What defines a truly elite army? What distinguishes it from a rabble of misfits?
Perhaps in the past, such a difference wasn't as clear. But now—just one look, and the distinction between a proper, disciplined military and a chaotic mess is crystal clear. The difference was like heaven and earth. Simply incomparable.
"So this is the army of Great Yi... truly awe-inspiring."
Even Yue Fei couldn't help but show signs of emotion.
The Yue Family Army he trained himself was known for its strict discipline, and truthfully, it wasn't much inferior to the formal legions of Great Yi. At most, the difference was just a hair's breadth. The real gap lay in their cultivation levels and the seamless unity of their vital energies. When these soldiers stood together, they didn't even need to make deliberate movements—they were naturally a single entity.
They weren't standing as individuals.
This level of unity not only required incredible tacit coordination, but also demanded that their cultivation methods and combat arts be able to integrate perfectly with each other.
Moreover, the aura emanating from each soldier was already at the pinnacle of the Life Map Realm—only a step away from the Manifestation Realm. At any time, they could break through.
And these were just ordinary soldiers.
An entire army at the peak of the Life Map Realm—what kind of terrifying force was this?
Momentum, cultivation, armaments—everything pointed toward total superiority. Absolute suppression.
The many talents and experts within Gathering of Heroes Pavilion were left stunned—but also filled with joy. They were about to join Great Yi, and this army would soon be their army. And if it was theirs, then the pride they felt surged from the depths of their hearts.
"Greetings, Emperor. Please issue your command."
Zhuge Liang bowed respectfully toward Yi Tianxing.
Back when they left White Crow City, the city had already been notified to follow behind. In fact, a group of cultivators had been directly transmitted back to the city to coordinate. Naturally, they had arrived in Blazing Flame City at the fastest possible speed.
"Awaiting your command, Emperor!"
The generals and soldiers shouted in unison, voices blending into a thunderous roar that shook the skies.
"Deploy the full army. Zhuge Liang will coordinate the battlefield."
Yi Tianxing nodded, his tone decisive.
"As you command, Emperor."
Zhuge Liang acknowledged and instantly began issuing commands.
"Target the serpent swarm with Godslayer Crossbows. Aim Godslayer Ballistae at the Hydra. Launch the Yin-Yang Annihilation Bombs!"
There was no hesitation. As soon as the order was given, the troops moved in unison. Crossbows were raised, each loaded and primed. Quivers were fully stocked, ready to rain death without pause.
"Target: serpent swarm. Fire at will!"
The field commanders shouted.
Swish, swish, swish!!
Without hesitation, the soldiers pulled their triggers.
A storm of crossbow bolts rained down upon the dense serpent horde. In an instant, the sky turned black, blotted out by the sheer number of projectiles. Each bolt gleamed with divine radiance as it tore through the air like lightning.
On the battlefield, there was no need for precise aim. Even a blind shot would hit something in such a target-rich environment. The bolts rained down like a monsoon, slamming into the multi-headed serpents.
Some pierced straight through their bodies, leaving gaping holes. The violent energy within the bolts detonated upon impact, blasting the serpents into pieces. Heads exploded like watermelons.
The Godslayer Crossbows easily pierced through the serpents' divine abilities and protective energies.
At the same time, massive Godslayer Ballistae unleashed volleys of enormous bolts. These were oversized versions of the Godslayer Crossbows, and their ammunition were Demon-Slaying Arrows, magnified many times over.
These bolts locked onto the Hydra, a terrifying seventh-rank beast. The black-and-white arrows streaked across the sky, manifesting as beams of destructive light that flashed through the battlefield.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Deafening blasts erupted as the Demon-Slaying Arrows struck the Hydra. The terrifying penetration power shredded its defenses, embedding deep into its flesh. A moment later, each arrow exploded with black-and-white divine light—forces of extreme opposition clashing violently, unleashing a cataclysmic detonation.
Annihilation energy engulfed the Hydra. It was as though the end of the world had descended upon it.
Then, wave after wave of Yin-Yang Annihilation Bombs rained down on the battlefield.
Each detonation multiplied the devastation, spreading annihilation energy in all directions.
Hiss!!
All of this happened in an instant. From the moment Great Yi's forces acted, the tide of the battle turned completely. Serpents fell by the thousands, and even the mighty seventh-rank Hydra was engulfed in devastating power, its cries of agony and fury echoing through the field.
It struggled to break free—but relentless waves of Annihilation Bombs and Demon-Slaying Arrows kept hammering it down.
To the various cultivators within Blazing Flame City, this scene was nothing short of soul-shaking.
They had personally fought those serpent hordes. They knew how strong they were. Yet, in a single assault, the troops of Great Yi crushed them completely.
The contrast was overwhelming.
"Too powerful... terrifyingly so. Has the Great Yi Emperor's dynasty reached this level already? Even their soldiers possess third-rank peak strength. And those crossbows... devastating in one volley."
"Great Yi really is the foremost fortune dynasty under the heavens. The human race's prowess in war is truly fearsome. I've never seen weapons like these before. Those ballistae managed to suppress a seventh-rank beast! That's equivalent to a True Spirit Realm powerhouse!"
"Just a bunch of third-rank soldiers, yet with coordination and weaponry, they've overwhelmed a seventh-rank being... unthinkable!"
"If only I could join the Great Yi Dynasty. To be one of its citizens would mean a future filled with opportunity and growth."
"Thank heavens we're allies now. With Eternal Night as a common enemy... If we were enemies with Great Yi, just imagine the nightmare of facing this army in battle."
Even the likes of Prince Lion soul were shaken. The sheer might of Great Yi's military had left an unforgettable impression. Their evaluation of the dynasty had risen exponentially.
"Suppress!"
At this moment, Yi Tianxing made his move. A single word left his lips.
An invisible force blanketed the battlefield.
Countless surviving multi-headed serpents were suddenly pinned to the ground, unable to move.
"Seal!"
"Capture!"
With two more commands, a massive spatial gate appeared in the air.
A formless force swept up the serpents and dragged them through the gate.
After all, these serpents were treasures in their own right. The serpent pearls inside them were more potent than many spiritual pills.
"These multi-headed serpents are invaluable. If we breed them properly, we can harvest their serpent pearls regularly. These pearls could dramatically accelerate our cultivators' growth. A huge boon for the Great Yi."
Yi Tianxing's mind moved swiftly.
The moment he understood the value of the serpent pearls, he had already decided to domesticate the species.
Space was no issue—the Cloud Realm within Great Yi's territory had many layers, each one an independent world. Some layers could be used for breeding. There was no risk of the serpents causing chaos.
And within the Heavenly Emperor Pagoda, things were even safer. No matter how much they bred, they couldn't pose a threat.
These serpents could become a strategic resource for Great Yi, a unique specialty of the realm.
Liu Bowen, watching from the side, noticed the gleam in Yi Tianxing's eyes and immediately guessed his intentions. But he didn't say a word. It was a good plan, after all.
Of course, if others had the skill and confidence, they could try the same. But handling these beasts was another matter.
Multi-headed serpents were inherently chaotic and destructive. The more heads they had, the more uncontrollable they became. Without proper containment, disaster was inevitable.
Back on the battlefield...
The black-and-white annihilation light gradually faded.
As the blighted zone became visible again, the corpse of the Hydra was revealed.
Its massive body lay crumpled on the ground, scales shattered and scattered, flesh mangled and torn. All seven of its heads were in ruins—wounds everywhere, looking like a ruinous, unrecognizable mess.