Chapter 56: The Crimson Ambush
The northern border outpost of Dawnriver stood as a rugged sentinel against the encroaching wilderness, its wooden palisades weathered by time and scarred by recent skirmishes, the air thick with the earthy scent of damp soil and the faint, metallic tang of blood from past battles. The early morning light struggled to pierce the dense fog rolling in from the north, casting an eerie glow over the outpost as Ironfang forces, allied with Bloodshade Abyss and the Crimson Claw Sect, launched a sudden ambush. Hellbound Beasts—hulking monstrosities with glowing red eyes and jagged claws—charged through the mist, their roars shaking the ground, while dark qi swirled around the enemy cultivators. Lin Xuan stood at the forefront, his crimson eyes blazing with fierce resolve, the power of his 8th Layer Qi Transformation surging through him like a storm. The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed with a steady rhythm, a quiet guide as he raised his voice. "Form up—we hold them here!"
He led with Battle Soul Unity from the Scriptures of Severed Unity, his qi and spirit merging in a devastating surge that struck a Shadowfang Sect elder at the 7th Layer Qi Transformation. The elder, a gaunt figure in crimson robes, staggered under the impact, a deep gash opening across his chest as blood sprayed, his cry cut short by a second strike that sent him crumpling to the ground. "That's one down—keep pushing!" Lin Xuan shouted, his voice rough with exertion, wiping sweat from his brow as he braced for the next wave. Liu Yue, having advanced to the 5th Layer Qi Transformation, supported him with Frost Phoenix Cry, her snowflake mark blazing as she unleashed a wave of icy energy that froze a beast's legs, its roar turning to a pitiful whine. "I've got your flank, Senior Brother—don't let up!" she called, her moonlight eyes alight with determination, her raven hair streaked with frost.
Liu Yang, his 2nd Layer Qi Gathering qi growing steadier, held the line with blood-thread seals, the crimson strands weaving a protective net that snared an enemy cultivator, his scream echoing as the trap tightened. "I'll lock them down—stay sharp!" he yelled, his young face set with focus, the evolving blood-forged glaive in his hands glinting with newfound strength. The outpost trembled under the assault, the clash of steel and the guttural snarls of beasts filling the air, but the team's coordination began to turn the tide. The Dawnriver Sect and Veilmoon Sect reinforcements arrived, their chants rising as they bolstered the defenses, Elder Gao Feng's 3rd Layer Qi Transformation aura a rallying point. "Push them back—now!" he roared, his staff a blur as he struck down a beast.
Ji Yunjing, having reached the peak of the 3rd Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, reinforced the line with the Azure River Guards, his silk robes fluttering as he clashed with Hei Clan necromancers, their dark qi lashing out with skeletal hands. "For Dawnriver—break their ranks!" he called, his voice carrying a commanding edge, though his eyes flickered with the strain of leadership. Bai Ningxue, her 7th Layer Qi Transformation aura a serene contrast, sealed enemy arrays with her Thousand Lotus Seal Art, her seals shimmering as she moved through the chaos. "I'll disrupt their formations—hold steady!" she said, her spirited laugh a brief lifeline, her hands steady despite the pressure.
The ambush stretched into the morning, the air thick with the scent of blood and scorched earth, the outpost's palisades groaning under the assault. The team repelled the enemy, the last of the Hellbound Beasts retreating into the fog, but Lin Xuan's keen eye noted the improved coordination of Ironfang's forces—tighter formations, quicker retreats. "They're learning from us," he muttered to Liu Yue, his tone weary but alert, the air still humming with the aftermath. Liu Yue nodded, her breath ragged but her resolve firm. "We held them off, Senior Brother—let's prepare for the next strike," she said, her hand brushing his arm in quiet support. The war camp buzzed with the clink of armor and the murmur of strategy, the crimson ambush a stark reminder of the growing threat, their unity a fragile shield against the shadow on the horizon.