Chapter 70: The Final March
The Ironfang border stretched into a desolate expanse, the air thick with the earthy scent of churned soil and the faint, metallic tang of blood from weeks of relentless conflict, the early morning light casting a pale glow over a landscape scarred by war. The allied forces of Dawnriver, Veilmoon Sect, and the Bai Clan marched toward Ironfang's heart, their boots thudding in unison against the ground, the horizon dominated by the looming silhouette of Ravencrest Clan defenses—stone walls bristling with qi-infused turrets and patrolling guards. Lin Xuan led the vanguard, his crimson eyes blazing with strategic determination, the robust power of his 9th Layer Qi Transformation surging like a tidal wave. The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed with a steady rhythm, a quiet beacon as he raised his voice. "Forward—we break their line today!"
He unleashed 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 resonant hum. The energy struck a Ravencrest Clan barricade, shattering the qi-reinforced stone and sending guards at the 6th Layer Qi Transformation reeling, their cries echoing as debris rained down. Lin Xuan pressed the assault, dodging a counterstrike from a guard's qi-charged spear, his counter-burst sending the man crashing into the wall, blood pooling beneath him. "Keep moving—don't let them regroup!" he shouted, his voice rough with exertion, wiping sweat from his brow as he led the charge. Liu Yue, her 8th Layer Qi Transformation qi flowing with ethereal grace, coordinated with Veilmoon Sect cultivators, her snowflake mark glowing as she wove Frost Phoenix Cry to freeze a turret's mechanism, its projectiles halting mid-air. "Hold the left flank, Senior Brother—their defenses are thinning!" she called, her moonlight eyes scanning the battlefield, her raven hair streaked with frost.
Liu Yang, his 6th Layer Qi Gathering qi growing robust, scouted ahead with his blood-forged glaive, its crimson edge flashing as he engaged a patrol in a swift duel. The enemy swung a qi-infused blade, the clash ringing like a bell, but Liu Yang parried and countered, the glaive slicing through the guard's armor, blood spraying as he fell. "Clear path ahead, Elder Sister!" he yelled, his young face alight with focus, the weapon's weight a testament to his evolving skill. Ji Yunjing, at the peak of the 4th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, deployed the Azure River Guards with a commanding presence, his silk robes fluttering as he directed the troops through the breach. "For Dawnriver—press the advantage!" he called, his voice resonant, though his eyes flickered with the strain of leadership as he deflected a qi lash.
Bai Ningxue, her 9th Layer Qi Transformation aura a serene yet powerful force, sealed enemy qi with her Thousand Lotus Seal Art, her seals shimmering like a fortress as she detected an unnatural surge from the north—a faint, ominous pulse that sent a shiver through her senses. "There's something dark ahead—be wary," she said, her tone calm and alert, her hands steady as she reinforced the allied advance. The march stretched into the morning, the air thick with the scent of blood and scorched earth, the allied forces breaking through the outer defenses. At the war council later, the air buzzed with the clink of armor and the murmur of strategy, the team gathered around a map. Lin Xuan pointed to the capital. "We siege their heart next—prepare for the worst," he said, his voice thoughtful. Liu Yue nodded, her breath steady but her resolve firm. "We'll be ready, Senior Brother—together," she replied, her hand brushing his arm. The council hummed with anticipation, the final march a prelude to the decisive battle, the hint of Black Tomb's influence a shadow on the horizon.