Volume Four: Windswept Remnants, The Four Continents Engulfed Chapter Six: The Vortex

The entire town of Zhu Yuan was now echoing with shouts and the clangor of battle, the vast settlement engulfed in countless skirmishes large and small.

On the eastern side, five Snow Guards from the rear army had cornered three soldiers of the Dark Fiend tribe inside a civilian house. The Cloud Palace soldiers exploited their advantage of distance to confine the trio to that tiny space. Whenever the trapped men attempted to break out, the surrounding soldiers would force them back into the house with concentrated bursts of energy. A Snow Guard squad leader, riding the winds above, was gathering the ninth layer of energy. Both hands traced semicircles at his sides, then pressed together and thrust downward, launching a sphere the size of a watermelon toward the thatched house. The sphere spun at high speed as it hurtled through the air.

In an instant, it crashed into the house, and moments later, the structure collapsed from within. The nearby soldiers hurriedly channeled energy to shield themselves from the violent shockwave. When the dust settled, the house had vanished, replaced by a pit over three yards wide and more than a yard deep. Scattered limbs lay at the bottom, and by the black armor, it was clear these belonged to the three Dark Fiend soldiers hiding inside. The squad leader descended slowly, instructing his men to clear the battlefield and swiftly reinforce other units before his feet even touched the ground.

A soldier beside him quietly reported, “Captain, the Sun Crystals we brought are running low. We can barely sustain two more battles of this scale.”

The captain glanced at the moon, nearly sunk in the west, and addressed his troops: “We just need to hold out until the golden dawn rises. That should buy us a few more rounds. Conserve your essence—when you trap Dark Fiends, use newly-formed energy to strike their weak points. I’ll stay aloft and gather the ninth layer of true energy, hoping to wipe out these vermin in a single blow, as before.”

Yet not every fight was so easily won.

As the clashes on the outskirts began to wane, most of the Dark Fiend vanguard had regrouped, moving north—the only part of town untouched by the Cloud Palace army.

They fought as they retreated, moving in well-organized formations under the command of the Four Dread Generals. Lan Sheng and Qin Ying orchestrated three frontal and lateral assaults, but each was repelled by rigorous defense. The outer ranks of the Dark Fiend soldiers were towering, robust men—some wielded millstones as shields; others lashed together massive doors to ward off airborne energy attacks. Among them were seasoned, cunning villains who seized two Zhu Yuan townsfolk apiece, using them as human shields against the palace soldiers.

Lan Sheng said to Qin Ying, “Master Qin, we can’t go on like this. Their formation is tight and they’re withdrawing north in good order. Even if Master Lin attacks from the north soon, he won’t scatter them. We must find a way to divide their forces.”

Qin Ying nodded, “You’re right. But our attempts to penetrate their lines have failed. Even aerial strikes haven’t worked.”

Lan Sheng pondered for a while, then proposed, “Master Qin, what if I lead the five Divine-ranked Star Lords of Vermilion Palace, along with a hundred Ninth-grade Celestials, to ascend a hundred yards above and focus our ninth-layer energy downward, targeting their central command? You and the Wind and Snow Guards attack from the southeast and west. Hold until our energy descends. If we can cripple their leaders, we might shatter their formation.”

Qin Ying agreed, raising the Vermilion Command high and addressing the five Star Lords behind her: “Hear my order—all of you follow Lan Sheng and strike the Dark Fiend central command from above. Each of you take twenty Ninth-grade Celestials, awaiting Lan Sheng’s command.”

The five Star Lords saluted and went to muster their troops.

After issuing these orders, Qin Ying turned to Lan Sheng, “Lan Sheng, how confident are you?”

Lan Sheng shook his head, “They’re seasoned veterans, fierce and fearless. Their attacks are both brutal and cunning. Many of our soldiers have been wounded by their treacherous tricks. We need you to buy us more time, and hope we can take out their commanders in one strike.”

Qin Ying patted his shoulder, “Don’t worry. Focus on your gathering, don’t rush for quick results.”

With that, she raised her red energy sword and charged toward the enemy lines. Her maroon scale armor and tightly bound hair, illuminated in the scarlet glow, made her appear exceptionally heroic. Hundreds of Celestial soldiers surged forth behind her, splitting into three groups as planned to assault the Dark Fiend army.

Lan Sheng watched the tide of Cloud Palace troops flood toward the enemy, his heart stirred by the ancient resolve: a general dies a hundred deaths in battle, a warrior returns after ten years. Shaking his head, he brandished his energy sword and shot toward the sky. The Star Lords and their hundred Celestials behind him transformed into white sword energy, soaring above the Dark Fiend formation.

He stopped at a hundred yards above, stabilizing himself with his energy amidst raging winds. Barely able to keep his balance with one hand, he thought, This won’t do. He reached into his Infinite Pouch and pulled out a flying beast crystal, tearing off the Sun Seal with his teeth. After a flash of light, a Mist Cloud Beast bounded onto the clouds before him, pausing after a few steps.

Lan Sheng leaped onto the beast, which neighed and hovered in midair. He signaled downward to the gathering Cloud Palace troops, who understood and focused on gathering the ninth layer of true energy.

While Lan Sheng and his team floated aloft, the battle below had already erupted. Both sides fought with bloodlust, the clash immediately reaching fever pitch. Cloud Palace warriors blasted the outer ranks of the Dark Fiend army with energy, while the Dark Fiend soldiers, unable to bring weapons across the breach, hastily improvised defenses. In no time, they tore down houses and buildings, gathering anything useful as makeshift projectiles.

Muscular and powerful, the Dark Fiends concentrated their best throwers in the rear, launching bricks or wooden furniture salvaged from the ruins at the Celestials flying overhead. These materials, harmless at first, became deadly after being hurled with such force.

A Cloud Palace soldier, focused on an enemy wielding a door shield and attempting to close in, suddenly noticed an unidentified object speeding toward him. Alarmed, he unleashed two energy blades to intercept it, but only shaved off some edges as the blades passed through—the object kept flying, vanishing into the distance.

At that moment, the object arrived: a massive roof beam from a large house. With no time to launch another energy blade, the soldier sent all his energy into a protective aura, bracing for impact. With a resounding crash, the wooden beam shattered against his shield, sending splinters flying. The soldier felt his blood surge, spat out a mouthful of blood, and lost control of his flight, blacking out and plummeting earthward.

The outermost Dark Fiend soldiers were pushed to their limits. Their makeshift shields—doors, millstones—had been pulverized, leaving only their arms to fend off incoming attacks. Many had broken fists, blood streaming down, but not one retreated. Those whose arms failed turned about, using their sturdy backs to shield comrades from relentless assaults.

In the center of the Dark Fiend formation, the Four Dread Generals anxiously directed their troops against the Cloud Palace assault. Behind them, a striking woman sat atop a pile of rubble, playing with a one-armed rag doll, oddly detached from the surrounding chaos.

Earth Dread glanced back at her, sighed, and stepped forward, fists clasped, his voice hoarse: “Commander, the enemy has forced us to the town’s north, and our outer brothers have likely fallen. Should we retreat north?”

The woman’s gaze never left her doll, her wide eyes filled with childlike innocence. Her ruby lips moved softly, “There’s a trap up north. Even if we break out, the whole void belongs to him—where could you possibly go?”

Her words stoked the fire in Earth Dread’s chest. He roared, “Then what do you suggest? Wait here to die like you?”

She remained calm, the corners of her mouth faintly lifted. “They should have one tenth of their Sun Crystals left. Hold on a bit longer. When dawn comes, I’ll lead you in a counterattack.”

As they spoke, shouts erupted from the north of town—a Cloud-bannered force was attacking the Dark Fiend army’s rear.

Earth Dread slammed his fist onto a wooden post, splintering it instantly. He growled, “Now we won’t even make it to dawn; we’ll all die here. Dark Fiend warriors have never feared death—for death brings true light—but to die like this is humiliating.”

The woman stood and gazed toward the smoke-filled north, murmuring softly, “Lin Bai, it’s been a long time.”