Outside Biluo Pass, nearly everywhere was a battlefield. The Ink Clan boasted overwhelming numbers and fought with savage ferocity. The human race held their fortified positions, advancing and retreating with discipline, and the two sides clashed in a brutal stalemate.
One particular battlefield caught Feng Ying's attention.
In that area, what was clearly an Ink Domain Lord and a human Eighth-Order Open Heavens cultivator were locked in fierce combat. The shockwaves from their colliding forces rippled outward in visible rings, and wherever the two figures tangled, every combatant—human and Ink Clan alike—scrambled to get out of the way.
The battle raged intensely, lasting a full two or three hours before the two figures finally separated. The human powerhouse retreated back into Biluo Pass, while the Ink Domain Lord withdrew toward the rear under the cover of numerous Ink Clan subordinates.
Neither had managed to gain the upper hand, but after such a violent exchange, both were undoubtedly wounded.
Though the two leaders had pulled back, the armies under their commands continued to fight without pause, the battle just as fierce as before.
Seeing this, a flash of resolve crossed Feng Ying's eyes. She pointed in that direction. "If we're going to do this, let's make it count."
Everyone had witnessed the scene as well, and upon hearing her words, they understood her intent immediately. A mix of excitement and tension rippled through the group, but no one voiced any objection.
The Ink Clan army had surrounded Biluo Pass completely. If they wanted to make it back, they would inevitably have to fight their way through. The Ink Domain Lord on this section of the line was already wounded—it was a glaring weak point. Striking from this direction offered the best chance of success.
Feng Ying swept her gaze across the group. Seeing no objections, she took the lead and shot forward, barking, "Move!"
Yang Kai and the others followed close behind.
At the rear of the Ink Clan army, a massive tower ship lay anchored. The wounded Ink Domain Lord had retreated to this very vessel and now sat on the deck, healing his injuries while monitoring the battlefield, ready to issue orders and adjust strategy at a moment's notice.
Suddenly, he seemed to sense something and turned his head to look toward the rear flank. Several streaks of light were hurtling toward him at breakneck speed, and within those streaks, the silhouettes of several humans were clearly visible.
His brows furrowed. He raised a hand and made a subtle gesture.
An Ink Clan Lord at his side immediately stepped forward, calling out with authority, "Who goes there?"
Feng Ying cried out from afar, "May we know which Domain Lord commands this post? We bear orders from Domain Lord Red Sickle to deliver!"
Hearing this, Yang Kai and the others all twitched at the corners of their mouths. They had heard this particular excuse far too many times recently. Feng Ying kept invoking this Domain Lord Red Sickle as a pretext, and yet it kept working—the Ink Clan kept falling for it.
It wasn't that the Ink Clan lacked vigilance. It was simply that the group was far too skilled and far too bold. While raiding deep in Ink Clan territory, the enemy never imagined that a handful of humans would dare be so audacious as to target them directly. They automatically assumed the visitors were Ink Servants under Domain Lord Red Sickle's command.
The same was true now.
How could this Ink Domain Lord have guessed that a few humans would dare charge straight at him with hostile intent?
He let out a cold snort. "What right does Red Sickle have to issue orders to me?"
He was a Domain Lord himself, on equal standing with Red Sickle. He would never take orders from a peer. But Domain Lords did occasionally coordinate their efforts, so despite his displeasure, he made no move to prevent the visitors from approaching, intending to hear what Red Sickle had to say.
With his signal, the Ink Clan Lord who had called out stepped aside.
Feng Ying led the group in a direct descent. While still midair, their divine abilities and Dao Manifestations were already deployed. With a crackling barrage of sound, a sword dragon hundreds of meters long coiled around Feng Ying's body, the hum of its blades never ceasing.
Shen Ao and the others unleashed their techniques simultaneously, ignoring everything else and hurling every attack straight at the Ink Domain Lord.
Caught completely off guard, the Ink Clan forces were stunned. Even the Domain Lord himself reacted a beat too slow—they had simply never considered that these humans might be enemies.
Enemies were out on the battlefield fighting. Why would they possibly appear from behind?
In the blink of an eye, the power of the world ran rampant. The enormous tower ship shattered into pieces. Ink Clan members stationed on the vessel suffered heavy casualties, and the brilliant light of several divine abilities and secret arts engulfed the Domain Lord directly.
A moment later, the light dissipated, revealing the Domain Lord's massive figure—but he was now in a wretched state. There was no helping it. He had already fought a human powerhouse to mutual exhaustion, hadn't even had time to heal, and then suddenly been ambushed. He was half-dazed from the onslaught.
The abrupt attack sent fury roaring through the Domain Lord. He bellowed, "How dare you!"
He reached out to grab at the group. Feng Ying charged at the forefront, her sword dragon spinning like a drill boring toward the Domain Lord. Ten thousand sword qi rays seemed capable of slicing through the void itself. Shen Ao and the others guarded her flanks, paying no attention to the other Ink Clan forces around them, directing every ounce of their power at the Domain Lord.
Atop Biluo Pass's wall, the human Eighth-Order Open Heavens cultivator who had fought the Domain Lord to a standstill was also recuperating. Suddenly, a Seventh-Order Open Heavens cultivator beside him called out, "Uncle-Master Zhong, look!"
Uncle-Master Zhong opened his eyes and gazed into the distance. A look of astonishment crossed his face. "A sword dragon Dao Manifestation! That's..."