Above Golden Rooster Ridge, fierce winds howled, and the clouds filling the sky were locked down by a blazing phoenix might.
Kong Xuan stood in the Nine Heavens in a Cyan-Gold Daoist Robe, his figure straight and tall like an ancient mountain, a layer of indifferent, icy chill covering his eyes.
He looked down at Xiqi's million-strong army arrayed below, his voice cold, deep, and majestic, resounding through mountains and rivers.
"Since that is the case, all of you withdraw. Do not set even half a step into my Golden Rooster Ridge again."
The moment those words fell, the Xiqi army formation sank into deathly stillness.
Jiang Ziya stood beneath the Commander's Flag, his whole body suddenly trembling as towering waves of shock surged in his heart, filled with disbelief and anxiety.
Withdraw?
At this moment, their troops were pressing upon Golden Rooster Ridge, and beyond it, the heartland of Great Shang lay within arm's reach. They had hacked through thorns and brambles all the way here, suffered countless dead and wounded, fought campaign after campaign—how many Immortal Officials had fallen, how many soldiers had bathed in blood?
Seeing their great undertaking about to be accomplished, if they withdrew now, then every sacrifice and scheme before this would all turn into bubbles and shadows!
His face shifted between blue and white. Not daring to make a public outcry, he took advantage of the standoff between the two armies and the howling wind to secretly gather Immortal Power, urgently transmitting his voice to Ran Deng and Maitreya high in the air, his tone carrying every shade of urgency and pleading:
"Vice Sect Leader Ran Deng, senior martial brother Maitreya! Please, you two must lend your aid and break this deadlock before us! We absolutely cannot withdraw!"
But this little covert move