Chapter 2007: Direct Confrontation

Outside the city, the Black Armored Army divided into three columns. Two columns charged towards the besieging bandit army to relieve Mian City, while the third, led by Wanqiliang, attacked from behind Guo Baiyu's army.

If viewed from above, it was like three new waves crashing fiercely into an old sea. Instantly, a monstrous tide surged, but what splattered were only bloody spray!

The detachments charging towards Mian City were led by Puhua and Wanqixing, converging from east and west to flank the enemy and cut directly to the city gates.

The bandit army besieging the city couldn't clearly discern the enemy's situation at night. They only knew that battle cries suddenly erupted from both front and rear, shaking the heavens, and that the attackers were the renowned Black Armored Army!

The mere mention of those three words was enough to intimidate; those who heard them instantly lost some of their resolve.

The Black Armored Army, with the might of their charge, tore open a gaping hole in the enemy ranks.

Two bandit generals, climbing to a high vantage point, shouted, "Don't panic, the Black Armored Army is few in number!" But they were shot down by two arrows.

Meanwhile, Guo Baiyu's army, positioned on a high slope, held a geographical advantage. The Black Armored Army was attacking uphill from below, yet their momentum was in no way inferior.

First, arrows rained down. Then, blades and spears followed.

Such a head-on, fierce clash was more advantageous to the experienced Black Armored Army. The front line of the two armies was instantly pushed uphill. The bandit army's vanguard was terrified, their formation almost collapsing.

Guo Baiyu, observing the battle from above, was secretly alarmed:

"Their troops fight with fierce bravery. They are indeed the Dragon God's main force."

However, this time he used his weaker troops as the vanguard. The Black Armored Army first charged at the cannon fodder driven forward by Guo's elite troops; Guo Baiyu's elite forces were all positioned in the middle. Only when this wave of the Black Armored Army's charge was exhausted would Guo Baiyu's main army, fresh and rested, move in to reinforce.

He had come prepared for this expedition. If the Black Armored Army didn't appear, he could smoothly capture Mian City. But if they did appear...

Guo Baiyu instructed those behind him:

"Release the Divine Slaves, quickly!"

Soon, strange figures appeared on the battlefield between the two armies.

One of the monsters was about ten feet long. It generally resembled an elongated baboon, but it was completely hairless. Its tail accounted for two-thirds of its body length, was exceptionally thick, and had circular rings embedded along its segments, arranged in sequence.

At first glance, it greatly resembled the iron rings on the back of a Nine-Ringed Broadsword. When it shook, it rattled clangingly, making one dizzy and disoriented.

Its upper body was thin, yet its tail was so thick, making it look somewhat disproportionate. However, it was only when this massive tail swung that others understood its purpose:

With a powerful flick, it could hurl the bone rings from its tail. These objects spun at high speed in the air, barely visible to the naked eye.

Just then, a warhorse stood in front of it. Onlookers only heard a mournful cry before both rider and horse were sliced in half!

The bone ring, its momentum not yet spent, then sliced through four more people.

The monster's tail swung left and right, and the bone rings flew in all directions. Everyone's faces changed, and they all dodged.

When all the bone rings had been flung, the tip of the monster's tail rattled rhythmically, like a rattlesnake. Then, as if summoned, the bone rings flew back to their master, returning to their respective positions on the long tail.

This monster was called "Nine Rings."

Wanqiliang personally batted away a bone ring, secretly thinking, "Impressive." This thing was powerful, heavy, and sharp; ordinary warriors would find it hard to resist.

The Emperor had predicted that demon puppets were likely to appear on this battlefield. He hadn't been wrong at all.

Only after truly clashing with Guo Baiyu's main army did he realize this force was formidable. Their strength, speed, and fighting will were unlike the city garrisons or bandit armies they had easily defeated in the past.

Orders were communicated smoothly. Formations changed quickly and flexibly.

He heard that Guo Baiyu's main army was composed of veteran soldiers he had brought from Yao land, and a portion of fierce bandits he had recently recruited in Shanjin, all thoroughly screened.

With the aid of demon puppets, they were even harder to fight.

However, such opponents were worth fighting. What was the point of merely beating up small fry?

As the two sides fought fiercely, a bird demon scout flew down from the sky, landed on a horse's head, and said to him: "When our army arrived at Luofeng Pond, a battle had already begun there, raging intensely."

Wanqiliang was slightly surprised: "Whose army?"

He had sent men to occupy Luofeng Pond precisely to cut off Guo Baiyu's retreat. Where did another army come from that had gotten there first?

The scout asked him: "Are we still contesting Luofeng Pond? Vanguard Commander Xu requests your decision."

"No matter whose army it is, help them beat the bandit army!" Wanqiliang made a decision instantly. "If I'm not mistaken, the Nanrong family has dispatched troops!"

Luofeng Pond originally belonged to Nanrong He, but it was later seized by Guo Baiyu. That man truly knew how to endure; he had remained silent all this time, only dispatching troops to reclaim Luofeng Pond when Guo Baiyu had sent his entire force to attack Mian City.

"And then?"

"After defeating the bandit army, don't enter the city; return directly." Their current target was Guo Baiyu; there was no need to needlessly create new enemies.

Having given this instruction whenever a moment allowed, the scout flew away. The warhorse suddenly neighed and shied backward.

Wanqiliang saw a long, ribbon-like object whip past him, disappearing with a whoosh.

His mottled warbeast was not only experienced but also psychic, having once led its previous owner, a mountain bandit leader, out of a labyrinthine swamp. Only when it shied away did Wanqiliang notice a grayish thing hidden in a crevice nearby, about twenty feet away from him, with mottled skin that made it almost blend into the stone, completely invisible at night. It only revealed its presence when it shot out that white, whip-like object.

Yes, what it spat out was its tongue.

This creature was also cunning; failing to hit its target with one strike, it switched its focus and shot at another Black Armored Army warrior. The latter was not as fortunate as Wanqiliang; his mount was struck in the abdomen and collapsed with a mournful cry.

This tongue was sharper than a spring knife. Fortunately, the rider was clad in black armor, otherwise, it would have been his belly that was pierced.

Wanqiliang raised his hand to fire an arrow, but as soon as he raised his arm, the creature was startled and slipped underground.

It entered the earth more easily than entering water.

Earth Escape.

Mian City's walls had a spell formation that prohibited such escapes, but the suburban battlefield was unrestricted; everyone could use whatever abilities they possessed.

This monster moved unpredictably underground. Coupled with the other one that could hurl flying discs, they coordinated with the bandit army, causing a lot of trouble for the Black Armored Army.

"Nine Rings" had just dodged arrows from two Black Armored Army warriors when the thin mist behind it was disturbed, and a robust figure suddenly burst out, swinging a giant club down towards its head.

Nine Rings was also cunning. It rolled on the spot, flung its tail, and two flying rings were thrown in succession towards the attacker.

It then realized its opponent was an armored giant ape. Though bulky, it wielded its club with formidable power and exceptional agility.

The Demon Ape flicked the end of its club, batting away the two bone rings. Nine Rings, grasping a bone ring in each hand, clashed with it clangorously, surprisingly demonstrating some skill.

The Demon Ape roared twice, then unleashed a fluid combination of attacks.

Its well-practiced "Opening Three Club Strikes" were exceptionally effective. Nine Rings couldn't withstand the third strike and was hit by a heavy blow to the waist, its internal organs dislodged, causing it to fall to the ground, vomiting blood.