Chapter 1541: Black Sun King's Command

Everyone's hearts sank.

In the decisive battle, Tai Cang Prefecture was likely to be completely annihilated. The sects behind them, their boundless homeland, and the countless beings who placed their hopes in them, would all fall beneath the iron hooves of the ancient giants.

Daoist Head Xuan Yi of Sanqing Mountain, clutching his incessantly bleeding broken arm, gritted his teeth and said, "What is there to fear? It's just death!"

Everyone cast complex glances at him.

Sanqing Mountain was the most disliked sect among the Seven Great Teachings of the Three Divine Sects. Leveraging its position as the largest alchemy sect, it had frequently oppressed them. From the distant Canghai to the nearby small and medium-sized sects, who hadn't suffered because of them?

Yet, in today's battle, Sanqing Mountain had earned their newfound respect. Their bravery was no less than that of the Fire Worship Sect or White Horse Temple. Daoist Head Xuan Yi, in particular, had faced death without hesitation, using soul techniques to kill several seven-aperture giants.

"Why are you looking at me?" Daoist Xuan Yi sneered. "What, is Jiang Fan the only one with guts in this world? Are we of Sanqing Mountain just worthless good-for-nothings waiting to die?" As he spoke, he turned to glance at the Sanqing Mountain disciples beside him. Most were injured, and their morale was low.

He raised an eyebrow and huffed, "Don't look like you're half-dead! If you're going to die, die on the battlefield! Don't let anyone think we of Sanqing Mountain are only strong when bullying our own! Let's go!"

The slumped morale of the Sanqing Mountain disciples was instantly revitalized.

"Say we of Sanqing Mountain are gluttonous and lazy, and I have nothing to say. But who dares to call us cowards? I'll take them on!"

"Let's go! Let's compete on the battlefield!"

"The Daoist Head is right; it's death either way, so what's there to be afraid of?"

The Sanqing Mountain disciples erupted with powerful fighting spirit and surged mightily towards the Forbidden Land.

The outcome of a difficult war is determined not only by favorable timing and terrain but also by human unity. The more desperate the situation, the more crucial morale becomes. In historical battles where the few triumphed over the many, the disadvantaged side always had high morale. And a Sanqing Mountain Daoist Head who led by example had an unparalleled uplifting effect on morale.

The Fire Worship Cult Master scoffed, "These scoundrels usually act like flies, but now they're behaving like proper people."

"Members of the Fire Worship Cult, if any of you are willing to be outdone by Sanqing Mountain, then leave the cult now! Don't bring shame upon us! Those who aren't willing, follow me!"

He raised his arm and called out, and the Fire Worship Cult members immediately became spirited.

"Are you kidding? Am I going to be inferior to those smelly rats from Sanqing Mountain?"

"A joke! When could Sanqing Mountain ever compare to our Fire Worship Cult?"

"Let's go, let's see who kills more giants!"

Abbot Puguang of White Horse Temple clasped his palms together and said, "Amitābha. To realize one's errors and return to the right path is a great good."

"The Daoist Head of Sanqing Mountain, having been detained by Benefactor Jiang for two months, has been so influenced by him that he has achieved instant enlightenment."

"Benefactor Jiang is indeed a Buddhist Son personally chosen by a Bodhisattva; it's a pity he is not part of our Buddhist sect."

With a smile on his face, he led the remaining monks of White Horse Temple, who also hastened to the front.

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion Master wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and counted the number of Heavenly Secret Pavilion members. A trace of sorrow flashed in his eyes. One person was missing. He tried not to think about who had fallen, instead fixating on the ancient giants towering like mountains, and said:

"Jiang Fan is waiting for us!"

"Let's go!"

The Heavenly Secret Pavilion did not need their morale boosted. Because Jiang Fan was their greatest source of morale. As long as he was still there, their morale was soaring.

The Sand Giant King gazed at the allied forces from the east and west lines, rapidly converging. Its vertical eye narrowed, and it said chillingly, "These fearless insects!"

Not a single sect had a deserter! Except for those severely wounded and unable to move, lying on the ground, everyone who still had fighting capability had gathered. They were facing six Giant Kings and four hundred ancient giants!

This was a certain death trap. They were rushing towards an inevitable demise. Yet, no one retreated!

For the first time, he felt that the Central Land might not be the sacred land that generations of giants had spoken of. The resistance of the beings here was far stronger than rumored. The Soul Giant King's voice also became more solemn: "A hunting expedition has turned into a decisive battle."

"The will of Tai Cang Prefecture has exceeded expectations."

Immediately, its gaze turned cold: "But precisely for that reason, not a single one of them can be left alive! If one escapes, it will influence a group of weak beings to resist. If a group escapes, fierce resistance will erupt across Tai Cang Prefecture. The war that lasted sixty years a millennium ago will re-emerge."

The Shadow Giant King said chillingly, "Is that why His Lordship commanded us to hold our ground?" They had not made a move, precisely to give humanity a chance for a decisive battle, to prevent them from scattering and forming guerrilla warfare.

Under the gaze of the six Giant Kings and four hundred ancient giants, the human armies from the east and west lines finally converged. The Seven Great Teachings of the Three Divine Sects, along with over seventy or eighty small and medium-sized sects, had all gathered.

Venerable Heart Demon, Venerable Evil Crow, and Bodhisattva stood at the very front. Jian Lanjiang stood behind them, carrying a war corpse on his back. Jiang Fan stood atop the barrier of light, his gaze fixed far away on the Soul Giant King.

The two sides stood in confrontation. Blood clouds rolled across the sky, and the scent of blood filled the silent battlefield, carried by the long winds sweeping across the plains.

A chilling silence permeated the air, thick with killing intent. The ground of the decisive battle was deathly silent. Both sides stared intently at each other. One side sought to devour the other, the other sought to annihilate its foe.

This was a battle for the survival of their races, a fight to the death!

When the fighting spirit of both sides had reached its peak, and the grim resolve could be felt through the very air, from deep within the Forbidden Land, an indifferent voice rang out:

"Meaningless struggle. When our Black Sun King descends, who among you will survive?"

These words sent a tremor through the allied army's hearts.

Indeed. The true terror of the Black Sun Royal Court was not the Giant Kings and ancient giant soldiers before them. It was the five-star Giant King who governed the court! Even if they won this decisive battle, what good would it do?

Once the five-star Giant King descended, it would still be a dead end. This resistance was destined to be meaningless.

Even the Venerables' expressions subtly changed. Their resolve wavered slightly.

"Then why hasn't he descended?" From atop the barrier of light, Jiang Fan's cold voice reverberated through the entire field. "If he could descend, would you still have suffered such a crushing defeat?"

Everyone came to a realization. If the Black Sun King could have come, he would have done so long ago. He was likely being held back by the Scarlet Sleeve Asura King, whom Jiang Fan had contacted.

Venerable Heart Demon also understood the Giant King's intention before them and scoffed, "Trying to break our morale with words? Don't even dream of it! Besides, even if he could descend, what then? We're going to die anyway; wouldn't it be more satisfying to drag a bunch of you ancient giants down with us?"

The Nascent Soul army suddenly awakened. Whether the Black Sun King descended or not, they were going to die. Was it better to die ignominiously, or to die gloriously, dragging enemies down with them?

Did they even need to choose? In an instant, the low morale surged dramatically once more!

In the Forbidden Land, a sharp gaze shot towards Jiang Fan. Clearly annoyed that he had ruined its plan, the voice deeply huffed:

"The Black Sun King has commanded: Whoever kills Wang Chongxiao, that person and their sect shall be exempt from hunting for generations!"