Chapter 66: The Crimson Stand
The Ironfang border roared with the ferocity of a desperate assault, the air thick with the acrid sting of smoke and the coppery tang of freshly spilled blood, the midday sun casting a harsh, unrelenting glare over a landscape ravaged by war. The ground was a chaotic tapestry of churned earth and shattered trees, littered with the broken remnants of shields and the fallen bodies of soldiers, as Ironfang forces, bolstered by the Bloodraven Sect, launched a frenzied charge. Hellbound Beasts, their crimson eyes glowing with malevolent intent, tore through the lines with jagged claws, while elite cultivators wielded dark qi in sweeping arcs. Lin Xuan stood at the vanguard, his crimson eyes blazing with unyielding valor, the robust power of his 9th Layer Qi Transformation surging through him like a tempest. The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed with a steady rhythm, a quiet beacon as he raised his voice above the din. "Hold the line—we make our stand here!"
He led with Severed Crimson Unity Slash, a masterful fusion of Crimson Blood Crystallization Art and Scriptures of Severed Unity, the crimson arc slicing through the air with a deafening whoosh. The blade of energy struck General Feng Wuji, a towering figure at the 4th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, his crimson armor glinting as he parried with a qi-infused spear. The clash sent sparks flying, the ground cracking beneath their feet, but Lin Xuan's strike found a gap, reopening the gash on Feng's chest. Blood sprayed as the general staggered, his roar of fury shaking the air. "You'll pay for that!" Feng bellowed, unleashing a qi storm that tore at the earth, forcing Lin Xuan to roll aside, his robes singed but his resolve unbroken. "Not this time," Lin Xuan gritted out, countering with a precise qi burst that forced Feng to retreat, the general's labored breaths echoing as he regrouped.
Liu Yue, her 7th Layer Qi Transformation qi flowing with the ethereal grace of Frost Phoenix Cry, supported Lin Xuan, her snowflake mark blazing as she wove a wave of icy energy that encased a Hellbound Beast's legs, its roar turning to a pitiful whine before it crashed to the ground. She darted to his left, her moonlight eyes scanning for threats, her raven hair streaked with frost as she froze another beast mid-charge, its claws shattering against her icy barrier. "I've got your flank, Senior Brother—keep him at bay!" she called, her voice steady, her movements a dance of precision amidst the chaos. Liu Yang, his 6th Layer Qi Gathering qi growing robust, assisted with coordinated strikes, his blood-forged glaive arcing to shatter an enemy shield in a spray of shards. "I'll cover the rear, Elder Sister—don't let them break through!" he shouted, his young face set with determination, the glaive's crimson edge a defiant spark as he held off a trio of cultivators with swift, powerful swings.
Ji Yunjing, at the mid-4th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, deployed the Azure River Guards with a commanding presence, his silk robes fluttering as he clashed with Bloodraven Sect elites, his sword flashing in a series of precise strikes. "For Dawnriver—shatter their advance!" he called, his voice resonant, though his brow furrowed with the strain of leadership as he deflected a dark qi lash, the impact sending a ripple through his guard. Bai Ningxue, her 8th Layer Qi Transformation aura a serene counterpoint, sealed enemy advances with her Thousand Lotus Seal Art, her seals shimmering like delicate shields as she disrupted a formation, the air crackling with neutralized energy. "I'll lock their qi—hold the line!" she said, her tone calm and focused, her hands steady as she wove the seals with practiced grace.
The battle stretched into the afternoon, the air thick with the relentless clang of steel, the guttural snarls of beasts, and the occasional scream of the wounded. The team repelled the assault, Feng Wuji retreating with a snarl, his forces faltering under their coordinated defense. Lin Xuan noted the enemy's desperation, their movements less synchronized than before. "They're weakening—let's press the advantage," he said to Liu Yue, his voice weary but alert, the air still humming with the aftermath. Liu Yue nodded, her breath ragged but her resolve firm. "We've turned them back, Senior Brother—let's plan the final push," she replied, her hand brushing his arm in quiet support. The war council convened later, the air buzzing with the clink of armor and the murmur of strategy, the crimson stand a pivotal victory, the path to a decisive strike now clear.