Chapter 71: The Siege of Ironfang
The outskirts of Ironfang's capital loomed like a fortress of despair, the air saturated with the acrid sting of smoke and the coppery tang of blood, the late afternoon sun casting a grim light over stone walls adorned with blood-red banners. The allied forces encircled the city, their ranks a sea of steel and qi, facing General Feng Wuji, a towering figure at the 4th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, his crimson armor scarred but gleaming as he rallied Ironfang's defenses with a booming voice. Lin Xuan stood at the forefront, his crimson eyes burning with valor, the power of his 9th Layer Qi Transformation surging like a storm. The Celestial Unity Crest on his back pulsed with a steady rhythm, a quiet beacon as he raised his voice. "We take this city—now!"
He engaged Feng with Internal Fracture Wave, the shockwave from his crystal veins rippling outward, clashing with the general's qi-infused spear in a deafening explosion. The impact sent sparks flying, the ground cracking beneath them, but Lin Xuan pressed forward, his qi striking Feng's chest, the armor denting as blood trickled from the general's mouth. Feng roared, retaliating with a sweeping qi arc that forced Lin Xuan to roll aside, his robes singed, but he countered with a precise burst, wounding Feng's arm and sending him staggering back. "You're weakening—yield!" Lin Xuan gritted out, his tone resolute. Liu Yue, her 8th Layer Qi Transformation qi flowing with Frost Phoenix Cry, froze enemy lines, her snowflake mark blazing as she encased a squad in ice, their screams silenced as they shattered under allied strikes. "I've locked their advance, Senior Brother—press the attack!" she called, her moonlight eyes alight with determination, her raven hair streaked with frost.
Liu Yang, his 6th Layer Qi Gathering qi robust, disrupted supply lines with his blood-forged glaive, engaging a 5th Layer cultivator in a fierce duel. The enemy swung a heavy mace, the impact ringing against the glaive, but Liu Yang ducked and countered, the blade slicing through the cultivator's thigh, blood spraying as he fell with a groan. "Supply route cut, Elder Sister—keep them pinned!" he shouted, his young face set with focus, the glaive's weight a grounding force. Ji Yunjing, at the peak of the 4th Layer Profound Heavenly Realm, rallied the Azure River Guards, his silk robes fluttering as he clashed with Ironfang elites, his sword flashing in a series of precise strikes that felled a guard, blood pooling beneath. "Hold the center—break their spirit!" he called, his voice commanding, though his brow furrowed with the strain of command.
Bai Ningxue, her 9th Layer Qi Transformation aura a serene yet potent force, countered Bloodraven Sect curses with her Thousand Lotus Seal Art, her seals shimmering as she dispelled a dark qi tendril that lashed toward the troops, the energy dissipating in a burst of light. "I'll neutralize their curses—stay focused," she said, her tone calm and resolute, her hands steady as she wove the seals with precision. The siege stretched into the evening, the air thick with the relentless clang of steel, the guttural roars of beasts, and the occasional crash of falling debris, the allied forces holding firm despite Ironfang's growing desperation. Feng retreated to regroup, his forces faltering under the pressure. Lin Xuan gathered his team at the war camp later, his breath heavy but his resolve firm. "We've got them on the ropes—let's tighten the noose," he said, his voice thoughtful. Liu Yue nodded, her breath ragged but her spirit unbroken. The camp buzzed with the clink of armor and the murmur of victory, the siege of Ironfang a testament to their resilience, the enemy's resistance a fading flame.