Chapter 462: The Battle To Defend the City (I)

A troop leader’s voice sounded in Li Hao’s visor. It was coldly dignified as it echoed in all soldiers’ minds.

“To battle the heavens! Kill the enemy! The Battle Heaven Army has been forgotten after countless years of quiet. Do not forget who we are—it was His Imperial Majesty who bestowed his name upon us! The army once swept the four corners. Although we are just a defending branch, we must establish the prestige that is the Battle Heaven Army!

“How dare these cretins insult us! KILL!!” The roar reverberated across minds.

Li Hao blinked. The other three Silver Armors rose into the air brandishing broadswords, directing the flood of three thousand to pour out!

Thump thump thump!

Footsteps pounded the ground like they were battle drums. A solemn air of killing intent nearly suffocated Li Hao. The three Silver Armors commenced battle without a spot of hesitation as they sought to repel the enemy from the city walls.

The same stifling feeling traveled to the supernaturals in the distance—this was more nerve-wracking than the first time! The powerhouses of the three great organizations regarded the situation gravely. It was unbelievable that a long dead army would still possess such battle strength and influence!

“Fight fight fight!”

“The heavens can be broken, the earth can be shattered, the firmament can be severed!” Ringing battle cries resonated in Li Hao’s mind. Three thousand Black Armors rushed out of the city gates and smashed into the enemy camps. This was a group of real warriors, not the decrepit soldiers of Li Hao’s imagination that were limited to defending the city.

Battle Heaven’s defenders were a veteran army unit. At times like these, they were well aware that cowardice and avoidance of battle would just lead to a faster death. They needed to rip an opening into the enemy, massacring them to the point in which they shuddered and lost morale. The strongest enemy would be routed in that sort of state.

Rumble!

The two sides clashed with an eruption of supernatural ability.

“Kill!” Green Moon and the others roared. “Earth types, restrain the soldiers! Wind types, blow them away. Water types, seal them off...”

Multiple powerhouses were directing action on the battlefield. That was unavoidable as this wasn’t one supernatural army, but a joint collective of countless wandering cultivators and the three great organizations. There was only one thought running through the wandering cultivators’ minds—

who gives a shit about the commanders. I’m hitting whatever I see!

Collisions and explosions broke through the air; the Novas swiftly set their sights on the three Silver Armors. All three great organizations shifted toward them.

“There’s another on the city walls! That one we leave for Silver Moon!” shouted the Parity King through a transmission.

Hou Xiaochen looked strangely at the unmoving Silver Armor up high. Wasn’t that... Li Hao?

Leave him to us?

Li Hao still didn’t move. The Seventh Troop leader had told him to watch and observe, to join the battle when the time came. Therefore, he silently peered down from the city gates. Hong Yitang and He Yong were by his side as well.

They watched the army rush into the enemy. They watched as Black Armors were counterattacked. They watched as soldiers toppled over, were sent flying, or even shattered from singular powerful palm strikes. There were Novas among the enemy that could outright break the Black Armors, revealing white bone within. The bones swiftly disintegrated to dust—the last signs that this warrior of the Battle Heaven Army ever existed.

And yet, the soldiers continued to charge, heedless of the carnage of their brethren. When they marched on the four corners of the world and wreaked unparalleled slaughter, they’d faced all manner of strong enemies. Why would they be afraid of these ones?

The three Silver Armors quickly made contact with the Novas. Ringing explosions deafened the ear as the soldiers were quickly surrounded. Their formidable armor granted them tremendous defensive ability, but they were long dead, after all. They were only peak Solars now.

RUMBLE!

Green Moon sent a Silver Armor flying; there was even a handprint left on the armor. And this was only the beginning.

The supernaturals were incredibly powerful and individually stronger than the soldiers. After Black Armors started falling in droves, there were also Bronze Armors that were completely obliterated. However, they took down supernaturals with them in fiery explosions, seemingly having detonated their armor on purpose. Supernaturals also began perishing in large swathes on the battlefield.

......

On the city walls.

Li Hao watched the two sides clash together. He took a breath, then another breath... He saw faces instead of the Battle Heaven Army. Faces with solemn and respectful expressions. These warriors had been human back in the day. After all these years dead, they were still defending the city.

“Martial uncles,” he said softly as he looked at the two powerhouses around him. “You say that I just need to do as I will, that I have support with you here. Then... I will take full advantage of this reinforcement!”

Hong Yitang glanced at him and felt compelled to say, “Um... just don’t pick a target that’s too strong...”

Why do I suddenly feel uneasy?

Li Hao didn’t say anything as he turned his armor black, joining the army with a leap off the walls.

“The Silver Armor has descended!” Green Moon howled from a distance.

Hou Xiaochen inclined his head and walked through the air. He flew toward Li Hao.

“We promised the kid, so we can’t go back on our word now!” Hong Yitang looked at He Yong when he noticed the Night Watcher director’s movement. “Leave this side to me, I can complete my old battle with that guy. You keep an eye on Li Hao!”

He Yong smiled and jumped down, vanishing from sight to catch up to the young man.

Hong Yitang took in a small breath and rose into the air. Bronze Armors normally didn’t leave the ground, but he walked through the air and enveloped the surroundings with a majestic sword intent!

Many Novas in the crowd looked at him, as did Hou Xiaochen. The director’s eyes widened. Overwhelming sword intent surged as Hong Yitang unsheathed his weapon to cut his opponent down!

Bam!

A spear materialized in Hou Xiaochen’s hands and he stabbed it forward. The skies shattered and the earth fractured. It was like a hole had been pierced through the firmament!

Bam!

An enormous explosion rang through the battlefield. All Black Armors around them were sent flying and all supernaturals below Solar exploded. Horrified Solars staggered away with grievous wounds.

Green Moon’s face went slack with terror. Now they knew how Yellow Moon had died!

A supreme powerhouse!

There was an unparalleled powerhouse behind that bronze armor. Perhaps it was the disguised Gold Armor!

Earthturner Sword was well known, but he’d stayed out of the public eye for many years. Numerous people could recognize his moves, but not this group of supernaturals. Green Moon, on the other hand, had been a martial master back in the day. She’d been the relatively famous Green Peacock.

The woman found the sword intent somewhat familiar, but couldn’t immediately place it. Just whose sword intent was coming from Battle Heaven? Earthturner Sword wasn’t a guess that immediately came to mind.

“This person is fierce without equal,” Hou Xiaochen proclaimed calmly. “Silver Moon will be in charge of only him. Does anyone have any contrary opinions?”

No one said a word, not even Green Moon and the others. This Bronze Armor might be the disguised Gold Armor—it felt even stronger than a reawakened Silver Armor! What else could they say?

Whether it was Black Armors or supernaturals, everyone on the ground swiftly backed away. The upcoming clash would be terrifying!

Hong Yitang’s face was hidden within the armor. He brandished his sword and sealed off heaven and earth. The four directions became barriers as his sword swung—

boom!

Another massive collision rang out as a phoenix soul manifested over the Flaming Phoenix Spear.

“Hou Xiaochen, I don’t like your expression of holding everything within the palm of your hand. Don’t smile at me next time, it’s so... aggravating!” Ripples undulated outward as the Earthturner Sword turned everything within one hundred meters into hell. The ground tilted as the city’s impregnable city floors fissured! There was only one sword between heaven and earth!

Off in the distance, Manager Yu and the others gaped. Too strong! And yet, this wasn’t all!

An even stronger aura rose to the forefront. Hong Yitang’s organs ruptured while the skies and earth overturned amidst Hou Xiaochen’s shocked eyes. The intent behind his Broken Will Spear was completely suppressed!

A longsword cut through the sky and overshadowed Kong Jie, Golden Spear, Berserk Blade, Manager Yu, Qi Gang, Hu Qingfeng... Everyone was shrouded in a circle, and yet, the sword intent was still growing stronger! It was so overwhelming that it couldn’t be comprehended!

Hou Xiaochen looked askance at the Bronze Armor. “What are you doing?” he transmitted. Was Hong Yitang looking to die? He was just here to spar with the man, not to fight to the death.

“What am I doing? Killing you!” Hong Yitang laughed. “As a Silver Moon martial master, to spar is to fight to the death! You’ve gotten confused in your old age. When I said to leave the Silver Moon authorities to me, I meant to leave them all to me! Hou Xiaochen, Kong Jie, you two can attack together!”

His longsword smashed down like it was overlaid by the earth! Hou Xiaochen frantically jabbed with his spear; Kong Jie’s eyes widened as well. He seemed to feel countless Hong Yitangs attacking—the guy was mad! But... he wasn’t afraid!

Golden Spear roared and stabbed with his spear! A stern Manager Yu thrust out her palm!

Then fight we shall!

The martial masters made their moves; Qi Gang of the Divine Masters Ranking yelled a battle cry. He materialized a golden sword that was instantly destroyed by another’s sword intent. Qi Gang stared at his empty hands with disbelief—his longsword was instantly obliterated!

He snarled and manifested a peculiar black longsword next. It wasn’t coalesced out of supernatural energy like before, but an origin weapon!

The powerhouses were bringing their strongest moves to bear as they charged Earthturner Sword—the madman who’d unsealed his organs to fight!

While Hou Xiaochen and Kong Jie didn’t understand Hong Yitang’s actions, they guessed that he might have the means to control what would happen to him next. They put those eventualities out of mind and made their moves—one with the spear, the other with the fist. Both were incredibly formidable and the strength that they spontaneously erupted with exceeded that of the golden eagle in Ash Mountain.

Those of the three great organizations watched with open mouths! All this for just a Bronze Armor? They’d thought that the soldier was strong, but the battle strength that the Silver Moon authorities exploded with was beyond the imagination. Green Moon was counting her lucky stars that it was these guys up against the terrifying swordsman.

Was that really a dead soldier?

The sword was like heaven and earth. One sword overturned the skies and earth, no one could stand against it in any direction. The Silver Moon authorities had brought so many powerhouses with them, but they were all blocked by one soldier with a sword.