Chapter 2441: Seeing the Light of Day Once More

Zu An recognized the grayish-white energy right away. As the underworld’s master, he was sensitive to death energy, but this was different from what he was familiar with.

The death energy here was highly contagious. Any dragon guard who came into contact with it would immediately turn gray, as if dragged into a monochrome world. Anyone they wounded would be afflicted with death energy, and they, too, would turn against their normal comrades. That was why this place had fallen into chaos and the Four Dragon Kings were in a fluster.

The death energy originated from the gorge, and the rate at which it was rising up was increasing.

“Formation masters, formation masters! Hurry up and seal the opening!” the East Sea Dragon King roared in alarm. The Eye of the Ocean had been peaceful for over a thousand years now; he hadn’t expected something to happen under his watch. If he failed here, that would make him a sinner of the Dragon race!

Soon, however, he no longer had the energy to consider how he would go down in history. The death energy was so contagious that the guards he brought here were quickly afflicted by it, turning into monsters who knew naught but slaughter.

To make matters worse, these people were their friends and families! In this situation, even the most valiant army in the world would suffer a mental breakdown. If not for the Four Dragon Kings, the Dragon race’s army would have collapsed by now.

Fear had already seeped into the hearts of the dragon guards. They didn’t know how much longer they could hold on for. If they failed to stand their ground here, the crisis would spiral out of control, and the death energy and monsters would quickly swarm the Dragon Palace.

The entire region around the Dragon Palace would thus turn into a land of death.

“Where are the garrison troops?” the East Sea Dragon King roared.

“We are here!” powerful voices echoed in response. Over a hundred Dragon race experts stepped forth from all directions with determined looks.

The East Sea Dragon King looked conflicted. Without saying a word, he bowed to them. Others from the Ocean races followed suit, their eyes brimming with tears.

The garrison troops accepted the bows led by the Four Dragon Kings. Their leader gathered them together and roared, “We, the warriors of the Ocean races, have been preparing for this day. This shall be the day we die for justice!”

He circulated his cultivation method, and he began glowing golden.

“This shall be the day we die for justice!”

The hundred garrison troops circulated their cultivation methods as well, and glowed golden too. Their leader then led them on a charge against the death energy-infected monsters.

They rammed right through the monsters. They inevitably came into contact with death energy along the way, but upon contact with the golden light shrouding them, the death energy quickly receded. Their participation soon stabilized the Ocean races’ formation.

The garrison troops charged toward the gorge, where the death energy was the most concentrated. It didn’t take long for the golden lights to vanish amid the grayish-white death energy.

Shortly after, the rate at which death energy came out from the gorge slowed down. Making use of this breathing room, the Four Dragon Kings ordered their armies to advance and force the monsters back into the gorge.

“Big sis queen, who are those garrison troops?” the Peacock Princess asked, curious about the army that had turned the situation around.

The Mermaid Queen looked conflicted. “Those garrison troops are the Dragon race’s most righteous and faithful warriors. They enjoy the best resources in the Ocean races, but in return, they are obliged to step forward and resolve any crisis in the Eye of the Ocean, regardless of the cost, even if it spells their death.”

Zu An grimly added, “They must have practiced a special cultivation method that lets them unleash all their life force and faith to temporarily suppress the death energy.”

“But the death energy down there is so concentrated. How can they suppress the Eye of the Ocean?” the Peacock Princess asked worriedly. Even though they weren't from the same race, she respected the garrison troops for putting their lives on the line for their cause.

“Fix the impaired formation at all costs; fill the Eye of the Ocean with your lives if necessary,” the Mermaid Queen mumbled with a quivering voice.

“Huh?” the Peacock Princess exclaimed, stunned.

“That’s their mission; it’s also the mission of all the Ocean races.” The Mermaid Queen sighed. “Countless generations of garrison troops have guarded the Eye of the Ocean with such conviction since our first records, protecting the Ocean races and the entire world.”

“Who entrusted this mission to you?” Zu An suddenly asked.

The Mermaid Queen was startled. She reflexively replied, “It could be the Sea God’s edict, but this conviction is carried by all members of the Ocean races. This place is our home, so how could we let death energy contaminate it?”

Zu An nodded in contemplation.

It was then that something happened. Under the Four Dragon Kings’ leadership, it looked as if the situation was going to stabilize, but hundreds of brawny monsters suddenly charged out of the gorge.

Some had ox heads and human bodies; others had horse heads and human bodies. All of them were of towering stature and muscular physique. They looked massive, even when compared to the Ocean races’ elites. The ox-headed monsters wielded halberds, whereas the horse-headed monsters brandished weapons that resembled tridents.

𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

There were also ferocious-looking monsters with bulging eyes and fangs that wore golden headbands and embroidered red robes. They each carried half of a golden cangue[1] as weapons. There were also monsters wearing golden headbands, but they instead had blue robes and swung silver chains.

These monsters cackled in excitement as they emerged from the gorge. “We finally see the light of day!”

All of them had incredible strength; their momentum was unstoppable, and the Ocean races’ frontline was crushed.

The Four Dragon Kings quickly charged forth with the Ocean races’ experts, but the monsters were fearsome foes. Many times, the Dragon Kings severely injured them, only for them to heal up in the next second and rejoin the battle.

“What are these monsters?!” the Peacock Princess exclaimed with a pale face. She thought they were even more terrifying than the otherworldly monsters.

Zu An looked grim. He recognized these monsters; they resembled the underworld’s Ox Heads, Horse Faces, and Generals of Chains and Shackles, but they lacked their divinity. On top of that, he had been secretly trying to control them, but he found that he was unable to resonate with them.

Translator's Thoughts

1. These are ancient Chinese punishment devices similar to the medieval European pillory, except the prisoner has to carry them and they don't restrict the hands. ☜