novelraw Chapter 56 Martial Arts Battles, Battlefield Carnage
Chapter 56 Martial Arts Battles, Battlefield Carnage
The time came the next morning.
As the sun rises, it paints the plateau sky a clear golden-red.
Tong Lao, along with the women of Lingjiu Palace and Su Xinghe, along with the Eight Friends of Hangu, followed Luo Su and Mu Wanqing to the city gate, where they met up with Kumārajīva and Murong Fu.
"Benefactor Luo." Kumārajīva greeted him with a smile, telling him that at this moment, the outer perimeter of Starry Sea had been completely surrounded by him, and not even a fly could get out.
Russell thanked them, and the group then used their lightness skills to arrive near Xingxiu Sea in just over half a day.
From afar, one could faintly see banners waving, and the reflections of armor blended together in the morning light, resembling fluttering scales.
Ding Chunqiu chose a basin surrounded by mountains on three sides as the headquarters of the Xingxiu Sect, originally thinking it would be easy to defend and difficult to attack, but now it has become a trap he has created for himself.
Kumārajīva brought in 300 cavalry and 800 infantry from the local area. The cavalry controlled both flanks, and both men and horses were covered in light armor. Their spears were like a forest, while the infantry were in the middle. Their shields were linked together like an iron wall, and the archers were hidden behind them. They had already blocked the only exit of the Xingxiu Sect and were just waiting for Russell's order.
The old woman's gaze swept over the gleaming iron cavalry, finally settling on Russell, and she said, "Is this why you insisted on waiting until today to come?"
Russell laughed and said, "With others doing the work, wouldn't it be wonderful for us to just watch the show?"
To be honest, he really didn't want to touch those poisoners from the Xingxiu Sect.
He wasn't afraid, though. With his current cultivation level, he was at least immune to all poisons in the Tianlong world. He was just disgusted by reptiles like snakes, insects, and rodents.
"Gonpo Dorje." Upon hearing Russell speak up, Kumārajīva did not hesitate and immediately summoned the commander leading the troops, pointing at the Xingxiu Sect and saying, "In two quarters of an hour, this National Preceptor will ensure that the entire Xingxiu Sect is wiped out."
"Yes, sir!" The centurion named Gonpo Dorje solemnly replied, his dark face showing no fear, but rather a hint of fanaticism.
Before he came here, Kumārajīva had already promised him that if this battle were successful, it would be a great achievement, and he would have the opportunity to be promoted and given important responsibilities in the future. In times of peace, military merits are hard to earn, so how could he miss such a good opportunity?
He raised his hand high, and the next moment, heavy wheels and commands came from behind the formation. A wooden frame, like the skeleton of a giant beast, stood high on a specially reinforced oxcart and was slowly pushed to the front of the formation.
Catapults, crossbows, and battering rams...
Gonpo Dorjee was treating today's battle like a siege.
"Release him!" Gonpo Dorje said coldly.
The trebuchet's winch was suddenly released, the lever swung, and heavy stone projectiles soared into the air, emitting a muffled groan as they crashed into the Starry Sky Sect's stronghold.
"boom--"
The earth is shaking!
The terrifying crashes continued incessantly, sending dust, wood chips, and broken bricks soaring into the sky.
Exquisite pavilions and towers, grand halls and palaces, were no different from paper under the rubble, collapsing and crumbling in an instant.
Then came the second round, the third round, the fourth round...
After ten rounds of slingshots, the basin was shrouded in thick smoke and dust. The once scattered houses were almost completely leveled, leaving only ruins and mountains of rubble. No intact wall could be found in sight, let alone the remains of the disciples.
As the smoke and dust cleared, nearly a hundred disheveled figures suddenly emerged from the ruins. They were all covered in dust, their clothes were torn, and many of them were injured and stained with blood.
The leader, with white hair and beard, wore a purple robe. Although he was also in a sorry state, his eyes shone with a fierce light.
"You bastards! Who dares to mess with my Xingxiu Sect!" Ding Chunqiu was furious. Since he betrayed his sect and started his own, he had never suffered such a loss.
Today he's going to teach this reckless fool a lesson about what it means to be the Star Immortal!
Seeing that Ding Chunqiu was still alive, Gongbu Dorje was not surprised. It would be strange if a martial arts master could be easily killed by a few rounds of stones.
In the past, he would never have wanted to provoke such a dangerous person, especially since Ding Chunqiu's poison skills were superb in addition to his martial arts. If he had offended him, he would have been in big trouble.
However, the situation is quite different today. With opportunities for advancement ahead and the support of the Imperial Advisor behind him, he is naturally not afraid.
Therefore, faced with Ding Chunqiu's threat, he calmly gave the order: "Crossbowmen, prepare three rounds of rapid fire, fire!"
As soon as the words fell, the rapid, clattering sound of bowstrings filled the air as hundreds of crossbows were raised simultaneously. The muffled roar of the bowstrings released merged into a deathly hum, and black arrows instantly tore through the air, swooping down.
"How dare you!" Ding Chunqiu's roar was stuck in his throat. He finally understood that this guy leading the troops was determined to make trouble for him today. Since that was the case, then he shouldn't be surprised if he went on a killing spree.
He thrust out both palms, his true energy surging through his sleeves, deflecting the arrows that were close at him while rapidly approaching Gongbu Dorje's position.
His disciples behind him, however, were not so skilled. The hissing sounds rang out continuously—the muffled thuds of arrows piercing flesh, shattering bones, and embedding themselves in the soil, mixed with brief, piercing screams.
After a volley of arrows, only thirty or forty of the original hundred or so remained alive, and most of them were wounded and collapsed on the ground, emitting incoherent wails. Only twenty or so people were still capable of fighting, and most of them were elites from the sect.
Seeing that their master had charged forward and knowing that there was no way to retreat, these people immediately followed Ding Chunqiu and launched their own attack.
"Please, Your Excellency, make a move," Gongbu Dorje sincerely pleaded with Kumārajīva for help.
He was very clear about his role: he was only responsible for clearing out the miscellaneous soldiers other than Ding Chunqiu and destroying the strongholds. Tough nuts to crack like Ding Chunqiu should naturally be left to martial arts masters of the same level.
"Master, please wait. Let me test this old monster Ding first and pave the way for Brother Luo." Before Kumārajīva could even finish his promise, Murong Fu beside him pushed off with his horse and charged forward. In a few leaps, he blocked Ding Chunqiu's path and they began to fight.
Those juniors are hateful!
Seeing the duck that was about to be eaten fly away, Kumārajīva clutched his heart, heartbroken.
The young people don't know how to take care of the elderly at all!
On the other side, seeing that the greatest threat had been taken down by Murong Fu, Gongbu Dorje had no more scruples and waved his command flag forward fiercely!
"Cavalry charge!"
The war drums are beating!
The sound of iron hooves striking the ground suddenly rang out, initially muffled, then accelerating, merging into a rumbling thunderclap that echoed along the ground.
On this boundless plain, the charging formation of thousands of cavalrymen was like a slowly collapsing iron wall that crushed everything, crashing head-on into the advancing Xingxiu Sect disciples.