Unveiling all trump cards

Unveiling all trump cards...

The battle ignited in the blink of an eye, unleashing a maelstrom of bloodshed. The colossal war drums thundered relentlessly, filling the air with an electric charge. The atmosphere crackled with boundless energy, summoning lightning and thunder from the heavens. This celestial lightning struck their foes with breathtaking precision, guided by the drummers' rhythmic pounding.

High above, a figure by Chu Tianjiao's side released an arrow from a resplendent golden bow. It carried an unstoppable, razor-sharp intent as it streaked through the air, aimed squarely at Chu Wuwei.

Amidst the cacophony of the Thunder Dragon Drums, the thunder dragon formed from electrical currents streaked towards the arrow with comet-like speed. Evidently, the combined power of the complete set of thirty-six drums surpassed that of the golden bow's arrow.

Boom! Chu Mang leaped into the air, manifesting his Astral Souls as glimmers of Astral Light shimmered in his eyes. Above his head, an ethereal giant bow and a massive, imposing axe materialized. These were his second and third Astral Souls, respectively.

A colossal bow, formed from Astral Light, materialized in his hands along with nine arrows. In the blink of an eye, all nine arrows were nocked and ready to be unleashed. The figures of his nine targets slumped, overtaken by fear and dread as the sensation of being 'locked on' gripped them.

As the top-ranked among Chu's ten prodigies, Chu Mang surpassed even Chu Tianjiao in terms of cultivation talent and power.

"I will show no mercy to anyone who dares to threaten my elder brother!" Chu Mang roared. His arrows shattered space, resembling beams of light and shadow.

Screams, hisses... The sounds of nine bodies being pierced rang out in unison as the nine Yuanfu cultivators slumped over, devoid of any chance to react. How could Chu Mang's arrows be so swift?

"This is... the power of the Mandate's will?" Qin Wentian stared at Chu Mang in astonishment. From the aura Chu Mang exuded, he should be at the 5th level of Yuanfu. What was truly astonishing, however, was that each of his arrows carried the insights he had gained from his Mandate.

Qin Wentian's perception was accurate. Under Chu Wuwei's guidance, Chu Mang diligently practiced his archery day after day, year after year. Even after breaking through to Yuanfu, he continued this practice. Chu Wuwei persistently urged him to connect with his arrows on a deeper level, to feel them with his heart. This went on until one day when an epiphany struck him. Somehow, he sensed that he could make his arrows pierce their intended targets in the shortest time imaginable.

This marked the moment when Chu Mang unlocked the first level of insight into the Mandate of Arrows – Insta-shot.

The spectacle of a single shot slaying nine Yuanfu experts left even the most resolute onlookers awestruck. While these nine Yuanfu cultivators might not have been exceptionally powerful, they were still experts at the Yuanfu Realm!

Chu Mang didn't pause to relish his accomplishment. Swiftly nocking another arrow, he fired once more, targeting the Yuanfu experts approaching the balcony where Chu Wuwei stood.

A thunderous roar erupted from Chu Mang as nine streaks of light pierced through the air, each accompanied by a piercing sound. Countless Yuanfu cultivators fell, victims of these single-strike executions.

Chu Mang's bow seemed like a harbinger of death itself.

The thunder dragon, formed by the thirty-six drums, served as a defensive barrier, while Chu Mang handled the offensive. Despite having fewer Yuanfu cultivators on the balcony, it wouldn't be easy for Chu Tianjiao to eliminate Chu Wuwei.

The thunder dragon twirled and danced in sync with the thirty-six drummers below. While those struck by it might not die, Yuanfu cultivators from the 7th to 9th levels couldn't help but feel an ominous threat from the collective might of these colossal drums.

"The Qin troops should be arriving soon," Chu Wuwei murmured in a hushed tone. Qin Wentian remained silent, his gaze fixed on the river of blood, feeling a deep sense of helplessness.

Ouyang and his companions hadn't shown themselves yet. Qin Wentian knew that this was likely because the Nine Mystical Palace representatives had yet to make their entrance.

As for Qinger, Qin Wentian couldn't help but smile wryly as he thought of her. He couldn't sense her presence, knowing that she would only appear in moments of dire peril. He was already immensely grateful for her protection and couldn't complain about her aloofness. After all, she didn't owe him anything.

Above, the white clouds drifted lazily in the sky, seemingly tinged with a crimson hue from the reflection of the blood-soaked ground. Though Chu Mang seemed like the harbinger of death, he was still just one man and couldn't halt the relentless advance of the ground forces. The troops supporting Chu Wuwei were being decimated, particularly those from the Jiang Clan and Mu Clan, who were in dire straits.

Yet, they gradually inched closer to the area where Chu Wuwei stood. This way, the thunder dragon made of electrical currents offered them some semblance of protection.

Chu Tianjiao watched coldly as countless lives were extinguished. He refrained from ordering his most powerful experts into action, knowing that dissolving the thunder dragon would come at the cost of many Yuanfu lives. Instead, he focused on eradicating the ordinary troops first, reserving his Yuanfu experts for later. When Chu Wuwei's supporting armies had been wiped out, he intended to see what Chu Wuwei's next move would be.

In that tense moment, even more Yuanfu experts appeared in the distance, flying swiftly towards the battlefield. On the ground below, armored troops bearing the 'Qin' flag thundered across the earth, their galloping warhorses kicking up clouds of dirt and dust. The Qin troops had arrived.

Chu Tianjiao cast a cold, calculating gaze at Chu Wuwei as he signaled for his retinue to withdraw to the left side of the field. He was determined not to get caught in a crossfire, with both the Qin troops and Chu Wuwei's forces attacking from different directions.

A palpable vortex of martial power swirled through the air, shrouding the entire battlefield. The Qin troops took their position on the right side of the field, their eyes fixed unwaveringly on Chu Tianjiao.

"Wentian." A voice called out, and Qin Wentian turned his attention to the two generals leading the Qin troops. It was none other than Qin Wu and Qin Chuan. While their personal combat abilities weren't exceptional, they were surrounded by layers of protection. Besides their personal guards, Old Gu and some of the supreme elder-level experts from the Emperor Star Academy stood with them.

With Diyi imprisoned by the Nine Mystical Palace and the Royal Clan's command to hunt down all Emperor Star Academy survivors, it was only natural for the remnants of the academy to join forces with the Qin troops. This was the basis of Chu Wuwei's confidence in Qin Wentian. Qin Wentian was the linchpin who could shape the outcome of this conflict.

"Grandpa, father," Qin Wentian greeted with a smile. The day they had long awaited had finally arrived, nearly two years since the Ye Clan's assault on their Qin Residence. The culmination of all their struggles was at hand.

"It's a relief that the Qin troops have arrived. Since you're all here, prepare to be buried together," Chu Tianjiao declared icily as his gaze swept over the assembled forces. But in the next instant, a large group of freshly arrived Chu troops burst onto the scene, sprinting as if they were fleeing for their lives. This sight left Chu Tianjiao stunned. As the Chu troops approached, he demanded, "What's going on?"

The newcomers, however, seemed a pitiful and disorganized bunch, akin to scattered grains of sand. How could these be the troops Chu had meticulously nurtured over many years?

"We've been deceived, Icehawk, Icehawk... he's a traitor, a spy for the Qin rebels. As vice commander, he led us into an ambush," the leading general stated coldly, his desire for vengeance transformed into a palpable aura of wrath.

In that critical moment, yet another battalion of troops emerged from the distance, closing in on Chu Tianjiao and his forces. Qin Wentian's eyes widened in surprise as he recognized the person leading them.

Once, to evade their pursuers during the enrollment examination, he and Fan Le had ventured into the Mirage City hidden within the forbidden depths of the Dark Forest. There, they had encountered someone who recognized him. This person now wore the same helmet as back then, and the troops he commanded were identical to those Qin Wentian had seen in the Mirage City.

The leader removed his helmet, revealing a familiar face beneath.

"It's Icehawk," Qin Wentian exclaimed. He vividly remembered that Icehawk had led the attack on the Qin Clan when they were in Sky Harmony City. It was astounding to discover that he had been a spy for their Qin Clan all along.

Even Qin Chuan had been deceived. According to Qin Chuan, Icehawk had served as the vice commander under Qin Wu when they still held military authority. After the Qin Clan's downfall, he had swiftly changed allegiances and gained the trust of the Royal Clan and Ye Clan by personally exterminating many Qin Clan members. No one could have foreseen that he would suddenly betray the Royal Clan at this crucial juncture.

"Never underestimate those with greater experience," Chu Wuwei murmured quietly, his gaze fixed meaningfully on Qin Wentian.

With this revelation, Chu Tianjiao's armies had lost any advantage they once had. To reverse the situation, he would have to go all out, employing a tactic he had hoped to avoid.

This meant that the battle was truly nearing its conclusion.

A chilling smile twisted Chu Tianjiao's lips as he locked his gaze on Chu Wuwei. "Elder brother, you've left me with no choice. At this point, I must eliminate all of you. It's the only way to salvage this situation."

As his words hung in the air, shadows moved and figures dressed in blood-red robes suddenly materialized behind Chu Tianjiao. Their aura exuded a putrid scent of decaying blood, and their eagle-like eyes glinted with an unnatural coldness.

"Have you stooped so low as to ally with these abominations? You've been nurturing them all along, using the fresh blood of innocent abductees. Third brother, you're truly damned," Chu Wuwei accused as he stared at the four figures. He could vaguely recognize them. They should have long since perished, yet here they stood in this unnatural state.

"I had no choice. Our Ancestor left them for us. If not for your actions pushing me to this brink, I wouldn't have made this choice," Chu Tianjiao responded indifferently. "Victors are exalted, losers are vilified. There's nothing more to discuss. Today, you, Chu Wuwei, Qin Wentian, and the rest of my enemies will meet your end here."

As his voice fell silent, the four figures surged toward Icehawk and his army. Wherever they passed, blood splattered, and bodies withered, inflicting devastating casualties on the Qin Allies. The onlookers turned pale with terror, for they knew that these entities were far from human.

"How heartless! The insights from the Mandate of Blood were used to craft these puppets. Whoever created them should face divine retribution," Old Gu and Ren Qianxing grimaced. The four blood puppets, though unsettling, were undeniably formidable.

Simultaneously, another group of Yuanfu cultivators soared through the skies. The sight of their leader left those from the Emperor Star Academy stunned.

Nine Mystical Palace's Luo Qianqiu.

"Luo Qianqiu!" His gaze locked onto Qin Wentian, sparking with lightning-like fury. The humiliation suffered at the Jun Lin Banquet would be cleansed with Qin Wentian's blood today.

"I know about the supreme expert guarding you, so the Nine Mystical Palace has dispatched a Heavenly Dipper Sovereign in retaliation. There will be no escape for you today," Luo Qianqiu declared, sending shockwaves through the hearts of many.

Not only was the Nine Mystical Palace joining this conflict, but they had also dispatched a Heavenly Dipper Sovereign.

Luo Qianqiu's determination to kill Qin Wentian was unwavering, and to achieve this goal, he would undoubtedly cooperate with Chu Tianjiao.

Chu Tianjiao, too, fixed his gaze on Qin Wentian, a malicious grin playing on his lips. "Today, there's no way out. Qin Wentian, this day marks the anniversary of your demise!"