Chapitre 64: Silence...

Siyi's demand hung in the air like a death sentence. The 8th squad knew that complying with her terms was tantamount to killing themselves.

Without their cultivation and Qi, they would not be able to operate the Cloud Chaser. This meant they had to traverse the treacherous Forbidden Valley, a place filled with miasma and deadly poison.

They only made it here safe with the help of the Cloud Chaser by reaching enough height that the poison can't reach. Moreover, without relying on the help of the Hao Clan and whatever magical technique or tool that they use to survive here, the poison would definitely affect them.

As if that wasn't enough, the crew realized that they had made a critical error in judgment. Rushing into this mission with such confidence, they had not brought enough healing potions with them.

Most of them would die from bleeding if they cut one of their limbs, and their blood would attract the monsters lurking within the Forgotten Valley. They've heard about the legend, about the source of the mixture of poison and miasma on this land. The crew was trapped, unable to make a decision without risking their lives. Every passing moment was a reminder of their impending doom.

Commander Li Jian's face turned red with anger. He clenched his fists tightly, but he knew that he couldn't do anything to change the situation.

"That is too harsh," Commander Li Jian spoke, trying to negotiate.

"You spoke of the word harsh, when just a while ago, you are driving us away from our land and back to the poisonous land. Isn't that too ironic? How the mighty have fallen." Ding Gen spoke, mocking their situation.

"I will not accept your terms," Commander Li Jian spoke, his voice full of defiance.

"As expected," Mao Wenlin smiled as if she's watching an entertaining show. "You are definitely the dog of the Empire, or should I say, the Grand Echo Continent," she blurted, revealing their faction's plans to the shock of He Xia and the other generals.

The atmosphere in the Valley shifted as Mao Wenlin's words hung in the air. He Xia's heart sank as he realized the gravity of the situation. How could they know about their plans to conquer the Shaoying empire? The generals around him were just as shocked and their expressions mirrored his own.

The tension in the area was palpable as the Valley of Hope members exchanged knowing glances, leaving the generals wondering just how much they knew. He Xia and the others were suddenly on guard, their minds racing with questions. Had they been betrayed? Had their plans been leaked to the enemy?

He Xia's eyes darted around the area, trying to read the expressions of the Valley of Hope members. They seemed calm and collected, as if they held all the cards. He couldn't help but feel a sense of dread wash over him. If they knew about their plans, what else did they know?

Commander Li Jian felt his heart racing as he surveyed the situation. He had hoped to sneak onto the ship unnoticed, but now he was surrounded by cultivators and alchemists from the Valley of Hope. His plan had failed, and he was trapped with no clear way out.

Frustration and anger coursed through him as he considered his options. The weight of his responsibility as a commander pressed down on him, but he could feel his grip on control slipping away. He clenched his fists, his jaw tight with determination as he ordered his men.

" Fire the Spirit Cannon!"

The deafening boom of the explosion shattered the stillness of the Forgotten Valley, reverberating across the mountains and shaking the ground beneath their feet. It was as if the earth itself had split apart, unleashing its wrath upon the valley. The sound waves roared through the air, causing rocks to tumble down the mountainside and trees to sway violently in the wind.

For a moment, Commander Li Jian allowed himself to feel a glimmer of hope. Perhaps the explosion would create a diversion and allow him to escape. But as the smoke cleared, he saw that his plan had failed once again. The cultivators and alchemists of the Valley of Hope remained vigilant, their eyes fixed on him.

But then, a sudden and unexpected turn of events. A type 6 formation, one that should have been impossible to create outside of the Castle of Shaoying, activated in response to the blast. The formation absorbed the impact and returned it with a force that was twice as powerful, destroying three of Li Jian's Cloud Chasers and killing the men on board.

Li Jian and his army could hardly believe what he was seeing. He knew that type 6 formations were incredibly rare, and he had never heard of one being created outside of the castle before. It was a devastating blow.

Ding Gen's eyes narrowed in disappointment as he watched the Cloud Chasers explode into a fiery inferno. He had been hoping to seize them for their own purposes, and their destruction was a setback for his plans.

He sighed and turned to Du Hong. "Du Hong, we cannot allow them to escape. Stop them at all costs, but do not destroy the ship. It may prove useful to us."

Du Hong nodded, his eyes gleaming with determination. He knew the importance of their mission, and he would stop at nothing to ensure its success. With a wave of his hand, he signaled to the other cultivators which includes the former members of the Undeground Faction and Li Jing to move out, their movements swift and coordinated. They rushed towards the ship, their weapons at the ready, prepared to face off against the enemy.

He Xia, Hu Qian, and Liu Wei moved in unison, each wielding their weapons imbued with Qi as they launched an attack on Du Hong. He Xia unleashed a barrage of arrows, hoping to slow him down or injure him, while Hu Qian and Liu Wei charged forward with their spears and swords. But their attacks were futile against Du Hong's superior cultivation level. He easily dodged or deflected their attacks with his spiritual energy shield.

Du Hong moved with incredible speed, reaching Li Jian's ship in a matter of seconds. He unleashed a powerful blade strike, and the Ethereal Blade became even more refined and majestic. The force of the strike was enough to shake the ground beneath their feet and send shockwaves through the air.

As Ding Gen watched, he couldn't help but notice the similarities between their techniques. However, he knew that each of them had made their techniques their own. Ding Gen remained calm and didn't unsheathe his sword. Instead, a dark green energy emanated from him, as if he was in complete control of it. Anyone who touched even the tip of this green energy dissolved and turned into a puddle of gooey substance.

"We are not taking any prisoners. Show them the same disdain and aggressiveness they showed to us a while ago,"

Madam Zhang Ai stood calmly as she observed the intense battle before her. Despite the chaos and danger, her expression remained serene and composed. She had lived for centuries, and her experiences had given her a sense of detachment from the conflicts around her.

She remembered how they were humiliated and driven away from the Cardinal City by these people. The land that was rightfully their. Back then, none of them had the power to retaliate. But this time, it will be different.

As she saw the situation unfolding, her hand reached up to touch the crown on her head with a graceful movement. In a flash of light, the crown bent and transformed into a magnificent bow, a symbol of her power and authority.

The bow glimmered in the sunlight, with intricate details that seemed to come alive under her touch. She nocked an arrow, but this was not just any arrow. It was imbued with an authentic feather of a fire bird, a rare and powerful component that enhanced the arrow's already deadly capabilities.

As to whether it is a Phoenix, Vermillion Bird, or a Fire Crow, only Madam Zhang Ai knows. As she pulled back the string, it was as if she was drawing power from the very air around her, channeling it into the weapon in her hand. She took aim at the sky, and with a smooth motion, released the arrow. The power was unlike his former bow.

The arrow streaked through the air, splitting into thousands of smaller fire arrows as it neared Li Jian's ship. They rained down upon the ship and its men like a deadly shower, each arrow burning with a fierce intensity that could not be extinguished by normal means. Madam Zhang Ai had willed it so, and the flames would continue to burn until she decided to extinguish them.

Ding Gen watched in amazement as the arrows rained down, his eyes fixed on Madam Zhang Ai's form. He knew that she was a powerful cultivator, but he had never seen her use such a devastating attack before. Her control over the fire was masterful, and it was clear that she was a force to be reckoned with. It appears that she has also met some opportunity inside the secret realm.

Li Jian's eyes widened in horror as he watched his men fall one by one, pierced by the deadly arrows raining down from the sky. His heart raced with fear and desperation as he realized that he was completely outnumbered and outmatched.

He knew that his only chance of survival was to escape and warn the Grand Echo continent about the danger that these people posed. He turned to his generals, Sun Dong and Peng Tingfeng, and urgently whispered, "We have to find a way out of here. We must inform the Queen Regnant about these people and their terrifying power."

But before they could even attempt to escape, Alchemist Li appeared before them, displaying his full power as a third rank Master Swordsman. With a cold, determined expression, he slashed his sword at Li Jian's ship, cutting it into two halves.

Liu Peng was also aggressive with his attack. He was determined to drive out the 8th squad from their land. With the power of the Tower of Primordial Era's loyalty effect imbued in him, he wouldn't allow these invaders to leave unscathed.

Wearing his knuckles made from the shed of the Titanium Knuckle Gorilla, he unleashed his move, "Rising Sun Breaks the Cloud." With a thunderous boom, another Cloud Chaser fell from the sky.

Ding Gen scolded both Alchemist Li and Liu Peng, "We needed those ships! Liu Peng, Alchemist Li, be careful?"

Liu Peng replied confidently, "Master Ding Gen, it's okay. As long as the main mechanics of the ship are intact, the Zeng family can rebuild it. They are experts in shipbuilding."

Ding Gen shook his head in frustration but knew there was no time to dwell on this now. The 8th squad was still a threat, and they needed to act fast before more damage was done.

"Move everyone, make sure no one will be left alive. These invaders are not a part of the Empire, they are pawns of the Grand Echo Continent!" shouted Ding Gen.

Cui Guozhi frantically looked around for a way out as he used his own men as shields to evade the powerful people attacking him. But little did he know, Siyi was already keeping a watchful eye on him. Just as Cui Guozhi was about to make a break for it and run outside the battlefield, Siyi stepped in front of him, blocking his path.

In a calm and measured voice, Siyi spoke to him, reminding him of the brutal massacre of the Hao clan that Cui Guozhi had led. "Do you remember the night when you massacred the Hao clan? Listen to your armies and colleagues, this is how our clan pleaded. The only difference is that you blame us for a sin that we did not commit, while you are being punished for your sins."

But Cui Guozhi remained defiant, threatening to escape and bring the full force of the Grand Echo upon them. "We made a mistake to let anyone of you alive. We thought that by sending you here, you will only wait for your death. Wait till I escape here and you will all die. You have no idea about the power of the Grand Echo. You are a mere ant in the presence of our King."

Siyi's eyes narrowed as he realized that Cui Guozhi was not going to go down without a fight. With a sudden burst of speed, Siyi blurred forward, his sword flashing as he sliced Cui Guozhi in half. "Escape? Surely you don't think that you can still escape here," Siyi said, his voice cold and unforgiving. "Be glad that I am giving you a swift death."

As the battle raged on, the screams of the 8th squad filled the air. Their bodies fell to the ground one by one, blood splattering everywhere. The clashing of swords and the thudding of fists against flesh echoed through the forest, along with the sound of arrows whistling through the air.

But as the night wore on, the sounds of battle slowly faded away. The last of the 8th squad fell, and their screams were replaced by a heavy silence. The moon cast an eerie light on the battlefield, illuminating the still bodies of the fallen soldiers.

The only sounds now were the rustling of leaves and the occasional hoot of an owl. The cool breeze carried the scent of death and blood, and the once lively forest now seemed to be holding its breath.