In the early morning, the sky stretched clear and cloudless for ten thousand li, with a gentle breeze drifting across the land. A deep breath filled the lungs with refreshing, invigorating air.
The Tian Dou Empire's camp, stretching nearly a hundred li in length, lay sprawled fifty li outside Jialing Pass like some primordial behemoth. Early in the morning, after the soldiers had finished their meal, the great army assembled to the thunderous beat of war drums.
Squadron after squadron appeared outside the camp, each massive formation comprising ten thousand men. As a chain of commands echoed down from the central army, one hundred thousand soldiers of the Tian Dou Empire began their slow advance. These were ten full heavy cavalry regiments—every last heavy cavalry unit the Tian Dou Empire had brought with them. This was a true army of steel. Their pace was unhurried, yet the overwhelming pressure they exuded was enough to make the very earth tremble.
Following close behind the ten heavy armored corps, four thousand Soul Masters assembled by the Tian Dou Empire entered the battlefield, surrounded and escorted by over twelve thousand soldiers of the Tang Family Army.
From a distance, the Tang Family Army appeared to be nothing more than light cavalry protecting them—on the battlefield, it was common practice for light cavalry and Soul Masters to fight in cooperation, making full use of their speed advantage.
After that, ten light cavalry corps charged out from both flanks. In this first battle against the Spirit Empire, the Tian Dou Empire had deployed nothing but cavalry. Even the Soul Masters rode horseback. With heavy cavalry as the main force, they could advance to attack and retreat to defend.
Atop Jialing Pass, Bibi Dong let out a cold laugh. "The Tian Dou Empire is afraid. All cavalry—easy enough to advance and retreat, but that's conventional warfare. Do they really think they can leverage cavalry advantages against my Soul Master legions? Relay my command: the eight heavy cavalry and heavy infantry corps are to form battle lines before the gate. Holy Dragon Legion—sortie."
The four main gates of Jialing Pass opened almost simultaneously. Four enormous drawbridges crashed down across the fifty-meter-wide moat with groaning chains. Amid the clashing of armor, massive numbers of heavily armed soldiers poured swiftly out of the pass.
However, looking at their formations, these heavily armed soldiers from Jialing Pass were far less disciplined than the Tian Dou Empire's heavy cavalry.
First, because they came from various duchies and kingdoms, their armor styles differed considerably. Compared to the Tian Dou Empire's uniform dark armor, the Spirit Empire's heavy soldiers wore armor in at least a dozen different colors. They also took far longer to form their formations. It was clear that the Spirit Empire's internal consolidation was far from complete.
Four heavy cavalry corps and four heavy infantry corps—these comprised nearly all of the Spirit Empire's heavy forces. The other pass holding off the Xing Luo Empire's assault relied primarily on defense, so no heavy corps had been dispatched there.
The Tian Dou Empire's two-hundred-thousand-strong army halted twenty li from Jialing Pass. The ten heavy cavalry corps spread out in a line, opening a corridor down the center. Under the protection of the Tang Family Army, over six thousand Soul Masters appeared at the front of the formation—though the two thousand or so Soul Masters belonging to the Tang Sect wore identical uniforms to the Tang Family Army. The light cavalry fanned out from both flanks in wing formations, drawing longbows from their backs—they were all mounted archers.
On the other side, the Spirit Empire's eight corps formed up directly before the pass. Immediately after, an army of ten thousand charged out from within. They had no mounts—they ran entirely on foot, yet their speed was no less than galloping horses. These ten thousand arranged themselves in a single line before Jialing Pass, all clad in tight-fitting combat attire decorated with golden thread patterns. Behind them, a massive banner rippled in the wind, bearing two golden characters: Holy Dragon.
The Great Master stood shoulder to shoulder with Tang San, and with them was Marshal Ge Long.
Marshal Ge Long swept his arm forward. "The army advances. Mounted archers, prepare—once we enter a ten-li range, execute crossfire skirmishing runs."
At the same time, Tang San issued his command to the Tang Family Army. "Inspect the crossbows. Cock the mechanisms."
With metallic clatter, the Tang Family Army soldiers silently unslung the Zhuge Divine Crossbows from their backs, laid them across their saddles, and quickly inspected them—particularly the bolts and the cocking mechanisms. Once the inspection was complete, they immediately locked the mechanisms into place.
Banner after banner billowed in the wind. Behind them, the Tian Dou Empire's Emperor Xue Beng personally led twenty ten-thousand-strong corps as their reserve force.
The distance between the two armies steadily closed. When ten li still separated them, the Tian Dou Empire's ten light cavalry corps surged into motion. Ten thousand horses thundered forward, charging straight toward Jialing Pass.
On the Spirit Empire's side, the two heavy infantry corps nearest the Holy Dragon Legion quickly closed ranks, positioning themselves in front of the Holy Dragon Legion with massive shields raised before them.
Atop Jialing Pass, watching one hundred thousand light cavalry charge toward them in perfect order, Bibi Dong couldn't help but frown. "Are these Tian Dou Empire fools trying to commit suicide?" Though her knowledge of military strategy wasn't particularly deep, she knew full well what happened when light cavalry charged heavy cavalry and heavy infantry formations—especially when both sides fielded roughly equal numbers. It was practically suicide. Even if these light cavalry intended to launch arrow attacks, they would be facing fully armored heavy cavalry and heavy infantry, against which arrows were nearly useless. There was no need for her Holy Dragon Legion to even act.
Just as Bibi Dong was puzzling over this, the Tian Dou Empire's light cavalry corps had already closed in. When they were still a li away from the Spirit Empire's lines, they abruptly wheeled about, drew their bows, and loosed. With a whistling roar, countless arrows rained down upon the Spirit Empire.
The vast majority were lofted shots—this gave them sufficient range, and with a target of ninety thousand enemy troops, there was no need to aim precisely. Through deliberate maneuvering, the light cavalry directed even more arrows toward the Holy Dragon Legion. The heavy infantry could block frontal attacks, but arrows raining down from above were something they could not defend against.
Once their volley was spent, the light cavalry didn't linger for a moment. Sweeping in wide arcs that kicked up clouds of dust, they used their horses' speed to glide along the flanks and wheel back toward their own lines.
A single volley meant one hundred thousand arrows! The Tian Dou Empire's ten light cavalry corps had put on a stunning display of their extraordinary discipline before the Spirit Empire. A hundred thousand troops charging and skirmishing, yet their formations remained utterly impeccable. By the time they circled back to their own lines, the Tian Dou Empire's main army had already advanced another five li. Concealed beneath the swirling dust, they seemed to have teleported forward like ghosts.
Bibi Dong sighed inwardly and asked with a calm, indifferent tone, "Are our own light cavalry capable of such a standard?"
The generals of her light cavalry corps standing behind her froze into absolute silence, not one daring to make a sound.
"Weren't you the ones who told me that the Tian Dou Empire was a disorganized mess, its army lazy and most of them drawing pay for soldiers who didn't even exist? If those are the troops they brought, then what does that make you?"
Watching those ten light cavalry corps flex their disciplined might and deliver such a show of force—it was clear they couldn't actually harm the Holy Dragon Legion's Soul Masters or the empire's heavy corps. But it was undeniably a tremendous blow to the Spirit Empire's morale. Bibi Dong understood: all these years, it wasn't just her who had been biding her time. The Tian Dou Empire had been doing the same. According to previous estimates, the Tian Dou Empire's military numbered no more than six hundred thousand, most with little real combat experience. But what lay before her now? A million well-trained, well-supplied soldiers stood ready. The Tian Dou Empire's military strength was barely inferior to even the Xing Luo Empire's.
"Relay the order—Holy Dragon Legion, release Soul Rings. Attack." This was the first clash between the two sides, and she had to reclaim the momentum. Bibi Dong knew the armies of those kingdoms and duchies were useless. The only ones she could truly rely on were her directly commanded Soul Masters. As long as they could crush the Tian Dou Empire's Soul Master corps, the conscripted armies could mop up the remnants without difficulty.
Brilliant light blazed from the Spirit Empire's side as ten thousand Soul Masters released their Martial Souls simultaneously. It was a magnificent spectacle—countless Soul Rings flickered in white, yellow, purple, and black. Though the ranks were as uneven as their armies, the terrifying aura that surged upward suddenly was enough to make the breathing of the Tian Dou Empire's two hundred thousand soldiers grow ragged.
The soldiers knew full well what it meant to face Soul Masters. A single high-level Soul Master wielding a large-scale destructive Soul Skill could kill hundreds or even thousands of them. To counter Soul Masters, only Soul Masters would do.
Marshal Ge Long glanced at the Great Master and Tang San beside him, cupping his fists in a slight bow. "What comes next is in your hands, my lords."
The Great Master nodded, raising his right hand. "Release your Martial Souls."
The four thousand-odd Soul Masters surrounded by the Tang Family Army released their Martial Souls at the same instant. Though far fewer in number than their opponents, their movements were perfectly synchronized, and their Soul Rings were arranged in impeccable order. Standing at the very front were exclusively seven-ring and eight-ring Soul Masters—though few in number, the Soul Rings on their bodies more than compensated for the numerical deficit. Behind them stood ranks of six-ring, five-ring, four-ring, and three-ring Soul Masters. The vast majority fell between three and five rings.
Most eye-catching of all were the one hundred Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagodas that lit up simultaneously, their dazzling radiance surging straight toward the heavens. Positioned at the very heart of the Soul Master corps, amid the shimmering treasure light, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan's clan master Ning Fengzhi gazed into the distance, flanked on either side by Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo—two Titled Douluo guarding his sides.
These one hundred direct descendants of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan were all survivors of the past. Behind them stood another hundred direct descendants who had not yet released their Martial Souls. Gazing at the Spirit Empire's army across the field, their eyes burned with nothing but hatred.
Atop Jialing Pass, Bibi Dong swept her hand forward. The Holy Dragon Legion's ten thousand Soul Masters rose into the air as one. Only Spirit Hall had the capability to train Soul Masters at the legion level. So while the Spirit Empire's conventional armies were lacking, this Soul Master legion was absolutely elite.
Agility attack Soul Masters instantly flanked from both sides. Assault and defense Soul Masters took the front, support Soul Masters positioned themselves in the rear to cast various enhancement effects, and control Soul Masters followed close behind the assault types, every Soul Skill already being prepared. These Soul Masters were divided into several groups according to their cultivation specialties. At the very center front of the Holy Dragon Legion stood several hundred Soul Masters from the Holy Dragon Sect—one of the New Seven Great Sects.
Every disciple of the Holy Dragon Sect was covered in a layer of white scales, their bodies thick and powerfully built. This was their Martial Soul—the White-Armored Earth Dragon. The White-Armored Earth Dragon couldn't truly be called a dragon race; it was merely a close relative, and compared to the former Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon clan, there was still a considerable gap. But they were dragons nonetheless, and the Holy Dragon Sect had produced numerous experts under Spirit Hall's careful nurturing. It had been directly established as a sect split off from Spirit Hall, making it one of the upper three among the New Seven Great Sects. The Holy Dragon Legion bore their name.
The Shrek Seven Devils were very familiar with the group of Soul Masters beside the Holy Dragon Sect—they had fought against this school of Soul Masters during the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Soul Duel Tournament. They were the Elephant Armored Sect, renowned for defense and brute strength. The giant warriors of the Elephant Armored Sect released their Martial Souls one by one and, under their sect master Tianxiang Huyan Zhen's lead, took enormous strides forward, charging alongside the Holy Dragon Sect. Undoubtedly, they were the backbone of the Holy Dragon Legion. Though the two sects combined numbered fewer than seven hundred, their combat power was unquestionably the greatest. Whether it was the White-Armored Earth Dragon or the Mammoth Titan Elephant Martial Soul, both were ideally suited for the battlefield. No heavy cavalry could hope to halt their advance.
"Split formation. Elder Titan, Elder Niu Gao—each of you take one thousand Tang Family Army soldiers to reinforce the flanks. The remaining soldiers, form a single-line snake formation." Tang San issued his orders.
Titan and Niu Gao each took one thousand Tang Family Army soldiers and sped away. The remaining eight thousand Tang warriors quickly formed a single line, positioning themselves before the central Soul Master formation. Half dismounted while half remained on horseback, all of them raising their oversized Zhuge Divine Crossbows.
Tang San spoke coldly, "No firing without my orders. While I'm away, the National Teacher's commands take precedence."
The Tang Sect's two thousand-plus disciples formed a protective screen before Tang San, the Great Master, and Marshal Ge Long. At the very front stood pairs of disciples from the Jade Hall and Medicine Hall, forming a defensive line. The remaining two thousand Soul Masters and the four thousand-plus Soul Masters under the Great Master's command waited in silence.
"Old Monster, dare you charge with me for a bout of slaughter?" Tang San called out in a loud voice.
A cackling laugh rang out as Dugu Bo's voice carried from within the Soul Master ranks. "Why wouldn't I dare? In single combat among Titled Douluo, I'm nothing special—but when it comes to group battle, who dares say they're better than me? Let's go."
Tang San turned to the Great Master and said, "Master, I'll leave things here to you and Marshal Ge Long. Those Soul Masters at the front of their formation have defenses that are too strong—they'll interfere with the Zhuge Divine Crossbows' effectiveness. Let us go break open their frontal defenses. Let's move."
"Prince Lan Hao, you—" Marshal Ge Long tried to stop him, but Tang San had already launched into the air with the Sea God Trident in hand. Behind him, the other six members of the Shrek Seven Devils needed no invitation—they rose into the air simultaneously. Zhu Zhuqing carried Ning Rongrong, Dai Mubai carried Oscar, and the seven, together with Medicine Hall Master Yang Wudi, burst straight out of their own formation.
Atop Jialing Pass, Bibi Dong saw that the Tian Dou Empire had sent out only eight people. She froze for a moment, then her eyes immediately locked onto Tang San at the forefront, Sea God Trident in hand. She cried out, "This is bad. Elders, with me!" Without regard for her imperial dignity, she suddenly launched herself into the air from atop Jialing Pass, the purple wings behind her spreading wide as she dove downward in a glide.