"Hmph, hmph, hmph, this old man thought this Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty would truly stay put and not emerge, but it seems they couldn't hold back!"
In the eastern territory of the Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty, Jian Yong, the third elder of the Sword God Holy Land, stood hidden among the mountains, observing the Qing Long Legion clad in uniform armor ahead.
Since the Grand Elder Jian Xi had taken up his post at Sanyuan Pass, Jian Yong had led fifty thousand sword cultivators, marching from Sanyuan and penetrating deep into the eastern part of the Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty, aiming to shatter its eastern living forces.
"Elder, I believe this army is not from the Heavenly Demon Race, but rather looks like humans!" Beside Jian Yong, a middle-aged man's brows flickered with sharp, cold light.
"Humans?"
"The Nan Tian Family still has the strength to aid the Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty. It seems the pressure from the Patriarch and the Second Elder is not enough."
Jian Yong narrowed his eyes, watching the stout soldiers emerge from the mountains. His expression grew solemn, and a hint of surprise tinged his voice: "The Nan Tian Family actually has an army at the Heavenly Martial realm!"
"That's not right!"
"This old man knows a thing or two about the Nan Tian Family's background."
"No, this is not the Nan Tian Family lineage!"
Jian Yong's face changed drastically, and his tone became urgent: "On the Eastern Desolate Continent, and even across the entire Cang Yuan World, aside from the Nan Tian Family branch of humanity, there is only the Great Han Dynasty!"
"But the Great Han Dynasty is tens of thousands of miles away from the Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty. For an army to traverse such a distance and arrive at this point in time is impossible?"
"Elder, your disciple believes that whether it's the Nan Tian Family or the Great Han Dynasty, the appearance of this army here is either directed at the Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty or towards us. The intention of the Grand Elder is to combine forces and surround them, not to rush, but to slowly wear them down!"
"This army, your disciple believes, must be annihilated. An army at the Heavenly Martial realm is not something ordinary forces can assemble!"
"You are correct!"
Jian Yong gazed deeply into the distance, his voice gradually turning cold: "Pass down the order. This army shall be consumed whole. Not a single one shall be spared!"
"Yes!"
...
"They've arrived!"
Cen Peng looked at the distant, vast expanse of white void. Waves of sharp, cold light flickered faintly within the white mist.
"Such sharp sword energy!"
Ma Yuan, staring at the subtly flashing cold light, his eyes gleamed with intense battle intent: "If Lord Li and Lord Wang were here, they would surely engage in some friendly sparring!"
"The Sword God Holy Land. It should be an army led by Jian Yong."
Chen Tang unfurled the map in his hand, marking the location of Sanyuan Pass: "The Sword God Holy Land's top Venerable, Jian Xi, is currently stationed at Sanyuan Pass, a very important location. However, this army led by Jian Yong, our Qing Long Legion will take them on."
"With Jian Yong eliminated, Jian Xi will have an arm severed!"
"How much further is General Li Guang?"
"Reporting to the Commander, General Li Guang is leading the First Army and is rapidly approaching. Approximately one hour away."
"Good!"
"Notify the entire army to prepare for battle!"
"Boom!"
"Whirr~~"
Suddenly, the void was filled with sword energy like a rainbow. Dense sword light clashed in the air, like thousands of silver dragons, spanning across the firmament!
A colossal sword, ten thousand feet tall, stood suspended in the void. Its blade emitted a blinding cold light, particularly dazzling. Reflected on the azure armor of the Qing Long Legion soldiers, it illuminated the entire sky with a faint azure hue.
"Sword Formation!"
"Ascend!"
Rumble!
High in the nine heavens, thunder erupted. Waves of silver cold currents, as if possessing life, flowed through the void in a structured manner.
The ten-thousand-foot giant sword unleashed its cold brilliance, accompanied by torrents of primal energy, transforming into nine colossal swords that hovered in the nine heavens, enveloping the entire Qing Long Legion.
"Boom!"
A figure, treading on a three-foot sword, moved like a feather, drifting slowly with the silver cold currents.
"Great Han?"
The voice was bone-chillingly cold, carrying supreme will.
"Sword God Holy Land!"
"Jian Yong!"
Chen Tang gripped his long saber, looking at Jian Yong who was flying on his sword.
"It truly is the Great Han!"
Jian Yong's face contorted in shock. The Great Han Dynasty was far from here. For hundreds of thousands of troops to traverse such a distance and arrive here was like divine intervention. How had the Great Han accomplished this?
A mere Great Han Dynasty first possessed a top Venerable, and now, it had produced hundreds of thousands of Heavenly Martial realm troops. Such a foundation was second only to the Sword God Holy Land and the Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty.
Excellent!
This Great Han truly knew how to conceal its strength!
Such composure, it must not be allowed to survive!
"Great Han Dynasty, you have intruded into the Southern Red Realm without reason and violated the territory of my Sword God Holy Land. Who gave you the courage!"
Jian Yong pointed a finger. The entire void calmed like a still water surface, with layers of ripples surging outwards, connecting the nine giant swords. The terrifying sharpness caused the void to churn with fierce winds.
Behind him, fifty thousand sword cultivators at the Heavenly Martial realm, each holding a three-foot sword upright before them, their eyes closed. Streams of primal energy converged at the sword tips, merging completely with the grand formation.
The Sword God Holy Land originated from a clan. Later, under Jian Chen's manipulation, it transformed into the Sword God Holy Land with the Jian Clan as its foundation, accepting sword cultivators from across the Cang Yuan World to dedicate themselves to studying the Way of the Sword and honing their sword intent.
For a million years, it had not clashed with the major powers, thus it had not become an army, let alone formed military formations. The nine giant swords before them were merely akin to "Ten Thousand Swords Returning to Origin," with Jian Yong as the formation's eye, incorporating the sword intent of fifty thousand sword cultivators.
Although its might was inferior to a military formation, it was condensed by fifty thousand martial artists at the Heavenly Martial realm, who were sword cultivators mastering the path of killing. Its power was not inferior to that condensed by a military formation.
Jian Yong's expression was tense. He scanned his divine sense in all directions but could not locate a top Venerable of the Great Han's Qing Long Legion, only Ma Yuan, who had just entered the Venerable realm.
The more this was the case, the more Jian Yong dared not act rashly. It was no secret that the Great Han Dynasty possessed a top Venerable. An army without a top Venerable at its helm, where did the Great Han get the courage to march alone for tens of thousands of miles to the easternmost part of the Eastern Desolate Continent?
"Since when did the Southern Red Realm become the territory of the Sword God Holy Land?"
"This Commander will tell you!"
"All that the sun illuminates and the rivers reach, shall be Han territory!"
"You stand on my Great Han's land and dare to speak such arrogant words. According to the Great Han Law!"
"Execute!"
Ma Yuan roared, his long saber, enveloped in cold light, manifested a streak of scarlet. Waves of killing intent emanated outwards.
"An ant who has merely entered the Venerable realm dares to reprimand this old man? What a joke! What is the Great Han Dynasty, to dare claim the territory of my Sword God Holy Land!"
"You court death!"
Jian Yong's killing intent surged. The light in his eyes vanished, replaced by two silver sword qi emanating a faint sword intent.
His three thousand grey and white hair vibrated in the void. He clenched his right wrist with his left hand, and blood seeped through his skin, dyeing his entire right palm a bloody red.
His right index and middle fingers were held together in a strange posture.