214: Yuan Ting vs. Tian Lang, the chess game begins

Above the plaza, at first, you could hear a pin drop.

The next moment, a roar of human voices erupted, and chaos completely broke out.

“My heavens… a private territory, able to raise a 10,000-strong pure Gold-tier cavalry in just a few years?”

“This is no longer a matter of financial resources; the potential of this troop template is simply astounding!”

Exclamations and gasps of cold air rose and fell in succession.

They had originally thought that Su Jin’s limit would be to field an elite force mixed with Gold and Silver tiers.

Who would have thought that he would directly reveal a trump card legion that could be called luxurious!

In the Molten Heart World, there are tens of millions of Alliance legions, but only a handful can truly be crowned with the name “Ace.”

And one of the criteria for measuring an Ace is the proportion of Gold-tier troops.

Among the entire Southern Army Group.

Only the Crimson Dragon Legion, under Xiang Tian, known as the “Shield of the South,” could assemble a pure Gold-tier legion of 10,000.

But now, a private lord, who many people thought had only developed for a few years, had actually produced a terrifying force of the same caliber.

“Impossible… This is absolutely impossible!”

A staff officer from the Central Army subconsciously swiped open his data screen with his fingertip, but he couldn't find any matching information.

“A Level 7 territory, how can it maintain a 10,000-strong Gold-tier cavalry? Their logistics, their resources… This is completely…”

His words echoed the sentiments of most people present.

The resources, time, and effort required to train a single Gold-tier soldier were astronomical.

An ordinary Level 7 lord with a hundred-strong Gold Guard would be enough to dominate a region.

Ten thousand?

That was a foundation that only the core sequence of an Army Group was qualified to touch.

On the east viewing platform, the generals of the South were also in shock.

But after the shock, there was ecstasy.

“Good lad! I knew Brother Su had a trick up his sleeve!”

Xiang Tian’s large, fan-like hand slapped his thigh with a “thwack,” making the nearby table jump.

He grinned widely, laughing heartily, and winked at a Legion Commander beside him.

“Old Zhang, see that? Look at that imposing presence, that aura, much stronger than those rascals under you, eh?”

The named Legion Commander was torn between laughter and tears, but he could only nod vigorously, his eyes full of envy.

Lin Yuan, at the main seat, sat motionless, his hand holding the teacup as steady as a rock.

Only, beyond the rising steam, the gaze he directed at Su Jin to his side held undisguised surprise and approval.

He knew Su Jin had a trump card, but he never expected it to be such a powerful one.

Unlike the joyous atmosphere on the South's side, the Central Army Group's seats on the west had a somewhat solemn atmosphere.

Wei Yun’s arrogant expression had completely vanished.

He looked at the Abyssal Thunder Dragon Riders, feeling the surging thunderous aura emanating from them.

The fear of being dominated by Bai Xiao’s sword intent in the council hall three days ago resurfaced in his mind.

Beside him, General Wei Feng, the legendary Legion Commander of the Starlight Legion, looked at Su Jin, who sat calmly opposite him, and his expression couldn't help but sink.

“Infinite City… What an Infinite City.”

General Wei Feng’s voice was low, betraying no emotion, “A single Su Jin, to possess such fortune.”

And at this moment, the backup teleportation array on the other side of the plaza also flared with brilliant light.

Unlike the violent thunderous aura when the Abyssal Thunder Dragon Riders appeared.

This time.

A cold, chilling, murderous aura, like a lone wolf patrolling its territory in a winter wasteland, instantly permeated the air.

As the light faded, another legion of ten thousand stood silently upon the array.

They were not mounted on warhorses, but were all heavy infantry.

Their armor was a deep silver-grey, inscribed with faint green wind runes.

Each person held a giant battle blade taller than themselves, its edge glinting with a chilling light that made hearts palpitate.

“Heavenly Wolf Guard! General Wei Feng actually brought the Heavenly Wolf Guard over.”

Someone on the viewing platform exclaimed.

If the Abyssal Thunder Dragon Riders were an unexpected dark horse, then the Heavenly Wolf Guard was an ace already famous throughout Molten Heart.

The very soul of the Central Starlight Legion, they had executed countless difficult missions and slain innumerable powerful enemy experts.

“They are also all Gold-tier… and at least two Legendary-tier auras!”

“The one leading them, that’s Luo Yan, the commander of the Heavenly Wolf Guard, ‘Azure Wolf,’ right? Rumor has it he’s a Level 15 Legendary expert who has never met his match among those of his tier!”

“Legion Commander General Wei Feng is serious now, he’s sent out his most prized possession!”

With the appearance of the Heavenly Wolf Guard, the originally one-sided atmosphere in the plaza once again became subtle.

People’s gazes swept back and forth between the two equally powerful and distinctly styled legions, filled with anticipation.

This was truly a clash of titans.

Wei Yun’s face regained some color; he straightened his back and looked coldly in Su Jin’s direction.

With the Heavenly Wolf Guard present, he seemed to have regained his pride and confidence as a member of the Central Army.

Just then, a Major General in the uniform of the Supreme Command flew above the plaza.

“By order of the Supreme Command, the ‘exchange exercise’ between Infinite City and the Central Starlight Legion officially begins!”

“According to the agreement between both parties, the maximum troop deployment for this exercise is 10,000 for each side, and the maximum Legendary-tier combat power is two individuals!”

“Exercise objective: If one legion suffers more than half its unit losses, or voluntarily surrenders, it will be deemed to have lost!”

“Now, both legions, please enter the Tianyan Battle Realm!”

As the Major General waved his hand, the space in front of both legions simultaneously twisted, transforming into two giant light gates.

Huo Jun spurred his Storm Dragon Horse, pointed his thunder spear forward, and led the Abyssal Thunder Dragon Riders into the kaleidoscopic space.

On the other side, Luo Yan, the commander of the Heavenly Wolf Guard.

A cruel smile appeared on his face; he waved his hand, and the entire legion, like a silver-grey torrent of steel, surged into the light gate.

The two light gates slowly closed.

On New Moon Plaza, a giant light screen lit up, projecting the scene within the Tianyan Battle Realm in real-time.

…

Tianyan Battle Realm.

This was a vast and desolate canyon.

Strange rocks jutted out, the terrain was complex, and giant rock pillars pierced the grey sky like sharp swords.

A faint smell of sulfur permeated the air, and chaotic geomagnetism interfered with most conventional detection equipment.

The figures of the Abyssal Thunder Dragon Riders appeared in an open area on the south side of the canyon.

Huo Jun looked around, his brows slightly furrowed.

This kind of terrain was extremely unsuitable for large-scale cavalry charges, but rather advantageous for infantry ambushes and encirclement.

“It seems the opponent chose a good spot.”

Beside him, a clear, cold voice sounded.

Bai Xiao had appeared beside him at some point.

“No matter.” Huo Jun said in a deep voice, “Lord Su Jin had already anticipated this.”

He flipped his hand.

In his palm appeared a handful of seeds, glowing with a soft green light, like dandelions.

This was a sub-body of the Sky-Peering Vine, one of the core creations of the Grand Void Azurewood Palace.

Huo Jun infused spiritual power into it, and the handful of seeds instantly flared with brilliant light.

“Go.”

He blew gently.

In an instant, thousands of green light dots, like a dazzling meteor shower, scattered in all directions.

In just a few breaths, a huge detection network spread out from the Abyssal Thunder Dragon Riders as its center, covering the entire canyon.

Through the Grand Void Azurewood Palace’s “Myriad Spirit Resonance.”

Every inch of this canyon’s land, every subtle energy fluctuation, was clearly fed back into Huo Jun and Bai Xiao’s minds.