Chapter 643: War

What a pity…

Inside the tent, several scholars in feather fans and silk headbands remained.

They heard the war horn blow and saw aerial warships urgently ascending; the entire camp began preparing for battle in orderly fashion, yet their expressions were grim: "We stood ready, hoping to subdue the enemy without fighting, but the opposite side is a brute who charged straight at us…"

In truth, this was the best possible response.

Otherwise, the longer the delay, the more advantageous the situation would become for the Zhou Shenchao!

"Destruction… no wonder he was one of the deities who ascended to true godhood during the Chaos Era."

The God of War sighed.

Back then, when these foreign deities entered this plane, the world was in utter chaos; as they eradicated the ancient Daoist lineages and established divine realms, some native natives took advantage of the turmoil to attain demi-god, pseudo-god, and even true god status! Others, alien deities not aligned with them, also descended!

And the God of Destruction was undoubtedly the strongest among them!

Now, seeing such decisive action, the God of War found it entirely reasonable.

Without such acute insight into the grand picture, how could he have ever risked everything, infiltrated the world, and succeeded?

"Now that we are at close quarters, all stratagems are useless!"

"Once war casts its dice, no one can know the outcome."

"All we must do now is stake everything!"

The God of War stepped out of the command tent and ascended the platform: "I shall strike the war drum myself!"

Before Him stood a blood-red war drum.

At that moment, the God of War seized the drumstick and struck it hard.

Dong! Dong!

Amidst deep, muffled sounds, intense spiritual light erupted.

This blood-red war drum was, in fact, a powerful divine artifact!

— Courage Aura!

— Strength Aura!

— Command: Obedience!

Colors of spiritual light bloomed, granting maximum buffs to the soldiers in the camp.

Even the empire's third-line troops, amplified by the divine artifact 'War Drum,' could now rival elite legions.

How much more so the Death Corps—already the most elite, entirely composed of cultivators, with their camp commander a Yangshen and deputy generals holding demi-god ranks?

Hu hu!

Clouds churned, forming a massive vortex as a green dragon's head emerged.

"Launch siege arrows!"

Arrows thicker than bed-crossbows shot forth, forming a dense rain of projectiles.

On these arrows, various spiritual lights flickered, especially at the tips, where runes were engraved and toxins coated.

Coupled with cultivation enhancements and precise operation…

Even if Fang Xing were still the ancient dragon he once was, he might have been gravely wounded by a single volley!

But now, these crossbow bolts could barely pierce his protective spiritual aura; when they reached his true scales, sparks flew and they fell uselessly.

"First Fleet, fire magic crystal cannons!"

"Second Fleet, prepare Dragon-Slaying Crossbows!"

"Third Fleet, form Formation Jia-7…"

Messages of spiritual light flashed among the aerial warships; vast quantities of energy-charged crystals were ruthlessly fed into furnaces as massive cannon barrels roared ferociously.

Pong! Pong!

Cannonballs struck Fang Xing, blocked by a layer of bark-like skin that surfaced.

— Divine Power Shield!

— Sacred Bark Technique!

These were not Fang Xing's active defenses—they were the Eastern Azure Dragon's instincts.

In other words, the elite imperial battalions' volleys had not even broken Fang Xing's skin…

He watched the flying aerial warships, thinking they looked like sparrows.

Their damage was minor, but their incessant buzzing was annoying!

Hua la!

Thinking this, Fang Xing whipped his ten-thousand-meter-long body violently.

— Azure Dragon's Tail Sweep!

Hua la la!

Like a hurricane sweeping through, the warships he struck exploded into dust.

Even those not directly hit were blown away by the terrifying gale, vanishing into the sky.

After eliminating the aerial units, Fang Xing dove downward, like a massive emerald mountain, crashing into the center of the camp.

Gong long long!

— Celestial Collision!

A terrifying shockwave instantly swept through every tent; dust and sand swirled wildly.

"With that, at least ninety percent should be destroyed, right?"

Fang Xing's dragon eyes flickered with spiritual light as he checked his cleanup efficiency against the infantry.

But a shocking sight occurred.

One by one, armored soldiers wielding swords emerged, their morale high, seemingly unharmed by the meteoric impact.

"Is this… Undying Frenzy? Or Indomitable Will?"

Fang Xing's mind stirred.

These were standard warrior abilities, allowing practitioners to remain mobile even near death.

'But even Undying Frenzy has limits—if the body is destroyed, what use is survival?'

'Therefore… this isn't a class ability. It's… they aren't human—they're like spirit essences, immune to most physical attacks?'

Fang Xing saw the truth at once.

Hua la la!

On the God of War's platform, a massive tattered hide banner was raised.

The banner was worn and stained with blood.

Yet astonishing spiritual light erupted—clearly another divine artifact!

【Spirit Banner: Converts your troops into 'Spirit Form,' granting immunity to most physical attacks, along with ghostly stealth, pseudo-spell mastery, Frost Strike, and more…】

"For our Lord, kill!"

Spirits roared, wielding supernatural weapons, swarming like ants toward an elephant—a magnificent sight.

"Indeed, the God of War is unlike the weak deities before him."

"Spirit army?" Fang Xing drew a deep breath, then exhaled sharply.

A stream of green energy surged, expanding into a conical blast.

Wherever it passed—even the translucent, phantom spirits—screamed and vanished instantly, their souls utterly scattered.

— Azure Dragon's Breath!

Pa!

His dragon claw came down, crushing a demi-god into pulp with a cry.

At this moment, Fang Xing was like a world-ending beast, bringing unspeakable death and destruction!

No matter how high the morale, even such a monster would shatter it!

"War… do you expect these cannon fodder to drain my divine power?"

Fang Xing looked up at the platform where the God of War stood.

After his single breath, only a handful of spirit soldiers and demi-gods remained to block him.

Divine battles were never meant for mortals—even Yangshen or demi-gods!

Without the two divine artifacts amplifying them, the Death Corps wouldn't even qualify as cannon fodder!

"Destruction!"

The God of War roared, his body expanding a thousandfold into a golden giant.

!

— Divine Power Shield!

— God Descending!

His muscles swelled, glowing golden, and a massive sword appeared in his hands.

Horns blared!

— Charge Horn!

The God of War charged forward, swinging his great sword in a violent arc.

— Arcing Slash!

Qiang!

Fang Xing extended his claw—and felt searing pain.

The God of War's great sword, a divine artifact, had finally pierced his Sacred Bark Technique and shattered several dragon scales.

"You actually managed to hurt me?"

Fang Xing murmured in admiration: "His total level must be over level 40—far stronger than Death itself..."

The War God's massive body was flung backward, a drop of golden divine blood spraying into the air.

He said nothing, wrapping the Spirit Flag around himself.

In an instant, Fang Xing saw one spirit after another enter His divine body, acting like petitioners.

"My Lord... You are the God of War, Master of Battle..."

"You shall conquer all enemies, overcome everything!"

Amidst the chanting, hymn-like praises of His believers, the War God charged forward once more.

Crack!

Fang Xing's dragon tail swept sideways—though massive, it moved with unimaginable agility.

Whoosh!

A streak of golden light shot forth—the giant sword in the War God's hand.

Fang Xing lunged forward, slamming the War God to the ground and pinning him with both dragon claws.

—Divine Power Suppression!

Dark destructive divine power coiled like chains, binding the War God tightly.

"Years of grudges—let's settle them today."

The great Azure Dragon lowered its head, gazing at the face of the golden giant beneath its claws.

"Indeed, it's time to end this."

A cruel smile curled on the War God's lips as His massive body exploded violently.

Boom!

A terrifying divine power storm surged, forcing Fang Xing to momentarily retreat.

Amidst the storm, a streak of golden light struck the Eastern Azure Dragon.

—Dispel Magic (Divine Power Boost)!

"A mere divine spell from the War God? Try to dispel me? Hmm... Wait—this isn't right..."

Fang Xing froze, then the ten-thousand-meter-long Eastern Azure Dragon vanished.

In its place stood only a young man clad in animal hides, dressed in ancient, primitive style.

"Finally..."

The War God leaped up in triumph, raising his war drum and slamming it down.

"You actually dispelled my Wild Shape form?"

Fang Xing blinked, then activated his 【Harmony with Nature】 talent.

In an instant, he transformed into a colossal figure of chaotic color, surrounded by natural phenomena—earth, fire, wind, rain, and more.

—Nature Avatar Form!

Crack!

The Nature Avatar opened its massive hand, blocking the war drum artifact, then slapped the War God across the face.

Boom boom boom!

Natural disasters—earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tornadoes, tsunamis—materialized and hammered relentlessly against the War God's divine body.

"Sorry... can I say Wild Shape isn't my main battle form?"

After all, Fang Xing leaned more toward Tree Warder than Animal Master!

Thud thud!

Though the Nature Avatar wasn't as colossal as the Eastern Azure Dragon form, its human shape suited Fang Xing's martial arts far better.

He strode forward, stomping on the War God with one foot.

Then... a massive fist came crashing down.

"Supreme God... you're breaking your word!!"

The War God roared in fury, and the ground beneath him instantly collapsed into a vast crater.

【Target eliminated. You gain 25 Divine Points!】

【You gain the Divine Domains: 'War,' 'Battle,' 'Art of Command'...】

The attribute panel's prompt appeared, convincing Fang Xing the War God was truly dead.

"What did He mean by that last line?"

"And that powerful divine dispel spell—wasn't it more like the work of the 'God of Imperialism and Monarchy'?"

A thought struck Fang Xing, and simultaneously, his instincts as both martial artist and true god screamed a warning!

(End of Chapter)