Chapter 102: A Million Heavenly Soldiers (1/2)
The boundless North Sea, north of Nephrite Major.
Tall wave upon tall wave crashed upon black reefs.
A sweet, lilting song twirled around the waves, accompanying their continual rise and fall. It came from a charming young girl sitting on top of a reef, swinging her bare calves in concert with the waves and her voice.
Not far from her was an awe-inspiring stronghold, towering by the seaside. Its deep-navy walls seemed cast in iron, holding strong and sturdy even against the strongest waves. An enormous formation slowly circulated within the stronghold, creating an invisible barrier that spanned the entire coastline.
Suddenly, a soldier with a shrimp’s head and human body popped out from the depths of the turquoise sea, carefully scanning the stronghold with its outgrown eyes.
“The seaside stronghold is empty! The million-strong Dusk Phalanx has left!” Disbelief shone out of the shrimp soldier’s goggling eyes. It dove into the sea with a flip, leaving a splash on the water’s surface.
“Reporting in! Reporting to the admiral, all Dusk soldiers have left the seaside stronghold! It’s completely empty!” The soldier’s declaration caused an uproar in the North Sea.
……
The depths of the North Sea, within an enormous trench.
A monster spirit with a shark’s head and strongly-built human body sat atop a coral throne. He perked up in disbelief when he heard the shrimp.
“The seaside stronghold is empty?” He stared at the shrimp with its deathly-pale shark eyes. “Are you certain?”
“This subordinate is certain of what I saw!” the soldier hurriedly replied. “The stronghold is empty of even the Dusk banners! Moreover, there is no trace of any soldier within a two hundred and fifty kilometer radius!”
The shrimp was a scout of the North Sea monster spirits and had special reconnaissance skills.
“Reporting in!” In came a monster resembling a seabird that landed before the admiral, a large air bubble around it. “Reporting to the admiral, inland scouts say that the soldiers stationed in the seaside stronghold are currently attacking the Skandha Range! The stronghold is defenseless. Please give the order, admiral!”
“What? Dusk soldiers are attacking the Skandha Range? That’s right, Zhao Fengyang is about to pass on the throne. Zhao Changkong won’t be able to keep Skandha Range under control....” The admiral shot to his feet. Thick layers of light surrounded his giant body as he morphed into a three-hundred-meter black shark. “Officers! Gather the army and charge the stronghold with me!”
“Understood!”
……
A storm gathered atop the North Sea.
From the vast expanse of the ocean sprang banners and the sound of war drums. Countless monsters swarmed out of the water, walking on waves to approach the shore. Thunderclouds loomed and swiftly converged over the stronghold like giant mountain ranges.
“Hahaha! The stronghold really is empty!” A gigantic black shark soared into the clouds, its giant fins propelling its body through the air like wings. His form flitted in and out of view with the clouds.
“Children, take the stronghold and break the grand formation!” A thunderous roar echoed from the shark’s mouth.
An ocean of banners rippled as an answering chorus of war drums threatened to shake the very skies. A dark mass of sea monster spirits rushed out of the water and charged the stronghold.
The seaside fortress was able to exert a chokehold on the North Sea because of the grand formation within it. It created a giant barrier that covered the entire coastline within the confines of the province, preventing the sea monsters from coming ashore.
Only by breaking through the stronghold and destroying the formation could the sea monsters make their way inland.
……
“I was going to quietly slaughter a few cities to refine an origin sphere, but it seems that won’t be necessary anymore.” Perched on a smooth reef, a girl in grey cocked her head at the countless sea monsters and muttered to herself, “Did Lu Yun see through my intentions and send me here instead?” The girl gathered a drop of blood in her hands. “Why trouble yourself this way? The current Dusk Province is so poor that it can’t even raise immortals. What will you do after invading the province? Eat dirt?”
With a push, a flood of crimson light exploded from her hands.
……
“Heh heh, the Dusk Lord?” The giant willow snorted mockingly at the man in golden armor. “My position depends on the apathy of His Majesty the Celestial Emperor. He could kill me with a single finger snap if he wished.”