As the Qilin Legion launched a complete annihilation of the Qingming Legion, millions of miles away in the Blood Sun Dynasty, the Vermillion Bird Legion, led by Zhang Liao, initiated Chen Gong's first stratagem—Soul Tide Heavenly River! Su Dan Novel Network
Sixty miles outside Blood Mountain Pass in the Blood Sun Dynasty, Marquis Lie Feng was leading a million-strong army at full speed. Meanwhile, upstream on the Soul Tide River, Xu Chu and Gan Ning, each commanding two hundred thousand troops, had successfully crossed the river and were beginning to flank towards their designed ambush points.
"My Lord, look!"
A deputy general in the Rongtian realm exclaimed in surprise. Marquis Lie Feng and the others looked up, and in the void sixty miles away, dense smoke billowed, with occasional flashes of fire, like shooting stars.
"Not good, my Lord, the Han are attacking the city!"
"Inform the entire army, advance at maximum speed, abandon the original march route, and cross the Soul Tide River!"
Marquis Lie Feng's expression changed dramatically. With two Rongtian realm powerhouses, Zhang Liao and Xu Chu, present, Blood Mountain Pass was in imminent danger.
The Blood Sun Dynasty had diverted a large portion of its army into the Heavenly Origin Dynasty, significantly weakening local military strength. How could generals stationed at the Heavenly Martial realm contend with Zhang Liao and Xu Chu?
"Yes!"
"The army advances at maximum speed, crossing the Soul Tide River!"
"The army advances at maximum speed, crossing the Soul Tide River!"
A deputy general in the Rongtian realm roared, his tone filled with resentment and a hint of worry. The fall of Blood Mountain Pass would mean the complete loss of one-quarter of the Blood Sun Dynasty's western territories, a situation unprecedented in the dynasty's ten thousand-year history.
...
Soul Tide River.
"Reporting, General, Military Advisor!"
"General Xu Chu and General Gan Ning's divisions have successfully crossed the Soul Tide River and are now bypassing Marquis Lie Feng's army's route. In about half an hour, they will complete the encirclement!"
A Vermillion Bird soldier knelt on one knee, still bearing faint traces of blood. This was not from the attack on the city, but from hunting the giant beasts in the river while crossing. The Soul Tide River's current was swift and imbued with primal energy. Its rapid flow was such that even a Shenfu realm expert would be stripped to the bone.
Crossing from the void was a foolish notion. If any warrior attempted to cross from above, the river beasts would surge out by the tens of thousands, like piranhas. Within a single breath, only bare bones would remain.
Xu Chu and Gan Ning's armies crossed, and Zhang Liao, leading a hundred thousand troops, managed to cross with Xu Chu and Gan Ning's forces, but only at a great cost.
The ferocious beasts' cultivation wasn't high, but there were too many of them, almost inexhaustible. Wave after wave would wear them down.
"General Zhang, the stage is set, the supporting actors are in position. All that's needed is for Marquis Lie Feng to appear, and then the show can begin," Chen Gong said, his expression solemn as he gazed at the turbulent Soul Tide River.
...
An hour later, Zhang Liao, hidden in the forest, watched the smoke and dust rising from the opposite bank, the thundering hooves like muffled thunder, rumbling incessantly.
The vast, majestic army of a million instantly halted at the Soul Tide River.
Marquis Lie Feng looked at the turbulent river, the primal energy within it seeming to possess sentience, transforming into blade-like sharpness. He casually tossed a piece of flesh from a Spirit Venerable beast into the water.
"Screech!"
The flesh was almost instantly torn apart the moment it touched the river!
"What a ferocious Soul Tide River!"
He frowned slightly. Despite being within the Blood Sun Dynasty, he had never seen such a swift river due to various reasons. It was rumored that Chen Qiu, in his Spirit Venerable realm, often honed his sword intent in the Soul Tide River, thereby achieving an unparalleled ferocity in his sword intent.
"Marquis Lie Feng, the Soul Tide River's current is swift, and it is teeming with ferocious beasts. The more potent the blood essence, the more frenzied they become. To cross this river, in my humble opinion, we should first divide the army. Half should cross, while the other half on the riverbank engages the beasts in the water!"
A Rongtian realm expert withdrew his hand from the river, which was now bleeding profusely. If a Rongtian realm expert's physical body could be torn open, let alone the millions of Grandmaster realm soldiers behind him. He looked at his hand, as if it had been sliced by a sharp blade, and said gravely.
Marquis Lie Feng heard this, glanced at his deputy general's hand, and said with a heavy sigh, "So be it."
"Go, inform the army to divide. You two will lead five hundred thousand troops to cross first. I will hold the rear for you here!"
Marquis Lie Feng frowned, his eyes glinting with ferocity. The Soul Tide River was originally the eastern natural defense line of Blood Mountain Pass, but now it had become an obstacle for their own forces. He looked at two of his Rongtian realm deputy generals.
"Your subordinate obeys!"
The two Rongtian realm deputy generals clasped their fists and replied solemnly.
"Assemble the army!"
The two immediately raised their banners and directed the troops. Soon, the million-strong army was divided, five hundred thousand ready to cross, and five hundred thousand arrayed along the riverbank.
The dense killing intent of the million-strong army continuously enveloped the area. Soon, the clear river turned crimson. Within the swift current, countless red eyes flashed, all staring intently at the Blood Sun Dynasty soldiers on the opposite bank.
Marquis Lie Feng observed the anomaly in the river. He had initially planned to bypass it, but now that the Han had launched their attack, any delay would be a fatal mistake!
"Set off!!"
The order to cross was given. The five hundred thousand troops stepped into the void in unison, their long spears held upright, ready to deliver a fatal blow to any beasts that emerged from the river.
On the riverbank, the five hundred thousand troops were armed with bows and crossbows. Marquis Lie Feng, holding his long saber, watched the movements within the river.
"Cross!"
The two deputy generals roared. Instantly, the five hundred thousand troops erupted in motion, surging into the sky above the Soul Tide River.
The river surged as if a raging sea, with waves thousands of feet high, crashing towards the army.
"Roar!"
Amidst the waves, countless fish-like creatures opened their mouths filled with sharp teeth.
"Shoot!"
A deputy general beside Marquis Lie Feng roared. The fifty thousand troops on the riverbank lowered their bows and fired, their arrow trails significantly lower than the five hundred thousand troops crossing the river.
"Bang, bang, bang!"
The arrows streaked through the air, striking like steel, emitting a metallic clang. Many ferocious beasts were torn apart by the arrow rain, and a moment later, blood rained down!
"Kill!"
In the void, the two Rongtian realm deputy generals commanded their troops, raising their halberds towards the beasts that had evaded the arrow rain and charged into the sky.
"Screech!!"
"Ah!"
Sounds of flesh tearing and bones being gnawed filled the air. Clouds of blood mist burst forth as if on cue!
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