Chapter 147: Chapter 146 Bewitching Sword_1
"She is the Head of the Ten Outstanding Talents of the Demon Sect?"
Ling Chen was taken aback. Each one of the Ten Outstanding Talents of the Demon Sect was a martial arts genius. These were the ten strongest young talents in the Demon Sect. The fact that this woman could be hailed as their head was a testament to her horrifying strength.
Ling Chen remembered that when he first saw this woman in black, she could subdue two Great Master Level Powerhouses from the Sixth Layer Realm. Even though he had never seen her fight, he could still sense her power.
"Yes. Rumor has it that Xia Ji from the Saint Witch Religion is versed in both civil and martial arts. Her martial arts cultivation is outstandingly high, and she also possesses an intellect far superior to that of an average person. This grants her a high status within the Saint Witch Religion."
Bai Qianxing seemed to know a lot about the woman in black.
"Such a remarkable person. Too bad she is our enemy," Mu Feng also remarked.
"The enemy seems to be preparing for the siege." At this moment, Yan Ling suddenly looked towards the enemy’s phalanx. The imposing formation was starting to move, a clear sign of an impending siege.
「At this moment, in the sky above.」
"My lord, the assassination attempt on Yue Chaoqun has failed. Our forces inside Stone City suffered heavy casualties. Even Han Tong was killed."
The Skywind Hawk behind them flew over, and an elder in black jumped onto Xia Ji’s Skywind Hawk, reporting with a bow.
"Failed again? How could this be?" There was clear shock in Xia Ji’s voice.
Han Tong was a crucial chess piece they had planted in Stone City, possessing the cultivation of a Grand Master. Now, they had even exposed this chess piece in an attempt to assassinate a minor enemy general, only to fail.
Moreover, Han Tong was known for his caution. He wouldn’t have acted recklessly if he wasn’t confident enough of success.
"It is said that Ling Chen once again set a trap, luring Han Tong and the others into action. As a result, they were all caught in Elder Tianxing’s net."
The elder in black also had an unsightly expression. "I warned you before that this boy would eventually become a thorn in our side. You insisted he could be of use to us, but look! He has spoiled our plans again."
"Enough. Since we have failed, we have no choice but to launch an all-out attack." Xia Ji waved her hand dismissively, wasting no more words. "Issue the order to attack the city!"
"Yes!"
The elder in black returned to his own Skywind Hawk and went to relay the orders.
Before long, thunderous war drums resounded. The Earth Country’s army formation and their war beasts roared in unison, joined by the thunderous crash of siege equipment. Stone City’s walls vibrated intensely, causing the nearby mountains to shake. It seemed as though the whole world was rocking.
"Kill!"
Deafening war cries echoed, and countless arrows rained down like a violent storm from both below and atop the city walls.
Ling Chen and the others dared not delay. They quickly ducked down and hid in a relatively safe area.
Even so, arrows still whizzed past them, their passage marked by sharp whooshes through the air.
Screams of agony and the sickening thuds of arrows tearing through flesh were relentless. Such a dense hail of arrows would likely inflict hundreds of casualties.
In just a few dozen breaths, a river of blood had formed on the battlefield.
War is indeed cruel. So many people died in an instant, Yan Ling thought, her pretty face paling slightly. In our martial world, fights usually result in the death of just a few people. Killing dozens would already be considered an extraordinary bloodbath. But on the battlefield, hundreds can perish in the blink of an eye. It’s nothing short of purgatory.
These soldiers are nothing more than tools of war, Mu Feng mused, a poignant feeling shared by the others as they watched. If we hadn’t cultivated martial arts and joined a sect, our fate would probably be the same as theirs—sacrificed.
In this world where the strong are revered, if we weren’t martial artists, our fate in war would surely be tragic.
Stone City was exceptionally fortified. Even though the Earth Country’s army was overwhelming in numbers and strength, they struggled to gain any advantage for some time.
The city walls were riddled with holes, most of the defensive siege equipment destroyed, and the bodies of defending soldiers lay everywhere. Below the walls, however, the attacking Earth Country army had suffered even greater losses, their dead piled into small hills.
"The Skywind Hawks are moving!" At that moment, Bai Qianxing suddenly looked towards the sky and exclaimed.
He saw a dozen or so Skywind Hawks in mid-air, heading towards the city wall.
The experts from the Demon Sect are about to make their move, Ling Chen thought, his eyes narrowing. To end this war through battles between the two armies alone could take a month or two, if it ends at all. This is the time for martial world experts to determine the outcome.
Capture the leader to capture the band. If we can kill the enemy’s commander, victory in this war will be assured.
The only one who can withstand Xia Ji is probably Elder Tianxing, Mu Feng thought, his expression grave as his gaze shifted to Elder Tianxing’s position. There, Elder Tianxing and the other experts of Stone City were already in formation, awaiting their opponents.
In his line of sight, the Skywind Hawks swooped down from the sky. Xia Ji, along with dozens of people in black, leaped from their backs, landing atop the city wall.
Their black robes fluttered, exuding a heroic spirit. The dark figures landed one after another, their domineering aura palpable.
"Elder Tianxing of Sky Void Palace, I have long heard that your Solar Eclipse Blade Technique is transcendental. I did not expect to have the honor of witnessing it today. What a pleasure." Xia Ji clasped her hands in a brief salute to Elder Tianxing. Beneath that ghost mask, what kind of face was hidden?
"Today, you will witness me use this Solar Eclipse Blade Technique to execute you, the fiend who plagues the martial world!"
Elder Tianxing felt no goodwill towards Xia Ji. The dire situation on the Fire Country’s battlefield was largely her doing, so he offered her no courtesy.
Gripping his long-handled broadsaber, Elder Tianxing moved like the wind. The blade dragged across the ground, throwing off dazzling sparks like a dancing Fire Dragon.
"Go!"
Xia Ji remained calm. She extended a jade-white palm and gestured slightly. Instantly, dozens of people in black behind her shot forward, attacking Elder Tianxing and his allies from multiple angles.
WHOOSH!
Elder Tianxing swung his broadsaber forward. The blade energy, more than ten meters long, pulsed with a fiercely violent and scorching aura. CRACK! Two men in black were cleaved in half, the flesh at the wounds seared black.
The remaining experts from the Demon Sect used intricate footwork to bypass Elder Tianxing, targeting the Righteous Path experts from Stone City behind him. Unimpeded, Elder Tianxing quickly closed in on Xia Ji.
CLANG!
Xia Ji showed no panic. She drew a Black Sword and held it ready.
The Black Sword was seven feet long. Its surface was adorned with crimson, flower-like patterns that seemed like fresh bloodstains—vibrant, eerie, and emitting an ominous aura.
"It’s the Bewitching Sword, a Demon Sword that can sow confusion!" Bai Qianxing’s voice suddenly sounded beside Ling Chen, who was intently watching the Black Sword in Xia Ji’s hand.