"Tch, Morax truly lives up to his reputation as a cowardly mouse."
"To think he would send only a snot-nosed brat like you to face me, while he hides behind his lines!"
"Let Morax come out and face me himself!"
The Chi Dragon glared furiously when it saw that the opposing army's leader was no more than a young man.
For a demon god, pride was everything.
In Chi's eyes, Morax's side possessed two demon gods in total—yet only sent a human youth to meet him in battle.
Was this not open mockery?
Jiang Yan, dressed in his azure-gold battle robe, listened to the Chi Dragon's arrogant taunts without anger. His voice was calm and even as he replied,
"The Lord Emperor of Guili Plains is our sovereign. Do you think a petty beast like you is worthy to behold him?"
"To deal with you, I alone am enough."
"Well said, sharp-tongued brat!"
The Chi Dragon threw back its head and laughed in fury.
"Hmph! Let's see if that glib tongue of yours can save you when we fight for real!"
Jiang Yan raised his right hand.
"All forces—advance!"
At his command, the Thousand Rock Army instantly shifted formation, their bodies shining with golden light. Their units locked together in "pin" (品)-shaped formations, pressing forward step by step toward the Chi Dragon's horde.
The Chi Dragon's eyes darkened. The sheer pressure exuded by the advancing human army made the demonic beasts behind him grow restless and uneasy.
"Attack!"
Under the crushing aura of their master, the monsters roared and charged in chaos toward the Thousand Rock formation.
A black tide of beasts crashed into the wall of gold.
For a time, flesh and blood splattered like rain.
The Thousand Rock soldiers stood their ground without fear. Their formations closed in on both flanks, forming an inverted "pin" shape that trapped the demonic army within.
Each soldier's face was grim yet resolute. Even before the frenzied assault of the monsters, they did not waver. Their spears swept in glittering arcs, cutting down beast after beast.
The battlefield was like a vast, bottomless meat grinder—devouring lives without end.
Yet amid that endless black sea of demonic bodies, the Thousand Rock Army blazed like a shard of light.
Golden radiance wrapped around their armor and skin; wherever that light shone, monsters fell like lambs to the slaughter—pierced through before they could even approach.
The Chi Dragon's expression turned darker still.
He had not expected the humans under Morax to be this formidable—meeting the demonic horde head-on without the slightest hint of fear!
Their clash raged for an entire day and night.
Human potential was high—but so were their limits.
Their bodies, however strong, were still flesh and blood.
Even though the Thousand Rock soldiers had grown far hardier in the past five years, after a full day and night of slaughter, the losses mounted without pause.
"Qianyan stands firm—its bulwarks unshaken!"
"Qianyan stands firm—its bulwarks unshaken!"
"Qianyan stands firm—its bulwarks unshaken!"
Their thunderous battle cries echoed through all of Dihua Prefecture, a killing intent so vast that even lesser demon gods watching from afar turned pale.
In that moment, this army—known as the Thousand Rock Army—etched its name deeply into the memory of every god and demon present.
Some demon gods who still felt pity for humankind trembled within; others, cold and bloodthirsty, merely sneered—watching as if at a play.
But the Chi Dragon, who faced them directly, could feel it most clearly: this mortal army was extraordinary.
Jiang Yan's brows furrowed.
Hovering in the sky above the battlefield, his hands clenched tightly beneath his sleeves.
Each fallen soldier's cry struck his heart like a hammer blow.
Murderous intent filled his eyes as he locked his gaze upon the Chi Dragon before him.
He could act now—he wanted to act.
But he did not.
A true army, to become strong, must be tempered in blood.
Only through slaughter could steel be forged into a blade worthy of war.
Before this campaign began, Jiang Yan had made himself a vow:
Unless the Chi Dragon himself entered the fray, he would not make a move.
The Thousand Rock Army needed this baptism by fire.
When the sun set once more, the battle finally ended—at the cost of one-third of the Thousand Rock Army's lives.
But they had won, utterly.
The remnants of the demonic horde trembled.
The blood-soaked Thousand Rock soldiers, eyes burning, looked like ghosts risen from hell itself.
The monsters broke.
Despite the Chi Dragon's roars of command, they fled in every direction.
The Chi Dragon's face darkened as he stared at Jiang Yan.
"A fierce army indeed! You trained them yourself?"
Even the brutal Chi Dragon could not deny the strength of this human host.
Jiang Yan's gaze was icy. He did not answer the question directly. A cold smile tugged at his lips.
"You've lost."
At that, the Chi Dragon shook his head.
"A battle between demon gods can only be decided by demon gods."
"I admit your army is strong—for mortals. But before a god, mortals will always bear the weight of divine punishment."
"Send Morax to face me."
Jiang Yan's mouth curved slightly upward. His hands came together in a seal.
The army had proven itself. His goal was achieved.
Now—he could fight without restraint.
"You mean," Jiang Yan said softly, "if I defeat you, then victory is ours?"
"Heh… hahahaha! Boy, you would challenge me?"
The Chi Dragon laughed wildly, his killing aura surging skyward even as he stood before the murderous ranks of the Qianyan.
"Very well! I'll grant you this much—you have courage, mortal!"
"Tell me your name!"
Divine light rippled across Jiang Yan's face, etching immortal sigils that circled his eyes and came to rest upon his ears.
Then his voice rang out, clear and resounding across heaven and earth:
"I am the Wood Spirit Adeptus—under the command of Morax!"
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