124 Bring it on (1/2)

The cultivators labored, winding the ballistas that were mounted across the walls. There were six in total of these fearsome beasts along the southern wall of the city. A bolt was mounted in their nooks, the cultivators wasted no time. There was the rumbling sound of a marching army that drummed and shook the ground but with the Ivory Sword Saint's steady command, they were not deterred and did not fall into trembling panic.

There were two types of ammo that fit into their nooks. The first type was a flimsy bolt made of soft wood. Though this kind of weapon might deal a fatal blow to a normal person, against demons and cultivators it was not that terrifying of an opposition. However, within the grains of wood there were symbols etched.

As the ballistas were wound and loaded they glowed with light, drawing spiritual energy from the air. To further the process along, a cultivator actively fed their spiritual energy into the bolt nestled in the body of the ballista.

At the center of the wall, Liu Sumeng stood next to Sect Leader Chen watching black army that marched forward like a dark tidal wave, swallowing the life of the land as they tread upon the earth.

Liu Sumeng willed himself not to be distracted by the amount of times that Chen Gaoyong sighed, though there was only so much patience he could afford when the army of Fallen Gods was taking wide steps over the path, toppling and crushing everything beneath their feet.

Their numbers were only about two-hundred, but with their large bodies and stifling auras they appeared like a force much greater than the heads they counted.

Just when Liu Sumeng was about to break silence, Chen Gaoyong finally decided to step up and raise his sword. With a loud voice, he commanded his men and women, ”Today we make a stand here at our beloved city…Ah, it pains me that it has come to this, but for our beloveds and our home, we will defend it with our lives… Many of you might not see the light of dawn but do not fear…”

Wait, wait. Now wasn't a time for a long monologue! Liu Sumeng did not mind rallying words of encouragement, but with Chen Gaoyong's low, dragging tone and depressing words he wasn't sure if they achieved what they meant to do.

Left without a choice, Li Sumeng acted quickly, flicking a small stone at the poor disciple who pulled back the trigger mechanism of the closest ballista. The girl startled, accidentally launching the bolt.

Chen Gaoyong jumped but instead of yelling in dismay he simply covered his own fluster with the command, ”Fire!”

One by one, triggers pulled the ballista springs and strings whipped the air, bolts cutting the wind.

A pulse of white light followed the bolts as they crashed down, causing the advancing Fallen Gods to stagger. The area around which the bolts crashed was blanketed by an invisible force that caused the Fallen Gods to flinch in movement, as though an extra weight had been attached to their limbs.

Their movements were not slowed immensely and the spell failed to completely stop their advance.

But it was something.

”Reload!” Chen Gaoyong commanded.

This time, the bolts that were loaded into the ballistas were made of a different material; peach tree wood.

Chen Gaoyong's hand fell on Liu Sumeng's shoulder, ”I leave the command in your capable hands.” The older man hummed with a light tone. But when the Ivory Sword Saint scrutinized his expression, he saw that Sect Leader Chen's smile was stiff and his brows faintly furrowed. ”I will begin the incantation.”

Liu Sumeng nodded, ”Leave it to me.”

The Ivory Sword Saint stepped forward, his sharp eyes sweeping over the field ahead of the wall. ”Hold.” He commanded with confidence.

Meanwhile, the Ascending Dawn Sect leader took a step back and was joined by three other Elders. They retreated into one of the towers and began a long incantation.

Their voices were muffled in the gusting wind, and a feathered feeling tickled Liu Sumeng's ear. A far off sound echoed within his mind, 'How are things looking?' It was Chen Anyue.

'Managing,' Liu Sumeng formulated the response with his mind. 'Do not worry about us.'

The wind tickled his face. The Fallen Gods stepped into range.

Liu Sumeng shouted, ”Fire!”

…

There were two main choke points along the northern wall, one on the east side and one on the west. There were small mountain trails that converged, leading to these small north-facing gates along the city.

Realistically, there was nothing that stopped the Fallen Gods from advancing at any point between these two gates, however, Liu Sumeng had estimated within reason that they were not likely to.

Yuan Xuelan was tasked with guarding the west path. With only two ballistas mounted on each side of the city entrance, Xuelan wasn't about to take any chances.

Along with him were half a dozen cultivators that he knew through the ages of growing up at the Ascending Dawn Sect, but only two of which he knew with any degree of familiarity.

To his right was the Sixth Elder who calmly watched the road ahead of them. Only about three li ahead of them was the mountain wall that shook against the black night. She held her hands behind her back and held her chin up, lips tight, showing no signs of anxiety.

To Xuelan's left was Zhu Qiang, who, contrary to his name, was not 'strong' at all. He was the poor kid sent out to scout the swamps with his Shimei who met an unfortunate end at their hands. He trembled so violently that his teeth were chattering loudly. He cowered behind Yuan Xuelan.

”W-We're all going to die. We're seriously all going to die…” He muttered non-stop while hugging his bow close to his chest. It was driving Yuan Xuelan pretty crazy. Even though Zhu Qiang was Yuan Xuelan's senior, Xuelan did not respect him at all.

Just as he was about to snap at that dumb Shixiong of his, a buzz zapped through his thoughts, causing him to twitch on instinct. The words that he had reserved for Zhu Qiang came out in his thoughts instead, 'Can you shut up already?'

'...What was that?' A sweet female voice invaded his thoughts, making him jump with an embarrassing squeak. 'Is that how you speak to me when I worked so hard to raise you with my own two hands?'

'Shijie! That wasn't…! Argh that wasn't for you…Sorry.'

'...'