Chapter 0120: Cai Yan
Crack!!
A colossal black-and-white python stretched across the sky, its scales gleaming with a crystalline divine light—one radiating extreme Yang, the other extreme Yin. As the two intertwined, Yin and Yang clashed, tearing through everything in their path. An ice blade struck the python, only to be shattered by an overwhelming force, ground to dust without a trace. The serpentine form surged forward like a pair of divine shears.
A crisp sound followed.
The ice armor shattered.
The Frost Direwolf encased in the armor was cleaved in half, its body tumbling to the ground as blood sprayed out, staining the earth red.
Awoooo!!
The two remaining Frost Direwolves, witnessing this, abruptly halted their charge and retreated, howling in distress. Their wails triggered a chain reaction—Direwolves that had been relentlessly attacking the village walls began to fall back in panic, fleeing from the settlement and its fortifications, converging toward the remaining two Frost Direwolves.
Of the several thousand Direwolves, fewer than a thousand remained. The rest lay dead around the battlefield, their corpses littering the land outside the walls. The air was thick with a pungent, bloody stench and a suffocating aura of death.
All this had occurred in just a brief exchange.
More than a thousand monsters had been killed in mere moments.
This was the reality of the battlefield—kill or be killed. There was no room for luck.
The strength of Xuanhuang Village had undergone a radical transformation with the addition of General Yang Ye and the rise of numerous villagers as cultivators. Their collective power had surged to a staggering level. Especially the villagers—each brimming with courage, unafraid to die. United in defense, the strength they produced was nothing short of astonishing.
In the past, this Direwolf horde would have easily overwhelmed the village, causing devastating losses. Now, the outcome was entirely different.
The two Frost Direwolves swept their hateful gazes across the village, locking onto Yi Tianxing and the others on the walls. Their fury was palpable, a hatred that could be felt just by looking into their eyes.
Clearly, they now bore a deep grudge against Xuanhuang Village and had no intention of letting the matter go.
"These mangy wolves aren't going to let this go so easily," Yang Ye growled. "After today's massacre, they'll remember us for sure. Lord, I request permission to take a squad of soldiers to pursue and slaughter them. Even if we can't wipe them all out, let's kill another seventy percent."
His eyes flashed with fighting spirit. These Direwolves, much like other wolf-kind, were notoriously vengeful. But with Xuanhuang's current power, it might be possible to wipe them out entirely—and Yang Ye, newly joined, was eager to prove himself.
"General Yang, now is not the time to take the battle outside," Huang Chengyan interjected. "Those Frost Direwolves are incredibly fast and fierce—each likely the match of a cultivator at the first level of the Divine Sea Realm. Our earlier success depended on the wooden walls and the villagers fighting together. In open terrain, the cost would be steep."
"Without the advantage of terrain, even with your experience, defeating them could lead to heavy losses. Every soldier's life is precious."
Huang's reasoning was calm and direct. In truth, the current strength of Xuanhuang Village was still evolving rapidly, with every day bringing progress in cultivation and growth. Losing any soldier or citizen during this crucial phase would be a significant blow.
Of course, if enemies brought the fight to them, they would respond with crushing force.
"Indeed," Yi Tianxing nodded in agreement. "Old Huang is right. The Direwolves are still strong—it's unwise to pursue them recklessly unless we can guarantee total annihilation. Right now, the terrain gives us the upper hand. Staying alive is the key to keeping everything else."
Had he thought otherwise, Yi Tianxing would've chased them down already.
More importantly, he had seen Hun warriors among the fleeing forces—foreign tribes, shadowy and ominous. If a faction of such people truly existed nearby, Xuanhuang Village could not afford unnecessary casualties. In this new world, these alien races might prove more savage than ever.
But should they come knocking, Yi Tianxing would ensure they faced utter destruction.Xuanhuang Village was not to be trifled with.
"You're right, my lord and Elder Huang," Yang Ye said, bowing in acknowledgment. "I was too hasty."
"Your intentions were good, General Yang," Yi Tianxing replied with a smile. "Still, I'll leave you in charge of clearing the battlefield and gathering the bodies of our fallen heroes. Those who died defending the village are true champions."
"Yes, my lord," Yang Ye answered firmly.
"Come, Elder Huang," Yi Tianxing said, "Let's go meet the refugees who fled here. I saw signs of foreign tribes at the mountain pass earlier."
"Indeed, they looked like Huns," Huang nodded gravely.
"Do you recall what the traveling merchants once said? That a military force was camped near our valley? Could that force be the Huns?" Yi Tianxing mused.
He hadn't forgotten the merchants' warnings. If that force had indeed crossed over into this world, it could pose a massive threat—especially if they, too, had begun cultivating. A fully awakened army would be terrifying.
Soon, they reached the group of refugees. Under Wang Dahu's command, they had washed up and were now hungrily slurping down steaming bowls of fish soup—their first warm meal in days. After fleeing all night, terrified and starved, the soup finally brought some color back to their faces.
The group numbered in the hundreds, a mix of men and women.
As Yi Tianxing arrived, they turned to him, surprise flickering in many eyes. Clearly, none had expected the lord of the village to be so young, nor for his aura to be so striking and unforgettable.
"Uncle Huang?"
A surprised voice called out from the crowd.
They turned to see a slender woman with a delicate form standing among the refugees. Though dressed in rough clothes and covered in grime, her figure was undeniably graceful. Her voice rang out clear and elegant, filled with scholarly charm.
"You are…" Huang Chengyan squinted, trying to see through the dirt.
Despite her disheveled state, something about her seemed familiar. And he knew that after arriving in this world, everyone's appearance had subtly changed due to the merging of multiple selves. Even skills had shifted.
"You wouldn't recognize your niece in this state," the woman said gently.
"Bring a basin of warm water," Yi Tianxing ordered.
A village woman quickly fetched it.
The girl stepped forward, washing her face and tidying herself. As she raised her head, droplets clung to her lashes, and her beauty bloomed like a lotus rising from water. Her features were elegant and refined, exuding a timeless, classical charm. Her eyes shimmered with intellect and liveliness—she seemed like a noble lady who had stepped straight out of a painting.
She radiated the unique aura of a true scholar's daughter.
That aura wasn't merely in her appearance, but in her gestures and mannerisms. Something subtle and intangible.
"Such a woman exists in this world…" Yi Tianxing murmured, his heart skipping a beat. Not even when facing the likes of Tang Zitong or Chen Xuerou had he felt like this. Though they were equally beautiful, this sensation defied words.
"You're… Zhao Ji?" Huang Chengyan asked, startled.
Even he could barely believe it—but the familiar temperament and features gave it away.
"Yes, I am Zhao Ji. Greetings, Uncle Huang."She bowed gracefully, voice as clear as a mountain spring.
"So how did you end up here, looking like this? And your father, Brother Bojie—where is he?" Huang asked with deep concern.
"I don't know where my father is," she said sadly. "I was on my way to be married when the Huns captured me. Then, when the world changed, something strange happened to me too… but I ended up falling into this world with their army."
Cai Zhaoji spoke softly, her voice tinged with pain.