As Lin Qian had predicted, when the smoke and dust cleared from the battlefield, Yun Zhi's battered figure became visible to Emperor Lin and Yun Yunyan.
Yun Zhi was in a miserable state. His once-refined soul-forged robe was now tattered and scorched, with black smoke rising from it. Burn marks and bloody wounds could clearly be seen on his body, indicating the damage he had taken. Despite being a Transcendence Realm expert, Yun Zhi had been heavily injured by the combined assault of three Class Three Destruction Impact Cannons.
"Damn it! Do you really think such tricks can defeat me?" Yun Zhi roared in fury, his voice resonating with anger. His wrath was not only audible in the image but also echoed in the wooden house where Lin Qian and his parents watched, causing Lin Qian's family to hear his rage loud and clear.
Both Emperor Lin and Yun Yunyan felt a rising sense of concern. Despite their son's tactical genius, Yun Zhi was a Transcendence Realm expert—an elite cultivator who had surpassed the limits of ordinary soul cultivators and entered an entirely different realm of power. The disparity between Transcendence and Awakening cultivators was vast. Transcendence Realm warriors possessed a long lifespan, immense strength, and the ability to manipulate the natural elements around them, exerting crushing pressure over Awakening Realm cultivators.
However, Lin Qian's forces—his generals and beast commanders—were bolstered by the combined might of Lin Qian's soul force, augmented by the support of his parents, both of whom were Transcendence Realm cultivators. With their combined soul aura, the warriors of Huaxia would not be overwhelmed by Yun Zhi's crushing presence.
"You've angered me! You think you can face the power of the Transcendence Realm without paying the price? You should know what it means to defy someone of my level!" Yun Zhi's pride and fury were evident as he unleashed his soul force. Waves of icy soul energy surged from him, transforming the surrounding area into a brutal, frost-bitten battlefield. The winds howled, and the very atmosphere froze, all under the weight of Yun Zhi's terrifying power.
The environment became instantly inhospitable, a stark demonstration of the might of a Transcendence Realm soul cultivator.
"Negative effects removal!" Lin Qian suddenly commanded.
At that moment, Zhao Long, the lead general, held a crystalline object in his hand, which caught Emperor Lin and Yun Yunyan by surprise. They remembered the power of such crystals from their experience in the "Joy Arena," where Lin Qian had used these mysterious objects to empower them, rendering the Yun family elders helpless and despairing.
Now, on the battlefield, they were witnessing the same crystal, held by Zhao Long.
Crack! Without hesitation, Zhao Long crushed the crystal in his hand. As it shattered, a brilliant wave of translucent light spread out, neutralizing the harsh, icy storm that Yun Zhi had summoned. The negative effects of his soul force were instantly wiped out, as if they had never existed.
In the midst of the now-calmed battlefield, Yun Zhi continued to roar in frustration, oblivious to the fact that his soul energy was no longer affecting the surroundings.
Emperor Lin and Yun Yunyan exchanged glances, astonished by the sight of invisible forces swirling around, suppressing Yun Zhi's soul power.
"Qian'er, what is that?" Yun Yunyan asked, unable to contain her curiosity any longer.
"It's a tool. You can think of it as a special soul device developed by Huaxia. It can eliminate unfavorable environmental factors and maintain normal conditions for about an hour," Lin Qian explained while keeping his eyes fixed on the tactical display.
He then issued another command: "All units, listen up! The enemy's soul power is no longer affecting the battlefield. Continue the assault as planned. Spread out and be cautious of Yun Zhi's area-of-effect attacks."
"Zhao Long, lead the charge! Heavy shield and polearm units, follow closely. Attack!"
With Lin Qian's order, Zhao Long raised his spear high and charged toward Yun Zhi with a roar. "For His Majesty! For the Soul of Huaxia!"
"For the blood of Yan and Huang!"
"For Huaxia!"
"For Huaxia!"
The battle cry of the united army reverberated through the skies, dispersing the lingering clouds as they rushed forward in an overwhelming surge of momentum.
"Unmatched!" Zhao Long shouted, his spear aimed directly at Yun Zhi's heart.
Yun Zhi's eyes widened in shock. Instinctively, he conjured ice crystals to shield himself, and his soul-forged longblade materialized in his hands. Yet, the force behind Zhao Long's spear was far greater than he had anticipated. The collision of their weapons sent shockwaves rippling through the air.
"How is this possible? How can an Awakening Realm warrior possess such power?" Yun Zhi gritted his teeth as he barely held off Zhao Long's attack. The force transmitted through his weapon left him stunned.
Despite his strength as a Transcendence Realm expert, the sheer power behind Zhao Long's spear forced Yun Zhi back, though he managed to retaliate, sending Zhao Long flying.
However, Yun Zhi himself was not unscathed. Zhao Long's strike had clearly left its mark.
Before Zhao Long could crash to the ground, several robust soldiers caught him and stabilized his retreat. But before Yun Zhi could gather his composure, a fierce blue-furred wolfman appeared beside him, slashing at his face with razor-sharp claws.
Yun Zhi reeled back, surprised that this half-human, half-beast creature had managed to land a blow. The slash left a shallow wound on his face, but the wolfman's speed left him disoriented.
As Yun Zhi prepared to counterattack, the warriors around him suddenly retreated, making way for a barrage of massive soul arrows that rained down from above, followed by another wave of soul energy beams striking his body.
Inside the wooden house, Emperor Lin and Yun Yunyan were dumbfounded as they watched their son command his troops with incredible precision.
"Hold the line! Heavy shield units and polearm soldiers, keep drawing his attention!" Lin Qian barked orders, his voice filled with intensity. "Sword users, are you blind? Can't you see he's preparing a soul attack? Get in there and interrupt him with crowd control!"
"Water-based beast commanders, keep the healing going! Don't just stand there! Stack the buffs properly!"
"Xiaoyue, I know you're a wolfman, but could you stop howling during attacks? It gives away your position!"
"Mind your formations! The Huaxia Soul Formation's effectiveness has dropped to ninety percent!"