Chapter 275

A bright golden Fortune Momentum halo shrouded the battlefield, greatly weakening the Yin energy field and even producing a clear suppression of the "Netherbone".

Note: The phrase 'bright golden Fortune Momentum halo' indicates that it shrouds the battlefield, greatly weakening the Yin energy field and even producing a clear suppression of the Netherbone.

We need to keep quotation marks around 'Netherbone' as they appeared in the original Chinese; we should retain the quotes, preserving the term as 'Netherbone'.

Thus translation: "The bright golden Fortune Momentum halo shrouded the battlefield, greatly weakening the Yin energy field and even producing a clear suppression of the 'Netherbone'."

Make sure it's one line.

Chen Wen's army morale surged, the previously collapsing defenses stabilized, and they even launched a counterattack.

"Chen Wen's army morale surged, the previously collapsing defensive line regained stability, and even launched a counterattack."

Note: Chen Wen's army is Chen Wen's army. Use Chen Wen.

Chen Wen stood in the central command, golden radiant light gathering at his sword tip, his gaze locked onto the largest crystal formation, preparing to unleash an earth-shattering strike.

"Chen Wen stood in the central command, his blade tip gathering surging golden flowing light, his gaze locked on the largest crystal stone formation, preparing to unleash an earth-shattering strike."

Note: The idiom 'stone-breaking heaven-startling' means 'earth-shattering'; we will translate it as 'earth-shattering' as a single phrase.

However, at this crucial moment of the turning tide——

"However, just at this crucial moment when the tide was turning—"

We need to keep the em dash? We'll use —.

Deep within the enemy camp, that icy will seemed to be utterly enraged by this sudden surge of Fortune Momentum resonance, letting out a silent, hysterical roar!

"Deep in the enemy camp, that icy will seemed to be thoroughly enraged by this sudden Fortune Momentum resonance, emitting a silent, hysterical roar!"

Note: The phrase 'silent, hysterical roar' should be kept with an exclamation mark.

The Iron Crow Army's 'Venerable', who had remained motionless like a shadow guarding the crystal formation, finally took action!

"Having remained motionless, like a shadow guarding the crystal stone formation, the Iron Crow Army's Venerable finally took action!"

Note: Iron Crow Army is Iron Crow Army (glossary). "Venerable" is Venerable. We'll keep quotes? The source has "Venerable" with Chinese quotes. We'll use English quotes.

Thus: "Having remained motionless, like a shadow guarding the crystal stone formation, the Iron Crow Army's 'Venerable' finally took action!"

He was not directly attacking Chen Wen; his target was, in fact, the Engineering Department position that was desperately maintaining the 'Wide-area Crystal Disturbance Tower', which posed a lethal threat to the crystal formation.

"Not directly attacking Chen Wen, his target was, in fact, the Engineering Department position that was desperately maintaining the 'Wide-area Crystal Disturbance Tower', which posed a lethal threat to the crystal stone formation!"

Note: The term 'Wide-area Crystal Disturbance Tower' should be kept in quotation marks.

The 'Venerable's figure blurred, as if merging into the dark blue light and shadow.

"Only see that the 'Venerable''s figure blurred, as if merging into the dark-blue light and shadow."

Better: "Only to see the 'Venerable''s figure blur, as if merging into the dark-blue light and shadow."

In the next instant, he appeared out of thin air not far before the Engineering Department position, hovering in midair!

"In the next instant, he actually appeared out of thin air in midair not far before the Engineering Department position!"

His dark cloak billowed without wind; beneath the hood lay an abyss of darkness, save for two points of scarlet light that suddenly blazed like a hellish gaze.

"His dark cloak stirred without wind, beneath the hood lay an abyss of darkness, only two points of scarlet light suddenly blazing forth, like the gaze of hell."

His gaunt finger rose, pointing at Zhao Lao Nian and the humming tower behind him that emitted a light distinct from the golden Fortune Momentum glow yet similarly targeted the Yin energy fluctuations—the 'Crystal Disturbance Tower'!

"His withered finger rose, pointing at Zhao Lao Nian and the humming 'Crystal Disturbance Tower' behind him, which emitted a light starkly different from the golden Fortune Momentum yet similarly targeted the Yin energy fluctuations!"

Note: The term 'Crystal Disturbance Tower' should be kept in quotation marks.

'Stop him!'

""Stop him!""

We keep quotes.

Chen Wen shouted sternly, and without hesitation he redirected the gathered golden radiance in his hand, shaping it into a golden torrent that tore through the sky and blasted toward the suddenly appearing 'Venerable'!

"Chen Wen bellowed angrily, and without hesitation he redirected the gathered golden flowing light in his hand, transforming it into a golden torrent that tore through the sky, blasting toward the suddenly appearing 'Venerable'!"

He could see clearly that the 'Venerable's fingertip gathered Yin energy, pure and refined to the utmost, exuding an absolute stillness and destructive aura capable of instantly destroying the not-yet-fully-stabilized 'Crystal Disturbance Tower'!

"He could see clearly that the Yin energy condensed at the 'Venerable''s fingertip was pure and refined to the utmost, carrying an aura of absolute stillness and destruction, capable of instantly destroying the not-yet-fully-stabilized 'Crystal Disturbance Tower'!"

The golden surge, though launched later, arrived first, colliding in midair with the thin, ink-black Yin energy ray shot from the 'Venerable's fingertip!

"The golden torrent struck first, colliding violently in midair with the thin-as-a-hair, ink-black Yin energy ray shot from the 'Venerable''s fingertip!"

'Boom——!!!'

""Boom——!!!""

There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a piercing wail as if space itself were being torn, chilling the soul!

"There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a piercing wail as if space itself were being torn apart, chilling the soul!"

Gold and black intertwined and annihilated, forming a brief, distorted energy vortex that swallowed the surrounding light and sound!

"Gold and black intertwined and annihilated, forming a fleeting, distorted energy vortex that swallowed the surrounding light and sound!"

Chen Wen's body trembled slightly, his face flushing with an abnormal blush before quickly returning to normal.

"Chen Wen's body trembled slightly, his face flushing with an abnormal blush, then quickly returned to normal."

The 'Venerable's figure also flickered briefly, the scarlet light beneath his hood flashing intensely.

"The 'Venerable''s figure also flickered briefly, the scarlet light beneath his hood flashing violently."

This long-range clash appeared evenly matched.

"This long-distance clash appeared evenly matched."

But the 'Venerable's purpose had already been achieved.

"But the 'Venerable''s purpose had already been achieved."

He successfully drew Chen Wen's attention and forced him to interrupt his charged strike against the crystal formation.

"He successfully drew Chen Wen's attention and forced him to break off his charged strike against the crystal stone formation."

And just in that split second——

"Just in that split second—"

'Roar!'

""Roar!""

The fifty Netherbone, suppressed by the golden Fortune Momentum glow and moving slightly sluggishly, seemed to receive a silent command, the soul fire in their eyes erupting with unprecedented ferocity!

"The fifty Netherbone suppressed by the golden Fortune Momentum, their movements slightly sluggish, seemed to have received a silent command, the soul-fire in their eyes instantly erupting with unprecedented ferocity!"

They no longer scattered their attacks on the defense line, but instead, like fifty black arrows released from a bow, they ignored all Chen Wen army soldiers' interceptions, collectively changed direction at a nearly frenzied speed, and launched a desperate charge toward the same target——

"They no longer scattered their attacks on the defense line, but like fifty black arrows released from their bows, they ignored all Chen Wen army soldiers' interceptions along the way, collectively turning direction at nearly mad speed to launch a desperate charge toward the same target—"

Engineering Department position!

"Engineering Department position!"

To be precise, it was the Engineering Department position that was engaged in an invisible contest with the crystal formation, emitting a specific-frequency resonance wave—the 'Wide-area Crystal Disturbance Tower'!

"To be precise, it was the 'Wide-area Crystal Disturbance Tower' engaged in an invisible contest with the crystal stone formation, emitting a specific frequency resonance!"

Their intention was crystal clear: at any cost, destroy this device that could threaten the very foundation of the crystal formation!

"Their intention was crystal clear: at any cost, destroy this device that could threaten the very foundation of the crystal stone formation!"

'Protect the Engineering Department! Protect the Crystal Disturbance Tower!'

""Protect the Engineering Department! Protect the Crystal Disturbance Tower!""

The frontline commanders bellowed hoarsely, trying to rally troops to block the advance.

"The frontline commanders roared hoarsely, trying to mobilize troops to block."

But the Netherbone were too fast and too strong; they did not engage in entanglement, instead, like fifty out-of-control war chariots, they barbarically smashed through any obstacles in their path!

"But the Netherbone were too fast and too strong; they didn't engage in entanglement, like fifty out-of-control war chariots, brutally smashing through any obstacles in their way!"

Swords slashing their bone armor sent sparks flying; spears piercing their bodies could not penetrate deeply, and arrows were as ineffective as tickling!

"Swords and blades striking their bone armor sent sparks flying; spears piercing their bodies could not penetrate deeply; arrows were as ineffective as tickling!"

They bore the brunt of the concentrated assault, continually accruing new wounds as their bone armor shattered and indigo blood sprayed, yet their charge showed no sign of slowing!

"They bore the concentrated onslaught, continually accumulating new wounds, their bone armor cracking and indigo blood spraying, yet the momentum of their charge showed no slack!"

Their target was singular!

"Their target was only one!"

'Stop them! Quickly stop them!' Zhao Lao Nian watched as the Netherbone surged forward like a black tide, his voice shifting with desperation as he urged the nearby guards and Engineering Department craftsmen.

""Stop them! Quickly stop them!" Zhao Lao Nian shouted, watching the Netherbone surge like a black tide, his voice changing tone, urgently urging the nearby guards and Engineering Department artisans."

The force tasked with defending the Engineering Department position was an elite unit under Han Tong's command.

"The force tasked with defending the Engineering Department position was an elite unit under Han Tong's command."

They formed a solid spear-and-shield line, attempting a final resistance.

"They formed a solid spear-and-shield line, attempting a final resistance."

Yet, faced with the collective charge of fifty frenzied Netherbone, this line proved woefully thin.

"However, facing the collective charge of fifty frenzied Netherbone, this line appeared pitifully thin."

'Bang! Bang! Bang!'

""Bang! Bang! Bang!""

Muffled impact sounds rang out in succession!

"Muffled impact sounds rang out in succession!"

The frontline shield bearers were flung away, shields and all, by the immense force, bones breaking and tendons snapping!

"The front-line shield bearers, shields and all, were flung back by the tremendous force, bones breaking and tendons snapping!"

The spear line was easily torn apart, the Netherbone's claws slashing through, bringing a rain of blood and gore!

"The spear line was easily torn apart, the Netherbone's claws sweeping up a gory storm!"

They stormed in like tigers among sheep, instantly breaching the outer perimeter of the Engineering Department position!

"They were like tigers among sheep, instantly breaking through the outer perimeter of the Engineering Department position!"

'It's over...' an elderly Engineering Department craftsman watched the approaching black monsters, despairingly closing his eyes.

""It's over……" an elderly Engineering Department artisan gazed at the approaching black monsters, despairingly closing his eyes."

At this critical moment——

"At this critical moment—"

'Form ranks! Fight to the death!'

""Form ranks! Fight to the death!""

A roar like thunder erupted from the flank rear!

"A roar like thunder exploded from the side-rear!"

Only then did one see Han Tong, who had been commanding elsewhere, now leading hundreds of personal troops, fearlessly charging sideways to firmly block the Netherbone's charge path and the Crystal Disturbance Tower!

"Only to see Han Tong, who had been commanding operations on another flank, now leading hundreds of personal troops, fearlessly slashing in to block the Netherbone's charge path and the 'Crystal Disturbance Tower'!"

He was drenched in blood, his armor battered in many places, clearly having endured a fierce earlier battle, yet his tiger eyes remained sharp, filled with resolve and tenacity!

"He was drenched in blood, his armor damaged in many places, clearly the prior fighting had been extremely brutal, yet his tiger eyes remained sharp, full of resolve and tenacity!"

'General Han!' Zhao Lao Nian exclaimed.

""General Han!" Zhao Lao Nian exclaimed."

'It's Commander Han!' the Engineering Department craftsmen exclaimed, as if seeing a savior.

""It's Commander Han!" the Engineering Department artisans exclaimed, as if seeing a savior."

Han Tong did not look back; his gaze locked onto the few Netherbone at the forefront, his long sword, which had drunk the blood of barbarians, emitting a low hum.

"Han Tong did not turn back, his gaze locked on the few Netherbone leading the charge, his long blade that had drunk the blood of the barbarians emitting a low hum."

'His Majesty trusts us, entrusting us with the vital duty of defending the Engineering Department and safeguarding the Crystal Disturbance Tower!'

""His Majesty trusts us, entrusting us with the vital duty of defending the Engineering Department and safeguarding the 'Crystal Disturbance Tower'!""

'Today, Han Tong is here!'

""Today, Han Tong is here!""

'If you want to destroy the tower, you must first step over my corpse!'

""If you want to destroy the tower, first step over my corpse!""

'Kill!'

""Kill!""

He roared, then boldly charged forward to meet a Netherbone lunging with its claws!

"He roared, actually charging forward to meet a Netherbone lunging with its claws!"

Protect the general!

The personal guards' eyes were red, they closely followed, and fought in melee with the surging Netherbone!

The battle instantly entered the most brutal, bloody melee stage!

Han Tong's martial prowess was superb, his blade technique wide and open, his force great and heavy; moreover, at this moment he was under the cover of Fortune Momentum Huang Guang, his combat power received a boost, and he actually fought a Netherbone to a draw!

His long blade struck the bone armor, shooting out blinding sparks; each impact made that Netherbone's body tremble slightly.

The personal guards also fought to the death, using their flesh and blood to delay the Netherbone's advance.

People kept falling, blood staining the ground beneath their feet, yet no one retreated a step!

They sacrificed their lives to secure the final activation of the Disturbing Crystal Tower, buying precious time!

Chen Wen watched from the central command, his heart burning with anxiety.

He wanted to mobilize Huang Guang's aid again, but discovered that the earlier clash with the Venerable One, as well as maintaining this huge Fortune Momentum aura, had consumed enormously, making it hard to gather enough strength in a short time for precise support.

He could only watch helplessly as Han Tong and his personal guards, under the Netherbone's frenzied assault, were like a small boat in a storm, constantly capsizing and sinking.

"General, watch out!"

A personal guard shoved Han Tong aside with all his might, but was himself pierced through the chest by another Netherbone's claw!

Han Tong's eyes nearly burst; he backhandedly slashed his blade at the Netherbone's shoulder blade, carving a deep gash, azure blood spraying.

However, more Netherbone closed in.

His personal guards beside him grew ever fewer.

"Pfft!"

A bone spur, condensed from nether energy and semi‑transparent, seized the opening where Han Tong's old strength was spent and new not yet born, striking like a poisonous snake from an extremely tricky angle, instantly piercing the armor beneath his ribs.

"Ugh!"

Han Tong grunted in pain, his movement suddenly stalled, and blood instantly dyed his battle robe red.

"General Han!" Zhao Lao Nian and the Ministry of Works personnel cried out in sorrow.

Chen Wen's heart sank sharply!

"Han Tong!"

Han Tong leaned on his blade, barely standing, he glanced back at the still‑humming, ever‑more‑stable Disturbing Crystal Tower behind him, then looked toward the central command, where lay the emperor to whom he had sworn undying loyalty.

On his face there was no fear, only a hint of regret at not seeing peace under heaven with his own eyes, and the calm of having fulfilled his duty with a clear conscience.

He sucked in a deep breath, expended his last strength, pointed his long blade at the Netherbone lunging again, and let out his final roar:

"Great Chen—Ten Thousand Victories!"

His voice hoarse, yet like a thunderclap it echoed over the Ministry of Works' battlefield!

The next moment, several Netherbone's claws and nether energy attacks engulfed his burly form……

Blood light burst forth.

The general's star fell.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment.

All the Chen army soldiers who witnessed this scene were stunned, then boundless grief and rage erupted in their chests like a volcano!

"Marshal Han!!!"

"Avenge General Han!!"

Chen Wen stared blankly at the spot where Han Tong fell, at the long blade still planted in the ground that had accompanied him in half a lifetime of war, and in his mind flashed the image of fighting side by side with him, listening to him discuss the governance plans after pacifying Hebei.

An indescribable grief mixed with torrential rage surged and burned in his chest like molten lava!

His inner Fortune Momentum qi vortex spun wildly at an unprecedented speed due to this extreme emotional impact!

That bright golden light faintly took on a hint of blood‑red!

The Growth Progress Bar, under the impact of that scorching emotional flood, climbed toward completion at an unprecedented speed!

The critical point was near at hand!