152: In a fierce defensive battle, Xu Rulin held the line.

Time, amidst anxious waiting and a race against time, flowed slowly and tensely like a fully drawn bowstring.

Sixteen hours (battle time) passed in the blink of an eye.

West of the Land of Order, in the outer retardation zone.

The lead-gray sky hung so low it felt as if it would press down onto the ground; the scent of death permeating the air was so thick it made ordinary living beings feel suffocated. The wilderness, which originally still had some greenery, now presented a sickly, gray decay. The ground was cracked, vegetation withered into ash, and even the surface of exposed rocks was covered with a layer of slick, cold, dark moss—the traces of the erosion by the undead force field.

Windwhisperer (ID) stood on a protruding rock at the edge of a stone forest, her slender body wrapped in a pale cyan wind element shield, her expression as solemn as ice. Her dependents, three hundred elite Jungle Elf Archers, were currently lurking silently, relying on the craggy stone pillars and natural cave crevices, as if they had merged into the environment. Each Elf Archer tightly gripped her beloved longbow, made of magical wood and elven silk strings, and their quivers were filled with arrows whose tips had been specially treated and shimmered with a faint anti-evil fluorescence. In their emerald eyes, the usual liveliness was replaced by a complex emotion mixed with tension, fear, and determination, but their hands holding the bows were as steady as rocks.

Jungle Elf Archer (Elite, Windwhisperer's dependents)

Average Rank: LV22

Core Attributes (Average): Strength 15, Agility 28, Physique 18, Intelligence 12, Spirit 20 (Nature Affinity)

Talents:

【Nature Stealth】: In complex terrains like jungles and stone forests, stealth value +30%, movement sound reduced by 50%.

【Precision Shot】: Within 100 meters, hit rate for fixed targets is as high as 95%; hit rate for moving targets is affected by agility and skill level.

【Whisper of the Wind】: Movement speed +15%, jumping ability enhanced.

Skills:

【Anti-Evil Arrow (Enchanted)】: Consumes a trace of natural energy/mana to make the next shot carry the "Weak Anti-Evil" effect, dealing an additional 10% damage to negative energy creatures like the undead and demons. (Current arrows have been batch-enchanted with the assistance of the Tian Gong Institute; the effect is slightly weaker but sustainable.)

【Multiple Shot (LV2)】: After a brief charge, fires 2-3 arrows at once to attack the same or adjacent targets; each arrow deals 70% of normal damage.

【Wind Step】: Movement speed explosively increases by 40% for a short time, lasting 5 seconds, with a cooldown of 30 seconds.

Equipment:

Longbow (Excellent Grade): Attack power +8, range +20 meters.

Anti-Evil Arrow (20 per elf): Attack power +3, additional damage to undead +8.

Light Leather Armor (Common Grade): Defense +5, agility +2.

"They're here..." Windwhisperer murmured, her voice transmitted to the ears of every Elf Archer through the resonance of wind elements.

There was no earth-shattering sound of hooves, no deafening roars.

There was only a low, dense, seemingly endless... click, click sound.

It was the sound of countless bone feet stepping on the cracked earth, mixed with the friction of zombies dragging their bodies, and the Soul-chilling, wailing wind sound brought by ghosts drifting past.

On the horizon, that gray-black "tide line" had turned into an overwhelming wave, filling all the space within sight. The ghostly green Soul fire jumping in the skeletons' eye sockets connected into a grim ghost realm; the stench emitted by the rotten bodies of zombies could be faintly smelled even from several kilometers away; the ghosts hovering at low altitude were like gray clouds, their twisted faces looming in and out.

The vanguard of the undead army, eight hundred thousand low-Rank undead, was rumbling over like a slow but firm millstone. They appeared chaotic, but in fact, they maintained a heart-stopping neatness unique to the undead—no emotions, no hesitation, only an instinctive craving for the breath of life and a desire for destruction.

"Steady... let them get a little closer..." Windwhisperer clenched her fists, her fingernails almost embedding into her palms. According to the plan, their mission was not to block head-on, but to conduct the first round of lethal long-range strikes after the undead entered the optimal range, and then immediately use the terrain to relocate, never getting entangled.

Five hundred meters...

Four hundred meters...

Three hundred meters...

The skeleton soldiers at the very front of the undead vanguard could already be seen with the rough rust and cracks on their bone blades.

"Now!" Windwhisperer's eyes sharpened. "Target, the fan-shaped area in front, where the density is highest—free scatter, three volleys! Fire!"

Bang! Bang, bang, bang, bang—!

In an instant, the stone forest area seemed to come alive! Over two hundred arrows shimmering with anti-evil fluorescence shot out from dozens of tricky, hidden points! The arrows tore through the air polluted by the aura of death, emitting sharp whistling sounds!

Pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft!

Dense, rain-on-plantain-like piercing sounds rang out!

The first row, second row, third row... the skeleton soldiers rushing at the front fell in swathes like harvested wheat! Soul fires extinguished, bones shattered! Those arrows precisely shot into the skeletons' eye sockets (Soul fire core), cervical spine joints, rib gaps, and other relatively fragile positions! The anti-evil fluorescence exploded the moment it hit the undead bodies; although weak, it effectively interfered with the stability of death energy and accelerated the disintegration of the bones!

In one volley, over one hundred and fifty skeleton soldiers fell completely!

"Relocate! Execute Plan A route!" Windwhisperer did not linger, immediately giving the Order.

The Jungle Elf Archers leaped out from their respective shooting points like agile apes, quickly retreating deep into the stone forest along the complex routes pre-surveyed and full of vines (some withered) and rocky paths. Their figures flickered between the stone pillars and then disappeared again.

The undead vanguard showed a moment of "stun"—they lacked high-level intelligence and were somewhat slow to react to the strike points that appeared and disappeared suddenly. But the rolling undead torrent from behind immediately filled the vacancy, and more skeletons and zombies stepped on the broken bones of their companions to continue moving forward, only their speed seemed to have slowed down slightly due to this unexpected blow.

This was the essence of "Swift as the Wind"—not to clash head-on, but to use mobility and terrain advantages to "scrape" away the enemy's edge forces bit by bit, like tough vines wrapping around a giant tree; though unable to strangle it immediately, it could continuously consume its strength and delay its pace.

Similar scenes were being staged everywhere in the outer retardation zone, which was ten kilometers long and five kilometers deep.

A certain deity possessing Wolf Riders commanded his dire wolf knights to launch several short charges from the flanks, using iron-clad wooden stakes and burning torches to attack the flanks of the undead troops, striking once and leaving, never going deep.

Deities skilled in earth-type magic quietly cast [Earth Trap] and [Quicksand Trap] on key paths. Although they were quickly filled by the "sea of corpses" by the subsequent undead, they successfully caused hundreds of undead to temporarily lose their ability to move and caused small-scale chaos.

The limited number of [Explosive Rune Stones] (simplified version of magic landmines) provided by Li Mo were carefully placed at several narrow intersections that had to be passed. When the undead stepped on them, the roaring flames and shockwaves instantly cleared a small area and ignited the nearby undead; although they were quickly extinguished by the aura of death, the instantaneous damage and psychological (?) deterrence caused were quite considerable.

The retardation zone was bleeding and sacrificing. Casualties for the harassment troops were inevitable. An overly greedy Harpy squad retreated too slowly after throwing alchemy fire oil bottles and was enveloped by dozens of [Death Arrows] (cast by skeleton mages) shot from the undead sea, falling from the sky with screams, and were immediately submerged, torn apart, and transformed by the swarming zombies...

But their sacrifice was not in vain.

Battle Report (Phase 1 · Retardation Operation · First Two Hours):

Successfully delayed the contact time between the main undead vanguard and our main defensive position by about 2.5 hours.

Estimated number of low-Rank undead killed: About 110,000 (mainly skeleton soldiers).

Casualties of our retardation troops: About 800 units (projection), mostly light and mobile units.

Tactical goal achieved: Initially disrupted the undead vanguard formation, consumed part of their troops, and won valuable final preparation time for the main defensive position in the rear.

However, this was just an appetizer.

The real test would only begin when the main force of the undead army—that 1.2 million mixed troops and 80,000 elite undead—approached the natural barrier that lay before the Land of Order like a moving mountain range—the [Lancang River] (battle virtual naming)!

Main Defensive Position, south bank of the Lancang River.

The river took a gentle bend here, forming a relatively open beach, but the terrain on the south bank rose sharply, forming a slope of soil and rock that was about three kilometers long and averaged over thirty meters in height. This was the main battlefield for "Immovable as a Mountain" in Lin Zhou's plan!

The slope on the south bank had completely changed!

In just over ten hours, thanks to the near-mad efforts of the Tiangong Dwarves, Mechanical Goblins, and all dependents skilled in civil engineering (including some Rock Golems, Earth Goblin laborers, etc.), a three-dimensional defense line built along the slope, layered, and filled with otherworldly style and the wisdom of Mohist Mechanisms, had already taken shape!

First Defense Line (River Beach Front):

Triple Interlocking Trenches: Two meters deep, three meters wide, with sharpened wooden stakes (some coated with flammable materials) at the bottom, and earth ramparts piled on the trench edges. Responsible for retarding the first wave of charges after the undead crossed the river, and guiding their impact direction.

Dense Chevaux-de-frise Array: Chevaux-de-frise made of thick logs and metal spikes, densely arranged in the open space between the trenches, specifically targeting the dense charges of skeletons and zombies.

Concealed [Caltrop Fire Mines] (Jointly developed by Mohist/Li Mo): Half-buried underground, trigger-based, explosive power is average, but can spray sticky, continuously burning alchemy flames, effectively hindering the undead's advance and causing continuous damage.

Second Defense Line (Middle Slope · Core Defense Zone):

Rammed Earth Stone-Wrapped Low Wall: The wall is about five meters high and three meters thick, with the surface initially solidified by Spells. Every twenty meters on the low wall, there is an [Arrow Tower] protruding from the wall (simple wood-stone structure, can accommodate five archers or one ballista).

Mohist Mechanism Ballista Position (Core Output): A full 120 [ "City Defense" Repeating Ballistae], standardized and modified, operated jointly by Tiangong Dwarves and Mechanical Goblins, deployed on reinforced platforms behind the low wall and on the highlands on both sides!

[ "City Defense" Repeating Ballista] (Standardized, Excellent-Rare Grade War Machine)

Drive Method: Composite pulley System + elastic Demonic Beast tendons + simple energy buffer rune array (provided by Li Mo).

Range: Effective range 280-320 meters, maximum range 400 meters (accuracy drops sharply).

Rate of Fire: Theoretical maximum rate of fire is 3 shots per second; in actual combat, due to loading, aiming, and cooling, the sustainable rate of fire is about 12-15 shots per minute (each ballista is equipped with three operators to rotate).

Ammunition: Standard Armor-Piercing Crossbow Bolts (1.5 meters long, refined steel arrowheads, average effectiveness against undead); Special [Explosive Fire Arrows] (prioritized): The arrowheads contain sealed, unstable fire elemental crystal dust, which triggers a wide-range fire explosion upon impact, dealing extra damage and providing purification effects against undead.

Characteristics: [Rapid Calibration] (utilizing simple sights, calibration speed +20%), [Cluster Coordination] (when multiple ballistae are coordinated by a unified command node, coverage area precision increases by 10%).

Control Requirements: Requires at least 10+ Intelligence and units possessing basic mechanical knowledge (Tiangong Dwarves and Mechanical Goblins are optimal).

Catapult Position (Support/Anti-Large): Thirty simple counterweight catapults deployed in a safer area further back; they have longer range but poorer precision, mainly used for bombarding dense areas in the undead rear guard or targeting large entities (such as Abominations or Behemoth Giant Beasts).

Magic Tower / Holy Light Altar (Temporary): A simple spellcasting node jointly constructed by several deities possessing Mage or Priest hero units, capable of amplifying the effects of area-of-effect Spells or divine arts (such as [Fire Storm], [Holy Light Impact], etc.), though energy reserves are limited.

Third Line of Defense (Slope Top and Rear · Reserves and Command Hub):

Core Command Post: Located at the most open vantage point on the slope top, built from sturdy stone with a simple defensive magic array on the exterior. Lin Zhou, Li Mo (responsible for global information processing and equipment scheduling), and a few messengers are stationed here.

Reserve Area: Wang Meng's Behemoth Legion (remnants), Zhao Hao's Dragonblood Warriors (ground state), Qin Qing's Judgment Angel squad (serving as a strategic reserve and rapid response force for emergencies), and other elite troops retained by various deities are resting and waiting here.

Medical and Supply Station: Established under remote guidance from the Imperial Hospital within Lin Zhou's divine domain, equipped with basic herbs, bandages, and simple purified talisman water, responsible for treating the severely wounded (with limited effectiveness).

Wang Meng's Behemoth Legion was currently lying silently in an open space behind the low wall of the second line of defense. Over three hundred Behemoth Giant Beasts (average Rank LV28, with the LV50 Behemoth Elder hero unit at the front) stood like dark golden statues. Their heavy breathing formed white mist in the cold air, and their scarlet pupils stared fixedly at the approaching tide of death on the other side of the river. The innate rage and Battle Intent of the Behemoths were further stimulated by the aura of death permeating the battlefield, but they were all forcibly suppressed by Wang Meng through a powerful mental link, waiting for that command for a thunderous strike.

Zhao Hao stood on a taller arrow tower with his Red Dragon hero by his side. The Dragon Clan's arrogant gaze swept over the undead on the opposite bank; the dragon's snout parted slightly, revealing sharp, white teeth, while crimson light faintly swirled deep within its throat—Dragon Breath was already brewing.

Qin Qing and her Judgment Angel squad stood quietly beside a small, temporarily constructed altar that emitted a faint Holy Light behind the defense line. The angels prayed with their eyes closed, holy power gathering around them; it was completely out of place with the aura of death permeating the entire defense line, yet it was as conspicuous as a lighthouse in the darkness.

Su Yueyao had no fixed position. Her Moonlight Divine Power, like gentle flowing water, silently drifted between the key nodes of the defense line, dispelling the overly dense erosion of death, soothing the overly tense soldiers, and leaving faint moonlight marks on some important equipment (such as the energy buffering rune arrays of the ballistae) to enhance their stability and anti-interference capabilities.

Lin Zhou stood before the command post, his black hair and robes fluttering in the air currents mixed with river winds and the aura of death. His gaze crossed several kilometers of space, landing on the opposite bank.

The main force of the undead army had finally arrived at the north bank of the Lancang River!

The dense mass of undead covered almost every riverbank within sight. Skeletons were like a forest, zombies like a carpet, with the figures of elite undead units looming within them. The aura of death was so thick that it formed a visible gray mist, drifting toward the south bank of the river, colliding violently with the forces of life and Order on the defense line, emitting a sizzling sound.

On the north bank, the undead army did not cross the river immediately. They stopped at the riverbank and began a strange "ritual"—a large number of low-tier skeletons and zombies, as if receiving an Order, began to frantically dig the soil of the north bank, throwing large amounts of bones, carrion, and even some glowing Ore (possibly some kind of yin-natured mineral unique to the battlefield) into the river! They were attempting to alter the river environment, using death matter to pollute and raise the riverbed, and even... building a temporary "bone bridge"!

"As expected... the undead also know how to utilize the environment." Lin Zhou's eyes were cold. "Li Mo, calculate their possible river crossing points and construction speed."

"Already calculating... Based on the undead distribution density and energy flow trends, there are expected to be three main river crossing points, in areas where the river surface is narrowest and the current is slower. The construction speed... is very fast! There are too many of them! At this rate, within an hour at most, they will be able to create a rough passage for a large force to cross!" Li Mo's voice came through the communication magic array, carrying gravity.

"We cannot let them succeed easily." Lin Zhou ordered, "All ballista positions, target—the areas where the undead 'construction' is densest on the north bank, and any elite undead units attempting to enter the water! Free fire, maximum rate of fire, hit them hard for me!"

The Order was issued instantly through the Net of Law and the messaging System!

The next moment—Hum! Boom! Boom-boom-boom-boom—!!!

It was as if one hundred and twenty metal beasts had awakened and roared simultaneously! The entire south bank slope was engulfed by a dense, hair-raising roar of mechanisms and the sound of crossbow bolts piercing the air!

One hundred and twenty [Siege-Type Rapid-Fire Ballistae] simultaneously spat out deadly tongues of fire from their muzzles! The special [Explosive Fire Arrows] carved crimson trajectories in the air, like a meteor shower flying in reverse, smashing fiercely into the north bank of the Lancang River!

Boom-boom-boom-boom—!!! The deafening sound of explosions merged into one! The areas on the north bank where the undead "construction" was densest instantly turned into a Hell intertwined with fire and death! Crimson flames mixed with shattered bone fragments and carrion shot into the sky! The Explosive Fire Arrows not only brought physical impact, but after the unstable fire elemental crystal dust contained within exploded, the resulting continuously burning flames dealt significant extra damage to the undead! Skeletons turned into charcoal in the flames, zombies were ignited into moving torches, and even ghosts, when touched by the flames, emitted shrill shrieks as their forms became thin!

Especially those elite undead that attempted to enter the water or were of massive size (such as Stitching Abominations) were given special "attention"! Several or even a dozen Explosive Fire Arrows hit their massive bodies almost simultaneously, the chain explosions blowing their flesh (?) flying, causing them to stagger backward, or even directly dismembering them!

The first round of saturation volley fire lasted for a full minute!

When the firing paused and the smoke and undead dust mist dissipated slightly, the scene on the north bank invigorated all the defenders!

The originally dense group of "construction" undead had been forcibly blasted into several huge blank areas filled with charred craters and burning debris! It is estimated that over twenty thousand undead were completely reduced to ashes in this round of strikes! Several Stitching Abominations were blown into immobile mush, and several "bone piles" that had just been started were completely destroyed!

"Well done!" Zhao Hao punched the air excitedly on the arrow tower.

"Effective! Continue firing! Don't stop! Suppress them!" the frontline commanders roared.

The ballista positions entered a state of continuous fire. Although the rate of fire had dropped from the Peak of the volley, the continuous firepower of a dozen rounds per minute still formed a deadly barrage of death on the north bank! Every time the undead attempted to assemble, every time they attempted to advance their "construction," they were met with precise and fierce strikes!

The undead army seemed stunned by this sudden and fierce long-range firepower, and their offensive stalled for a moment. The death mist on the north bank churned violently, and one could vaguely feel an angry and cold will scanning the south bank defense line.

But the terror of the undead disaster lay in its endless troops and cold will. After a brief pause, more undead surged up like a tide, filling the gaps. At the same time, the undead army's long-range units began to counterattack!

Behind the north bank, thousands of Skeleton Mages raised their bone staffs, and dark energy of death gathered!

The next instant, dense swarms of [Bone Spears] and [Death Arrows], like a gray swarm of locusts, crossed the river with shrill shrieks, covering the ballista positions and the defense line on the south bank!

"Defend!" "Raise shields!" "Intercept with Spells!"

On the low wall, the shield-bearing warriors strove to raise their large shields; the Mage and Priest hero units in the rear erected layers of thin or sturdy Spell shields; Su Yueyao cast Moonlight Divine Power, laying down flexible moonlight barriers above several key ballista positions.

Pfft, pfft, pfft... Clang, clang, clang...! Bone Spears and Death Arrows struck shields, Spell shields, and barriers, emitting dense sounds. Although most were blocked, some stragglers still pierced through the defenses and shot into the rear.

"Ah—!" A Mechanical Goblin operating a ballista had his shoulder pierced by a Bone Spear and fell down with a scream; his companion next to him immediately filled his position with bloodshot eyes.

An arrow tower was hit by several Death Arrows, its wooden structure ignited with eerie green flames, and the archers inside were forced to evacuate.

An infantry formation behind a section of the low wall was covered by a volley of Bone Spears, and over ten men fell instantly.

Casualties began to appear.

But the defense line's counterattack did not stop! The ballistae were still roaring, and the archers on the arrow towers were also fighting back hard!

The war had entered a cruel phase of attrition.

Lin Zhou watched the battlefield calmly, his divinity processing the information coming from every location at high speed. He saw the power of the ballistae, and he also saw the tenacity and counterattack of the undead.

"Pass the Order: Catapult positions, target—the areas where the Skeleton Mages are gathering on the north bank, three rounds of test fire, then volley!"

"Tell Wang Meng to have his Behemoths ready; the undead might be about to force a river crossing."

"Zhao Hao, save your Dragon Breath for the most critical moment."

"Qin Qing, watch out for possible aerial unit raids from the undead, especially Gargoyles."

"Su Yueyao, prioritize ensuring the stability of the core ballista positions and the initial treatment of the wounded."

Instructions were issued one by one in an orderly manner.

His gaze turned once again to the north, to the deepest part of the mist of death, to the vaguely visible, towering, and terrifying phantom of the [gate of death].

The first line of defense, "As Gentle as the Forest," had successfully delayed and exhausted the enemy.

Now, the second line of defense, "Immovable as a Mountain," was enduring the first wave of the most violent assault from the main undead force.

And the final "Swift as the Wind"... Lin Zhou clenched his fists. The bloody battle had only just begun.