Chapter 67: The Power of Military Formations

The iron chain spanning both banks of Feixian Ferry weighed tens of thousands of jin; Song Zhong spun it and hurled it forth with the force of a million jin.

It smashed into the floodwaters like a nuclear bomb detonating on the surface, sending up spray and waves that drenched nearby hilltops.

With such force, if it struck the “Fire Dragon” formed by the Fire Crow Army head-on, it would shatter the “Fire Dragon.”

Like a Lego “Fire Dragon” slammed hard to the ground, its parts flew apart in all directions.

Song Zhong’s target remained Lieyang Hou, at the head of the Fire Dragon.

In that instant, Xiao Yu, positioned at the dragon’s claw, began considering “abandoning the ship and fleeing for her life.”

——If the Three Thousand Fire Crows formation broke and she fell back into the flood, could she endure Lei Yuanzi’s Fire Wheel Thunder long enough to reach the cliff edge of Feixian Ferry? As the flood surged over the cliff and plunged a thousand meters into the roaring Longjiang River, her chances of survival seemed surprisingly high…

Yet the “Fire Dragon” executed an elegant twist of its head and tail, effortlessly dodging the incoming iron chain.

Not only did Song Zhong miss, but the “Fire Dragon” appeared remarkably relaxed.

“How can such a massive, cumbersome formation—composed of millions of knights with independent thoughts—move with such agility, such flair?”

Xiao Yu exhaled in relief, yet was deeply astonished—and even more curious about the art of military formations.

She did not disturb Song Changqing; instead, she reflected inwardly, attempting to emulate the cultivation of the Ferocious Tiger Spirit, using her own soul to simulate the belief of Lieyang Hou, trying to merge herself into the formation.

“Boom! Boom-boom!”

Song Zhong tried several more times, pulling the chain back, spinning it, and hurling it again—each time, the Fire Dragon evaded effortlessly.

Moreover, the Fire Dragon used both mouth and claws to continuously clash with Zhou Lang’s flying swords, sparks of fire flying at every impact, dazzling to behold.

“Water Dragon, aid me!”

Dou Yilin’s expression turned grave as she flung out eight talismans, transforming them into eight azure dragons.

This time, the azure dragons did not attack the Fire Dragon; instead, they bit down on the iron spike at one end of the chain and swiftly circled the Fire Dragon.

No matter how skillfully the Fire Dragon slithered, it remained bound around its waist by the iron chains.

“Song Zhong, hold it fast! Lei Yuanzi, Zhou Lang—unleash your hidden master techniques!”

The thunderstorm grew fiercer.

The swordlight grew sharper and more brilliant.

And now they moved in perfect unison, slightly avoiding Lieyang Hou at the dragon’s head, focusing greater power on the western knights along the “Fire Dragon’s torso.”

Song Changqing clearly felt the pressure rising rapidly.

As the dragon’s claw at its waist and belly, he strained to pull against the iron chains wrapped around the Fire Dragon’s body.

Yet violet-red lightning and blinding sword qi relentlessly struck the “claw,” burning the claw’s armor black—knights near him were scorched by lightning, some unable to hold on, breaking from the Fire Crow formation and swept away by the torrent, becoming one of the shattered scales flying off the “Fire Dragon.”

Sharp sword qi also pierced the “dragon scales” at intervals, leaving visible gashes on their armor.

Finally, the straw that broke the camel’s back appeared.

Song Zhong punched the iron spike at the other end of the chain deep into the summit of Nanshan Cliff, then strode back across Feixian Ferry, pulled out another iron chain, swung it in a full circle, and smashed it toward the “Fire Dragon.” The “Fire Dragon” struggled desperately to dodge but could not break free from the first chain’s grip.

“Boom~~~~”

The “Fire Dragon” was severed at the waist; its front half still maintained the shape of a “dragon body.”

Its rear half, severed from the formation’s qi, lost its fiery glow and split back into individual screaming, writhing knights.

Yet they did not scream for long.

Once scattered into individual knights, they were instantly swallowed by the raging flood, leaving not even a ripple.

“Flying sword incoming—don’t zone out!”

Xiao Yu shouted, leaping into the air, planting her feet on Song Changqing’s shoulders, drawing the Longwen Sword, and slashing out a three-zhang-long blood-red “sword qi” to meet the opportunistic immortal sword head-on.

“Dong~~~~”

The long, resonant clang of metal on metal made Song Changqing, directly below, shiver with cold sweat: Too close—he’d nearly been split in two.

As he recovered from the shock, a deep confusion arose: “How—how did you—how did you also merge into the Three Thousand Fire Crows formation, and replace me as a key node?!”

“Hehe, that’s right—I’m now a Fire Crow soldier too. It’s actually quite simple,” Xiao Yu grinned triumphantly.

The process of merging into the formation had been smoother than she’d expected.

She didn’t know how Shu’s elite normally trained, but following Song Changqing’s instructions, she mimicked the process of cultivating the Ferocious Tiger Spirit, carefully sensing the “Fire Crow Spirit” of the formation.

She felt nothing of the battlefield techniques, the flow of military qi, or the circulation of true qi.

Instead, she immersed her spirit in her purple palace, sensing the flame-like “military soul” on Song Changqing’s skin—and clearly perceived a single belief.

Not merely loyalty and trust toward Lieyang Hou, but a stronger collective conviction: “All soldiers are brothers, united in hatred, unified in will, merged in strength, standing together against the enemy.”

This belief was the “spirit” of the Three Thousand Fire Crows formation.

In that instant, Xiao Yu’s mind seemed filled with the voices of countless Qin soldiers chanting in unison “Qin Feng: Wu Yi”: “Who says we have no robes? I share my coat with you… I share your hatred… I march with you… I walk with you…”

Once she accepted and embraced this belief—even without understanding the military formation arts of the Central Kingdom—Xiao Yu naturally became a part of the “Three Thousand Fire Crows.”

And then it became even simpler.

She had no internal qi?

No problem—her comrades had it, and Lieyang Hou was one of them.

She couldn’t stand firm?

Impossible—she had been recognized by the formation, becoming one of the dragon’s claws.

The claw was firmly grown into the Fire Dragon; there was no such thing as “unsteady footing.”

“Brothers, follow my lead—first, cripple that bastard Zhou Lang!”

Xiao Yu tapped her toe, making Song Changqing lean forward onto his horse’s back; she then stepped on his spine like a skateboard, raised her right hand’s Longwen Sword high, and let out a long howl.

Using the method of emulating the Ferocious Tiger Spirit to establish belief, then merging into the formation—this process was not difficult.

But expressing one’s own will freely within the formation? Extremely, extremely difficult.

She could not make the “claw” move at all.

She had replaced Song Changqing as a primary node of the claw—but she was not the claw’s entirety.

Dozens of armored knights nearby cooperated with her, together forming the “claw.”

So her long howl was not just to make the armored knights hear her voice, but more importantly, to make Lieyang Hou at the dragon’s head understand her intent—and accept her will.

In essence, she had merely merged into the formation, not commanded it.

The difficulty of military formation arts was not in joining.

Many soldiers couldn’t even read; they didn’t understand principles—if the threshold for joining was too high, how could formations be built?

The real difficulty was constructing the formation’s platform!

Lieyang Hou had built the Three Thousand Fire Crows Army—he was the commander, the “dragon’s head.”

Lieyang Hou heard her howl—actually, he didn’t need to hear it aloud; he could sense the combat will of every soldier in the formation, and impose his own will upon any one of them—he hesitated briefly, then Xiao Yu felt as if she’d slipped into water, moving with ease.

She had the illusion that the dozens of armored knights around her were parts of her own body… not quite as seamless as limbs, more like exoskeletons aiding her movement.

The most direct effect: Xiao Yu’s short sword thrust or flicked—and the dragon’s five toes curled, the middle toe bending just right to avoid the ten-zhang sword light; the dragon’s wrist twisted delicately, the bent middle toe tapping lightly against the center of the flying sword.

“Dong~~~~”

The flying sword emitted a mournful cry and was flung away.

Then the dragon’s claw moved on, even more agile.

When another flying sword pierced the Fire Dragon’s upper belly, the claw’s two toes pressed together like a human sword-finger, gently prodding the sword.

A trace of sword intent emerged.

“Boom—crack~~~”

The flying sword, which had just roared out its sword qi, cried out again, its ten-zhang aura fading, revealing a three-chi-long, gleaming blade that hovered there, trembling violently.

The dragon’s claw showed no mercy, its movements sharp and brutal—it seized the three-chi sword in its grasp and squeezed hard.

“Crack-crack~~~”

The flying sword shattered like a thin biscuit, translucent shards scattering from between its claws.

Several moves strung together looked elegant and natural—but were in fact swift and deadly beyond measure.

“What… what just happened?” Song Changqing, lying prone on his horse, was stunned.

The Shu armored knight, part of the claw who had flung away one sword and crushed another, felt as if in a dream, utterly unreal.

“Good. Keep going.”

Lieyang Hou’s voice, calm and composed, carried a faint trace of surprise.

Through the formation’s qi connection, his voice reached Xiao Yu’s mind directly.

Xiao Yu not only received her commander’s praise, but her awareness rapidly spread, seizing control of the other dragon’s claw—the Fire Dragon originally had four claws; its body had been severed, leaving only two, now both under Xiao Yu’s command.

The two claws coordinated, their techniques growing ever more refined and graceful.

Either curling toes to flick, swiftly grasping, or using the claw to guide the sword…

Not only were five of the seven flying swords circling the Fire Dragon shattered, but the iron chains wrapped around the dragon’s body were severed by the claw’s sword qi in a single stroke.

Zhou Lang, controlling the flying swords, turned pale, spat blood, and the last two swords, wailing, broke free from the flood and returned to his sword case behind him.

Song Zhong, pulling the iron chains, yanked empty air, stumbling backward seven or eight steps before regaining his balance; staring at the cleanly severed ends of the chains, he was both furious and astonished.

Dou Yilin landed on the northern hilltop, steadying the unsteady Zhou Lang, and cried in shock: “What happened? Why did you recall your swords—and why are you bleeding?”

“I destroyed five of my life-linked flying swords—it was that little barbarian dog, it must be her—I can sense her sword intent!”

“She merged into the Three Thousand Fire Crows formation, earned Lieyang Hou’s trust, and now she’s nearly controlling the entire formation… Damn it—she not only has a natural gift for sword Dao, but the potential to become a Divine General!”

Zhou Lang gnashed his teeth, his face twisted with hatred and deep envy.

“Who is this ‘little barbarian dog’? You’re a Sword Immortal—who could destroy your flying swords with sword intent?” Dou Yilin could hardly believe it.

“That little barbarian dog took the Bone-Transformation Pill—her sword Dao reached perfection, and using the power of the Fire Crow formation, every strike hit the exact weakest point of my swords.”

Even I didn’t know my own techniques had such fatal flaws—it’s simply unbelievable.

Every move I made felt like I was performing for her—she—

"Boom!"

Before Zhou Lang could finish speaking, a brilliant red splash erupted from the raging flood.

The "Fire Dragon" finally leapt from the water, opening its mouth to spit a flame-tipped spear toward the east.

"Swoosh—" The flame spear moved faster than thunder; by the time it reached Master Miao, he hadn’t even noticed.

"Boom!"

The precious vase in the fat white monk’s hand shattered amid the exploding fire, along with scattered limbs.

A thick black mist surged out from the broken vase.

The black mist resembled a thousand-zhang serpent-dragon, howling upward to darken the blue sky for a thousand li.

Instantly, rain cascaded like waterfalls across a thousand li of Feixian Ferry.

As the rain dispersed, the floodwaters in the Feixian Ferry valley began to subside.

The water level continued to drop at a visibly rapid pace.

"The Sun-Shooting failed—retreat immediately!" Zhou Lang’s already pale face turned even more terrified.

Before Dou Yilin could respond, he merged with his sword, becoming a streak of light that vanished into the horizon, riding the storm-laden clouds.

Dou Yilin froze for a moment, then roared in fury, "Fool! We still have our trump card—why are you running?!"

"Lord Lieyang, look this way!"

A thunderous shout came from Nanshan Slope.

It was the last of the "Western Eight Immortals," the Soldier Immortal Sun Jinbiao.