Chapter 482: One Against a Thousand!
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Yutang's Steel Cavalry was surprised, delightfully so, as they witnessed the bloody lane that stretched such a long way forward.
The red horse was charging, while the purple-robed silhouette was invincible! Everywhere they passed, rows of heads flew into the air, rolling and dripping with crimson blood. Not a single person among the hundreds and thousands of Shadow Cavalry soldiers, locked into a supposedly unbreakable defense line, were able to stop the man and his horse from massacring them in the blink of an eye.
The other party was like an incredibly sharp saber while the Shadow Cavalry was like a piece of soft butter which a knife could slice through without a shred of resistance. It was as if the carefree slice could cut from one end to another!
The leader of the Shadow Cavalry who had witnessed the scene could not help sucking in a cold breath, feeling the chill rise from the bottom of his heart and travel through his entire system. It was like an icy blade had sliced across his own neck. He asked in a barely collected manner, "Who is this person whose presence wields such power in this world?
The group was speechless as they looked at each other. No one could answer their leader.
Even the most knowledgeable person or perhaps one with the best memory could not have connected this unstoppable warrior with even the barest hint of familiarity. Moreover, this person's image was never seen before in public!
The only recognition the Shadow Cavalry had was that of a purple silhouette mounted upon a flashing red steed.
They only saw the blink of saber light and in the next instant, their comrades succumbing in waves. They only saw the departure of the culprit at the moment of his massacre. They could not even see his face clearly!
"The person seems very young…" one of them observed faintly.
A Shadow Cavalry head had the corners of his lips twitching, his hands empty and bleeding. He felt like he was knocking on death's door. He, who had always been bold and never regarded death to be an issue, was now a mess of listless limbs. He was fortunate enough to be at the edges of the breach just now, flung away right after the saber was passed. Although he felt as if he had been struck by lightning, at the very least, he was alive.
If he had been but a little closer to the attacker just now, he who had lived for some thirty years would have been nothing more than a battered body on the ground. Although he had always claimed that he never cared about issues of life and death, he now realized that at the very juncture of it all, he was still very much fearful.
This was how the world worked. Everyone is afraid of death in one way or another. The only difference was whether or not their death was filled with resentment and regrets or in peace!
"Very young…" The leader of the Shadow Cavalry frowned. "A formidable cultivator who is very young? Who could that be?"
Yun Yang charged through the battlefield like a loose firecracker. He did not even stop to consider if his energy and mystical Qi could sustain his exhaustion. All unnecessary things were forced out of his mind as he wholeheartedly bolted to the front. The only essential thoughts that he focused on were;
"How is Old Marshal Qiu?"
"Is he still alive?"
It was at this moment that dozens of sword light came from the other end across the sky. Yun Yang could feel the chilling intent of the sword energy. Simultaneously, there were hundreds of people who were dashing over from every direction.
"Expert!"
Yun Yang realized with a start, that although the Old Marshal obviously had Bai Yixue, a pinnacle force of in this world, to guard him, they still could not break out of the encirclement and were even in immediate danger – obviously, Dongxuan had assembled a large group of experts too!
Even though the army's combat power was not up to par, the swarming strategy could still crush them. This was an absolute ace in the hole technique used on the battlefield.
There were about seven hundred people or more who were deployed to stop Yun Yang while Bai Yixue was still being swarmed by a dense crowd. Expertly eyeballing the situation, it could be estimated that there were at least a few thousand people crying out for their blood.
Bai Yixue was slashing out madly; his sword spiraled like a dragon gone berserk. Though people were constantly being injured by his sword or even dismembered, there was an abundance of men who took the place of their fallen comrades. They were slowing down Bai Yixue as best as they could.
There was someone else who was moving forward alongside Bai Yixue. This person was tall and chic, his mannerism aristocratic; he had a square face with thick eyebrows and a lean physique. Even though he was in such an extremely aggressive battle, his actions and swordsmanship were accompanied by a calm and collected sense of ease. It was Yun Yang's convenient father – Marquis of Heavenly Clouds, Yun Xiaoyao!
As both the men worked together, their swords formed an almost solid light curtain. This radiant curtain was the vanguard, charging outwards amidst the flood of the army; anyone who came in contact with the barrier had their limbs severed while the more unfortunate soldiers were shattered completely, dying from being physically crushed by the barrier.
Behind the duo on the side were the four noble young masters from the Spring, Summer, Autumn, and the Winter Family. These four young masters were wearing military uniforms while currently wielding their swords and sabers with focused intent, following after both of the great swordsmen before them.
However, the ones who were exerting more energy than they were, of course, their team of guards; they were already huffing and puffing, exhausted to the point that even moving another step was challenging.
Seeing the purple silhouette, the four fellows were exhilarated. Despite not catching a clear glimpse of the person, they cheered loudly in unison, "Boss! Oh, boss… Help! Ahhh…"
Before their cries even echoed in the air, they were scolded by a more delicate voice, "What are you idiots crying out about?! How embarrassing! Calling out for like this, are you're even from the Spring, Summer, Autumn, and Winter families!"
The four young masters were rendered speechless and looked utterly victimized.
Since they were forced to enlist, they had struggled on the brink of life and death every day. They had enough of such days; they even had to apply for leave even just to perform their ablutions. Was this how a person should live? Why can't I cry out for help now, as I'm on the brink of death! Why can't I?
However, just by looking at Ji Lingxi and Yue Rulan's deploring gazes, no one actually dared to pose the question aloud.
On the other side of them was Shangguan Lingxiu, Ji Lingxi, Yue Rulan, and their group. The three ladies led the Shangguan Family of Generals' experts and formidable generals to fight the enemy with all they could muster.
Now that they saw the purple silhouette coming through the enemies from afar, the ladies' eyes shone.
Shangguan Lingxiu's clear voice rang through the sky. "Young Master Yun! Old Marshal is here! Come quick!"
Yue Rulan and Ji Lingxi could not help but roll their eyes in spite of the tense situation that they were in.
Hmph, what an intimate cry!
Rolling their eyes as they watched the purple-robed figure bolt over, they gritted their teeth – this b*stard is actually appearing at this time. You'll be accounted for what you've done to us after we charge out of here!
In the center were the Shangguan Family's personal force and thousands of men from the Steel Cavalry. They were in an orderly formation led by the Steel Cavalry's main general, Wang Dingguo; these people looked anguished, carrying a wide variety of wounds.
All of them were so heavily drenched in blood that there was no other color visible on them. There was only crimson from their blood, their comrades' blood, and their enemies' blood!
Before Yun Yang came, he had never expected this place to have gathered so many familiar faces! No – it was more appropriate to say that eighty to ninety percent of those he was familiar with on the east defense was here; upon realizing this, Yun Yang's heart grew heavier.
The top tier forces of their side were already reaching a terrifying height in terms of the ordinary humanly realm. Besides Yun Yang, there were Bai Yixue, Fang Mofei, and Yun Xiaoyao – all three of them were experts of the heaven realm. There were also the four noble young masters who had benefitted greatly from Yun Yang's spiritual medicine and their guards whose cultivation bases were also exceptional.
While Ji Lingxi and Yue Rulan's cultivation base were yet to reach the heaven realm, they were close to the Tenth Perfection of the peak realm, thus making them both formidable opponents as well.
Even though Shangguan Lingxiu and Shangguan Family's personal forces were slightly weaker in their cultivation base, they were still efficient killing machines who had been through hundreds of wars; they did not lack in the slightest when it came to attacking prowess.
There were even unmatched marshals like Qiu Jianhan and Fu Baoguo who formed the pillars of support in this war.
The combination of forces was not weak in the slightest; it was extremely and incredibly formidable! However, the current situation seemed to render the ensemble of mighty giants almost inconsequential.
It was beyond imagination how rich and resourceful Han Sanhe's forces were! It was not achievable by solely having more manpower but also by having martial world experts from schools and families who were more obscure. Together, they were terrifying in number.
Yun Yang focused his vision once more to see that in the center of Yutang's siege breaking squad, everyone was giving their lives to guard a black horse carriage. This small horse carriage was unusually striking, swaying amidst the currents of the enemy like a boat that could capsize any moment in the middle of a raging sea, floating and drifting, lost in the endless waves.
Dongxuan's troops that were around the horse carriage were absolutely crazy!
They were like wolves who had just met fresh meat, charging forward without a single care. Despite knowing that they would face the sharp blades of the experts, they remained fearless in the face of death.
When one batch died, another batch came in, replacing them immediately; their numbers and their level of frenzy only growing with every new batch of fighters. Furthermore, arrows came flying from all around, aimed directly at the horse carriage. Wherever the carriage went the sky above it would be engulfed by a storm of arrows. They were dense and endless and despite being just arrows, they gave the feeling of a surging river!
It was easily seen how crazy and dense the attack of arrows was.
Besides that, there were plenty of Dongxuan experts leveraging on the army's cover by popping out randomly to cause a significant number of casualties. Almost every other passing moment saw dozens or hundreds of experts who attacked the black horse carriage simultaneously and severely.
Provoking horns rang incessantly from Dongxuan's base, a command to urge the soldiers to kill their enemy. In spite of facing such an insane attack, the urging command was given unceasingly, Han Sanhe was blatantly determined to seize the person in the horse carriage.
Who was in the horse carriage?
The question was answered not too long ago!
Other than Qiu Jianhan, no one in this world could garner such attention from Han Sanhe.
Old Marshal Qiu did not come out despite the aggravating situation. He was right in the carriage but if he had even the least bit of strength, he would not be as quiet as this.
Countless Dongxuan soldiers and generals were hollering at the carriage with all their might.
"Catch Qiu Jianhan alive! Millions of gold, acres of farm, noble titles for life!"
"Behead Qiu Jianhan, millions of gold, noble titles for life!"
"Those sacrificed in this battle, a pension will be given tenfold! Your children will be schooled to completion, the military will sponsor them! Three generations of yours will be exempted from tax, penalties, and military service!"
"Seize Qiu Jianhan alive!"
"Seize Qiu Jianhan alive!"