CHAPTER 269: CHAPTER 266: THE BORDER FALLS_1

Lin City!

Located in the western part of the Qin Empire, Lin City was a strategically vital hub, its influence radiating over a region tens of thousands of miles wide. The ancient city walls bore the marks of countless weapons. Soldiers of the Qin Dynasty stood ramrod straight upon them, scanning the horizon, capable of detecting the slightest disturbance. The stability of the border ensured the stability of the nation; the soldiers stationed there possessed a vigilance far beyond that of ordinary people.

"Quick, look! What is that over there?" a city guard yelled in panic, having spotted countless black specks in the distant sky.

"Activate the Formation! Prepare for battle!" the Guard general ordered solemnly, his powerful cultivation allowing him to see farther than ordinary soldiers. He, too, had noticed the black specks; they were, in fact, a multitude of battleships. Warships approaching the nation’s borders were a clear prelude to war. But who is the enemy? he wondered. No nearby power possesses a fleet of this magnitude!

BOOM!

Blood-red spiritual light flared, obscuring the sky as it coalesced into a crimson defensive Formation that enveloped Lin City. Cannon emplacements, each glowing with a profound light, were maneuvered onto the walls, their massive barrels, dozens of feet thick, looking exceptionally fearsome. Countless soldiers drew their bows and nocked arrows, the murderous intent pouring from them forming a roiling miasma that gathered overhead, thick with Evil Qi, ready to annihilate any invader.

"Quite vigilant, aren’t they?" On the deck of the attacking flagship, a Spirit Boat, Han Yuquan stood clad in Kylin armor, hands clasped behind his back. He regarded Lin City’s defenses with cold disdain. According to intelligence from the Holy Land, apart from their top-tier experts, the overall strength of the Qin Dynasty’s Divine Court isn’t particularly formidable, far inferior to our Ancient Court. After all, it’s a newly risen power, lacking deep historical foundations!

"Relay my command! Attack the city immediately!" Han Yuquan ordered loudly, drawing his sword without hesitation.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

The battleships surged forward, their speed suddenly increasing as they carved streaks of light across the sky. Simultaneously, they unleashed beams of energy that rained down on Lin City. Magic Crystal Cannons! All their battleships are equipped with siege weaponry; the Canghai Ancient Court’s power is indeed considerable, an observer might note.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Under the relentless bombardment, Lin City became a sea of flames. The city’s defensive Formation rippled like disturbed water, its surface in constant turmoil. Inside, the soldiers held their breath, terrified that the barrier would shatter. Fortunately, after the first fierce barrage, the Formation still held firm.

"Fire!" the defending Guard general roared, his right hand raised high.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Thousands of cannons roared in unison, their projectiles streaking towards the enemy battleships. Each shell glowed with an abyssal black light, seeming like miniature black holes traversing the mortal realm. These shells, continuously optimized by Gan Jiang and Mo Ye, packed a punch equivalent to the Reaching the Holy Realm. A few main cannons could even unleash attacks at the Saint Realm level.

"These shells... they seem a bit odd!" the Sea Prince, a veteran general seasoned on the battlefield, remarked, his expression growing grave as he watched the dark projectiles. He seized command from Han Yuquan and ordered sixty escort ships to form a defensive screen at the front.

However, his face turned ashen a moment later. Accompanied by deafening explosions, the sixty escort ships at the vanguard erupted into sixty massive fireballs, plummeting towards the earth.

"What terrifying destructive power!" The Sea Prince was aghast, his heart aching with an unbearable sorrow. Each battleship carried ten thousand soldiers. The war had barely begun, and already six hundred thousand of his men had perished. This was the greatest defeat of his military career. Though, it isn’t entirely my fault, he tried to reason. The defensive shields on our battleships can only withstand attacks from Saint Realm experts. The Qin Dynasty’s shells, however, possessed power at least equivalent to the Reaching the Holy Realm. A volley of thousands was enough to obliterate anything in an instant.

Magic Crystal Cannons comparable to the Saint Realm! These must be a product of the Middle Region! Han Yuquan, though initially startled, quickly composed himself. A glint flashed in his eyes; he finally had a clue. Across the entire Primeval Continent, only a few Saint’s Courts in the Middle Region possessed Saint Realm-level Magic Crystal Cannons. These were primarily deployed on major battlefronts; even a Saint King expert would meet a bitter end if targeted by dozens of such shells. But there are several Saint’s Courts in the Middle Region. Who exactly supplied the Qin Dynasty with these Magic Crystal Cannons? The Taiyi Saint’s Court? Or the Myriad Demon Saint’s Court? Or could it be the most powerful Nine-Layered Saint’s Court?

"Haifa An! Lead the Canglong Guards and breach Lin City!" Since their technological advantage was nullified, they had to rely on their powerful cultivators. The Sea Prince issued the order sternly.

"As you command!" Haifa An stepped forward and knelt on one knee. He was tall and imposing, with a brawny, fierce-looking face, striking blue eyes, and an axe in each hand. He exuded a baleful aura, the very image of a vanguard general accustomed to charging into the thick of battle.

Leaving the flagship, he led the Canglong Guards, flying towards Lin City. This was the elite force of the Canghai Divine Court. Though numbering only a thousand, each member was at or above the mid-stage of the Saint Realm. They fought with extreme ferocity, like a dagger poised to deliver a fatal blow.

"Fire arrows!" The Guard general of Lin City’s expression shifted upon seeing the approaching Canglong Guards. These thousand men are quite formidable!

SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!

Hundreds of thousands of arrows pierced the air, forming a dense rain that sought to seal off all room for the Canglong Guards to maneuver.

"Deploy Formation!" Haifa An commanded calmly.

RUMBLE!

A thousand pillars of light erupted skyward. Sea-blue Spiritual Energy condensed, forming a boundless, surging ocean that completely engulfed the falling arrows without a single splash. Controlling their Formation, the Canglong Guards advanced as if through uncontested territory, quickly arriving before Lin City’s defensive barrier.

"Cry of the Canglong!" Haifa An ordered in a deep voice.

The Formation shifted again, coalescing into a colossal sea dragon. Its body, emanating a crystalline blue light, glinted translucently. Baring fangs and claws, it soared towards Lin City’s defensive Formation, carrying an energy capable of shattering heavens and sundering worlds.

BOOM!

CRACK!

A tremendous explosion echoed, followed by the distinct sound of the defensive Formation shattering. A slight smile touched Haifa An’s lips as the massive energy barrier before him collapsed with a deafening crash. The Guard general of Lin City and the countless soldiers felt their faces drain of color. Without the Formation, how can we possibly resist the enemy?

"Kill!" Haifa An commanded. He swung his twin axes, somersaulted onto the city wall, and unleashed a wave of axe Qi that sliced dozens of nearby soldiers in half at the waist. Blood sprayed like a gruesome rain. The thousand Canglong Guards, weapons in hand, clashed with the defending soldiers in brutal close-quarters combat. Violent shockwaves radiated outwards, pulverizing large sections of the city wall.

"Kill!" the Sea Prince ordered from the rear.

Over five million soldiers streamed from the battleships, swarming towards Lin City. Within a mere hour, they had seized control of the city. On the side of the Qin Divine Court, every last defending soldier was annihilated. The Canghai Ancient Court, apart from the initial loss of six hundred thousand, had suffered only three thousand additional casualties.

"Relay my orders! We rest for half a day. Tomorrow, we continue the assault!" The Sea Prince stood atop the city tower, his voice resonant but heavy, betraying no elation. His voice was solemn, displaying no joy, for though they had won this battle, it had come at a heavy cost.

Strange, why don’t these Magic Crystal Cannons belong to any of the known Saint’s Courts? Han Yuquan mused. Upon entering the city, he had immediately begun to examine the captured cannons. After inspecting them repeatedly, his brow furrowed deeply. Both their design and the empowering Formations they utilized were entirely novel; he had never seen anything like them before. This could only mean one thing: the power backing the Qin Divine Court has deliberately concealed its identity.