366: press on

Immediately after, poison arrows rained down from the sheer cliffs on both sides! The arrowheads gleamed a dark green, having been tempered with Crimson Core Stone powder, specifically designed to pierce protective spiritual light.

Dozens more were struck by arrows and fell to the ground, their skin rapidly festering, blood flowing from their seven orifices.

"Damn it! Are they serious?!" Tu Biao's pupils contracted, and he roared like thunder, "Form a defensive formation! Quick!"

The guards hastily formed ranks and brought out their shields, but it was too late.

The traps were interconnected—ground fire disrupted their formation, poison arrows weakened their combat strength, and even more terrifyingly, earthquake talismans were buried underground, exploding on contact, shattering the ground!

In a flash, nearly half of the three hundred elites were lost!

"Woo—woo—woo—!"

Just then, a deep, murderous horn blast echoed from the depths of Crimson Flame Canyon, like an ancient war drum, shaking the very soul.

"Kill—!!!"

A thousand people roared in unison, their voices like a surging tide!

Chi Yao led the charge, clad in soft Crimson Flame armor, holding the Heaven-Burning Blade crafted by Lu Chen, her body wreathed in crimson spiritual flames!

Behind her, a thousand Scarlet Flame Army warriors surged forth like a crimson torrent, each with sharp eyes and neat steps, no longer showing any trace of their former hunched and timid miner slave demeanor!

"Scarlet Flame Army?!" Tu Biao was both shocked and enraged, "How dare these lowly slaves call themselves an army?!"

He roared and charged at Chi Yao, his fists carrying the pressure of a Middle Stage Undergoing Tribulation cultivator, his punches like thunder.

Chi Yao showed no weakness; her Heaven-Burning Blade cut out a crimson arc, clashing head-on with him.

For a time, the two fought to a standstill, evenly matched!

On the other side of the battlefield, the other core members of the Scarlet Flame Army were like tigers entering a flock of sheep:

Iron Lady wielded a greatsword, possessing immense strength, smashing a guard's head with one swing and cracking the ground with another, specializing in breaking heavy armor;

Crimson Thorn moved like a ghost, dual-wielding poisoned stone blades, attacking throats and joints, silently reaping lives;

Crimson Peak carried a massive bow, every arrow finding its mark, each one accurately piercing the enemy's brow;

Little Lotus held high the "Crimson Flame Banner"; when the banner moved, morale was stable, and when it pointed, the offensive surged like a tide.

The Overseers and guards were caught off guard, no match for them, and were slaughtered in an instant!

Then they joined Chi Yao in besieging Tu Biao.

"Damn it! How do a bunch of lowly slaves know Spells?!" Tu Biao was both shocked and terrified; his two fists were no match for four hands, and his body already bore several bone-deep wounds.

"Retreat! Retreat!!!" He finally collapsed, turning and fleeing wildly, taking only twenty remnants of his troops, escaping in disarray back to the Sixth Mining District.

Chi Yao's Heaven-Burning Blade dripped with blood, her gaze like a torch, and she raised her hand to stop the soldiers who wanted to pursue: "Don't pursue, to avoid traps. Crimson Thorn, you stealthily follow and scout out the Sixth Mining District."

"Yes!" Crimson Thorn transformed into a fiery shadow and quickly followed the fleeing Tu Biao.

"Scarlet Flame Army! Scarlet Flame Army!"

A thousand Scarlet Flame Army soldiers cheered in unison, their voices shaking the valley!

This was their first great victory!

...Tu Biao, with his remaining twenty crippled soldiers, fled back to the Sixth Mining District like a stray dog.

His golden armor was shattered, his left arm a bloody mess, his face covered in soot and blood, his eyes burning with humiliation and rage.

The remaining soldiers behind him were all wounded, some limping with broken legs, others clutching their bellies as they staggered, no longer possessing any of their former prestige from when they set out.

In the mining district square, hundreds of Red Slaves were numbly transporting Ore, chains clanging, their backs hunched.

Seeing this scene, everyone froze.

"Holy crap?!" A young Red Slave exclaimed, "There were three hundred elites when they left, how are there so few people returning? And all of them half-dead?"

"Could it be... the rumors are true?" An old miner slave's voice trembled, "The Seventh Mining District is really free? They can really Cultivate?!"

"Don't believe it!" A middle-aged Red Slave forced himself to remain calm and shouted, "This must be an act! The Overseers are testing us! Don't be fooled!"

Before his words finished—

"Bang!"

A hundred-jin heavy Ore slammed down like a cannonball, smashing the head of the speaking middle-aged Red Slave to smithereens, red and white matter splattering everywhere!

Tu Biao's eyes were bloodshot, and he roared like thunder: "Act your ass off!!!"

He snatched the Overseer's whip and furiously lashed the Red Slaves: "You infuriate me! You lowly Red Slaves, how dare you rebel?! Kill them! Kill them all!!!"

He poured all his venom onto the unarmed Red Slaves before him!

The Overseers, receiving the order, swung their blades and chopped.

Most of the Red Slaves didn't even have the courage to flee! They just stood there, letting the blades fall, blood flowing like rivers, as if they had long been accustomed to death.

Just then, a ten-year-old girl collapsed to the ground in terror, trembling all over, her eyes blurred with tears.

An Overseer grinned menacingly and raised his blade: "Little bastard, your crying annoys me, die!"

The blade light fell—

"Swoosh!"

Two crimson stone blades streaked through the air like meteors, accurately piercing the Overseer's throat!

The Overseer's eyes widened, and he crashed to the ground.

A fiery red figure flashed out—it was Crimson Thorn! Her face was covered by a crimson veil, her eyes as cold as ice, yet when she looked at the little girl, a hint of imperceptible softness flickered within them.

The entire place was silent.

The Red Slaves were completely stunned: "This... is this a Red Slave? How dare she kill an Overseer?! Is she crazy?!"

"Too much!" Tu Biao, enraged, laughed instead, "You alone, dare to kill your way into my Sixth Mining District?! Surround her, tear her to pieces!"

Over a dozen Overseers immediately surrounded Crimson Thorn, blades flashing, filled with Killing Intent.

Just as Crimson Thorn was preparing for a desperate fight—

"Who said she was alone?!"

A clear, Phoenix-like cry came from the sky!

Chi Yao stood atop the high cliff, and behind her, a thousand Scarlet Flame Army soldiers surged forward like a crimson tide!

It turned out that before making her move, Crimson Thorn had quietly released a Crimson Flame messenger—a spiritual bird formed from Crimson Fire essence, capable of silently transmitting intelligence.

Chi Yao learned: the Sixth Mining District was completely unprepared, believing the Seventh Mining District's actions were an "act," not even setting up basic outposts!

The opportunity was fleeting! Chi Yao decisively ordered: "All troops, assault!"

"Kill—!!!"

The Scarlet Flame Army descended like fierce tigers from the mountain, instantly breaking through the Overseers' defenses.

Iron Lady's greatsword cleared the way, Crimson Peak's arrow rain sealed throats, shadow blade specialized in cutting down commanders, and where Little Lotus's Crimson Flame Banner pointed, morale soared!

Tu Biao's eyes were about to burst: "I don't believe it! I can't be defeated by you lowly slaves!"

He bit his tongue, burning his essence blood, and his Middle Stage Undergoing Tribulation cultivation exploded, suppressing all the Scarlet Flame Army!

Chi Yao's "Crimson Flame Art" circulated frantically within her body.

She had diligently Cultivated day and night with Lu Chen, all for this day!

"Break!"

The energy essence she had accumulated from Lu Chen completely erupted within her body!

Crimson flames rose around her, turning from crimson to golden-red!

—The fourth stage of "Crimson Flame Art" was complete!

Her figure was like lightning, the Heaven-Burning Blade sliced through the sky, cutting down with one strike!

Tu Biao's protective spiritual light shattered like paper, his head flew high, his eyes still filled with disbelief: "You... you actually..."

Before he could finish, his body crashed to the ground.

The entire place was silent.

The Red Slaves looked at the once arrogant corpse, then at Chi Yao—the woman who, like them, had originated as a miner slave, now descended like a deity.

The little girl trembled, gently tugging at Crimson Thorn's clothes.

Chi Yao sheathed her blade, her gaze sweeping over her numb compatriots on the ground, her voice gentle yet firm:

"From today onwards, the Sixth Mining District is free! All of you are no longer Red Slaves, but Chi Clan!!!"