Moreover, Ling Xiao had already mastered the first move of the Soaring Cloud technique, “Flying Snow.”
However, this was a mortal martial skill, which demanded a high amount of true essence and a certain level of cultivation. With his current cultivation at the late stage of Martial Vein Seventh Layer, he could not yet unleash the full power of this move.
It was a pity that, despite absorbing ten True Essence Pills, he felt he was only a hair’s breadth away from a breakthrough, yet he couldn’t quite cross that threshold.
Still, Ling Xiao wasn’t in a rush.
Breakthroughs in cultivation were often easier during combat. As long as he had accumulated enough energy to reach the critical point, that was enough.
What he needed now was external pressure.
He decided to go out and do something to stimulate the true essence in his body.
But just as he stepped out, he saw Leng Mei waiting anxiously.
“What’s wrong?” Ling Xiao asked, puzzled.
“Trouble’s brewing. A massive mechanical warship from the Blue-Eyed Clan has blasted open Dragon Gate Port. Tianfeng City has been completely occupied by the Blue-Eyed Clan and the Ninja Clan. The Blue-Eyed Clan’s mechanical beasts and the Ninja Clan’s tamed demonic beasts are now heading toward Cloud Sky City,” Leng Mei explained briefly. “I don’t know the specifics, but General Lin said to head to the Hidden Dragon Camp as soon as you’re out of seclusion.”
“Let’s go!”
Ling Xiao didn’t ask further questions.
As Lin Ze’s direct disciple, if Lin Ze was in trouble, Ling Xiao was duty-bound to help.
Moreover, since arriving in Cloud Sky City, Lin Ze had always treated him well. He couldn’t be an ungrateful person.
At the Hidden Dragon Camp.
When Ling Xiao and Leng Mei arrived, many people had already gathered.
In addition to the Hidden Dragon Camp disciples, Ling Yixue, Shi Lei, and Dai Yuling were also present.
“I won’t go into details. Marshal Lin has already led the Border Defense Army to confront the Blue-Eyed Clan. The Ninja Clan is being cunning this time—they’re not openly aiding the Blue-Eyed Clan, but they’re secretly supplying them with a large number of demonic beasts!” General September said loudly, seeing that most people had arrived.
“The situation is critical. It’s time for you to serve your country. If you’re afraid of death, you can stay behind, but you’ll be permanently expelled from the Hidden Dragon Camp!”
“Remember, this isn’t a training exercise or a sparring match. This is real life-and-death combat! Your enemies may be stronger than you. Besides a large number of martial artists, there will be Seventh, Eighth, and even Ninth Layer Martial Masters!”
“Additionally, among the mechanical beasts and demonic beasts, there will be those equivalent to Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Layer martial artists.”
Although saying this might scare many, General September felt it necessary to be clear.
After all, this was war, not child’s play.
Allowing cowards onto the battlefield would only result in meaningless deaths.
His words caused many young geniuses to pale, their bodies trembling.
Some even began to consider retreating on the spot.
The Hidden Dragon Camp, their future, their dream of becoming mortal martial artists—all of it was cast aside.
To them, if they lost their lives, what use were those things?
Ling Xiao also felt immense pressure.
He had encountered and fought an Eighth Layer Peak demonic beast, the Mighty God Ape, and its terror still lingered in his memory.
And a Ninth Layer Martial Master, someone like Ming Tian—most Hidden Dragon Camp disciples probably couldn’t even get close before being killed.
A single Ninth Layer Martial Master or a Ninth Layer demonic beast could easily destroy a city like Tianfeng City.
“When the country is in crisis, every man has a duty. This time, there are no fixed tasks. You can hunt the enemy freely, choosing the method that suits you best or that you prefer!”
Not every young genius was a coward.
At least nine out of ten in the Hidden Dragon Camp were true hot-blooded youths. They knew death was a possibility, but their passion didn’t cool because of it.
It still burned fiercely.
“The battlefield is a slaughterhouse, but it’s also a place for training. There, you may gain more than you would from years of secluded cultivation. The threat of death can fully unleash your potential,” General September continued. “Martial artists who survive life-and-death battles on the battlefield can typically increase their potential by one to two stars, fully tapping into their body’s capabilities.”
“This is why martial artists who come out of the battlefield often ascend to the Mortal Realm with ease.”
*Boom!*
Just as General September was speaking, the ground of the Hidden Dragon Camp trembled suddenly, and a massive roar echoed from the distance, as if the earth itself were shrinking in fear.
“Look over there! How can there be such a gigantic mechanical beast!”
Those with sharp eyesight soon spotted, about ten miles from the Hidden Dragon Camp, a colossal elephant.
This elephant stood dozens of metres tall, clearly crafted from some kind of crystal. Each step it took felt like an earthquake.
If that thing reached Cloud Sky City, the city would likely be trampled to ruins.
Terrifying!
Ling Xiao quickly activated his Mountain and River Martial Soul, entering the Soul State.
A clear image of the distant scene appeared in his mind.
How tragic!
He saw clearly that beneath the giant elephant’s feet were countless bodies crushed into pulp, and these were martial artists, even including Martial Masters.
In a village several hundred metres from the elephant, houses had completely collapsed, and countless ordinary people had been crushed to death.
They had been knocked unconscious by the terrifying sound, unable to even flee.
Governor Wan Ben of White Cloud, who should have arranged for the evacuation of civilians, hadn’t done so. Coincidentally, he had gone to the capital to report on his duties at this exact moment.
Far from White Cloud Province, everything that happened here fell on Lin Ze’s shoulders alone.
“There’s no hope. That’s the Blue-Eyed Clan’s most powerful mechanical beast—the Giant Elephant Puppet, equivalent to a human Ninth Layer Martial Master.”
Near the elephant, countless martial artists trembled at the horrific scene.
Many even forgot to flee, simply kneeling there awaiting death.
Others ran frantically into the distance.
*Boom!*
Another deafening sound rang out as the Giant Elephant Puppet sprayed a blast of water-light from its trunk, striking a checkpoint less than a mile from Cloud Sky City.
A dozen martial artists were instantly blasted to pieces, and the checkpoint was obliterated by the water cannon.
Among those dozen martial artists were two Seventh Layer Martial Masters and one Eighth Layer Martial Master, yet they were gone just like that.
They didn’t even have a chance to fight back.
*Roar—*
*Moo—*
*Woof—*
Behind the Giant Elephant Puppet were various demonic beasts and mechanical beasts.
These beasts were the vanguard of the Blue-Eyed Clan’s martial artists, with the weakest among them equivalent to human martial artists at the Fourth Layer of Martial Vein.
On their backs, either standing or sitting, were Blue-Eyed Clan martial artists.
Some Ninja Clan martial artists were interspersed among them, hiding in the shadows, picking off stragglers.
The war had erupted!
Though not everyone had Ling Xiao’s extraordinary eyesight, the Giant Elephant Puppet was simply too massive, and its impact had already reached the Hidden Dragon Camp.
They naturally understood that Cloud Sky City was now at a critical moment of life and death.
“Alright, that’s enough talk. Everyone, move out! Kill the enemy, and your military merits will be doubled from the usual amount! I hope you all survive!”
Seeing the situation deteriorating, General September wasted no more words. He stood up, shouted one last instruction, and then turned toward the final barrier outside Cloud Sky City—the protective mountains surrounding the city.
Cloud Sky City was encircled by large mountains, which could block most attacks.
