Chapter 504: Bad News

The battle on the ground intensified. Although the Saintly Salan Clan's offensive was fierce, various legions retreated in an orderly fashion, supported by Feng Hai County's golden net and amidst the roar of countless magical artifacts.

Furthermore, war puppets, formed by numerous cultivators integrating themselves, rushed out to meet them.

These puppets varied in size, from gigantic ones a thousand zhang tall to smaller ones dozens of zhang in height. Each contained multiple formations, and the number of cultivators integrated within them differed.

Some held thousands of people, while others had nearly a hundred.

These war puppets were, for instance, responsible for previously slaying the reapers. The cultivators within them merged their cultivation, unleashing battle power comparable to cultivators in various stages of the Spirit Repository realm. Tens of thousands of puppets, both large and small, could be seen across the field.

Consequently, the human legions on the battlefield quickly approached the golden net under this continuous retreat and rapidly withdrew behind it.

At the same time, the Scarlet Spirit Emperor in the sky, gazing at the Palace Master, once again spoke with a voice like heavenly might.

"Kong Liangxiu, the Black Sky Tribe and humans are currently engaged in battle, and the scale of that inter-domain war far surpasses this place. Therefore, the human imperial capital's great domain is unable to send reinforcements. You needn't wait; you have no reinforcements."

"Furthermore, regarding the war in the human imperial capital's great domain, all the great clans of the Ancient Continent are observing. The moment your human race shows even a hint of decline, other groups will rise up to exterminate you."

"Do you know why all this is happening?" the Scarlet Spirit Emperor asked calmly.

"Because the Blazing Moon Profound Heaven Dynasty, one of the Supreme Ancient Clans of the Ancient Continent, is nearing its 400,000th year Hunting Ceremony since its establishment. The ancient pact is also about to expire, and no clan wishes to become its prey. At this time, the human race, without a Domain War Treasure, is naturally the best sacrifice. By offering you, other groups can enjoy another 100,000 years of peace."

"Therefore, Kong Liangxiu, the tide has turned, and you don't have much time. I, the Emperor, can offer you a chance: surrender to my Saintly Salan Clan. This is the only way for you to preserve Feng Hai County."

These words, uttered by the Scarlet Spirit Emperor, were not just directed at the Palace Master of the Sword-Wielding Palace but spread throughout the entire battlefield, even penetrating the golden net to reach the ears of all human cultivators present.

Clearly, this was a deliberate act.

In an instant, everyone who heard felt their minds tremble. The Scarlet Spirit Emperor's words possessed a profound power, causing an uncontrollable wave of despair to rise within them.

"To destroy the will to resist in my Feng Hai County, you utter such absurd words as an Emperor. Scarlet Spirit Emperor, you are anxious."

The Palace Master's voice remained as calm as ever, without any ripple, like a steadfast rock. Though turbulent waves crashed against it, it still possessed the ability to stabilize the sea.

As his voice echoed, the turmoil created among Feng Hai County's human cultivators by the Scarlet Spirit Emperor's words was swiftly calmed.

In the very next instant, the Palace Master stepped out from the sky. As he raised his right hand, the Emperor's Sword beside him shone brilliantly, its shape changing to transform into a long spear. He grasped it and charged directly at the Scarlet Spirit Emperor.

As they clashed, heaven and earth changed color, and they ascended directly into the sky. Although their figures quickly disappeared from the battlefield below, the fluctuations emanating from the sky were immensely intense.

The battle on the ground also continued.

After all human legions returned, the forbidden glow of the county capital shone. Forbidden magical artifacts from various sects across Feng Hai County manifested spirit forms on the great net, fully erupting and roaring outwards in an attempt to halt the incoming tide.

However, Feng Hai County possessed only the strength of a single county, far inferior to a domain of the Saintly Salan Clan. Thus, the pace of the battle, from beginning to end, was dictated by the Saintly Salan Clan.

Even facing only one nation of the Scarlet Spirit, they found it difficult to resist and could only barely hold their ground, delaying the time of collapse while awaiting reinforcements from the imperial capital.

Time slowly passed. Soon, seven days had gone by.

This conventional battle continued until now. Day and night, roars constantly echoed, and the fighting continued without cease.

Although the Palace Master had not returned, everything remained relatively orderly under the arrangements of the Vice Palace Master and the grand elders of the Sword-Wielding Courts from various states. The defensive line, after several near-collapses, ultimately held firm.

The fifth defensive line, located ten thousand li to the rear, was also mostly constructed.

Xu Qing, meanwhile, had entered the battlefield more than once to adapt to the rhythm of war, familiarizing himself with the various legions and fighting as much as ever, inflicting many casualties. Injuries, however, were unavoidable.

Although he had purple crystal for recovery, the mental exhaustion could not dissipate. It accumulated continuously in his heart, clogging his throat and rendering him silent.

He also encountered Spirit Repository cultivators of the Saintly Salan Clan several times on the battlefield.

Fortunately, he did not delve too deeply and barely managed to save his life. However, there was one occasion when he was severely wounded and near death.

Finally, he met Kong Xianglong and joined his squad. Together with Shanhezi and hundreds of others, he piloted a war puppet, participating more deeply in the battle.

Under the Saintly Salan Clan's frantic assault, Feng Hai County's side had no time to rest for seven days. In a war of such intensity, everyone's nerves were taut.

Only during legion rotations was there a brief period of rest. Each time, Kong Xianglong would lie on the ground, staring blankly at the sky, not uttering a single word.

Shanhezi was also the same; he, who usually disliked drinking, now leaned against the scarred, massive puppet, drinking with a face full of stubble.

Despite being in his youth, his face now bore the marks of hardship.

Xu Qing heard that Wang Chen had also fallen in battle half a month ago, on the third day after Ye Ling's death.

It was to support Shanhezi.

His remains were not found during the war's intermission when both sides cleared the battlefield; they had merged with countless flesh and blood, leaving no complete body. Xu Qing silently looked up into the distance. The sky was dim, with red light flickering occasionally, filling everything as far as the eye could see.

In that direction was another frontline in the western war zone, also where the great army of Yinghuang State was garrisoned.

The Captain was there, and Old Ancestor Xuelianzi was also there.

"Hopefully, they are safe," Xu Qing muttered inwardly.

He couldn't transmit messages via jade slip; it was restricted on the battlefield. Only battle reports could be sent.

Oppression, silence — this was the rhythm of the battlefield.

The rest time, however, was very brief.

With the arrival of the order to deploy, Kong Xianglong climbed up, heading straight for the war puppet, which was covered in flesh and blood and had countless damaged spots, without saying a word.

This was already the seventh puppet they had replaced in seven days.

Shanhezi carefully placed his wine jar down and walked over as well.

Xu Qing silently stood up, boarded the puppet with hundreds of gathered cultivators, and sat cross-legged inside.

As their cultivation spread, the puppet instantly shuddered, slowly emitting an oppressive aura. It stepped towards the battlefield, moving with the trembling of the ground.

As it moved, many fragments of flesh fell from the puppet's joint crevices. Some belonged to reapers, but more often, it was the blood of Saintly Salan peak warriors that fell to the ground, only to be crushed again by the war puppets advancing from behind.

In the war puppet Xu Qing was in, he was responsible for the left hand, which controlled destructive power.

Sitting cross-legged inside, Xu Qing looked at the approaching battlefield through the light barrier protecting the surface. Unconsciously, his expression had become like everyone else's, showing a touch of numbness.

As he passed by the mountain of discarded puppets, Xu Qing saw there were no living people there.

The limping old man who had told him to return alive lay among the discarded puppets, his corpse a purplish-black, a clear sign of being submerged by anomalous substances.

Xu Qing had seen too many such corpses in the Southern Phoenix Continent back then.

They died silently.

Xu Qing was silent. In the next instant, the puppet he was in surged out of the golden net and, along with tens of thousands of identical puppets, converged into a grand army and charged forward.

Time passed.

On the evening of the tenth day, the Palace Master returned.

His appearance significantly boosted the morale of Feng Hai County's human race, and a faint light seemed to appear in everyone's eyes.

With the Palace Master's return, this conventional battle also entered an intermission as the Saintly Salan Clan chose to rest.

During this period, both sides would dispatch small teams to retrieve their own fallen comrades' bodies as completely as possible from the battlefield. Although they would clash and fight upon encountering each other, they would ultimately instinctively choose to avoid prolonged conflict.

Xu Qing also left Kong Xianglong's squad; he was summoned back to the main tent by the Palace Master.

When he saw the Palace Master again, he saw no sign of injuries on him. In fact, a rich flame of life emanated from his eyes, and his aura of killing intent was even stronger.

This was illogical.

The battle between the Palace Master and the Scarlet Spirit Emperor had lasted so long; it was impossible for him to have no injuries at all.

Xu Qing looked at the Palace Master, hesitating for a moment, then softly conveyed the information he had investigated in Chaoxia State. Simultaneously, he took out the Palace Master's token and handed it over with both hands.

The Palace Master took it, looked at it in his hand, then tossed it back to Xu Qing.

"There are two of these tokens in total; you keep this one. Perhaps it can provide you with self-preservation power in the future. Even if a new county governor arrives and all permissions on this token are canceled, the power I've imbued in it to activate a forbidden magical artifact once cannot be canceled."

"Palace Master," Xu Qing said, looking at the old man before him, waves rising in his heart.

"Xu Qing, you must have gained some understanding of the battlefield these past few days, right?" The Palace Master interrupted Xu Qing, looking up with a serious expression, but sighing inwardly.

He held high hopes for Xu Qing, originally intending to observe and cultivate him long-term so that he would eventually become one of his successors. But the arrival of war changed everything.

Time was running out.

"I have some understanding," Xu Qing said softly, lowering his head.

"Then, from now on, you will continue as an accompanying scribe. Start recording!" The Palace Master's gaze fell outside the main tent as he spoke calmly.

Xu Qing immediately acknowledged and took out a recording jade slip.

"Order the Sixth and Seventh Legions to retreat ten thousand li and garrison at the fifth defensive line."

"Order the legions from Yinghuang State and Quzhao State to retreat thirty-eight thousand li and garrison at the Yuheng Mountain Range."

"Order the Fourth and Fifth Legions to retreat seventy thousand li and garrison at the border of Yutian State."

"Order the Judicial Department to disperse throughout Linlan State, clear out all remaining Black-Clad Guards, and secure the route to Yutian State."

"Order Yutian State to keep their large-scale teleportation arrays continuously active from this moment on!"

"Secretly order the First Legion to proceed to the earth veins of Yutian and Qiling States, check the burning conditions of the earth fire, and accelerate the evacuation of mortals from both states."

Hearing this, Xu Qing looked up at the Palace Master.

"Palace Master, if so, only the Sword-Wielding Palace and the Second and Third Legions will remain here."

The Palace Master closed his eyes and spoke calmly.

"Go and deliver the orders!"

Xu Qing lowered his head and stepped back. Just as he was about to exit the main tent, he couldn't help but speak softly.

"Palace Master, Brother Kong's spirits have been a bit low recently." The Palace Master did not speak.

Xu Qing waited for a moment, then silently departed.

After Xu Qing left, the Palace Master opened his eyes. The vigorous flame of life that had previously shone within them rapidly dimmed but quickly reignited, though the cost was fresh blood overflowing from the corner of his mouth.

Outside the main tent, Xu Qing saw Kong Xianglong standing there.

Kong Xianglong looked at Xu Qing, nodded, then walked inside as a summons echoed from within the tent.

Watching the dispirited Kong Xianglong, Xu Qing sighed softly in his heart. But he had to compose himself, gather the Scribes Department, and begin delivering orders.

Thus, time on the battlefield passed day by day.

The war continued, growing increasingly fierce. While casualties surged daily, the military camps became much emptier than usual as legions were progressively redeployed.

Only corpses piled up there, one by one, growing ever more numerous.

Xu Qing walked through the military camp, proceeding silently. Twenty-three days had passed since he arrived at the battlefield.

During these twenty-three days, he had witnessed too much death, countless miseries, and a living hell. And he had long grown accustomed to the constant roar in his ears. Today was another intermission in the fighting between the two sides. He intended to come here to find some people to join his Scribes Department.

Because the Scribes Department also had the duty to accompany troops into battle, hundreds had died so far.

Now, not enough remained.

Thinking of the daily death toll he witnessed in the war, Xu Qing's footsteps felt heavy. The Palace Master came to his mind; the other party was clearly becoming increasingly abnormal.

No one