Section 78: The Grand Decisive Battle!
February 9, 2013 Author: Gu Zhenren
February 9, 2013 Author: Gu Zhenren
Section 78: The Grand Decisive Battle!
January 18, year 755 of the Star Calendar.
The Shui Family, with the Mad Confucian General as the main commander and Zhen Youcai as the strategist, led an army of 80,000 and over a thousand warships. Their vast forces stretched for hundreds of miles as they launched a proactive offensive.
The allied forces of the Tie and Shu families, numbering over 40,000 troops and more than 500 warships, were forced to engage them head-on.
At dawn, the morning glow was like fire, and the rising sun slowly ascended. Golden light shimmered on the rolling sea surface. The two massive armies unfurled and faced each other in a tense standoff.
“Today’s battle will be one that decides the ownership of the Archipelago. We must win!” Chu Yun stood on the ship’s tower, his expression grave as he gazed into the distance. The entire field of vision was filled with densely packed enemy troops, fierce as wolves and tigers.
Looking back at his own central army, the Shu Family’s banner fluttered in the wind. Shu Tianhao stood at the bow of the ship, his posture erect, like a god of war descended, inspiring boundless courage in the soldiers around him.
The allied forces were divided into the left, center, and right armies. The left flank was led by Tie Ao; the central army was commanded by Shu Tianhao, Yan Que, and Hua Ying; the right flank was under Chu Yun’s command.
“It’s a pity that if we had three more days, we could have completed the eighth Heavenly Altar,” Chu Yun frowned slightly, regretting it.
The seven Tribulation Demons on Freedom Mountain, plus the Angry Fire Ming King, totaling eight Tribulation Demons, were Chu Yun’s greatest trump card for this battle. However, Tribulation Demons could not be easily deployed, and the higher their cultivation, the more so.
Once sensed by Heaven and Earth, a heavenly tribulation would descend, which would be the greatest disaster. They might even perish before defeating the enemy.
In contrast, the Mad Confucian General’s Potian Qingshan Brush, with only a hundred thousand years of Tribulation Demon cultivation, allowed him more room to maneuver than Chu Yun’s eight Tribulation Demons.
Chu Yun’s eight Tribulation Demons were the kind that would attract lightning as soon as they attacked. The only way was to form the Eight Trigrams Battle Formation and operate within the formation’s space, which would provide great freedom and conceal their demonic energy, making it difficult for the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth to sense them.
Master Yu Ya, in conjunction with Feiyang Fairy and others, had been working day and night, but had only managed to construct seven Heavenly Altars. Without the eight Tribulation Demons forming the Eight Trigrams Battle Formation, Chu Yun’s trump card would only serve as a deterrent and could not be deployed.
If deployed, a heavenly tribulation would descend. If they could overcome it, it would be fine. If not, they would suffer heavy losses and become a laughingstock.
Of course, he had also tried to store them in the Star Sea Dragon Palace Immortal Pouch. However, despite the Star Sea Dragon Palace Immortal Pouch possessing the Little Zi Zai Formless Art, its cultivation had once been suppressed by Chu Bawang, and it could not contain Tribulation Demons. Forcing them in would only cause it to explode.
In other words, in today’s battle, Chu Yun had to rely entirely on his own strength.
“I have waited a long time for this day! The Shu Family and Tie Family will be annihilated today! Order – the vanguard to advance, the left and right flanks to advance in coordination.” The Mad Confucian General was full of confidence for this battle. With a command, war drums began to beat, and horns blared.
Ooooooong…
The vast and long horn sound signaled the prelude to this grand decisive battle.
Chu Yun immediately saw that the Shui Family’s vanguard fleet, consisting of about a hundred ironclad fast ships, strong and well-equipped, was charging towards his central army, cutting through the waves. At the same time, the enemy’s left and right flanks, numbering tens of thousands, also began to move slowly, acting in concert with the vanguard fleet.
A strong wind suddenly rose, and the drumbeats intensified. A formidable military might pressed down on their side like a sky-covering net.
Even with Chu Yun’s firm will, he couldn’t help but flinch at the atmosphere.
Although he had eight Spirit Monsters, he dared not confront the sharp edge of such a formation. He had calculated and tested it in practice: with his current strength, he could deal with an army of three thousand using guerrilla tactics.
However, facing a large-scale battle of tens of thousands, his individual combat power seemed insignificant. Sometimes, when the quantity increased, it would inevitably lead to a qualitative change.
With this kind of army attack, even if each soldier had only the combat power of a Lesser Demon and used Lower grade Daoist magic, the sheer volume of their attack, like a swarm of ants devouring an elephant, would be difficult for even Spirit Monsters to withstand. Only Tribulation Demons could fight freely.
However, Tribulation Demons also had to be wary of the senses of Heaven and Earth. If they unleashed their full power, and their combat strength was depleted, the heavenly tribulation might descend, leading to their demise, which would be the greatest tragedy. Therefore, it was rare for Beast Masters with Tribulation Demon-level combat power to engage an army of tens of thousands alone.
The moment the Shui Family launched their assault, the allied forces reacted. A fleet detached from the central army, led by Wu Datou, sailed at full speed, slicing through the waves to clash fiercely with the enemy vanguard fleet.
“Kill—!”
The two sides collided in the central sea area, engaging in fierce close-quarters combat.
“I, Wu Datou, am here! Those who block me will die!” Wu Datou charged at the forefront, wielding his Dragon Roaming Spear, unstoppable. Enhanced by the Rejuvenation Pill, he was now clad in black ink-colored Spirit Monster battle armor and wielded a Spirit Monster battle spear. He was no longer the same as before.
He was like a black tiger descending from a mountain, irresistible. He swung his iron spear in a circle, and a large swathe of Shui Family soldiers were hit, their bones cracking and skin tearing, blood gushing out. Some, more unfortunate, were struck by the sharp spear tip, instantly losing limbs and their screams echoing.
“Don’t be so arrogant! Let me, Luo Jing, defeat you!” The enemy vanguard general was also a formidable warrior. He had a broad back and a stout build, wielding twin sabers, and fought fiercely against Wu Datou.
Sabers flew, and the spear was like a dragon. The two were locked in combat, both unparalleled fierce warriors fighting to the death. Saber wind and spear shadows spread, accompanied by roaring winds and thunder, and no one dared to intervene. A warship became a stage for the duel of two generals and the focus of hundreds of thousands of soldiers from both sides.
“This Wu Datou was originally an unknown soldier. After being cultivated by the Shu Family, he can actually contend with General Luo Jing!” The Mad Confucian General’s face darkened.
“According to the intelligence I’ve obtained and my calculations, Chu Yun likely obtained the prescription for the Rejuvenation Pill in the Endless Forest. With this prescription, he refined a large number of pills, causing the combat power of the Shu Family generals to soar. This was also the primary reason for our assassination failure back then,” Zhen Youcai replied softly, standing beside him.
“This is what they call ‘one person’s success elevates their poultry and dogs.’ Chu Yun, that little brat, does have some skills. Eight-tenths of the Shu Family’s strength is due to him! Today, I will personally sever his head.” As he spoke, the Mad Confucian General tapped his Immortal Pouch and summoned a military banner.
This triangular military banner was blue, depicting layer upon layer of mountains, with countless cities within them. The cities were filled with strong soldiers and prosperous armies, with myriad banners flying. This was the renowned Ren Shi Nan Ye Banner, one of the five great military banners of Xingzhou, along with Huang Xiao’s Wang Shi Zhong Yuan Banner.
“Let me show you what the art of war is!” With the military banner in hand, the Mad Confucian General’s face showed confidence and arrogance.
He gently waved the Ren Shi Nan Ye Banner, and with a swish, a strong wind arose, and the clouds scattered like wisps of cotton.
He waved the banner again, and blue light filled the sky and earth, falling upon the Shui Family’s entire army.
With another wave of the banner, there was no need to issue commands. The Shui Family’s army suddenly became the most precise war machine in the world. The generals did not need to communicate; the Mad Confucian General’s commands were conveyed directly to their hearts.
“Ura—!”
War horns sounded successively. Three fleets surged out from the formation, charging towards the Shu-Tie allied army.
“Finally, a worthy opponent. Mother, watch me from above. Your son will never fail your expectations.” Huang Xiao withdrew his gaze from the sky. At this moment, his blood was boiling, and his fighting spirit soared.
“This battle will be my battle to make a name for myself throughout Xingzhou! Mad Confucian General, come! I do not fear you. Wang Shi Zhong Yuan Banner!”
He summoned his battle banner and waved it three times consecutively.
A majestic yellow light erupted from the battle banner, quickly spreading over the Shu and Tie allied armies. In an instant, the entire battlefield became a confrontation between blue and yellow light!
“Stone Fire Elite Soldiers!” Huang Xiao gave a light cry and pointed the banner’s tip towards the front left.
Boom, boom, boom…
Almost simultaneously, the Stone Fire Elite Soldiers, originating from the Yan Family, activated nearly a thousand volcanic tortoises. Lava flew afar, drawing long fiery arcs in the air, before finally crashing down with a roar.
“Damn it!” The enemy general roared, looking at the rain of fire descending from the sky with helplessness!
As the sky-covering lava rained down, the fleet was thrown into chaos. Some of the lava broke masts, others ignited sails, some punched large holes in the deck, while others pierced the ship’s hull and fell into the sea, stirring up towering waves, followed by billowing steam.
“Waaah—!” The general shouted, riding his Frost Wind Leopard, a Spirit Monster-grade mount, into the high heavens, doing his utmost to resist the incessant lava.
“Archers!” Huang Xiao sneered and waved his battle banner.
Swish, swish, swish!
Countless arrows whistled out, dense enough to obscure the sun. The general resisted for a moment before plummeting from the sky.
He landed on the deck, and both he and his mount were pierced by arrows, dead beyond death.
There were too many arrows, thousands upon thousands, combined with the attacks of several elite soldier formations. Even a general with Spirit Monster-level combat power could not withstand it.
This was the power of human wave tactics. In this naval battle of over a hundred thousand people, it was no longer the small skirmishes of the past. Even Chu Yun wouldn’t dare to fly into the sky rashly. He didn’t possess powerful defensive demonic creatures himself, and even if he did, tens of thousands of arrows firing at once could only be dodged, not blocked by force.
“A petty trick!” The Mad Confucian General sneered three times and also waved his Ren Shi Nan Ye Banner.
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
A dense sea of arrows shot out, casting a shadow over the entire world. Countless arrows, not lacking the power of Lesser Demon-grade attacks, rained down like a storm.
Suddenly, the allied ships were in disarray, with soldiers falling on both sides. Blood splattered, and cries of agony and screams echoed incessantly.
Various long-range attacks interweaved in the sky, forming a dense net of fire. In less than a moment of combat, the sea surface was already dyed crimson.
Beneath the firepower, of the Shui Family’s three attacking fleets, one was destroyed mid-way. The other two, relying on the cover of firepower, managed to break through to the allied lines.
“We cannot let them break our formation. General Yan Ji Si, General Wang Zelong!” Huang Xiao’s eyes flashed with a piercing light. He did not speak but conveyed his thoughts through the Wang Shi Zhong Yuan Banner.
“It’s finally my turn, Wang Zelong.”
“Let the world witness the immortal bravery of my Yan Family!”
Both mighty generals roared and led their respective fleets to charge forward, meeting the enemy head-on. Ro!~!!
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