500th year

'Things had just changed.'

Before this scroll came in, the Banshee raid was basically not in their main concerns. As such, the villagers might have thought that the only concern was the food and safety during winter weather.

Wu Chen has to get rid of this relaxed atmosphere. Everybody should prepare. 2 years ago, they had become complacent and that cost them everything.

Zhou Bing's life, his wives' lives, his retainers, the villagers, and Iron Beast Village. Everything just came crashing down the moment they let their guard down.

They could never let that happen. Letting yourself fall from the same obstacle is just stupidity.

With only one banshee magnet, they might actually have a chance. Wu Chen wanted to reprimand the chief for not warning of this threat sooner.

Although banshees were still considered a threat because they attack any human on sight, having someone attract them to where they were was an entirely different case.

Just like the smell of blood for beasts, the presence of a healthy 21 year old male attracts them like crazy. Zhou Kai is only 20 but he will be 21 this winter.

A favorite of banshees. Not under cooked, not over cooked, just right for harvesting. Kai's balls would be like perfectly poached eggs in the eyes of those monsters. They could only hope to not attract a big boss.

Just like that, morning came. The sun was a bit late.

***Fox Maple Castle***

Thousands of warriors stood in front of the Fox Maple Castle. They wore red robes with the sleepy Fiery Fox insignia. Right now, 3 of those warriors sat at the front. They are leading the bunch.

"Both the day and the night are cold. Autumn leaves fell down the paved roads. The blowing winds turn colder by the second. When the first snow finally falls, banshees will be summoned to hunt for balls." A certain woman with dark green hair said in a joking manner.

"Pffft! Hahahahaha! You got me good!" A man with deep red hair shouted.

They were talking among themselves and making the atmosphere lively. This was because they are apparently leading thousands of cultivators.

Just as they had more things to say, a deep and loud voice verberated.

"Xianlang, Sect elder Zhao Song, you two should have just stayed lying on your beds if you want to play." The third figure said. His statement made the other 2 shut up. This individual also wore a red robe. He had red hair and red eyes too. Before the other 2 could rebut, he suddenly shouted.

"WESTWAAAAARD! MARCH!"

'Delun's really stiff as always.'

Delun's voice was so powerful and loud that no one would miss it even if they tried.. Right after the shouting command, all who were subjected to the command marched directly in the west direction.

Their footsteps shook the earth. The marching beat was their heartbeat. Their eyes were lasers pointed west. The marching army had only one mind. It did not matter if they were young or old, a man or a woman, they were all warriors!

Some were on mounts of assorted kind. Some were riding their swords, some were just flying but most of them marched.

This scene also took place in other Dukedoms of the East Human Empire. All armies marched to the west. Some left earlier than the army of Fox Maple Dukedom but they have only one destination.

All dukedom armies do this every winter. Their disagreements and squabbles are set aside to confront a common enemy.

Their goal? Some say for rewards while some say for revenge. Others might also say for fulfillment, conquest, and glory. But everyone knows it is for survival.

***Somewhere in the Grand Capital***

2 individuals with indigo robes sat across each other at a garden table. They were drinking warm tea, perfect for countering the cold.

"General, it is that time of the year." A stoic, butler looking man spoke after sipping some tea.

"Already?! No! I sure hate it there! Can I skip this one time?" The general answered with puppy eyes. This general's demeanor was somewhat strange.

The stoic man's lips twitched with how the general acted. "Kuhum~. General, you have been away for 10 years and now you still don't want to go?"

"The others also went for the trials! How can you blame me!?" The General had pitiful eyes.

"General! The Empyrean Front needs you! The Emperor especially wanted you to be there! It is the 500th year of this war."

"500 or 1000! I don't care!"

"Sigh. General Xie, the Emperor, mentioned that after this year, you can choose to go for another trip in the trials." The stoic man finally gave in and had to use the final trump card.

He had no choice. The Empyrean Front was the last line of defense against the demons. It is a natural wall formed by a long mountain range that divided the Dawn Continent in half.

This was where humans held their ground for 500 years now. Thousands of cultivators are stationed here to repel the empire's enemies but winters are special.

Winter was when the battle was heated.

"Hahahaha! Really?! Fret no more for I, Great General Xie will surely gain advantage over those demon bastards! Just leave it to me! Hahahahaha!" The General appeared to be a 15 year old girl with Golden hair.

General Xie just laughed triumphantly. She drank the tea in one swift gulp and then took out a golden flying sword from her storage ring. The flying sword was blunt and had a 2.5 meter long blade with 30 centimeter width of the blade. The handle was 50 centimeters long.

"Hehe, Empyrean Front, here I come!" General Xie left with a sonic boom. She only appeared to be a streak of light. Even though it was still the day, she was like a shooting star.

The stoic man was at loss. 'What did I do to deserve being assigned to this one?'

***Lost Land***

The Lost Land was the Western Half of the Dawn Continent. The East Human Empire was the Eastern side. The two domains are divided by the Empyrean Front.

Lost Land was the term given to that place because humans once ruled the whole Dawn Continent until demons arrived here through a portal and laid claim on their land.

Currently, thousands of black and red figures flew here and there inside an underground castle. They seemed to be very busy and in a hurry.

These figures are all demons. Different species of demons. Some had insect appearances while some were more humanoid.

Think of any number and there surely is a demon who had that number of eyes. One-eyed, 3-eyed, 8-eyed, no eye, you name it.

A black and red figure sat on a stone throne. He was overseeing the activities. He had blackish skin, 4 hands, 2 feet, blood red eyes, and 2 protruding red horns.

His silence was broken by someone's voice.

"Baron Babanuki, we are at the final phase of the summoning ritual. It would be great if you could now do your finishing touches." The voice came from a one-eyed demon. It bowed in a 90 degree angle as he spoke in a respectful tone.

Babanuki simply glanced at who spoke and stood up. "This'll be the 500th no?" His voice was somewhat sweet but it had cruelty in its every syllable spoken.

"Y-Yes!"

"Soon. Very Soon." Babanuki reminiscenced about this arduous war. He was a cultivator and therefore had long lifespan nut, 500 years of repetitive sh*t began to bore him. 'If not for that old bastard, I would have spent less than a month eradicating these ants!'

His thinking just took a moment before he finally shrugged the distractions and decided to just do what he can. "Lead the way Isasa." Babanuki said in a gentle but at the same time, authoritative tone.

It seemed that summoning Banshees took a lot of effort. Top demons were needed for the ritual.

***Iron Beast Village Hall: Meeting hall***

The Elders of the village had a meeting led by Wu Chen. Ning this time was not there.

They all wore anxious faces as Wu Chen had only finished explaining about their actual situation. The situation is not good.

"What should we do?"

"Yin and Yang." Good news is always accompanied with some bad. Where there is light, there is darkness. Order cannot exist without chaos.

Kai recovered but the Banshee threats came with it. Fortunately, Wu Chen and Wu Chun were here to be figureheads while Kai was absent.

"Those who wish to leave can leave now. We would not hold it against you." Wu Chun said.

"..."

"No one?"

"..."

The elders just sat there. Of course this idea, which was to run and leave, entered their heads. After all, it was considered natural. However, they were the 'stubborn' ones that stayed here even at its lowest, how can they give up now?

After a few more moments of no one leaving, they finally started the distribution of loads.

Preparations preparations.