Chapter 118: Weapon Armor Control Art
Chapter 118: Weapon Armor Control Art
The defending soldiers numbered over two thousand, and more were called from neighboring cities. Now, nearly ten thousand soldiers stood on the city wall. Beyond the vast majority armed with bows, many skilled craftsmen used repeating crossbows and mechanisms. Their furious volley unleashed a dense rain of bolts, pouring down like a storm. It was an awe-inspiring sight. The only sound filling their ears was the shrill whistling of arrows tearing through the air. First, it slammed into an oncoming flock of birds in the sky. Blood instantly splashed across the heavens; birds fell like rain!
Countless birds cried out mournfully before plummeting from mid-air. Some died instantly; others, barely alive, crashed to the ground only to be trampled into paste by stampeding savage beasts. Worse, some running beasts, weakened and unable to keep pace, were overtaken and crushed by those behind, meeting instant death!
Mu Yuan watched, dazzled. A large monk with a fat head and big ears beside him suddenly spoke, “We must act! Mere mortal strength cannot hold back so many savage beasts!”
A scholarly-looking man wearing a square scarf laughed, “Master Long Yin speaks true! Your Fierce Vajra Technique is peerless! A barrier spanning ten li – these beasts won’t cross it easily!”
The monk called Long Yin roared with laughter, offered humble words, then thrust his hands forward, unleashing a burst of golden light. A Vajra Dharma Form materialized behind his head, its entire body gleaming like polished gold, wielding a massive Vajra Pestle. Fire kindled in its eyes as it stood astride a dragon. Following the shifts in Master Long Yin’s hand seals, the form abruptly transformed into a curtain of golden light. It shot forth, spreading along the city wall lightning-fast, instantly stretching ten li outward. Savage beasts colliding with it were knocked back. Pushing forward and crowding in, they found themselves thwarted, leading to roars of fury and chaotic stampedes that crushed countless beasts to death!
Following Long Yin’s move, the others also unleashed their divine abilities. Ice like ramparts, gouts of searing flame – these poured out like a furious storm. Birds fell, unable to fly; beasts struggled, unable to advance, and died in droves!
Mu Yuan and Shangguan Shuiqing were not idle. Although Shangguan Shuiqing’s flying sword was destroyed, she still had magic. Channeling her zhenqi to influence the heavens, she summoned a giant water dragon that coiled and thrashed through the horde. Though the beasts were numerous, they couldn’t withstand the magic. Mu Yuan sent his Water Restriction Escape Sword flashing out, transforming it into a thick beam of sword light that charged and slashed back and forth. Together, they managed to hold one corner of the defense.
The Square-scarf Scholar, seeing them cast their spells, approached with a smile. “Watching your magic, respected ones, it resembles the arts of Clear Water Palace within the Hundred Thousand Mountains of the Southern Wildlands. I heard many sects within the mountains were wiped out by demon beasts. May I ask your esteemed sect’s fate?”
Shangguan Shuiqing snorted coldly and didn’t answer. Mu Yuan smiled and offered no explanation.
The Square-scarf Scholar, somewhat snubbed, simply smiled gently. Mu Yuan observed him channeling pure heaven thunder, his zhenqi gathered yet unmanifested, soaring straight into the Nine Heavens. He seemed to be in the merged stage of Heaven’s Fury and Earth’s Breath, his cultivation level matching Mu Yuan’s own!
Among those present, besides the Daoist Sect and the Buddhist Sect, were several sorcerers chanting incantations. They relied on their spiritual sense to perceive the surrounding spiritual power, shaping it into watery arrows to pierce monsters. Their methods were rather unique!
Mu Yuan had heard that Tianlong Kingdom had many such sorcerers. They focused solely on training their spiritual sense, confronting foes this way. However, they neglected their physical bodies, leaving them extremely frail. Their ultimate pursuit was enduring spiritual existence, forsaking the decay-prone flesh – an incredibly arduous path. He hadn’t expected to see them here!
Present besides Master Long Yin and the Square-scarf Scholar, the others didn’t seem exceptionally powerful in magical power. Some held talismans; others pointed swords, invoking gods or ghosts – it was quite novel!
“Ai,” Mu Yuan sighed inwardly. “I had hoped to test my luck here, see if I could find a disciple of the Eternal Art out training. To think it’s all just some not-so-powerful unorthodox practices!” Though disappointed not to find his goal instantly, he wasn’t greatly let down. The world was vast. The finest opportunities wouldn’t just land in his lap!
After one furious hail of arrows, another followed. This, along with cannon fire and cascading pots of boiling oil, poured down relentlessly, truly making it difficult for the savage beasts to advance past the metaphorical Thunder Pond. The flying creatures in the sky were formidable, but with continuous volleys of arrows and rotating magics, they also couldn’t break through. After watching for a short while, Mu Yuan relaxed.
“Dare you block my army’s advance?!”
A voice boomed like thunder, echoing out from the demon beast horde. Mu Yuan’s heart tightened. Behind the beast army, several glowing forms rose. The speaker was a shimmering, multicolored light floating serenely forward. Arrows falling on it like rain were deflected, some directly shattering into dust, showcasing its immense demonic power!
“The leaders are here! Everyone, be careful!”
The Square-scarf Scholar’s face took on a serious cast. Most of those present, except for a few with weaker cultivation, gathered their magic, forming defensive formations as they prepared for battle.
There were around ten arrivals. Some rode clouds; others summoned winds – clearly formidable demon beasts with refined power. In a mere moment, they flew to the front of the city tower, greeting them with wild, sinister laughter!
“Come forth to meet the enemy with me!” Master Long Yin called. “Draw away these leading beasts! Do not let the battle harm the mortal soldiers on the wall!”
Long Yin intoned a buddhist chant and charged out first. His Vajra Dharma Form re-materialized behind him. A cluster of golden clouds materialized beneath his feet, bearing him aloft as he flew out beyond the city wall!
“Boundless Heavenly Lord!”
An old Daoist extended his fingers. A swirling wind sprang to life beneath his feet, and he too flew out empty-handed!
The Square-scarf Scholar smiled. “Everyone, maintain caution!” Zhenqi surged around him, summoning a flying sword. It coiled protectively around him as he rocketed forward!
Mu Yuan whispered to Shangguan Shuiqing, “Senior sister, stay here. Help defend the wall. I’ll go take a look.”
Shangguan Shuiqing nodded. “Junior brother Mu, take care!”
Mu Yuan retracted his flying sword, zhenqi naturally gathering as he transformed the blade into a water dragon. Mounting it, he too flew out!
“Fellow practitioner, that’s impressive technique!” A deep voice sounded beside him. A man with thick eyebrows and large eyes drew near, a grin revealing exceptionally white teeth. He looked utterly honest and sincere.
Mu Yuan sensed waves of metallic energy emanating from his body. Oddly, a pair of golden wings sprouted from his back, though his flight seemed somewhat unsteady and poorly controlled. Seeing his simple, open expression, Mu Yuan returned the smile. “Thanks. Be careful facing the enemy!”
The man chuckled. “No worries! We of the Weapon Armor Control Sect can take a beating! These weaklings can’t handle me!”
Mu Yuan laughed. “Weapon Armor Control Sect? Haven’t heard of it. Though I have heard of the Chaos Control Art… wonder if there’s a relation?” Mu Yuan thought privately, but naturally voiced none of this aloud. He just laughed mildly. “Respect! Deep respect!”
As they spoke, they clashed head-on with those demon cultivators. Master Long Yin and the Square-scarf Scholar were the fiercest, wasting no words on conversation and engaging the foe immediately. The talking beast lord seemed the strongest, meeting Long Yin’s ferocious Vajra form head-on. The Square-scarf Scholar faced a woman glowing with red light. Mu Yuan, flying closer, found himself blocked by two demon cultivators. The honest-looking man nearby was also surrounded by two opponents. Mu Yuan, not seeking glory, simply unfolded the Water Restriction Escape Sword’s mysteries. It whirled around him like a globe of shimmering light, continuously condensing water-thunder to bombard his foes. Occasionally, he spared a glance at how the metallic man was faring. That glance made him gasp in surprise!
The man was encircled by a male and female opponent. Surrounded by their assault, glints of gold flickered across his entire body. His limbs and torso constantly shifted shape, transforming into an array of sharp weapons and divine soldiers, striking viciously in all directions. In the heat of battle, his whole body dissolved into a mass of revolving blades, churning and slashing. Against all expectations, he was gaining the upper hand!