"Hold him back!" A wounded Celestial Army commander, one of whose subordinates Lu Xiaotian had killed earlier, screamed at the top of his lungs. Flocks of birds burst from the Mooncluster Woods, while flashes of blood splashed now and then, gleaming alongside the crescent-like fruits scattered through the forest.
"Kill!" The Celestial Army unit blocking Lu Xiaotian's path numbered only around three thousand, yet not one of them showed any intention of retreating. They surged toward him, each one fired up for battle. Waves of blazing arrows charged forward like a rampaging fire-beast. Wherever they passed, the trees in their way were reduced to ashes beneath the surging flames, leaving a vast swath of barren ground.
Lu Xiaotian's gaze shifted slightly. He could already sense several different Celestial Army units closing in from every direction. Just as Jiang Xintong had suspected, he was indeed constantly drawing these forces into motion. But his opponents were no fools. Though they had not yet figured out his intentions, the encirclement was steadily tightening. Only the complexity of the Mooncluster Woods, which made it difficult to surround him, had left Lu Xiaotian room to maneuver.
Now, if Lu Xiaotian wanted to break free and cross the Mooncluster Woods to reach Nether Abyss Valley, he would have to fight through several hard battles. To reach Nether Abyss Valley unscathed and enter the Luoyang Prison was pure wishful thinking.
Lu Xiaotian had been prepared for this all along.
The Celestial Army before him belonged to the Heavenly Punishment Officials' direct forces. Though it numbered only around three thousand, its ranks formed a battle array, like a colossal war-beast pouncing at him with its claws outstretched.
The formation was exceptionally disciplined, and a Celestial-ranked commander led it. Behind Lu Xiaotian, the remnants of the Celestial Army he