No one dared to claim belief.
Nor did anyone dare to deny it.
A military order was as unyielding as a mountain; there was no room for belief or disbelief.
Everyone had to obey!
This was military discipline!
"Yang Chong," Chu Qianli produced a token and declared, "There must be a secret passage for them to emerge from this cliff top. Order your men to guard the entire cliff top. Once any 'Yao Ren' are spotted, immediately signal."
"Do you have the 'Chuanyun Jian'?"
"Yes," Yang Chong replied, resigned.
She held the token, and he had no choice but to obey her.
"Your subordinate accepts the order!"
He immediately led his men, dispersing their formation to guard the entire cliff top.
They didn't know how many 'Yao Ren' were below, nor the extent of the crisis they would face, nor if the 'Yao Ren' would truly ascend as she predicted.
In any case, obedience was paramount!
After Yang Chong left with his men, Fulong approached Chu Qianli. "A'Li..."
"Are you also afraid that if there are too many 'Yao Ren', our brothers won't be able to hold them off?"
"Yes," Fulong admitted his worry without reservation. "Those 'Yao Ren', if even one emerges, ten brothers might not be enough to match them."
"You must understand, they feel no pain and fear no injury. Unless they fall, they will continue to attack."
"I know. However, before they ascend, I will eliminate most of them."
She turned and walked towards the grass a short distance away.
Fulong's heart jolted, and he quickly followed.
As expected, A'Li was going to use something from her era.
"What is this?"
"Gas canisters." Fortunately, they still had quite a bit of money.
Chu Qianli placed a pile of gas canisters on the ground. Once she felt the quantity was sufficient, she looked at Fulong.
"Quick, have the brothers take these out and throw them all down into the cliff bottom."
"What... will happen?"
"They will explode."
She had a good grasp of the situation at the bottom of the cliff. The surroundings were sheer cliffs. Once a massive explosion occurred, those inside would likely be burned to death before they could even escape.
War was always cruel.
This method was the epitome of that cruelty.
But she had no other options at the moment.
These 'Yao Ren' could not be allowed to escape. If they did, they would harm many more innocent people.
Fulong had never seen such things before, but hearing her explanation, his spirits immediately lifted.
If they could burn most of the 'Yao Ren' at the bottom... Good heavens! The thought alone was exhilarating!
No wonder she was so confident; she had such a divine artifact!
"Don't celebrate too soon. They have secret passages. The 'Yao Ren' who ascend will surely be numerous. Everyone must remain vigilant."
"I know."
Fulong's eyes gleamed with excitement. He immediately shouted, "Come here, quickly! Throw these things down."
Soon, soldiers, one after another, took the gas canisters and hurled them down the cliff.
With a bang, faint sounds of explosions could be heard from below.
However, they were very weak.
It seemed to have no effect at all.
Fulong looked at Chu Qianli.
"Keep throwing them. It's about accumulation. Once there are enough gases at the bottom, it will cause a massive explosion."
Chu Qianli herself picked up gas canisters and threw them down with all her might. "Hurry! Throw them quickly!"
Thus, gas canisters were thrown down one by one.
At first, there were only slight popping sounds, as the distance to the cliff bottom was too great.
But gradually, the sounds of explosions seemed to grow louder.
Finally, even those on the cliff top felt a wave of heat surge up from below.
"Continue!"
Chu Qianli bought another batch of gas canisters, placed them behind the grass, and ordered more to be delivered.
The brothers were all bewildered, wondering where these things came from, but at that moment, not a single one had the inclination to ask.
Because they truly saw a great fire ignite at the bottom of the cliff!
This was simply the most incredible thing they had witnessed in all their years of fighting.
They, standing on such a high cliff top, could set the cliff bottom, ten thousand feet below, ablaze so fiercely!
Who would dare to believe it if they hadn't seen it with their own eyes?
They didn't know what these things Miss Chu had them throw, but they were undoubtedly divine artifacts they had never encountered before.
Who would have thought that such a small girl could be so formidable!
They had truly underestimated her!
This Miss Chu was a celestial being!
"Yao Ren!"
Soon, a soldier spotted the trace of a 'Yao Ren'.
The 'Chuanyun Jian' was released, and Chu Qianli's eyes lit up.
"Fulong, guard the other end of the cliff!"
She swung her long sword and leaped forward. "The secret passage has been found! Brothers, charge into battle!"
The soldiers, their blood boiling, immediately followed.
Fulong also wanted to join them, feeling uneasy.
But A'Li was A'Li. Even in her excitement, her mind remained meticulous.
There might be more than one secret passage. While they were fighting, he had to remain to continue his observations.
Just in case, the 'Yao Ren' escaped through another passage.
This time, they had to capture the entire 'Yao Ren' army in one fell swoop!
"Brothers, continue to guard the cliff top!"
Fulong, sword in hand, ready for battle, his tall frame personally patrolling the cliff top.
The cliff bottom was engulfed in flames; the 'Yao Ren' wouldn't last much longer!
The soldiers on the cliff top, full of spirit, responded with excitement, "Yes!"
...
Chu Qianli's anesthetic dosage was calculated to keep Feng Yexuan asleep until dawn.
But she had underestimated Feng Yexuan's robust physique.
Before dawn, he abruptly sat up.
His body was covered in injuries, the pain piercing to the bone, yet he still threw off the covers and got out of bed.
"Your Highness..."
"Where is she?"
Feng Yexuan felt an inexplicable anxiety.
In his dream, he had seen that woman being bitten by a 'Yao Ren' and dragged away.
He wanted to save her, but he couldn't catch up!
His heart was filled with frantic worry.
Leng Ji was startled and quickly replied, "Miss Li went... went to Blue Butterfly Mountain."
That crazy woman!
Feng Yexuan threw on his outer robe and immediately strode out of the tent.
Leng Ji was anxious. "Your Highness, I have already dispatched two thousand men to provide support! Your Highness, you are still injured..."
"Jifeng!"
Feng Yexuan didn't even glance at him. With a call, Jifeng, the black warhorse, appeared from nowhere and galloped to his side.
Feng Yexuan leaped onto the horse, his tall figure quickly disappearing into the hazy night.
Leng Ji was terrified. He had only just fainted last night, and it hadn't even been three hours!
His Highness was risking his life!
"Guards, quickly! Quickly follow His Highness! Protect His Highness!"
...
At this moment, on the cliff of Blue Butterfly Mountain, a fierce battle was raging.
A large number of 'Yao Ren' had escaped from the bottom of the cliff. Some were already heavily injured when they ascended, their combat effectiveness greatly diminished.
Others, however, were still unharmed, their fighting prowess as terrifying as demons!
Chu Qianli, sword in hand, personally engaged the enemy.
"Guard the exit! Force them back!"
After stabbing a heavily wounded 'Yao Ren' with her sword, she shouted, "Hold the exit tightly and push them back!"
The soldiers roared in unison, "Yes!"
When Feng Yexuan arrived, he saw his woman, clad in a fitted garment, her body splattered with blood, personally guarding the exit of one of the secret passages.
Two 'Yao Ren', driven mad by their desperate desire to escape, lunged at her with gaping maws, howling.