Yang Mingzhen smiled and said, "I ask Elder Yue Ming to follow orders! If Elder Yue Ming has any questions, I can provide answers during the journey!"
Having him join the Illusion Moon Sectâs actions is to prevent any misunderstanding and errors due to their unfamiliarity with the battle plan.
Yue Ming pondered for a moment upon hearing this and said, "Well then, letâs commence!"
Soon after, the Illusion Moon Sectâs camp became lively, with thousands of Martial Artists bustling about preparing for departure.
Meanwhile, Yang Chengche also arrived with military orders at the Xuanqing Sectâs camp.
The Xuanqing Sectâs side was led by Yun Xiao and Chu Lingxiao, and their strength was slightly superior to the Illusion Moon Sect, so their target was Xianling City first.
The two detachments set out according to the plan, heading separately towards Xianling City and the banks of Yi River.
Outside Wuxiang City.
The battle cries were deafening.
Less than half a day after the Nether Prison Sect retreated, they launched another attack on Wuxiang City.
Compared to their first probe, this time the Nether Prison Sect was fiercer, with thousands of Martial Artists charging at Wuxiang City, undeterred by the crossbow arrowsâ attack.
This time, the Wolf-head Mystic Armor Guards were even more vicious, undeterred by the overwhelming Sky-shattering Thunder striking down, maintaining their aggressive stance.
Soon they came into close combat with the Yujing Guard on the city walls.
"Kill!"
Dozens of Mystic Armor Guards raised their shields, braving arrow and Sky-shattering Thunder attacks to leap onto the city wall.
"Sword and Shield Hand, engage!"
A hoarse roar echoed, and the bowmen immediately fell back a few steps, while the Sword and Shield Hands who had been prepared moved forward to confront the leaping Mystic Armor Guards.
Though they were both Sword and Shield Hands, there was a stark difference between the two.
The Mystic Armor Guardâs shield was larger, heavier, capable of covering most of the body.
While the Yujing Guardâs Sword and Shield Hands had smaller shields, only covering the upper body.
The Mystic Armor Guard wielded a heavy saber, whereas the Yujing Guard wielded a slender ring-headed blade.
Comparatively, the Mystic Armor Guards were like heavily armored sword and shield soldiers, while Yujing Guardâs equipment was lighter, thus more agile.
Confronting such Mystic Armor Guards, itâs challenging to inflict effective damage.
Whether itâs the Sky-shattering Thunder or arrows, unless they hit directly, they canât cause fatal injuries.
Similarly, it was quite difficult for the Yujing Guardâs Sword and Shield Hands to kill them.
So, the Yujing Guardâs tactic was not to kill them but to drive them back.
The Mystic Armor Guards leapt into the air, and as they surpassed the wall top, the Yujing Guardâs Sword and Shield Hands also leapt up, using their shields to ram into the Mystic Armor Guards.
With a loud bang, the Mystic Armor Guards were sent flying off, while the Yujing Guardâs Sword and Shield Hands utilized the rebound to fall back onto the wall.
Thus, a peculiar scene appeared on the wall.
The soldiers on both sides clashed continuously in mid-air as if they were playing around.
The Yujing Guardâs Sword and Shield Hands even kept their long swords sheathed, merely holding their shields, watching every Mystic Armor Guard leaping toward them, ready to knock them down.
What seemed like playful actions were actually very effective; regardless of how the Mystic Armor Guards attacked, they were always knocked down.
Even when the subsequent enemy forces rushed forward, they would similarly be knocked down.
Though a few slipped through, it didnât affect the overall defense of the city wall.
The battle lasted over two hours, and the Nether Prison Sect once again retreated without victory, signaling the end of the battle.
Night fell.
In the castle hall onboard the Flying Boat.
Sheng Youhuang sat on a chair with a furrowed brow.
Todayâs battle was somewhat unusual; she had never encountered such a fight before.
Before, she had led the Mystic Armor Guards in many conquests, each time they attacked, the enemy either collapsed in defeat or fought to the death.
Even in desperate resistance, both sides engaged in true combat.
But now?
Wuxiang City used all sorts of strange tactics to block the Mystic Armor Guardsâ attack.
Crossbow arrows, bow and arrows, Sky-shattering Thunder, and other contraptions are being used in the Martial Artist battlefield.
And forcibly ramming people with shields until they flew, what kind of battle is this!
At this moment, Sheng Youhuang realized that the situation with Wuxiang City was even more challenging than she had anticipated.
"Do any of you have a strategy to break through Wuxiang City?"
She looked up at everyone in the hall.
There were over ten people in the hall, including the Nether Prison Sectâs Sect Master Jiang Taishu, their Foundation Establishment elder Ming Shuzi, numerous Golden Body Realm Martial Artists, and of course, Li Xuanxiao.
Everyone fell into silence, feeling that todayâs battle was somewhat uncomfortable.
Indeed, it was uncomfortable, a sensation of powerless frustration.
"Supreme Elder, continuing in this manner is disadvantageous to us. Why not directly use the Thousand Peaks Covering Sky Formation!" Jiang Taishu suggested.
Ming Shuziâs expression was serious, "Using the Thousand Peaks Covering Sky Formation means weâll be engaging in a decisive battle!"
Jiang Taishu nodded slightly, "Itâs unavoidable; they are well-prepared. As long as they donât leave the city, itâs difficult for us to gain the upper hand!"
"If we want to achieve victory quickly, weâll have to commence the decisive battle ahead of time!"
A decisive battle means the high-level members would have to risk their lives, from Sheng Youhuang and Li Xuanxiao, the Supreme Elders, to the many elders and Guest Elders accompanying the army, all participating in a large-scale melee.
A slight mishap could lead to them perishing in the melee.
Hence, if possible, they preferred to first conquer Wuxiang City to pressure the sects and families of the Sea of Spirit.
"Supreme Elder, the White Cloud Immortal City gave us only half a year!" Jiang Taishu looked at Sheng Youhuang.
The Nether Prison Sectâs ambition to annex the Sea of Spirit couldnât bypass the White Cloud Immortal City, although it wouldnât support the Nether Prison Sect either.
Such matters wouldnât attract the attention of the White Cloud True Monarch, but the Nether Prison Sect could contact high-level members within the White Cloud Dao, acting with a disciple of the White Cloud True Monarchâs assent.
The half-year timeline was the deadline set by that disciple.
Sheng Youhuang rubbed a cool jade pendant in her hand, stating, "Sect Master is right, since we havenât gained an advantage in the siege, thereâs no need to drag it on, weâll use the Thousand Peaks Covering Sky Formation tomorrow to directly destroy Wuxiang Cityâs defenses!"
...
Inside Wuxiang City, within the Four-direction Hall.
Yang Zhenshan and others were also discussing the next battle.
"The Nether Prison Sectâs offensive was frustrated today; tomorrow theyâll certainly intensify their attack, and possibly initiate a decisive battle!"
Qu Changkong first looked at Yang Zhenshan and then at Jian Changhe.
Jian Changhe was seated in the main position, with his left hand resting on the chairâs armrest, slowly stroking his three-inch short beard.
Yang Zhenshan likewise looked at Jian Changhe; stopping the Nether Prison Sectâs army was his duty, but contending with the Nether Prison Sectâs Divine Soul Realm experts was Jian Changheâs responsibility.
Jian Changhe slowly raised his head, "Uncle-Master, what are your thoughts?"
Jian Guyun chuckled, "What else can I think? Since they want a fight, letâs fight! Hidden Sword Mountain has been dormant for over three hundred years; itâs time to show our sword edge, lest they think our swords at Hidden Sword Mountain have rusted!"
Upon hearing this, Jian Changheâs eyes revealed a glint of sharpness.
"Then letâs fight!"
"Iâll deal with Sheng Youhuang, Uncle-Master, you handle Li Xuanxiao, as for the others!"
He turned to Yang Zhenshan and said, "You arrange it!"
Yang Zhenshan smiled and nodded, turning to Yun Xiao, "How about leaving Ming Shuzi to Senior Yun Xiao?"
Yun Xiao shrugged, "In truth, I would love to witness the Mountain Masterâs Sword Dao!"
"Haha, you will see it tomorrow!" Jian Changhe laughed.
Yang Zhenshan stood up, "Then Iâll take on Jiang Taishu! The Nether Prison Sectâs Sect Master, I do have some apprehension towards him!"
Jiang Taishu is the Sect Master of the Nether Prison Sect and also a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Although his reputation isnât as renowned as Ming Shuzi, his strength cannot be underestimated.
Without utilizing the Golden Crow Eight Trigrams Furnace, Yang Zhenshan wasnât confident in capturing him.