99: A feint! The battle begins!

The mountain gate of the Giant Spirit Hall was built on the highest peak among the mountains, with layers of palaces stretching as far as the eye could see.

The most magnificent was the grand hall at the peak, faintly visible amidst the clouds and mist!

The experts from both sides gazed at each other from a distance, and the atmosphere gradually grew heavy.

At this moment, Mu Yunxiao stepped forward, his expression grave with a hint of sorrow as he called out:

"Hall Master Shi, this king is truly too disappointed in you!"

"This king had high hopes for you before, believing that you could lead the sects and experts of Jizhou to a new glory, bringing more talents to my Great Qian, and resisting the Demon Barbarians from beyond the border!"

"But I never expected that you would secretly collude with the demonic cult, secretly harming our compatriots from the various great sects in the Northern Region. Your crimes are unforgivable!"

Mu Yunxiao's words perhaps made the experts of the many sects recall the atrocities committed against their disciples and fellow martial brothers, and all of them showed expressions of hatred.

Soon, a rough voice echoed back from within the Giant Spirit Hall.

"Prince Yan, there's no need for further words. This was my decision, and facts have proven that my decision was not wrong. Under my leadership, the Giant Spirit Hall has reached an unprecedented glory!"

"If you wish to invade, then come and try. You even let a mere fourth-rank brat command you. Is it possible that you have no one left?"

"In my eyes, you are nothing but mere chickens and dogs!"

A man, built like a mountain, at least ten feet tall, stood there. Zhang Mang, who stood beside Li Shengyuan, looked like a younger brother compared to him.

This person was none other than Stone Yifan, the Hall Master of the Giant Spirit Hall!

Stone Yifan, with a disdainful and somewhat mocking expression, stood in the air, hands behind his back, facing Mu Yunxiao.

However, what answered him was not a verbal attack, but an energy beam even thicker than he was!

Stone Yifan's expression changed in surprise. In the blink of an eye, the thick energy beam slammed into the sect-protecting array in front of him!

Perceiving the terrifying fluctuations from the energy beam, a hint of horror appeared in Stone Yifan's eyes.

What kind of technique is this, capable of unleashing such a powerful attack!

Even a fourth-rank body-refining expert with a tough physique wouldn't last long against it before being blasted to smithereens!

Only a third-rank could withstand it head-on.

Fortunately, the sect-protecting array had been reinforced by the demonic cult's spirit array master. Otherwise, this single blow would have probably made it totter, and the sect behind it would have been reduced to ruins... Stone Yifan's words were tough, but he was secretly relieved.

Not only were the experts of the Giant Spirit Hall shocked by this blow, but at the same time, the many experts standing beside Li Shengyuan were also stunned when they felt the energy beam fired from the hundred-zhang giant ship!

Those closer felt their scalps tingle.

The experts of the various great sects looked at the giant ship spewing out powerful attacks, and a clamor arose, with discussions breaking out.

"This... this warship is actually so terrifying. A fourth-rank expert would absolutely not be able to withstand this blow!"

"One warship and a few people controlling it can equal a third-rank expert. The Imperial Observatory's artifact refining methods are truly terrifying!"

"Lord Li is truly decisive, firing when he said he would. It's just a pity that the Giant Spirit Hall's turtle shell is truly tough. I'm afraid one blow won't break it. We'll still need to coordinate our attacks next!"

"That's right, everyone get ready. As soon as Lord Li gives the order, we'll immediately attack!"

"..."

However, the experts from both sides witnessed a scene that filled them with utter horror!

As the hundred-zhang giant ship continued its output, the Giant Spirit Hall's tough turtle shell actually began to totter!

In just a few breaths, before Stone Yifan and the other experts of the Giant Spirit Hall could react, the tough turtle shell was shattered with a loud bang!

"Hiss..."

Gasps of cold air rose and fell among the crowd.

The Giant Spirit Hall's tough turtle shell was actually directly shattered by the energy beam from the giant ship!

For a moment, the experts from both sides were stunned.

Stone Yifan, who had just been spouting arrogant words with a face full of disdain, also stared blankly at the shattered sect-protecting array, his eyes filled with disbelief.

This was a third-rank defensive array! And it had been reinforced by the demonic cult's spirit array master...

How could it have shattered so easily?

Mu Yunxiao, who had been bickering with Stone Yifan, also froze on the spot, watching this scene. He twisted his stiff body to look back at Li Shengyuan, who wore a faint smile, and forced a laugh:

"I never expected Lord Li's giant ship to have such powerful attacks. Even the Giant Spirit Hall's sect-protecting array couldn't hold up..."

Li Shengyuan smiled slightly and said, "You flatter me, Your Highness. I just added a little something extra to the giant ship's City Destroyer Cannon."

Pointing to the indifferent Ye Hangzhou beside him, he smiled and said, "And thanks to Chief Ye, yesterday when Chief Ye and I came to scout, we also tampered with their array a bit. I didn't expect the Giant Spirit Hall's turtle shell to be so fragile, and the City Destroyer Cannon's effect was exceptionally good!"

"Then yesterday's arrangements..." Mu Yunxiao frowned.

"Those arrangements were just backup plans for caution's sake. I just didn't expect the direct action to be so effective. Now, naturally, those subsequent methods are not needed; we can just charge straight in!"

Li Shengyuan's face was full of smiles, but in Mu Yunxiao's eyes, it was exceptionally punchable.

Yesterday, when making the arrangements, he was so serious, giving countless warnings and instructions, as if they couldn't take down the Giant Spirit Hall without doing so. In the end, these were all just backup plans?

And he had spent half the night studying Li Shengyuan's array-breaking methods, trying to figure out which ones were real and which were fake...

Chen Qingxuan and the other experts from the various sects were also very confused after hearing Li Shengyuan's words.

When the tasks were assigned to them, they were extremely nervous, meticulously arranging everything step by step, fearing any oversight that might lead to failure.

So, the things that made them nervous all night were just optional?

Immediately after, an endless excitement surged in everyone's hearts. The Giant Spirit Hall's sect-protecting array was broken. Without the array's protection, wouldn't it be a one-sided slaughter from now on?!

After all, when attacking a city or a sect, the most feared thing is this layer of 'turtle shell'!

And everyone here is a seasoned expert!

All of them looked at Li Shengyuan with fiery eyes. As soon as he gave the order, they would lead their sect's experts to charge in!

Li Shengyuan saw all of this. Although the giant ship's attack was strong, this single blow had also consumed all the accumulated energy from this period. Next, they could only rely on close combat, so he cautioned everyone:

"Everyone be careful. There must be hidden demonic cultivators within the Giant Spirit Hall. Be prepared!"

"Lord Li, don't worry!" Chen Qingxuan and the others nodded with smiles.

Li Shengyuan looked at the Giant Spirit Hall's sect-protecting array, which was slowly recovering, finally drew his saber, waved it forward, and shouted coldly:

"Kill!"

In an instant, the warship sailed into the Giant Spirit Hall's sect, and the experts of the various great sects flew into the Giant Spirit Hall in an orderly fashion!

On the side, the Yuehua Palace members, Yue Xiyan was also greatly astonished by this. She took a deep look at Li Shengyuan, then coldly said to everyone:

"You can leave Stone Yifan to me!"

As soon as her voice fell, she led the already murderous Yuehua Palace experts and charged forward.

Her killing intent was even more chilling and bone-piercing. She actively rushed towards the gloomy-faced Stone Yifan, holding a three-foot longsword, and without a word, directly engaged him in battle.

A full-scale war, on the verge of breaking out!