Chapter 1597: Erasing the Black Armored General

As the general from the Splendid Empire had his soul instantly annihilated by Xu Yang's gaze, over 400 of the remaining 3,000 cultivators in the vicinity also gave up their resistance. Gone were their previous mysterious and powerful stances; they all knelt before Xu Yang like ants.

This time, however, Xu Yang showed no mercy. He appeared as decisive and kingly as ever. With a gentle wave of his hand, Long Kun, without hesitation, attacked simultaneously with the four surrounding Demon Sages! The more than 400 cultivators were executed on the spot.

“These individuals are opportunistic; it’s impossible for them to be loyal to any single force. Otherwise, if they truly had backbone, they wouldn't have chosen to grovel at our feet. Instead, they would have fought with their last drop of blood to break through the encirclement and deliver this vital information about the empire's future to its high command. Without even that much courage, these people are merely wasting air by living.”

Xu Yang’s cold words resounded. A powerful aura of authority immediately enveloped the minds of every warrior nearby.

The Beast Army, after all, had experienced Xu Yang's power and authority more than once. The ones truly more shocked and awestruck were the ten thousand warriors of the Barbarian Empire on the periphery. Even Twin Blade Third, the general of the Barbarian Empire's army, looked at the young man before him with new respect.

Initially, he had thought Xu Yang, with his graceful and youthful appearance, merely possessed a higher cultivation level. But now, Twin Blade Third realized that the young-looking Xu Yang was far more complex than he had imagined. Words like 'talent' and 'strength' alone were insufficient to describe the full extent of Xu Yang; they could only see the tip of his true power.

This deterrent force completely annihilated the remaining forces of the Splendid Empire's fifty thousand warriors, and the three thousand powerful cultivator regiments were also wiped out overnight. While such a loss was negligible for the vast Splendid Empire, its deterrent effect was immeasurable.

Meanwhile, the general leading the Black Armored Empire, along with his hundreds of death-sworn warriors behind him, had completely changed their demeanor.

“General! What should we do now? Their strength is likely beyond anything we can contend with. More importantly, the Barbarian Empire has joined the invaders' ranks. We have virtually no chance of breaking through.” Several death-sworn warriors from the Black Armored Empire discussed with their general.

Finally, the general, displaying a degree of pragmatism, put away his black spear and, with a panicked expression, knelt before Xu Yang. “Although you are an invader, your power has far exceeded our imagination. This humble general was blind to your might and previously offended you. I beg you to show mercy and spare my thousand-plus death-sworn warriors. I swear to be loyal unto death!”

Xu Yang burst into laughter. “Do you think I can’t see what’s in your mind?” Little did they know, Xu Yang was not so easily deceived. The moment his gaze met the Black Armored general’s eyes, Xu Yang’s powerful spiritual energy completely captured some of the thoughts in the general’s mind.

The Black Armored general, to some extent, possessed backbone and consistently held the prestige of the Black Armored Empire as the foremost empire as his belief. He was incomparable to the spineless general from the Splendid Empire. At the very least, this pride and mindset earned Xu Yang’s due respect.

“Let me guess. You plan to first show weakness to me, hoping I’ll be merciful and spare your hundreds of death-sworn warriors. Then, you’ll have them find an opportunity to tear through the Barbarian Empire warriors’ encirclement and transmit all information about what happened here back to the Black Armored Empire. Is my guess incorrect?”

When Xu Yang articulated the Black Armored general’s thoughts word for word, the general completely broke down. “How did you do that? Do you… do you read minds?”

Xu Yang sneered. “Such a method is nothing to a sufficiently powerful cultivator. The reason you display such surprise is because you have never encountered this level of cultivation. You can only blame yourselves for being frogs in a well, incapable of great responsibilities. Or rather, the creator of this Second Divine Temple world has, through their rules, bound you for too many years, causing you to lose the vision proper to a Kunlun Divine Path cultivator.

"It must be said, this is your sorrow, and the fundamental reason why the Second Divine Temple world should not have existed in the first place. Such a backward civilization has no room for progress. If your world wishes to continue existing, the path ahead is truly long and arduous. Fortunately, I have now led my Beast Army into the Second Divine Temple world. I, Xu Yang, will personally forge your future, a new era of civilization.”

After saying this, Xu Yang finally fixed his gaze on the Black Armored general. “You may rest now.”

As his words fell, Xu Yang struck out with a palm, instantly shattering the Black Armored general’s body in front of all the soldiers, turning him into a pulpy mess. Subsequently, under the influence of Long Kun’s stellar power, he quickly dissolved into nothingness. Everyone watched as Xu Yang dismantled the Black Armored general’s small scheme and then personally crushed him. No one dared to show any sign of resistance or defiance again. For everyone now clearly understood that the name Xu Yang was not someone of their realm could contend with.

Giving a glance to the four Demon Sages beside him, Xu Yang no longer paid attention to the about-to-rebel Black Armored death-sworn warriors. Soon, their screams rose and fell, echoing across the battlefield. However, the sounds did not last long before they completely vanished.

Afterward, Xu Yang approached Twin Blade Third. The peculiar murmuring from the other side also ceased entirely at that moment. All the Barbarian warriors in the outer encirclement began to clear the battlefield at the fastest possible speed, and, as per Xu Yang’s instructions, immediately stripped the armor from the warriors of the other two great empires. The relatively stronger elite demon warriors from the hundreds of thousands in the Beast Army were the first to be outfitted. After donning these specially made, powerful armors, it was exactly as Xu Yang had predicted. The overall combat strength of these demon warriors and their ability to conceal their aura were both enhanced.

After completing all tasks on the battlefield, Barbarian General Twin Blade Third, along with his ten thousand Barbarian warriors, collectively assembled before Xu Yang’s army and, in the manner of both collaborators and subordinates, bowed in reverence to their leader, Xu Yang.

“Excellent! It pleases me greatly to have such loyal followers and collaborators like you.”