Fang Yan's heart tightened. Suppressing his excitement after breaking through, he hurried toward the temporary command center where Li Jianguo was stationed.
The atmosphere inside the command center was grim. Li Jianguo stood before a massive holographic map, his brows tightly furrowed. Chu Feng, Lin Mengyao, and Li Hao were there as well, their expressions equally solemn.
"General, what happened?" Fang Yan asked in a low voice as he entered.
Li Jianguo turned around and pointed at a red dot on the map. In a deep voice, he said, "We just received word from the front lines. A large number of Dark Demon Race members have appeared in Black Wind Canyon, fifty kilometers from us. There are at least tens of thousands of them, and quite a few Bone Refining Realm and Qi Transformation Realm experts among them!"
"What? Tens of thousands?" Fang Yan's pupils contracted. "How could they suddenly gather so many people? Is it to avenge the Profound Connection Realm expert we killed?"
"That's very likely." Li Jianguo nodded. "But I'm afraid things aren't that simple. According to the footage sent back by the scouts, these Dark Demon Race members seem to be advancing in an organized and disciplined manner. They don't look like a hastily assembled force seeking revenge. What's more troublesome is..."
He paused, his tone growing heavier. "The footage also showed quite a few demonic beasts, such as Black Wind Leopards and Ironclad Bears. They seem to have been controlled by dark energy and become extraordinarily violent. They're moving together with the Dark Demon Race."
"Demonic beasts?" Fang Yan's heart sank. Black Wind Canyon had been named for the Black Wind Leopards that inhabited it. With the thick-skinned Ironclad Bears added to the mix, defending the canyon would undoubtedly be much more difficult.
"Black Wind Canyon is the only route connecting us to the rear supply base. If it's occupied by the Dark Demon Race and these berserk demonic beasts, our supply line will be cut off completely. The consequences would be unthinkable." A trace of anxiety colored Li Jianguo's voice.
"Then what do we do now? Send troops to reinforce them immediately?" Chu Feng asked urgently.
Li Jianguo shook his head. "We just went through a major battle. Our forces suffered considerable losses, and most of the soldiers are already exhausted. If we rashly send out troops now, our chances of victory won't be high."
He looked at Fang Yan, a trace of anticipation flashing in his eyes. "Fang Yan, you've just broken through to the Great Martial Master realm and comprehended the rudiments of a domain. Your strength has increased greatly. I hope you can lead an elite squad to Black Wind Canyon ahead of us, hold back the Dark Demon Race and the demonic beasts, and buy time for our reinforcements."
Fang Yan did not hesitate in the slightest. He immediately replied, "No problem, General! I guarantee I'll complete the mission!"
"Good!" Li Jianguo nodded. "I've selected one hundred Martial Masters with a vital energy and blood rating above 5.0. Along with Chu Feng, Lin Mengyao, and Li Hao, they'll form an assault team. Your mission isn't to fight them head-on, but to use the terrain to delay them as long as possible and wait for the reinforcements to arrive. Be especially careful of those controlled demonic beasts. Their hides are extremely tough, and ordinary attacks will have difficulty harming them."
"Understood!" Fang Yan and the other three answered in unison.
Very soon, the one hundred elite Martial Masters had assembled. Fang Yan put on a specially made combat uniform, held Little Black Sword in his hand, and stood at the very front of the formation.
"Brothers, Black Wind Canyon is our lifeline. We absolutely cannot let the Dark Demon Race and those demonic beasts occupy it!" Fang Yan's voice was loud and resolute. "Although the enemy is numerous, we have faith and determination. We will complete this mission! Move out!"
"Move out!" the one hundred Martial Masters shouted in unison, their morale soaring.
The group rode hover vehicles toward Black Wind Canyon at full speed. The hover vehicles were extremely fast, and they reached the vicinity of Black Wind Canyon in less than half an hour.
Fang Yan ordered the vehicles to stop, and everyone infiltrated the canyon on foot. Black Wind Canyon had steep terrain, with towering cliffs on both sides and only a narrow passage in the middle. It was indeed a place easy to defend but difficult to attack.
"Chu Feng, take twenty men and ambush them on the cliff to the left of the canyon. Use bows and arrows and Fireball Arts to attack the enemy, prioritizing the archers among the Dark Demon Race." Fang Yan quickly assigned the missions. "Lin Mengyao, take twenty men and ambush them on the right cliff. Use your Flowing Water Sword Technique to harass the enemy, and be careful to avoid the demonic beasts' attacks. Li Hao, take thirty men and set traps at the canyon entrance. Lay down more tripwires and spike traps aimed at the demonic beasts to slow their advance. The remaining thirty will ambush with me behind the boulder in the middle of the canyon. Wait for the best opportunity and focus on striking the Dark Demon Race leaders in the Qi Transformation Realm."
"Yes!" The three immediately accepted their orders and quickly led their respective teams to their ambush positions.
Fang Yan hid behind a massive rock, watching the situation outside the canyon through a crack. Before long, dense footsteps, snarls, and the roars of demonic beasts echoed from the distance. A vast, oppressive mass of the Dark Demon Race appeared in his field of vision. Sure enough, dozens of enormous Black Wind Leopards and Ironclad Bears followed along both sides of their formation. The Black Wind Leopards had pitch-black fur and moved with incredible speed, while the Ironclad Bears were covered in thick armor that looked utterly indestructible.
"They're here!" Fang Yan's heart jolted. He tightened his grip around Little Black Sword.
When the vanguard of the Dark Demon Race and several scouting Black Wind Leopards entered the canyon entrance, Li Hao immediately ordered the traps to be triggered.
"Boom!"
Several tremendous explosions rang out. The ground at the canyon entrance collapsed in an instant, and dozens of Dark Demon Race members and two caught-off-guard Black Wind Leopards fell into the traps, their bodies pierced by the spikes inside.
"Damn humans!" The Qi Transformation Realm Dark Demon Race leader roared. He was tall, with two curved horns growing from his head. "Charge! Take the canyon at all costs! Let these beasts clear the way!"
Several Dark Demon Race members behind him immediately blew strange horns. At the sound, the Black Wind Leopards and Ironclad Bears became even more frenzied. Roaring, they charged into the canyon, trampling the traps and trying to carve a path for the Dark Demon Race.
"Fire! Fireball Arts!" Chu Feng shouted.
The Martial Masters on the left cliff immediately loosed their arrows while casting Fireball Arts. Arrows and fireballs rained down upon the Dark Demon Race and the demonic beasts. The arrows only inflicted superficial wounds when they struck the Black Wind Leopards, while the fireballs left nothing more than scorch marks on the Ironclad Bears' armor. They could not penetrate it at all.
"It's useless! These beasts' hides are too thick!" one of the Martial Masters shouted.
Lin Mengyao also led the Martial Masters on the right into battle. Her nimble sword techniques repeatedly cut down the approaching Dark Demon Race members, but when faced with the charging Ironclad Bears, even they could only temporarily retreat.
Although the Dark Demon Race was numerous, they could not maneuver in the narrow canyon. Caught in an ambush as well, they suffered heavy casualties, and their advance slowed dramatically. Yet the berserk demonic beasts posed a tremendous threat to the human force, especially the Ironclad Bears. Charging recklessly through the battlefield, they had already sent several Martial Masters flying and severely wounded them.
Seeing this, the Qi Transformation Realm leader of the Dark Demon Race flashed a ruthless look in his eyes. He suddenly leaped toward Chu Feng on the cliff and shouted, "Black Wind, go!"
An especially enormous Black Wind Leopard received the order. Its speed suddenly surged, and it shot toward Chu Feng like a bolt of black lightning.
"Watch out!" Fang Yan shouted. At the same time, he leaped into the air, Little Black Sword in hand. Wrapped in Profound Ice True Qi, it stabbed toward the Qi Transformation Realm Dark Demon Race member.
"Clang!"
A thunderous crash rang out as Little Black Sword collided with the Dark Demon Race member's claws, sending dazzling sparks flying.
Fang Yan felt an immense force surge through him, leaving his arm slightly numb. He knew that although a Qi Transformation Realm Dark Demon Race member was somewhat weaker than one in the Profound Connection Realm, it was still far from easy to deal with.
At the same time, the enormous Black Wind Leopard had already reached the edge of the cliff. It leaped into the air and pounced toward Chu Feng. Chu Feng's expression changed drastically, and he immediately raised his sword to block.
"Slash!"
The Black Wind Leopard's claws raked across Chu Feng's shoulder, leaving several deep, bloody gashes. Chu Feng cried out in pain, and his body staggered.
"Chu Feng!" Lin Mengyao shouted. She tried to come to his aid, but an Ironclad Bear blocked her path.
The team led by Li Hao was also locked in a bitter battle. Although the traps had inflicted considerable casualties on the Dark Demon Race, the demonic beasts ignored them and continued charging into the canyon.
Fang Yan and the Qi Transformation Realm Dark Demon Race member fought for dozens of exchanges, and he gradually fell onto the back foot. His opponent was superior in both strength and speed, while the dark energy was bizarre beyond measure, constantly eroding his Profound Ice True Qi.
"Brat, your time has come!" the Qi Transformation Realm Dark Demon Race member sneered. Dark energy gathered around his claws, forming a black talon that tore toward Fang Yan's chest.
Fang Yan's heart tightened. A flash of inspiration suddenly crossed his mind. He remembered the Profound Ice Domain he had just comprehended—the rudimentary form.
"Profound Ice Domain, activate!"
With a thunderous shout, Fang Yan's Profound Ice True Qi surged madly from his body, forming a white domain roughly ten meters in diameter around him. Within the domain, the temperature plummeted, and the moisture in the air instantly condensed into ice crystals.
Once the Qi Transformation Realm Dark Demon Race member's claws entered the domain, their speed slowed noticeably. The dark energy covering them was also constantly eroded by the ice crystals.
"What is this? A domain?" The Qi Transformation Realm Dark Demon Race member's expression changed drastically, disbelief filling his eyes. He had never imagined that a human in the Great Martial Master realm could actually comprehend a domain.
Fang Yan seized the opportunity. His vital energy, blood, and mental power erupted at full force, and the Profound Ice True Qi on Little Black Sword grew even denser. He thrust the sword toward the Qi Transformation Realm Dark Demon Race member's chest.
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