged forward.

Each carried a thick iron chain with a hooked end. They dragged Hou Ying up and drove the hooks straight through his pectoral bones.

Pfft…

Hou Ying instantly withered, limp as a sack, dragged away by the four men.

"Zhao Yang has fewer than three hundred left. Is that enough?"

Hearing Meng Yi's question, Brother Brother Director Yu Wen Tao turned to the main hive battlefield, a glint of cold light in his eyes. He shook his head slightly.

"The hive lost only a hundred-plus in the past two days—minimal damage. The main zone still holds at least six hundred Dijie-levels. The Deputy Director said the hive's Dijie numbers are too high for us to control. We must wait longer."

Watching the two sides still locked in brutal combat, Meng Yi looked back toward Xia Chuan at the rear, a chill rising in his chest.

"Stay here. If you can't shoot, guard the iron gate. You've made a mortal enemy of Zhao Yang—don't let a single one escape."

"Yes, my lord!"

Meng Yi nodded and returned to command the Xia Army behind him.

Brother Brother Director Yu Wen Tao raised his broadsword and charged forward again.

…………

"Hou Ming, stop right now!"

Hou Ming was slaughtering the hive's defenders in a frenzy. Hearing Chen Chen Chen Yingba's roar from behind, he raised his blade and spun to block.

Clang…

Both wielded greatswords, but Hou Ming's was clearly superior in quality.

Chen Chen Chen Yingba's blade was not only chipped—it lost a shard. The shard flew perfectly, striking the forehead of a Dijie-level hive defender.

The man was locked in combat with a Zhao Yang Dijie. The shard hit his brow—his skull exploded instantly, not even a cry escaping him.

"You bastard—I'll kill you!"

Enraged, Chen Chen Chen Yingba charged at Hou Ming again, wielding his broken blade with reckless fury.

The hive had only seven hundred Dijie-levels total. Over a hundred died in the tunnels over the past two days. In just this short time, at least four hundred more fell. Only two hundred or so remained alive.

This was only the Dijie casualties. To defend the main zone, the hive had deployed nearly all its forces—over two thousand elite Famu-levels had rushed in. But Zhao Yang, driven mad by Xia's arrow rain, charged the main zone without regard for life. How could the Famu-levels possibly hold?

By his rough estimate, the hive's original three-thousand-plus defenders now numbered fewer than two thousand.

And Hou Ming, Hou Bing, and Wu Wu Tianxing were still killing.

If they kept killing like this, the hive would be erased from Longshan forever.

Clang…

In his blind rage, Chen Chen Chen Yingba clashed again with Hou Ming's blade. This time, luck was not on his side.

His greatsword snapped clean in two. The earlier chipping had already proven his weapon inferior—this break was inevitable.

"Xia Chuan, are you waiting until every last man of the hive is dead before you act?!"

With his blade broken, Chen Chen Chen Yingba realized he couldn't handle Hou Ming alone. He looked up, shouting toward Xia Chuan, signaling for help.

"Chief Chen, we've been anything but idle!"

Xiu…

Xia Chuan smiled faintly as he slashed a black blade, forcing Wu Wu Tianxing into retreat and leaving multiple cuts across his body.

He hadn't been idle. After letting Chen Chen Chen Yingba go after Hou Ming, he'd taken Luo Liu Liu Yuan and Liu Liu Yuan Cheng to confront Wu Wu Tianxing, Hou Bing, and Lin Ye.

Wu Wu Tianxing was strongest—so Xia Chuan took him. Lin Ye, though possessing six zong strength, was severely wounded—left to Hong Tian and Zhao Long. Hou Bing was surrounded by Luo Liu Liu Yuan and Liu Liu Yuan Cheng.

"Chief Chen, allying with tigers brings only harm. You don't think Xia came here to help the hive, do you?"

Hou Ming forced Chen Chen Chen Yingba back with a slash, glanced at his three comrades under siege, showed a flicker of worry, then sneered at Chen.

"Better than you wiping out the hive!"

Chen Chen Chen Yingba clenched his fists, gritted his teeth, and charged at Hou Ming again without hesitation.

He understood Hou Ming's words perfectly.

Wu Wu Tianxing was one thing—he had six zong strength, the strongest among them.

Even Hou Bing was understandable: Luo Liu Liu Yuan and Liu Liu Yuan Cheng, who surrounded him, seemed weak—perhaps only two zong each.

But Lin Ye, already gravely wounded, had held out this long against two Longshan Longshan Longshan Yuhan-levels? That was abnormal.

The only explanation: Hong Tian and Zhao Long were holding back.

And Xia Chuan's five men's acting was terrible.

They kept deliberately driving Hou Ming's trio toward the hive's Dijie ranks—their intent was painfully obvious.

"They're letting them keep killing our Dijies… Xia…"

Even as Chen Chen Chen Yingba seethed with hatred, he had no choice but to fight Hou Ming honestly—realizing he was now helping Xia eliminate Hou Ming, his chest burned with bitter humiliation.

And beneath it, a crushing sense of helplessness.

Even if he saw through it—what could he do?

To ally with Hou Ming now was far too late.

Hou Ying was captured. The thousand Xia Dijies in pale gold armor still guarded the iron gate, never lifting a finger. Even at the Dijie level, the situation was hopeless—let alone at the Longshan Longshan Longshan Yuhan level.

The hive had only Chen Chen Chen Yingba left. Zhao Yang had only Hou Ming, Hou Bing, Wu Wu Tianxing, and half-dead Lin Ye—five total.

But Xia had Xia Chuan, Brother Brother Director Yu Wen Tao, Luo Liu Liu Yuan, Liu Liu Yuan Cheng, Hong Guang, Zhao Long, Hong Tian, and Meng Yi at the gate—eight.

Even if he quickly allied with Zhao Yang now, they couldn't defeat Xia—and they'd earn even harsher retaliation for their treachery.

"Only one path left—to go all the way."

Chen Chen Chen Yingba gritted his teeth and roared, venting all his pent-up fury on Hou Ming.

At the other end, Xia Chuan's face remained smiling; his attention wasn't even fully on Wu Wu Tianxing—he kept using his peripheral vision to observe the situation at the hive and the Zhao Yang main battlefield.

"It's about time!"

Wu Wu Tianxing blocked the black blade with his longsword, heard Xia Chuan's words, and froze in surprise.

What's about time?

He would know soon enough!

Hum…………

!

The black blade pressing down on his longsword suddenly roared, unleashing a terrifying force that crushed downward—Wu Wu Tianxing's grip on the sword was smashed into the ground, and his entire body crashed down with it.

Thud!

"Ba Zong, how could your strength possibly…………"

Wu Wu Tianxing lay sprawled on the ground, his face filled with horror.

Xia Chuan's strength just now had been only Liu Zong—how could it suddenly surge to Ba Zong? How was this possible?

It couldn't be that he'd been hiding his true power; during close combat, Xia Chuan's qi and muscle movements were crystal clear—he had definitely unleashed his full strength.

Then how had his power suddenly exploded?

Crack……

A sound of bone snapped as Xia Chuan stomped on Wu Wu Tianxing's shoulder, pressing the black blade against his throat.

Wu Wu Tianxing gritted his teeth against the pain, looked up—and froze.

On Xia Chuan's forehead, three vertical crimson cloud-like markings had appeared.

"Bang…"

Just then, on the other side, Lin Ye was also slammed to the ground by Zhao Long and Hong Tian, their blades—axe and longsword—now resting against his neck.

Crack… crack…

Hou Bing fared worse: first, Luo Liu Liu Yuan's barrier blade pierced his shoulder, then Liu Liu Yuan Cheng's massive axe smashed him over a hundred meters away—dozens of bones shattered, leaving him unable to even crawl.

Brother Brother Director Yu Wen the Guardian, who arrived last, grabbed Hou Bing off the ground and carried him over to join Xia Chuan and the others.

Not just Wu Wu Tianxing—the others had noticed too.

Xia Chuan, Brother Brother Director Yu Wen the Guardian, Luo Liu Liu Yuan, Liu Liu Yuan Cheng, Zhao Long, Hong Tian, Hong Guang, and even Meng Yi by the iron gate—all eight of Does Does Da Xia's men bore three crimson cloud-like markings on their foreheads.

"That… that is… what…………"

Hearing Wu Wu Tianxing's question beneath him, Xia Chuan smiled with quiet pride. "The Does Does Da Xia Sacred Mark."

Upon hearing those four words, Brother Brother Director Yu Wen the Guardian and the other six nearby men stiffened slightly, their brows lifting with quiet pride.

Wu Wu Tianxing, Lin Ye, and Hou Bing—the three captured men—wore nothing but defeat on their faces; if they still didn't understand now, they'd lived in vain.

The five Does Does Da Xia men who had just fought them had clearly held back.

"Hou Ming, stop struggling. Surrender."

"Dream on!"

Far away, fighting Chen Chen Chen Yingba, Hou Ming heard Xia Chuan's voice, roared back, then sprinted toward the iron gate.

He'd seen Wu Wu Tianxing and the others captured; Zhao Yang's Digging Realm troops were down to only two or three hundred—no strength left to resist. Staying here was pointless; he had to flee.

But by the iron gate, Meng Yi had already blocked the passage with over a thousand men. Seeing Hou Ming sprinting toward them, Meng Yi and all of Does Does Da Xia's forces raised their longbows and aimed at him.

"From the moment you led your men inside two days ago, your fate was sealed!"

Xia Chuan leapt after Hou Ming, the black blade slicing through the air with a cold edge; his Ba Zong strength unleashed a gale that crushed toward Hou Ming's body.

Hou Ming still refused to surrender. Seeing Xia Chuan charging at him, he seemed to have a new idea—turned, swung his great blade, and met Xia Chuan's attack head-on.

Crack…………

The sound of a blade's edge rolling echoed, and Hou Ming's face lit up with triumph.

His great blade, like Hou Ying's staff, was made primarily of iron but plated with silver on the surface—far tougher and sharper than plain iron. That's why he'd been able to shatter Chen Chen Chen Yingba's blade earlier.

Now hearing that sound again, he naturally assumed Xia Chuan's black blade had rolled. Though he felt Xia Chuan's strength matched his own, the advantage in weaponry made him decide to press the attack.

He strained both arms, driving his blade toward Xia Chuan, trying to force him back—then he could…………

But when he looked up and saw his blade, his expression froze.

The blade that had rolled wasn't Xia Chuan's black blade—it was his own.

This… how could this be?

Hou Ming's face filled with disbelief, then hardened into utter shock.

Thud…………

Xia Chuan blocked his great blade, his left hand flicked slightly—a white thread pierced Hou Ming's scapula, then swiftly wrapped around his entire body.

"Hou Ming, Wu Wu Tianxing, Lin Ye, Hou Bing, and Hou Ying have all been captured. Zhao Yang soldiers, if you don't want to die, drop your weapons and surrender!"

Since the moment Hou Ming fled, the remaining two hundred Zhao Yang soldiers had already lost the will to fight. Xia Chuan's words became the final straw.

As soon as he finished speaking, the Zhao Yang troops—who had already stopped fighting—dropped their weapons and bowed their heads to Does Does Da Xia in surrender.

"Too late to surrender now. I'm going to kill you."

"My father was killed by them. I want revenge!"

"Keep killing, brothers! Don't let them live!"

………………

Zhao Yang had stopped fighting—but now the Hive troops refused to!

Leaving aside the past two days, in the recent battle, over a thousand Hive soldiers had been killed. The survivors were blood-crazed—how could they stop now?

Seeing more and more Zhao Yang soldiers surrender, they kept slashing with their blades. Within three or four breaths, five or six Zhao Yang men caught off-guard were cut down.

A Hive Digging Realm soldier rushed behind a Zhao Yang man who had already surrendered, raised his butcher's blade, and prepared to sever his head.

Pfft…………

But as the blade fell, an iron arrow shot from the perimeter, piercing straight through the man's forehead and pinning his body to the ground.

At the iron gate, Meng Yi raised his iron-bow, nocked another arrow, aimed at the remaining Hive soldiers, and spoke coldly:

"Anyone who moves again—kill on sight!"

The blood-crazed Hive soldiers, seeing the corpse pinned to the ground, shuddered violently—suddenly sobered, they froze in place, motionless.

The Zhao Yang men kneeling on the ground felt relief; those still standing but not yet surrendered also dropped their weapons, clearly preparing to surrender.

"Enough. Hive troops, clean up the battlefield. The rest of you, follow me to the main tower. Chen Chen Chen Yingba, lead the way!"

Leading the group, Xia Chuan gave Meng Yi a approving glance, then ordered Chen Chen Chen Yingba directly.

A flush of crimson rose on Chen Chen Chen Yingba's face—he instinctively opened his mouth to protest, but seeing Does Does Da Xia's forces already streaming into the main compound, he clamped his lips shut and led Xia Chuan and the others to the main tower.

"I spit! Does Does Da Xia isn't any better…"

"Shh………… Don't speak out of turn."

………………

Even the dumbest Hive soldier could now understand.

Some hot-headed ones couldn't help shouting curses—but before they finished, others silenced them.

Meng Yi led over a thousand Does Does Da Xia soldiers, escorting five captured Cold-Resisting Realm captives and over two hundred Digging Realm prisoners, marching en masse through the main compound buildings. He acted as if he heard nothing as Hive soldiers whispered among themselves, following Xia Chuan's group all the way to the Hive's main tower.

Upon arrival, Meng Yi swiftly deployed troops to surround the tower completely, then turned to the Hive soldiers and barked:

"Cheng Ping, step forward."

The man named Cheng Ping, called out, beamed with excitement, stepped forward, and bowed deeply to Meng Yi: "Your Excellency!"

"You're in charge of these Hive men for now. Organize them to clean the battlefield, tally casualties, and report any developments to me."

"Your servant obeys!"

Cheng Ping realized he might be stepping into great fortune—his face flushed with excitement. After bowing, he immediately began barking orders at the Hive troops, commanding them like a master.

Cheng Ping's petty triumph below the tower need not be detailed.

On the top floor of the main tower, in the Hive's council chamber.

Does Does Da Xia's men now sat along both sides, their spirits soaring.

At this moment, the Hive had been fully subdued!

Next came the matter of prisoners and the next steps.

Xia Chuan pulled a map from his robe—the same one Xia Hong had sent back via Luo Ming, showing the surrounding camps of the Hive. He studied the positions west of the Hive: Yang Lu and Yu Cheng; north: Wu Shuang, Zhao Yang, and Han Qiong—and began formulating his next plan.

Watching Xia Chuan seated in his elder brother Chen Yingyuan's chair, and the seven Does Does Da Xia Cold-Resisting Realm warriors beside him treating him as their master, Chen Chen Chen Yingba's face burned red with fury.

But when he glanced at the five captured Cold-Resisting Realm men kneeling on the ground, he opened his mouth—then closed it again, saying nothing.

At this point, the only difference between him and Hou Ming and the others was that he was unharmed.

In essence, he too was now a prisoner of Does Does Da Xia.

"The Hive is finished!"

A wave of sorrow passed through Chen Chen Chen Yingba's heart—he shut his eyes.

(End of Chapter)