Chapter 969

Li Ergouzi this time staked everything he owned, but it seemed to have little effect.

Translation: Li Ergouzi this time staked everything he owned, but it seemed to have little effect.

Li Ergouzi this time staked everything he owned, but it seemed to have little effect.

Yin Wu Shuang and his two companions personally joined the attack, accompanied by a large contingent of elite commanders under Yin Wu Ying's command, especially many members of the Yin clan. All these demons were half-step Venerables.

Translation: Yin Wu Shuang and the other two personally joined the attack, and under Yin Wu Jiu's command a large corps of elite officers, especially many members of the Yin clan, joined the assault. These demons were all half-step Venerables.

These demons were all half-step Venerables.

In addition to the half-step Venerables rallied by Yin Wu Shuang and his three companions from various sects, clans, and rogue demons, the number of half-step Venerables gathered outside the south gate of the modest Slay Ghost City 108 exceeded ten thousand.

Translation: Adding the half-step Venerables gathered by Yin Wu Shuang and the other two from various sects, families, and rogue demons, outside the south gate of the tiny Slay Ghost City 108, the gathered half-step Venerables exceeded ten thousand.

outside the south gate of the tiny Slay Ghost City 108

Within fifteen minutes of the genuine offensive erupting, about half of the southern part of Slay Ghost City 108 was already consumed by demonic fire.

Translation: The genuine offensive had barely erupted for fifteen minutes when half of the south part of Slay Ghost City 108 was burned to ashes by demonic flames.

about half of the south part

Li Ergouzi wasted no time, immediately activating a massive teleportation formation inside the city and fleeing with a large entourage of his trusted commanders.

Translation: Li Ergouzi, without a word, immediately activated a giant teleportation array inside the city and fled with a large group of his trusted commanders.

Immediately afterward came earth-shaking explosions; the four gate towers on the southeast, northwest, and even the city's central plaza erupted as one large teleportation array after another detonated, blowing up the foundations of the city's grand defensive formation as well.

Translation: Immediately followed by earth-shaking explosions, the four gate towers in the east, south, west, and north, as well as the central plaza within the city, saw one large teleportation array after another detonate, even destroying the foundation of the city's defensive grand array.

Demonic armies swept across the sky, howling.

Translation: Demonic armies swept across the sky.

Slay Ghost City 108 thus fell into the hands of the demon army.

Translation: Slay Ghost City 108 thus fell into the hands of the demon army.

After taking the city, only a little over an hour later, Yin Wu Ying and the eight great expeditionary envoys arrived together.

Translation: After capturing the city, only a little over an hour later, Yin Wu Jiu and the other seven Great Conquest Envoys arrived together.

Residences were broken into, storerooms opened; the household registers, official documents, and similar records of Slay Ghost City 108 were all rummaged out from various government offices, along with the historical data from the armory and civilian grain warehouses.

Translation: Manor after manor was broken into, storehouse after storehouse opened; the household registers, official documents, etc., of Slay Ghost City 108 were rummaged out of every government office, and the years of data from the armory and civilian granaries were also turned out.

Countless demons occupied the city, while the eight great expeditionary envoys sat on metal thrones hovering in midair, their gazes fixed on the thousands of clerks bustling in the original city lord's mansion.

Translation: Countless demons occupied the city, while the Eight Great Conquest Envoys sat on thrones forged of metal, hovering in midair, countless eyes gleaming as they fixed on the thousands of clerks bustling in the original lord's manor.

These clerks each looked exhausted, their eyes panicked, their aura chaotic—clearly wounded. They rapidly sifted through the mountains of case files piled up in Slay Ghost City 108, extracting any potentially useful information.

Translation: These scholars each looked emaciated, their eyes panicked, their breaths chaotic and mixed, clearly wounded. They swiftly flipped through the mountains of case files piled up in Slay Ghost City 108, analyzing every bit of potentially useful information.

They were all captives of the Supreme Demon State, more than half of them originally officials of the Fu Feng Divine Dynasty.

Translation: They were all captives of the Supreme Demon State, more than half of them originally officials of the Fufeng Divine Dynasty.

The Supreme Demon State governs by demonic ways, valuing that the strong prevail; whoever has the biggest fist possesses everything. One can imagine what kind of rule such a demon lord would impose on the country. Thus, the Supreme Demon State has developed a habit of plundering scholars and officials of the Fu Feng Divine Dynasty, forcing them to serve it.

Translation: The Supreme Demon State governs by demonic Dao, valuing that the strong prevail and the mighty possess all. It is easy to imagine what sort of rule such demons would impose. Thus the Supreme Demon State has grown accustomed to abducting the literati-officials of the Fufeng Divine Dynasty and forcing them to serve.

Finally, a former prefect of the Fu Feng Divine Dynasty cautiously held a document covered in writing and, with difficulty, approached Yin Wu Ying and the others.

Translation: Finally, a former prefect of the Fufeng Divine Dynasty, trembling, held a document covered in writing and awkwardly approached Yin Wu Jiu and the others.

Expeditionary Envoy Sir, this is the information we have analyzed from the case files and documents, concerning this city and this state.

Translation: "Excellency Conquest Envoy, this is the information we have analyzed from the case files and official documents concerning this city and this state."

Formerly a high-ranking provincial lord of the Fu Feng Divine Dynasty, and also a scion of the Fu Feng clan's branch, Feng Yun Yang trembled like a startled bird, nervously handing the document to a guard beside Yin Wu Ying and whispering, 'This state is indeed weak, but also truly, abundantly prosperous.'

Translation: The former prefect who once held high rank and power in the Fufeng Divine Dynasty, and who was also Fengyun Yang of a branch of the Fufeng clan, now like a startled bird, nervously handed the document to a guard beside Yin Wu Jiu, whispering: "This state is indeed weak, but truly, it is abundantly rich."

Not mentioning anything else, just Slay Ghost City 108 together with its numerous subordinate military cities and towns fields over ten million elite troops year-round, and its annual military spending is actually fifty percent higher than that of an equally sized force in the Fu Feng Divine Dynasty.

Not mentioning anything else, just Slay Ghost City 108 together with its numerous subordinate military cities and towns fields over ten million elite troops year-round, and its annual military spending is actually fifty percent higher than that of an equally sized force in the Fu Feng Divine Dynasty.

Translation: "Not mentioning anything else, just Slay Ghost City 108 together with its numerous subordinate military cities and towns has a standing elite force numbering over ten million, and its annual military expenditure exceeds that of an equal-sized force of the Fufeng Divine Dynasty by fifty percent."

We need to keep the numbers: "over ten million" = over ten million, "fifty percent" = fifty percent. We'll translate accordingly.

Yin Wu Ying and the others' eyes suddenly flashed bright.

Translation: Yin Wu Jiu and the others' eyes suddenly gleamed.

The Fu Feng Divine Dynasty's army's overall expenditures exceed those of the Supreme Demon State's demon army by more than seventy percent.

Translation: The military expenditures of the Fufeng Divine Dynasty exceed those of the Supreme Demon State's demon army by more than seventy percent.

The elite troops of this martial state receive military funding that is actually another fifty percent higher than that of the Fu Feng Divine Dynasty.

Translation: The elite troops of Wuguo, their military funding, is actually fifty percent higher than that of the Fufeng Divine Dynasty?

Indeed, it's a big piece of fat meat.

Translation: Indeed, it is a huge piece of fat meat.

"Their demonstrated combat capability and the treatment they enjoy are not really commensurate," Yin Wu Ying snorted coldly.

Translation: "Their demonstrated combat ability does not match the treatment they enjoy," Yin Wu Jiu snorted coldly.

"The martial state is corrupt by nature," Feng Yun Yang shivered, adding, "As General Yin Wu Shuang said, the commander of Slay Ghost City 108 is a scion of a top-tier martial clan of the martial state."

Translation: "Wuguo is corrupt by nature," Fengyun Yang shivered: "Just as Lord Yin Wu Shuang said, the commander of Slay Ghost City 108 is the legitimate heir of a top-tier military family of Wuguo..."

"A few years ago, in the south of the martial state where our troops were encamped, there was also a southern ghost state constantly threatening the martial state's southern border."

Translation: "A few years ago, to the south of Wuguo where our troops were encamped, there was also a Southern Ghost State constantly threatening Wuguo's southern border."

"At that time, the martial state's southern border troops were still quite brave and effective, with many elite soldiers… but a few years ago the ghost state descended into internal chaos, its three great ghost sovereigns killing each other, severely weakening its leadership, and the martial state's great army seized the opportunity to destroy the ghost state."

Translation: "Back then, Wuguo's southern border troops were still quite brave and skilled in combat, their soldiers mostly elite... but a few years ago, the Ghost State fell into internal strife, the Three Great Ghost Sovereigns killed each other, the Ghost State's high leadership was gravely weakened, and Wuguo's great army took advantage to destroy the Ghost State."

"Since then, the martial state's southern border commanders have all been replaced by the spoiled heirs of various great generals, so this southern border army has become… exactly what General Yin Wu Shuang observed."

Translation: "Since then, Wuguo's southern border commanders have all been replaced by the idle heirs of great generals, and this southern border force... has become just what General Yin Wu Shuang observed."

"Look, here is the correspondence between this city's commander and several merchant guild heads; most of the military equipment was privately sold by this commander to those guilds."

Translation: "Look, here is the correspondence between this city's commander and several merchant guild leaders. Most of those armaments were privately sold by the commander to those guilds."

Feng Yun Yang coughed lightly: "Greed, they are indeed greedy… but it's not true they have no combat capability at all

Translation: Fengyun Yang gave a light cough: "Greed, they are plenty greedy... but one cannot say they have no combat ability at all. With money in hand, these playboy heirs still maintain a batch of elite death-sworn guards; their combat ability is not bad."

Yin Wu Eagle chuckled 'hehe' a few times, holding an official document, and slapped it with a 'pa' onto Yin Wu Shuang's face.

Translation: Yin Wu Jiu gave a few "keke" laughs, held the document, and slapped it with a "pa" onto Yin Wu Shuang's face.

Look at your prospects… a spoiled rich kid, you've raised a band of death-warrior assassins, and besides, you've spent a fortune to hire a half-step venerable to act, and you've managed to wipe out your million-strong vanguard. Tsk, how can you be my brother of the same surname and bloodline?

Translation: "Look at your prospects... a playboy who raised a band of death-sworn assassins, plus hiring a half-step Venerable at great expense, managed to make your million-strong vanguard lose every man. Tsk, how could you be my brother of the same surname and bloodline?"

Yin Wu Eagle gazed upward and let out a long sigh: 'Losing face, bringing shame—I feel as if I've split you with one blow, do you get it?'

Translation: Yin Wu Jiu sighed to the heavens: "Losing face, embarrassing myself—I feel as if I've chopped you in half with a single blade; do you know that?"

Yin Wu Shuang had a grim face, head lowered, not daring to speak.

Translation: Yin Wu Shuang lowered his head with a grim face, not daring to speak.

"And what about the people inside the city?" Yin Wu Eagle glanced coldly at Feng Yunyang: 'The city's populace—how is it that not a single one was captured?'

Translation: "And what about the civilians in the city?" Yin Wu Jiu coldly eyed Fengyun Yang: "How come not a single person was captured?"

Feng Yunyang produced dozens of yellowed documents, obviously aged, and handed them over: 'These are the "Border Clearing Orders" issued over the years by the frontier cities of Wu Kingdom's southern border; whenever an enemy appears in the south, all civilians are immediately evacuated.'

Translation: Fengyun Yang produced dozens of yellowed documents, obviously aged, and handed them over: "These are the 'Purge Border Orders' issued over the years by the southern border cities of Wuguo; whenever an enemy appears in the south, all civilians are immediately evacuated."

"That southern demon state excels at refining people's souls, blood, and bones into various secret treasures of the ghost dao; especially, slain civilians can be instantly transformed into the demon state's military force. Consequently, the southern border populace of Wu Kingdom has developed a habit: whenever an enemy appears in the south, all civilians flee northward at full speed."

Translation: "That Southern Ghost State excels at refining human souls, blood, and bones into various demonic secret treasures; especially, slain civilians can instantly be transformed into the Ghost State's military force. Hence the civilians of Wuguo's southern border have grown accustomed to the habit: whenever an enemy appears in the southern border, all civilians flee northward at full speed."

"General Yin Wu Shuang, in attacking this First Hundred-and-Eighth Slaughter-Ghost City, has wasted several days; likely the entire southern populace of Wu Kingdom has already retreated tens of millions of li, leaving only garrisons along the route, with no civilians left."

Translation: "Lord Yin Wu Shuang's attack on Slay Ghost City 108 wasted several days; likely the entire southern populace of Wuguo has already withdrawn tens of millions of li, leaving only garrisons along the route, with no civilians left."

Cheers of the demon army echoed from within the city.

Translation: Cheers of the demon army came from within the city.

"The massive dungeon of the First Hundred-and-Eighth Slaughter-Ghost City was breached; the demon troops imprisoned there—previously gravely wounded by Wu Tie's Buddhist arts and ordered captured alive by Li Ergou—were all rescued."

Translation: The huge dungeon of Slay Ghost City 108 was broken open; the demons imprisoned there, who had previously been gravely wounded by Wu Tie's Buddhist Dharma and ordered captured alive by Li Ergouzi, were all rescued.

The news spread quickly.

Translation: The news spread quickly.

Yin Wu Shuang's complexion improved considerably.

Translation: Yin Wu Shuang's complexion improved considerably.

"Yin Wu Eagle gave Yin Wu Shuang a cold glance, pointed at him, and said: 'Consider yourself lucky, tsk; the city's commander is also soft-hearted—if he had set a fire as he left, burning to death these captured subordinates of yours, I'd like to see how you'd explain it afterward.'"

Translation: Yin Wu Jiu gave Yin Wu Shuang a cold look, pointed at him, and said: "Consider yourself lucky, tsk; this city's commander is also soft-hearted—if he had set a fire upon leaving and burned to death these captured subordinates of yours, I'd like to see how you'd explain it afterward."

Yin Wu Shuang remained silent, merely bowing repeatedly to Yin Wu Eagle in a timid, obeisant manner.

Translation: Yin Wu Shuang said nothing, merely bowing repeatedly to Yin Wu Jiu in obeisance.

"The vast demon army stationed briefly at the First Hundred-and-Eighth Slaughter-Ghost City, then quickly split its forces and swept east and west."

Translation: The massive demon army stationed briefly in Slay Ghost City 108, then swiftly split its forces to sweep east and west.

"From the First Slaughter-Ghost City to the Three Hundred and Sixtieth, in an instant numerous military strongholds in the southern border were engulfed in war, with towering pillars of magical signal smoke shooting straight into the heavens."

Translation: From Slay Ghost City 1 to Slay Ghost City 360, in an instant numerous military cities of the southern border were engulfed in war flames, and towering pillars of magical beacon fire shot straight into the heavens.

"Looking north from high above, one sees across the vast land that within each large and small military city, blood-red columns of light, each over a li in diameter, shoot straight up into the sky, continually emitting deep, thunder-like booms."

Translation: Looking north from high above, one sees on the vast earth, within each large and small military city, pillars of blood-colored light thicker than a li shooting straight up, constantly emitting deep, thunderous booms in the air.

"The entire southern border of Wu Kingdom resembles a slumbering beast; the earlier offensive and defensive clashes between Li Ergou and Yin Wu Shuang were merely like the beast twitching a finger in its dream."

Translation: The entirety of Wuguo's southern border resembled a slumbering beast; earlier, Li Ergouzi and Yin Wu Shuang's offensive-defensive struggle was truly like that giant beast in its dream merely twitching a finger.

"However, when the Eight Great Pacification Envoys, led by Yin Wu Eagle, personally led their armies forward, it was as if a sharp blade viciously stabbed the beast's rump, awakening the slumbering giant and swiftly putting it into a combat-ready state."

Translation: But when Yin Wu Jiu and the other Eight Great Conquest Envoys personally led their armies forward, it was like a sharp blade viciously stabbing the beast's buttocks, rousing the slumbering giant into a combat-ready state.

"The demon army no longer lingered around a single military city as Yin Wu Shuang, under demonic influence, used to do."

Translation: The demon army no longer lingered, entangled around a single military city as Yin Wu Shuang had done under demonic influence.

"The elite forces under the Eight Great Pacification Envoys, together with the urgently summoned sects, clans, and scattered demonic powers, continuously streamed through the giant teleportation gate into Wu Kingdom's southern border; within a day and night, that gate could spew forth millions of troops."

Translation: Under the Eight Great Conquest Envoys, their elite armies, plus the sects, families, and rogue demon forces they urgently summoned, poured incessantly through the giant teleportation gate into Wuguo's southern border; within a day and night, that gate could spew forth millions of troops.

"Each of the Eight Great Pacification Envoys directly commands elite forces numbering in the hundreds of millions; adding their urgently conscripted vassal powers, given the gate's throughput, it would take more than a year for all of their forces to be fully deployed onto the Wu Kingdom battlefield—something impossible in less time."

Translation: Each of the Eight Great Conquest Envoys directly commands elite forces numbering in the hundreds of millions; adding their urgently summoned vassal forces, given the gate's throughput, there is no way the Envoys' armies could all be committed to the Wuguo battlefield within a year.

"Yet a year's time brings too many variables."

Translation: Moreover, a year is too long—too many variables.

"Thus, Yin Wu Eagle and his seven companions pooled resources, and beside the original transcontinental giant teleportation array built by the Fu Feng Divine Dynasty, they constructed sixteen additional arrays of comparable scale."

Translation: Thus, Yin Wu Jiu and the seven others pooled resources, and beside the cross-continent giant teleportation array originally built by the Fufeng Divine Dynasty, they constructed sixteen additional arrays of comparable scale.

"The throughput of personnel and materiel quickly increased by more than tenfold."

Translation: The throughput of personnel and materiel quickly increased by more than tenfold.

"According to the most optimistic estimate, within twenty days the main corps of the Eight Great Pacification Envoys, together with the vassal forces they have mobilized, could be fully committed to Wu Kingdom."

Translation: According to the most optimistic estimate, with just twenty days, the main forces under the Eight Great Conquest Envoys, together with the vassal forces they have gathered, could all be committed to Wuguo.

"The Eight Great Pacification Envoys personally joined the offensive."

Translation: The Eight Great Conquest Envoys personally joined the offensive.

"Thousand-zhang demon vessels roamed the void, thousand-zhang demon puppets strode across the land, tens of thousands of half-step venerable powerhouses raged wildly, recklessly unleashing torrents of demonic flame."

Translation: Endless thousand-zhang demon ships traversed the void, countless thousand-zhang demon puppets roamed the land, and tens of thousands of half-step Venerable powerhouses raged wildly, freely unleashing torrents of demonic flame.

"In an instant, the southern border of Wu Kingdom was ablaze with spreading beacon fires, and both large and small military forts were swiftly overrun."

Translation: In an instant, Wuguo's southern border was everywhere ablaze with beacon fires, and large and small military cities fell one after another.

"Mountains of supplies were looted, incalculable wealth seized by the demons, and large quantities of heavy weaponry fell into their hands, greatly increasing their ferocity."

Translation: Mountains of baggage, incalculable wealth were looted by the demon army, and large quantities of heavy armaments fell into their hands, greatly increasing their ferocity.

In just half a month, the military intelligence received by Yin Wujiu and the other seven of the Eight Great Expeditionary Envoys was usually like this——"Our troops are advancing, constantly advancing, but our advance speed is not faster than the enemy's retreat speed!"

Three months later, the demon army of the Eight Great Expeditionary Envoys had already penetrated deep into the interior of Wuguo's southern frontier.

All the way in their conquest, the demon army encountered barely any resistance; city after city almost surrendered at the first sign of wind, and the garrison inside, aided by various teleportation arrays, fled one after another at great speed.

Finally, on this day, the vanguard corps of the demon army arrived before a city of astonishingly massive scale.

The walls stood ten li high, stretching east-west beyond sight, and the towering walls, like a great mountain, blocked the demon army's spearhead.

Countless Wuguo soldiers in bright armor stood upon the lofty walls, gazing with murderous intent at the demon army's vanguard howling from outside.

Row upon row of jet-black warships shaped like evil sharks hovered in neat formation above the walls; hundreds of thousands of warships were arrayed in a standard volley formation, and countless light cannons flashing with piercing light had already been trained on the demon army outside.

The demon army's scouts swiftly scouted the flanks, and after more than an hour they finally reported: the city before them had walls absurdly high—though ten li high was already bad enough—the walls stretched east-west for a million li… a full million li.

"Sir, this shouldn't be… in all the Wuguo intelligence we've captured, there's no record of this city." Fengyun Yang looked ashen at the enormous wall before him, his voice hoarse as he told Yin Wujiu: "Moreover, a wall stretching a million li… this is utterly absurd."

Yin Wujiu also scratched the back of his head, looking somewhat glum at the absurd wall ahead that vanished from sight.

A wall a million li long? That is indeed a bit exaggerated.

Such a wall, if placed on the frontier, would still have some meaning, but planted deep in the heart of the southern frontier, what value could it have?

This wall alone is steeped in a thick aura of conspiracy.

Especially, as Fengyun Yang said, they had captured so many cities before, seized countless Wuguo documents, case files, archives, maps, and so on, yet none of them mentioned this city.

"Really none?" Yin Wujiu gave Fengyun Yang a sideways glance: "If you dare to spout nonsense, your whole family will be beheaded."

"Really none… a city this big, whether the Supreme Demon Kingdom or the Fufeng Divine Dynasty, has never heard of such a thing." Fengyun Yang broke out in a sweat of anxiety, his voice hoarse: "A city this large—even the capital of the Fufeng Divine Dynasty is only one percent its size—how could such a city exist in any dynasty without leaving a trace?"

"This city is aimed straight at us."

Fengyun Yang's mind suddenly flashed with several inauspicious thoughts: "Sir, I fear we have fallen into the enemy's scheme of feigning weakness to lure us in, then closing the gate to beat the dog… they, they, they deliberately lured us inside."

Yin Wujiu's face darkened: "Close the gate to beat the dog? Do you think they could pull that off? Do you think they could swallow whole the great army under my command as Eight Directions Expeditionary Envoy?"

"Something even the Fufeng Divine Dynasty couldn't accomplish—could this so-called Wuguo manage it?"

Just as Yin Wujiu and Fengyun Yang were arguing over this abruptly appearing giant city, inside Kill Ghost 108th City, which had already become a demon army logistics transfer base, heavy stone doors opened one after another with a dull rumble.

Long, dark passageways appeared, and then the sound of uniform footsteps—'thud-thud'—came, making the entire Kill Ghost 108th City tremble faintly.

Countless towering figures, jet-black from head to toe, wielding long spears, their eyes flashing with scarlet gloomy light, the giant god soldiers formed neat ranks, marched in unison, exuding a chilling Cold Qi, and surged forth swiftly from that vast cavern.

A massive horde of demon soldiers surged forward.

Low, deep gunshots rang out, and vast swaths of demon soldiers had their vital points pierced by spear-light, cut down as easily as weeds.

Like a tide, the giant god soldiers surged forth with a howl.

The black giant god soldiers, arrayed in precise killing formations, swiftly swept through Kill Ghost 108th City.

An endless stream of giant god soldiers kept pouring out; a five-colored blaze shot straight into the sky, easily piercing dozens of massive demon vessels like arrows. Lao Tie, spear in hand, hovered in the air and shouted to the countless giant god soldiers below: "Children, follow me in the charge!"

The giant god soldiers stretching a thousand li surged like a flooding tsunami, raising rolling waves that easily engulfed the demon army's rear guard.

They surged southward all the way, smashing one frantic demon resistance unit after another, and arrived before the military city built by the demon army.

In the time it takes to finish a cup of tea, Lao Tie led the giant god soldiers, as easily as slicing tofu, to breach a dozen layers of walls, capture the demon army's military city, and seize firm control of a dozen giant teleportation gates.