Chapter 1566: Million Army Rushes Towards Sword Peak Mountain

Reverend Xuan Sheng commands the Autumn Harvest troops, subordinate to Reverend Xuan Chu Liang.

With Jiang Wang's current rank and reputation, though he did not win the position of vanguard, commanding a few thousand elite soldiers would not have been out of the question. Yet he knew his own strengths and did not vie for that fervor.

Of course, the main reason was that Reverend Xuan Sheng had asked Jiang Wang to seek three thousand soldiers from the Marquis of Dingyuan, to be combined with his own troops... The Marquis of Dingyuan only sent back the word "Scram" with Qingyang Zi.

Spring Death, Autumn Harvest, and Wind Chaser — these Nine Legions and Three Armies form the main force for the conquest of Xia, positioned in the central army.

Autumn Harvest leads, Spring Death holds the center, and Wind Chaser follows.

The thirty myriad troops from the Eastern Domain nations led by Xie Huaian form the right flank.

The thirty myriad county troops led by Chen Fu form the left flank... Of course, a million-strong army cannot truly spread out at once. Head to tail, they extend without end.

Within the hundred thousand Autumn Harvest army, Reverend Xuan Sheng's command is in a rear position.

The true front line is still far away.

The hundred-li expanse of barren land beyond the Xia border, filled with myriad traps, Jiang Wang does not concern himself with.

Nor does he ponder the thoughts of the three main commanders and the various great marshals.

Only when Reverend Xuan Sheng intended to bestow a resonant name upon his camp did Jiang Wang offer a suggestion, which was immediately rejected... Other than that, it was entirely dedicated to cultivation.

Heaven-shattering military might, forging the heart in the dust of the world.

The so-called true self, wielding both gods and devils, how can one rely solely on divine abilities for an honest heart?

Recovering from his contemplation of the Dao Path, the Southern mountains' distant silhouettes were reflected in his Dry Yang Scarlet Eyes.

Within those seemingly endless mountain ranges exists an ancient Great Sect of the world.

It is the Sword Pavilion, which "takes peaks as swords and inquires of the world's foremost swordsmen."

It is also the sect from which that Swordsman Ning in the Illusory Realm of Grand Vacuity hailed.

Jiang Wang truly entertained the thought of seeing the Ultimate Sword Technique in the real world. He yearned to witness the Heaven and Earth Sword Casket, where "ancient and modern sword masters all come to inquire."

But ultimately, it was merely a thought.

At this moment, being part of the army, where is there any freedom of thought?

He merely remembered again that today is the fifteenth of November. The regular day for challenges in the Blessed Land of the Illusory Realm of Grand Vacuity, and he had missed it again.

"Do you think the vanguard might turn into an engineering camp?"

Shisi suddenly spoke, "Filling the pits, covering the earth, and clearing traps in this hundred-li barren land will take quite some time."

This really didn't sound like something Shisi would say.

One should say... The very act of speaking actively, in itself, truly did not sound like Shisi.

Ultimately, the pressure from Reverend Xuan Zun, who had vied for the vanguard position in front of the myriad army, elevated to the Divine Arrival realm in battle, and forced Jiang Wang to sheath his sword, was simply too immense.

Even Shisi, who had infinite faith in Reverend Xuan Sheng, could not help but feel concern.

He began to hope that some of Reverend Xuan Zun's might would diminish, even if only temporarily by becoming a general of engineering to clear traps...

With Reverend Xuan Sheng's wisdom, he naturally understood Shisi's feelings, merely smiling broadly and saying, "Even Jiang Wang knows that won't happen!"

It was simply to say, my good Shisi, look, I truly feel no pressure, and I still have the mood to mock Jiang Qingyang.

"Each has their specialty. Engineering is not something the vanguard should be concerned with. It's merely a matter of stopping and waiting," Jiang Wang said as expected. "This hundred-li barren land will not hold back the grand army for too long. The real challenge lies at Sword Peak Mountain."

He added, "But for the vanguard to stop at this moment, it is unavoidable that their sharp edge will be lost..."

"Therefore, Reverend Xuan Zun will not stop," Reverend Xuan Sheng said with certainty.

Almost at the same time as these words were spoken, in front of the vast, ocean-like grand army.

Extending almost to the horizon of sight—

A massive sun leaped forth.

It was precisely when the heavens and earth lingered, and the red sun rose from the sea!

Jiang Wang, with his Dry Yang Scarlet Eyes, could naturally see clearly that at the center of that massive sun was the figure of Reverend Xuan Zun, his white clothes like snow.

That man dared to forcefully activate the sun wheel, holding it within, at the very forefront of the myriad army, traversing the traps with his body!

How do vanguards earn merit?

Only through death.

The so-called vying for vanguard, is vying for the courage to face death!

Thus, the battle between Reverend Xuan Zun and Jiang Wang in the western suburbs of Linzi was called a blessing for the nation by Cao Jie, and it truly bolstered the army's might!

Reverend Xuan Zun, with his status as the direct descendant of the Marquis of Bowang of Great Qi, voluntarily requesting to be the vanguard, was naturally a display of courage.

And at this moment, having already attained the Divine Arrival realm without regrets, he stands at the forefront, displaying his divine ability outwardly, traversing the hundred-li barren land deliberately created by the Xia army. This truly embodies what it means to "dare to be first," what it means to have "unobstructed sharp edge."

One must know that within this hundred-li barren land, countless traps were set, of every kind, extremely vicious. Even if it were the Qi army skilled in engineering to resolve them, it would take an unknown amount of effort. Moreover, it is an extremely dangerous task.

Laying traps and dismantling traps, in itself, is a life-and-death offense and defense.

Explosive, fire-burning, soul-shattering... The arrangement of traps on the battlefield is all with the intention of killing.

In this hundred-li barren land, how much hatred of the Xia people is hidden?

Beyond the traps, there are naturally also Xia army forces lurking to attack.

Reverend Xuan Zun traversing it with his body is practically treating himself as a target, intended to attract an unknown amount of hostility. Perhaps a single all-out charge could leave him behind.

But he did precisely that.

Directly manifesting a divine ability, a great sun several dozen zhang in circumference, circulating over the hundred-li traps constructed by the Xia army. Its light is endless, its radiance boundless.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The sun wheel powerfully triggered all the traps it passed through, crashing through them. What Serpent Thorn Arrays, what Yin Soul Twists, what Blood-Shattering Stings... Each one erupted, each one was suppressed!

People only saw in an instant the light and shadow of countless traps exploding, covering the hundred-li land, from this end of the horizon all the way to the other.

So many killing traps exploding one after another, yet there was no sinister horror, fear, or dread. Instead, there was a kind of surging beauty!

Too fast.

In less than a quarter of an hour, that great sun had already circulated throughout the hundred-li land, returning to reside in the air. It was almost a miracle!

During this time, Reverend Xuan Zun simply clenched his fist, already having retrieved the sun wheel into his hand, and then extended his hand and pointed forward.

Thus, the three thousand men of his vanguard command, their voices roared, "Might!"

Military might surged into the sky, and then they advanced with great strides!

Throughout the entire process of the great sun's circulation, those Xia troops lurking in the distance to observe, who should have seized the opportunity to act, only sent a few scattered spells, which were annihilated along with the traps.

And then, they fell silent. After the entire vanguard advanced, they immediately scattered and fled...

Thus, the million-strong army, like a sea, surged onto the land of Xia, rushing directly towards Sword Peak Mountain!

Jiang Wang's Dry Yang Scarlet Eyes, even at such a distance, could still clearly see Reverend Xuan Zun's posture.

Sweeping across a hundred li of land, crushing countless traps, the might of the Divine Arrival realm is truly such!

Reverend Xuan Sheng's eyesight was not as sharp. At this distance, he could only see a general outline. He glanced at Jiang Wang, and suddenly sighed.

Jiang Wang looked at him, bewildered.

He saw the fat man suddenly raise his head, and starlight from the celestial dome descended, instantly bathing his body.

His obese body was surrounded by starlight, and in an instant, he had completed his body tempering.

He had advanced from a cultivator of the Inner Mansion to a cultivator of the Outer Building.

The entire process was extremely fast and sudden, appearing as if a star in the sky had flickered, a fleeting flash.

"Erecting a Star Building to quell my surprise," he clapped his hands, saying so.

"You only gained the Reverend Xuan divine ability from your fifth mansion. Have you already mastered it?" Jiang Wang asked.

Although since Reverend Xuan Zun left the Jixia Academy, and the competition between them reached a stalemate, Reverend Xuan Sheng had indeed freed up more energy for cultivation, he had nevertheless fallen behind in some aspects of cultivation. He worried that Reverend Xuan Sheng was too eager, and would advance to the Outer Building without reaching perfection.

"In the development of this divine ability, I will not be inferior to Reverend Xuan Zun at the same realm," Reverend Xuan Sheng blinked. "Anything that can be solved with one's mind is not a problem."

The Reverend Xuan divine ability, which changes in myriad ways, is indeed very suitable for someone with terrifying intellect like Reverend Xuan Sheng.

Jiang Wang relaxed, staring at his fat, and retorted, "Anything that requires you to move is called trouble, is that right?"

Both had mastered the Reverend Xuan divine ability, both possessed the talent to develop divine abilities, yet Reverend Xuan Zun had tempered his physique to near perfection, while this fat man was still a fat man. In fact, he seemed to have gotten even fatter...

"It's not troublesome either. Isn't there still you?" Reverend Xuan Sheng gave Jiang Wang a meaningful look.

Saying this, he had already taken a large step forward, raising his right fist high, making a gesture of advance, commanding this team, which he finally named the "Victorious Camp," to follow the main army.

At the peak of Sword Peak Mountain, the Prince of Min of Great Xia, Yu Liyang, stood like a deity.

Giving the defending Xia army infinite confidence.

But his own mood was not clear.

He naturally did not expect that the hundred-li land filled with various traps could hold back the Qi army's sharp edge for long.

Perhaps only three hours, four hours.

It didn't matter much.

The young vanguard general of the Qi army directly traversed the hundred-li traps with his body, showing no hesitation or fear, his keen edge unstoppable. This only slightly surprised him.

After all, it was the hegemonic nation of the Eastern Domain, and it naturally had its extraordinary prodigies.

Even if those traps didn't last for half an hour, so be it, it wasn't very important.

But what he had absolutely not expected was that those soldiers sent to observe the trap area and seize the opportunity to act had not even made a real move, leaving only a few light and insignificant spells, and then all of them had ignominiously fled back!

Admittedly, there wasn't much opportunity...

He also noticed that the Qi vanguard general was powerful, decisive, and fast, almost immediately manifesting his divine ability to push through as soon as he approached the trap area. The Xia army deployed there, in terms of strength, indeed could not find any suitable opportunity...

Yes, the military order did indeed state that the army should prioritize preserving its strength.

However.

Facing foreign enemies, can one truly be completely like this? Can one only look at opportunity, and not have anger that overwhelms reason? Even if there were only five people, three people? Even if there was only a single commoner, willing to spill blood.

It was at this moment that Yu Liyang seemed to realize...

What Great Xia had lost in the battle of Sword Peak Mountain last year!

He stood at the absolute summit of this Sword Peak Mountain, and also at the absolute pinnacle of the extraordinary realm in the present world, looking down upon the vast land. In the majestic, ocean-like grand army of Qi, he found the eyes of the chief commander of the Xia conquest, Cao Jie.

Of course, he also felt the intertwining of two strands of the absolute pinnacle Dao around his person.

In this situation, wanting to seize the commander within the myriad army was absolutely impossible.

But he only did it to take a look, so that Cao Jie would know who it was standing on this Sword Peak Mountain.

With the Prince of Min, Yu Liyang, standing on this absolute pinnacle, how could they pass over Sword Peak Mountain without leaving behind enough blood?

Their gazes met across such a vast distance.

Yu Liyang's gaze was profound.

And Cao Jie, who was positioned at the top level of the Rongchong, standing behind the steel battlement, his eyes were also calm.

"It is indeed Yu Liyang."

Cao Jie said so.

But the next sentence was—

"Order Reverend Xuan Chu Liang, instructing him to lead his troops, to attack Sword Peak Mountain swiftly. I need him to pressure Yu Liyang!"

The flag officer guarding below the tall Rongchong directly rode his horse into the high sky, swiftly heading to relay the order.

The Wind-Treading Demonic Horse's hooves dropped flowing wind, like streaks of lightning traversing the long sky, quickly flying above the Autumn Harvest army formation. The man held the flag in his hand high, leaped on his horse, and shouted: "By the Commander's order, Reverend Xuan Chu Liang is ordered to lead his troops to swiftly attack Sword Peak Mountain! The objective of the battle is—to pressure Yu Liyang!"

"By the Commander's order—"

After circulating his Dao Yuan and repeating the shout three times.

Within the Autumn Harvest army formation, the large flag outlining the two blood-red characters "Reverend Xuan" suddenly unfurled high in the sky! The flag surface spread out in an instant, like dark clouds covering the top, and actually had the potential to cover the heavens.

Reverend Xuan Chu Liang accepts the order!

The army formation formed by the hundred thousand Autumn Harvest troops surged on the vast land, as if an ancient giant beast had awakened, opening its fierce and hungry eyes!

It must slay, it must drink blood!

A stubborn blade of grass stood in the frost wind, swaying slightly.

Shadows crept over.

A military boot trampled it down.

And then the second, the third, extending without end!

Thickly packed... Hard military boots, neatly arranged armor, and the glittering sharp blades!

Like a forest, like a sea, like a changed world!

This is a cold, solemn, and brand new world.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

That is the sound of myriad military boots hitting the ground, layered into one sound.

It is also like drumming the yellow earth as a war drum.

Making the earth faintly shake.

Looking down from the high sky.

The immense ocean that had been slowly surging from the border of Xia to this point suddenly divided at this moment.

The front wave of the Autumn Harvest army suddenly became intense, carrying military might forward, like a rushing tide, like a raging sea.

The Autumn Harvest flag swiftly moved through the surging tide, and the hundred thousand strong army, under the command of Reverend Xuan Chu Liang, quickly divided into nine armies.

Each formed an army formation, their military might soaring to connect with heaven and earth. One surge after another... Like nine peaks of waves, converging at once! While still a long distance from Sword Peak Mountain, they had already launched their charge!

Although Sword Peak Mountain is a formidable mountain in the world, the number of troops it can face at the same time is quite limited.

Reverend Xuan Chu Liang firmly executed the order of the chief commander of the Xia conquest, directly bringing the entire Autumn Harvest army to bear, exerting the greatest possible pressure on Sword Peak Mountain.

With eight main generals each leading ten thousand men at the front, their sharp edges meeting, their势 相继 (momentum following in succession), their might penetrating together.

And he himself personally commanded twenty thousand men, arrayed the Autumn Harvest formation, grasping the Life-Cutting Blade, and already gazed from the foot of the mountain to the peak, facing Yu Liyang from afar!

Relying on elite troops, gathering the might of a hundred thousand Autumn Harvest, a contemporary True Master against a True Monarch!

The Rongchong where Cao Jie was located had stopped moving forward.

The deployment of a hundred thousand troops requires time.

Being able to suddenly receive orders while marching, without any pause or rest, and directly directing the grand army to charge... There are not many famous generals in the world who can achieve this.

Reverend Xuan Chu Liang is one of them.

Cao Jie quietly watched the actions of the Autumn Harvest army in the distance, observing the aura of the entire battlefield.

He then ordered: "Send a hundred thorny boats, bombarding Sword Peak Mountain without interruption. Regardless of loss!"

This time, the flag officer patrolling nearby did not ride his horse far away, but instead directly drew out the small flag hanging at his waist, dismounted, and flew into the interior of the Rongchong.

Bang bang bang bang bang bang...

Speeding through the corridors within the Rongchong, the flag officer held up the flag and shouted along the way: "By the Commander's order—Send a hundred thorny boats, bombarding Sword Peak Mountain without interruption! Regardless of loss!"

The military order was instantly relayed.

The hard iron wall on the front of this thirty zhang tall Rongchong siege tower suddenly rumbled open.

Like ancient gates being opened, there was a sound that shook the world.

A fearsome flying boat with a cold metal sheen and an outer shell covered in steel barbs instantly flew out, in the sound of intense mechanisms, traversing the high sky, bringing an extremely chilling killing intent.

This is a military killing weapon of the Great Qi Empire that defends Jue Ming Island and contends with the sea race in the Illusion Realm!

And then the second vessel, the third vessel...

For a time, they covered the sky and obscured the sun.

Hundreds of thorny boats, in neat rows, swept across the long sky, swiftly catching up with the front army, flying directly towards Sword Peak Mountain!