Seeing Yue Mei’s stunned and dazed look, Xiao Yan chuckled and nodded, saying, “Remembered me, Commander Yue Mei?” Hearing this, Yue Mei slowly regained her senses from the shock, her face turning ashen and pale. She never would have thought that the strong man in front of her, who could so easily kill two Dou Wangs with a single move, was the very same young man she had chased into a panicked flight years ago. Recalling their first meeting, Yue Mei remembered that Xiao Yan was just a Dou Shi at that time. But now… how could he have reached this level in just a few short years? Yue Mei’s expression flickered, and as a hint of shock for the smiling black-robed youth in front of her arose, her body involuntarily took a step back. With a cautious tone, she asked, “What do you want?” Back then, Xiao Yan had been in quite a sorry state running from her pursuit. If it weren’t for Gu He and his group, he might have been captured by her. Therefore, Yue Mei was really worried that Xiao Yan showing up to help now was with the intention of settling old scores. Seeing her cautious and somewhat anxious look, Xiao Yan smiled and waved his hand, saying, “Don’t worry, Commander Yue Mei. Xiao Yan is not someone with a small heart. The matters from back then, I’ve long forgotten about them.” Upon hearing Xiao Yan’s words, Yue Mei secretly let out a sigh of relief. Then, she suddenly cried in surprise, “Xiao Yan? You said your name is Xiao Yan?” Her voice full of disbelief, she scanned Xiao Yan with an uneasy and suspicious gaze. Having fought alongside the ‘Yan Alliance’ for so long, she naturally knew that the young leader of the ‘Yan Alliance’ went by this very name! “Leader of the Yan Alliance?” Yue Mei blinked and immediately followed up. Xiao Yan nodded with a smile. Staring blankly at Xiao Yan nodding, after a while, Yue Mei muttered, “It’s really you… I truly didn’t expect that a Dou Shi from a few years ago would now be the master of the strongest force in the Jia Ma Empire.”
Feeling wistful, Yue Mei felt an unreal sense of extreme reversal: from being able to twist and turn a small kid around, to now possibly being twisted by him.
“Can’t really call myself a master, only united some forces within the empire,” Xiao Yan responded lightly with a smile.
Hearing this, Yue Mei gave a bitter smile. Easier said than done—it was no less difficult to unite some unyielding forces than to directly eliminate them. Nevertheless, seeing Xiao Yan’s nonchalant demeanor, she gradually calmed down. She gave him a glance, furrowed her brows, and said, “But you’re such an irresponsible leader. Such a big thing happened in Yan Alliance, yet you were never there. If it weren’t for our Queen advancing to the Battle Sect class, maybe Yan Alliance would have been wiped out along with the Jia Ma Empire by the people of the three sects.”
Seeing Yue Mei’s countenance, Xiao Yan also gave a bitter laugh, sighed and said, “I was in seclusion this time. Who would have thought such a big incident would happen once I came out. By the way, how is the current situation?”
At this question, Xiao Yan’s expression turned serious, as he asked formally.
“Not good…” At this, Yue Mei’s face darkened. “Recently, the Queen clashed with the Poison Sect Master again. Both suffered losses. Since then, the Poison Sect Master has gone missing, seemingly recovering from injuries, but the Queen also sustained some wounds. She didn’t have time to rest, and the three sects saw this as an opportunity, launching an offensive. Pressure on the Black Mountain Fort significantly increased. Despite the absence of the Poison Sect Master, Lü Yan from the Golden Swallow Pavilion and the three elders from the Mu Lan Valley, all of whom could match a Battle Sect, have joined forces. With the Queen injured, it may be hard for her to defend against their combined attack.”
Upon hearing the situation, even worse than what Yan Cheng had described, Xiao Yan’s heart also sank a bit. Medusa was currently the strongest in the Jia Ma Empire. If she failed, not only would morale plummet, but even those with wavering hearts might start fleeing. And if that happened, the Jia Ma Empire would truly be finished.
“Other than the tier of the top-tier powerhouses, we are also at a disadvantage in the levels of Battle Emperor and Dou Wang. After all, they are the strongest sects in the three empires. Overall, though, we can still hold on. Thus, the key to this battle will lie in the showdown between the peak powerhouses on both sides,” Yue Mei stated solemnly.
“However… we only have the Queen as a Battle Sect, while they have three… Alas, if the Queen can successfully fend off Lü Yan and the three Elders from the Mu Lan Valley today, we might be able to sustain for a while. But if not… it would be all over.”
As Yue Mei spoke, her face grew even more grim. The Snake People were now bound to the fate of the Jia Ma Empire. If the latter fell, the Snake People would not withstand the three sects. And the mere thought of the Snake People being defeated and her fellow tribespeople taken as slaves tightened her fists with a grim determination—the outcome worse than death.
Xiao Yan slowly nodded, then exhaled deeply. This situation was indeed quite dire—three Battle Sects…
“Take me to the Black Mountain Fort,” Xiao Yan said sternly a moment later.
Yue Mei was not surprised, and she merely nodded, sighed and said, “Follow me. But your presence might not make much difference. A Battle Sect fight, even as a Battle Emperor, you can’t intervene unless you, like the three Elders of the Mu Lan Valley, have mastered a combined battle technique.”
In her view, despite Xiao Yan being a Battle Emperor, the gap between him and a Battle Sect was still unbridgeable.
Xiao Yan laughed slightly at Yue Mei’s remark without much rebuttal. Lifting his head to the sky, he called out, “Little girl, are you coming down?”
Yue Mei was taken aback. She hadn’t sensed any other presence here. Just as she was puzzled, a small figure suddenly flashed down from the sky. Looking closer, she found it was just a little girl, which made her somewhat surprised. When her gaze noticed the pair of Dou Qi wings behind the girl, her surprise turned to astonishment. “She’s a Dou Wang too?!”
If Xiao Yan reaching Battle Emperor at such a young age left Yue Mei extremely shocked, the presence of Zi Yan now made her feel that perhaps cultivation had become exceedingly easy. And her thoughts were soon confirmed by what Zi Yan said next.
Floating in mid-air, Zi Yan looked down at the bewildered Yue Mei and said with a pout, “I just advanced to Battle Emperor a few days ago. Thanks.”
Seeing Yue Mei’s stunned and lifeless look, Xiao Yan couldn’t help but laugh and shake his head. “This girl is a magic beast. She’s not as small as she looks. Come on, we should hurry. The situation at the Black Mountain Fort isn’t optimistic.”
Yue Mei gradually recovered from her stupor, letting out a sigh of relief. Good thing… if this little girl really became a Battle Emperor at such a young age, she, who had only reached Dou Wang after years of cultivation, might as well die of shame.
“But, apart from taking shape-changing pills, can’t a magic beast only freely take human form after reaching the seventh rank?” Still a bit puzzled, Yue Mei didn’t dare delay any longer. Relying on the recovery from the pill Xiao Yan gave her, she summoned her Dou Qi wings and led the way, flying towards the Black Mountain Fort.
Following Yue Mei closely, Xiao Yan gazed far into the distance, clenching his fists, muttering, “Cai Lin, hold on, I’m coming…”
…
The Black Mountain Fort, located on the northeastern border of the Jia Ma Empire, is the grandest fort within a thousand miles. Since its establishment, it has stood firm for over a century, withstanding several major battles without bearing any significant scars, highlighting its formidable sturdiness.
Now, it has become the most intense battlefield for the clash between the Yan Alliance, the Snake People, and the Three Sects. Several decisive battles that could determine the war’s outcome have all erupted here!
Today, a battle even more perilous than any before is about to unfold, drawing the attention of countless eyes. Everyone knew that if Medusa could withstand the joint attack of Lü Yan from the Golden Swallow Pavilion and the three Elders from the Mu Lan Valley, the Jia Ma Empire would gain some respite. But if she fails… the Jia Ma Empire, the Yan Alliance, and the Snake People will be erased from this map!
Therefore, the outcome of today’s battle concerns the very survival of the Jia Ma Empire!
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