Undying Life

Chapter 311: Chapter 311: Demonic Bones

The two armies faced off against each other! Xiao Yuanfeng and Xiao Yuandeng commanded a force of 1.11 million soldiers, while Zhong Shan had less than 600,000 troops. Although Zhong Shan had fewer soldiers, he had 50,000 wolf cavalry, giving him an overall advantage. However, Zhong Shan was reluctant to maintain this advantage. Engaging in a battle would result in at least half of his forces being lost, including half of his wolf cavalry. If Xiao Yuanfeng targeted the wolf cavalry, the casualties would be even higher. New to the area, Zhong Shan couldn't afford to gamble, nor did he want to. Recovering lost troops here would take a long time. He couldn't just retreat either, as it would reveal his weakness to the enemy, prompting them to pursue. The situation would then be reversed, leading to a complete defeat. On the battlefield, a single misstep by the commander could lead to total ruin. Blazing Fire suddenly transformed into a gigantic wolf, and Zhong Shan stepped forward. The troops were ready, awaiting Zhong Shan's order to charge with full force. A sense of invincibility emanated from them. At first, Xiao Yuanfeng furrowed his brow with slight concern, but soon, he seemed to understand everything. He waved his hand. "Roarrrrrrr!" The soldiers let out a thunderous roar, ready to charge with all their might at Xiao Yuanfeng's command! Standing atop the giant wolf, Zhong Shan narrowed his eyes, a sly smile playing on his lips. Xiao Wang was no ordinary opponent, and his foster son was formidable as well. The two armies were like coiled springs, ready to explode at the slightest provocation. "Xiao Yuanfeng!" Zhong Shan called out, hoping to strike a psychological blow with words. "Hmph, Zhong Shan, I know you have a sharp tongue. The Grand Commander has strictly ordered us not to engage you in conversation!" Xiao Yuanfeng shouted back. "Haha, you don't even have the courage to speak with me?" Zhong Shan immediately retorted. At this moment, before the two armies clashed, gaining a moral and psychological edge would make a difference in the momentum of the ensuing battle. "Hmph, archers ready!" Xiao Yuanfeng was not swayed by Zhong Shan's taunts. Seeing Xiao Yuanfeng's resilience, Zhong Shan raised an eyebrow and waved his hand. His troops quickly formed battle lines and prepared their bows, arrows aimed at the opposing army. A single gesture from either commander would unleash a torrent of arrows, raining down like a storm. In this tense standoff between the two armies: "Clang... clang... clang..." Suddenly, a crisp bell rang out across the battlefield. The bell's sound was clear, though not loud, yet it spread to all corners, resonating in the ears of all 1.7 million soldiers on the battlefield, penetrating the depths of their souls. In an instant, everyone on the battlefield was momentarily stunned. Even Zhong Shan, standing atop the giant wolf, felt his spirit waver, as if his body remained still but his soul trembled violently, quivering back and forth outside his body. With minds unsettled and souls trembling, the terrifying sound of the bell immobilized over a million people with a single ring. They stood there quietly, waiting for their souls to stop quivering and for their minds to calm. The bell's sound was too terrifying, too powerful.

Perhaps due to Zhong Shan's indomitable will or perhaps due to the effects of the Red Phoenix Scripture, Zhong Shan was the first to stabilize his mind and quickly recovered from the bewildering tremor.

Once clear-headed, Zhong Shan observed that the opposing army, all 1.11 million of them, had been completely immobilized by that terrifying bell sound. Only Xiao Yuanfeng and Xiao Yuandeng had snapped out of it, cold sweat pouring down as they frantically looked around.

Zhong Shan's own troops were in a similar state, dazed and their souls violently trembling. Only Ada and the giant wolf under Zhong Shan's feet, Zhihuo, were able to quickly recover, drenched in cold sweat. Nian Youyou, however, seemed unaffected by the bell, either having awakened earlier or not being influenced by it at all.

Following Nian Youyou's gaze, Zhong Shan looked towards a mountain peak at the side of the battlefield.

At the peak, shrouded in mist, stood a woman in a purple robe, quietly observing. Despite the distance, her voluptuous figure exuded an enchanting allure that made onlookers feel a heat rising within them just by looking at her silhouette. Her hair was tied up, and a veil covered her face, revealing only her eyes—clear and deep as pools.

Born with seductive bones!

Nian Youyou was also naturally seductive, but compared to the woman on the peak, she seemed far less potent. Nian Youyou's allure required specific actions, expressions, or words to manifest, making it difficult for others to resist. The woman in the purple robe, however, stood there demurely and gracefully, and even from such a distance, she radiated an irresistible charm. This went beyond mere seductiveness; it was more fitting to call her demonic, too captivating.

Hanging from the woman's waist was a small purple bell—the source of the earlier sound that had caused chaos among a million soldiers.

For a bell with such power, the woman herself must be extraordinarily formidable.

As the battlefield slowly regained composure, the troops gazed at the distant mountain peak with lingering fear that soon gave way to a subtle arousal. Zhong Shan could even hear some of his soldiers gulping audibly.

Too eerie! Who was she?

"Master, why are you here?" Nian Youyou suddenly spoke up.

Master?

Everyone turned to look at Nian Youyou. Her master?

Zhong Shan frowned. He had long heard from various people that Nian Youyou had a powerful master. Even Xuan Yuan, who guarded the Eight Extremities of Heaven, had mentioned it.

Ada and Zhihuo looked on in shock. This woman in the purple robe was incredibly powerful!

Opposite them, Xiao Yuanfeng and Xiao Yuandeng were filled with uncertainty, glancing between Nian Youyou and the woman in the purple robe in the distance.

They exchanged a look, realizing that things were not going in their favor. To think of attacking now? That would be suicidal. One ring of the bell had immobilized a million troops. Fortunately, the woman had not specifically targeted their army or aided the opposing army. Otherwise, their troops, in that moment of stupor, would have been decimated by a volley of arrows from the enemy.

That wasn't the main issue. The main concern was the woman among the enemy forces. Nian Youyou had addressed the figure on the mountain as 'Master,' and the woman in the purple robe had not denied it, thereby acknowledging Nian Youyou's call.

Master? If Nian Youyou brought her into the battlefield!

Unimaginable. Unthinkable.

Xiao Yuanfeng and Xiao Yuandeng exchanged a glance, then quickly ordered their troops. Xiao Yuanfeng signaled, leaving tens of thousands at the front for a defensive retreat while the rest of the army slowly and swiftly pulled back.

From afar, Zhong Shan saw Xiao Yuanfeng and Xiao Yuandeng retreating but did not pursue them.

Xiao Yuanfeng still had soldiers left behind as a rear guard. Unlike Xiao Yuandeng who fled earlier, they only needed to buy some time so the retreating troops could regroup quickly.

On the peak of the mountain, the woman in purple robes was Master Nian Youyou. Whether she would help him was uncertain. Therefore, Zhongshan opted for stability and did not pursue.

He let Xiao Yuanfeng lead his troops in a swift retreat.

After Xiao Yuanfeng left, it didn't take long before Nian Youyou seized the opportunity. She flew towards a distant mountain peak and stood beside the woman in purple robes.

"Master, why have you come?" Nian Youyou asked in surprise.

"Why? Am I not welcome?" the woman in purple robes said softly.

Their conversation was too far away for outsiders to hear, but if they could, it would surely stir them. The woman in purple robes' voice, more alluring and penetrating than Xiao Yuanfeng's seductive charm, was irresistible to anyone except Nian Youyou.

"No, I'm just surprised," Nian Youyou replied.

"Have you found the person you're looking for?" the woman in purple robes asked.

Nian Youyou glanced towards Zhongshan in the distance, looking somewhat nervous, then shook her head. "Not yet!"

Like mother knows her daughter, having nurtured Nian Youyou for many years, the woman in purple robes quickly saw through Nian Youyou's slight changes. She also glanced briefly at Zhongshan below, who was observing the fire.

"Golden Core stage?" the woman in purple robes frowned slightly.

"Master, I haven't decided yet," Nian Youyou immediately said.

"Whether you've decided or not, if he truly reaches the Golden Core stage, it won't be a problem in the future," the woman in purple robes said, shaking her head.

"Master!" Nian Youyou looked somewhat flustered.

"Alright, come with me now!" the woman in purple robes said.

"Go? Where?" Nian Youyou asked in confusion.

"Pure Land of Bliss!" the woman in purple robes said.

"Pure Land of Bliss? What are we going there for?" Nian Youyou asked, puzzled.

"You'll find out when we get there," the woman in purple robes said.

"Oh..." Nian Youyou nodded reluctantly.

"Master, should I bid farewell to them? It won't take long," Nian Youyou looked at the woman in purple robes and said.

"Don't forget what cultivation you are practicing. Let's go!" the woman in purple robes insisted.

Taking a deep breath, Nian Youyou's expression became solemn. She knew her previous attitude had violated the principles of her cultivation. She nodded immediately.

Instead of going back, Nian Youyou made a gesture of farewell towards Zhongshan's direction and waved her hand.

Then, she turned her head and together with the woman in purple robes, took a step and disappeared from the peak of the mountain.

Zhongshan continued to gaze towards the distant mountain peak where the two women had conversed. There was nothing particularly strange about their conversation, except for Nian Youyou waving her hand at the end. Had the woman in purple robes come specifically to take Nian Youyou away?

"Sir, Nian Youyou has left?" A Da asked immediately.

"Yes!" Zhongshan nodded. Although he knew Nian Youyou had some purpose being by his side, he couldn't help feeling a bit reluctant as she left.

Zhihuo Lang would soon resume his human form. Everyone gathered together.

"That woman is really powerful!" Zhihuo exclaimed.

A Da nodded in agreement. Clearly, the strength of the woman in purple robes was something only those like them, at the Emperor Extreme Realm, could fully comprehend.

"Regroup and return to the city for celebration!" Zhongshan waved his hand.

"Roar~~~~~~" The excited soldiers roared in response.