The most brilliant strategists—each one of them is a talent fit to assist a sovereign in expanding their dominion. Once they begin plotting, they become fearsome figures on the battlefield. It's impossible to predict how a mere sliver of information might spark their inspiration. Simply by collecting data on one's personality or preferences, they can scheme with deadly precision—so much so that the victim might not even realize how they died. A single word from them can shift the tide of fate, altering the course of history.
However, when it comes to defense, especially in a situation where both sides barely know each other, even the most ingenious strategies are hard to execute—so long as no flaws are found in the defense.
In a battle of offense and defense, the defender's task is simple: build an impenetrable wall. Be airtight. If there's no opening to exploit, even the most brilliant of strategies become impotent.
Even Zhuge Liang, hailed as the most cunning strategist of his time, once failed to breach the defenses of Sima Yi. Was it because his wisdom fell short? Or because Sima Yi was more brilliant in military tactics? Not necessarily. The simple truth is that defending a city offers a natural advantage. As long as the defenders leave no gaps, and without favorable timing or terrain, even the greatest minds will struggle to take it by force.
Xuanhuang Town had clearly achieved this level of impenetrability.
Their army was well-trained, their people fearless in the face of death, their walls sturdy and resolute. Even more intimidating were the four massive Defensive Towers—each one a supreme treasure of war. In such a setting, trying to breach the defenses of Xuanhuang Town would be a daunting task for even the most elite strategists.
And that's without accounting for the mysterious black spheres buried in vast numbers all around the area—clearly some sort of terrifying weapon.
These were bound to have a major impact during the battle.
And it wasn't just the defenders who recognized this.
Outsiders were growing suspicious too. Those spheres clearly weren't as harmless as they appeared.
"Interesting… this war is getting more and more exciting," murmured Young Master Hollow, his eyes flashing with anticipation.
Though he didn't know what those black spheres were, he instinctively felt threatened by them. A fierce aura seemed to radiate from each one. Yet once buried, they became utterly undetectable.
Yes—completely undetectable.
If he couldn't sense them, chances were neither could the approaching alien armies. Charging in without knowing what lay ahead… the consequences would be catastrophic.
…
Outside the walls, the burial of the black spheres continued without pause.
Dozens upon dozens of the black spheres disappeared into the earth, leaving no trace on the surface. Yet everyone walking over them moved with extreme caution, trying to lighten their footsteps and minimize vibrations. Ideally, they wouldn't make a sound at all.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Back atop the walls, soldiers rushed to and fro, hauling in massive repeating crossbows—larger than the Shenji crossbows. These were built for large-scale defense and were inscribed with magnified runes. The bolts they fired were custom-made, and their destructive power even more formidable.
One after another, these siege crossbows were mounted along the walls.
Thick bolts gleamed coldly in their grooves, casting a chilling aura that made any onlooker shudder. To the outsiders, this was the first true glimpse of Xuanhuang Town's strength.
Military power is always a deterrent to cultivators.
Just as in ancient martial worlds, where even the fiercest martial artists feared the might of a trained army, so too did these modern armies—equipped with magic weapons and powered by cultivation—strike fear into the hearts of arrogant outsiders.
Many self-proclaimed experts couldn't help but feel a chill in their hearts.
Their pride deflated instinctively.
The soldiers on the walls radiated killing intent—grizzled veterans with the stench of blood on them.
Later that night, more troops entered the underground tunnels carved by Burrowing Bugs, carrying boxes into the depths. No one knew what they were doing down there, but they labored throughout the night.
Time passed quietly.
Another day went by.
During this time, waves of cultivators continued to flood into Xuanhuang Town. Nearly all of them possessed significant power, and each one carried a determined look as they passed through the gates.
On that day—
A black-robed, limping blade wielder looked up at the plaque above the town gate and stepped in without hesitation.
A black-cloaked swordsman, his cape fluttering behind him in the wind, entered with cold indifference.
A hulking barbarian carrying a giant axe, and a brawny dwarf wielding an iron hammer, also joined the ranks.
That day alone, Xuanhuang Town's population grew by more than ten thousand.
Most of them wandered around town, observing everything, some even climbing the walls to see the siege crossbows firsthand—each of them walking away in silence, shaken. None dared boast of their cultivation again.
Their arrogance was involuntarily suppressed.
Howl!!
High above, a golden roc soared in the skies, circling endlessly. Its golden eyes were like blades, scanning the earth below. It flew into the distance and returned moments later.
With its speed, nothing within a thousand miles could escape its watchful gaze.
"Chyron wolves? There's even a full army of them coming now? Do they think Xuanhuang Town is some pushover? Every stray dog wants to take a bite now."
"A massive snake swarm too? Is this related to the yellow python we killed before? If they're here for revenge, that swarm might be trouble."
"Still no sign of the Scorpion Men army. As expected, they must be traveling underground."
"Even the ogre tribes have shown up. Hah, this is getting lively. Good. The more the merrier. If we win this battle, the fortune we'll earn will cement our foundation."
The one flying above, naturally, was Golden Roc.
It was incomparably fast and powerful, with piercing vision. And having signed a contract with Yi Tianxing, every scene the Roc witnessed could be directly transmitted to Yi Tianxing's mind.
This made it the perfect scout.
Thanks to the Golden Roc, Yi Tianxing didn't need to send out any scouting teams. He knew everything happening within a thousand-mile radius.
But even with all this intel, a frown slowly crept across his brow.
He had expected that the alien races wouldn't take defeat lightly—and that more than just the Scorpion Men would show up—but he hadn't expected such sheer numbers. Ogres, snakes, wolves—these were all brutal foes. Not to mention the Scorpion Men lurking underground.
Still, Yi Tianxing felt no fear.
The alien races had only just descended onto the Eternal Continent. Given time, their monstrous bodies and unique talents would allow them to grow rapidly. Many even possessed divine racial abilities. The sooner they were wiped out, the better. Waiting would only make them harder to deal with.
And killing these aliens wouldn't just remove threats—it would also steal their fate, increasing the town's own fortune.
The more that came, the better. As long as they were defeated, the rewards would be immense.
"Come on, then. Let me see how many of you beasts and monsters dare show up. The more, the better—I'll enjoy killing every last one of you."
Yi Tianxing took a deep breath, his eyes flashing with a chilling gleam.
Without hesitation, he resumed his cultivation.
Runes continued to form in his mind. With each one successfully visualized, he moved one step closer to his breakthrough.
Three days passed in a flash.
Yi Tianxing spent nearly all of that time cultivating. With the help of Willing Power Orbs, his rune-condensation sped up significantly. The number of runes he had condensed more than doubled during this time—he was nearing the final stages.
Each day, the Golden Roc faithfully relayed updates.
On the previous day, one report stood out above all others: a newly discovered alien army—a massive one.
They had entered the thousand-mile surveillance range.
And now, only a hundred miles from Xuanhuang Town, they had suddenly stopped.
Whether it was the snake swarm, the wolf army, or the ogres—they all seemed to sense each other's presence. No one advanced. They hesitated, wary of each other.
But with time, they began to inch forward, converging toward the town.
The pressure from their approach was palpable.
DONG! DONG! DONG!
Suddenly, urgent, echoing bells rang throughout Xuanhuang Town.
"Prepare for battle!!"
A voice thundered above the town.
"Form ranks!!"
In the military camps, horns blared.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
One formation after another emerged from their tents, assembling with terrifying discipline and speed.