One after another, Dragonbone Ladders directly connected to the Iron-Blood Great Wall. Through the ladders, enemies could climb straight onto the wall. The Iron-Blood Barrier had been blasted open by more than half—this scene caused the countless Great Wall garrison troops to feel a chill down their spines.
The always-victorious Iron-Blood Great Wall had, since its creation, been breached only a handful of times. Each time, it stood as an indestructible bastion of Da Yi, repelling enemies at the border, ensuring Da Yi's invincibility. And now, these foreign races had found a way to break through the Iron-Blood Barrier.
They even constructed Dragonbone Ladders that led straight up the wall—how terrifying, how perilous was this?
Yet, although the soldiers on the wall were shocked and furious, there was not a trace of fear or retreat. In their eyes burned intense battle intent and killing intent.
"Those who trespass upon Da Yi's territory—kill without mercy!!"
A commanding general of the Iron-Blood Fortress roared.
"All soldiers hear me! Execute the Godslaying Ballista strategy. Target: Dragonbone Ladders! Destroy the ladders! Annihilate all enemy forces outside the wall. Fire at will!"
"We have enough bolts! Enough rune bombs! Enough crystal ammo for rune cannons and bullets! Just shoot! Shoot hard! Dare to offend Da Yi's borders, then send them to their deaths! Kill every enemy that steps onto the Dragonbone Ladders! Not one shall escape! Anyone who offends Da Yi will pay in blood!"
"Kill! Kill! Kill!!"
A fierce aura radiated from the eyes of countless soldiers atop the Great Wall. Though the Great Wall garrison was a regular force in Da Yi, many being conscripts, their combat strength and discipline were by no means inferior. Combined with advanced war equipment, their combat effectiveness rivaled even the elite armies of any destiny dynasty.
War—Da Yi's soldiers had never feared it. Even the garrison troops were Da Yi soldiers. The worst outcome was death.
To be buried in the Iron-Blood Great Wall—this was the highest honor for a warrior.
What fear was there in death?
Swish!!
As the order was given, countless rune bombs rained furiously onto the Dragonbone Ladders, aiming to destroy them and sever the enemy's path onto the Great Wall. However, the ladders were strangely powerful. Even when struck by Yin-Yang Annihilation Bomb, with its destructive and annihilating power, the ladders remained unbroken.
A strange divine light shimmered across the ladders, withstanding the obliteration. Shockingly, 60–70% of the destructive energy seemed to be absorbed and neutralized by the ladders themselves—only 30% actually landed.
The grade of these Dragonbone Ladders had already reached the pinnacle of magic treasure level, nearly at the threshold of spirit treasures. Even if they advanced to spirit treasure, they would be postnatal ones—not innate—but in terms of power, the gap might not be that significant.
Even so, their defense was immensely strong. Not even Yin-Yang Annihilation Bomb could destroy them.
Roar!!
Boom!! Boom!! Boom!!
Countless fierce beasts turned into a bestial tide, charging madly along the thousands of Dragonbone Ladders. Their eyes gleamed blood-red—completely overtaken by killing intent and madness. Their minds contained only one thought:
Kill. Kill. Kill!!
They shredded everything in their path.
With the ladders present, these beasts could scale the Great Wall directly, unaffected by the Iron-Blood Barrier. Driven by draconic beast commanders, the beasts and predatory birds had gone completely berserk.
But just as they stepped onto the ladders, waves of war arrows descended like a storm. One beast after another was instantly turned into pincushions—blood gushing, dying on the spot. Giant birds with arrows sticking from their bodies plummeted from the sky.
Under the torrent of arrows, beasts and birds fell like cut grass—one wave after another crashing to the ground. The ladders were strewn with their corpses.
Strangely, these corpses were absorbed into the ladders. As they bathed in blood and bone, strange glows emerged from the ladders—new bone runes visibly formed on their surface. The ladders grew subtly stronger.
"The Dragonbone Ladders can devour the corpses and blood of beasts, growing stronger by condensing new bone runes."
Zhuge Liang narrowed his eyes. If that were true, it made the ladders even more terrifying. Already hard to destroy as magic treasures, if they evolved into spirit treasures, their defense and durability would undergo a fundamental transformation—making them even harder to eliminate.
"Soldiers of the Golden Empire—kill!!"
Emperor Jin Gang also waved his hand. A space tunnel opened on the battlefield. In a flash, a massive army poured out—more than 30 million soldiers, covering the battlefield like a sea.
"Black Iron! Never Die!!"
A general clad in black iron armor, wearing a pitch-black mask, let out a thunderous shout.
In the next instant, his body rapidly expanded, transforming into a twelve-armed warrior of the Gold Race. Each arm wielded a ferocious divine weapon—filling the air with overwhelming pressure and deadly intent.
"Black Iron! Never Die!!"The entire army of Gold Race soldiers roared in unison.
As they shouted, they revealed their true Gold Race forms. Clearly, these were Black Iron-blooded warriors. Each arm held a weapon glowing with black iron divine light, brimming with immense power. Their killing force surpassed ordinary divine weapons of the same tier.
They charged up the Dragonbone Ladders.
Each warrior's aura was at least third-tier, with most at the fourth-tier or higher.
More and more Gold Race warriors surged onto the Dragonbone Ladders.
Meanwhile, the teleportation arrays within the Iron-Blood Fortresses continued flashing non-stop, transporting wave after wave of people—bounty hunters from the Hunter Hall. All were battle-hardened veterans. Upon arrival, without a word, they picked up their Godslaying Ballistae and unleashed volleys into the bestial tide. The arrow storms grew even fiercer.
Seeing the Dragonbone Ladders, every one of them felt a chill in their hearts. They understood exactly what those ladders represented—
The Iron-Blood Barrier had been broken.
This battle would be face-to-face.
A bloodbath.
At the same time, in the Shushan Domain, all the major sects were in an uproar.
An imperial edict from Da Yi had arrived at each sect.
It called on them to send Dao Soldiers to the battlefield. Though not a compulsory decree, it left the choice up to each sect—whether and how many to send was entirely voluntary.
Mount Emei.
Master Whitebrow looked toward the northern battlefield. His brow furrowed slightly before he made a decision:
"Send all three Dao Soldier units to the front. Li Yingqiong will lead the Five Elements Sword Guard. Dan Chenzi will lead the Heavenly Dragon Sword Guard. Qi Lingyun will lead the Yin-Yang Sword Guard. All will march to war."
Mount Emei had three Dao Soldier units—each one composed of 1 million troops, for a total of 3 million.
Though that number might not seem impressive, Dao Soldiers consumed an astronomical amount of resources to cultivate. In any sect, they were the ultimate trump card. As long as Dao Soldiers existed, no one dared to belittle a sect.
These soldiers were all at least at the Nascent Soul level and could form sword formations to greatly multiply their power—one of Mount Emei's greatest deterrents in Shushan.
Dao Soldiers meant Mount Emei stood unshakable.
Now, Whitebrow was sending them all. A shocking move.
Mount Wutai.
Master Zunsheng looked into the distance."Inform Zunren to lead the Vajra Arhat Legion to battle. Take every Arhat. None shall stay behind. If we're going to war, let Da Yi witness our sincerity."
Little Kunlun Sect.
Gu Yue looked at Xuantianzong."Tianzong, you will lead the Sun-Moon Heavenly Troops to assist Da Yi. But if things go wrong, the troops may die—but you must return alive."
...
The Shushan sects clearly understood the unspoken meaning behind Da Yi's decree.
You don't send Dao Soldiers? Fine—but Da Yi will remember that.
You do send them? How many, how strong, how committed? Da Yi will remember that too.
Whether you're rewarded—or punished—depends on your choices.
The sects responded quickly. Through teleportation arrays, their Dao Soldiers began heading for the battlefield.
"Holy King, it's time. Let the major legions join the fray. The garrison alone can't hold. Casualties will grow."
Zhuge Liang said after a brief moment of thought.
If possible, he wanted to avoid needless deaths. Every life was precious.
"No need to rush. Others will block this wave for us."Yi Tianxing smiled calmly.
He had just received responses from the major sects. The teleporters were active. Dao Soldiers were arriving in waves.
This wave… could be handed over to them.
Snap!!
A crisp finger-snap echoed across the battlefield.