The generals exchanged glances, and one of them couldn't help but speak up, "Marshal, the combined forces of the four nations are nearly two hundred thousand, and each has its own strengths. If they could truly work together..."
"Working together?" Yu Tianheng raised his eyes, a sharp glint flashing in his purple pupils. " Barak was destroyed before them; they're only banding together because they're terrified. Aren't they always busy attacking each other and fighting for territory? When it comes to the battlefield, they'll probably be the first to think about getting others to fill the gaps."
Yu Tianheng tapped his knuckles on the table, thinking to himself: Perfect.
Taking them down one by one would be time-consuming and exhausting, and would also give them a chance to catch their breath. Now that they've gathered together, it saves us the trouble of picking them off one by one.
"Pass down the order," Yu Tianheng stood up, his terrifying aura suddenly spreading out, "The entire army must accelerate preparations and break camp in three days. Since they want to gather together to be beaten, then I, the commander, will grant their wish—to settle the score in one battle, to let these clowns understand completely that the iron hooves of the Heaven Dou are not something they can withstand!"
The generals inside the tent, intimidated by his imposing presence, responded in unison, "As you command!"
The following day, Yu Tianheng stood on the command platform, his gaze sweeping over the fully armed and ready-to-go troops below, and announced loudly, "Pass on my order: immediately allocate ten million Gold Soul Coin from the Balak Kingdom's treasury, to be used entirely as a reward for the entire army!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a low commotion arose from the audience, and the soldiers' eyes lit up.
Yu Tianheng raised his hand to signal for silence and continued, "For the next three days, the army's rations will be immediately improved. There will be plenty of fish and meat every day, so that the brothers can eat and drink their fill and recharge their energy!"
Now, the soldiers could no longer hide their excitement, and many straightened their backs. Seeing this, Yu Tianheng's tone became even more impassioned. "Listen, everyone! This battle concerns the fate of the nation. As long as you achieve merit, His Majesty will surely reward you handsomely after the war ends. Being ennobled and appointed as a general is a given!"
Within three days, smoke rose from the cooking fires in the military camp, and every day there was steaming hot meat and strong liquor. Gold Soul Coin were also distributed to each soldier according to their rank.
The initially slightly tired troops gradually regained their high morale, and the sounds of drills and shouts reverberated throughout the camp, filling the air with an unstoppable momentum.
On the afternoon of the third day, Yu Tianheng once again ascended the command platform, gazing upon the soldiers below, their eyes burning with fervor and their morale soaring. He drew his long sword from his waist and pointed it straight ahead. "All troops, heed my command! March forth!"
"Ho! Ho! Ho!"
The resounding response echoed through the sky like a thunderclap and a tsunami. Banners fluttered, hooves thundered, and the army, like a giant dragon, surged towards the battlefield.
The battle with the four-nation coalition took place in a place called the Canglan Plain.
Canglan Plain.
This vast plain, stretching for hundreds of miles, is bordered by rolling hills to the east and the turbulent Canglan River to the west. Its terrain is gentle, yet it holds hidden secrets.
In the center of the plain, there is a natural earthen plateau running north to south, several feet high and more than ten miles wide. Like a natural barrier, it divides the plain into two halves, east and west, and has become a strategic location that both sides must fight for. Whoever occupies the plateau can have a panoramic view and can unleash the maximum power of their arrow formations and Soul Skill.
On the west side of the plateau, near the riverbank, large areas of soft sand have been formed by the river's constant erosion. Heavy armored soldiers are prone to getting stuck here, and cavalry charges are also hindered. On the east side, there are dozens of dry reed ponds of varying sizes. The bottom of the ponds is covered with thick silt and reeds, which are excellent hiding places for ambushes, but may also become traps to entrap one's own forces.
The hilly areas on the edge of the plain are covered with waist-high wild grass, which ripples in the wind and can conceal small elite troops. The Canglan River flows swiftly, and its narrowest point is nearly 100 meters wide. It serves as a natural barrier for the right flank of the Heaven Dou army and also restricts the flanking routes of both sides, keeping the main battlefield focused on the heart of the plain.
At this moment, the banners of the Heaven Dou army had been unfurled on the east side of the earthen plateau, while the formation of the four-nation allied forces was arranged along the western edge of the sandy land. The two armies faced each other from afar, and the wind on the Canglan Plain seemed to carry a murderous aura, waiting only for a command to unleash an earth-shattering battle.
The wind on the Canglan Plain suddenly stopped, and only the heavy breathing of hundreds of thousands of troops from both sides and the sound of their armor rubbing together filled the air.
Yu Tianheng stood at the very front of the Heaven Dou Army formation, his black armor gleaming coldly in the sunlight. He suddenly drew his sword and pointed it forward, his dragon-like roar piercing through the ranks, " Heaven Dou warriors, follow me—kill!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Yu Tianheng activated his Soul Power and shot out like an arrow.
Behind them, the Heaven Dou Army surged forward like a burst dam, its banners billowing in the wind, their battle cries shaking the plains.
On the opposite side, the four-nation allied forces also moved. A tide of nearly 200,000 soldiers surged forward like a black tide, their swords and spears standing like a forest, the thunderous roar of their horses' hooves turning into a deep rumble, as they crushed towards the Heaven Dou army.
The distance between the two formations shortened rapidly, to less than 100 meters.
Just as the two vanguards were about to collide, a crimson glint flashed in Yu Tianheng's eyes, and an invisible aura around him suddenly exploded— the Divine Slaughter's Domain!
That was a terrifying pressure forged in the Slaughter City, like a chilling current from the deepest hell, carrying the blood and death of countless lives slaughtered, crashing down on the vanguard of the four-nation allied forces.
The thousands of soldiers at the forefront felt a sudden tightness in their chests, as if an invisible giant hand had gripped their throats. Their momentum abruptly halted, many turned pale, and their hands gripping their weapons trembled slightly. A bone-chilling cold shot from the soles of their feet to the top of their heads, making even breathing difficult.
"Now!" Yu Tianheng seized this fleeting opening, unleashing his Soul Power without reservation. Blue electricity surged wildly across his body, and his fourth black Soul Ring appeared. " Fourth Soul Skill — Thunder Dragon Head!"
boom!
A colossal blue lightning dragon head materialized, unleashing a sharp whistling sound that tore through the air and a surge of violent Thunder power, as it crashed headlong into the halted enemy vanguard. One, two, three... three Thunder Dragon Head shot out in succession, tearing through the crowd like lightning.
Screams rose and fell, and wherever the dragon's head passed, blood and flesh flew everywhere.
The sturdy armor was as fragile as paper under the power of Thunder. The sound of bones shattering and lightning exploding intertwined. In just three breaths, hundreds of allied vanguard soldiers were reduced to charred remains or mangled limbs by the terrifying Soul Skill, tearing a gap in the dense formation.
Yu Tianheng's figure did not stop. He rushed into the gap, stepping on the afterimage of Thunder. With a sweep of his silver spear, several more enemy soldiers fell to the ground.
Taking advantage of the situation, the Heaven Dou Army launched a surprise attack, instantly filling the gap opened by their commander. They clashed with the allied forces, who had recovered from their shock, and the decisive battle on the Canglan Plain began its most brutal phase.
The spear flashed like a dragon, its sound tearing through the battlefield's clamor. Yu Tianheng, clad in blood-soaked silver armor, wielded a spear that transformed into a streak of light. Wherever he passed, the formation of the four-nation allied forces crumbled like firewood cleaved by a giant axe. Soldiers were either sent flying or knocked back; none could withstand him for even a moment.