The Count of the Spider Demon instantly understood, his gaze shifting, and he shouted with a fierce but faltering voice, “You, if you dare, come over here!”
He struggled vigorously, attempting to assume a fighting stance, but his body was weak and powerless. The lingering might of the “Emperor” in the air still held sway; his eight limbs flailed wildly, trying to support him as he fell again and again, unable to stand firm, let alone escape from Qian Ye’s presence.
Qian Ye flipped his hand, drawing out the Bloodthirster. After a moment’s thought, deeming it insufficient, he picked up the Eastern Peak.
A short while later, Qian Ye pulled the Bloodthirster from the Count of the Spider Demon’s back, all the rich blood essence now belonging to Qian Ye. He then circled the corpse, removing all the weapons, armor, and backpacks, stuffing them into the Anduia space, and finally exhaled a long breath.
This had been the easiest kill of a Count in his life, resolved with a single slash from the Bloodthirster, without even needing the Eastern Peak. The kill was easy, but the spoils were abundant.
At the Count level, both internal and external armors are extraordinary. The Spider Demon’s armor, specialized for defense, was not much inferior to Qian Ye’s own dragon-scale armor. Even if he couldn’t wear it, the materials recovered would be a small fortune. Other spoils included a force cannon, several long and short firearms, and a few war axes, filling up a significant portion of Anduia’s mysterious space.
After securing the loot, Qian Ye sensed the lingering, faint pressure in the air, and suddenly thought: if even the Count of the Spider Demon could not withstand this pressure, what about the other dark races, who were of lower ranks than a Count?
This was the perfect opportunity to strike at those dark warriors pursuing the Zhang clan!
Qian Ye’s spirits lifted, and he did not waste any time. His figure flashed like lightning as he searched the area. The storm had not yet ceased, but with the weight of the Eastern Peak on his back, Qian Ye remained unaffected as he ran through the storm.
This search was indeed fruitful. In a short while, Qian Ye “picked up” five Viscounts of various dark races, though regrettably, after the first, he did not encounter any more Counts.
Count-level strength far exceeded that of Viscounts. Even if temporarily stunned, they quickly recovered. Only the Spider Demon was unlucky, falling right at Qian Ye’s feet—a matter of luck, truly, that could not be blamed on anyone else.
When the storm finally subsided and the residual might in the air dissipated, Qian Ye had made significant gains, all without exerting much effort.
By now, Qian Ye had confirmed his suspicions. It was likely the Imperial Family that had acted, using one of the ten great guns of the world, the “Emperor.” Unlike the Manjushaka, the “Emperor” was not known for its lethal power, but for its awe-inspiring pressure that could make all beings bow. If the Manjushaka was a soul-shattering spear, the “Emperor” was a holy weapon for group battles.
The Empire rarely used the “Emperor,” and its appearances were even rarer than the Manjushaka. The claim that all beings would bow was an exaggeration, but the might of the “Emperor” sweeping across the sky and even disabling a Count for a time was a display of such grandeur that it wasn’t far from the truth.
However, the “Emperor” had its weaknesses. Its pressure affected both friend and foe alike, and any being with slightly weaker cultivation within range would fall. This was one of the reasons it was seldom used. In a battle, if all low-ranking soldiers and ordinary generals fell, it might actually be more advantageous for the dark races.
Thinking of the Primordial Wings and the “Emperor” standing against each other, Qian Ye couldn’t help but feel a stir.
He hadn’t used the Primordial Wings much, relying more on the Primordial Spear as a killing move. Attaching the Primordial Wings to a force gun to enhance its power was rare, as most guns couldn’t handle it, and the dual flower strike was too conspicuous.
Yet, after witnessing the overwhelming might of the “Emperor,” Qian Ye rekindled his hope for the Primordial Wings. He wondered what the complete form of the Blackwing Sovereign’s final work would look like. However, the massive amount of essence and force needed to nurture the Primordial Wings meant it would take a long time to see results.
Qian Ye ascended into the sky, looking out to the horizon. A thick cloud of dust indicated that the remnants of the Zhang clan were still moving slowly through the valley, not stopping. It was clear that the Zhang clan had prepared well, with all their warriors riding in cargo trucks. While humans were affected by the “Emperor,” cargo trucks and floating airships were not, allowing them to advance as long as their mechanical power was effective.
Even with his True Sight, Qian Ye saw no signs of dark race activity in the visible range.
The strike of the “Emperor” not only severely injured the Eternal Night powerhouse but also intimidated numerous dark warriors in the vast region. Apart from the unfortunate ones who fell into Qian Ye’s hands, the others were likely still in shock. Originally, they were hunting, but now they could become the hunted, so they wouldn’t show themselves until the situation was clear.
This precious time gave the remnants of the Zhang clan the chance to distance themselves further. However, the gained time would not last long. In any national war, the high-ranking forces of the Empire and the Evernight Parliament generally balanced each other. With the Empire using the “Emperor,” the Evernight Parliament would not sit idly, and a high-ranking figure of similar rank might already be on their way.
Those dark warriors who chose to lie low, once they understood the situation, would continue to pursue the remnants of the Zhang clan.
The skilled ones who dared to intercept the Zhang clan were adept at concealment. Even in their inactive state, Qian Ye’s True Sight could not find their hiding places.
Qian Ye landed on the ground, found a secluded spot, concealed his aura, and began using the ancient scrolls to refine the newly acquired blood essence, preparing for the upcoming battle.
Inside the Zhang clan’s flagship, Zhang Junsu stood solemnly, facing the Duke of Wuguo. Behind him, all the generals of the Zhang clan were present, standing in a row, silent and motionless.
The Duke of Wuguo maintained his elegant and composed demeanor, though he seemed somewhat listless, with black flames occasionally flickering in his eyes. He waved his hand, breaking the silence, and smiled, “General Zhang, what is this? I’m not going to die.”
Zhang Junsu suddenly saluted, saying, “Duke, your kindness is something I will never forget, and the entire Zhang clan will remember your actions today!”
At Zhang Junsu’s level, he could see that despite the Duke’s outward appearance showing no visible wounds, he was actually severely injured. Dark force was rampant inside him, manifesting in his eyes, indicating a deep injury. Even if he could recover over time, he might never advance again in this life.
For a person like the Duke, if he had no ambition after becoming a divine general, how was that possible? Yet, all his ambitions and dreams were shattered by this battle.
The Duke, however, laughed nonchalantly, “It’s just a minor matter. The King of Qingyang is a pillar of the Empire. What’s my little sacrifice compared to that? Besides, I’ve kept my life and my cultivation. What more can I ask for? General, be careful. For the next part of the journey, I might not be of much help.”
Zhang Junsu said sternly, “Rest assured, Duke. Even if the Zhang clan doesn’t make it to the end, we will make those black-blooded bastards pay many times over!”
At this moment, a burly general under Zhang Junsu’s command grumbled, “Hmph! If the Zhao clan had any sense of the bigger picture and sent reinforcements in time, we wouldn’t be in this mess.”
Zhang Junsu barked, “Silence! The Duke is here. Who do you think you are, questioning strategy? If not for the current circumstances, I’d have you punished by military law!”
The burly general continued to mutter, “I didn’t say anything wrong. The Zhao clan boasts so much, but when it comes to the floating land battlefield, they’re like turtles hiding in the back. We’re fighting and dying, and there’s no one to come to our aid.”
Clearly, the burly general was not satisfied, and most of the other generals also showed displeasure. The rivalry between the Zhang and Zhao clans, with the Zhang clan being the top and the Zhao clan second, led to mutual disdain among their subordinates.
Zhang Junsu glanced at the Duke and sighed, “These guys know only how to charge forward. In matters of state and military, they are crude. I apologize, Duke, for the show.”
He turned and roared at the generals, “A bunch of useless brutes, only good for fighting. I told you to read more history and military strategy, and not one of you listened. Get out and reflect on your mistakes! If you faced the Zhao clan, you’d lose your pants!”
Zhang Junsu’s authority in the army was unmatched. Seeing his genuine anger, the fierce generals dared not argue, and they all retreated sullenly.
After the generals left, Zhang Junsu smiled bitterly, “I apologize, Duke, for the spectacle.”
The Duke sighed, “It’s not their fault. Who would have seen this outcome before the battle? The Zhao clan chose their position early, expecting an unfavorable initial battle, focusing on fortifying their rear. The strategist behind this is truly talented. If it were the Duke of You, it would be fine, but if it’s someone else, the Yan Yun Zhao family, with their generations of talent, may become unstoppable.”
Zhang Junsu thought of something, his expression changing, and he lowered his voice, “Duke, did Bieqian not foresee this either?”
In the eyes of the Zhang clan, the King of Qingyang, Zhang Bieqian, was nearly infallible. The Zhang clan’s chosen battlefield was now being driven back by the dark races, suggesting that Zhang Bieqian had been outmaneuvered by the Zhao clan.
The Duke, guessing his thoughts, smiled, “General, don’t worry. I believe the King of Qingyang does not care about temporary losses. The big picture is that the great lords opposite have been defeated by the King of Qingyang. That is the true victory!”
Zhang Junsu nodded, enlightened.
At the bottom of the canyon, the remnants of the Zhang clan moved cautiously. Several dozen squads detached from the main force, spreading out to block the dark race’s strongholds. However, compared to the number of dark races lurking around, these few squads were woefully outnumbered, possibly facing a one-way trip to death.
On the endless wasteland, cold winds blew through the mountains and valleys, howling and whistling.
In a secluded cave, Qian Ye slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a stream of profound energy. The blood essence in his body was almost completely refined, and the Golden Blood was close to filling his limbs, just a step away from a breakthrough. His condition was back to peak.
A cold wind swept into the cave, carrying a faint, piercing scream.
“Has the battle started?” Qian Ye checked the time, stood up, and walked out of the cave.
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