The four assassins exchanged glances. Without answering Jing Hongchen's question, they suddenly erupted into action.
Soul Power surged from their bodies as hundreds of Soul Cannon barrels unfolded from their mechanical frames. Each was the thickness of a finger, and in an instant, countless muzzles locked onto Jing Hongchen.
The first volley roared forth — a torrential storm of shells filled the sky like deadly rain.
Even as they fired, the four split apart, surrounding Jing Hongchen from all directions. Their coordination was impeccable despite never having fought side by side before — true experts of their craft.
Jing Hongchen snorted coldly. A blinding crimson light burst from him, and behind his back, metallic radiance spun rapidly, assembling into a lotus-shaped cluster of cannons.
Within seconds, over a thousand barrels — each as thick as a thumb — unfolded across his body.
With a thunderous leap, Jing Hongchen shot skyward. As he ascended, the cannons erupted in unison, releasing a deluge of crimson fire.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
The air shook as shells collided mid-flight, exploding in fiery clusters that painted the sky in dazzling red and gold.
Some shells detonated midair, but many pierced through the storm, racing straight toward the enemy lines.
More than a hundred shells hurtled toward Jing Hongchen. Calm as ever, he raised his arm. Fifteen barrels detached from his shoulders and merged into one massive, arm-thick cannon.
White light gathered within the crimson barrel — then exploded outward.
The fired shell gleamed perfectly spherical at first, but as it neared the incoming barrage, cracks began spreading across its surface, as though it were shattering from within.
Would a Level 9 Soul Engineer like Jing Hongchen ever produce a faulty shell? Of course not.
The cracks flashed bright white — then the orb burst apart.
There was no fiery explosion. No shockwave of flame. Only a rippling distortion in the air — a single, invisible shock pulse.
But that pulse was enough. The hundred enemy shells detonated midflight, erupting into premature explosions as if struck by invisible triggers.
This was Jing Hongchen's invention — the Seismic Detonation Shell. It had no destructive power of its own. Its sole function was to emit a concussive wave strong enough to trigger nearby munitions.
Not all of his shells were used for interception. Dozens streaked past, focusing on one of the Level 8 Soul Engineers.
Individually, each shell was modest in strength. But when concentrated, even a skilled engineer would struggle to block the barrage.
Explosions bloomed continuously across the battlefield. Fire and smoke filled the sky, shells streaking through the air like a rainstorm of death.
Neither side expected this artillery duel alone to decide the fight — it was a prelude, a test of firepower meant to distract and overwhelm. The true battle would be fought with their higher-tier Soul Tools.
Even so, Jing Hongchen was momentarily forced onto the defensive. The enemy had numbers — two Level 9s and two Level 8s — and their combined fire pressed him hard.
Had he not slain two of their comrades earlier with the Level 8 fixed-mounted cannons, he would already have been in dire straits.
The four fought cautiously, keeping their distance while unleashing long-range bombardments. They dared not approach.
Each of them deployed portable Soul Cannons — not as powerful as the fixed versions, but faster and easier to maneuver, ideal for sustained combat.
The energy shells they fired carried elemental properties tied to their Martial Souls.
Elder Mo, whose Martial Soul was the Twin-Headed Skyfire Eagle, launched blazing shells that exploded into intense infernos.
Elder Zhou, whose Martial Soul was the Flowing Light Halberd, fired shockwave shells with devastating impact force.
Their coordinated strikes left Jing Hongchen momentarily pressed, his expression turning grim.
Meanwhile, one of the remaining Level 8 Soul Engineers had moved several kilometers away, swiftly setting up two new fixed-mounted Soul Cannons.
Each had a range of over fifteen kilometers — far enough to bombard Jing Hongchen from safety.
Before, they'd fired from only two hundred meters away to prevent him from escaping with Wei Xuan. Now that he was pinned, range was no longer a concern.
Within a minute, the cannons were in place, charged, and loaded with Level 8 shells — supplied personally by Mo Lao and Zhou Lao themselves.
Jing Hongchen immediately noticed the preparations. His eyes turned cold. "You think I wasn't ready for this?"
He raised a small remote trigger in his hand — and pressed it.
The instant the two enemy cannons fired, explosions sounded in the distance.
Five streaks of red light shot into the air from hidden positions: two intercepting the incoming shells, one targeting the enemy's cannon emplacement, and two hurtling straight toward the two Level 9 Soul Engineers.
He had been ready for this moment long ago.
Ever since detecting their pursuit, Jing Hongchen had secretly deployed six fixed-mounted Soul Cannons along their path — four Level 8s and two Level 9s — all remote-controlled and pre-aimed.
Now, five had been activated at once.
One of those cannons, though Level 9, was loaded only with a Level 8 shell. Jing Hongchen refused to waste his strategic-grade munitions on mere assassins — and using a Level 9 shell at this range would endanger Wei Xuan as well.
The shell aimed at the enemy's cannon emplacement crossed several kilometers almost instantly — nearly ten times the speed of sound.
The Level 8 Soul Engineer stationed there barely had time to react. A chill ran down his spine as he abandoned the cannon and tried to flee. He'd flown barely a hundred meters before the shell detonated.
A colossal fireball consumed everything within a five-hundred-meter radius. The shockwave hurled him through the air like a ragdoll.
His defensive barrier cracked and shattered, and when he hit the ground, blood sprayed from his mouth.
Meanwhile, the two intercepting shells met their targets midair.
"BOOM!"
Four tremendous explosions shook the sky. Scalding flames erupted once again, melting the snow into steaming mist.
Elder Mo and Elder Zhou's pupils contracted sharply. They barely had time to deploy their defensive Soul Tools, darting backward to avoid the full brunt of the blast.
The explosions tore through the air with enough force to distort space itself. Even so, Jing Hongchen wasn't finished.
All his cannons were equipped with manual detonation runes — and just as the surviving shells neared their targets, he pressed the detonator.
Twin fireballs erupted around the two elders, their protective shields trembling violently under the shock.
Though not caught in the direct center, both men were flung backward, battered and burned.
"Die!" Jing Hongchen's voice was icy cold, his killing intent unrestrained.
He slammed another switch.
Far in the distance, a single Level 9 Soul Cannon activated.
A thin red beam lanced across the sky. It was almost invisible — just a faint streak of light, faster than the eye could follow.
Before Elder Mo could even comprehend what had happened, the beam pierced his chest.
His eyes widened.
He looked down at the thin red line running through his heart — so fine that no blood spilled. But the destructive energy carried within that beam had already annihilated his heart entirely.
His life force vanished in an instant.
He looked one last time toward Jing Hongchen, fear and regret frozen in his eyes. His Invincible Barrier flickered and vanished as his body stiffened, falling from the sky.
"Mo Yin!" Elder Zhou roared in fury, his voice shaking with grief. They had been comrades for decades — seeing his friend die before his eyes ignited a murderous rage.
The remaining Level 8 Soul Engineer, witnessing the one-sided slaughter, could only tremble. His hands shook violently, his mind frozen in terror.
Even his attacks ceased.
For the first time, he truly understood — this was Jing Hongchen, the master of the Illustrious Virtue Hall.
A man whose very existence defined the terror of Soul Engineers.