"Humans, listen. Further ahead is the domain of my Demon Sea Swamp. Jia Bin has received his due punishment for disrupting your dynasty's ascension ceremony. Our Demon Sea Lord, in consideration of your dynasty's might, wishes to reach a reconciliation!" Su Dan Novel Network
"Humans! I, the Lord of the Demon Sea, mindful of the weakness of the Xijiang humans, do not dare to be presumptuous and disrespectful. Halt immediately!"
At the border of Lingzhou, Great Han, the Qiongqi Legion led by Meng Tian, and the Jin Ni Legion led by Jie Lu Guang, advanced a thousand *li* inland from the border towards the southeast. The mighty army galloped, gradually approaching the defense fortress of the Demon Sea Swamp.
Demon Sea Swamp!
For years on end, sunlight never reached here, and it was perpetually dim. Coupled with the abundant pitcher plants that covered large swathes of land, the moisture could not be released, remaining shrouded by them. Over time, this formed miasma.
The million-strong army, upon entering this area, significantly reduced its speed. The ground was rife with swamps. Once any living being stepped into them, they would become completely powerless. Divine power and spiritual energy could not be mobilized at all.
The miasma permeating the air was a slow-acting poison. As time passed, it would break through the physical defenses of living beings, corroding their internal organs.
Before the two great legions of Great Han, a muddy city loomed, half-hidden in the miasma!
Gurgle gurgle~~~~~
Sounds of flowing water emanated from the swamp, or perhaps it was the movement of creatures within the water. Within the miasma, an incredibly terrifying, bloodthirsty aura intensified, making all the soldiers of Great Han extremely cautious.
"The city ahead should be the border fortress of the Demon Sea Swamp. This city is hidden very deeply, already tens of *li* into our territory. However, they have no worries. This land is covered with swamps and dense miasma, a natural barrier!"
The million-strong army halted. Jie Lu Guang gazed at the creatures swimming in the various swamps. These were beings of the Ancestral Crocodile clan. Blessed by the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth, Ancestral Crocodiles could disregard the binding force of the swamp and move freely, and were immune to the miasma of this place.
"General Jie, in your opinion, how can we minimize casualties and quickly capture this border fortress?"
Meng Tian sat astride his warhorse, one hand on the reins. The bronze sword at his waist hummed, and countless sword energies rippled with a sharp, terrifying aura.
He looked at the distant city. Though close, it was not easy to conquer. The dense miasma made it easy for soldiers to be eroded if they stepped carelessly. But if they walked on the ground, they might fall into the swamp. Moreover, many Ancestral Crocodiles lurked in ambush within the swamp, making it extremely dangerous.
To minimize casualties, the only way was bombardment!
To disperse the miasma!
"General Meng, I believe we should first break through the miasma, and then attack!"
Jie Lu Guang looked ahead at the tens of *li* of land densely covered with pitcher plants. He had also led armies in attacks before and possessed considerable strategic insight!
While Meng Tian was observing the terrain, Jie Lu Guang also considered using bombardment to disperse the miasma and simultaneously eradicate the Ancestral Crocodile beings hidden within the swamp.
Bombardment would also reveal where it was safe to tread and where the swamps lay.
"This battle shall be commanded by you, General. What do you say?"
Meng Tian turned and said with a smile.
"Thank you, General Meng!"
Jie Lu Guang's expression was solemn. Meng Tian had emerged earlier and held considerable merit in the current court of the Great Han Divine Dynasty. He, however, was different. Although he had demonstrated formidable strength by slaying Saint Lord experts on the streets of Chang'an, his achievements in leading armies were still a blank slate.
He needed this battle to establish himself among the generals of the Great Han Divine Dynasty and to firmly secure command of the Jin Ni Legion.
"Qiongqi Legion!"
"Jin Ni Legion!!"
"Where are you!!"
Jie Lu Guang stepped into the air, waved his hand, and the banners of the two great legions were in his grasp. With a glance, he took in the entire million-strong army of both legions!
"Hoo!"
"Hoo!"
"Hoo!"
Immediately, a resounding roar erupted!
The million-strong army cheered in unison!
"Trebuchets, advance!!"
Jie Lu Guang scanned the entire army.
Boom!
Trebuchets slowly rolled out from the army. Compared to the ones used to bombard the Haiyun Divine Dynasty by the Vermillion Bird Legion not long ago, these trebuchets were vastly different. Yuan Tiangang had acquired insights from Meng Tian, the insights of a Saint Lord creature, namely, the insights of Xi Bai Yu Shan!
Xi Bai Yu Shan was a master of formations. His Life-Death Array had shaken the world ninety million years ago!
Yuan Tiangang, after deep research, had gained considerable rewards. He had tailor-made trebuchets for the different attributes of the ten legions and the ten divine beasts.
He had sealed the offensive killing intent of the ten divine beasts within the trebuchets. It could be said that he had compressed and sealed the army formations of each legion into the trebuchets.
Each volley from the trebuchets contained the foundational killing power of the divine beasts!
It was equivalent to a combined attack by a thousand soldiers!
Terrifying to the extreme!
Of course, the consumption was also considerable. According to Yuan Tiangang's tests, soldiers at the Divine Fire realm could only activate the trebuchets ten times before their spiritual energy was depleted.
Even with the use of elixirs, soldiers could not recover quickly; they needed to wait three days.
Used appropriately, the offensive power was formidable!
But if overused, especially on a battlefield where the situation was favorable, it would be akin to harming the enemy by a thousand and oneself by eight hundred.
Rumble!!
Trebuchets emerged from the army, with ten soldiers closely following each one.
Rumble!
Three hundred thousand trebuchets were moved to the front of the army!
The soldiers took out the ammunition needed for the trebuchets, which was no longer the Blazing Fire Spheres that had accompanied Great Han for over twenty years.
Instead, they were fist-sized orbs of light. The Qiongqi Legion's orbs were brown, and the Jin Ni Legion's were golden.
Each orb contained eighteen layers of small formations stacked and circulating, all originating from the Daoist sect!
Great Han Divine Dynasty's three major powers: Buddhism, Daoism, and the Pill Hall!
The Pill Hall managed alchemy. Buddhism was responsible for propagating national laws and Buddhist teachings, stabilizing the populace. Daoism, in part, propagated Daoist teachings and accepted disciples, while another part was categorized as formation cultivators, who delved into the art of formations.
The division of powers and responsibilities was becoming increasingly refined, thanks to the joint discussions of the ministers in the court.
After Great Han was promoted to a Divine Dynasty, its territory expanded greatly. From the Six Ministries in Chang'an down to the local prefectures, duties and powers became increasingly distinct and detailed.
This avoided complexity in handling state affairs and also eliminated unclear lines of authority, removing vague boundaries.
At this moment, on the three hundred thousand trebuchets, shining orbs of light were placed.
Streams of divine power, guided by ten soldiers, were all integrated into the orbs to activate the three formations on them!
Within the orbs, eighteen formations were present. Three were used for launch and power accumulation, while the remaining fifteen contained the divine beast army formations of the major legions, primarily used for destructive strikes.
"Trebuchets, prepare!"
Jie Lu Guang looked behind him, where the army was divided into two, one side shining brown, the other dazzling gold.
Great Han's new generation of projection and bombardment weaponry was about to make its debut!