Chapter 228: The Battle at the City Gate
Chapter 228: The Battle at the City Gate
The sandstorm has arrived!
Compared to the previous flood disaster, this is yet another distinct heavenly calamity, a different kind of heavenly transformation. Among the various sand disasters, this one is the most severe. In Chen Mu's perception, even the auras of those nearby are all obscured, leaving only the vast and surging sandstorm, like a thundering ocean of sand, descending like a collapsing sky.
This sandstorm eventually slammed into the towering hundred-zhang, miles-long Yunlu Pass.
"Be careful!"
"It's here, hold steady!"
The shouts of Xia Hou Yan and some of the military leaders could be heard, but almost as soon as they spread, they were drowned out by the rumbling between heaven and earth. Aside from the howling winds and sand, like thunder, no other sounds could be heard, not even the voices of those nearby, who were shouting with all their might.
Chen Mu only sensed the vast heavenly might descending, colliding with the earth meridians of the hundred-li Yunlu Pass, causing the towering hundred-zhang pass to tremble slightly, though this was merely an illusion created by the flying sand and rolling stones.
The heavenly might was dazzling and overwhelming, but the hundred-zhang rock wall of Yunlu Pass was also incredibly thick, with the earth meridians within it being so vast and powerful that it withstood the direct impact of the sandstorm without any shaking.
On the city gate.
Aside from Chen Mu, Xia Hou Yan, and a few others, even some of the deacons from Lingxuan Peak, and the military leaders of Yunlu Pass, had to use their Essence Energy to protect themselves and crouch low to endure the impact when heaven and earth collided.
As for the numerous Bone Forging Realm warriors, some even struggled to keep their footing, almost flying horizontally, and had to stab their long spears into the rock wall below to maintain a crouching position and withstand the impact.
"Ah!"
Some Inner Sect Disciples from Lingxuan Peak, who clearly had no experience with sandstorms, were caught off guard and unable to resist, causing them to be lifted off the ground and then directly swept into the air by the storm.
However, at that moment, Chen Mu, standing tall on the city gate, casually waved his hand, unleashing several strikes of Heavenly Might, which landed on those who had been swept into the air and lost their footing. In an instant, the wind and sand around them momentarily stopped, and they fell back into the city gate.
After landing.
Everyone still had a hint of shock in their eyes.
Although they were Bone Forging Realm warriors, if they were swept into the sky by the storm, they wouldn't know where they would be thrown, and if they happened to fall into a group of demons, there was a risk of death.
The Inner Sect Disciples who fell back into the city gate immediately thrust their weapons into the ground beneath them and crouched down, relying on the Yunlu Wall to withstand the howling wind and sandstorm.
At that moment.
On the city gate, numerous warriors in the Organ Realms used their Essence Energy to resist the impact of the wind and sand, while Xia Hou Yan and the others remained calm and stood their ground. The surging wind and sand passed silently in front of them and then spun around their bodies, greatly reducing the frontal impact, and the pressure on the Bone Forging Realm warriors behind them also decreased significantly.
Undoubtedly, the most unique place was where Chen Mu stood. All the wind and sand that rushed towards him head-on did not bypass him or get manipulated by him to control the wind, but instead, they all dissipated silently.
Any wind and sand that reached within three feet of him stopped in mid-air and then turned into grains of dust, falling downward and gradually accumulating into a small sand pile in front of Chen Mu's feet.
"The Heavenly Firmament Concept is indeed profound and can suppress all heavenly phenomena..."
Meng Danyun observed from the side.
As a disciple of Qin Mengjun, she was very familiar with the Heavenly Firmament Concept. However, after Qin Mengjun, there hadn't been anyone in Lingxuan Peak who could cultivate the second step of the Heavenly Firmament Concept for many years.
At this moment, Chen Mu calmly opened the Heavenly Firmament Concept to resist the impact of the wind and sand, while his gaze swept through the sandstorm towards the base of Yunlu Pass. He then heard a series of muffled sounds coming from below the Yunlu Wall.
On the city gate, some Bone Forging Realm warriors couldn't stabilize their bodies and were almost swept away by the wind and waves. The demons couldn't all control the wind and sand either. At that time, there were also many low-level demons who were caught in the wind and sand, unable to control their bodies, and crashed into the Yunlu Wall like thrown stones. Among them, those with fragile bodies burst open, exploding into pieces of flesh and blood, sticking to the wall, and then quickly buried and peeled away by the wind and sand, turning into patches of crimson blood sand.
The gruesome scene was shocking.
However, the Bone Forging Realm officers stationed at Yunlu Pass were accustomed to this, and there wasn't much change in their expressions. Only the disciples from Lingxuan Peak had slightly more solemn expressions, forcing their eyes open in the wind and sand.
One after another, low-level demons crashed into the Yunlu Wall and turned into blood and gore, but there were also some demons with strong and unique bodies, third-level demons, and even fourth-level demons, who either didn't die after crashing into the Yunlu Wall or were able to stabilize their bodies in the wind and sand, slowly making their way towards the city gate.
It could be seen.
Each demon had blood-red eyes and a frenzied look. After the first and most powerful wave passed, the wind and sand completely engulfed the entire city gate, and they began to climb up the Yunlu Wall.
This time, the situation was different from the previous sandstorms that Chen Mu had dealt with. Because the power of the wind and sand was too strong, these demons, relying on the wind and sand, climbed up the Yunlu Wall almost as if they were walking in a straight line. They didn't need to climb at all, and all the demons that reached the base of the hundred-zhang Yunlu Wall continued to climb upward.
As the numerous demons gradually approached the city gate.
"The demons are coming."
The officers and disciples of the Seven Mysteries Sect, who had gradually adapted to the wind and sand and stabilized their bodies, all focused their eyes and prepared for battle.
As the demon beasts surged like a tide, they swarmed and scrambled up the city gate, ready to breach it.
Hummm!!!
Amid the raging winds and sand, the power of the gale coalesced, accompanied by a terrifying demonic might. In an instant, numerous sand spheres appeared, like a barrage of projectiles, sweeping across the sky and slamming into the Yunlu City Gate!
These sand spheres were enormous, nearly ten feet in diameter, and within them, a formidable demonic energy surged, further bolstered by the power of the wind and sand. Before they even landed, they had already caused the Bone Forging Realm captains and officers to pale in fear.
Fifth and even sixth-rank demons took the initiative!
"How dare these petty demons be so brazen!"
Xia Hou Yan's cold rebuke shattered the air as he leaped forward, his spear piercing through one of the massive sand spheres. The sphere then ignited into a raging inferno, and with a flick of his wrist, he hurled it down from the city gate, causing it to explode in midair!
The shattered sand sphere, engulfed in flames, turned into fragments of crimson, enveloping several demons about to scale the city gate. In an instant, they let out shrill, agonizing screams before plummeting down, smashing into others along the way.
"Hmph!"
Chu Jing Su coldly snorted, his body also leaping up, but unlike Xia Hou Yan's actions, he merely extended his hand and grabbed the massive sand sphere with his right hand, forcibly trapping it. Primordial energy surged, dispersing the demonic energy within, and then, with the power of the Gale Whirl Intent, he redirected the enormous sand sphere back towards the city gate below.
Amid the screams and splattering blood, another group of demons was smashed to death.
At the same time, Meng Dan Yun, Zhao Zhen Chuan, and others also took action, including the Viscera Realm Marquis and the stewards, each dealing with smaller sand spheres, either knocking them down or throwing them back.
Only Chen Mu remained standing in his original position, his expression indifferent and devoid of any movement, until a massive sand sphere passed overhead. Only then did he casually reach up and press down, causing the sand sphere to freeze in midair before rapidly contracting inward, shrinking significantly and solidifying into a mottled sand rock. It then reversed its course, tearing through the surrounding wind and sand as it returned.
In the tearing wind and sand.
A slender and withered figure emerged, and it was another Sand Phantom.
"Gaa!"
This Sand Phantom emitted a strange cry, and the nearby wind and sand surged, forming two intersecting sand currents that forcefully blocked the heavy and powerful attack, like a collapsing mountain, of the enormous sand sphere. In the end, it barely managed to halt its advance.
It glanced at Chen Mu with somewhat horrified eyes, then dared not linger and retreated, shrinking back into the deeper reaches of the wind and sand, its presence vanishing.
"Indeed, it's become a bit more troublesome."
Chen Mu observed this scene, his tone calm and unperturbed.
This Sand Phantom's aura, compared to the one he had previously slain, wasn't much stronger, but the more violent the wind and sand, the more tenacious it became. Especially now, with the combined assault, the Sand Phantom clearly sensed the presence of powerful figures like Xia Hou Yan and Chu Jing Su above the city gate, and it dared not approach, keeping its distance within the wind and sand, manipulating the sandstorm from afar.
This Sand Phantom, with its weak physical body, relied entirely on demonic energy and heavenly might, and was completely suppressed by the heavenly power. If it dared to approach within ten zhang of Chen Mu, he still had the confidence to strike it down with a single blow.
But the previous Sand Phantom had been too far away.
Finally,
As the demon hidden within the wind and sand engaged in a distant battle with Chen Mu, Xia Hou Yan, and others, the demons below the city gate finally reached the top, and in an instant, they clashed with numerous warriors amidst the wind and sand.
In a flash, the wind and sand raged, howls reverberated, transforming the area into a battlefield.
"Damn it!"
Cui Sheng, spear in hand, stood not far from Chen Mu, piercing a fourth-rank demon with a single thrust. But then, a sand wave from the wind and sand struck him, sending him reeling back several zhang before he managed to stabilize himself.
The demonic energy within this sand wave wasn't particularly powerful, just that of an ordinary fifth-rank demon. However, the direction of the sandstorm was towards the front of the city gate, so the numerous powerful demons within the wind and sand were like 'riding the current,' and their casual attacks carried overwhelming might.
Conversely, those above the city gate, including the powerful sixth-rank Xia Hou Yan, could only passively defend against the onslaught of attacks, unable to counter-attack the demons hidden deep within the wind and sand.
Arrows shot against the wind lacked the power of those shot with it.
At this moment, all the Six Viscera Realm Guardians were busy fending off the attacks, but they were gradually becoming overwhelmed.
"This is bad!"
Xia Hou Yan, after enduring several rounds of attacks, grew solemn.
In the past, he had encountered such fierce sandstorms, but the number of demons was never this high, and most crucially, none of the Fifth and Sixth Rank demons attempted to actively assault the city gate. Instead, they all remained at a distance, using the sandstorm to harass them.
Although Fifth and Sixth Rank demons possess a certain level of intelligence, it doesn't compare to that of humans. In the past, some would foolishly charge to their deaths, and killing a few would greatly reduce the pressure. But this time, it seems they've all become smarter!"
The powerful demons all hid within the sandstorm, using it to their advantage, not giving the defenders a chance to engage in close combat.
Only countless Third and Fourth Rank lower-level demons were climbing towards the city gate.
Under these circumstances, the Bone Forging Realm disciples faced significant threats, even with the Six Viscera Guardians constantly defending. It was still challenging to ensure the safety of everyone, especially with such an extensive battle line.
However, if they withdrew the Bone Forging Realm disciples, that wouldn't work either. Although the Six Viscera Guardians could effortlessly eliminate these lower-level demons, they couldn't withstand the sheer numbers. Inevitably, many would slip through the net and surge past the city gate, flooding into the city, posing a significant threat to the settlements behind Yunlu Pass.
As for a counterattack...
That would be challenging too!
Within the sandstorm, those Fifth and Sixth Rank demons, naturally adapted to the desert, were far more adept at maneuvering than the defenders. Demons like the Sand Phantom could even use the storm to fly and burrow.
But they couldn't do the same.
Even with their training in the Gales Wind Concept, they couldn't compare to demons whose very bodies and structures were adapted to the sandy environment. Setting aside the difficulty of flying, even in this storm, if they could manage to hover using the Gales Wind Concept, they still wouldn't be able to move freely within the sandstorm. The slightest interference would cause them to plummet.
As Xia Hou Yan inwardly fretted, sensing the highly unfavorable situation, he wasn't sure they could hold out until the sandstorm weakened. Suddenly, a voice, condensed into a thread, pierced through the storm and reached his ears.
"Senior Brother Xia Hou, please watch over this side for a moment. I'll go and deal with these sand demons."
It was Chen Mu's voice.
Xia Hou Yan was momentarily startled. Although the sandstorm obscured his view of Chen Mu's side, he sensed Chen Mu's aura leaving the Cloud Summit Cliff and entering the sandstorm, disappearing within.
"Chen..."
He instinctively wanted to stop Chen Mu, but the words died on his lips.
Merely possessing the Gales Wind Concept was insufficient for actively attacking and engaging the sand demons in the sandstorm. But Chen Mu, with his mastery of the Skyward Technique, was different; flying in the sandstorm was not a challenge for him.
Still, Chen Mu's solo charge into the sandstorm was cause for concern. Although Chen Mu was extremely powerful, even Xia Hou Yan wasn't absolutely confident of defeating him. After all, they didn't know how many demons were hidden within the sandstorm.
But with the situation turning unfavorable, if they continued to stalemate, by the time the storm ended, the Bone Forging Realm disciples and officers would suffer heavy casualties. This was something Xia Hou Yan couldn't accept.
"Junior Brother Chen, it's up to you."
In the end, Xia Hou Yan took a deep breath, placing his hopes on Chen Mu. He then mobilized his Essence Energy, condensing it into a thread and spreading it nearby, reaching the ears of Chu Jing Su, Meng Danyun, and others.
Chu Jing Su, who was running along the city gate and constantly fending off various attacks, felt a surge of frustration. He wanted to charge out and battle the sand demons, but he knew that in this sandstorm, it would be challenging to sense the demons and even harder to catch up with them. Charging out would be useless and only increase the pressure on the city gate.
Frustrated, Chu Jing Su vented his anger on the lower-level demons climbing the city gate. Wherever he went, countless lower-level demons were crushed, but this didn't alleviate the pressure much.
"Hmm? Junior Brother Chen has gone?"
Chu Jing Su heard a voice condensed into a thread, causing him to pause briefly before looking towards the depths of the rolling yellow sand.
On the other side, Zhao Zhen Chuan was continuously striking, breaking several falling sand balls. A glint flashed in his eyes: "Junior Brother Chen..."
He also sensed the increasingly unfavorable situation, with the pressure on the city gate mounting. Even he was struggling to alleviate it, and he didn't have the ability to leave the city gate before the storm weakened. Among them, only Chen Mu, who mastered the Skyward Concept, could do so.
"..."
Meng Danyun killed several demons climbing up with a single sword, but her expression didn't change much. From her understanding of Chen Mu, he wasn't reckless or impulsive. Since he took the initiative to attack, he must have had some confidence in his ability to protect himself.
As for Cui Sheng, the Yunlu Pass Commander, and some stewards from Spirit Profound Peak, who initially had some thoughts of retreating, they all exerted a bit more strength. With Chen Mu, a true disciple, taking the initiative to leave the city gate and risking his life, they had to hold on a little longer.
They could only hope that Chen Mu would truly be able to kill some demons outside the city gate and relieve the pressure on the defenders.
For a moment, the entire battle above the city gate seemed to intensify, with sandstorms raging and blood and flesh flying everywhere.
(End of Chapter)
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