Suddenly, flashes of light erupted from the military trenches. At the same time, mystic artifacts of all shapes and sizes—daggers, swords, iron balls, rings, and more—shot out of the trenches in unison and killed dozens who were soaring through the air.

Undeterred by these minor casualties, the following troops of the Shaman army surged forward like a green tidal wave and overwhelmed the front lines of the trenches immediately. Countless Shaman fighters leaped into the trenches and engaged the human cultivators in fierce combat.

However, the tight, narrow space of the trenches prevented the Shaman fighters from making use of their prodigious speed at all. After leaping inside, all they could do was fight the human cultivators head on. Over a hundred Shaman fighters were slain, and only a dozen or so human cultivators were injured in the blink of an eye.

Atop the tall platform, the Great Warlock let out a displeased grunt. A nearby general immediately let out a sharp screech that traveled as far as ten li away, and the second wave of the Shaman army began to mobilize. This group numbered around a thousand troops, and each fighter was riding a huge lizard that was a little over a zhang long.

The giant lizard was highly toxic and boasted excellent mobility both on land and in the water. There were few mounts that performed better than it in the marshlands. In past wars, the venom lizard riders had inflicted untold amounts of suffering upon the human race.

This was not the extent of the Shamans’ offense, however. Two Warlocks began performing a bizarre dance around a bonfire, causing its red flames to turn dark green gradually. Red clouds appeared above the human formation and started raining blood!

Yun Feifei yelled a command, and every human cultivator within range of the blood rain rapidly evacuated along the trenches. If they were on open ground, the enemy forces would have blocked their paths and inflicted massive amounts of damage in the process. However, retreating along the trenches was much easier. Wave after wave of Shaman fighters leaped into the trenches in an attempt to slow them down only to be cut down in the blink of an eye. Those standing on the edges of the trenches were either killed or wounded by the mystic artifacts flying out of the trenches as well.

The military trenches themselves couldn’t have produced such excellent results. Although Wei Yuan hadn’t given the cultivators any other order besides digging, they themselves came up with all sorts of ingenious ideas while working because their lives were on the line. Many seasoned rogues of the jianghu had also contributed quite a number of cunning traps and tactics.

Besides digging the military trenches, the human cultivators had also dug many underground tunnels and holes that they could temporarily hide themselves in. Both were covered in all sorts of traps as well. Whenever there were too many enemies in a certain section of the trenches, they would take cover in the underground tunnels and wait, retaliating only when an enemy had entered. If they still couldn’t hold their ground, then they would escape to another trench using the underground passage and guard the entrance, cutting down any Shaman fighter who tried to follow them.

Alas, the Shaman army drastically outnumbered the human forces. They surged across the trench network like a tidal wave and firmly pinned down the human cultivators. A small force of venom lizard riders were circling around the trenches and charging toward the high ground where Wei Yuan’s group was standing as well.

It was time. With a thought, Wei Yuan commanded Qingming to reactivate its domain!

A beam of clear light shot into the sky, scattering countless specks of light and water to the surroundings. The damp wind and toxic air began receding rapidly as this part of the region began transforming toward the Pure Realm of Humanity.

At the same time, a surge of energy filled every human cultivator’s body. They could clearly sense strands of spirit energy seeping into their bodies. The rate at which they were recovering spirit energy had multiplied as well. Those who were feeling dizzy and disoriented from poisoning also found their minds clear, and the symptoms of poisoning and weakness greatly alleviated. If they were too weak to fight before, they weren’t anymore.

On the other hand, the Shaman fighters began to grow weak, sluggish, and noticeably slower than before. Many of them looked around in panic, unsure of what was happening.

Morale soared for every human cultivator within the Pure Realm of Humanity. They fought like madmen and cut down droves of Shamans instantly.

A venom lizard bit down on the leg of a burly man with several poisonous spears stuck inside his body. By all means, he was incapacitated and seconds away from death. It was at this moment new strength flooded his body, and he let out a mighty roar. Grabbing the lizard’s jaws with both hands, he somehow managed to pry them open before snapping its lower jaw in two with one final burst of strength. Having accomplished what he had set out to do, he laughed three times before collapsing to the ground, dead.

On the tall platform, the sudden emergence of the Pure Realm of Humanity caused the Great Warlock to jump to his feet, enraged. His four thousand foot soldiers and one thousand venom lizard riders were all trapped on the battlefield and completely engulfed by the Pure Realm of Humanity. Not only that, the domain was rapidly growing stronger at a speed and force that completely defied all logic. It was practically on par with a realm stone that had been established for over a century!

One thing for certain, the sudden appearance of the domain was dealing massive damage to his forces. Chaos was beginning to arise here and there as well.

Slowly, the Great Warlock extended his hand and pointed a finger resembling a withered twig forward. A general immediately picked up a horn and blew it with all his might; the sound echoing across the entire battlefield.

The two thousand fighters standing guard in front of the tall platform immediately stepped forward in unison. Then, they started marching toward the humans. Every time their feet thudded against the ground, the very earth quaked as if terrified of their advance. They were obviously larger than your average Shaman fighter and taller than even Wei Yuan. Clad in heavy armor from head to toe and wielding large shields and short axes, they approached the human forces like moving walls of steel.

The human cultivators fighting for their lives could feel the tremors. Many people jumped out of the trenches to take a look only to turn as pale as death a second later. The armored axe-and-shield fighters were the Shamans’ true elites, forming one of the two core pillars of the army alongside the Warlocks. Their battle axes and shield spikes were all coated in lethal poison, and their strength was equal to a full Body-tempering stage cultivator. They all knew more or less a number of curses as well.

With such strength, they could have gone toe-to-toe against an equal number of humans, not to mention that they outnumbered the human defenders many times over.

As the axe-and-shield fighters advanced, dark green vapor continuously leaked out of the gaps between their armor and formed a thick, poisonous fog in the blink of an eye. They were steadily approaching the human forces in a square formation.

Wei Yuan immediately sensed trouble. These heavily armored fighters would not be at a disadvantage even if they were to fight in the trenches. The poisonous fog continuously leaking out of their bodies would gradually accumulate within the trenches as well. Although Jia Wood Nurtures Life could weaken all poisons, these fighters were basically walking poison spreaders. Given enough numbers, not even Jia Wood Nurtures Life could neutralize the poison within a reasonable amount of time.

If he allowed these two thousand heavily armored fighters to join the fray, the entire battle line might collapse at first contact.

Wei Yuan grabbed his spear and mounted his horse. When he barked an order, a dozen or so cavalrymen joined him and prepared to charge.

Wei Yuan was just about to spur his horse forward when suddenly, someone grabbed the reins. When he looked down, he was surprised to find that it was Xu Wenwu! This was a battlefield where flesh and blood were flying everywhere, and toxic fumes filled the air. What in the world had possessed him to grab him out of the blue instead of hiding in a safe place?

Xu Wenwu yelled urgently, “I beseech you to think thrice, big bro!”

“Think thrice?”

“Yes! The enemy is greater than us in both strength and number, so let us escape! This world is huge; we can always find our opportunity elsewhere!”

While Qingming’s domain was active, Wei Yuan could sense everything that was happening within its range. This few seconds of delay was enough time for another five human cultivators to fall dead.

Expressionless, Wei Yuan replied, “Okay. I’ll think thrice before I act.”

He sucked in a deep breath before shouting, “One, two, three, fight!”

The horse abruptly grew a size bigger, and flames burst out of its hooves. An angry roar erupted from Wei Yuan’s throat as he pointed his spear forward and charged toward the square formation of armored fighters! His riders’ mounts also grew bigger and took off into a thunderous gallop, following closely behind Wei Yuan.

The enemy might outnumber them a hundred to one, and still they would not slow down in the slightest!

His horse moved faster and faster. With a thought, Wei Yuan manifested the Great Realm and transformed everything within a thousand zhang into the Pure Realm of Humanity! At the same time, the armored fighters of the Shamans panicked because their exposed eyes, mouth, nose, and skin were burning like the organs were on fire. Their vision in particular was blurring against their will.

That wasn’t all. Wei Yuan’s riders also grew a size larger and looked far more imposing than usual. Empowered by the Great Realm, their combat strength had increased by a whopping twenty percent instantly!

It was at this moment a jade hill suddenly appeared in the sky and crashed into the center of the square formation like a meteor! Dozens died instantly from being crushed or killed by the shockwave, while countless armored fighters were sent flying through the sky. Inside Qingming’s domain, Wei Yuan’s Dao arts were much more potent than usual. His casting speed was shorter as well. That was why the jade hill had manifested almost as soon as he thought about it.

The two consecutive blows threw the armored fighters into complete disarray. Like lightning, Wei Yuan charged into the square formation first and swung his spear in a wide arc, sending six fighters into the air. He was unstoppable!

The rest of his riders were following closely behind him. Like a sharp arrowhead, they had pierced through the square formation with force.

From Wei Yuan’s perspective, the armored fighters were moving as slow as snails. Again and again, his spear went in and out of their bodies. Suddenly, his vision cleared up, and he discovered that no one was blocking his way. He realized an instant later that he had penetrated the enemy formation from the start until the end.

However, only nine human riders were still alive after the charge. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Wei Yuan turned his horse around and crouched low, pretending that he was going to charge again. Many enemy forces immediately clumped up together and got ready to defend against his second charge. But to their surprise, Wei Yuan pointed his spear at them and summoned the jade hill a second time and dropped it on their heads, flattening the armored fighters like pancakes.

Having succeeded in throwing the enemy into disarray, Wei Yuan once more charged into their ranks. This time, flaming immortal swords continuously manifested around him. At the same time unfinished mystic sword forgings flew out of a saddlebag his warhorse was carrying and merged with the Fake Suns, greatly increasing their potency. Each sword slew at least two or three enemies before dissipating into nothing. Although individually weak, their sheer numbers more than made up for it. At its peak, over a dozen Fake Suns appeared simultaneously before flying in all directions and slashing indiscriminately—accuracy was the least of Wei Yuan’s concern considering how many enemies there were.

In just the blink of an eye, Wei Yuan emerged from the other side of the formation. This time, only five riders were still following behind him.

His mount let out a long whinny, and Wei Yuan spun around once more. By now, the square formation had descended into near total chaos. His jade hill had crushed over two hundred men in just two strikes. Unsure if they should form up or scatter, some armored fighters formed up in preparation for a charge, while others scattered for fear of being crushed by the jade hill. In short, their formation was in complete disarray.

Wei yuan acted decisively. While many Fake Suns swirled around him, he charged through the enemy ranks for the third time!

When he reached the end and turned his horse around, there was no one left behind him.

Seeing that his elites had suffered tremendous casualties, the Great Warlock on the platform finally lost his patience. He shot up to his feet and smacked a large drum beside his throne heavily.

Behind the platform, the heads of several hundred humans wearing black robes flew through the air. The blood spewing out of their necks merged into one and formed a massive, eerie rune on the ground.

The Great Warlock began muttering an incantation under his breath, his voice thick and frantic like a swarm of wasps taking flight at the same time. When he raised a hand and pointed at Wei Yuan, his fingertip suddenly exploded and turned into a cloud of blood mist!

Out of nowhere, a bloody cloud rapidly appeared above Wei Yuan’s head and started oozing blood. When the sticky droplets made contact with his armor, they immediately ate through the metal and left tiny pits on it. No matter where Wei Yuan traveled, the bloody cloud chased him doggedly like a ghost.