The Royal Court

The defenders of Jianmen Pass had barely caught their breath when denser black mist than the last time at Black Wind City surged up along the distant horizon. Countless pairs of crimson eyes flickered within it like ghostly flames, while heavy footsteps made the earth tremble faintly. Even the air warped beneath that savage aura.

"That's... the Black Armored Guards of the Royal Court!" Elder Wu's face paled for the first time. He pointed at the figures emerging from the black mist. "It's said that every Black Armored Guard is a powerhouse at the Profound Connection Realm Late Stage. Their armor can also absorb true qi, so ordinary attacks can't hurt them at all!"

Fang Yan focused his gaze and saw that the Black Armored Guards were covered from head to toe in dark armor engraved with bizarre runes. Every step they took stirred up waves of black wind. At the very front of the Black Armored Guards stood a tall member of the Exotic Race atop a gigantic beast with a pair of wings growing from its back. The aura he emitted far surpassed that of an ordinary Martial King—he had actually reached the fourth level of the Martial King Realm!

"Little human insects, surrender obediently!" The Exotic Race King's voice exploded like thunder. "I've personally led the army here. Your resistance is meaningless!"

"Don't get cocky!" Fang Yan shouted. He circulated the true qi throughout his body, fusing the power of the Prairie Fire Spear Technique and Prison Heaven Sword Finger. He thrust out his spear, its tip condensed with golden Sword Qi and fierce finger force, shooting straight toward the Exotic Race King.

The Exotic Race King sneered and casually waved his hand, conjuring a black wall of energy that blocked the attack. "Is that all you've got? How dare you show off your meager skills before me!" He leaped down from the giant beast and punched toward Fang Yan. Before the fist even landed, an overwhelming pressure already made it difficult for Fang Yan to breathe.

Seeing this, Elder Wu immediately charged forward and joined Fang Yan in resisting the attack. "Boom!" The attacks of the three collided, and the powerful shockwave sent the surrounding soldiers flying. Fang Yan and Elder Wu were both forced back again and again, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths.

"The fourth level of the Martial King Realm truly lives up to its reputation." Elder Wu wiped the blood from his lips and said gravely, "We're no match for him. We have to find a way to buy time and wait for reinforcements from the Mystic Martial Pavilion."

Fang Yan nodded and immediately ordered, "Zhao Hu, Li Gang, lead the soldiers and activate the defensive grand formation of Jianmen Pass!"

"Yes!" Zhao Hu and Li Gang immediately led the soldiers to the formation cores along the city wall and began pouring in their true qi. As the true qi flowed in, golden runes lit up across the walls of Jianmen Pass, forming a massive protective shield.

"Hahahaha, you think this lousy formation can stop me?" The Exotic Race King laughed and punched the protective shield again. "Boom!" The shield shook violently, and crack after crack appeared across its surface.

"Everyone, put your backs into it! We must hold the protective shield!" Fang Yan shouted while circulating his true qi and continuously pouring energy into the shield.

The Black Armored Guards also began their assault on the city. Wielding enormous axes, they repeatedly hacked at the protective shield. More and more cracks spread across it, and it looked as though it would shatter at any moment.

Just then, a rapid whistle tore through the air in the distance. Streaks of light flew over from the horizon and landed before Jianmen Pass. At the head of them was an old man dressed in a white robe. The aura he emitted had actually reached the fifth level of the Martial King Realm!

"Elder of the Mystic Martial Pavilion, True Master Zhang!" Elder Wu cried out in delight.

True Master Zhang nodded, his gaze falling on the Exotic Race King. "You little whelp of the Exotic Race, how dare you invade human territory? Today, I'll make sure you never return!"

The Exotic Race King's expression changed the moment he saw True Master Zhang. "The fifth level of the Martial King Realm? I didn't expect you humans to still have such a powerful expert. But so what if you've come? Today, I'll still flatten Jianmen Pass!"

He punched toward the protective shield again. True Master Zhang immediately struck out with his palm, colliding with the Exotic Race King's fist. "Boom!" A thunderous explosion rang out, and both of them were forced back repeatedly.

"Again!" True Master Zhang shouted in a low voice before charging at the Exotic Race King once more. The two exchanged blows in midair, fighting to a standstill.

The other cultivators of the Mystic Martial Pavilion also took action, engaging the Black Armored Guards in battle. With the reinforcements from the Mystic Martial Pavilion, the situation on the battlefield instantly reversed. Under the attacks of the pavilion's cultivators, the Black Armored Guards were driven back step by step.

Seeing that things were going badly, the Exotic Race King tried to flee. How could True Master Zhang possibly give him the chance? He immediately pursued him. "Where do you think you're going!"

The two began a fierce aerial chase. In the end, True Master Zhang seized an opening and struck the Exotic Race King in the back with his palm. The Exotic Race King spat out a mouthful of blood and fell from the sky, where the cultivators of the Mystic Martial Pavilion surrounded him.

"Surrender, or you'll be executed without exception!" True Master Zhang said coldly.

The Exotic Race King looked at the surrounding cultivators of the Mystic Martial Pavilion and knew he had nowhere left to retreat. He gritted his teeth and said, "I surrender! But you can't harm my subordinates."

"Agreed." True Master Zhang nodded. "As long as you put down your weapons, we'll spare your lives."

Left with no choice, the Exotic Race King ordered the Black Armored Guards to lay down their weapons and surrender.

The crisis at Jianmen Pass had finally been resolved. Looking at the scene before him, Fang Yan's heart was filled with a thousand emotions. Although they had won this battle, it had also made him understand the gulf between humanity and the Exotic Race. There was still a long road ahead if they wanted to reclaim their lost lands.

True Master Zhang walked over to Fang Yan and patted him on the shoulder. "Not bad, young man. You managed to hold Jianmen Pass under such dangerous circumstances. You've got courage."

Fang Yan said respectfully, "Thank you for the praise, True Master Zhang. If you hadn't arrived in time, we probably wouldn't have been able to hold the pass."

True Master Zhang smiled. "It was what we were supposed to do. The crisis at Jianmen Pass has been resolved for now, but the threat from the Exotic Race hasn't disappeared. The Mystic Martial Pavilion has already decided to gather all the forces from six provinces and five cities and prepare for a decisive battle against the Exotic Race."

"A decisive battle?" Fang Yan's heart stirred.

"That's right." True Master Zhang nodded. "We can't keep defending passively. We must take the initiative and attack if we want even a thread of hope for survival."

Fang Yan took a deep breath and said, "I'm willing to lead the Vanguard Camp and participate in the decisive battle!"

"Good!" True Master Zhang nodded. "With you joining us, our odds of victory have improved by several points. For now, rest and recuperate. Three days from now, we'll assemble at Shuzhou Main City."

"Yes!" Fang Yan and the others answered in unison.

Three days later, the Vanguard Camp of Jianmen Pass set out for Shuzhou Main City together with the cultivators of the Mystic Martial Pavilion. Along the way, they saw countless refugees fleeing disaster, and their resolve to fight the decisive battle grew even firmer.

A million troops from six provinces and five cities had already assembled in the square of Shuzhou Main City. Banners fluttered, blades and spears stood in dense ranks, and their momentum was magnificent.

Standing at the front of the Vanguard Camp, Fang Yan gazed at the million-strong army before him, his heart brimming with heroic spirit. He knew that this decisive battle would determine humanity's fate. No matter how difficult it became, he would lead the Vanguard Camp and fight for humanity's survival!