Angel's Vanguard

Sheng Lingxin turned around and faced Long Haochen directly for the first time. "The warriors of the Radiant Angels Knight Order are all Fifth Rank Earth Knights. I know you're Fifth Rank as well. Do you dare charge at the front with this commander, slaughtering enemies and exterminating demons?"

Long Haochen stomped his right foot and gave Sheng Lingxin a military salute. "I obey the military order." As he spoke, he swiftly released his Holy Spirit Set from the Forget-Me-Not Ring and equipped it.

Blue light shimmered from the Forget-Me-Not Ring. The pale gold forget-me-not patterns circling and pulsing around it were especially conspicuous in the darkness. Seeing this, Sheng Lingxin's pupils visibly contracted. The look in his eyes as he gazed at Long Haochen gained a trace of strangeness in addition to its coldness.

The armor settled onto him once more, still carrying some warmth from the previous battle. Long Haochen focused inward. With the time he had had to recover, his Inner Spiritual Power had replenished considerably.

Long Haochen was actually deeply puzzled by Sheng Lingxin's order. He truly did not understand why the Demon Expelling Pass Military Head had singled him out. There was simply no reason for it! If they needed someone to become the spearhead of the Radiant Angels Knight Order and charge at the front, then among the newly formed Demon Hunt Squads, Duan Yi, who possessed a Golden Horn Mammoth, was clearly the most suitable. His Golden Horn Mammoth was best suited for charging, whether in attack or defense.

Moreover, this was Demon Expelling Pass. As the Military Head, Sheng Lingxin would have no difficulty finding a stronger knight, would he? Yet he had chosen him, a mere Fifth Rank Earth Knight. What exactly was he trying to do?

No matter what he thought, Long Haochen could not disobey a military order.

"Are you afraid?" Sheng Lingxin's somewhat cold voice rang beside Long Haochen's ear.

Long Haochen shook his head. "Reporting to the Military Head, I am not."

Sheng Lingxin's expression turned icy. "If you aren't afraid, why haven't you summoned your mount? What are you waiting for? Can you bear the responsibility if you delay the battle?"

"Yes."

Purple light flashed. Nine purple patterns flickered quietly across Long Haochen's forehead, and in the next instant, light descended as Haoyue appeared before him.

Sheng Lingxin's gaze lingered on Haoyue for a moment, and a trace of confusion could not help appearing in his eyes. Even with his broad knowledge and experience, this was the first time he had seen a magical beast like this.

Long Haochen leaped into the air and landed on Haoyue's back, then turned his gaze toward Sheng Lingxin.

Sheng Lingxin tapped the ground with the tip of his foot and drifted down behind Long Haochen like a ghost. In an instant, his entire body seemed to shrink somewhat, even vanishing from Long Haochen's perception.

What a powerful assassin. Long Haochen was secretly shaken. Was this the strength of a Seventh Rank assassin? He had always been confident in his senses, yet when facing a Seventh Rank assassin, he could not help feeling helpless.

In the next instant, Sheng Lingxin's cold yet battle-hungry voice thundered through the air. "Open the gates! Charge!"

A rumbling sound came from ahead. The immense, thick gate, terrifying like a dam, slowly opened. A dense stench of blood rushed toward them. Behind Long Haochen, amid a series of metallic clanks, chilling killing intent surged forth like a colossal sword.

At this moment, Long Haochen had no other choice, but Haoyue beneath him displayed unprecedented magnificence.

Behind them stood three thousand powerful Earth Knights of the Radiant Angels Knight Order, their bloody killing intent forged through countless battles. Yet Haoyue seemed utterly unaware of it. Its four-meter-long body stood erect, its three massive heads raised proudly. Seemingly stimulated by the bloody aura outside, a faint layer of purple rippled outward from its body.

A strange aura spread from it, causing not one of the tall warhorses behind it—each far larger than Haoyue—to dare take the first step. In the next moment, Haoyue's thick, powerful limbs slammed into the ground, carrying Long Haochen and Sheng Lingxin out of the city like an arrow.

It felt as though an intense heat had risen within him. Long Haochen felt as if his blood had been ignited. This was not only due to the grandeur of the battlefield before him, but also the frenzied battle intent Haoyue transmitted to him.

Faced with the bloodshed outside and the demon army numbering in the hundreds of thousands, Haoyue seemed to have changed. Faint purple light rippled through all six of its eyes. Unprecedentedly sharp killing intent ignited Haoyue itself—and ignited Long Haochen's fighting spirit as well.

There were no teammates here. The instant he charged out of Demon Expelling Pass, Long Haochen understood that all he could do now was fight for himself. Returning alive was his only goal.

Beyond the gate lay the massive barrier he had seen from the city wall before. This powerful defense of unknown origin protected all of Demon Expelling Pass, preventing the demons from attacking the walls directly. Yet judging by how the Infantry Battalion had previously needed to defend the wall, the cost of maintaining this barrier was evidently enormous, and it would not be deployed lightly unless absolutely necessary. The attacks of countless demons were now all landing upon it.

And at the very instant Long Haochen and the others charged out of Demon Expelling Pass, an incomparably dazzling sight suddenly appeared above the pass.

The magic attacks that had just slightly subsided abruptly erupted in full force. Nearly a thousand streaks of magical light poured from the city walls like a canopy covering the sky. Accompanied by the violent roar of the Magic Guided Cannons, great numbers of demons outside the barrier were instantly blasted to pieces. As far as the eye could see, everything beyond was a storm of blood and gore.

At that very moment, Haoyue charged out of the barrier. A thick bloody stench struck them head-on, and Long Haochen could even see countless severed limbs raining down from the sky.

The Holy Spirit Shield in his left hand was withdrawn, replaced by a dazzling blue-gold radiance. The twin swords in Long Haochen's hands immediately began to move.

There was no complete curtain of light blocking him, but his twin swords moved with astonishing speed. Though he did not even look up, every strike sent falling limbs flying away. Not a single piece landed on him.

Sheng Lingxin was actually crouched halfway behind Long Haochen on Haoyue's back, so he naturally saw everything Long Haochen did. He could not help being secretly amazed. He could clearly tell that Long Haochen was not using spiritual power, yet every sword strike was extremely precise. There was not the slightest waste, nor did he miss a single piece of debris. His swordsmanship was meticulous and orderly, already carrying the bearing of a master. What made Sheng Lingxin even more curious was that this young man had clearly been the Guardian Knight, the pillar of his team, on the city wall earlier. Yet now, wielding twin swords with such skill, he had become every bit the Punishment Knight. How had he pulled off that trick?

There was only one reason Sheng Lingxin had ordered someone to summon Long Haochen, who had just finished defending the city: he was Lan Yanyu's husband and Cai'er's father.

As a father, when Sheng Lingxin learned that his fourteen-year-old daughter had actually shared a bed with a boy around her own age, his only thought was to slap this little bastard to death. Once the battle atop the wall ended and they returned to the Barracks, they would undoubtedly lie together again. How could Sheng Lingxin possibly accept that? That was why, amid his tense command duties, he had ordered his subordinates to call the brat out.

However, though he was furious, they were currently facing a demon army, and he had no time to interrogate or deal with Long Haochen. Furthermore, Long Haochen was the captain of a newly formed Demon Hunt Squad. Even with the authority of the Holy Spirit Sect, Sheng Lingxin did not dare touch him lightly.

Beyond his anger, Sheng Lingxin was also somewhat curious. Ever since his daughter had become the Reincarnation Inheritor, she had been icy toward everyone. How had she suddenly become so good to a young man—good to that extent...

Therefore, Sheng Lingxin wanted to use the stimulation of this battle outside the city to see what was so exceptional about this young man named Long Haochen.

If the brat proved cowardly and fearful in battle, becoming a useless piece of trash on the battlefield, Sheng Lingxin would not mind leaving him behind in this blood-soaked place.

Yet as he watched Long Haochen transform into a Punishment Knight, the anger in Sheng Lingxin's heart gradually gave way to curiosity. More importantly, even in the face of such a terrifying battlefield outside, this young man leading him at the very front remained calm and steady. Sheng Lingxin could not sense any intense emotional fluctuations from him at all. That was not something an ordinary young person could achieve. For him to become the captain of a newly formed Demon Hunt Squad, this young man, who did not seem much older than his daughter, truly appeared to have some ability.

The demon army had clearly been somewhat stunned by the sudden, powerful assault. And at that very moment, the Radiant Angels Knight Order, with Long Haochen as its sharp vanguard, charged out.

The originally dark armor all lit up with dazzling gold the instant they emerged from Demon Expelling Pass. The three thousand knights of the Radiant Angels Knight Order were like a massive golden sword suddenly thrust from the pass, aimed straight at the demon army.

The tall warhorses charged at incredible speed, racing like the wind and lightning. The golden torrent of steel surged forward with overwhelming force.

Compared to those tall warhorses, Haoyue was much smaller. It was not even half as tall as they were. Thus, although Long Haochen rode Haoyue at the very front, he did not stand out much.

A faint cyan light wrapped around Long Haochen and Haoyue. It was Little Green's Levitation Spell. With their weight reduced, Haoyue's speed increased further, not the least bit inferior to the sturdy steeds behind them.

They charged nearly three hundred meters beyond the barrier before they truly encountered any enemies, showing just how powerful the earlier strike from the city walls had been.

Demon Expelling Pass's attacks did not stop. The thunderous roars of the Magic Guided Cannons and the mages' all-out spellcasting provided Long Haochen and the others with the best possible cover.

The mages' attacks were concentrated mainly on both flanks, while the Magic Guided Cannons could strike far away and targeted the sky. This meant Long Haochen and the others only needed to face the enemies directly ahead.

The first enemies to meet them were several dozen Double Blade Demons that had survived the previous barrage. Long Haochen did not need to act at all. Fire blazed from Little Fire's mouth, and fireballs like cannon shells sent the Double Blade Demons flying.

Long Haochen raised the Holy Spirit Sword high. Faith Aura, Guardian's Grace, and Strength Aura—three support skills—were released at the same time. Their range was not large, but it was enough to cover Haoyue and Sheng Lingxin behind him.

Normally, Long Haochen was a kind and gentle youth. But perhaps because Long Xingyu had thrown him into the Owl Ant Cave for cruel training when he first began teaching him, once Long Haochen entered a battle state, he seemed like a different person. Calm, composed, even somewhat ruthless. With twin swords in hand, he radiated nothing but intense battle intent.

At that very moment, the demon army surged back toward them, charging straight at the Radiant Angels Knight Order.

Hundreds of Purple-Black spheres of light shot toward them, covering a vast stretch of space. They were Magic Light Bullets from the Magic Eye Warlocks. The size of the Magic Light Bullets varied according to the strength of their casters, and at least three were flying toward Long Haochen.

Long Haochen did not need to do anything at all. Little Light's eyes lit up, and his incantation was already complete. A golden, gleaming Light Element shield appeared in front of them.

A series of violent explosions erupted as Purple-Black light scattered in all directions. Protected by the Light Element shield, Haoyue not only did not slow down, but accelerated as it charged fiercely forward.

Little Fire continuously spat out chains of fireballs, while Little Light handled defense and Little Green controlled their speed and bodily coordination. The three heads had clear divisions of labor, and none of them attacked with their full strength, holding back to some extent.

Facing such an enormous demon army, Long Haochen had to ensure that Haoyue retained enough stamina to carry him back alive.

Boom—

A violent explosion suddenly sounded ahead, followed immediately by a massive body hurtling toward Long Haochen.

A Twin Blade Demon?

The sight made Long Haochen's heart tighten. Yes, it was a Twin Blade Demon, but it was absolutely not an ordinary one—not even an Emerald Twin Blade Demon.

The instant it appeared, the surrounding demon army seemed to part on its own, making room for it.

This Twin Blade Demon was over five meters long and more than three and a half meters tall. Its enormous forelimbs alone were at least two and a half meters in length. Compared to it, an Emerald Twin Blade Demon looked like a child. Three bright golden patterns ran across its shell-like forehead, while its entire body gave off a dark golden metallic sheen.

Faintly, a ring of strange dark green light could be seen flickering beneath it.

A lord. This was a lord among the Twin Blade Demons.

Among the demons, every race had lords, and the strongest lord was the chieftain of that race. Though Twin Blade Demons were the closest thing the demon race had to cannon fodder and were the most numerous troop type, this Golden Pattern Twin Blade Demon Lord was clearly an incomparably terrifying foe.

Emerald Twin Blade Demons were Fifth Rank. What rank was this Golden Pattern Twin Blade Demon Lord? At the very least, it had to be comparable to a human Sixth Rank powerhouse, didn't it?

"Don't stop. Charge through." Sheng Lingxin's voice came from behind him.

That was right! He could not stop. Behind him, thousands of Radiant Angels Knights were charging forward. If he so much as slowed, the allied troops behind him would likely crash into them.

Drawing a deep breath, Long Haochen flashed forward and landed atop Haoyue's back. Haoyue's spine suddenly arched, launching his body into the air as he flew straight toward the Golden Pattern Twin Blade Demon.

Intense golden light burst forth. Long Haochen spun violently through the air, his left hand wielding Blue Rain, Hibiscus of Light as it slashed forward and collided with the forelimb cleaving down from the Golden Pattern Twin Blade Demon Lord.

With a soft puff, Long Haochen's rotation accelerated once more. Great clouds of luminous mist sprayed from his body, making him seem like a meat grinder as he forcefully clashed with the Golden Pattern Twin Blade Demon.

"Fighting Kill Revolving Sword?" Sheng Lingxin cried out in shock from behind him.