The enormous Shuixuan Warship sailed across the Great Xia World. As its terrifying aura spread, no living creature with any sense dared provoke it. Even when the occasional unintelligent being dared to harass it, it was immediately crushed to dust beneath the massive warship, unable to hinder its progress in the slightest.
After nearly a month of smooth sailing, the Zhuanshui Clan army was nearing Autumn Mountain Great Marsh.
At that moment, two Black Armor Profound Army soldiers on watch atop the Shuixuan Warship were chatting.
"Is that huge rift below us Qianfeng Valley? I've heard the valley is home to countless kinds of strange gale, each utterly different from the others. If I could quietly meditate here for a while, perhaps my Dao of the Hurricane could advance further!" said a tall Black Armor Profound Army soldier with a sigh.
"We're not far from Autumn Mountain Great Marsh. Once the war is over, you can ask to stay here and meditate!" The other Black Armor Profound Army soldier kept his eyes fixed straight ahead as he replied coolly.
"Once the war is over?" The tall Black Armor Profound Army soldier shook his head. "The target of Emperor Xia's campaign this time is actually Autumn Mountain Great Marsh. Who knows how many Loose Immortals will fall in this war, let alone us!"
"Autumn Mountain Great Marsh certainly has a fearsome reputation!" The other Black Armor Profound Army soldier nodded. But just as he was about to say more, the Shuixuan Warship, which had been flying steadily, suddenly shuddered violently.
"What's happening?" The tall Black Armor Profound Army soldier instinctively glanced around. Then his pupils abruptly contracted.
The canyon below, which had been empty, was now filled with countless enormous figures, each thousands of zhang tall. At their head stood a colossal, terrifying figure ten thousand zhang tall.
The Shuixuan Warship's sudden, violent shudder had been caused by that towering being casually striking it with one hand.
"Bad news—it's a God-Fiend!" The tall Black Armor Profound Army soldier's heart gave a sudden tremor. What level of strength did a ten-thousand-zhang God-Fiend possess?
"Hurry, notify—" The other Black Armor Profound Army soldier began, but figures had already appeared one after another above the Shuixuan Warship.
The commotion had been so great that anyone who wasn't dead could probably sense it. There was no need for the two soldiers to alert anyone. No matter what they had been doing, everyone immediately flew out of their rooms.
Ju Hua was among them, of course!
The ten-thousand-zhang God-Fiend had four thick, beastlike legs beneath its waist and a human upper body, but it had a full six arms.
The ten-thousand-zhang God-Fiend wielded no weapons. Its six massive arms struck the Shuixuan Warship like spinning wheels, and in just a few moments, the ship's defenses were on the verge of collapse.
"Ju Hua, this is a Void-Return Fiendgod, and it's brought hundreds of Primordial Spirit Fiendgods with it!" Zhuanshui Pingqiu looked at Ju Hua anxiously.
"I've already notified Ancestor Tianyang. We just need to hold out for a moment, and he'll be here!" Ju Hua replied calmly. Then he called out:
"All soldiers, take formation and meet the enemy!"
At Ju Hua's command, the army, which had been in some disarray, quickly steadied. In just a few moments, one powerful battle formation after another took shape.
Ju Hua himself joined a formation with a hundred Black Armor Profound Army soldiers.
The Zhuanshui Clan's formation was quite sophisticated. A hundred men could form a battle formation that, led by an ordinary Loose Immortal, could reach the level of a top-tier Loose Immortal! A top-tier Loose Immortal could lead the formation as well, of course, but the formation couldn't grant one the strength of a million-year Loose Immortal.
A million-year Loose Immortal was almost as powerful as a Celestial Immortal. To expect a formation of just a hundred Primordial Spirit Daoists to possess such might was pure fantasy!
Still, the formation could increase one's strength to a certain extent. Ju Hua had never intended to reveal his full strength from the outset, so why would he pass up the chance to use it?
"Zhuanshui Pingqiu, Fuyun, Qing Muling, each of you lead a formation and join me in holding back that Void-Return Fiendgod!" Zhuanshui Juhua sent them a message. Then he waved his hand and put away the Shuixuan Warship, which could no longer bear the strain.
The Shuixuan Warship would be useful later, so Ju Hua naturally didn't want it destroyed here. Besides, this battle was unavoidable. Whether it happened sooner or later made no difference!
"Ju Hua, why did you put the warship away?" A flicker of alarm crossed Zhuanshui Pingqiu's face. The enemy was a powerful Void-Return Fiendgod. How could they just charge into battle without a thought?
"The warship was already at its limit. It couldn't hold out much longer!" Ju Hua quickly explained, then shouted:
"Everyone, follow me and meet the enemy!"
Ju Hua charged forward first. The other formations, led by the various Loose Immortals, followed close behind. The difference was that Ju Hua headed straight for the enormous Void-Return Fiendgod, while everyone else targeted the Primordial Spirit Fiendgods.
Although Zhuanshui Pingqiu was somewhat displeased that Ju Hua had put away the Shuixuan Warship so soon, the army was charging forward, leaving no time for further discussion. He had no choice but to follow.
Ju Hua had already given the order. Although Zhuanshui Pingqiu was reluctant, he had no choice but to charge at the enormous Void-Return Fiendgod as well.
A Void-Return Fiendgod was far beyond the ability of a top-tier Loose Immortal to handle. If he had been alone, Zhuanshui Pingqiu would never have obeyed Ju Hua's order and charged straight at it. But now he had the Zhuanshui Clan's formation supporting him, along with Ju Hua, Fuyun, and Qing Muling as teammates. Zhuanshui Pingqiu had the nerve to take a chance.
If they really couldn't hold out, he could just turn and run!
Zhuanshui Pingqiu didn't know that Fuyun was thinking much the same thing. He, too, planned to run at once if they couldn't hold the enemy back.
As for Qing Muling, she hadn't yet considered running. More precisely, unless absolutely necessary, she couldn't run at all!
She wasn't alone. The Qingmu Clan stood behind her, and the clan still depended on the Zhuanshui Clan's protection. If she fled this war, the Qingmu Clan would be in trouble.
Ju Hua had no idea what Zhuanshui Pingqiu and the others were thinking. By then, he had focused all his attention on the Void-Return Fiendgod, now right before him.
If Ju Hua unleashed his full strength, he wouldn't fear this Void-Return Fiendgod, even one-on-one. But the war would go on for a long time. If he revealed everything now, he could easily find himself in danger later. Better to stay hidden from the start. If a life-or-death crisis truly came later, unleashing his strength without warning would give him a better chance of surviving.
Even when fighting this Void-Return Fiendgod with only a portion of his strength, Ju Hua couldn't afford to be careless. One misstep, and if the God-Fiend struck him head-on with a slap, it was entirely possible he'd die on the spot and have his spirit scattered!