Chapter 2122: Dust Settled

Ge Xuan, however, moved further away.

Ge Yan remained unpanicked. His spear tip flickered three times, creating several afterimages that targeted the Nine Nether Emperor's throat, eyes, and heart. His spearplay was remarkably precise. In the past, this very move had disarmed countless overconfident foes. To his surprise, the Nine Nether Emperor did not dodge at all. With a sweep of his right hand, the long halberd described a half-arc, arcing directly towards Ge Yan's shoulder and ribs. Even if Ge Yan managed to pierce the Emperor's throat, he would still be struck. Left with no choice, he had to change his move mid-action, raising his spear to parry first.

A deafening clang resounded.

On the hilltop, the two observers reacted differently. Dong Rui clenched his fist and exclaimed, "Good!" He Yue, meanwhile, leaned forward, his eyes wide with astonishment. That seemingly formidable Ya general was actually knocked off his horse by Big Brother!

Ge Yan's long spear flew several yards away, landing with a clang and embedding itself in the ground, trembling as if wailing for its master. He himself was struck by the massive halberd; his ribs shattered and abdomen caved in during his fall. After hitting the ground, he rolled several times, coming to rest precisely beneath the hooves of a Ya cavalryman's horse. The cavalryman, charging at full speed, couldn't rein in his horse, and its massive, bowl-sized hoof landed squarely on his own commander's forehead.

Ge Xuan witnessed this tragic sight with overwhelming grief and indignation. He raised his bow, shot an arrow at the Nine Nether Emperor's back, and then charged forward to avenge his brother. The arrow struck the Nine Nether Emperor's back, but his billowing cloak merely swirled, and the arrow vanished without a trace. At that moment, the Nine Nether Emperor raised his hand and slew a Ya guard. His mount, the Black Mottled King, lifted a forehoof, stomped forcefully on the opponent's steed, and then pivoted with a nimble maneuver that seemed utterly incongruous with its massive size.

In the blink of an eye, the Nine Nether Emperor was engaged in combat with Ge Xuan. The battle between the two raged like a tempest. From the hilltop, He Yue could barely discern their movements, only noting that Ge Xuan's mount was constantly forced backward. His mount was a large, purebred mottled yellow horse, stout and powerfully built. Ge Xuan had never before been at a disadvantage while mounted, but facing the Nine Nether Emperor today, he felt as if his opponent was not a man, but a colossal elephant! The force was so terrifying that after only a few exchanges, Ge Xuan's arms felt as if they would shatter. He finally understood why Ge Yan had been unhorsed in a single blow.

But there was nowhere for him to dodge. By the eighth strike, the Nine Nether Emperor delivered a simple, brutal overhead smash. Ge Xuan's mottled yellow horse could no longer bear the force; it whinnied and collapsed to the ground. Ge Xuan, naturally, lost his balance, leaving himself vulnerable. He intended to leap backward, but the Nine Nether Emperor's long halberd swept forward first, transitioning from a vertical chop to a horizontal cut that slashed directly across his neck. The halberd blade was as sharp as an axe. Ge Xuan's body instantly collapsed, his head rolling to the ground. His headless body swayed for a few moments before toppling backward, blood spurting from his neck!

From the rear, Wang Fubao, commander of the Black Armored Army, immediately galloped forward. He impaled Ge Xuan's head on his spear tip, raised it high, and bellowed at the top of his lungs: "Ge Yan and Ge Xuan are dead! Those who stand against the Nine Nether Emperor will die! Who dares to challenge us now?"

Who else? Who else dares to block our path?

At that moment, the Dragon God Army, closely following the Black Armored Army, surged out from the pass and rejoined the battle. The Ya army was well aware of the Ge brothers' prowess. The main force blocking the Dragon God Army consisted of Kolin tribal troops led by the Ge brothers. Upon hearing that both commanders had been cut down by the Nine Nether Emperor and then fiercely assailed by the enemy, their morale finally collapsed in chaos!

From their vantage point on the mountain, Dong Rui and He Yue watched the Dragon God Army push forward, like a tide surging back onto the shore. The once aggressive Ya army on the opposing side was no longer merely retreating; they were in a full and uncontrollable rout! The Ya army suffered a crushing defeat on the main battlefield of Baiqiu Yuan.

Dong Rui let out a long breath. "We won," he exclaimed, "We won!" Even a layman like him could tell that the battle's outcome was now decided. Baiqiu Yuan had seen several major battles unfold simultaneously that day. With the most crucial main battlefield secured, the other engagements were minor details. As expected, after the Nine Nether Emperor shattered the enemy lines, he first dispatched several detachments to pursue the fleeing remnants, and then led his main army to support the other battlefields.

It was only then that He Yue realized his fists had been clenched tight, his palms slick with sweat. "Does my brother always lead from the front in battle like this?" he wondered. "Not just fighting on the front lines, but leading the charge too. Our father would never employ such a reckless fighting style."

"Indeed," Dong Rui replied, gesturing casually. "The entire Dragon God War has been fought this way. The Black Mottled King he rides once sustained a severe injury. During its recovery, your brother went through three other mounts, all of which perished in battle."

"Then, what about my brother...?"

"Need I say? If his luck had been even slightly worse, he wouldn't be breathing right now."

He Yue remained silent for a long time. He had never before seen such a fiercely committed brother. What was it all for?

Dong Rui piloted the Snail-Toad, taking He Yue to follow in the Nine Nether Emperor's wake, heading towards the other battlefields. With the main battlefield secured in a decisive victory, the other fronts were easily swept, with the Dragon God Army conquering them one by one.

It was nearly dawn when Dong Rui finally spoke to He Yue: "The dust has settled. I'll take you back to camp now."

With the battle concluded, He Yue accompanied Dong Rui into the main camp of the Dragon God Army, experiencing firsthand the fierce, battle-hardened aura emanating from its ranks. Even after the battle, the main camp remained remarkably organized: areas were logically divided, supplies neatly stacked, personnel clearly assigned, and whistles echoed continuously. He Yue had the distinct impression that the Dragon God camp was like a colossal anthill. Despite the multitude of personnel and the complexity of tasks, everyone seemed to know their exact role, working with fervent energy yet in perfect order.

He had experienced war himself. As the ultimate victor of the War of the Yuan Nation, his father He Chunhua's army was already considered one of the few elite forces in that land, yet its operations were never as seamlessly precise as a machine. Here, it seemed even the cries of the wounded were somehow muted.

"Mr. Dong, has the Emperor returned to camp?"

"Not yet. He's at Sacred Spring Valley. He instructed me to take you directly to him." Knowing He Yue was unfamiliar with the local geography, Dong Rui further explained, "Sacred Spring Valley is the holy land of origin for the Kolin tribe, the primary tribe of the Ya Nation. Baiqiu Yuan is quite vast, actually the birthplace of several tribes."

He Yue was slightly surprised. Dong Rui had been by his side the entire time; when had he received He Lingchuan's instructions? But he immediately understood that there must be a secret method of communication between the two.

Dong Rui piloted the Snail-Toad, descending once more. Unfamiliar with the route, he changed directions twice before finally reaching Sacred Spring Valley. This was a secluded small mountain valley. Springwater flowing down from the peaks collected in a picturesque pool at the valley floor, nourishing the plants into lush greenery. A massive white stone lay in the pool. At first glance, this so-called "sacred place" seemed unremarkable, save for the signs of meticulous pruning on the plants by the water's edge, the bluestone slabs paving the forest paths, and the glowing spore-lamps hanging from the treetops, all clearly indicative of regular maintenance.

By the pool stood a small, sturdy hut built of stone and rammed earth, not elaborate but clearly durable, likely the dwelling of a caretaker. Light spilled from inside the hut, illuminating the solitary figure standing by the pool.

It was just one person.