"The Western frontline army of the Southern Barbarians consists of eight main corps. That region falls under the domain of the Holy Spirit Court, with defenses set up along Demon God Valley, Soul-Breaking Cliff, Mausoleum Battlefield, Netherworld Valley, and the Thunder Mountain Range, extending northward until it meets the Northern Shattered Abyss."
"The defense system comprises three layers, all under the overall command of the Holy Spirit Court's Marshal Tuo Hong. The sub-commanders of Soul-Breaking Cliff Pass, Netherworld Pass, and Mausoleum Pass are Sang Duxing, Kalet, and the Nether Soul Divine Venerable, respectively."
The Holy Spirit Court harbored a divine entity known as the Nine Nether God, an old monster with a minor divine ability called the Nine Nether Dao. This ability could open pathways to the Netherworld Realm, summoning Nether Soldiers and Nether Generals.
"Furthermore, the Nine Nether Dao could transport entire armies, allowing them to appear at any location on the Western Front battlefield," Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable explained in great detail. As Yun Tiandao listened, he couldn't help but find it strange.
"The Nine Nether God has such a divine ability? Why didn't we see it in action when we fought the Xia Dynasty?"
His voice was low, but Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable still heard him. With a displeased expression, he snapped, "Who the hell are you to question me? You think you know better? Why don't you explain it instead?"
"I'm Yun—"
"Big Brother, what's this guy even talking about? If he knows so much, let him explain!" Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable snorted. "Clueless fool!"
Hearing this, Yun Tiandao wisely shut his mouth.
Zhao Xing, witnessing Yun Tiandao getting scolded, couldn't help but find it amusing. Over the years in the Southern Barbarians, Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's strength and influence had skyrocketed, and so had his temper.
"He's my adviser; he won't interrupt again."
With a smile, Zhao Xing gestured, "Brother Purple Bone, please continue."
Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable resumed, "The biggest weakness of the Western Front's troops is that their souls are powerful, but their physical bodies are weak."
"That's why, whenever they use soul-based techniques, their true bodies remain behind the defensive walls, requiring the main army's protection. To ensure they remain undetected, eighty percent of their defensive forces have been replaced by mechanized puppets."
Zhao Xing nodded slightly. Mechanized puppets had no souls or karma, making it impossible to track them through fate divination.
Furthermore, they emitted no life force, making them incredibly difficult for scouting units to detect. Only those skilled in the Dao of Mechanisms—Mechanists—could uncover them.
Three years had passed since crossing Yinyou Mountain, and Great Zhou's losses had been increasing. The issue with the Western Front was simple: they couldn't locate the enemy. The Holy Spirit Court possessed methods to turn soldiers into mist or phantoms, making them undetectable.
Their reliance on Nether Soldiers and Nether Generals meant an endless supply of troops. No matter how many were killed, more appeared—an army of souls.
The Shaman Priests controlling these Nether Soldiers always stayed far behind the front lines.
Because their coordinates couldn't be pinpointed, neither long-range strikes nor assassination attempts could be effectively carried out.
Even when their location was determined, the defensive system designed by Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable for the spiritual army ensured that the Holy Spirit Court's vital forces remained well-protected.
"Big Brother, bring in a Mechanist. I'll tell them how to break through." Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable suddenly said.
"And make sure you get someone skilled—at least on par with Great Zhou's Junior Chief of Engineers. If they're lower-ranked, they won't understand a damn thing."
"Understood."
Zhao Xing nodded. "Give me a moment; they'll be here soon."
The Southern Barbarians' original predictions had not been wrong—Puta's legacy was enough to alter the course of war.
Ever since Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable inherited it, his mastery of the Dao of Mechanisms had indeed made him the strongest Mechanist of the era. More importantly, he was an all-rounder, excelling in both the Shenluo Flow and Dao Soldier Flow of mechanized techniques.
Before long, Lu Ying entered the hall, bringing Chen Ju with him.
"You're Lu Ying?"
Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's hollow eyes examined him.
"And you're Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable?" Lu Ying's gaze sharpened.
"Wrong—I am the Divine Venerable!" A ghostly fire flickered in Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's purple eyes.
"This… Grand Shennong, you, he…?"
Even Chen Ju was bewildered.
Why was the enemy's chief Mechanist casually chatting with Grand Shennong Zhao Xing?
"Lu Ying, Chen Ju, Purple Bone is one of us."
Zhao Xing spoke calmly, "As for why, you don't need to ask."
Back then, Lu Ying had actually known about Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable, but as Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's status rose, Ji Che and Zhao Xing decided that his existence must remain a secret to avoid being discovered by the Moon God. So, they strengthened the confidentiality measures.
Aside from Zhao Xing, Lord Luo, Ji Si, and Ji Che, no one else knew the truth about Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable. Only now did Lu Ying realize that Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable had been on their side all along.
"Divine Venerable's might is unparalleled. I humbly submit." Lu Ying cupped his hands in a gesture of respect.
As Grand Engineer, Lu Ying had designed the mechanized warfare system for Great Zhou, which had been nearly invincible in the first phase of war. Yet, when facing Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable, he felt like he had hit an unbreakable iron wall.
In the past three years of warfare, Great Zhou had failed to gain any advantage in mechanized combat or divine weaponry. This had left Lu Ying questioning everything he knew. He had even contemplated resigning.
After reevaluating the situation, he realized that if it weren't for the Southern Barbarians' underdeveloped industrial base and less sophisticated mechanized manufacturing system, the mechanized warfare system he had built for the Military Realm would not only fail to gain an advantage but might even be suppressed.
At the highest level of mechanized warfare, he had already lost. The fact that Lord Luo had to seek Zhao Xing's assistance was clear evidence of this.
It could be said that Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable, through his own efforts, had brought the Southern Barbarians' mechanized techniques to an unprecedented height—just like how Zhao Xing had elevated battlefield logistics to a whole new level!
The title of Southern Barbarian Savior was no exaggeration!
"Hahaha~" Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's jawbone opened and closed, as if laughing, a smug look on his skeletal face.
"Alright, Brother Purple Bone, let's get to business."
Zhao Xing shot him a glance.
"Understood, Big Brother."
Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable nodded.
"Let Lu Ying grasp the Heavenly Mechanism Command, I will transmit the information to him."
Zhao Xing handed over a short rod to Lu Ying.
"Click-click-click!"
A surge of purple light erupted from Lu Ying's forehead, and a translucent matrix projection flickered on his abdomen, resonating with the glow of the Heavenly Mechanism Command.
The entire process lasted about three hours.
By the time it ended, Lu Ying's expression had turned immensely excited. It was clear he had received an overwhelming amount of classified information.
"The Western Front is controlled by the Holy Spirit Court, the Eastern Front by the Fiery Light Court, and the Northern Front by the Purple Dragon Court and the Golden Feather Court."
"Big Brother, I've already given Lu Ying all the mechanized defense blueprints, troop deployments, fortifications, hidden backdoors in the mechanized constructs, and weak points."
Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable reported.
"If you're not in a rush, we can drag this war out for five years. With my assistance, we can gradually weaken the Southern Barbarians' national strength."
"If you want to speed things up, three years should be enough to completely crush them."
"But if you plan to launch a decisive battle, you must inform me in advance."
"Right now, the Moon God hasn't noticed anything unusual, but once you act, that might change. I'll need time to prepare for my departure."
Zhao Xing nodded.
"Rest assured, Brother Purple Bone, our fates are tied together. If you prosper, I prosper; if you fall, I fall."
"This plan is built upon ensuring your safety. Otherwise, I wouldn't agree to it in the first place."
After Lu Ying and Chen Ju left, Zhao Xing continued discussing with Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable.
"Purple Bone, the Moon God will definitely unleash Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection. Have you gathered any intelligence on it?"
"I've heard some things…"
Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable hesitated, then noticed Yun Tiandao was still present.
"Wait a minute, Big Brother, who exactly is this guy? Why is he still here?"
He had been about to divulge classified intelligence, only to find Yun Tiandao lingering around.
"Why does he have clearance for this level of information? Who the hell is he?"
Although Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable was a covert agent embedded in the Southern Barbarians, he was still highly familiar with Great Zhou's officials. Yet, he had never heard of Yun Tiandao before.
"Brother Yun, why don't you introduce yourself?"
Zhao Xing said with a grin, preempting any further questions from Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable.
"My name is Yun Tiandao. Your mentor, Puta, once debated the Dao with me."
"What?! You're Yun Tiandao?!"
The flames in Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's eyes flared dramatically, as if he had just seen a ghost. For a moment, he even looked… somewhat adorable.
"Yun Tiandao?! You… You're the Guardian of the Ruins of Return?! How did you even get out…?"
It turned out Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable actually knew quite a lot. He was aware of Yun Tiandao's existence!
"How did I get out? Hmph."
Yun Tiandao snorted.
"Ask him."
"Hahaha, Brother Yun is a righteous man. He couldn't bear to see the people suffer, so he answered my call to come forth and fight."
Zhao Xing laughed heartily.
But Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable wasn't fooled. He could tell things weren't as simple as Zhao Xing made them sound.
Deep in an underground city of the Southern Barbarians, a rib bone on Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's body suddenly glowed.
"Master, according to Puta's records, the Guardian of the Ruins of Return could not leave unless he met a very specific requirement."
"Back then, Senior Qing Yuzi and Master Puta both visited the Ruins of Return to see him."
"No matter what conditions they offered or what methods they attempted, they couldn't get him out."
"And after they left, Master Puta and Senior Qing Yuzi swore an oath to never reveal each other's existence."
"Then… is his time up?"
Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable asked.
"Based on my calculations, he hasn't yet met the conditions for leaving. Your Big Brother must have used some special method."
"Big Brother really is unfathomable…"
Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable thought to himself.
He still couldn't figure out exactly who Zhao Xing truly was.
After a brief exchange, Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable finally acknowledged Yun Tiandao's status, granting him the right to participate in this classified conversation.
"My status in the Southern Barbarians has risen rapidly. The Moon God has summoned me several times."
"During one of those meetings, I managed to probe for information on Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection, the legendary divine ability."
Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable explained.
"I thought he wouldn't tell me anything. But to my surprise, he actually revealed something."
"Oh?"
Both Zhao Xing and Yun Tiandao immediately perked up.
As expected, undercover agents were always useful!
According to the Moon God, Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection required the sacrifice of ten Heavenly Shamans to be activated.
"Once Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection is cast, the ten Heavenly Shamans on the Sacred Mountain will die instantly, their souls completely obliterated."
"Furthermore, even the Moon God himself will suffer massive damage."
"As for how severe his injuries would be… that, I don't know."
"But once Severing Heaven and Earth's Connection is unleashed, the entire area will be enveloped by Shaman City and Heaven-and-Earth Protection…"
The city of sorcery was unaffected by the severance of heaven and earth communication, whereas "Heaven and Earth Protection" allowed an individual to bypass some of the restrictions in such a severed environment—up to the fifth rank.
"What?" Zhao Xing was stunned. "Fifth rank?"
"Heaven and Earth Protection?" Yun Tiandao frowned deeply. "I know about the City of Sorcery, but what is this Heaven and Earth Protection? Isn't it supposed to be the Moon God Token?"
"I don't know what this Moon God Token is," Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable shook his head. "I'm merely repeating what was said."
Zhao Xing and Yun Tiandao exchanged glances, their expressions turning grim.
It seemed that not only had the Imperial lineage evolved, but the Sorcery lineage had also undergone an evolution. Back in Yun Tiandao's time, the highest realm achievable within a severed heaven and earth domain was the sixth rank. But now, it had risen by a level!
Similarly, the Moon God Token had disappeared, replaced by "Heaven and Earth Protection."
"In the past, when we killed enemies who possessed the Moon God Token, we could obtain the tokens from their corpses and immediately restore our corresponding rank."
Yun Tiandao spoke in a low voice. "It was a straightforward method, and obtaining the token was a certainty. Because for an enemy to act as a cultivator, they had to carry a Moon God Token."
"But now, it might not be the same."
Even if they killed an enemy cultivator now, there was no guarantee they would regain their strength.
A shadow loomed over Zhao Xing's heart because this was beyond his expectations. In this regard, he and Yun Tiandao shared the same understanding.
"Could it be that the Moon God itself has evolved due to some kind of stimulus?"
The enemy advancing was never a good sign.
"Purple Bone, how is your cultivation of the Path to Heaven's Soldiers?" Zhao Xing asked.
"I don't dare to be too ostentatious," Purple Bone spoke in a hushed voice. "I fear being discovered, so I've focused all my efforts on Purple Divinity."
After the departure of Qing Yuzi and the others, they had developed three specialized minor divine abilities.
Su Xianzi's divine ability research focused on Soul Heavenly Sight, a detection-based secret technique akin to Zhao Xing's previous Heavenly Eye Technique. However, creating a divine ability from scratch was extremely difficult. She had only managed to refine it to the sixth transformation of the ultimate technique before reaching a dead end.
Qing Yuzi had left behind Purple Light Eight Epochs, a technique he had originally comprehended. After his failed attempt to escape from the Xuanhuang Realm, he had modified it to counteract the absolute severance of heaven and earth communication in the Southern Barbarians.
Puta had also left behind a mechanism-based ultimate technique specifically targeting the Southern Barbarians. It was known as Path to Heaven's Soldiers and had the potential to reach divine ability level. Combined with the ultimate inherited treasure, Purple Divinity, in theory, it would prevent mechanisms from failing even within severed domains.
These three specialized divine abilities were the revenge Qing Yuzi and his companions had devised against the Moon God of the Southern Barbarians.
However, they had no way to verify their effectiveness. Zhao Xing and Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable could only wait for the moment of truth when they would finally find out if their efforts bore fruit.
Yuan Ding Year Three, August 6th.
Eastern Front Army, Qingyan Battlefield, where the Ten Sun Legion was stationed.
The land was riddled with scars of battle—black pits stretched endlessly, their depths unfathomable. Along the edges of these pits, fragments of warships lay scattered.
These warships bore deep bite marks and puncture holes, as if massive beasts had chewed and spat them out.
Boom—
Suddenly, a massive surge of water erupted from one of the pits, pushing a flying boat into the sky.
From within the other pits, the roars of gigantic beasts echoed.
Swish, swish, swish—
A streak of sword light shot out of the water pillar like a swimming dragon, speeding into the distance.
Boom—
As soon as the sword light disappeared, four towering beams of light—wind, fire, thunder, and water—erupted from the pit, coalescing into the form of an enormous insect-like creature with jagged mouthparts.
Upon seeing this, the sword light fled even faster.
Failing to catch its target, the beast let out another deep roar before the battlefield once again fell into silence.
Ten Sun Legion, Longjiang Base Camp.
This was one of the garrisons of the Ten Sun Legion.
Swish—
The swimming dragon-like sword light appeared before the grand military hall, merging with a shadow standing at the entrance.
Long Xiao shook his head, fully retracting the soul of his sword energy.
"How did it go?"
Inside the hall, Xia Jing, Zhao Zheng, and Chen Shijie all turned their eyes toward him.
"Out of ten, only one soul of my sword energy returned," Long Xiao replied, shaking his head. "The remaining nine were devoured entirely by the Babok Worms."
"That damn Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable even set up a Soulless Metamorphosis Formation on the stomach walls of the Babok Worms."
"Using flesh as a foundation, this formation dissolves my sword energy's soul. Killing the Babok Worms from the inside has become nearly impossible. This is absolutely ridiculous!"
Hearing this, Xia Jing couldn't help but sigh. "The Flame Light Royal Court is a real pain in the ass."
"I used to think Zhao Xing was exaggerating, but it turns out he wasn't."
He was, of course, referring to Zhao Xing. A long time ago, when Zhao Xing had briefed them, he had specifically mentioned the Babok Worms of the Flame Light Royal Court.
Back then, Xia Jing had never encountered them. Even afterward, he never had the opportunity. He had assumed they were merely overhyped threats. But now, seeing them firsthand, he realized just how troublesome they truly were.
If they couldn't win a fight, they burrowed underground. If they could, they still burrowed underground for sneak attacks. Even when retreating, they dove underground, making pursuit nearly impossible. Even scouting them was a challenge.
Long Xiao was a first-rank Sword Sect cultivator, while Xia Jing was a first-rank Qi Sect cultivator. Qi Sect techniques didn't have as many tricks, whereas Long Xiao had plenty of techniques at his disposal.
Yet, even someone as skilled as Long Xiao struggled to track the Babok Worms. As a result, on the Qingyan Battlefield, the forces of the Flame Light Royal Court had caused significant trouble for the Ten Sun Legion.
"We volunteered for the tough fights," Long Xiao said bitterly. "I just didn't expect them to be this tough."
Xia Jing was just as exasperated. Back then, they had all agreed to take on a real challenge and had applied for this mission through Ye Yukong.
Ye Yukong, being straightforward, had immediately assigned them to the Qingyan Battlefield—to fight one of the elite insect legions of the Flame Light Royal Court: The Vans Army.
The surname Fang was the Zhonghua surname of the Ke Shen royal family, meaning that the Vans Army was an elite force. The Babok Worms weren't just some random creatures—they were formidable adversaries.
"General, don't be too anxious. The entire Eastern Front battlefield is at a standstill, not just our Ten Sun Legion. It's not as if we're the only ones struggling to break through," the military strategist Zhang Yi reassured.
"Other people failing doesn't mean we will. We're different." Xia Jing stopped them and said, "Let's think of a solution."
"General," Liao Rulong spoke up. "The only thing that can counter the Babok Worms is the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe. Can we apply to use it?"
All eyes in the meeting room immediately turned to Chen Shijie. Applying to use such a divine artifact? Only Chen Shijie might have a chance.
On the eastern front, among all the troops, there was only one Kun Yuan Divine Hoe.
Chen Shijie shook his head. "Not to mention, it has other uses. You should stop thinking about it. Even Dean Qiu wouldn't agree to this."
"What are you afraid of?" Long Xiao muttered. "Why don't you dare to go against Qiu Yuanshan?"
Chen Shijie glared at him. "Do you think the Kun Yuan Divine Hoe is something you can just take whenever you want?"
"Back when Liu Tianning was still the Grand Shennong, he had to plead and bargain just to use it. And you think I, Chen Shijie, can just take it whenever I please?"
"Qiu Yuanshan treats that thing as his lifeblood. The only person who can make him hand it over without explanation is Zhao Xing, the Grand Shennong."
"If you want to use Zhao Xing's connections, then pretend I never said anything." Chen Shijie pointed at Zhao Zheng.
"His younger brother is right here. If you have the guts, go ahead and say that his brother is in grave danger and needs the Shennong Hoe. Go ask him yourself! Why don't you?"
Long Xiao was immediately speechless after being scolded by Chen Shijie.
Everyone present was only able to sit here thanks to Zhao Xing. Choosing to fight a hard battle was their way of not bringing shame to Zhao Xing—this was something everyone had agreed on. How could they now turn around and beg him for help?
At that moment, a sudden light appeared inside the Marching Hall.
Everyone instantly stood up.
"Commander Ye!"
"Greetings, Master Ye!"
The moonlight condensed into a figure—it was Ye Yukong.
"What's this? You can't fight a battle without divine artifacts?" Ye Yukong scanned the room and said coldly, "That makes no sense!"
"During the previous two eras, the Shennong Hoe hadn't even returned, yet we still fought, didn't we? The Kun Yuan Divine Hoe is definitely not coming to the Ten Sun Army Corps. It has its own purpose."
"But a turning point has appeared."
"Xia Jing, I've obtained some top-secret intelligence. Including myself, only ten people on the eastern front know about this intelligence."
Xia Jing's eyes lit up. Orders from the top!
The Eastern Front Army Group was filled with powerful individuals. Even among those at the Rule Stage, there were nearly a hundred experts. For intelligence known to only ten people, it had to be an extremely critical mission!
And Ye Yukong had actually managed to secure such an opportunity?
It had to be a huge secret!
"But knowing this classified information comes with a price," Ye Yukong said.
"Xia Jing, Long Xiao, Chen Shijie—you three must break through the Qingyan Battlefield within three months. If you fail, you will be dealt with by military law. Do you dare to accept this order?"
"If you don't, I'll hand this over to Guangling Army's commander instead."
"The Guangling Army's commander is the Supreme Priest Ji Bochang. He has already requested this intelligence from me multiple times."
"We accept!" Xia Jing immediately responded without hesitation.
Ji Bochang? Let him wait and watch!
"Good. Then take the order!"
As soon as Ye Yukong finished speaking, the moonlight shattered, and a streak of light shot toward Xia Jing.
Pa!
Xia Jing caught the light with precision. It was a sealed Heaven's Secret Scroll.
Due to the high level of secrecy, all Heaven's Secret Scrolls were personally crafted by Ji Si.
If someone from outside Great Zhou or someone without the proper rank tried to force it open, their lifespan would be drained away instantly before they even got halfway through.
"You all wait in the side hall. Long Xiao and Chen Shijie, stay behind," Xia Jing ordered.
"Understood."
Zhao Zheng, Wang Ji, Han Bing, Liao Rulong, and the other generals immediately got up and left.
Once the others were gone, Xia Jing immediately unsealed the scroll.
Countless words flashed through his pupils—yet the scroll itself was completely blank.
"Huh?" Xia Jing took a sharp breath.
"You've got to be kidding me!" Long Xiao leaned over and saw the empty scroll. "What's going on? Say something!"
Wait—this was actually a Qiya Pass Defense Map?
And it even marked five critical Soul Shaman Army garrison points?
"Holy…" King Shenluo gasped in shock.
Western Front, Qiya Pass.
The first line of defense, composed of Soul-Breaking Cliff and Nether Valley, was known as Qiya Pass among Great Zhou's generals.
King Shenluo was the supreme commander of the Qiya Pass Battlefield on the western front.
He led eighteen legions, including the Heaven Army, Yuankui Army, Shenluo Army, and Wuyu Army, and was also one of the main forces attacking the Holy Spirit Court.
Because the Holy Spirit Court specialized in controlling spirits, the best way to counter them was with Shenluo Flow Mechanized Armies, which relied on constructs without souls.
How could they be controlled if they had no souls?
King Shenluo was the ninth person in Great Zhou to ascend to the Rule Stage. His current rank was even higher than Ye Yukong's.
When Zhao Xing obtained the intelligence about Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable, King Shenluo was among the first to receive it.
"Guards!" King Shenluo shouted.
"Here!"
A personal guard immediately appeared inside the hall.
"Immediately order Tianhe Army, Tianji Army, Fuming Army, and Longyan Army to escort the Four Great Heavy Artillery Units—Fire God, Hunyuan, Tiankui, and Shenluo Army— to Star Valley on the western front of Qiya Pass."
"Send messages to the commanders of the Fire God Army, Hunyuan Army, Heaven Army, and Shenluo Army."
"Once they arrive at the front lines, they must be ready for long-range bombardment within three hours—no, two hours!"
"Yes!"
The personal guard immediately flew out.
Hahaha!
King Shenluo turned to the battle map and laughed loudly.
"Sang Duxing, you're dead this time!"
Sang Duxing, one of the Three Vice Commanders of the Holy Spirit Court, was the highest-ranking officer defending Soul-Breaking Cliff.
Apart from Tuoba Hong, he was the second-most powerful general in the entire Holy Spirit Court.
At this moment, Sang Duxing was patrolling the skies above a small town.
Beside him was a group of black-robed shamans, each wielding soul banners and waving them in unison.
Crack!
Suddenly, the ground outside the town split open.
A white bone hand emerged from the soil, pushing apart the dirt and exposing itself to the air.
Moments later, a golden skeleton climbed out from the grave.
Within the hollow eye sockets, eerie green ghostly flames flickered.
Crack, crack, crack, crack...
More figures crawled out from beneath the earth. Some were still clad in tattered robes, while others had chunks of decayed flesh hanging from their frames. The entire ground seemed to turn illusory, as though the land itself had transformed into a gray-black vortex.
Countless spirits emerged from within.
At this moment, the shamans performing the summoning ritual had already divided into various formations.
Those with skeletons intact were generally high-grade martial practitioners. Their combat strength was significantly stronger, requiring suitable soul matches to fully unleash their potential.
Those without skeletons also needed new bodies; otherwise, they wouldn't be able to linger in the mortal realm for long.
"Whoosh—!"
Many souls flew towards an open field outside the small town. There, a regiment had formed, composed entirely of mechanical puppets—crafted by the hands of Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable, known as the Bone Drill Series Puppets.
Their exteriors resembled skeletal remains, yet between their joints, crystalline structures gleamed like diamonds.
By color classification, the finest bodies were Gold Drill Puppets, while the weakest were Gray Drill Puppets.
General Sang, after matching the souls, reported the numbers: "A total of fifty-six Red Drill Puppets (Third Rank), twenty-three Purple Drill Puppets (Second Rank), and two Gold Drill Puppets (First Rank) have been successfully paired."
"How many below Third Rank?" asked Sang Duxing.
"Still counting, but the estimates exceed three legions." The adjutant responded.
Sang Duxing nodded.
"Send them into the National Scholar's formation for correction, ensuring these resurrected spirits will serve the Court."
"Understood."
Sang Duxing continued his inspection.
In reality, there was little to check—this was merely a habit ingrained in him as a commander.
In modern warfare, battle formations had become the most optimal choice.
The influence of individual prowess was shrinking—except for a select few, widely known across the world, who could single-handedly alter the course of war.
For instance, their own National Scholar, or the Grand Shennong of the enemy nation.
"The Nine Nether Soul Bone Formation has been active for three years. Its numbers have only decreased by an eighth, yet reinforcements have consistently replenished it, making it stronger than before."
"As the supreme commander of this battle formation, I wield combat strength equivalent to Perfection of the Rule Realm, and any injuries I sustain can be evenly distributed."
Sang Duxing quietly attuned his senses.
"I am bound to this formation—its rise is my rise, its fall is my fall."
"So long as I do not charge recklessly into the fray, I can unleash immense power while remaining safe."
On today's battlefield, regardless of profession, anyone at his level was practically part of an Ultra-Class Rule Formation!
Rule Formations could exert tremendous combat power and boasted extraordinary recovery abilities.
For example, if Sang Duxing were alone, as merely an Early Rule Realm expert, he could be slain outright by a Mid Rule Realm strike.
However, within a formation, even such an attack wouldn't break his defenses. Even an attack at Perfection of Rule Realm would have its damage dispersed, allowing him to swiftly recover soul power (or, for martial practitioners, vital energy).
The limitation of Rule Formations was their restricted numbers.
Yet, they had one major drawback: escape was impossible.
Once a battle commenced, neither generals nor soldiers could flee before it concluded.
For example, if Rou Ma Xing—a commander in another battlefield—realized he was outmatched and wanted to escape, his Rule Realm strength would allow him to abandon his subordinates, who ranged from First Rank to even Fourth Rank warriors.
By sacrificing them, he could buy himself an opening to flee.
However, that wasn't possible within a Rule Formation.
Even if he managed to run, if his troops perished, he would die alongside them.
Damage dispersion didn't only work downward—it applied both ways. If soldiers suffered fatal damage, commanders would be forced to endure their share.
In Rule Formations, generals and soldiers lived and died as one.
To cultivate a Super First-Rank Rule Formation, absolute unity in life and death was required.
Naturally, such extreme formations led to immense combat prowess.
For formations below Ultra-Class, while damage distribution still applied, it wasn't as restrictive.
Commanders could still abandon their troops, and soldiers could still desert.
But in such formations, morale suffered—"If only the foot soldiers die, why would we follow you?"
A military force trained in Rule Formation was terrifyingly cohesive, operating as a single entity.
However, such formations typically had only two outcomes on the battlefield:
A total, overwhelming victory—or complete annihilation.
As the conflict between Great Zhou and the Southern Barbarians escalated, Rule Formation troops had become increasingly common.
One reason was the growing number of Rule Realm cultivators.
The second was ruthless competition.
If you don't train in it, your allies will, and you'll become weak—gaining nothing.
If you don't train in it, your enemies will, and you'll die.
Additionally, after the rise of Rule Formations, the military culture had changed.
If a commander refused to train in Rule Formation, his subordinates would doubt whether he would sacrifice them in a critical moment.
"Once I master Rule Formation, I need only remain at the rear casting spells—such is the nature of Soul Shamans. We merely need to remotely control the ghost soldiers summoned from the Netherworld or unleash large-scale soul-based techniques against enemies."
"By staying in the rear, the only concern is Great Zhou's long-range strikes. Yet in the past three years, they have never once pinpointed my location. The National Scholar is indeed a savior."
"Now, the Nine Nether Soul Bone Formation continuously bolsters my numbers."
"Currently, I command a force of just over a legion, mostly at the Third Rank level. But as my numbers grow, can I... break through to Dao-Establishment Realm solely through my formation?"
Sang Duxing's heart surged with anticipation. His conviction in winning this war grew stronger.
"Hmm?"
Just then, in his field of vision, a red comet streaked through the sky, crashing at a terrifying speed into the Nine Nether Soul Bone Formation in the distance.
The ghost soldiers and souls undergoing compatibility adjustments and corrections were struck by the red light.
Silently, they disintegrated into dust.
Surrounding them were many warriors—Sang Duxing's personal guards, also integral parts of the Rule Formation.
At this moment, Sang Jiaxing had yet to react when his arm silently shattered into dust.
It wasn't until the second moment that Sang Duxing finally realized what had happened. A furious roar erupted from him, awakening all those within the battle formation. Above his head, a pitch-black cloud rapidly coalesced into a black-gold figure.
The Nine Nether God!
The battle formation Sang Duxing had constructed originated from the Nine Nether God, and its external manifestation took the very shape of the Nine Nether God itself. A black-gold radiance flowed through the air, and in an instant, his arm was restored.
A general knows his soldiers, and the soldiers know their general.
Every individual within the battle formation saw the scene that had just transpired in their minds, accompanied by Sang Duxing's enraged roar:
"Enemy attack! Take cover nearby—"
However, before Sang Duxing could make a third move, both of his legs suddenly vanished.
"Damn it!"
A chill ran through Sang Duxing's heart. Within his perception, the Earth Shamans stationed at Cliff Pass, who were part of the Blood Soul Division, had already disappeared.
Losing my comrades is like losing my own limbs!
Sang Duxing suffered a heavy blow this time. For the next sixty breaths, he would be stuck in this state until he could recalibrate the battle formation based on the remaining forces.
"Purple God, protect and relocate!"
Sang Duxing immediately understood that their location had been exposed. His command headquarters was under precise long-range bombardment from Great Zhou.
From the sky, massive blasts of Giant God Fire Source rained down continuously.
If he wasn't hit directly, as someone in the Rule Stage, he could endure. But for those below the Rule Stage, death was inevitable. If hit directly, even someone at the Rule Stage wouldn't last—relocation was the only way to survive!
Soul Shamans were inherently fragile. Fortunately, Sang Duxing had a powerful Purple God Guardian force, which had been left behind by Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable to protect his headquarters.
But at this critical moment, Sang Duxing noticed that the Purple God Guardians' movements were sluggish, as if affected by something.
It wasn't until ten breaths later that over a hundred Purple God Guardians managed to erect a mobile defensive barrier, and several dozen began rescue operations.
"It's over… there's no time."
Sang Duxing gazed at the fiery sky. A meteor streaked across it, and he couldn't help but feel despair.
They had three layers of defensive barriers:
The first layer was a general defensive barrier, spanning two hundred li, covering the sky above. It wasn't particularly strong but served as an early warning system.
The second layer was a high-defense barrier, placed fifty li away, covering a smaller range. It could withstand attacks from various natural disasters, spells, and heavy artillery.
The third layer was the command headquarters, capable of withstanding ten direct hits from Giant God Fire Source. Moreover, the Purple God Guardian Barrier could form a mobile defense, covering the retreat.
However, for some unknown reason, the early warning system had completely failed. By the time Sang Duxing noticed, the Giant God Fire Source had already bypassed the third layer and was heading straight for them.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!!"
From a distance, one hundred and eight towering columns plummeted from the sky, strategically distributed in eight directions.
Earth Vein Sealing Needles! Forbidden Burrowing Strike!
"Shit!"
Shockwave after shockwave tore through everything, annihilating all structures. Mushroom clouds billowed into the sky over Cliff Pass.
"Why?! How could this happen?! How did King Shenluo pull this off?!"
Sang Duxing abandoned all thoughts of escape.
A Mechanist Grandmaster like King Shenluo would execute long-range bombardments in saturation mode, covering an immense area. Once targeted, escape was nearly impossible.
Facing certain death, Sang Duxing stood still, silently reminiscing about his life.
"From a small tribal village, through countless hardships, I climbed my way up step by step..."
Treading on thin ice, he had cultivated to the Rule Stage, extending his lifespan greatly. He once believed his true life had just begun, only to find it was already ending.
Soon, even the sound of his own voice vanished.
His head disappeared, his entire body was incinerated in the raging fire and explosions.
The Rule Formation was indeed powerful—he lasted nearly a quarter of an hour under such an intense attack before being completely obliterated, body and soul alike.
Star Valley.
Giant warships maneuvered through the sky, while massive black cannons stood on the ground like towering fortresses. Heat waves surged from the artillery, causing disturbances in the surrounding spiritual energy with each blast.
"Zone One? Giant God Fire Source launched. Entering cleanup phase. The Yuanping Mechanist Group is resetting for the next round of firing. Estimated time: 35, 34, 33…"
"Zone Two? Giant God Thunderstorm launched. Entering cleanup phase. The Yuanping Mechanist Group is resetting for the next round of firing. Estimated time: 35, 34, 33…"
"Zone Three? Earth Vein Sealing Needles launched. One hundred and eight Earth Vein Sealing Needles have hit target locations and completed lockdown. Requesting permission to retreat."
"Retreat permitted. Sealing Needle Battalion, board the Wuhun Warship. Sky Army, escort the needle carriers."
"Understood."
The troops in Star Valley began executing an orderly retreat.
For a long-range combat division, the standard protocol was to change locations immediately after attacking—a fundamental rule of warfare.
After all, the enemy had Mechanists too.
With Sang Duxing's command center annihilated, enemy Mechanists could easily track the launch trajectory to pinpoint the location of King Shenluo four primary artillery units.
Star Valley was still in an exposed state, protected only by warship defenses. If they lingered too long, they would share Sang Duxing's fate.
Sure enough, two quarters of an hour after King Shenluo four artillery battalions had successfully relocated under escort—
"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"
Mushroom clouds erupted within Star Valley.
This was a long-range counterattack from the Northern Abyss, launched by Kallete, one of the three deputy commanders under Tuohongmo.
Yet, his attack was destined to be futile.
King Shenluo had received prior intelligence.
"The enemy's movements are completely transparent to me."
Staring at the brilliant battlefield results, King Shenluo couldn't help but sigh.
"What an overwhelming victory."
In terms of ranking, Tuoba Wan was equivalent to the Grand Commandant of the Holy Spirit Court.
Figures like Kallete, Sang Duxing, and Soul Sovereign were on par with the Holy Spirit Court's Grand Engineer and High Priest.
"To think we got intelligence this precise… Such high-level information—it couldn't have been Kallete or Soul Sovereign betraying them, right?"
Even King Shenluo didn't dare to suspect Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable.
In fact, he didn't even dare to think Tuoba Wan had turned traitor, let alone someone as high-ranking as Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable.
"The tides of fortune are truly favoring Great Zhou."
Yuan Ding Year Eight marked the end of the first phase of the pacification campaign against the Southern Barbarians, with the army crossing Yin You Mountain.
In Yuan Ding Year Eleven, the second phase of the strategic offensive encountered setbacks. However, by Yuan Ding Year Twelve, the war suddenly gained momentum. The three-line coalition launched relentless assaults on the core territory of the Southern Barbarians' royal court, frequently securing victories.
By Yuan Ding Year Twelve, among the high-ranking generals of the Holy Spirit Royal Court, only Tuoba Hong remained, leading alone as the last commander. Three defensive lines had fallen consecutively, leading to the collapse of over half of the Holy Spirit Royal Court's territory.
In Yuan Ding Year Thirteen, the direct battlefield saw the fall of the Golden Feather Royal Court and the Purple Dragon Royal Court. The Purple Qilin King was slain in battle.
The Purple Qilin King had been the ruler of the Purple Dragon Royal Court himself, personally leading his troops into battle. His death was a devastating blow to the Purple Dragon Royal Court, exacerbating their already dire situation.
First, the totemic gods of the Southern Barbarians perished, and now even their king had fallen.
With the defection of the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable, the Southern Barbarians suffered catastrophic losses across all three battlefronts. Lord Luo's encirclement strategy for the second phase was rapidly advancing.
In the winter of Yuan Ding Year Fourteen—
Zhao Xing reestablished contact with the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable.
"Purple Bone, you need to start preparing to flee."
Lord Luo's strategic encirclement was nearly complete, and the deployment of the Ten Forbidden Armies to surround Nan Zhu Mountain was set for the Start of Spring in Year Fifteen.
"Should I leave now?" The Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable hesitated. "If I flee now, the people in the royal court will definitely suspect me."
"How do you know they haven't already?" Zhao Xing asked.
"I've been monitoring everything," the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable said. "I created Dao Soldiers for Ke Shen and Jiu You Shen. Every single one of these Dao Soldiers has been modified, and even their artifact spirits have been personally conditioned by me. On the surface, they recognize them as their masters, but in truth, I am their true master."
Zhao Xing was momentarily silent.
The audacity of the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable was truly astounding. He had even planted surveillance on Ke Shen and Jiu You Shen. Zhao Xing couldn't help but suspect that the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable had harbored intentions of overthrowing the Shaman Gods as well.
This was precisely why Zhao Xing had always been wary of using Mechanist creations. His impression of mechanists had always been negative.
Especially in the cosmic era, those without moral integrity would strip even their closest allies bare.
"Trust me and start moving now," Zhao Xing took a deep breath and continued, "During the past battles, our attacks have been relentless, giving the Southern Barbarians no time to regroup. It was battle after battle. But now, as the encirclement tightens, they will finally have breathing room."
"No matter how inconceivable it seems, they will eventually suspect you."
"You've already played an invaluable role. There's no need to risk everything for one last bit of petty gain." Zhao Xing had his reasons for urging him to leave immediately.
If the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable delayed his escape, and the absolute blockade was fully enacted, it would be as impossible for him to leave as ascending to the heavens.
"Alright."
The Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable did not insist any further. "I'll leave according to the plan immediately."
The residence of the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable was in the most prosperous district of the Golden Feather Royal City.
However, after the onset of the Pacification War, he had moved outside the royal city, frequently traveling to the frontlines to inspect formations and defenses.
It wasn't out of some deep sense of duty—he simply wanted an easier escape route.
Yet, in the eyes of the citizens of the Golden Feather Kingdom, the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable, who often descended to the grassroots level, was revered as a saint. Many even regarded him as a new spiritual totem—the fifth deity of the Southern Barbarians.
"What a joke," the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable muttered as he boarded his flying vessel, glancing at the high towers outside the city where banners bearing his insignia waved, and statues of him stood tall.
"Zero, I have to admit, I do feel a bit reluctant to leave. If I go to the Great Zhou, where else would I receive such treatment?"
He touched the ribs at his waist.
"All mortals eventually die."
A voice echoed from the bones. "If you stay in the Xuanhuang Realm, you won't last even a thousand years before you perish."
"That's true." The Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable nodded.
"I seek true freedom, but if even my lifespan isn't free—if I cannot live as long as I wish—then what is the meaning of freedom?"
"The Xuanhuang Realm is simply too small."
He hesitated no longer, setting a firm course towards a border pass known as Fu Long Mountain.
About a hundred miles east of Fu Long Mountain stood a forward outpost belonging to the Great Zhou.
Ever since the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable decided to defect, Zhao Xing had been waiting for him there.
The contributions of the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable were immeasurable, and his return plan had been treated with the utmost importance.
Thus, beneath what appeared to be an ordinary forward outpost lay the hidden Star Dao Soldiers' Sun and Moon Palace, manned by an unprecedentedly strong lineup.
Among the high-ranking experts from the Shennong Division were Zhao Xing, Yun Tiandao, Liu Tianning, Qiu Yuanshan, and Ling Tianchen.
Among the martial forces, there were Lord Luo, Divine Nest Army Commander Dong Ze, Wu Yao Army Commander Li Hao, North Star King Qin Feng, Grand Ritual Official Wei Hong, Grand Engineer Lu Ying, and Junior Engineer Chen Ju.
Additionally, there were high-ranking officials such as Grand Fate Officer Ji Si and Ji Yun.
"The Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable truly deserves this. Look at how many great figures have come to welcome him."
Liu Tianning chuckled. "Who else has ever received such a grand reception?"
"He has accomplished great deeds and certainly deserves it," someone responded.
Zhao Xing studied the map in his hands. As the successor to Qingchezi, it was naturally his duty to receive the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable. He was the designated contact, and ensuring the defector's safety was his responsibility—a promise he had to keep.
"Besides, deploying so many people to welcome the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable isn't just about giving him honor."
"You suspect something might go wrong?" Lord Luo asked.
"Just a hunch," Zhao Xing replied, his gaze fixed on the map. "I have no concrete evidence. It's just a feeling that arose the moment I entered the outpost."
"You too?" Yun Tiandao's expression turned serious as he looked at Zhao Xing.
"Yes."
Zhao Xing nodded. Ever since the Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable spoke those words, both he and Yun Tiandao felt that the Moon God had changed, as if undergoing some kind of transformation.
That must be why they both had this ominous premonition.
Hearing them speak so gravely, Ji Si was so worried that his hair turned white on the spot.
Two top experts had such a foreboding sense, yet as the Grand Fate Officer, he had no explanation for it. Naturally, this troubled him greatly.
"In theory, neither His Majesty nor the Moon God should be able to predict each other's moves at this point. The battlefield's advantage still lies with our Great Zhou."
"If everything relied on divination, what would they need us for?"
The armor on King Luohou gleamed as he spoke. "Just in case, we should still prepare for combat support. A distance of ten thousand li is too far. We need to push forward a little."
"If Purple Bone is killed, that would be a massive loss for Great Zhou." King Luohou made an immediate decision.
If the Moon God were to kill Purple Bone, could there be a chance to obtain Putta's inheritance? No one could say for certain.
In any case, he didn't want to take that risk. Thus, he immediately decided to shorten the distance for reinforcement.
Fulong Mountain was a strategic pass located on the eastern side of the Southern Barbarians' territory, within the domain of the Fiery Light Royal Court.
As Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable flew toward Fulong Mountain, a voice suddenly warned him, "Master, Keshen is approaching."
Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable looked up, only to see a towering figure with black horns on his head and bone spikes protruding from his back. The figure was clad in purple-gold battle armor and sat majestically on a golden throne.
The throne was flying through the sky, swiftly closing the distance until it arrived before Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable.
"Hmm? What is Keshen doing here?" A bad premonition flickered through Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's mind.
"State Preceptor, where are you headed?" Keshen inquired.
Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable replied, "I am going to inspect the defensive formation of Fulong Mountain. With Qingjun Pass breached, this is the last stronghold left. I cannot allow it to fall."
Keshen spoke, "State Preceptor, there is no need for you to personally go. Just send a clone. Great Zhou's forces are at their peak right now. If anything were to happen to you, I wouldn't be able to explain it to the Moon God."
Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable shook his head. "Don't worry, there won't be any problems."
"State Preceptor, you should return with me," Keshen still insisted.
"What do you mean?" Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's voice turned cold. "You don't trust me?"
"It's not that, it's just..."
"You don't trust me at all!" Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable suddenly raised his voice. "Even after everything I've done for the Southern Barbarians, you still treat me as an outsider! Like I'm still just that lowly blacksmith in the Lava Cavern!"
"State Preceptor, please calm down..." Truthfully, Keshen had no suspicions of Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable. It was merely intuition—he had a bad feeling about letting Purple Bone go to Fulong Mountain.
However, in Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's eyes, this meant only one thing: he had been exposed.
A spy was always prepared for the worst-case scenario.
Moreover, even if Keshen wasn't suspecting him of betrayal, the fact that he was trying to stop him was already reason enough for Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable to take action!
"In that case... explode!"
A golden light flashed in Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable's eyes. The ghostly fire within them suddenly synchronized with the golden glow of Keshen's throne.
Boom!
A powerful surge of energy erupted from the throne, as if some kind of restriction had been detonated.
Keshen was stunned to find that, in an instant, the array operating his throne had been forcibly altered, rendering it completely out of his control!
Before he could react, two sharp spikes shot out from the backrest of the throne, viciously piercing through Keshen's shoulder blades. Like living serpents, they coiled around his bones, locking him in place.
"What are you doing?!" Keshen was utterly shocked.
At the same time, the runic engravings on the throne's armrests suddenly burst forth with golden light, slicing towards the black horns on Keshen's head.
"Argh...!"
Keshen let out a pained roar.
If the first attack had only been a minor injury, the second one truly inflicted pain upon him.
His black horns were his greatest weakness, but under normal circumstances, no one could ever strike them.
However, Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable had personally crafted this Dao Soldier artifact for him. First, it had backfired against him, momentarily paralyzing him. Then, the supreme-grade Star Dao Soldier launched a full-force assault.
No one could take the full brunt of an attack from a supreme-grade Star Dao Soldier unscathed.
In an instant, Keshen had fallen into the trap that Purple Bone Heavenly Venerable had been planning all along.
The throne's mechanisms activated layer by layer, sealing Keshen completely. Wisps of gray mist slithered like venomous snakes, burrowing into Keshen's body.
Everything happened so quickly that Keshen found himself completely sealed onto the throne.