Chapter 1352: Breaking the City

Chapter 1352: Chapter 1352: Breaking the City

No one can withstand such fierce and continuous artillery bombardment from Pei Yan. Even if the Divine Artifact can endure it, the person wielding it cannot withstand the backlash caused by the energy consumption and the artillery barrage. The first issue arose with the chessboard used for repairing the Array. Initially, the chess pieces could barely maintain the pace of the Array’s deterioration. However, as Pei Yan’s artillery fire became increasingly dense, the Divine Artifact gradually fell short. Whenever a piece was placed, it shattered, and when the two were left with no pieces to play, they had to condense their own Qi Blood and vital energy to place pieces on the chessboard. But this method, which demands one’s heart, mind, and energy, cannot last long. After placing fifteen pieces, the two Vegetarian Leaders from the White Deer Institute finally couldn’t hold on, spitting blood onto the chessboard before fainting.

The fainting of the two triggered a chain reaction. What was initially a joint effort to support the Array now fell to the Elder holding the brush to write the Talisman. Waiting for someone to replace the two fallen comrades and continue the game was futile. This Elder writing the Talisman, after scratching out the last half of a Talisman, felt a lack of energy. The backlash from the Array surged towards him like a tide, causing tightness in his chest, rendering him unable to support himself. A dizzy spell followed, and the brush in his hand dropped as well.

Without the assistance of the two Divine Artifacts, the Array, now precariously held, could no longer be maintained by the eerie web alone. Instantly, it was torn open by the all-encompassing artillery, leaving the sect elders and disciples responsible for supporting and maintaining it around the Array no chance to scream before being engulfed by the artillery fire.

No matter how powerful an expert, no one can withstand the bombardment of two missiles. This was what Instructor Hu told Pei Yan when he joined the team. It’s worth noting that Instructor Hu, back then, was not of high rank and had limited experience. From today’s results, Pei Yan still admired these cultivators, who could withstand a baptism of nearly a thousand artillery rounds from seven volleys. The Defense Array was akin to the sci-fi technological force field shields, unimaginable in the real world.

But without the Defense Array to protect them, these cultivators had to flee miserably when facing such bombardment. Cultivators below the Human Sect, when struck directly by a shell, would suffer severe injuries. Without rescue, they would inevitably fall in the ensuing artillery fire. Meanwhile, Asura Dao and Heavenly Dao cultivators were considerably stronger, but even they wouldn’t dare face such dense bombardment head-on. Except for the few Heavenly Dao Elders who fainted from manipulating the Divine Artifacts and had no time to deploy personal protection methods, most White Deer Institute elders ran into the final defense circle with their smoking bodies.

Originally, it was the plaza established by the White Deer Institute for Inner Courtyard disciples to listen to teachings. Normally, the academy’s disciples would sit there and listen to the instructors explain the Cultivation Techniques and the Heavenly Dao. However, no sound of study could be heard there now. The plaza, once bustling with people coming and going, was now crowded to the brink. Except for the area opening the Teleportation Array, the entire plaza was packed with people, leaving not a single spot to stand. The sect, from top to bottom, had gathered over 2500 people here.

How pitiful! The White Deer Institute, at its peak, counted nearly 9000 people between Outer and Inner Courtyard disciples. After deducting the 2000 needed to stand guard in the Immortal Palace, more than 7000 remained in the sect. Following the incident, the main institute summoned disciples from nearby sub-institutes overnight. Together with over 2000 Devouring Demons gathered before the battle, they amassed nearly 10,000 combat forces in the sect. But now, only less than thirty percent remain, and among the disciples who died, seventy percent met their end at Pei Yan’s hands.

Now the disciples of the White Deer Institute had a new understanding of Pei Yan, the great Demon, and were filled with hatred and fear towards him. On the other side, Pei Yan continued his attack without stopping. He saw that the opponent was at the end of their strength, so before they could rebuild a new Protective Array with their remaining strength, Pei Yan pursued them with artillery fire.

This time he went all out, simultaneously firing 300 electromagnetic cannons. Like meteors falling, the shells streaked across the sky, instantly shredding the final Array set up by the White Deer Institute into fragments.

In the next moment, the artillery, which seemed never to cease its attack, finally stopped emitting that terrifying glow. Having fired over 1000 rounds with Pei Yan at the limit after around ten volleys, his hands disengaged from the connection with the surrounding turrets. His body tilted, almost dragging Xia Yu down with him to the ground.

Fortunately, Hu Jiu, who had been protecting both of them all along, quickly moved to support them, only then discovering blood oozing from Pei Yan’s mouth and the corners of his tightly shut eyes.

In a daze, Pei Yan could see through the camera on his shoulder that Hu Jiu was shouting something at him. Having sealed his hearing to avoid being deafened by the cannon fire and encased himself and Xia Yu in vital energy, he now restored his hearing, only to hear Hu Jiu shouting: "Third brother! Are you alright?"

Pei Yan shook his head in response, then gestured behind him with his mouth. Hu Jiu immediately understood and quickly checked Xia Yu behind him. Xia Yu’s palm was still placed in the groove that protruded from Pei Yan’s back. Hu Jiu stepped forward to support Xia Yu and slowly pulled her back, only now realizing her arm was stiff and she was trembling all over.

"Phew!" Pei Yan exhaled a breath, adjusted his internal breath, turned to Xia Yu, and saw her face pale and bloodless. Seeing her trembling figure, Pei Yan was startled and quickly grabbed her wrist with concern, asking, "Are you alright?"

"Are you, are you, are you insane? My superpower is electromagnetic force, but it still requires vital energy to drive! Over a thousand shells! Are you trying to kill me! Cough, cough, cough!" Xia Yu, just regaining consciousness, slapped over, only to find herself unable to muster the strength to wave her hand. Her palm lightly brushed Pei Yan’s helmet before sliding aside. Unbalanced, she couldn’t help but curse, and by the final line, was triggered into yet another bout of dry coughs, spitting out a few mouthfuls of congested blood.

"I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I got caught up in the moment!" Pei Yan continuously apologized, feeling guilty and apologetic looking at Xia Yu nearing exhaustion. Without the support of Xia Yu’s electromagnetic power, he couldn’t display such immense might. Pei Yan apologized: "I got a bit reckless and didn’t think it through."

As he spoke, Pei Yan took out the top-grade healing medicine Lin Ruxue had given him at the Yixue Pavilion, which he hadn’t taken yet, and handed it to Xia Yu, urging: "Take this; it’s the healing medicine given by Lin Ruxue, and it’s definitely top-tier."

"You keep it! I’m not being polite; it’s just excessive exhaustion. Using something this good would be a waste! Keep it for emergencies if someone in the team faces a more critical situation in the future. Of course, I won’t spare you, so when we get back, you’ll owe me nourishment and health restoration." Xia Yu, smiling, didn’t take the medicine but pushed it back.