Chapter 134: Blood Dyes Black Mountain!

Boom—boom—boom…

In an instant, the Giant Arrows slammed into the rock fortifications below the mountain.

With a tremendous roar, massive stones and hard wood shattered, spraying outward in all directions.

Dust filled the entire base of the mountain.

Ah…

Many Bandits, unable to dodge in time, were split clean in two; their corpses tumbled down the mountainside, blood splattered through the forest, and cries of agony echoed across the Battlefield.

A horrific atmosphere hung thick around them.

Just one volley had already destroyed nearly half the fortifications below, killing several Bandits as well.

The Bed Crossbows' power was indeed astonishing.

Lu Zhangsheng stared intently at the frontlines of the Battlefield.

Neither side's elite Strong Persons had moved yet; the fighting remained merely probing attacks.

Qin Ruobing and Wei Shaoxuan and the others stood with arms crossed at the front of their formation, directing the Government forces.

"Begin the second volley immediately."

Wei Shaoxuan swept his hand forward, his expression utterly cold.

Taking advantage of the enemy's inability to resist, he launched the second assault without delay.

At his command,

the soldiers pushing the Bed Crossbows reloaded the Giant Arrows and drew the bowstrings taut once more.

Shhh…

Simultaneously fired, over a dozen Giant Arrows surged forward like thunderclaps.

The very air cracked with sonic booms, their momentum terrifying.

Boom—boom—boom…

Many fortifications crumbled as easily as tofu; flying stones crushed nearby Bandits, who screamed in agony—either dead or grievously wounded.

After this volley, the first defensive line was nearly crippled, with only a few fortifications still holding out.

"The Government troops are too fierce—we fall back to the next checkpoint to drain their strength."

Several leaders among the Heretic Cultivators and Bandits shouted orders.

Immediately, masses of Bandits and Heretic Cultivators retreated backward, like a receding tide.

"Xuanjia Army, advance!"

"Zhenyao Envoys, advance!"

Seeing this, Qin Ruobing and Wei Shaoxuan immediately ordered a pursuit.

Ha!

A group of Xuanjia Army soldiers, wielding Long Spears, surged forward in perfect unison, their momentum unstoppable.

Alongside them, numerous Zhenyao Envoys followed, including many Blood Exchange Martial Artists.

Lu Zhangsheng blended into the crowd, charging toward the mountain slopes ahead.

He concealed his true strength, moving only at the speed and power of a Blood Exchange-level Martial Artist.

Kill!

In an instant, the Government forces clashed with the Heretic Cultivators and Bandits, engaging in fierce combat.

The entire Battlefield was thick with murderous aura; shouts of battle and clashing weapons filled the mountain forests.

As countless corpses piled up on the slopes, a thick stench of blood filled the air.

Lu Zhangsheng swung his Long Blade, mercilessly reaping lives around him, like a Death God walking among mortals.

With each Heretic Cultivator he slew, he gained new insight into Killing Intent.

The Killing Intent slowly strengthened.

"Killing Intent increased by one percent."

"Killing Intent increased by one percent."

…

Each strike made him feel himself growing stronger—he became utterly entranced.

Killing these traitorous scum brought Lu Zhangsheng no psychological burden.

Time passed slowly.

Several hours passed.

Night fell swiftly; the bright moonlight spilled gently over all of Black Mountain.

Both sides continued their bloody struggle in the mountain forests.

Even Government Martial Artists had suffered heavy losses; facing these fearless Heretic Cultivators and Bandits, every step forward met fierce resistance.

Yet neither side's top-tier experts had yet moved.

After hours of combat, the Government forces finally reached a mid-slope.

This point still had more than half the distance to the summit.

Wuu—wu—

At that moment, low horn blasts echoed across the Battlefield, accompanied by crisp metallic clinks.

Upon hearing this, the Xuanjia Army and Zhenyao Envoys immediately halted and slowly withdrew.

The Heretic Cultivators and Bandits did not pursue, vanishing into the forest.

Lu Zhangsheng also stopped, sensing his Killing Intent had risen slightly—he was delighted.

At this rate, the Killing Intent would likely reach thirty percent before long.

"Indeed, only killing and battlefields suit the Killing Intent best—he is naturally born to thrive on the Battlefield."

Lu Zhangsheng thought to himself.

"Everyone, rest for the night. We attack again at dawn."

At that moment, Qin Ruobing's authoritative voice echoed across the entire camp.

Night had fallen deep, and she had no intention of capturing the mountain in a single day, so she directly issued the retreat order.

"We obey your command."

Everyone bowed respectfully, faces filled with reverence.

Soon after, the group began setting up camp, and soon, small tents were erected across the open ground.

Around the camp, numerous Strong Persons stood guard.

Just as Lu Zhangsheng was about to enter his tent to rest, a soldier came to report that Qin Ruobing wished to see him.

Lu Zhangsheng rose and walked toward Qin Ruobing's command tent, entering it under the bewildered gazes of those around him.

Even Tong Yuhua and Yue Shulan looked utterly astonished.

Their eyes betrayed faint traces of strangeness.

"Sit."

Seeing Lu Zhangsheng arrive, Qin Ruobing smiled gently, as if bathing him in spring breeze.

Lu Zhangsheng sat down and waited silently for her to speak.

"Have you sensed anything unusual on the mountaintop?"

Qin Ruobing cut straight to the point without any preamble.

She had detected, besides the four powerful auras atop the mountain, a faint, elusive evil presence.

This left her deeply uneasy.

Although she knew Lu Zhangsheng's strength rivaled her own, and that he concealed himself in the shadows—he was undoubtedly a deadly weapon.

And she had told no one else about this, intending to strike unexpectedly.

"Sister Qin means that demonic aura?"

Lu Zhangsheng frowned.

During the earlier killing, he too had sensed a faint anomaly.

It was the scent of Meridian—there might be a high-level Demon Servant hiding atop the mountain.

"Correct. If things turn dire, break out immediately—don't bother with anyone else."

Qin Ruobing's expression grew grave.

With Lu Zhangsheng's talent, the Innate Dao is merely a starting point; his death here would be a terrible waste.

She did not wish to see a genius perish—such a loss would be a great blow to all of Dazhou.

"I understand."

Lu Zhangsheng nodded lightly.

With his speed, even if things went wrong, he could flee instantly.

The two exchanged further details; as night deepened, Lu Zhangsheng rose and left the command tent.

Seeing Lu Zhangsheng return to camp, the Martial Artists' eyes blazed with "gossip" fire.

But out of respect for their authority, none dared speak.

At that moment, Tong Yuhua walked over with a smile and uttered a baffling phrase: "Lu Patrol, work hard."

Lu Zhangsheng couldn't be bothered to explain, turned, and entered his tent.

……

While the Government personnel rested…

On the mountaintop, in a dark room…

Zhao Yuanjing stood still inside, before her a man in a black robe.

The man was entirely shrouded in a pitch-black robe, his aura chillingly cold.

"Several high-ranking members of our sect are closely watching this operation—you know the consequences of failure…"

The black-robed man spoke in a hoarse voice.

As one sent by the Heavenly Demon Sect to assist, he too did not wish for the mission to fail.

"Envoy, rest assured—this plan is flawless."

Zhao Yuanjing smiled faintly, brimming with confidence. To breach the County City, she had prepared multiple contingencies and even summoned a Strong Person from the Heavenly Demon Sect.

As for whether the man would perform a Blood Sacrifice on a million Commoners after taking the city—that was none of her concern. She only needed to obtain that artifact.

……

The next day, dawn.

Black clouds loomed overhead, howling winds screamed.

A storm seemed ready to break at any moment; tension clung to every Martial Artist's heart.

After consuming their Dry Rations, the Government Martial Artists and Xuanjia Army regrouped on the open ground.

"Woo… woo…"

As the low horn sounded again, numerous Government Strong Persons surged toward the mountaintop like a tidal wave.

The Xuanjia Army advanced in disciplined formation, long spears in hand.

"Shii… shii…"

From behind, countless arrows pierced the air, as if blotting out the sky.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

A group of heretic cultivators and bandits were also unwilling to be outdone, each with a savage expression as they raised their blades and charged forward.

Their eyes were filled with madness.

"Boom boom boom…"

The two large forces collided in an instant, killing intent rolling like smoke, sweeping in all directions.

Shouts of battle, the crash of giant stones, and the sound of bones shattering filled the entire battlefield.

Although this group of heretic cultivators and bandits feared no death, they still could not stop the government army's advance.

As time passed.

A group of Xuanjia Army soldiers and Demon-Suppressing Envoys continued to push rapidly toward the mountaintop.

Every step was extremely brutal, the ground beneath littered with fresh blood and corpses.

Thick waves of blood-reek filled the air, turning the stomach.

Everyone was fighting desperately.

Gradually, even the Government Martial Artists began to suffer losses, their momentum no longer at its former peak.

Despite the fierce fighting, the top experts on both sides seemed to share a tacit understanding and did not make a move.

Qin Ruobing and the others all knew the enemy was surely waiting for them.

The greatest hard battle still lay at the mountaintop; even they dared not relax in the slightest, all conserving their strength.

This battle raged until the world turned dark, and only by evening did the government side, relying on bed crossbows and the Xuanjia Army, barely push forward to a flat ground before the mountaintop.

At this moment, there was no longer any trace of bandits or heretic cultivators ahead; all had vanished into the Dense Forest at the mountaintop.

Qin Ruobing led everyone to halt, standing on the open ground, watching the several massive fortresses ahead with a grim gaze.

Not only that.

Everyone could faintly see three Black Mountain Bandits Bandit Leaders and a masked woman in a red robe standing on a distant staircase.

The woman's figure was extremely enchanting, an astonishing allure radiating from her whole body.

Even the many Low-rank Martial Artists around felt their mouths go dry, swallowing hard one after another.

"It's Su Qilong and the three bandit chiefs, and that Venerable Lord."

Qin Ruobing's tone was icy, her beautiful face brimming with killing intent.

The four had appeared; the final decisive battle could erupt at any moment.

However, the aura of the Meridian hidden in the shadows had yet to reveal itself, putting her heart on high alert.

"This demon witch's charm grows ever more terrifying."

Lu Zhangsheng saw this, his eyes shifting slightly.

This woman possessed Essence Blood similar to that of the Fox Demon clan; as her control over the Essence Blood deepened, her charm would likewise grow stronger.

"It seems since our last clash, her strength has improved again."

This discovery made Lu Zhangsheng quite wary as well.

"We have always kept the well water from interfering with the river water with the government. Today you lead men to kill your way to our door, so stay here and sleep forever."

Su Qilong's eyes erupted with killing intent.

Then with a great wave of his hand, numerous strong figures appeared behind him, including no few Blood Exchange and Marrow Cleansing experts.

All of these were the Black Mountain Bandits' accumulated foundation over the years.

"Hmph… a pack of heretical fiends, kill!"

Qin Ruobing's willow brows lifted, her face full of killing intent.

She did not waste words either, directly issuing the order to attack.

Immediately after, Qin Ruobing, the three Deputy Hall Masters, and Wei Shaoxuan charged toward the four ahead.

So fast they were like thunderbolts, leaving afterimages across the void.

"Kill them all."

The many Xuanjia Army soldiers behind also raised their long spears, formed battle arrays, and charged toward the mountaintop together with a large number of Demon-Suppressing Envoys, their momentum ferocious beyond compare.

Lu Zhangsheng also quietly blended into the crowd, charging into an open area at the mountaintop.

Su Qilong and the others, seeing this, were also unwilling to be outdone and immediately directed many martial artists to meet them.

The three Black Mountain Bandits Bandit Leaders and Zhao Yuanjing likewise charged toward Qin Ruobing and the others.

"Boom boom boom…"

In an instant, the two sides crashed together violently, fierce shockwaves sweeping in all directions.

Dust and smoke rolled everywhere, a scene of utter devastation.

Even the giant stones on the ground were carved with mark after mark.

In the void, countless arrows streaked through the air, as if they could blot out the sky, chilling the heart.

"Kill, kill, kill…"

The two forces fought a bloody battle without end on the mountaintop clearing.

Shouts of battle, the clash of weapons, the sound of limbs shattering filled the entire battlefield.

Every martial artist's face was full of killing intent, utterly savage.

Among them, the clash between the eight top experts—Qin Ruobing and Su Qilong's side—was the most astonishing.

Endless blade-light and sword-shadows darted across their battlefield, making it impossible to see what was happening within.

That fierce killing intent made the surrounding crowd find it hard to breathe, and they all stepped back, not daring to approach.

Lu Zhangsheng, while wielding his blade technique to suppress a Blood Exchange martial artist ahead, carefully sensed the Meridian aura hidden in the shadows.

After a careful probe, he detected a faint, flickering evil aura deep within the Main Hall, which made him feel somewhat oppressed.

Clearly, a Strong Person was lurking in the shadows.

"Could it be that Zhao Yuanjing, that demon witch, has this person as her backup plan?"

Doubt stirred in his heart.

According to the intelligence he had happened to uncover that day, there was definitely someone within the Government secretly betraying them.

Because of this, his heart grew increasingly wary.

Up ahead, a black-clothed man currently fighting Lu Zhangsheng had an expression of utter terror; no matter how he erupted with power, he could not shake the person before him in the slightest.

After multiple failed attempts at erupting his Essence Blood, he also gave up on the idea of slaying the person before him.

Lu Zhangsheng was happy enough to let it be, carefully watching the Battlefield while toying with his opponent.

"Boom boom boom…"

In the void, the rumbling never ceased for long, and the slaughter between the top experts on both sides grew ever fiercer.

The eight were evenly matched in strength, and even their Martial Dao True Intent differed little; it would be hard to determine a victor in a short time.

This battle dragged on until nightfall, still without a result.

Just as everyone thought today's fighting would temporarily ebb, an unexpected change suddenly occurred.

A streak of blood-colored radiance abruptly shot out from the Main Hall on the mountaintop, racing toward the Battlefield like a bolt of lightning.

A thick stench of blood came rushing at them, carrying an immensely powerful pressure.

In an instant, the man arrived on the open ground, revealing himself to be a middle-aged man with a sinister, hawkish face.

The aura around him was deep as an abyss or an ocean.

"Not good — the enemy still has a Strong Person hidden away."

The Government Martial Artists' faces were filled with terror.

Right now all four Deputy Hall Masters were tied down; if the enemy suddenly struck in force, probably no one could stand against them.

Lu Zhangsheng's eyes flickered uncertainly, debating whether to step in and block.

Just as despair crept over everyone, within the Town Yao Si Martial Artists' ranks, four blue-robed elders suddenly erupted, instantly slaying the enemies before them, then charging toward the Evil Cult middle-aged man who had just appeared.

As the four elders moved, they seemed to link into one, displaying clear coordination.

"Is this a Combined Strike Technique?"

Lu Zhangsheng's expression shifted slightly at the sight.

The four men's aura was clearly a notch weaker than the three Deputy Hall Masters, but when the four joined forces, their breath seemed to merge into a single whole — quite extraordinary.

These four were surely the Town Yao Si's hidden trump card; with them stepping in, they should be able to hold off the black-clothed man before them.

From the Evil Cult Strong Person's arrival to the four elders' sudden eruption, it all happened in the span of a heartbeat.

"This man is Ye Yunze, a traitor of the Heavenly Demon Sect — he joined the Heavenly Demon Sect decades ago."

The instant the black-clothed man appeared, Xiao Tianci and the others had already reacted, looking at him with killing intent written all over their faces.

"Kill."

Ye Yunze smiled cruelly and immediately charged toward the four elders, killing intent rolling off him — ferociously violent.

(End of this chapter)