Attacking Da Yi's celestial cities was undoubtedly a bloody and punishing endeavor. Even someone as cunning as Fan Wencheng wouldn't dare claim that the alien tribes held a definite advantage. This truth had been forged in blood—again and again. Celestial cities were not easily taken, even if rivers of blood were shed.
But this wasn't a celestial city.This was the Wilderness.This was the Bramble Plains.Here gathered the elites of the surrounding alien tribes.
In short, the majority of their power was concentrated here.
Millions against tens of millions—this might just be a fight worth taking.
Most importantly, Fan Wencheng understood: fighting meant there was still a chance to live. If they didn't resist, they would surely die. Twelve legions—Da Yi's most elite—had suddenly appeared and surrounded the plains. They had employed a deception strategy to mislead them into believing those elite forces still guarded the cities, while secretly encircling them here. The net had already closed.
To not fight was death.To fight—there was still hope.
"The Da Yi Dynasty has truly gone too far!"A Troll chieftain roared with gnashing teeth."They suppressed us with their celestial cities, and now they scheme to trap us on these plains. Do they truly see us as nothing but insects they can crush at will? If we must die today, then let us shatter their fangs!"
In his hands, a massive serrated blade appeared—jagged like rows of vicious teeth, exuding a terrifying aura that chilled the bone. Combined with his hideous face, he could frighten children into silence.
"Fine, I admit it's hard to take a celestial city,"sneered a Dark Elf."But now that we're out here, we won't leave so easily. For the safety of our sacrificial rites, we've brought our clan's treasured relics. Today, we'll show Da Yi that we are not to be trifled with."
Indeed, all the various tribes had come prepared, bringing their strongest clan treasures just in case. They might hesitate to use them against cities, but here and now, there would be no such restraint.
"All units—attack! All alien races—no mercy!"Yi Tianxing's command echoed across the Bramble Plains.
"Brothers! Fight!" Fan Wencheng bellowed."Not only will we sacrifice these human civilians, but today we'll sacrifice the entire Da Yi army! Millions of human soldiers as offerings—imagine the blessings we'll reap!"
"You're wrong about one thing," said Jia Xu with a smile."We don't know yet who will be sacrificed today. If we offer up ten million alien warriors instead... the feedback from the altar could be unimaginable. That might be our Da Yi's fortune."
Indeed, the sacrificial rite was still underway. As long as offerings kept coming, the ritual would not end. A single, continuous offering brought the greatest return.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
The twelve Da Yi legions surged forward without hesitation.
"Shenji Crossbows, ready!!"
Orders rang through the ranks. The soldiers, already on high alert, raised their Shenji Crossbows—a standard-issue weapon in Da Yi's army, famed for its devastating power and ease of use.
"Shenji Crossbows, ready!"came the cold, disciplined responses.
"Target: Bramble Plains. All alien races—kill on sight!"ordered generals like Yang Ye and Qi Jiguang.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Without delay, the crossbows were fired in unison, unleashing a storm of arrows—so dense it blocked out the sky. These crossbows had been distributed throughout the entire military, boosting Da Yi's power tremendously. When millions fired together, it became a raining apocalypse of bolts.
This moment, it rained on the Bramble Plains.
A rain of death.
"How dare you! You're killing your own people!"the Troll chieftain's face twisted in horror."Aren't you afraid of being condemned by history? You Da Yi soldiers are heartless. Fine! Kill every last human slave—let's see how many of you survive this madness!"
Still holding onto a sliver of hope, the chieftain was finally shocked into desperation as the humans attacked without hesitation. He swung his massive blade and cleaved a civilian in half.
"Kill them all! Slaughter the slaves!"
One by one, the alien warriors began massacring the human captives. But what they didn't know was—
At the moment of death, the "humans" dissolved into substitute bodies, and the real civilians were whisked away into Qiankun Spaces (portable dimensional shelters). The fake bodies were so lifelike, even careful inspection would reveal no flaw—let alone on a chaotic battlefield.
The aliens didn't believe a group of mere civilians could escape them.That would be impossible—so they thought.
The Da Yi soldiers, unaware the civilians were fake, flew into a cold fury.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!!"
Thunderous warcries rolled across the field.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
As the army advanced, they fired in waves. Every ten steps, the front rank fired, then crouched to reload while the next wave stepped forward—creating a rolling barrage of endless arrow fire.
The sky became a tide of arrows.
"Aaahhh! The arrows—gods help us!"
"Find cover! Block them—these things are deadly!"
"This is our land, not a celestial city! Let's show them who rules the wilderness!"
Some alien tribesmen howled in rage, eyes bloodshot, throwing themselves into the fray.
The Snakefolk twisted their bodies in strange, serpentine ways, evading arrows with impossible contortions. Even if struck, they avoided fatal wounds.
The Dark Elves blended into the night, wielding slender blades. Their swordlight shimmered like ghosts, slicing arrows midair, or letting them pass through their shadowy forms as if intangible.
Still, thousands upon thousands of alien warriors fell.The Shenji Crossbows were no joke. Within mere heartbeats, the plains were littered with corpses—tens of thousands, maybe more.
And countless more were wounded.
"We have half an hour—this battle must end within that time,"Yi Tianxing said solemnly.
That was the limit of the Qiankun Spaces.If the real civilians reappeared while the battle raged, they'd be doomed.
Victory had to come before that moment.
"Dark Elves—prepare your divine art!"a commander called out."Technique—Dark Night Canopy!" (暗夜天幕)
"Dark Night Canopy!"
With unified cries, an eerie power unfurled—darkness blanketed the Bramble Plains, merging seamlessly with the natural night.
Even in darkness, this was true magical shadow. It cloaked the field like a veil, making even cultivators feel as if a gauzy curtain obscured their vision.
The Dark Elves, in their element, were about to become even more terrifying.