Chapter 746 747: The Battle Formation Master

"Defeated men have no right to speak of courage."

When Lin Langtian's disdainful voice echoed above Chiyang City, the very air seemed to freeze.

No one had expected the new Commander of Silver Mist Palace to remain so domineering even in the face of the notoriously fierce Calamity Guard.

Everyone knew that Silver Mist Palace's army numbered only a thousand, while the Calamity Guard fielded five thousand.

The difference between them was severalfold.

Once battle erupted, Calamity Palace would clearly hold a massive advantage. No matter how strong Lin Langtian was, could he really fight an army alone?

"A dead man walking. I'd like nothing better than to see you cut into a thousand pieces," Dong Kui snarled, his expression growing ever more twisted as he glared at Lin Langtian's dismissive face.

He slowly clenched his fist, and the black clouds of battle will beneath his feet surged, radiating a suffocating malice like descending calamity.

"Since you're so set on dying, don't expect the Silver Mist King to save you this time."

His killing intent spilled across the sky like an icy tide.

"Oh? Then show me what you can do. Try to last longer than last time," Lin Langtian replied calmly, hands clasped behind his back.

"Lin Langtian! I'll see how sharp your tongue is after I drag you down and tear you apart!"

Dong Kui's eyes blazed with fury as he slashed his hand through the air.

Boom!

At his command, the black-armored Calamity Guard let out a thunderous shout that shook the heavens.

Dark spiritual power burst forth, merging with their frigid battle will until the skies above Chiyang City turned pitch-black.

The cloud beneath Dong Kui's feet grew thicker and darker, roiling with power.

An overwhelming pressure swept out across the land, stirring howling winds.

Mu Honglian's face tightened as she watched the display.

Dong Kui had controlled the Calamity Guard for years and knew their battle will intimately. Once he set it in motion, its strength was terrifying.

"Lin Langtian…"

She glanced at him, worry glimmering in her eyes.

He smiled faintly. "Don't worry, Honglian. They may have numbers, but defeating me won't be so easy."

Something in her chest loosened at his gentle confidence.

For years, Jiang Yinlan had trusted only her, and Mu Honglian had borne no small burden alone. Now, with Lin Langtian standing at the front, she finally felt that she was no longer holding everything up by herself.

"Then be careful," she said softly, her voice far more tender than usual.

Lin Langtian nodded once.

The Myriad Aspects Demon Body strode forward again.

Eyes narrowing at the roiling sea of dark battle will ahead, Lin Langtian drew a breath and barked coldly:

"Heavenly Wheel Demonic Drums!"

At his words, the eight giant drums behind the Myriad Aspects Demon Body shot forward, spinning in a massive ring like a titanic wheel in the sky.

As they turned, a black torrent burst from them, overflowing with chilling ice, blazing fire, lightning, and every other destructive force.

The Calamity Guard's battle will and the demonic tide split the sky into two worlds.

Faces grew taut across the city. Just as both sides were about to crash together, the space between them suddenly twisted.

A lone figure appeared out of nowhere, flipped a hand, and slammed both torrents down at once, crushing them into nothingness.

Gasps erupted from every direction.

All eyes snapped toward the newcomer—and the city all but exploded with noise.

"That's… one of the Three Supremes of the Universe Sect—the Third Elder!"

"Even someone at his level was forced to intervene…"

High above, Lin Langtian and Dong Kui both stiffened before cupping their fists.

"Greetings, Third Elder."

The translucent figure waved a hand lazily.

It was only a spiritual avatar, but even so, it had effortlessly crushed both Lin Langtian's drum tide and the Calamity Guard's battle will. His power needed no further proof.

"Your struggle is within the rules, but Chiyang City is still an important stronghold. If you destroy it, the loss will be considerable," the Third Elder said mildly.

Before either man could argue, he went on.

"Enough. The Universe Sect's campaigns are about to begin.

"In that vast territory, you may fight as you like.

"Why limit your vision to a single city?"

"Hehe, you're not wrong, Third Elder. But my Calamity Palace has spent years building these cities up. Handing them over to Silver Mist Palace for free would be far too generous," another voice chuckled.

A hazy figure appeared above the Calamity Guard.

It was the Calamity King.

Dong Kui's face lit up.

"Oh? And what does your Calamity Palace suggest?"

An equally cold voice answered from the other side as Jiang Yinlan's indistinct form emerged.

Murmurs rippled through the city.

No one had expected both the Silver Mist King and the Calamity King to appear.

The hatred between the two factions was clearly carved in bone.

"What do I suggest?"

The Calamity King's gaze flickered as his lips curved into a cold smile.

"You want your cities back? Fine.

"Since the Third Elder says this place is unfit for battle, my Calamity Guard will wait for you at the Martial Arena in three days.

"If you can defeat them, not only will all fifty cities be returned, but my Calamity Palace will add fifty more—and five Supreme Heaven Pills."

Gasps burst across the crowd.

A hundred cities' worth of control.

And five Supreme Heaven Pills—legendary treasures capable of raising any Sovereign below Fourth Grade by a full realm.

Countless experts had craved them in vain.

Even Jiang Yinlan paused, her brows knitting.

She had not expected the Calamity King to show such audacity.

He was clearly willing to pay dearly to crush Silver Mist Palace.

"Of course, if your Silver Mist Palace loses, I won't ask much.

"You'll merely submit to my Calamity Palace.

"I won't meddle in your internal affairs," he added with an airy laugh.

"You—!"

Mu Honglian's face went white with fury.

The Calamity King would do anything for the sake of humiliation.

If they were forced to kneel, Silver Mist Palace would lose all dignity in the Universe Sect—and might never rise again.

Lin Langtian's eyes narrowed as he caught the malice behind the offer.

The Third Elder frowned faintly but said nothing.

Since the sect's decline, internal competition had only grown fiercer.

Only such pressure could keep a great power alive and drive it toward revival.

"Well? If you lack the courage, no one will mock you.

"But you can forget about reclaiming these cities," the Calamity King said, amusement glinting in his eyes as he looked to Jiang Yinlan.

Her beautiful face chilled over entirely.

She understood his cruelty all too well, but she had already been forced into a corner.

If she agreed, it could doom the palace; if she refused, they would lose all right to speak.

Her jade fingers clenched so tightly around her sword hilt that her knuckles turned white.

Drawing a slow breath, she turned her head and looked down at the tall figure beneath her.

The Calamity King clearly wanted a clash between the two armies, and Lin Langtian was now the Commander of the Silver Mist Guard.

The choice was his.

In the time she had known him, his presence in her mind had grown heavy indeed.

Countless gazes converged on Lin Langtian.

Dong Kui folded his arms and smiled coldly.

If Lin Langtian refused, he would be branded a coward for life.

If he accepted, Dong Kui would finally have his chance to wipe away his earlier shame.

Under that weight of stares, Lin Langtian's lips slowly curved into a razor-edged smile.

He raised his head and gave Jiang Yinlan a small nod.

She blinked, then bit down lightly on her lip.

Her voice rang out cold and clear.

"Very well. Silver Mist Palace accepts."

"Three days from now, at the Martial Arena, prepare everything you've promised."

The odds of victory were slim, but for reasons she couldn't fully explain, Jiang Yinlan felt a spark of hope when she saw Lin Langtian's calm face.

Perhaps he could create another miracle.

"Haha! As expected of the Silver Mist King. Truly admirable," the Calamity King laughed, though the darkness in his eyes never left.

"In that case, I'll overlook your disruption today.

"In three days, at the Martial Arena, my Calamity Palace will be waiting."

With his goal achieved, he saw no need to drag things out.

A single command sent the Calamity Guard streaming toward the city's transport array in a wave of black light.

Moments later, both he and his army had vanished.

Above, the Third Elder could only smile wryly.

Even as one of the Three Supremes, he could not intervene in a duel both sides agreed to.

He gave Jiang Yinlan and Lin Langtian a final meaningful look before his spiritual body faded.

Jiang Yinlan descended to stand beside Lin Langtian, her expression thoughtful.

"Thank you. Don't burden yourself. If the sky falls, I'm the one who has to hold it up," she said quietly.

Lin Langtian blinked, then smiled.

For all her icy pride, this Palace Master's heart was not made of stone.

He did not linger.

With a wave of his hand, he led the Silver Mist Guard to the transport array, and they vanished in turn.

As the two armies departed, Chiyang City erupted in thunderous noise.

"This is going to be something. The Calamity Guard and Silver Mist Guard are going to clash for real!"

"The Calamity Guard crush them in both strength and numbers. In an all-out war, Silver Mist Guard doesn't stand a chance."

"They've got ten thousand men. Even if Dong Kui only brings five thousand, it's enough to run over a mere thousand Silver Mist troops."

"If Silver Mist Palace dared to accept, they must have some card to play…"

"Who knows…"

…

Silver Mist Palace, rear mountain.

Thinking back on everything he knew about the Calamity Guard, Lin Langtian frowned.

Though he vastly outstripped Dong Kui personally, the Calamity Guard was one of the sect's top armies.

The current Silver Mist Guard was nowhere near their level.

It was impossible to predict the outcome of a clash in three days.

He turned his thoughts to Ling Yi.

"Ever heard of battle formation masters?"

She already knew what troubled him and let out a light chuckle.

Lin Langtian's eyes flashed.

So she did have a solution.

He had longed for this path from the moment he heard it named.

"Tell me more," he said.

"In ancient times, battle formation masters were a branch of spirit array masters.

"In the great war between the Great Thousand World and the extraterritorial evil tribes, they shone brighter than the stars.

"They commanded the armies of a thousand races, holding the line on the frontmost battlefield and carving immortal merit into history.

"Their greatest strength lies in binding an army's power together and unleashing it to its absolute limit.

"At the very peak, with a strong enough army in hand, a battle formation master can stand against a Heavenly Sovereign."

"I'm no battle formation master myself, but this should help you."

A ray of light flashed before him as a tattered scroll appeared in his hand.

Its surface was stained with dried blood, and even unopened, it exuded a thick, iron-blooded aura.

He looked closer.

Faint blood-red characters shimmered across the cover.

"Heart of the Battle Formation."

"Battle formation masters demand incredible talent, but you were already a Symbol Master on the Tianxuan Continent.

"You've walked far in both spiritual techniques and battle will. That overlap will make it much easier for you to get started.

"This won't be enough to make you a true battle formation master overnight, but it will be more than enough to let you beat the Calamity Guard with fewer troops," Ling Yi said.

Lin Langtian smiled, gripping the bloodstained scroll more tightly as he nodded.

In the Great Thousand World, walking without a secondary profession was merely asking to fall behind.

And this path might be the perfect choice.

"Thank you, Aunt Ling. This time, your Lin Langtian won't let you down."

(END CHAPTER)