The Prey

When the Immortal Palace army builds a city and sets up camp, there are generally four layers of defense. The first layer is the Martial Temple. Whenever they set up camp in a new place, they take soil from the local area to sculpt a golden Martial Temple of the Martial Chi Mei Wangliang of War to suppress the local mountain demons, monsters, and evil spirits, and to protect the army from miasma, malaria, and all evil spirits. Which Martial God is sculpted depends on the general's preference, the military traditions of each army, and the specific local conditions. If there is an officially appointed Martial God nearby, then it is naturally best to invite the local officially appointed god.

The second layer is the Four Divine Altars, which are altars set up at the four gates to worship the four sacred gods: Azure Dragon White Tiger, Black Tortoise Bird, and Black Tortoise. In the army, they are called the Four Generals, who were the first generation of generals when the Immortal Venerable founded the country, representing the four directions: front, back, left, and right. Although these four generals are of the Spirit Race, they are also worshipped by the Immortal Palace and can suppress the local spiritual veins and dojos, ensuring good weather and preventing floods and landslides.

The third layer consists of the accompanying sorcerers who set up various magical formations based on the situation. The specific formation to be set up depends on the battlefield environment and the calculations of both armies. If it is a serious battle between armies, then naturally they will set up formations such as the Ten Ultimate Formation or the Two Elements Dust Formation to hide the army in the formation and launch a surprise attack. This can defeat a hundred enemies with one, and its power is boundless.

However, unless it's a decisive battle concerning the fate of the nation, and the situation is one of frequent deployment and retreat, and it's just about guarding against raids and ambushes, there's no need to use so many formation flags, talismans, and Spirit Stones. If the commander is meticulous, he can set up a Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation; if he's more casual, he can use a Four Gates Formation. Providing basic magical protection is sufficient.

The fourth level involved specialized civil engineering work, including digging trenches, excavating ditches, building earth, constructing Foundation Establishment, laying foundations, establishing stockades, building cities, and setting up camps. Each battalion and army was clearly organized and assigned to a specific unit, with each unit supporting the others and forming a cohesive unit. Order was maintained and orders were strictly enforced. These tasks tested the basic skills of generals and junior officers.

The Celestial Army's military tactics have been passed down to this day, and the Immortal Palace has always used this old set of methods to fight wars. Although the rules and regulations are outdated and rotten, firstly, they are indeed effective, and secondly, this method of our ancestors has been used throughout the world for many years. The celestial armies of the Twelve Countries all operate under the same banners and military orders, which at least allows for large-scale, organized operations of thousands, tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of troops. Trying to come up with any new tricks would only cause chaos. Moreover, the celestial armies and celestial clans are so fiercely infighting that even if there were ideas for military reform, they could not be implemented.

The Divine Cult has spent so many years researching how to attack the Immortal Palace, so they certainly know how to deal with these old fogies. Besides, the Legion is just a side job of scavenging; their main job is fighting wars.

And so, with a Thunder Roar, the war began at the time and place chosen by the legion, and at the pace planned by the legion.

First came the artillery bombardment. Thanks to the detailed coordinates provided by the Guiche, the first round of precise artillery fire, using specially made formation-breaking shells, magic-breaking shells, and lightning-fire shells, destroyed the Martial Temple and the shrine.

The protectors of the cult immediately used their primordial spirit techniques, sending their yin spirits out of their bodies and taking advantage of the chaos to break into the formation, assassinating the junior and middle-ranking officers and captains, as well as the commanders of the various battalions and detachments, inside the central tent.

Then, a second round of rapid artillery bombardment will use spirit-destroying bullets loaded with malevolent energy and evil spirits to bombard the core of the spiritual vein array, breaking the protective formations of each army and camp. A group of guardians who have left their bodies will return to report on the damage to each target and identify the weak points in the defense line.

Then, with the third round of artillery barrage, a hail of high-explosive shells, cluster munitions, shrapnel, and incendiary rounds, the army began its charge. The earth trembled, hills collapsed, and demons, riding the blood-red wind and chasing the rain of iron, fell down, turning the world into a sea of fire.

Qiongqi led his elite troops in a charge amidst deafening artillery fire.

The mission of this surprise force was to infiltrate the defensive line, break into the rear, cut off the Anxi army's retreat, and evade detection by the celestial scouts and mages. At the same time, they had to advance at full speed, because the legion's artillery would concentrate its fire, repeating the same process three times to destroy the first-line camps. Then, they would hand the battle over to the follow-up troops, spreading the artillery fire deeper to attack the second and third lines of fortifications. Therefore, if their elite troops didn't advance quickly enough, they might get caught up in their own artillery barrage.

So far, nothing unexpected has happened.

Even without using Divine Sense to scan, just from the thunder, the wildfire, and the frantic screams of the celestial soldiers covering the mountains, one could tell that tonight's night raid was likely a success.

General of Anxi deployed his 200,000 troops into fourteen large camps and dozens of smaller camps, with six camps in the vanguard, six in the central army, and two in the rear, making them heavy in the front and light in the rear. They rolled in like a wheel, with troops stationed all over the mountains and plains, making it difficult for the Divine Cult to infiltrate and launch a surprise attack. However, this also meant that as long as there was firepower, even if a shell missed, it could still hit someone.

Moreover, the strategy of advancing steadily for many years had been successful without incident. No one expected that the Divine Cult would suddenly launch a large-scale counterattack. The three camps on the first line were almost instantly smashed to pieces by the sea of fire and the rain of steel. The three camps on the second line were only a dozen miles apart. They could see the mountains and forests filled with fire, demonic energy soaring into the sky, and blood-red light covering the tops of the mountains. They knew that the situation was not good.

Even worse, some new recruits actually rioted. It's unclear which camp it started from. Perhaps they were exhausted from years of confrontation at Juelong Ridge, perhaps veterans recalled the memory of their previous crushing defeat in a surprise attack, perhaps news of the destruction of the Three Walls had already spread throughout the army, perhaps other spies from the Divine Cult were lurking, or perhaps they were simply awakened by the sound of an explosion in the middle of the night.

In short, it was initially thought that the second-line troops would immediately begin to intercept, but instead of reacting, the various armies immediately lost their organization and fell into chaotic disorder. The Sentinel patrols also panicked under the massive artillery bombardment and retreated to their rear positions. The troops in the camps gathered at the camp gates to try to break through the checkpoints and escape, while some obeyed orders to stop them and started fighting each other. The screams of men and horses created a chaotic mess, and when the additional artillery fire began, even these sounds were drowned out.

There's nothing to see. Whether smashed by a torrent of iron, burned by flames, or devoured by demons, a dead person is just a dead person.

The Divine Cult had originally planned a pincer attack, but the Immortal Palace couldn't withstand it at all. As a result, Qingyang's assault group charged forward and reached the third line of the central army. The organization of the two front lines behind them had already collapsed, and the sixth battalion of the central army still hadn't managed to organize reinforcements to come out! It was even hard to say whether anyone had even noticed them!

The central army was so unprepared; this is no longer the effect of a surprise attack. It seems that General of Anxi truly lacks his father's ability to lead troops.

It wasn't that we didn't see elite troops along the way, but the troops that were the fastest to assemble and had the best quality recruits not only showed no intention of going into battle to provide support, but instead, everyone was lightly armored and unarmed, as if they were preparing to retreat to the rear.

This is the downside of advancing cautiously step by step. If the commander-in-chief cannot react in time and organize the troops to counterattack, each unit can only act independently, and few will voluntarily go to the front lines to provide reinforcements. After all, there are so many camps and supplies behind them that can be reorganized. If they encounter any setbacks or attacks, they can simply abandon their supplies and equipment, sell off allies to cover their retreat, and their main force can escape unscathed. In today's chaotic world, the soldiers at their disposal are their only asset; who would be willing to fight to the death?

With soldiers lacking the will to fight and generals unwilling to die for their cause, the Immortal Palace's fate is sealed.

"Aaaaaah--! Follow me--!"

Finally arriving at their destination, the rear camp of the Anxi army where supplies were stored, Qiongqi transformed into a winged giant tiger amidst a tiger's roar! Leading a large horde of demons, it spewed out various kinds of evil flames and demonic fire, instantly blasting the great formation apart, setting the camp ablaze, and turning the military camp into a scorched wasteland!

The celestial soldiers on duty retaliated with a barrage of crossbow bolts. But one or two demons were nothing compared to hundreds of giant beasts charging in with Qiongqi. Blood God Child would also suddenly emerge from the shadows, turning the captains and sergeants who were calling for the troops to assemble into blood. Even without heavy artillery bombardment, the troops quickly fell into chaos, their formations broken by the horde of giant beasts, and they were crushed and slaughtered!

The giant tiger Qiongqi soared back and forth, exhaling its breath, creating gusts of wind and roaring continuously, making it the most conspicuous creature! Wherever it went, it stirred up gusts of bloody wind, tearing limbs and severed bodies all over the sky! Every now and then, it would dive and charge directly into the chaotic army! With a single leap, it would smash through the camp gate, crashing back and forth in the military town and fortifications! Carving a bloody path through the enemy!

The armored warships that followed seemed to be landing on the beach, one after another crashing into the army's fortifications! Arrows rained down from the decks, and heavily armored generals and elite soldiers poured out of the cabins like a river of blood, crashing directly into the immortal army's ranks, causing a bloodbath!

"Kui Su Immortal Guard! Tiger-like General! Lieutenant General Yang Polu is here! Demons, behead them!"

It must be said that the troops guarding the army's granary were still elite. They did not collapse under such a strong attack, after all, they were veterans of the Kui Guard, the head of the Western Imperial Guards. At this moment, a white-bearded old general who had only managed to put on half of his leaf breastplate and carried an iron spear came out from the rear camp, shouting loudly to maintain the formation and leading his personal guards to charge out!

Even seasoned warriors who could foresee a fierce battle with the Divine Cult after the destruction of the Three Enclosures could not have imagined that the battle would come so quickly and so fiercely! Qiongqi and its companions moved through the enemy lines as if they were in an empty field, bypassing the front-line defenses and suddenly attacking the army's supply depot!

Although there was no time to reorganize the troops, the veteran general at the Divine Transformation stage shouted to boost morale and led his hundred personal guards in a counter-charge, attempting to repel the demons that had entered the camp and buy time for the rear guard to regroup!

"Ugh--! Too much nonsense! Damn it--!"

Qiongqi spotted the old general wielding the pair of iron spears at a glance, and unleashed a powerful blast of fierce wind and fire!

With a deafening boom, it grazed past General Kui Su's side, instantly blasting seven or eight celestial soldiers into mincemeat!

"Demons and monsters shall perish! Willows sway in the fierce wind! Pear blossoms scatter in the rain!"

Yang Polu roared and swung his iron spear! A fierce wind arose! The spear tassel trembled three times, and a thousand spear flowers bloomed! This spear storm was like fire and paint! The gale swirled! It even stirred up the evil fire and the fierce wind, turning them into a hundred spears that shot directly at Tiger Head's face!

"Roar--! Get out of my way--!"

Qiongqi didn't dodge, relying on its thick skin and tough flesh, it was unaffected! It charged straight at the attacking storm, knocking away the troops that came to cover its retreat. Then it leaped and pounced straight at the celestial army's commander, opening its mouth to bite!

Yang Polu saw that this beast was fat and big, with a body of copper and iron, and was indeed quite capable, but it actually wanted to swallow him whole, it was too audacious! Immediately, he narrowed his eyes, hissed and inhaled like a dragon, stuck his feet into a horse stance, and flicked his iron spear, aiming it at the giant tiger's forehead!

"Twentieth Level of the Fist of Power! Whirlwind Breaks the Dao! Flames Pierce Through the Clouds!!"

The shot suddenly erupted with a deafening sonic boom, like the roar of a dragon and the sound of a bell! The power at the tip of the spear was unimaginable! Qiongqi's neck hairs stood on end, realizing that this attack was extremely powerful and he must not underestimate it, but it was too late to dodge, and he was about to be stabbed through the forehead by the spear!

However, a flash of red light suddenly appeared before Yang Polu's eyes. The old general abruptly shifted his gaze, shouted "Golden Hairpin, Plucking the Lamp!", and twisted his hand, inexplicably changing his move! The spear, which was about to strike, suddenly changed direction, grazing the tiger's jaw and veering half a foot to the side! It only managed to sever a few strands of Qiongqi's beard!

Qiongqi seized the opportunity and roared in fury! With a powerful claw strike, it slammed into Yang Polu's chest, instantly shattering his aura, armor, and body! The blow left the immortal general with a deflated chest, sending him flying backward!

"General!" "Father!"

The old general's personal guards screamed in agony, but none of them retreated to check on their father's life or death. Although they were all Nascent Soul Stage with the strength of Nascent Soul or even Golden Core, they all drew their swords and stepped forward to form an array to intercept the demonic tiger.

Qiongqi, also covered in cold sweat, gasped for breath. Suddenly sensing something, he turned his head and saw Guiche perched on a flagpole not far away, staring eerily at him. A chill ran down his spine. He immediately realized that Li Fan had witnessed his humiliation and had even saved him. Roaring in terror, he charged into the army, smashing and shattering the Yang Family boys who stood in his way.

What a useless piece of trash! He almost got killed by an NPC!

Li Fan was so angry he was practically ripping his head off. If he hadn't been watching from the side and used his primordial spirit technique to interfere with his opponent, that idiot Qiongqi would have been stabbed into a meat skewer by a spear!

It's really not that Li Fan dislikes Qiongqi for being lazy. He's been sitting in his hole all day eating and sleeping all these years. He doesn't practice the Ba Ti Kung Fu, the Gang Fist, and the Gang Fist. His talent for body training has been wasted, and even his so-called unique moves have been wasted. , it's just a matter of gathering the power of the whole body to destroy the fire, wrapping it in the wind and spitting it out. It has no technical content at all, and it doesn't even have accuracy. Even because someone is raising it, it doesn't go out to hunt with its own hands, and even the reaction is slow!

Don't look at this guy who is killing people now, slapping them to death, and biting a group of them to pieces, but that's really abusing people. Who doesn't know how to abuse people? The old man just now is old and frail, and has clearly passed his peak period. Although he is a god, he is obviously semi-retired or even re-employed! In this state, he can only use the 20th-level Gang Fist body, and he has almost nailed Qiongqi to death and turned him into a skewer!

If a few more of this caliber appeared, or if, amidst the chaos of battle, Martial God capable of unleashing dozens of layers of powerful fist techniques launched a sneak attack, and then the Divine Cult's Qingyang Altar Master, Vanguard General, and the Four Fiends Qiongqi were all wiped out in the first battle! Wouldn't that be utterly laughable!?

With this level of skill, let alone fighting a major battle against Earthlings later, even protecting oneself on the battlefield would be risky!

Li Fan couldn't stand it any longer and immediately made his move! The seven blood crows opened their eyes! Their target was Qiongqi!

"The divine court invades! Gua!"

"Spiritual Reset! Croak!"

"Pain blockade! Quack!"

"Passing on the boost! Quack!"

"Metabolic surge! Quack!"

"Restrictions lifted! Quack!"

"The ferocious beast has gone berserk! Croak!"

That's right! The amazing thing about the Primordial Spirit Path is that it can apply both debuffs and buffs!

"Aaaaaaahh..."

At that moment, Qiongqi went berserk.

It felt as if it were set ablaze! Because all the calories accumulated in its body were burning! Its blood was scorching!

It felt as if it were being blasted by an icy spring! The thunderous roar in its ears was the pounding of its heart!

It felt as if it were immersed in a viscous liquid, and everything around it began to slow down!

Hissing, roaring, explosions, and flashing swords all receded into the distance, as if warriors and wild beasts had suddenly been enveloped in blood-red amber and slowed down.

They did indeed slow down, because in that instant, Qiongqi's reaction speed increased thirtyfold, and it released the subconscious, self-protective constraints and shackles that its nerves placed on this body, this tiger's form, this steel-like frame.

In that instant, Qiongqi transformed into a demon!

"Boom--! Boom--! Boom--!"

The military formation that the Kui Su Immortal Guards had struggled to maintain was disintegrated amidst roars and screams.

It was as if a cannonball was crashing through the crowd, blasting people into pieces, and the resulting gale-force winds whipped up towering waves of blood and a rain of iron, scattering bits of flesh and metal everywhere.

Even the Divine Cult's army temporarily halted its pursuit, lest it get too close to the front lines and be swept into the blazing blood wind by the raging demon god, turning into dust along with the enemy!

Even the protectors of the Righteous God Sect and the Immortal Palace Martial God who were fighting the demon gods in pairs dared not come forward to resist the ferocious beasts caught in the carnage. The army's morale was brutally broken, and tens of thousands of soldiers were forced to retreat, scatter, and flee! They would rather abandon their weapons, their armor, and the honor passed down from their fathers than not run for their lives.

Li Fan watched the Qiongqi's battle with an unwavering gaze, using the eyes of the Guiche.

In fact, this can't even be called enhancement, nor can it be called a berserk state. It's just that Qiongqi has returned to its original appearance and the shackles called 'human' that he put on this ferocious demon have been removed.

As expected, everything in excess is harmful. Because Li Fan had suffered losses before, he suppressed this clone too much, forbidding it from killing, eating, doing this, or doing that. Unable to resist, the beast Qiongqi simply went into hibernation. As a result, Daoist Qiongqi ended up lying down in a lazy and listless state, unable to muster any energy to do anything.

Now, he only needed to use his primordial spirit technique to reset the parameters of Qingxu Second Yuanshen and awaken Qiongqi's true nature, and the Four Fiends woke up.

"Awooo--!!!"

Bathed in hot blood, the tiger looked up at the moon and roared, fully revealing its true form. It transformed into a giant worm forty feet long, its mane covered in a thick layer of blood, like a patch of crimson thorns growing on a mountain ridge under the moonlight.

Even the demons and monsters of the cult dared not approach this scene. They stood far away beside the corpses, watching the crouching tiger bury its head in the pile of corpses, its eyes gleaming with a ghostly purple light. It opened its fangs and bloody mouth, chewing and devouring the iron armor, swords, spears, flesh, and human bones, crunching and chewing them up before swallowing them.

Li Fan didn't disturb Qiongqi. It might be its last meal, so he had to make sure it was well-fed before it went on its way.

The Guiche looked up, its raven-like eyes fixed on the meteor that streaked across the sky, falling straight down from the top of the heavens onto the billowing smoke-filled battlefield.

The prey is ready for you.

Come and hunt tigers.