On the opposite side, the Great Monk stared at the Bronze War Island with disbelief written all over his face. How could this be? How did he manage to find him?
"Golden Light Arhat!" Zhongshan stared directly at the Great Monk across from him.
"Do you know me?" Golden Light Arhat frowned.
"I advise you, leave my sight immediately, get off Tianlang Island, or else..." Zhongshan's voice turned cold.
"Or else what? Hmph, Emperor Da Jing? You have countless Imperial Realm experts by your side, so you might be safe, but not a single soldier below, oh, including that Wei Yinglan, will survive," Golden Light Arhat sneered coldly.
"Oh? You think you can kill my one million soldiers?" Zhongshan's eyes chilled.
"Within the Arhat Formation, I am the master. My 108 disciples will lead the Yin Yue Imperial Army into the formation. In just half an hour, your army will be annihilated. Can't you hear the voices from below?" Golden Light Arhat laughed excitedly.
"The Arhat Formation? You are the master? From the moment I found you, you ceased to be the master! Since you are so obstinate, then go!" Zhongshan's eyes narrowed coldly.
"Go?" Golden Light Arhat furrowed his brows, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes. Go? What does he mean?
"Szzzzz——" Suddenly, a purple sword shot out from Golden Light Arhat's chest, piercing his heart.
"Szzziiinnnggg——" The purple sword was swiftly withdrawn, leaving only a purple shadow. The sword disappeared without a trace.
Everyone widened their eyes in disbelief. What just happened? How? Who was that? A sword stabbed Golden Light Arhat to death? How did Golden Light not notice someone approaching? No, after the sword stabbed Golden Light Arhat, it disappeared. This stealth ability is too strong. Who?
Who was it? The Chief Commander of the Imperial Guards of Da Jing Dynasty, Shadow Emperor!
Last time, he concealed his aura and managed to meet Zhongshan on the Divine Land of Shenzhou without being detected by A Da. Today, he deceived Golden Light Arhat. Naturally, it was not a problem. Since their last separation, the Shadow Emperor had gone to receive the legacy left by the Nameless Old Man.
Upon his return, Zhongshan didn't ask what the Shadow Emperor had gained but only how strong he was now. The Shadow Emperor replied with, "I can assassinate an Imperial Realm expert." That was enough!
In the moment when Golden Light Arhat was pierced through the heart by the Shadow Emperor's sword, the whole world seemed to sway. The endless maple leaves around suddenly dispersed.
Returning to the previous desolate environment.
In the distance, the Yin Yue Imperial Army was swiftly approaching. The 108 bald monks looked incredulous.
"Archers, fire——" Yinglan commanded.
Immediately, tens of thousands of Breaking Gang Arrows shot straight into the sky where Golden Light had been.
"Boom——" Unable to deploy the strongest shield, the hastily erected shield only managed to block three thousand Breaking Gang Arrows before being pierced through like a sieve by the subsequent barrage.
Imperial Realm? So what if it's Imperial Realm? Aren't there countless Imperial Realm experts Zhongshan had killed in the past?
"Boom——" Frustrated, Golden Light exploded into pieces.
A golden divine light shot towards the distance in utter frustration.
"Pa——" In the void, it was as though a fox tail lightly patted a transparent light shadow, and the golden divine light shadow was swiftly swept over to Zhongshan, and it was instantly collected into his body, the finest supplement of Eight Extreme Sky Tail.
"Root god knowledge?" On the side, the Azure Cloud Wolf Commander sneered, with an unbelieving look
"Prepare the troops to meet the enemy!" Yinglan commanded.
"Roar~~~~~~~" The generals and soldiers roared in unison, rallying to confront the Yin Yue Imperial Army.
Yin Yue Imperial City, Jinling City, Six Paths Study.
Six Dao sat in front of his desk, surrounded by a group of courtiers.
"Golden Light Arhat is unexpectedly so incompetent!" Du Xiu frowned.
"It's not that Golden Light Arhat is incompetent, but the momentum of the Da Jing Dynasty is too overwhelming. Although the later army severely damaged Wei Yinglan's forces, our own forces were completely annihilated during this period," Six Dao sighed deeply.
"The Da Jing Dynasty's military prowess is increasing. They are now getting closer and closer to Jinling City. Your Majesty, just received news that Lin Xiao and Yi Yan's forces are gathering from both sides towards Wei Yinglan. They are preparing to attack Jinling City in one fell swoop!" Du Xiu expressed his concern.
"They won't be able to break through Jinling City. As long as we can delay them for another month, reinforcements will arrive. Who is willing to lead the troops to hold back the Da Jing Dynasty for a month?" Six Dao looked at the generals and asked.
However, who could guarantee that they could hold back the Da Jing Dynasty for a month? The Da Jing Dynasty's army was unstoppable, advancing straight towards the Yin Yue Imperial City without a single defeat along the way!
"Your Majesty, perhaps we should retreat to the Divine Land of Shenzhou," Du Xiu suggested.
"Retreat? You want me to abandon our foundation here? Absolutely not!" Six Dao's eyes narrowed.
"But..." Du Xiu sighed deeply, understanding how difficult this decision was. However, the Da Jing Dynasty's military was too unpredictable, too powerful. It forced Du Xiu to consider this last resort.
"I will go!" Suddenly, Mr. Corpse, who never took the initiative, spoke up.
Seeing Mr. Corpse volunteering, Six Dao first felt joy, but then furrowed his brows.
"Mr. Corpse, you?" Six Dao was somewhat uncertain.
"One month, you can rest assured," Mr. Corpse nodded and said expressionlessly.
"Very well, how many troops do you need?" Six Dao asked after a moment of thought.
"No need, I alone am sufficient," Mr. Corpse replied.
"Alright, Mr. Corpse, I rely on you," Six Dao immediately said.
"Hmm," Mr. Corpse nodded. Then he solemnly bowed to Six Dao.
Seeing Mr. Corpse's gesture, Six Dao frowned. Did Mr. Corpse's bow carry a hint of farewell?
Mr. Corpse bowed and then left.
Returning to his residence, he packed his belongings and looked towards the direction of Six Dao's study with a faint smile. "Over these years, I've repaid my debts to you. This is the last time. Regardless, I will hold back the Da Jing Dynasty for a month. If Zhongshan wins, I will stay in the Da Jing Dynasty. If Zhongshan dies because of me, then Tianlang Island will no longer be of interest to me. I hope to see you again in the Divine Land of Shenzhou."
Finished speaking, Mr. Corpse stepped forward, and a white cloud lifted him up, heading southward.
On Bronze War Island, Zhongshan saw large armies approaching from both east and west.
"Linxiao, Yi Yan's armies are gathering here rapidly. Each of them leads nearly two million soldiers. The ground is stirring up a billowing dust storm as they rush over with unparalleled momentum."
"The First Legion, Linxiao, pays respects to Your Majesty!"
"The Third Legion, Yi Yan, pays respects to Your Majesty!"
Hundreds of thousands of soldiers simultaneously shouted, "Long live His Majesty!"
"Come up," Zhongshan smiled.
"Yes!" Yi Yan and Linxiao immediately flew up to Bronze War Island.
The First Legion, two million soldiers. The Second Legion, one million soldiers. The Third Legion, two million soldiers.
A total of five million troops stood beneath Bronze War Island, gazing up with immense reverence.
"Your Majesty, we are now close to Jinling City. Within a few days at most, we can launch a decisive attack and take it down!" Yinglan said immediately.
Zhongshan was about to reply when Princess Qianyou suddenly spoke up, "There's someone ahead."
Everyone's hearts tightened as they looked into the distance. Before them lay a vast plain, seemingly endless with just wild grasses scattered about.
In the center of this plain stood a man in a coarse robe. His face was extremely pale, devoid of any color, and he sported a small beard on his chin. Despite facing five million troops, he showed no fear, only calmness and indifference.
"Yin Yue Imperial Dynasty, Mr. Corpse!" Yi Yan said softly.
"Mr. Corpse?" Zhongshan walked slowly to the forefront of Bronze War Island.
"I have arrived. Are you ready?" Mr. Corpse said calmly from afar.
"Ready whenever you are!" Zhongshan called out.
Mr. Corpse's face twisted into a strange smile. Suddenly, he extended his right hand, and as he swung his sleeve, a large amount of black smoke billowed out. Initially pitch-black as it left his sleeve, the smoke swiftly dissipated into the surrounding air and eerily seeped into the ground below.
"What was this plain before?" Zhongshan immediately asked.
"An ancient battlefield. It has been a battlefield since ancient times, long before the Yin Yue Imperial Dynasty was born. Countless lives have perished here. At one point, the ground was soaked red with blood," Qingyun Wolf Commander said promptly.
"An ancient battlefield?" Zhongshan raised an eyebrow.
"Rumble~~~~~~"
The earth ahead suddenly trembled. The plain shook irregularly, causing the five million troops of the Da Jing Dynasty to step back slightly. The cavalrymen were particularly uneasy, their restless steeds fearing the ground beneath them.
"Splash~~~~~~"
Not far from Mr. Corpse, a patch of soil was the first to be disturbed. No, it seemed to be unearthed. Everyone stared, pupils shrinking. From the overturned soil, a skeletal hand suddenly emerged.
One skeletal hand broke through the soil, followed by countless others all across the plain. They weren't just skeletal hands; they were humanoid skeletons.
From where it first emerged, a terrifying skeleton slowly crawled out from underground.
(To be continued...)