Chapter 1402: Not Running, None Are Running

Chapter 1387: No One Runs

Though they were experts in combat, they lacked the strategic foresight unique to renowned generals and commanders.

Xue Zongwu, in his forties, was at the peak of his martial arts, strength, physical endurance, and experience. Upon clashing with the black-armored leader, he was secretly astonished.

This fellow was incredibly tough; his blade was hard, and his grip even harder!

Xue Zongwu's personal weapons were a pair of purple-gold gourd hammers, treasures from the medieval period. Modified by master craftsmen, these hammers could be wielded short-handled with both hands, joined to form a long-handled weapon, or have a chain extended from the pommel to be used as a meteor hammer.

These purple-gold gourd hammers possessed a peculiar property called 'one strike, three tremors.' When they struck other weapons, they would cause continuous vibrations, ranging from two to as many as five times. Cultivators with slightly less strength would feel as if they were taking repeated heavy blows, unable to even hold onto their weapons.

Xue Zongwu had previously slain a fierce Luodian general who boasted immense strength, but was so severely vibrated by the purple-gold gourd hammers that his hands split open. He died with blood-soaked hands, unable to maintain his grip on his weapon.

Yet, the black-armored leader before him endured the blows without a sound, acting as if nothing had happened!

Naturally, he was unaware of the unique bond between the Transient Blade and He Lingchuan. As long as the blade was in He Lingchuan's hand, it was virtually impossible to dislodge it.

As both sides engaged in close combat, the layers of ghostly shadows swirling around the black armor inevitably passed through Xue Zongwu, making him feel a chill within.

It felt as if something malevolent was watching him, observing him, just waiting for him to make a mistake or get injured. Although it hadn't attacked yet, it made Xue Zongwu instinctively vigilant.

These spectral entities didn't seem like divine abilities at all, because they couldn't be nullified by elemental energy!

Indeed, facing an enemy of unknown origin, he had immediately deployed his elemental energy.

Both aimed to defeat their opponent and end the battle in the shortest time possible, but the fight became an inextricable deadlock, with the situation momentarily stalled.

Xue Zongwu's gaze flickered, and he suddenly spoke: "The Great Emperor of Nine Serenities—what an intimidating title, but you're merely a person!"

His opponent was tough, but he was certain from their first exchange that this was a human!

He was a seasoned warrior, a strong combatant forged in countless battles, but not a deity like Miao Zhan Tian.

The 'Great Emperor of Nine Serenities,' widely rumored among the populace, was merely a human in disguise!

What right did a mere human have to judge a general of Yao Kingdom? What right to act on behalf of Heaven and inflict punishment?

The black-armored leader let out a low chuckle: "At death's door, and still you lack reverence!"

Xue Zongwu also sneered: "Even Heaven dares not claim me; what right do you have to play the fool?"

Several clangs of metal resounded, accompanying the black-armored leader's deep, resonant words:

"How do you know I am not the will of Heaven?"

Meanwhile, the Weng brothers stood back-to-back, fighting six Xue family soldiers. Weng Xing's hand was injured and unable to wield a weapon, leaving the two brothers with only three usable hands. Though they appeared to grow fiercer with each strike, it was purely out of desperation and tenacity.

To contend with six elites personally trained by Xue Zongwu, in their current condition, was truly arduous.

Among these six were two of Xue Zongwu's lieutenants, Lu Ping and Wang Xining, both with exceptional martial arts and seasoned techniques. They shared a battlefield camaraderie and a bond of life-and-death with You Lin, who had been cut down by He Lingchuan earlier. Seeing You Lin's demise, they were both shocked and enraged, wasting no words and consistently aiming for points that would force the brothers to defend.

What was more critical, their coordination was no worse than that of the Weng brothers.

Xue Zongwu had once commented in the training grounds that even against him, these two could remain undefeated for dozens of exchanges.

The power exerted by these two was greater than that of the remaining four combined, and the Weng brothers gnashed their teeth, barely managing to hold them off.

Had it not been for Lieutenant You Lin being instantly slain by the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities moments ago, with all three lieutenants attacking together, the Weng brothers likely wouldn't have held out much longer.

Moreover, these opponents also possessed elemental energy.

It was then that Weng Su's myriad clever tactics became apparent: Yellow Turban Strongmen, Quicksand Talisman Arrays. While these might not inflict significant damage on elite soldiers protected by elemental energy, when combined with Weng Xing's various explosive hidden weapons, they still managed to buy time.

Weng Xing dodged a sweeping attack and, taking advantage of a brief moment, asked his brother in a coded whisper: "Should we retreat?"

With the black-armored leader drawing fire, if they turned and fled, few guards would pursue them.

Weng Su also felt a flicker of hesitation. While the black-armored leader and Xue Zongwu were locked in an inseparable struggle, the advantage of time actually lay with 'Butcher Xue.' If the brothers didn't run now, would they have another chance later?

But if they ran, that would be truly disloyal! The person was clearly here to save them.

No, wait, perhaps he wasn't specifically here to save them.

But the black-armored leader certainly hadn't abandoned them. Could they now turn and flee, forgetting his benevolence?

If he slipped away tonight, for the next few decades, his thoughts might not flow smoothly during cultivation!

Weng Su gritted his teeth and made a decision: "Let's hold on a bit longer; the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities might just slay this scoundrel!"

Really? Weng Xing wasn't sure, but if his elder brother said so, he must have seen something.

He immediately refocused.

In truth, Weng Su wasn't sure either. 'Scoundrel Xue' possessed profound cultivation, excellent equipment, was as tough as a turtle, and had unusually pure and potent elemental energy. He could unleash at least 130% of his abilities. How powerful would the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities have to be to cut him down?

Xue Zongwu had said the enemy was human, not a deity, and he had also guessed as much. Weng Su was no ignorant commoner, but...

Just wait a little longer, just wait!

Over there, the Soul-Snatching Mirror said to He Lingchuan: "Those two foolish lads are barely holding on, probably won't last much longer."

The Weng brothers were both skilled fighters, but Weng Xing had been injured while fighting Xue Zongwu, losing the use of one hand, and they had nearly exhausted their other tactics. Xue Zongwu's subordinates were also unexpectedly tough opponents, and the Mirror didn't have high hopes for them.

A few breaths later, the Mirror added: "They're talking in coded whispers. Hey, is what you're thinking the same as what I'm guessing?"

Amidst the fierce battle, He Lingchuan also kept an eye on his surroundings, occasionally glimpsing the Weng brothers' predicament out of the corner of his eye.

Honestly, the brothers' situation was not optimistic. The wisest choice would be to turn and flee, leaving the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities to cover their retreat.

After all, survival is a human instinct.

Their coded conversation was likely about whether to run or not. Running too late would most likely be a dead end.

But they seemed to have chosen to stay and fight alongside He Lingchuan.

This life-or-death decision was not easy.

In just that short span, both had accumulated several new wounds, and the situation grew increasingly perilous.

The Soul-Snatching Mirror also tutted: "These two lads refuse to run first; they're quite honorable!"

Standing firm and loyal, very good, very good.

They had also executed the task given to them by the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities very well, indeed fiercely tying down Xue Zongwu's subordinates, allowing He Lingchuan to focus on Xue Zongwu.

One-on-one, the best opportunity.

"Hey, where are you looking?" He Lingchuan's slight distraction was immediately noticed by Xue Zongwu, who swung his pair of purple-gold hammers, striking the Transient Blade with brute force.

He Lingchuan didn't attempt to match his raw strength, instead retreating two steps. With his left hand free, he flicked it, throwing several dark green spherical objects towards the Weng brothers' direction.

Given that the projectiles appearing today were all unstable, no one dared to catch them or deflect them; everyone quickly dodged.

These items were elliptical, resembling olives in size and shape. They rooted, sprouted branches, and grew leaves upon landing, without a single second of delay.

In an instant, they grew sturdy, robust bodies and seven or eight branches that served as arms.

Without a word, the branches lashed out at the Weng brothers' opponents.

The branches were lined with rows of hard thorns, similar to a spiked club; anyone struck by them would certainly shriek in pain.

Anyone with some knowledge would recognize them as tree demons, but their trunks surprisingly bore human faces.

Three or four faces were all distinct: one with a large beard, another with a 'shoe-handle' face. Without exception, their expressions were ferocious, and their glaring eyes were filled with venomous malice. Three of them were small in stature, only reaching a normal person's chest height, capable of nimble movements and leaps, surprisingly agile for tree demons. The largest one stood ten feet tall, its movements slower, but its body was as hard as iron, and its surface was covered in vines. Lu Ping's blade, when striking its body, would first cut through the vines, and the splashing white sap would cause a painful itch upon contact with skin.

The moment these tree demons appeared, they didn't just add a few fists and hands; with dozens of branch-like arms, they instantly disrupted the battle formation assembled by Lu Ping and the others.

The Weng brothers' pressure abruptly eased. They turned and immediately ducked behind the large tree demon.

When Lu Ping and the others charged forward, they simply played hide-and-seek with their opponents around the tree demons.

The largest tree demon had an outer skin as hard as iron; even when the Xue family soldiers deployed their elemental energy, they could at most cut three inches into its bark. Furthermore, it emitted a peculiar fragrance that invariably made anyone who smelled it sneeze.

Every 'achoo' caused their moves to inevitably lose form.

The Weng brothers observed this, secretly marveling. These tree demons were tough-skinned and agile; if a few more were released, they would be excellent aids in a group brawl.

They, of course, did not know that these were fruits grown within the Guro Treasure Casket.

Originally, the true form of Ghost King Xuanlu was hidden within the human-faced peach tree in the treasure casket. After He Lingchuan cut down the human-faced peach tree and replanted Guro tree branches in the casket, the flowers grown from the Guro tree within could heal soul injuries, while its fruits could transform into tree demons to aid their master in battle.

Naturally, for the tree in the casket to grow, it required souls as nourishment. Conveniently, the Black Armored Army had recently launched successive attacks, capturing a large number of malevolent souls, which He Lingchuan fed to the Guro Treasure Casket as fertilizer, thus catalyzing the growth of several fruits.

After using it once, he realized how convenient this item was. If he had enough Guro fruits, he alone could instantly raise an army of tough-skinned creatures.

Although they were not good at countering elemental energy and couldn't be commanded with the precision of elite troops, they still proved to be excellent assistants on the battlefield.

The largest tree demon even hissed: "Kill, kill you all!"

Its voice wasn't as deep and resonant as the other tree demons, but rather somewhat raspy.

Xue Zongwu had just delivered a shoulder blow to the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities' chest armor, releasing a sudden burst of power. Hearing that voice, however, he found it somewhat familiar. In the midst of the intense fight, he took a quick glance and saw something utterly unexpected: "Zhao Guangzhi?"

He had guarded Yao Kingdom's northern border, constantly confronting the Luodian people for years, and thus recognized Zhao Guangzhi.

Some time ago, news of Zhao Guangzhi's death had even come from the west. Therefore, when Xue Zongwu suddenly saw Zhao Guangzhi, and the latter's face was growing on a tree demon, his shock was indescribable.