54: With the enemy at the gates, the Mohist stratagems shake the fortified city (Part 2)

The glimmer of dawn had not yet fully dispelled the darkness of the Astral Realm when the heavy gate of Furnace Fortress slowly rose with a roar. A vast and heterogeneous army, yet one that exuded a faint, chilling sense of Order, began to advance toward The Silent Temple to the northwest like an awakening behemoth.

The allied forces have set out!

At the very front of the procession was the Vanguard Legion led by Zhao Hao. The Young Golden Dragon circled at a low altitude, its Divine Might radiating wantonly to disperse the weak undead and murky Aura along the way. Below it was a torrent of steel composed of Mountain Giants, dwarven heavy infantry, wolf riders, and the melee units of some other candidates. Their steps were heavy and their armor clanged, moving like a mountain range with an unstoppable Aura.

[Vanguard Legion Core Units]:

Young Golden Dragon (LV35): Aerial deterrence and powerful strike platform.

Mountain Giant x8 (LV25): Strength 55, Physique 60, Movement Speed 5. Living battering rams, specialized against buildings and large units.

Dwarven Breakers (LV22) x100: Strength 38, Physique 45, equipped with [black iron heavy armor] and [Heavy Warhammers/Battle Axes]. The backbone of the melee force, with a tight formation.

Steppe Wolf Riders x40 (LV20): Strength 28, Agility 40, skilled in flanking harassment and pursuit.

The Main Army was overseen by Lin Zhou (consciousness projection) and Elwin. Wenxin Elf Rangers, Law Fishmen enforcement squads, and most of the allied forces' ranged and spellcasting units were concentrated here. They were protected in relatively safe positions, ready to provide fire support and tactical assistance at any time. Tiangong Dwarves and Mechanical Goblinss operated several large siege engine components, advancing with the group and preparing for rapid assembly upon arrival.

[Main Army Core Units]:

Wenxin Elf Rangers (LV25) x150: Agility 42, Intelligence 30, equipped with [Black Iron Longbows] and [Vast Righteous Qi Arrows]. Precise long-range strikes with a faint purification effect.

Moon God Priest (LV28) x20 (under Su Yueyao): Intelligence 45, Spirit 40, skilled in [Moonlight Healing], [Moonlight Purification], and [Moon-fire Strike]. Core healing and undead-countering units.

Gnome Ballista Carts x10: Extremely long range; bolts can be equipped with [Burst Runes] or [nether-skeleton dissipation powder].

Su Yueyao and her main force—two hundred agile Moon Elf Warriors wielding Moon Blades (LV26, Agility 48, skilled in Moonlight Enchanted Attacks and high-speed movement) and dozens of silver-white Moonlight Beasts shaped like giant wolves (LV24, Strength 35, Agility 45, capable of merging into moonlight for stealth)—prowled the flanks of the army like shadows. They were the mobile force and surprise troops of the alliance, responsible for responding to emergencies and ensuring flank security.

The rear army and logistics were handled by Li Mo, Mibo, and others, including the Flower Fairy healing team, Gnome Engineering Team, and transport convoys, ensuring the supply of materials and the evacuation of the wounded.

Nearly ten thousand troops marched majestically like a winding Dragon across the barren and dead land. Wherever they passed, scattered undead outposts were easily crushed, and wild magical beasts that had originally occupied the area fled at the mere sight of them.

Morale was high, especially after seeing the formidable strength displayed by the three core deities and the disciplined appearance of the alliance. The candidates, who were initially somewhat apprehensive, gradually felt at ease and were full of anticipation for the upcoming battle.

After a day and night of marching (God Realm time), during which they only experienced a few small-scale skirmishes, the allied forces finally arrived at the outer area of their destination—The Silent Temple.

When that massive, ancient temple radiating an ominous Aura appeared on the horizon, the entire alliance involuntarily slowed its pace, and a heavy, oppressive atmosphere descended.

It was a magnificent building constructed from some kind of pale white stone, with a primitive yet eerie style full of sharp angles and distorted reliefs. The temple as a whole was shrouded in a thick, almost physical mist of mixed gray-black Death Qi and deep blue arcane energy, making it impossible to see its full extent. Just looking at it from afar, one could feel a bone-chilling cold and a heart-palpitating evil.

[Environment Scan]: Outskirts of The Silent Temple

[Energy Field]: [Annihilation Force Field] (High Intensity)

Effects: 1. All living units' attributes decreased by 15% (the alliance has some resistance, actual decrease is about 8%). 2. Life/Energy recovery speed reduced by 70%. 3. Divine Thought perception range and accuracy significantly reduced (weakened by 80%). 4. Continuous interference from [Mental Whispers] (requires a Will Save; failure leads to fear/confusion).

[Visible Fortifications]:

[Bone Moat]: Surrounding the temple, the river is not water but a churning mass of countless skeletons and vengeful spirits, emitting a strong Soul-absorbing effect.

[Undead Rampart]: A crude wall about twenty meters high, forcibly forged from the remains of countless skeletons, walking corpses, and even large undead creatures, covered in sharp bone spikes.

[Wraith Watchtower]: Floating towers stationed by Wraith Mages at intervals along the wall, providing vision and Spell support.

[Arcane Rune Array]: A large number of flickering arcane runes are carved on the walls and ground, with strong energy reactions, suspected to be trigger-based traps.

Upon that Undead Rampart and on the wasteland in front of the temple, the area was densely packed, like a tide, with undead creatures! Their numbers far exceeded those in the previous Valley of the Dead! Among them were many high-level units:

[Detected Undead Legion (Partial)]:

Skeleton Warriors/Archers (LV20-25): Basic cannon fodder, infinite in number.

Plague Walkers (LV22): Move slowly, but attacks carry plague; vast numbers.

Undead Guards (LV25): Heavy armor units with high defense, forming the backbone of the defensive line.

Wraith Mage (LV28) x at least 30: Hovering behind watchtowers or army formations, chanting vicious curses and preparing necromantic Spells.

Bone Steed Cavalry (LV30) x 100: High mobility, great charging power.

Plague Abomination (LV32) x 10: Mountain-like siege units, spreading clouds of disease.

(Unconfirmed): In the depths of the legion, there are faint energy reactions of even more powerful entities, such as Death Knights and Banshee Queens.

The number of undead was roughly estimated to be over twenty thousand! And the quality was extremely high! They stood silently, cold light flickering in their eye sockets or Soul fires, like machines waiting to harvest life.

A collective gasp sounded within the alliance. Even with prior mental preparation, seeing such a scale of the Undead Scourge ready for battle produced an unparalleled visual and psychological impact. Some weak-willed subordinates even began to tremble slightly, their morale affected.

"Hmph! Just a bunch of rabble!" Zhao Hao, riding on the Golden Dragon's back, gave a cold snort. His Divine Might erupted at full power, attempting to suppress the undead's fierce arrogance, but the effect was not significant; the Annihilation Force Field emitted by The Silent Temple greatly weakened the effect of his Divine Might.

Su Yueyao's body was surrounded by flowing moonlight, dispelling the negative energy in her vicinity, but her elegant face was also full of gravity. The undead here, in both quantity and quality, far exceeded expectations.

Lin Zhou's consciousness projection stood in the Main Army, feeling the suffocating death and oppression in the air. He knew he had to stabilize the army's morale immediately!

"Swift as the Wind, Immovable as a Mountain!" The School of Military's Battle Intent once again bolstered the entire army, causing the somewhat restless formations to steady themselves.

But that was not enough! Facing such a desperate scene, a stronger conviction was needed for support!

Lin Zhou took a deep breath, pushing his Godhead to its limit, communicating with the point of light in the Temple of Civilization that represented [Legalism]. As a deity, he would enact Legalist Edicts to forcibly define Order in this land of death!

"Net of Law, expand!"

Following Lin Zhou's low and majestic divine oracle, an invisible force of rules containing the concepts of "Order," "Definition," and "Punishment" spread forward from his Divine Thought like flowing mercury. Finally, in the area about five hundred meters in front of the allied forces, it formed an invisible [Law Boundary] that spanned the battlefield!

This was not a physical barrier, but a declaration on the level of rules!

"Let this boundary be the limit!" Lin Zhou's divine voice echoed in the Soul of every allied unit with unquestionable absolute authority. "Define Order and Chaos! Define life and death! All those belonging to the alliance who cross this boundary to fight shall receive the blessing of the Law—their minds shall be steadfast, and they shall be immune to all evils! All those belonging to the undead who cross this boundary shall be suppressed by the Law—their steps shall be difficult, and their power shall be diminished!"

[Divine Spell Effect]: Net of Law · Battlefield Version (Cast by Lin Zhou)

Effect: Forms a temporary rule boundary in a designated area.

Effect on Allies: [Morale Stabilization] (Immunity to fear and confusion effects), [Order Protection] (10% increase in damage to undead).

Effect on Undead: [Rule Rejection] (Movement speed reduced by 15%, all attributes reduced by 5%), [Chaos Mark] (Easier to be locked onto and countered by Order-attribute skills).

This was not a direct attack, but a modification of the battlefield environment! It was the "rule" forcibly established here by Lin Zhou using his nascent [Law] priesthood combined with Legalist thought!

The effect was immediate!

On the alliance's side, all subordinates felt their minds clear as the ubiquitous [Mental Whispers] were blocked out, and the fear in their hearts was replaced by a firm conviction! They looked at the invisible boundary ahead as if seeing a safety line and an offensive line drawn for them by their Lord. Morale instantly stabilized and soared once more!

On the undead side, the front-row undead clearly slowed down as they approached the boundary, and the Death Qi swirling around them seemed to dim. In their cold consciousness, a sense of "discomfort" and "obstruction" appeared for the first time.

"My Lord's Divine Might!"

"Light of Civilization, protect us!"

Thunderous cheers erupted from the alliance, and their faith in Lin Zhou became even more devout!

Su Yueyao's eyes sparkled as she looked at Lin Zhou's projection. This method of directly influencing the battlefield environment through rules was definitely not something an ordinary deity with Faint Divinity could master. It seemed that Student Lin Zhou had more hidden trump cards than she had imagined.

Zhao Hao roared with even more excitement: "Old Lin, awesome! Brothers, get ready to move!"

Morale was steady; the army was ready!

Lin Zhou's gaze was sharp, locking onto the Undead Rampart ahead. A direct assault would surely result in heavy losses; they had to leverage the alliance's advantages!

"Li Mo! Mibo! Assemble the siege engines immediately! Target: the Undead Rampart!"

"Elwin, Barrend, ranged units, move forward to the Law Boundary for fire coverage! Suppress the undead on the wall!"

"Zhao Hao, Vanguard Legion, form ranks behind the boundary and prepare to counter the undead's charge!"

"Student Yue Yao, have your Moon Elves and Moonlight Beasts ready to intercept the enemy's mobile flanking forces at any time!"

Orders were issued one by one in an orderly fashion. The massive war machine of the alliance began to operate efficiently according to the will of the command!