Especially the leader of this team, his whole body was covered in scales, looking ferocious and terrifying, making one wonder if he was human or beast.
Unlike the barbarian armies before, this barbarian army was exceptionally well-drilled and disciplined, exuding a heavy pressure, entirely different from the scattered rabble of other barbarian tribes.
Clearly, this was a trained unit, a force now on par with the regular army of Atlantis. In battle, they could fully leverage their collective advantages.
Most barbarian tribes, however, were still at the stage of individual combat. While they might coordinate tactics, their coordination did not involve inter-unit cooperation based on the distinct attributes of different troop types, unlike the Atlantean forces.
As a seasoned veteran of battlefields, Tuosen sensed the formidable combat power of this approaching barbarian army before the engagement even began, his expression growing grim.
At a high-pitched command from the enemy commander, the barbarian phalanx began to march with heavy steps towards the Santi Roman army.
Their strides were steady, their blades and tridents glinting coldly, reflecting in the faces of the Santi Roman warriors.
As the barbarian phalanx advanced, a vast killing intent spread towards the Santi Roman army, chilling the faces of their warriors and tightening their very breaths.
Tuosen slowly drew his saber. The sharp scrape of steel against scabbard tore through the heavy air. Facing the immense killing intent, he let out a loud cry.
"Change formation!"
At Tuosen's command, the Santi Roman army's ranks began to shift. Archers and crossbowmen interspersed, and the powerful Holy Silver Crossbows, which had once been used to defeat the barbarians in the initial campaign into the Western Barbarian lands, were brought out.
The arrowheads were menacing, pointed directly at the slowly advancing barbarian army.
The moment the Santi Roman army's formation shifted, a war cry in an alien tongue erupted from the barbarian ranks. Accompanied by this roar, the barbarians surged towards the Santi Roman army like a tsunami.
Instantly, ten thousand arrows were loosed. Waves of arrows rained down like a fierce storm, incessantly striking the barbarian ranks. Rows of powerful bolts shot like locusts into the mass of barbarian soldiers. The arrow-filled sky choked the entire space. The incessant sound of dense arrow volleys sent shivers down one's spine.
Despite being equipped with such modernized, high-precision weaponry, the expected scene did not materialize for the Santi Roman army. These Xuanjia divine soldiers did not suffer heavy casualties as anticipated. The arrows striking them caused little damage, and the powerful crossbow bolts did not knock them back. They were merely thrown off balance by the sheer impact before continuing their advance. Only the occasional Xuanjia divine soldier, struck in a vital spot by an arrow, fell silently.
They pressed forward through the arrow storm, inching closer to the Santi Roman army. One hundred meters, fifty meters…
Facing such a powerful enemy, Tuosen's face turned ashen. The Santi Roman warriors behind him also wore expressions of astonishment. Such formidable enemies were beyond anything they had ever heard of or witnessed.
Tuosen waved his command saber again. The Santi Roman infantry charged out from their ranks, meeting the barbarian advance head-on. They collided fiercely with the barbarians, tearing into them savagely.
At the juncture between the barbarian and Santi Roman forces, the clang of metal on metal rang out intensely, irritating the eardrums. But Tuosen soon realized that against these peculiar barbarian soldiers, his own troops were as fragile as paper, utterly incapable of resistance.
Their weapons striking the Xuanjia divine soldiers' armor yielded no response, like mud sinking into the sea, merely emitting a dull thud and failing to penetrate further.
Conversely, the black iron blades and tridents of the Xuanjia divine soldiers, when striking the Santi Roman soldiers, often resulted in death or severe injury.
The battle was almost one-sided, deteriorating rapidly from the very start.
The Santi Roman army's formation continuously contracted as the Xuanjia divine soldiers slowly advanced towards them.
Just as Tuosen was about to change strategy again, the sound of gongs signaling a retreat echoed.
Tuosen dared not disobey the order. He let out a long sigh and commanded a withdrawal.
As Tuosen retreated, the Xuanjia divine soldiers did not pursue. Instead, they also withdrew.
The attack of the Xuanjia divine soldiers had been swift, and their retreat was equally rapid. Before long, they had vanished completely like a receding tide.
It was thanks to Tuosen's scouts' alertness that the Xuanjia divine soldiers' secret was discovered.
These Xuanjia divine soldiers were incredibly adept at crossing water. Clad in their ironstone armor, they could float and swim across, requiring no ferries or bridges. It was precisely because of this that they had broken through the Santi Roman army's sentries with the speed of lightning.
Facing such formidable "Witch" soldiers, Xiao Xun also found himself in a predicament.
Their individual combat capabilities were inferior, their formation charges could not match the enemy's, and their weapons were rendered useless against their armor. Such enemies were almost invincible, no wonder they were unstoppable in the Witch territory.
The generals in the Santi Roman camp were all at a loss. Xiao Xun was truly at his wit's end. In the face of overwhelming power, all strategies seemed futile.
However, what Xiao Xun did not expect was that after much effort and six captures of Sai En, the generals of Santi Roman had persevered. Yet, faced with the Xuanjia divine soldiers, who seemed to possess almost no flaws, a division arose among the Santi Roman generals.
A group of veteran generals, led by Ogarth, believed that Sai En's lair had been destroyed and further fighting was futile.
Sai En could no longer pose a threat, and even if Sai En refused to surrender, the barbarian side would inevitably revert to their previous tribal conflicts, posing no further threat to the rear of the Santi Roman Empire.
On the other hand, a faction of new military minds, led by Tuosen, argued that danger should not be left unchecked. They believed that the anti-Santi Roman forces in the barbarian lands must be completely eradicated to eliminate future troubles, even if it meant venturing deep into the Witch territory.
Of course, facing increasingly harsh environmental conditions, the morale of the Santi Roman army was waning. Most Santi Roman generals leaned towards Ogarth's viewpoint.
Facing the division among his generals, Xiao Xun turned his gaze to Faluy: "What does Faluy think?"
Faluy pondered for a moment and said, "Lord Swain, the Witch lands are different from the barbarian lands. The barbarian tribes do not have their own beliefs. The Witch people, however, revere totems above their own lives. They will guard their hunting grounds at all costs, even in the face of racial extinction."
Xiao Xun understood Faluy's meaning. Crossing the Peach Blossom Water led into the Witch territory, which was the hunting ground of the Bantuladeer nation.
Once they entered Bantuladeer, there were only two outcomes: either Bantuladeer would be annihilated, or they themselves would be forced to retreat.
Regardless, the Santi Roman Empire would undoubtedly pay a heavy price.
Xiao Xun nodded, rose, and said, "My capturing Sai En six times was not easy. It was achieved with the lives and blood of our Santi Roman soldiers! To abandon it now would be to negate all our previous efforts!"
He then calmly stated, "There is no need for further discussion. I have my own plan to pacify the barbarians!"
Xiao Xun sought out Sailerpeith to discuss his strategy. He proposed the theory of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, where fire conquers metal. As a member of the Guangyan family, Sailerpeith surely had methods to control fire.
Upon hearing Xiao Xun's battlefield analysis, Sailerpeith's worried expression deepened. "It's true that fire conquers metal, but the armor on the Bantuladeer warriors is no ordinary iron. It's made from meteorite iron from beyond the heavens, enhanced by alchemy secrets, and forged by top artisans. Ordinary fire magic cannot damage it at all."
Xiao Xun nodded. "That's why I wanted His Majesty to think of a way. Since they can forge the meteorite iron into armor, they must use fire for tempering. If we can find the fire used to temper their armor, we will surely win."
"I have heard of it. Besides the God of Fire, only the Six Ding Divine Fire of Arch-Mages and the Karmic Red Lotus Fire can melt meteorite iron. Whether we can meet them is another matter, and even if we do, I fear the Arch-Mages would not lend it to you."
Xiao Xun nodded. "My concern is that we might not even be able to meet them."
Sailerpeith suddenly recalled, "Right, there is one other type of fire that can directly penetrate armor and burn the opponent to death. It is the Netherworld Ghost Fire from the Shadow Islands, which can directly burn the soul."
Xiao Xun had encountered this place in his readings. "The Arcane Holy Land, a place I yearn for."
"Besides these three, I have no other solutions."
Xiao Xun smiled slyly. "Then I can only go and try my luck."
"You still intend to go to the Shadow Islands?"
Xiao Xun shook his head. "I heard from my subordinates that north of the barbarian territory, there is a volcano perpetually covered by snow, known as the Hearth of the World. There resides a master blacksmith of God-level. He forged many divine weapons and sharp blades using the volcano's extreme heat. Perhaps this armor was also made by him. If I go to him, I'm sure I can break through these Xuanjia divine soldiers."