412: For victory! (4K monthly ticket request)

Zhennan Prefecture Fu Gate, a long night of wind and snow. The snowy light under the night sky outlined the contours of this vast city, filling it with deathly silence, ruin, and coldness.

The myriad lights of homes that once were, now lay covered by months of wind and snow, frozen solid.

Inside, in a house in the Southwest of the city, near the Fu City center, snow, a person's depth thick, submerged half of the door and wall. Wind and snow poured into the open main door, covering the interior with snowflakes. Fallen tables and chairs, broken bowls and chopsticks, and pools of black and red bloodstains and minced meat frozen on the ground, walls, and doorframe, as if time had been frozen to the dusk of the day the Devil Head slaughtered the city.

Outside, the night, accompanied by howling wind and snow, was filled with terrifying roars, cries like infants, hoots like night owls, and howls like evil spirits, endless in their variety.

Outside, under the pale white snowlight, grotesque figures occasionally flashed by.

Just then, on the partially collapsed roof of this house, which was weighed down by snow,

“Creak”

“Creak”

Faint sounds of treading on snow echoed, not very noticeable amidst the howling wind.

On the rooftop, fine snow particles rustled down through the cracks at opportune moments.

The sounds quickly stopped above the rooftop, followed by the heavy breathing of a nose sniffing and a strong, gamey smell from a wild beast.

Something was on the rooftop!

The sniffing sounds continued for a long while, seemingly having found nothing. Then, the creaking sounds of treading on snow receded, and whatever was on the rooftop left.

The house returned to deathly silence!

However, after a dozen breaths, in the dark house, the grating “creak” of a small wooden door sounded. A gust of wind blew open a narrow crack in a cabinet door inside the house.

Soon, in that dark crack, an eye, faintly glowing in the darkness, appeared.

These eyes were vigilant. He waited for another half-incense stick’s time before finally opening the cabinet door and stepping out.

Behind this cabinet door, there was actually a secret door; someone not very familiar with this house would not be able to find it easily.

At this moment, a person emerged from inside, dressed in a black tight-fitting suit, covered all over with a dark green-black coating, even on his face.

This was a type of five-spirit ointment, made from ground Devil Head bones mixed with an appropriate proportion of Devil Head blood, specifically used to conceal Human Race Qi and disrupt Devil Head perception. It was generally only used by the Fa Shan Army.

After he came out, he clutched his waist, blood seeping from his fingertips. He frowned, pulled out a finger-length small green bottle from his chest, bit open the stopper with his mouth, and then released the other hand that was covering his wound.

One could see that his waist wound was as large as a bowl, and clearly visible, a pitch-black sharp claw had pierced into it and broken off inside.

Then, this person actually used the hand that had been covering the wound to directly and forcefully pull out the sharp claw.

The claw was curved and barbed. The sound of flesh tearing was clearly audible, yet this person's expression remained unchanged, not even a grunt escaped his throat. He just pulled out the sharp claw, then poured yellow Medicinal Pill powder from the small bottle onto the wound. The bleeding wound quickly congealed after the yellow Medicinal Pill powder was sprinkled on it.

During this process, his eyes, like an eagle's, scanned the surroundings, listening carefully to every rustle outside.

Having finished this, he tore off a piece of his clothing to simply bandage the wound. Inadvertently, a black token, covered by his clothes, was revealed at his waist.

Just at this instant, the black token suddenly trembled, and his face instantly changed. He had been tricked!

“Swish!”

He drew the saber from his waist. A cold gleam emerged from the darkness as it was unsheathed, illuminating the room. At the same time, his other hand flicked downward, and a golden light shot out from his sleeve, landing between his two fingers, which he quickly pressed onto his body.

Immediately, a golden light flashed around him, and a wisp of golden radiance flowed over his body.

As he drew his saber and concentrated on his guard, a pair of crimson-green eyes were reflected on the snow-white saber blade.

“Above my head!”

His eyebrows twitched, and his heart turned cold. He slashed his long saber upwards.

“Whoosh!”

A white Saber Qi, about a meter long, slashed out, shooting directly towards the roof above his head.

With a “bang,” a black sharp claw, the size of a millstone, was clearly seen directly breaking through the roof and extending downwards.

The accumulated snow and tiles exploded. The black sharp claw directly collided with the Saber Qi, making a “clink” sound.

The Saber Qi was deflected, swiftly flying diagonally to the cabinet where the man had just been hiding, splitting wood chips everywhere.

And the sharp claw continued to extend down, directly grabbing at this Fa Shan Army Captain.

The man's expression changed. He held his saber horizontally and thrust it upwards.

With a “clang.”

The black sharp claw descended. A golden light flashed around the man, revealing a golden light shield. Then, the man was directly pushed backward by a powerful counter-shock, losing control of his body and flying backward.

In a critical moment, the man backhanded his saber into the ground, “whoosh,” the blade drew a line of scorching sparks, then with a “thud,” it hit the wall.

The wall emitted a dull thud, and the brick wall caved in!

And the golden light shield on the man's body instantly shattered and extinguished.

“Heavenly Gate Devil!”

A sweet, metallic taste welled up in the Fa Shan Army Captain's mouth. He looked forward, his eyes filled with unwillingness and hatred.

His mission was not yet complete, the message had not been delivered. In the end, he was one step too late!

And in the place where he had just stood, amidst falling tiles and accumulated snow, a tall Devil Head figure condensed and emerged, almost piercing through the roof.

With a dog's face, red fur, four arms on his shoulders, two half-foot long tusks protruding outwards, a pair of crimson-green, bell-like beast eyes stared at the Fa Shan Army Captain, who stood with his saber plunged into the ground, his body half-bent as he slowly rose!

This Devil Head revealed the aura of a Tian Guan Dao Seed. His crimson-green eyes showed a playful expression. He slowly opened his tusks and spoke with a muffled, thunderous voice,

“You Fa Shan Army are truly endless, daring to come here.”

“These past few days, like cockroaches, you've rushed over one after another. Kill one, and another comes.”

As he spoke, two yellow Qi streams spewed from his nose, and his beast eyes narrowed slightly, with a mocking tone, “Hmph, I heard your front line ordered an attempt to destroy our Holy Race's Formation, how naive. With your meager strength, wait until our Holy Race gathers its great army, and we can easily flatten everything.”

“As for you annoying cockroaches, we will find you one by one.”

Towards the end, his tone became sinister.

Across from him, the Fa Shan Army Captain rose, pulling his saber from the ground with a swish. He gasped for breath, his eyes bloodshot with red veins. His cultivation was forcibly increasing, and the veins on his eyelids bulged. A roar escaped his throat, “Seven Saber Slashes!”

As he spoke, he stomped his foot. At the same time, his saber light, like an afterimage, transformed into a chaotic whirlwind, slashing towards the tall Devil Head figure opposite him.

Saber Qi streams whistled, cutting through the air, arriving in an instant. Yet, the Devil Head opposite him had cold light flickering in his pupils. He spread his four arms, Devilish Qi vibrating in his fists and arms, and then casually unleashed four powerful punches, wildly bombarding the Saber Qi.

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

Several explosions roared.

The Devil Head's large fists directly shattered the Saber Qi. Then, his body moved as if teleporting, instantly shifting three zhang, arriving in front of the Fa Shan Army Captain. A sinister smile appeared on his large mouth, and then two fists directly slammed down towards the opponent's head.

The Fa Shan Army Captain's long saber vibrated, and the Saber Qi stirred up a white curtain, resisting the two long-haired large hands. But his feet vibrated, and the ground cracked. His entire body trembled violently, and his arms and legs emitted a grating sound of bones creaking.

“Overestimating yourself!”

The Devil Head's face twisted into a snarl, and his other two thick arms directly hammered down.

“Bang!”

The Saber Qi, along with the long saber, was directly smashed to pieces.

The Fa Shan Army Captain's arms emitted a cracking sound of bones breaking. Pale white bones directly pierced out from his shoulder sockets, and his entire body was hammered to the ground, causing him to roll several times, blood flowing freely.

“Heh heh.” The Devil Head chuckled lightly, lifting his foot to directly stomp the Fa Shan Army Captain into a pulp. But just then, in the darkness, a stream of light, like an antelope's horn, shot from behind towards the back of the Devil Head's head, moving with extreme speed.

The Devil Head's fur bristled in alarm, and a roar escaped his throat. His head actually twisted 180 degrees, and then his four arms closed together behind him, shielding his head.

The next second, “Pfft,” the sound of flesh tearing.

One could see the Devil Head's head directly exploding, and foul-smelling blood and flesh splattered everywhere.

Then, with a dull thud, the tall body crashed to the ground.

After the Devil Head died, a white-robed figure flew down from the hole in the roof above, landing beside the fallen Fa Shan Army Captain. He then knelt on one knee, took the other's head, and helped him sit up.

The other person was now on his last breath, with more than a dozen bones broken inside his body, some piercing through his skin, others into his internal organs, and blood flowing freely.

The newcomer raised one hand and quickly put a blood-red Medicinal Pill, the size of a green bean, into the Fa Shan Army Captain's mouth. Then, he patted and struck the area above his chest with his palm, directly hitting above the navel, to help the Medicinal Pill dissolve into his Dantian.

“Hold on, brother.” Zhao Quanzhen, with his silver hair, looked at the Fa Shan Army Captain, whose mouth was stained with blood and whose eyelids fluttered open and closed. He frowned, sending True Qi to rapidly dissolve the Medicinal Pill, its medicinal power quickly flowing through the blood to the man's limbs and bones.

This was the Wudao Mountain's sacred healing Medicinal Pill, called the Small Rejuvenation Pill, quite extraordinary. At this moment, Zhao Quanzhen generously used it on this unfamiliar Fa Shan Army Captain.

The Fa Shan Army Captain in his arms was enduring intense pain at this moment. He raised a broken hand, with pale white bones protruding from it, and trembled as he pulled something from his embrace, handing it to Zhao Quanzhen. He breathed heavily, speaking with difficulty, “Take this… and send it out. This is some intelligence about the Yao Race's Formation in Zhennan Prefecture. Unfortunately, this Formation is protected by a Devil Head Formation, and our strength is too low to even enter and investigate.”

This unnamed Fa Shan Army Captain held his breath, his eyes filled with unwillingness.

In his hand was a secret letter sealed with wax.

Zhao Quanzhen looked at the secret letter in his hand, where his tiger's mouth was cracked and stained with blood. His eyes flickered, but he shook his head, “You deliver this letter yourself. Don't worry, you won't die.”

However, the Fa Shan Army Captain in his hand showed a look of resignation to death. He knew that his condition would only drag down Zhao Quanzhen. In this Devil Head's lair, it was already a near-death situation. Although he didn't know who Zhao Quanzhen was, in the Devil Head's lair, all Human Race were brothers in arms. “Just leave me here. I am originally from Zhennan Prefecture. This house was once my home. If I die, I die, carried away by the wind.”

“I just hope you can leave me a weapon!”

As the Fa Shan Army Captain spoke, he tried to sit up, the severe pain in his chest making him clench his teeth tightly.

Zhao Quanzhen heard this person's words and looked at the dilapidated house, almost submerged by wind and snow. His eyebrows twitched, “Don't say such things. Are you willing to die alone here? In one hour, at midnight, we will charge into the city's great Formation!”

Midnight was a special time!

The Fa Shan Army Captain was startled upon hearing this, his brows, filled with melancholy, lifted in surprise. He coughed and quickly said, “Midnight three quarters, that seems to be the time when the Yao Race's Formation transmits a new batch of Demon Soldiers. At that time, the outer protective Formation will open. Is Your Excellency planning to take advantage of this opportunity to rush in?”

“It seems Your Excellency also knows. Yes, only this time is an opportunity.” Zhao Quanzhen nodded.

Since infiltrating Zhennan Prefecture, after several days of observation, Zhao Quanzhen knew the location of the Yao Race's Formation in Zhennan Prefecture. It wasn't difficult to find, located right in the center of the city. This Formation was protected by a large Formation and heavily guarded by Devil Heads. He had figured out some of its rules and planned to act tonight.

And the Yao Race was indeed mobilizing troops. Every night at midnight three quarters, the Formation inside would activate, transporting a batch of Demon Soldiers. At that time, the outer protective Formation would also open an exit. Rushing in during this chaotic moment was the only opportunity.

Upon hearing this, the Fa Shan Army Captain's dim eyes suddenly blazed. “May I ask who Your Excellency is?”

“Wudao Mountain, Zhao Quanzhen!” Zhao Quanzhen said.

“Wudao Mountain? Cough cough, so Your Excellency is a Prodigy from a great sect, I admire you!”

“Sixth Mountain, Jilian Shan!” The man reported his name, then looked at Zhao Quanzhen with a complex gaze, “However, this journey is perilous. There are many Devil Heads in the Devil Head's lair, and it's even possible there are Great Demons guarding it. Your Excellency still has a great future ahead…”

Zhao Quanzhen knew what he wanted to say. His expression was calm, “Tens of thousands of Fa Shan Army soldiers died on the battlefield. You and others also knew it was impossible yet pressed forward. I, Zhao, also once followed the Ninth Mountain to kill enemies, and am a part of them. There's no need for more words.”

Captain Jilian Shan of the Sixth Mountain was deeply moved by these words and said heavily, “Good.”

Then, he endured the pain to pull a delicate green-patterned conch from his neck, saying with great solemnity, “I am ruined. This is my whistle. If Your Excellency encounters trouble while charging the Formation, blow this whistle. The Fa Shan Army brothers who are lurking in Zhennan Prefecture for the same mission as me, upon hearing it, will surely do their best to help you!”

He pressed his whistle into Zhao Quanzhen's hand, wrapped it, and shook it heavily.

“Whoosh whoosh”

The wind and snow howled.

Zhennan Prefecture, city center, under the night sky, a large Formation of black light, like a giant eggshell, enveloped an area of several li.

And on the periphery of the great Formation, dense Devil Head figures were horrifying to behold, Devilish Qi soaring to the sky.

As night deepened, the roars on the periphery of the great Formation gradually intensified until, at midnight one quarter, “buzzing,” the earth trembled, like a Dragon rolling over.

Soon,

“Boom!”

In the center of that black light great Formation, a white beam of light broke through the great Formation, pierced the night sky, and soared upwards, like moonlight spilling down.

And within the white beam of light, streams of light, like a river of stars, rustled down.

Not long after, the black light great Formation, shaped like a giant inverted bowl, hummed. On all four sides of the great Formation, various Formation entrances opened, and from within, streams of various colored Devil Head lights surged out, each containing grotesque and terrifying Devil Heads of various shapes.

At this moment, in the Southwest, ten li away from the great Formation, Zhao Quanzhen stood atop the ruins of a tall building, his eyes flickering. He then formed hand seals, and streams of light flew out from his sleeves, cutting through the long sky, like shooting stars, flying towards the distant great Formation.

And his figure disappeared from where he stood with a puff.

One could see the streams of light moving at extreme speed, cutting through the long night, and smashing into the surging Devil Head crowd outside the great Formation.

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

“Boom!”

Firelight bloomed in the night. (End of chapter)