Looking closely, the Purple-Copper General stood nine feet tall, his frame burly and powerful. His purple-copper general's armor was covered in verdigris, like scrap metal discarded countless years ago, though its original shape remained. Thick dust coated his entire body, and even his hair had hardened beneath it.
What stood out was the filthy ancient sword hanging at the Purple-Copper General's waist and the dark teal wooden shield, as tall as a man, resting before him. This shield was clearly different from those carried by the other Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards. It was much larger, its surface layered like fish scales and embossed with mysterious bird-shaped patterns.
"Is that dark teal ancient wooden shield the Heaven-Piercing Divine Shield?"
Jian Shang gave the wooden shield a careful look, inwardly on guard. He dared not underestimate it and slowly approached with utmost caution...
One step...
Two steps...
Three steps...
Scrape...
A rustling scrape rang out. Just as Jian Shang took his third step, the ranks of Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards more than two hundred meters away suddenly moved in unison...
Dust billowed through their ranks, and a vast aura of desolate antiquity spread outward, yet it lacked the sinister, savage presence he had expected.
Ten thousand Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards, resembling clay statues, raised their shields and held their halberds in perfect unison. They appeared even better trained than the Ravenous Wolf Guards and the Huan Martial Guards. More puzzling still, no one could tell what level these Heaven-Piercing Divine Guards were.
"Outsiders! This is forbidden ground. Withdraw at once!"
At that moment, the Purple-Copper General issued another warning.
"Sword Suppresses the World!"
Jian Shang and the others had reached this place only after considerable difficulty. Naturally, they would not retreat now. Without further hesitation, Jian Shang circulated his cultivation art and poured power into