"You court death!"
The副将 roared in rage, brandishing his long saber as he prepared to ascend the earthen mound. A flame, like a fierce tiger, struck him, blasting him aside. Instantly, one of his arms plunged into the water. He let out a pained cry, and when he pulled it out a moment later, there was not a shred of flesh left.
"Rumble!"
Without a second glance, Lie Fenghou cleaved through the massive logs and stones blocking their path. Water poured out, and the water level plummeted instantly. Some of the aquatic beasts were stranded, their bodies entirely red, covered in crimson scales, resembling fish yet not. Their mouths were filled with sharp fangs.
"Kill!"
The hundred thousand Vermilion Bird Army erupted in a roar, waving their banners. Their clamor was as formidable as an army of several hundred thousand. Not far away, dust billowed, and a banner bearing the character "Zhang!" flew high.
"Retreat, retreat quickly!"
Lie Fenghou bellowed, scooping up the副将 with one hand. He transformed into a golden streak of light, speeding away into the distance.
The hundred thousand Vermilion Bird Army herded the remaining forces like sheep, pursuing and slaughtering the scattered and straggling soldiers of the Blood Sun Dynasty. The hundreds of thousands of soldiers were completely dispersed, fleeing in all directions.
...
Under the setting sun, its red light cast upon the water's reflection, creating a scene of immense desolation, everything bathed in a crimson hue.
Xu Chu and Zhang Liao led the army, pursuing and cutting down the scattered and lagging soldiers of the Blood Sun Dynasty.
With no obstacles or diversions, the water flow was barely five inches deep. Most of the aquatic beasts lay belly up, their mouths still agape, tearing at corpses and devouring flesh.
...
In a northern forest, the disheveled Lie Fenghou leaned against a large tree. His副将 was already decaying, the teeth of the aquatic beasts containing potent venom. The副将's eyes were shut tight, his mouth slightly open, his lips cracked and dry.
"Reporting to Marquis, the army headcount is complete. There are... there are..."
The soldier spoke hesitantly, his eyes red.
"Speak!"
Lie Fenghou leaned against the tree, his head tilted back, gazing at the distant sky, his eyes vacant.
"There are fewer than fifty thousand."
The soldiers surrounding Lie Fenghou lowered their heads. The Blood Sun Dynasty had fielded an army of millions, led by Lie Fenghou and three副将s of the Heaven Melting realm, first layer. Yet, the Great Han's Vermilion Bird Legion had suffered virtually no casualties.
And they were trapped like birds in a cage!
"Hahaha!"
"Hahaha!!"
Lie Fenghou shakily stood up, walking as he let out a wild laugh. "Well done, Great Han! Well done, Vermilion Bird Legion!"
"You have exploited every advantage of the Blood Sun's terrain to its fullest. I, Lie Feng, have served in the army for centuries, and the Great Yan Dynasty has never gained any advantage against this Marquis."
"But now, now a million soldiers have marched beyond the capital, only to be annihilated in this Soul Surging River, hahahaha!"
"Marquis!!"
"Marquis!!"
"Marquis!!"
...
Tens of thousands of soldiers wept. When had they ever endured such a humiliating battle? They had no power to retaliate; every step they took had been a part of someone's plan.
"Marquis, let's fight them!"
"Fight!"
"Fight!"
"Better to shatter jade than to remain intact!"
"Even if one soldier of our army remains, we can still hold back the Great Han's million troops!"
...
"Such grand pronouncements!"
At that moment, Gan Ning, clad in crimson armor, led a hundred thousand troops, surrounding the remaining tens of thousands of the Blood Sun Dynasty's army.
"Who are you?"
Lie Fenghou's hand clenched, and a long saber materialized. Despite his exhaustion, he was determined to uphold the banner of the Blood Sun Dynasty.
"General of the Great Han Vermilion Bird Legion, Zhe Chōng General—Gan Ning!"
Gan Ning held his twin halberds, showing no inclination to fight. Lie Fenghou was no match for him now.
"Zhang Liao and Xu Chu did not strike a killing blow, all so they could hand this head of mine to you, isn't that right?"
Lie Fenghou looked at Gan Ning, the aura of a second-layer Heaven Melting realm cultivator flickering around him. He realized that from the start at the Soul Surging River, they had never intended to kill him. Instead, they had used stratagems, minimizing their own losses, and without a single casualty, annihilated over six hundred thousand of his soldiers. Su Dan Novel Network.
Zhang Liao and Xu Chu had gradually driven him to this point, all to present his head to Gan Ning, allowing him to ascend to the pinnacle of the Southwest Region.
What a scheme, what a perfectly executed plan. Tens of thousands of soldiers destroyed, and his head was already earmarked, destined to be a stepping stone for someone else's fame.
"I am not convinced!"
He gripped his long saber tightly and swung it, unleashing a thunderous roar. Hundreds of trees in the surrounding forest were uprooted, and a blade of pure energy shot forth from his saber. The pent-up rage, the inability to be manipulated by others, and the desire to keep his head—all fueled the blinding brilliance of his saber energy.
With a single strike, he felt utterly drained, swaying unsteadily.
Gan Ning held his twin halberds, his expression cold. Suddenly, a chilling glint appeared in his eyes, and waves of killing intent locked onto the void-borne saber energy. His halberds hummed, and he violently swung them forward.
"Boom!"
Two streaks of cold light flashed, shooting forth!
"Bang!!"
The cold light instantly collided with the saber energy.
"Crack crack crack!!"
A series of cracking sounds, followed by an instantaneous shattering!
"Bang!"
"Clang!"
A long saber flew out, embedding itself in the ground not far away. Faint golden lines appeared, slicing through the entire saber before it disintegrated.
"Pfft!"
Lie Fenghou was sent flying backward, his body dragged along, creating a massive gully hundreds of feet long.
With a single strike, Gan Ning had sent Lie Fenghou hurtling for hundreds of feet.
"Cough cough!!"
Lie Fenghou's armor was torn to shreds, revealing bloody, torn flesh. His hair was disheveled, and he lay listlessly in the mud pit.
"Marquis!!"
"Marquis!!"
The tens of thousands of Blood Sun Dynasty soldiers erupted in fury, roaring to the heavens as they charged at the Great Han soldiers.
"Fight to the death!"
"Fight to the death!"
"Kill!!"
The hundred thousand Vermilion Bird Army unleashed their might. Even if the Blood Sun Dynasty's soldiers were in peak condition, they would not be a match for the Great Han. How much less so now, when they were mentally and physically exhausted. The tens of thousands of soldiers fell like waves, one after another.
Blood sprayed, heads flew!
"Marquis!"
The副将's eyes welled with tears. His weak voice, like a fly's buzz, struggled to rise. He could barely move a finger.
"Thump thump!"
"Sizzle!"
Gan Ning slowly advanced across the battlefield, a sweep of his halberd clearing dozens of feet. His body was splattered with blood. Around him, crimson blood splattered everywhere. Soldiers of the Blood Sun Dynasty, their eyes wide with terror, lay lifeless in the puddles of blood.