"Ying ying!!"
Lan Ling let out a crisp chirp and flapped her wings, diving headfirst into the mist ahead.The Celestial Spirit Bird followed close behind without hesitation.The Divine Crow Legion had already entered the thick fog. Each Fire Crow radiated flames, their light working to dispel the surrounding mist, offering the army a sliver of illumination—a thread of guidance.
The Snow Rabbit Legion stepped forward, their magical rabbits naturally standing midair.These mystical rabbits also possessed the ability to walk through the sky.
Upon entering, they indeed saw a vast, pitch-black swamp beneath them. Green bubbles rose continuously from the marsh, releasing a terrifying miasma, transforming into poisonous gas that filled the air. The stench was unbearable—truly repulsive by instinct alone.
But then they saw the Five Venom Beast flying excitedly through the air.Mouth open, it visibly absorbed streams of invisible toxic gas, which, under some mysterious power, turned into shimmering multicolored specks that flowed steadily into the beast.
"Toxic Essence!"
Jia Xu's eyes flashed with realization.
As the Five Venom Beast consumed the colored lights, the surrounding air, while still putrid, lost its poisonous nature. Even regular breathing caused no harm—the deadly toxins had been absorbed.
"With this, the greatest threat is neutralized."
Mu Guiying let out a breath of relief. In this poisonous environment, the Five Venom Beast was nothing short of a lethal weapon.
The Celestial Spirit Bird beat its wings, soaring ahead, as if guided by some mystical force. It led them as a beacon, showing the army the right path.
"We must not lower our guard. Since this mist was deployed by the Myriad Beast Royal Court, it's clearly more than just poison. If it were that simple, it wouldn't qualify as a real obstacle."
Jia Xu's expression remained composed.
Indeed, there was an eerie wind in the air that chilled the bones.This swamp exuded not only poison but also miasma from decay and death. Born of rot and corpses, this miasma was laden with yin energy, misfortune, and death qi—deadly to the extreme. Normally, not even beasts would linger here, except those born of yin or demonic nature.
"Yes, Strategist!"
Xue Kunlun nodded and signaled the entire army to stay alert.
Truthfully, no command was needed. Everyone instinctively felt the danger and heightened their vigilance.
"Alert! Enemy spotted!"
A Snow Rabbit Legion soldier at the army's edge suddenly cried out. His gaze sharpened, a hint of bloodlust in his eyes.Mu Guiying turned immediately toward the commotion—there, suspended in midair, was a hazy, phantom-like figure.A male silhouette, with elongated fingers and nails that looked like daggers, appeared beside the soldier and launched a silent strike aimed directly at his heart.
Clang!
A frost shield flared up instinctively, only to be shredded. Even his armor was pierced. If not for the soldier's battle-hardened instincts, the blow would've pierced his heart. As it was, the attack struck his shoulder—blood flashed, but no liquid emerged. Instead, ice crystals formed where the wound was, freezing his blood.
The shadowy figure didn't pause.
Missing the heart, it phased right through the soldier's body.
"Ugh!"
The soldier groaned and collapsed, eyes shut. His vital essence had been drained, and without support from nearby comrades, he would've plunged into the swamp and perished.
"Undead Clan—Ghost Race."
Jia Xu's tone grew grim.
The Ghost Race belonged to the terrifying Undead Clan. They had no physical form, existing in a ghostly state—more elusive than ordinary spirits.These were pure spirit entities, nearly immune to normal attacks. Unless their lingering will was destroyed, they could not be killed. Once they latched onto living beings, they devoured flesh and life force. Their movements were swift, their forms silent and unpredictable.
"Such beings hidden in the mist... with their stealth, even an army of millions could be slaughtered. The more they devour, the stronger they become."
Yi Tianxing narrowed his eyes.
He had encountered such ghosts before—they were powerless against him, as he was their natural nemesis.But for the rest of the army, they posed an enormous threat. Without the means to counter spirit-type enemies, numbers alone were meaningless.
"However, the Divine Crow Legion is their natural predator."
Yi Tianxing showed no fear. He already knew that this challenge could be broken—if Jia Xu realized the counter-strategy.
"Heh, this challenge can be broken. General Mu, I'll trouble you to deploy the 'Heaven-Scorching Divine Crow Battle Formation.' These ghosts, as undead yin entities, fear the most pure, righteous yang power. The battle formation can summon a sliver of True Solar Fire, the bane of all evil. Under its blaze, even ghosts will be annihilated."
Jia Xu had already seen through the puzzle and its solution.
"Understood! Divine Crow Legion—form the Heaven-Scorching Divine Crow Battle Formation!"
Mu Guiying didn't hesitate.
As she spoke, a scarlet formation appeared above the Divine Crow Legion.The ten thousand Fire Crows let out excited cries and rushed into the diagram. As they fused into the formation, it solidified rapidly into a massive Celestial Flame Tree, radiating scorching heat. A wave of True Solar Fire swept outward.
"Ahhh!!"
In the fog, agonized howls erupted.Ghosts preparing to ambush the Great Yi soldiers shrieked as their bodies melted like snow under sunlight, vanishing into nothingness.
Many ghosts fled, diving into the swamp, afraid to emerge. The threat of annihilation was too real.
The lurking murderous intent in the fog… dissipated instantly.
With the Five Venom Beast devouring toxins, the Celestial Spirit Bird providing guidance, and the Divine Crow Legion burning away spirits,this swamp of death and poison became a path of clarity.
Under the Celestial Spirit Bird's guidance, the army moved forward without resistance.
Soon, they emerged from the fog.
A New Scene Unfolds
They were met with star-speckled night skies, illuminating a wide plain ahead.
Scattered across it were countless human civilians, collapsed or unconscious—emaciated and full of fear and despair.
Far off, packs of wolf cavalry stood guard, bows drawn and trained on the crowd, ready to slaughter at any moment.
"Retreat!"
A Myriad Beast Royal Court general, seeing the Great Yi army emerge, hesitated briefly before commanding withdrawal.In moments, the beastman army vanished.
Jia Xu did not order a pursuit.
"Great Yi, you've passed the first trial. Here is the promised hundred million people. You may now take them.
The Myriad Beast Royal Court honors its word. We hope you do the same."
The beastman general spoke before leaving.
"They really held this many human civilians…"
Mu Guiying's expression was grim.
If a hundred million were here, how many had already died? How many had become food during past disasters?
That thought alone darkened everyone's hearts.