Throughout the battle, the Dark Flame and neutral mercenaries numbered over forty thousand, along with a thousand of the Zhao clan’s private army. Almost all perished, leaving only a few hundred survivors.
In this small region, the Evernight forces had left more than a hundred thousand corpses, over half of which were true elites. Countless high-ranking officers and titled warriors had fallen, with more than ten marquises among them. As the most elite part of the entire Evernight Council, the “Black Sun” unit’s high-rank sword holders were almost entirely wiped out in Bai Cheng.
This tiny stone city was indeed a veritable meat grinder.
The battle on Floating Land was like a storm, with Bai Cheng as its eye.
Now that the eye had stabilized, the surrounding vortices continued to rage, akin to an ancient beast roaring with all its might, yearning to tear apart everything in the domain.
On the edge of Floating Land closest to the Great Qin mainland lay an imperial resource point, a building that barely qualified as a small fortress. It usually served as a logistical hub for transportation between the mainland and Floating Land.
Once the war began, this place’s airfield was virtually abandoned. The majority of supplies had already been transported to various strongholds, with the most frequent travelers being small speedboats, primarily used for conveying intelligence and light cargo.
Thus, it did not become a focal point for the dark army. However, under the widespread battles across Floating Land, a few short but intense skirmishes had still occurred. The dark races had not anticipated a divine general would be stationed in this small place, and they were thoroughly defeated.
Amidst the bustling flow of imperial soldiers, a gray figure moved swiftly. Cloaked in a long, hooded robe reaching his ankles, only his boots hinted at his military affiliation. Strangely, no one stopped or questioned him as he walked through.
The gray figure ascended to the third floor of the fortress, directly entering the war room.
The Right Chancellor looked up from a table piled high with documents, eyes widening in shock, “You!…”
Before he could finish, a blinding cold light flashed from beneath the cloak, slicing towards the Right Chancellor. The struggle ended quickly, and by the time several generals rushed in, the Right Chancellor slumped in his chair, lifeless.
The figure had already lowered the hood, revealing silver hair, though it was dusty and grimy. Standing before the Floating Land sandtable, he deftly moved some markers, occasionally flipping through documents on the side, then returning to the sandtable.
The generals, recognizing the face, lowered their guns, expressions of astonishment evident.
Another man rushed in, a strategist from the Right Chancellor’s entourage. Without hesitation, he pointed an accusing finger, “You…”
Lin Xitang flicked his finger, an invisible blade slicing through the strategist’s throat. The body fell heavily to the ground, lifeless.
The room was silent, save for the sound of breathing.
Lin Xitang, having adjusted all the markers on the sandtable, finally raised his head, surveying the generals. “Reorganization of the government is underway, and the military will be under the cabinet. I am appointed as the Grand Vizier, overseeing the cabinet and with authority over the military.”
“Report my execution of the minister truthfully.”
“Record the adjustments on the sandtable and send them to the various armies as quickly as possible.”
With his instructions given, Lin Xitang turned and left. Passing the still-stunned generals, a young general finally called out, “Commander Lin! The front lines are in dire straits! We don’t know where those black-blooded bastards have brought so many troops from!”
Lin Xitang nodded, “I know. I’m heading to the front now.” He departed without a backward glance.
The generals looked at each other, suddenly invigorated, and rushed to the sandtable, disregarding the two corpses. With Commander Lin on the battlefield, victory seemed within reach. No one knew the source of this confidence, perhaps it was the legend of this man who repeatedly single-handedly turning the tide.
The Imperial Eastern Army had clashed with the dark races countless times. In the sky above, the Evernight powerhouses besieging Hai Mi had lost one, with the rest injured.
Hai Mi’s fingers were split, her body covered in blood, with wounds slowly healing and blood still oozing. Even the transparent bowstring had a tinge of color. Yet she stood firm, her back straight, her demeanor regal, only her pale face hinting at weariness.
The Evernight powerhouses launched another attack, but before they reached a hundred meters, a sharp gunshot rang out. Almost everyone saw a high-speed bullet spinning towards their foreheads.
Startled, they halted their attacks to protect themselves. Most realized the bullets were mere illusions, but a scream pierced the air as one of their comrades fell, struck by a real bullet!
Hai Mi turned toward the eastern void at the sound of the gun, but the gray sky revealed nothing. A sickly flush spread across her pale face, and even her normally unshakable stance wavered slightly.
One of the Evernight powerhouses cried, “Shadow Corridor! Lin Xitang!” The next moment, he turned and fled, abandoning his companions.
“Shadow Corridor” was one of the legendary techniques of Lin Xitang, one of the Great Qin’s twin pillars. This Evernight powerhouse had clearly faced Lin Xitang in battle and was terrified.
A calm, cold voice said, “Yes, tell him I’m here.”
Another gunshot echoed, multiple bullets appearing in the air. All the Evernight powerhouses scattered, and a distant groan indicated someone had not dodged the real bullet, though they managed to escape with non-lethal injuries.
Hai Mi moved her lips, but the name remained unsaid.
She stood for what felt like an eternity, amidst the rising smoke, with the gentle yet chilling voice never to be heard again.
Hai Mi suddenly coughed violently, spitting blood. She straightened, examined her battered hands, gripped her longbow, and turned to the battlefield below, diving into the most intense area.
Above, the void returned to silence and emptiness.
Deep in the void, Habus frowned, his face dark, urging the fleet to accelerate. But the fleet was already at near-maximum speed; continuing at this rate without resupply would jeopardize the fuel needed to return to Evernight, let alone go faster.
To achieve the desired speed, Habus could detach his ship and proceed alone. Though tempted, he restrained himself, leading the fleet onward to a destination known only to him.
Even the captain of the prince’s flagship was bewildered, following Habus’s orders and adjusting course. The other ships in the fleet were equally confused.
After an hour, they noticed their formation expanding, with new arrivals mostly capital ships, likely from the mobile fleet outside Floating Land. Some had battle scars, indicating recent combat.
The captain distributed Habus’s latest order and studied the plotted course. They had looped around Floating Land, now heading towards the midland territory of the Great Qin Empire.
The captain stroked his beard, pondering the peculiar navigation. It seemed to be a fleet consolidation, but there was more to it, as if chasing something.
Shrugging off curiosity, he crumpled the paper. Better not to provoke the visibly irate prince.
Hours of full-speed travel led them to a specific void.
Located midway between Floating Land and the empire, a misstep could result in being caught between two fleets. The nearby space was also treacherous, with a formed void storm ahead.
Ignoring the danger, Habus ordered the fleet to form an interception formation and wait.
Soon, a small boat appeared, drifting through the void storm.
The boat, barely large enough for seven people, was a minimal specification for an airship. Yet, it navigated the storm with ease, radiating a sense of calm.
On Habus’s flagship, the bloodline powerhouses exchanged uneasy glances. This boat was unsettling, and instinctively, they knew it carried a great power.
A sharp crack, and Habus’s wine glass shattered, red liquid spilling like blood.
Everyone was shocked; it was rare to see Habus so unsettled.
Upon his first return to the clan, Habus was already a duke, exuding a mild and calm demeanor, rarely showing emotion.
But now, he was obviously disturbed, unaware of his own reaction.
The sound of dripping liquid roused Habus. He gazed at the crystal shards, frowned, wiped his hand roughly on his coat, and discarded his formal attire, donning hunting gear as he strode to the deck.
As he stepped out, an indescribable presence filled the void, causing the bloodline powerhouses to tremble, some nearly kneeling.
The overwhelming pressure enveloped the void, affecting even the other ships, forcing many to kneel.
This terror, emanating from the very essence of darkness, could only come from the Sacred Mountain. Which sovereign had cast their gaze here? And who, aboard that small boat, had drawn such attention?
Habus glanced at the void, a complex expression flitting across his eyes before vanishing deep within. His right hand, resting by his side, twitched, but he restrained it from touching his chest.
At the appearance of the small airship, the separated source blood dissipated, not just shielded or hidden, but completely gone.
Composing himself, Habus stepped onto the deck, then into the void, standing before the small boat.
“This time, you won’t escape.”
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage