Chapter 506: The Dust Settles, the Jingxi Reinforcements Arrive

Duan Heyang, though possessing Xianyang-level cultivation and the ability to fly, dared not flee first.

For one, Xiao Kangcheng, hovering midair like a venomous snake, never took his eyes off him; if he broke from the formation, the man would immediately pursue, and Duan Heyang’s strength was no match for Xiao Kangcheng’s—once entangled, the consequences would be dire.

For two, the thousand-odd remnants under his command were already in panic; if their leader took to the air and fled, their morale would collapse entirely—either they’d be annihilated, or they’d lay down their weapons and surrender, and either outcome would be fatal to the current situation.

Fortunately, the Zhongyang camp was small in total area, and the southwest mountain path was only about three kilometers from the eastern gate; with his thousand or so Yuhanshan-level soldiers, he reached the gate in just over fifty breaths.

But alas, when Duan Heyang arrived at the eastern gate and saw the scene before him, the last flicker of hope in his heart was instantly snuffed out.

“Brothers, press forward and slaughter!”

“The Xiao Mountain Army has broken through the mountain pass entrance—they’ll strike from behind any moment! If we don’t hurry, the battle merits will go to others! Kill!”

“The Standard-Bearer has already plunged into the enemy ranks! Brothers, keep charging!”

“Just Beishuo? Do they think they can block the might of Great Xia’s army?”

“The rebel leader Yang Qin is dead! Surrender at once!”

“The rebel leader Yang Qin has been executed! Surrender at once!”

………………

The eastern gate had already been breached; at a glance, at least five to six thousand Xia Army soldiers had poured through. One banner was crimson, the other earth-yellow, and both fluttered wildly, their positions shifting constantly. Under their guidance, the Xia troops split and surged violently toward the northern and southern flanks of the camp.

Closest to the two banners, and advancing with the fiercest momentum, were two armies whose armor colors matched their flags: two thousand men in earth-yellow armor on the left, two thousand in crimson-gold armor on the right—like twin daggers, they drove deep into the heart of Beishuo’s defenses, relentlessly penetrating inward.

The two forces advancing most fiercely, closest to the opposing banners, were clearly two armies whose armor colors matched their flags: two thousand men on the left wore earth-yellow battle armor, and two thousand on the right wore crimson-gold armor—like twin daggers, they violently pierced the heart of Beishuo’s defenses, steadily pushing deeper.

Leading the left flank of yellow-armored troops, though ancient in appearance, wielded a dual-bladed longsword of crimson and azure, slashing out twin-colored sword beams that reaped the lives of every guard in his path—his aura was unstoppable.

Leading the right flank of crimson-armored troops, a middle-aged man of extraordinary bulk, swung a nine-ringed silver greatsword; whenever its blade flashed, no soldier nearby dared stand his ground—he fought with terrifying ferocity, even outpacing his own troops.

“Deputy Commandant Mu Qingyu of the Yellow Armor Army; Commandant Xia Houcen of the Crimson Sun Army….”

Dongchuan had once been Beishuo territory; though seized by Great Xia under the guise of an alliance over the past two years, Beishuo had still maintained partial infiltration into Dongcheng, so Duan Heyang had some knowledge of the Dongchuan Alliance forces.

Dongchuan had always been Beishuo territory; though seized by Great Xia under the guise of an alliance over the past two years, Beishuo had still partially infiltrated Dongchuan, so Duan Heyang had some understanding of the Dongchuan Alliance forces’ situation.

“Brothers, Magistrate Yang Qin still lives—I still live! We have not lost! All defenders, unite! Take Qinghan Pills and hold the line against the Xia Army!”

Duan Heyang raised his longblade and roared, charging ahead himself, heading straight for the junction between the two armies.

Duan Heyang raised his long blade, roared aloud, and charged forward first, heading straight for the boundary between the two armies.

No other reason—because at that junction, Yang Qin was being surrounded and attacked by father and son Mu Longhe and Mu Qinghe. Though countless loyal soldiers rushed to his aid, they were only Yuhanshan-level cultivators—how could they possibly stand against a father-son pair both at Xianyang-level?

No other reason—because at the boundary, Yang Qin was being surrounded and attacked by Mu Longhe and his son Mu Qinghe; though countless loyal soldiers rushed to his aid, they were merely at the Yuhán level, how could they possibly stop this father-son pair, both at the Xianyang level?

To rescue him, Duan Heyang didn’t strike blindly. He avoided the famed Mu Longhe and instead slashed sideways at Mu Qinghe.

Mu Qinghe had just broken through—his strength couldn’t be high!

But as his blade struck, his expression changed instantly.

His sword didn’t relieve Yang Qin’s pressure—it was dodged by Mu Qinghe’s feint, then deflected upward, guiding Duan Heyang’s blade straight into Yang Qin’s body.

His blade failed to relieve Yang Qin’s plight; instead, Mu Qinghe feinted, dodged it, then swept his blade upward, deliberately guiding Duan Heyang’s strike straight toward Yang Qin.

Worse still, his blade actually cut across Yang Qin’s shoulder.

Worse still, his blade actually slashed across Yang Qin’s shoulder.

“He has five Jun strength. I can’t fight him alone—fall back! Retreat to the center of our formation and keep engaging them!”

Fortunately, Yang Qin didn’t blame him. Duan Heyang’s panic vanished instantly; without hesitation, he followed right behind Yang Qin, retreating toward the army’s center.

Fortunately, Yang Qin did not blame him; Duan Heyang’s panic vanished instantly, and without a moment’s delay, he followed right behind Yang Qin, retreating toward the army’s center flank.

But Mu Longhe and his son would never let them escape so easily.

Mu Longhe had once wielded dual swords; he switched to a long staff because both his arms had been severed at the shoulders. Though Xia Chuan had reattached them with silk threads and administered Sacred Vein Pills, they could never return to their original state.

Dual swords require agile arms—without full strength, such weapons were unsuitable.

He and Xiang Fuhai were old acquaintances, with similar histories; in recent years, their ties with Great Xia had grown stronger, and under Xiang Fuhai’s counsel and guidance, he had switched to the staff.

His staff technique was certainly inferior to Xiang Fuhai’s, but his cultivation was higher—he possessed a base strength of twelve Jun, and with his Sacred Pattern and martial skill, he could unleash nearly nineteen Jun of power.

Who on this battlefield could match that power?

With this strength, who on the entire battlefield could stand against him?

Mu Longhe leapt high into the air, bringing his staff down with crushing force, aiming straight at the heads of Yang Qin and Duan Heyang.

Mu Longhe leapt high into the air, bringing his long staff crashing down from above, directly aiming at the heads of Yang Qin and Duan Heyang.

Yang Qin’s brow twitched violently; he shouted, and with Duan Heyang, they dove left and right, avoiding the blow.

Yang Qin’s brow twitched sharply; he shouted a warning, then, with Duan Heyang to his left and right, they dodged apart in opposite directions.

Their cultivation was sufficient—they escaped unharmed. But the soldiers around them were not so lucky.

The staff’s windfall struck downward with terrifying force; the earth trembled violently. Several soldiers caught directly beneath it—no matter their armor, flesh, or bone—were instantly pulverized into pulp.

Worse still, the shockwave split sideways, flinging nearly a hundred soldiers into the air, a spectacle of sheer horror.

And worse yet, as those soldiers were thrown back, Xia troops immediately surged forward to fill the gap, then drove inward like blades once more.

Xia Houcen was the first to rush in and take position; he turned and saw a Beishuo guard whose arm had been shattered by the staff’s windfall, yet still stood unmoved, drawing his blade to resist their soldiers. His pupils flashed with coldness—he spun his silver-ringed greatsword, leapt high, and brought it down with brutal force upon the soldier’s shoulder.

Xia Houcen was the first to rush in to fill the gap; he turned and saw a Beishuo soldier whose arm had been shattered by the staff’s wind yet showed no pain, still drawing his sword to resist their troops—his pupils flashed with coldness, he spun his silver-ringed great blade, leapt upward, and brought it down savagely onto the soldier’s shoulder.

“If you don’t feel pain, then die!”

The thousand-forged iron armor on the soldier’s body offered no resistance against Xia Houcen’s blade; the sword descended from his right shoulder, cleaving him cleanly in two—his life ended instantly.

Having slain the guard with one strike, Xia Houcen turned to the remaining Beishuo defenders who still fought fiercely, his pupils darkening with malice.

Beishuo’s garrison soldiers didn’t feel pain—he’d only just discovered that after bursting through the gate, but he wasn’t surprised.

Four years ago, during the Great Awakening Temple uprising, the Lord had only taken the organs of the three Great Masters—Jingang, Yanlong, and Wusheng. The remaining two Great Masters, Heimeng and Juyuan, had been killed by Yang Jian and Qin Feng respectively.

Four years ago, during the Great Awakening Temple uprising, the lord took only the organs of the three great masters—Diamond, Flame Dragon, and Non-Birth; the remaining two great masters, Black Ming and Great Abyss, were killed by Yang Jian and Qin Feng respectively.