Chapter 1349: Xia Yu’s Assistance

Chapter 1349: Chapter 1349: Xia Yu’s Assistance

In front of the inner walls of the White Deer Institute, the Six Guards Army and the Devouring Demon army were already locked in battle. These eerie transformed beings, feeling no pain and unafraid of death, possessed extraordinary strength and defense power, making them the best candidates for cannon fodder. Caught off guard, the Six Guards soldiers were indeed taken by surprise at first, but the Devouring Demons, being ultimately of limited intelligence, soon found the well-trained elite soldiers of the Six Guards forming arrays to confront them, and continuously suppressing them with long arrows and spears infused with elemental energy, striving to maintain combat distance.

Although it was unclear why the elemental energy in the arrows inexplicably dissipated after hitting the enemy, reducing their power, the Devouring Demons’ attacks were still obstructed by this dense and continuous assault, allowing the Six Guards soldiers to leverage their advantage to slay them.

Just as the tides of the battle began to turn, orders for a full retreat came from the rear, and the skilled sorcerers among the Six Guards were commanded to immediately establish three defensive lines to block the pursuit route of the Devouring Demons, leaving the forward commanders—the various Captains and lower-ranking Brigade Commanders—confused.

"We’re just about to win, these things are nothing more than zombies forged from grudges. Why is the Supreme General ordering us to retreat?" some of the Brigade Commanders complained upon receiving the order.

"The Supreme General must have his reasons! Enough with the chatter, quickly follow the orders, or face military discipline!" Though perplexed by the orders, the Captains could only comply with military commands.

"Report! Brigade Commander Zhao, Brigade Commander Zhang! It seems there’s an issue with our men!" Just as units were constructing the defensive lines methodically, a soldier dashed back from the front to report loudly to his Brigade Commanders.

"Why are you yelling? Stand firm and report!" Brigade Commander Zhao, displeased with the soldier’s panicked demeanor, remarked in annoyance, especially with the Captains overseeing from the front lines.

The reporting soldier, gasping for breath, hastily explained, "Brigade Commander, our men are being troubled by the resentful aura released by those creatures. Some are losing control and going mad. In severe cases, there are signs of transformation similar to those evil beings."

"What?" Before Brigade Commander Zhao could respond, Captain Liu Mingzhen stepped forward, looking towards the battlefield only to find several soldiers exhibiting strange behaviors. This situation, previously subtle, became more pronounced as more Devouring Demons fell, leading to increasing abnormalities among the soldiers at the front. Initially, these soldiers attributed their discomfort to the battlefield’s resentful aura, but as the anomaly within them grew stronger, they struggled to contain it with elemental energy, and those weaker in resolve and strength began to suffer more severe consequences.

"This might be the reason for the Supreme General’s withdrawal order! Dammit! Even a prominent sect like the White Deer Institute harbors such wicked beings. It’s our inadequate preparation for not bringing Exorcism Talismans. Can purging sorcery remove the evil influence from the affected soldiers?" Liu Mingzhen, cursing under his breath, searched for a solution as this reprobate sect wasn’t expected to harbor such abhorred creatures not even the notorious Demon Sect retained.

"Reporting to the Captain, the purging sorcery provides some temporary relief from the evil presence, but its effects are limited and cannot eradicate it. That thing is more than just a simple grudge; it can continuously devour elemental energy from its tainted host and the environment. If the afflicted soldier’s internal elemental energy is insufficient to suppress the grudge, they will be completely corrupted." The reporting soldier accurately conveyed the front line’s treatment situation.

Liu Mingzhen nodded, decisively ordering, "Following the Supreme General’s directives, the Magic Group should immediately establish defensive lines. The rest of the personnel should retreat, with the rear guard stopping the enemy but not engaging these foul beings to prevent further contamination. For those lightly affected, two people should attend to one, continuously applying purging techniques to help suppress the evil within. Severely afflicted individuals should be restrained with the Immortal Trapping Rope, multiple layers if necessary, and all affected personnel should be evacuated from the battlefield!"

"As ordered!"

The military order was as imperative as ever; the army in front of the White Deer Institute’s formation moved into action instantly. Soldiers within the Magic Group utilized techniques to gather soil and stones at the front into walls, reinforced with a Talisman Array, leaving only an escape route for their own before sealing this last gap after a full withdrawal.

The soldiers at the frontline also abided by the new command, retreating steadily. Once they reached the first stone wall, the rear-guard soldiers tenaciously defended the gap, and only after the full withdrawal of the main forces did they retreat to the second gap under cover from the Magic Group and the archers. The exposed gap was then promptly filled with boulders summoned by the Magic Group from the sky, ensuring that by the time all soldiers had withdrawn, the three defensive lines were simultaneously completed and closed.

The entire retreat was orderly, without any chaos, except for a few soldiers completely corrupted by the evil beings who ran deep into the Devouring Demon army and were beyond rescue. Everyone else adhered to orders and withdrew from the front, a testament to the Six Guards Army’s rigorous training and the White Deer Institute’s decision not to let the Devouring Demons chase them. Discovering the intention of the Six Guards Army to withdraw, the White Deer Institute, afraid of potential traps, hurriedly used sorcery to control the Devouring Demons, halting their pursuit and withdrawing beneath the city walls while awaiting another confrontation from the enemy.

The battlefield, which had been a scene of deep distress, now experienced a momentary calm. Both the restless disciples on the city walls of the White Deer Institute and the soldiers retreating to commanding heights for a better vantage point, took this opportunity to catch their breath while awaiting the next round of fierce battle.

"Can we start?" Xia Yu eagerly asked, watching the fully retreated Six Guards Army on the battlefield.

"We can!" Pei Yan replied.

"What do I need to do? You can activate this thing without me, right?"

"I can, but to wield such an overwhelming force from multiple turrets, the might of destroying heaven and earth, relying on myself alone might fall short; that’s why I asked you for assistance. Place your hand on my back." As he spoke, Pei Yan, who had completed full body mechanization, extended his arms, mechanical streams from his fingertips linking all surrounding turrets together. At the same time, a raised platform appeared on his back with a handprint-shaped indentation.

"Place your hand there. Once I initiate the attack, continuously channel your electromagnetic force into me," Pei Yan instructed again after completing everything.

"Can it be done? I haven’t mastered this electromagnetic power for long; it’s quite violent. It might be alright against enemies, but supporting you, won’t it harm you?" Xia Yu, having forcibly broken through at the Sword Discussion Conference and received electromagnetic power from Lin Junzhao, was still unable to fully control this violent energy. She followed Pei Yan’s instructions, pressing her hand down yet fretfully inquired.