Chapter 1706: Disaster Of War (II)

By this point, the battle had left rivers of blood flowing across the ground. Countless monks and Master Monks from the north had died, and Li Jiangxia alone had slain three Master Monks. Yet the Buddhist cultivators fought without fear of death, while the devil cultivators seized every opening they found, gradually turning the tide of battle.

The shadow of the golden body in the sky fell across the battlefield. The jade ring inside Li Jiangxia’s sleeve dimmed, then lit up again.

His heart sank. "Only the western crossing guarded by Guest Cultivator Ding is still holding... The formations at the other five crossings have already shattered. We cannot leave Guest Cultivator Ding there any longer... Once he is surrounded, he may very well become trapped inside..."

The young master raised his sleeve and tapped the jade ring. Its final point of light immediately dimmed. Before long, a commotion erupted in the west and the earth began to tremble. Ding Weizeng was clearly fighting his way back.

The lake's defending forces had already suffered heavy losses. Several crossings had fallen simultaneously, and devil cultivators had driven deep inland at multiple points along the riverbank. Li Jiangxia estimated that at the worst ingress, the enemy had already fought their way through more than half of the northern shore.

Father is trapped by a spirit treasure as well... If this battle drags on much longer, we may be in serious trouble...

His heart weighed heavily. The dharma artifact in his hand released the light of Bright Yang, forcing back the surrounding Master Monks. His golden eyes turned cold and sharp as a sudden thought flashed through his mind.

Trouble has broken out in the Wilderness as well... The Song court's armies may already be at Lixia...

"Young master!" As he was pondering the situation, someone came riding the wind from the south and landed before him. With a solemn expression, the man lowered his gaze and bowed in salute, "Nantan Chen greets the young master..."

Although Li Jiangxia was not particularly familiar with him, he at least knew that the man had been guarding the eastern shore, so he raised his brows and asked, "How are things in Milin?!"

Nantan Chen hurriedly replied, "The Buddhist cultivators crossed the Wilderness and headed straight for Lixia. There is not much pressure on the eastern shore. The young master is gathering information on the enemy while sending us ahead to reinforce the riverbank!"

Li Jiangxia's heart stirred as he confirmed that his conjecture had been largely correct. His gaze swept across the people behind Nantan Chen, and when he suddenly spotted the young man looking around, he frowned. "Suining... what are you doing here?!"

Li Suining stepped forward with a grave expression and replied, "Devil cultivators have repeatedly slipped through to the lake. The elders know that the situation on the northern shore is dire, so my younger brother Suihuan received orders to lead the younger clansmen ashore and reinforce the defenses. I came ahead to report to you, my lord."

Li Jiangxia was momentarily lost for words. He shook his head and said, "It has not come to that yet... The crucial matter still lies with the King of Wei. From the commotion in the sky, Gongsun Bei has already arrived!"

Li Suining appeared calm, but as he gazed at the enormous spirit artifact that blotted out the sky, its surging Radiant Essence reflected in his eyes, his thoughts were already in complete turmoil.

[Radiant Essence]. It really is him!

Gongsun Bei... During the war of founding, he was clearly supposed to be stationed at Shanji Prefecture. Why has he come to the lake? Also, when was there ever any mention of an enormous spirit treasure capable of suppressing the entire sky?

As the enormous golden body in the sky shifted, its shadow once again enveloped the group. A powerful sense of foreboding rose in Li Suining's heart.

In my previous life, no devil cultivators ever managed to slip through to the lake. Although the riverbank was in grave danger, these Buddhist cultivators were never allowed to cross the river. In other words... it was the Zhao State troops brought by Gongsun Bei that changed the situation by the lake.

How could that be... Gongsun Bei was acting under the orders of the Zhao court and the Pavilion of Profound Order... Why would those orders suddenly change overnight...

All Li Suining had changed was the death of Ding Weizeng. Yet no matter how hard he racked his brain, he could not understand why Gongsun Bei, a general of the Zhao court who possessed a Purple Mansion Realm divine ability and held immense influence within Zhao State, had suddenly come to the lake!

His heart turned cold and heavy, but Li Jiangxia was likewise deep in thought. After a long while, he said, "Very well... Go to Milin in my stead! Guest Cultivator Sun is urgently treating Senior White Ape and cannot spare himself. Take uncle back with you so he can recuperate!"

Li Jiangxia naturally knew who Li Suining was. The battlefield could change in an instant, and even Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators might be surrounded and killed, much less someone at Qi Cultivation Realm. How could he bear to let the boy come to the front lines?

He casually pulled him closer and said gravely, "The northern shore is covered in dense forest, with very little farmland. Even if the Buddhist cultivators scour it several times over, our losses will not be severe. Once the situation collapses, Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators may still be able to escape, but every low-level cultivator stationed on the northern shore will be wiped out. Whether they are in Milin or on the lake, we absolutely cannot send any more troops here!"

The cultivators had not expected the situation to have deteriorated so badly, and they all fell silent. Li Jiangxia, however, remained completely composed as he continued solemnly, "The defense of Milin is the most crucial. Tell him to hold his troops in place for now. During the battle in the sky just now, I saw a Maha retreating from Lixia.

“The Song army has most likely already reached Lixia. Make this clear to Li Jianglong. If an opportunity presents itself, he may boldly lead his forces out from the eastern shore and cut off the Zhao troops' retreat!"

Li Suining's heart trembled. He had not expected Li Jiangxia to still be thinking of seizing the initiative despite their overwhelming disadvantage.

He stared at him blankly, but Li Jiangxia merely bared his teeth as he said, "You need only deliver my words. If Li Jianglong proves incapable, he cannot blame me."

Li Suining hurriedly saluted in acknowledgment and helped Li Zhouda to his feet. Only then did he realize that the man was drenched in blood and covered from head to toe in wounds. Fragments of glowing golden implements could still be seen embedded in his torn clothing.

He exclaimed, "...Granduncle Zhouda!"

Li Zhouda shook his head with a cold expression. The sight left Li Suining's face beaded with sweat. He turned back, and Nantan Chen carried them southward upon his spirit wind. Li Suining's heart pounded the entire time. Milin Mountain soon came into view, and when Nantan Chen hurriedly descended, they saw a young master in black pacing among the mountains.

The young man had handsome eyes, elegant brows, and brilliant golden pupils, with a bearing second to none. He was Li Suining's fourth brother, Li Suihuan.

If Li Suining possessed a somewhat gloomy coldness, then Li Suihuan perfectly embodied the appearance of a direct descendant of a Purple Mansion Realm cultivator. His golden eyes shone brightly, and his steps were strong and agile. Even with anxiety weighing on his heart, he maintained a composed bearing. It was not the overbearing nobility and self-importance commonly seen among noble clans, but the transcendent air of one descended from a divine ability bloodline.

Although this fourth brother was the eldest son of their second uncle, Li Jianglong, his temperament more closely resembled that of their third uncle, Li Jiangxia. He strode over openly and confidently. Though he said nothing, the gravity in his lively eyes made his concern plain.

Before Li Suining could speak, Li Suihuan hurriedly took Li Zhouda from him. He sucked in a sharp breath at the sight of the man's injuries and said quietly, "You came too late, brother. Battle cries erupted throughout the south, and the defeated troops are retreating. Father has already led his men out to fight!"

All the words Li Suining had intended to say lodged in his throat. He paced anxiously for a few steps among the mountains, then noticed that his hands felt wet. Merely supporting Li Zhouda for a short while had left both of them covered in blood.

"The young masters are no ordinary men. As long as the King of Wei remains unharmed, the present situation amounts to little."

Li Zhouda's voice was hoarse, and the beard covering his face was soaked with blood water. He had no thought to clean himself, however. Instead, he stepped forward and looked toward the middle-aged man seated in the pavilion.

The man was likewise clad in armor, with gray eyes, long brows, and a pale complexion. He had clearly suffered serious injuries. It was Chen Yang.

When he saw Li Zhouda looking his way, Chen Yang could no longer pretend not to notice him. He hurriedly rose and greeted him respectfully, "Greetings..."

"Do not force yourself!" Li Zhouda coughed, his gaze complicated, though his voice remained cold and disdainful. "Guest Cultivator Chen has disliked me for a long time. You might as well say so openly. Yet every time we meet, you address me more respectfully than anyone else. Is that not far too hypocritical?"

Chen Yang had never been confronted this directly by him, and was momentarily stunned. But then, the burly man released a troubled breath, and his tightly clenched fist finally opened, revealing his palm, which was covered in blood water, to Chen Yang.

Two shattered teeth lay in the center of his broad palm.

"But your Jinxi... I failed to save him. I have wronged you..."

Chen Yang's brows drew together and his eyes narrowed. He briefly looked away, then turned back after a moment of blank stillness. His lips moved, but he could not bring himself to ask the question. Instead, he staggered two steps backward and collapsed into a seat within the pavilion.

The Chen Family's head, long renowned for his deep schemes and calculating mind, remained silent for a moment. At last, he looked like a father. Frowning, he asked, "Is this all that remains?"

Li Zhouda stood there uneasily for a moment and began to regret not placing the teeth safely inside a jade box. He replied stiffly, "This is all."

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