Volume Four: Winds Sweep the Clouds, The Four Continents Sink Chapter Five: Encountering the Enemy

After Lin Bai finished arranging the tactics, he led the Yun Palace’s rear guard in a flanking maneuver toward the back of the town.

Lan Sheng said to Qin Ying, “I’ll charge straight up the main avenue at the entrance of the town, and your troops can encircle from both flanks. As soon as the fighting starts on our side, you release the Mystic Sky Bell and the Veil of Shadows. After that, attack from both sides toward the center—compress their space as much as possible.”

Qin Ying nodded. “Once their space is squeezed, they’ll be forced to flee toward the rear of the town, right into Lin Bai’s trap.”

Lan Sheng tapped Qin Ying’s shoulder with his single arm, saying meaningfully, “Sister Lan Shan, we’re fighting side by side again.”

Qin Ying grinned, hearty and bold. “Ha! Brother Lan Sheng, I’m not who I was before. This is the first major battle since my strength recovered—let’s see who kills more enemies!”

Lan Sheng laughed aloud, three times, and his right hand conjured a sword of energy, its blade shimmering with true energy, the edge wreathed in a faint indigo flame. His power seemed to have risen yet again. He said to Qin Ying, “Very well! I accept your challenge. But take care of yourself—if you’re hurt, I won’t be able to explain to Yuan Shang when we return.”

Qin Ying snorted lightly, feigning annoyance. “Our Lord Yuan will first see me as a star of Yun Palace, then as a woman. As for tender feelings, let’s discuss that after the battle. Let’s begin!”

Lan Sheng swept his energy sword, and a row of burly horn players behind him—right arms exposed—raised their massive ox horns and sounded the charge. The horns had barely begun when the war drums thundered from the rear.

With those mighty horns and drums echoing, Lan Sheng charged ahead, transformed into a streak of sword energy, heading straight for Zhu Yuan Town, where flames soared into the sky. The two hundred and fifty rear guards of Cloud Pinnacle Palace he led, the Wind Guard celestial soldiers, followed close behind, faces grim with murderous resolve, riding the wind to storm into Zhu Yuan Town.

No sooner had Lan Sheng landed than he drew the attention of three Dark Fiend warriors who were draining the vitality from their victims. One burly, broad-shouldered, and savage-looking soldier tossed aside a charred corpse, squinted at Lan Sheng, and said to his companions, still savoring their feast, “Hey! Look, another fool courting death. He’s only got one arm, but his aura’s even more potent. Don’t fight me for him, brothers.”

Before he finished, a giant hand shot toward Lan Sheng’s shoulder. Lan Sheng frowned, sidestepped the massive paw, and swept his energy sword upward. A faint thud sounded as the giant arm tumbled to the ground, rolling several times.

The black-faced brute staggered forward, falling headlong. Lan Sheng seized the moment, sprang behind him, gathering his energy into the sword in his right hand. The indigo flames flared, casting a dark blue glow across the brute’s back. He hadn’t even felt the pain of his severed arm, but he sensed the deadly intent looming behind him.

He had no time to dodge, only to twist desperately, trying to evade the fatal, indigo energy sword stabbing at his back. Lan Sheng would not let him escape so easily; seeing he couldn’t strike directly, he flicked his wrist, channeling ninefold refined energy into the hilt, sending the sword spinning like a boomerang toward the brute’s abdomen.

Still airborne, the black-faced brute was terrified. He’d lost an arm and had no way to fend off the rapidly spinning energy sword bearing down on him.

But these Dark Fiend vanguard soldiers were no ordinary foes. In this life-and-death moment, he glared fiercely, relying on his innate brute strength, tightened his abdomen, and curled himself upward, propelled by that motion just enough to let the sword pass beneath him.

Barely surviving, he crashed to the ground, but before he could celebrate, he heard the sharp whistling of a weapon slicing through the air. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw another indigo energy sword spinning toward him from a different angle.

Though desperate, he refused to surrender. Knowing he couldn’t fend off back-to-back sneak attacks, he used all his remaining strength, kicking the first energy sword skyward and, with his remaining hand, formed a fist to punch at the rapidly spinning sword.

The Dark Fiend warrior’s skill was exceptional, his control of angles precise. He struck the hilt of the spinning sword, and it veered off course, embedding itself in a thick stone wall nearby, vanishing from sight. The wall, as thick as an arm, cracked in the middle, and the whole house collapsed, raising a cloud of dust.

The Dark Fiend warrior, now standing amid the ruins, had half a left arm, a right fist with shattered bones, blood pouring out, and a right leg unable to support him, forcing him to stand on tiptoe, gasping heavily, his gaze fierce yet wary as he looked at Lan Sheng a dozen paces away, cursing inwardly, “What demon is this?”

In just three moves, Lan Sheng had crippled a formidable foe. He glanced coldly around; the brute’s three companions hurriedly tossed aside their corpses and rushed to protect him. One, clad in battered black armor, asked the wounded man, “Centurion, are you alright?”

The centurion spat blood on the ground, snarling, “I’m fine, just got bitten by a little bug.” Another soldier quickly bandaged his severed limbs.

At that moment, the rear guard Wind soldiers arrived, and the battle around them suddenly intensified. The cries and screams were soon drowned out by shouts and explosions.

Lan Sheng addressed the four surrounded Dark Fiend vanguard soldiers, “Where is your commander?”

The wounded centurion sneered, taunting, “Hey, little brat, don’t be in a rush to find our vanguard officer—play with us old men first!”

Lan Sheng had no intention of wasting time; he waved his hand, ordering the Wind soldiers to strike them down on the spot.

The celestial soldiers obeyed, attacking the four surrounded foes. Five soldiers tangled with them; despite one Dark Fiend being severely wounded, the Cloud Pinnacle Palace side gained no advantage. The four formed an impromptu formation, three protecting the wounded centurion, who wielded a long blade passed from a companion, striking at weak points in the defense. Several times, the Wind soldiers nearly broke their formation, but the centurion’s timely thrusts and slashes forced them back.

The stalemate persisted. Lan Sheng frowned; five Wind soldiers of third or fourth celestial rank could not overcome four Dark Fiends, one injured. The Palace’s soldiers excelled at ranged attacks, but were weak in close combat.

Lan Sheng returned to the fray, leaping above the Dark Fiend squad, unleashing three ninefold refined energy blades, blasting toward their heads. The three defenders leapt, fists and feet flying, neutralizing Lan Sheng’s assault.

The wounded centurion scoffed, mocking, “Hey, little brat, tired already? Need to go home to your mother for some milk?”

His three companions laughed arrogantly.

The five Wind soldiers knew this was not Lan Sheng’s true strength. Understanding, they dispersed; two blocked the enemy’s escape with energy swords, while three attacked from above with refined energy, mimicking Lan Sheng’s approach.

At first, the three defenders managed the assault with ease, but after a dozen exchanges, their stamina waned. They had just undergone a long-range teleport, and the fierce fighting had depleted their reserves.

Lan Sheng saw their decline and quickly launched two indigo sword energies, shouting to the five soldiers, “The enemy is exhausted—finish the fight quickly!”

The five answered in unison, “Yes, sir!” Changing tactics, they abandoned short, rapid attacks for concentrated, ninefold refined energy strikes.

After dozens of such attacks, the four Dark Fiend soldiers lay motionless in a massive crater.

A Wind soldier approached and reported to Lan Sheng, who hovered overhead, “Commander, the enemy is dead. How should we proceed?”

Lan Sheng replied coldly, “Behead these Dark Fiends and build a skull mound at the town gate.”

The five responded, “Yes, sir.”

Lan Sheng glanced around the battlefield; things were not going smoothly. He landed and told a nearby soldier, “Go quickly and spread our tactics to the whole army. Tell everyone—avoid close combat, focus on aerial suppression. Set the Mystic Sky Bell and Veil of Shadows to prevent wounded enemies from escaping.”

The soldier saluted and flew off at once.