Chapter 49: Charge! Charge! Charge!
By Gu Zhenren
2013-02-09
The battlefield was engulfed by surging, rolling Nine-Colored Divine Light.
The resonant hum of the Nine Heavens Divine Light Tower was truly the call of death. Each sweep of its light claimed countless lives.
The Shu Family soldiers rushed forward like moths to a flame, suffering heavy casualties.
“Damn these Electric Mane Trees!” Yan Que patted his Immortal Pouch, and with a boom, an Electric Mane Tree was slammed into the center of the battlefield. Its roots quickly dug into the ground, and its branches and leaves grew at a visible rate, soon forming a towering canopy. With its Peak Spirit Monster cultivation, it blocked the sweeping Nine Heavens Divine Light, creating a temporary sanctuary and giving the surrounding Shu Family soldiers precious breathing room.
“After this battle, there will be true peace and prosperity. Our great achievements will be cemented in this fight.” Wang Zelong raised his war halberd, projecting a massive blue shield to protect the Merman Elite Soldiers behind him, charging at the forefront.
“I’m betting all my martial luck on this battle. Follow me and charge!” Wu Datou, drenched in blood, swung his Dragon Roaming Spear, deflecting the incoming Nine Heavens Divine Light, charging fearlessly.
In this moment of crisis, the Shu Family generals stepped forward, holding up the sky, leading their soldiers, and never stopping their charge.
“What kind of spirit is this?” The powerful figures from Huode City who had been observing the battle were all stunned.
“Such bravery in the face of death is truly exhilarating!” someone exclaimed, clutching their heart.
“If our army faced such an attack, we would have long since disintegrated and been routed. But the Shu Family’s army is instead unleashing its fiercest fighting spirit. What is sustaining them?” someone asked in confusion.
“This is the spirit of martial valor, the radiance of heroes. In times of crisis, there are always those who step forward, unafraid of death. This is human will, all wills linked together, to fight the enemy and resist destiny!” Zi said with a choked voice, tears welling up in his eyes, profoundly moved by the Dao will displayed by the entire Shu Family army.
“Am I going to fall like this? Like a coward? No!” Huang Xiao gritted his teeth, forcing his eyes wide open, and struggled to rise from the ground. However, his body swayed precariously, his head throbbed, and his ears rang incessantly, stars dancing before his eyes; he could barely see the battlefield. “Mother, you must be watching me from heaven! Your son will never disappoint you. Even if a mountain stands in my way, I will kick it aside and advance towards the throne of Xingzhou’s greatest commander!”
In the depths of his consciousness, a veil seemed to be torn open. A surge of power, from an unknown source, flowed through Huang Xiao’s body like timely rain after a drought. At this moment, he broke through during the battle and advanced to the Jun level!
“I have researched the Nine Heavens Divine Light Tower formation, and it has weaknesses. Concentrate your attacks on its formation core, and by removing the central high tower, you will surely paralyze this Demon Soldier formation immediately!” Master Yu Ya suddenly shouted.
“So that’s how it is…” Huang Xiao, as if reborn, shook his arm, and the battle banner drew a straight streak of light in the air. With a clear objective, there was no more confusion. The Shu Family’s momentum immediately underwent a change.
“Sisters, charge with me!” Hua Mei, leading the women of the Rouge Gate, received Huang Xiao’s order and suddenly turned her troops to charge directly at the nearest Nine Heavens Divine Light Tower. With a roar, after an extremely fierce assault, Hua Mei spat out a mouthful of blood, leading fewer than fifty soldiers to stand on the ruins of the tower. With the removal of this formation core, over a dozen surrounding light towers immediately went silent. This sudden change saved thousands of lives in the vicinity and boosted the morale of the observing Shu Family soldiers.
Following this, formation core after formation core was destroyed, and the Shu Family soldiers let out a unified cheer, their morale soaring.
“Damn it! Our strategy has been seen through with such sharp insight! Does the Shu Family have a Weapon Forging Grandmaster?” Marquis Pojun roared in disbelief.
“Relax. The Nine Heavens Divine Light Tower is not so easily broken.” Before Master Xinghen finished speaking, the Nine Heavens Divine Light Towers blocking the Shu Family soldiers changed from offense to defense, their divine lights flashing and connecting, forming a vast and continuous, brilliant mist. A squadron of fifty Rotary Shield Elite Soldiers charged in, but within half a breath, they were completely dissolved by the nine-colored radiance. The powerful destructive force momentarily halted the Shu Family army’s charge, and gasps of shock echoed across the battlefield.
“What are you afraid of? Let me!” A booming voice echoed across the battlefield. Shu Tianhao, standing on the Azure Sea Dragon, carrying an earth-shattering, mountain-collapsing, sea-roiling momentum, charged into the mist with his dragon. With booms and crashes, wherever the Azure Sea Dragon went, the Nine Heavens Divine Light Towers collapsed, falling one after another.
“This Azure Sea Dragon is merely a Peak Spirit Monster, how can it be so ferocious?”
“This is too reckless!” The observers were dumbfounded. The Azure Sea Dragon, like a meteor, charged wildly, crashing through eleven formation cores before finally crashing to the ground with a thud, unable to rise. Both the man and the dragon were bleeding from all seven orifices, their bones cracked, their skin split open, revealing the white bone beneath. Both were critically wounded and near death.
“Heh heh heh… hahaha…” Shu Tianhao, however, began to laugh heartily. “Satisfying?” he roared. The Azure Sea Dragon opened its maw and let out a dragon’s roar. Although the sound was extremely weak, the will contained within it made everyone understand its meaning – “Satisfying.”
“Island Master!” Wu Datou’s eyes turned blood red, tears streaming down his face as he leaped forward. His voice broke the silence of the battlefield. The Shu Family soldiers, as if awakened from a dream, glared with rage and charged forward roaring. Morale soared! Marquis Pojun was speechless, and even Master Xinghen stood frozen. Shu Tianhao’s charge was truly a stroke of genius! The Nine Heavens Divine Light Tower had just shifted to a defensive stance, and its mist would thicken and its defense would grow stronger over time. Therefore, the initial moment was the weakest. The more the Shu Family army hesitated, fearing casualties, the greater their eventual losses would be. But Shu Tianhao’s gamble with his life immediately yielded tremendous results. The originally dense and layered mist defense was reduced to its final layer.
“Island Master, Island Master, are you alright?” Wu Datou rushed to Shu Tianhao’s side. Seeing Shu Tianhao’s horrific injuries, he dared not touch him. “What are these injuries worth? Just one more life, that’s all. The men of the Shu Family have never feared death. Don’t stop charging, Datou!” After a long and fierce battle, after such a violent burst, Shu Tianhao had completely exhausted his strength; even his spiritual light had dimmed to its extreme. He mustered his last trace of strength to stand up, his voice hoarse, roaring. Every time he opened his mouth, blood gushed out. Wu Datou, though scolded, received it gladly. He had been picked up from the battlefield by Shu Tianhao since childhood, and he regarded Shu Tianhao with the respect and affection a son has for his father.
“Ahhhhh!” Wu Datou, like a berserk dragon, charged into the final layer of mist. However, this layer of mist was unexpectedly powerful. Before he could advance fifty paces, his demon armor cracked and disintegrated, and his Dragon Roaming Spear creaked, unable to hold on. He stiffened his neck, trying to force his way through, but was stopped by the arriving Old Red Spear.
“Good lad, retreat for now. Brute force won’t work.” Old Red Spear’s face was covered in blood, even his beard matted together, but his eyes were gentle and bright.
“…” Wu Datou opened his mouth to speak, but was silenced by Qiao Old Monkey’s words: “Kid, step aside. Let us old bones tear down this cursed tower!” “Don’t you even trust the three of us?” Old Fish King also stepped forward, smiling. “Go back and watch the charge of us three old generals.” The Dragon Roaming Spear was already covered in cracks and trembled violently, clearly unable to last much longer. Glancing back, the Shu Family soldiers behind him were severely hindered in their charge, and the generals were entangled by their respective opponents. For a moment, Shu Tianhao had no one to guard him. Wu Datou gritted his teeth and had no choice but to fly out of the mist and guard Shu Tianhao’s side.
“Heh, the three old fellows haven’t fought together in a long time, have we?” Qiao Old Monkey said with a smile as he watched Wu Datou leave.
“This mist is getting thicker and thicker. We can’t wait any longer. The longer we delay, the greater our army’s losses will be. We have to break through.” Old Fish King’s face was solemn.
“Indeed, the enemy is launching a final desperate counterattack. This war has reached the point of deciding victory or defeat. Come, charge!” Old Red Spear picked up his battle spear, intending to lead the charge.
“You always go first, this time you stay behind and let me go first.” Old Fish King laughed heartily, pulling Old Red Spear behind him. After fighting in blood for so long, his left arm had been severed, and his steps were unsteady due to the large chunk of flesh ripped from his right leg. Dragging his heavily wounded body, he held his trident and charged forward with a laugh.
“Charge!” Old Red Spear’s eyes were moist, Qiao Old Monkey’s eyes were red, and they followed closely. This was Old Fish King’s final charge. Fifty paces later, his demon beasts fell one after another. His body could not withstand the all-pervading mist, and he disintegrated into particles that scattered like sand in the wind.
“Come, our country is just ahead!” Qiao Old Monkey immediately strode forward, taking Old Fish King’s place. This final defensive line grew stronger and stronger. He only charged thirty paces before he too dissolved into light.
“Brothers, slow down, I’m coming too!” Old Red Spear shouted, enduring immense pressure, and steadily walked the final twenty paces. With a deafening roar, at the last moment, he reached the base of the tower and fiercely detonated his demon weapon. Amidst the massive explosion, the Nine Heavens Divine Light Tower collapsed, and all the divine light vanished.
“It’s broken! The final defenses have been broken!” Fear quickly spread throughout the East Sea Faction. Their morale plummeted.
“Ahhhh!”
“Kill! Avenge the Three Old Generals!”
“Those who block me die!” The Shu Family soldiers’ eyes were about to split, their blood boiling, their murderous intent chilling to the bone. Wu Datou, who was protecting Shu Tianhao alone amidst the army, was already covered in wounds, his skin torn. Witnessing this tragic scene, his throat felt as if something was blocking it, and tears streamed down his face.
Just then, a battle song reached his ears—
“Dark clouds cover the sky, waves rise like mountains, cold wind assaults the face, spray splashes into the boat.”
“Who cares about the wind like knives, the rain like arrows, who cares about the shattered mountains and rivers, the rise and fall of personal fortunes!”
This was the battle song passed down by the Shu Family for hundreds of years. This was Shu Tianhao’s roar. He had lost his combat power but mustered his last strength to sing this song, to commemorate the three old generals, and to help his army as much as possible.
“Companions, open your eyes, helmsman, grip the rudder, be careful, don’t be lazy, fight with all your might, don’t be timid.”
“Fear not the thousand-zhang waves as high as mountains, fear not the ten thousand troops with spears like forests!”
His voice was not pleasant at all, harsh and unpleasant, almost a roar. Yet, it was this song that ignited the deepest resonance within the hearts of the Shu Family soldiers. The song quickly became a chorus, everyone shouting.
“Since ancient times, who has not died? With blue blood and a loyal heart, in loyalty and purity.”
“Charge through the sea, and when we return, we will fight the surging waves to the death… to the death…” The song soared into the heavens, shaking the firmament, forming a majestic tide that swept and engulfed everything. For nearly a hundred years, no regrets about the past. Life and death are insignificant; only honor and disgrace remain.
Charge!
Charge!
Charge!
The East Sea Faction was defeated, routed, and scattered.
“It’s over!” Master Xinghen cried out in despair, and was drowned by the surging Shu Family army.
“I am a Marquis level expert! Who dares to kill me? Who dares to kill me?!” Marquis Pojun shouted hysterically, like a madman. With a swish, a dagger pierced his heart. Marquis Pojun fell with an expression of disbelief. Standing behind him was Zi, with a look of disdain: “Who wouldn’t dare?”
…
“Any struggle is futile.” In the Battle Formation Space, Land Whale King looked down at Chu Yun below, like a god from the heavens, pronouncing the fate of mortals. Erlang Tian Jun was trapped in a encirclement of demonic beasts, now a bloody mess, his Great Sun Bright Armor completely shattered. The Jade Pure Heart Lotus above his head swayed precariously. The Celestial Dog had fainted and was forgotten in a corner of the battlefield. Chu Yun’s situation was no better. His main demonic beasts were all critically wounded and on the verge of death, collected into his storage. His Great Thunder Marsh Black Gold Armor had also been smashed by Land Whale King. The demonic beasts by his side were only Jianmu, Riot Ape, and Taotie, all heavily wounded and barely holding on. However, Land Whale King had also paid a heavy price. Beside him, only the original Chaos and a white bone octopus remained.
“The battle is decided. You are all vulnerable, while my own combat strength remains remarkably intact. However, I am not a brute. I will give you two a chance to live. Kneel and surrender to me. I will be magnanimous, not only sparing you but also cultivating you greatly in the future.” Land Whale King slowly descended, approaching Chu Yun. Chu Yun did not answer; his mind was chaotic. He lay half-reclined in the void, his injuries so severe that he had almost lost consciousness. At this moment, a song drifted over.
(Ps: I originally planned to upload after 3000 words, but then I thought that would interrupt the climax. So, I decided to make it a 4000-word chapter. This caused a delay, please forgive me.)
