Chapter 29: The Regular Army of Fiendish Corpses

Qin Shu shook his head. “As long as you’re happy.”

And so they watched, like moths to a flame, as each banesoldier flew into the inferno.

Lu Yixi continued, “So we just… do nothing, and complete the level?”

“Is it that easy? There are still monsters ahead, and they’ll be very powerful.” Qin Shu had already sensed several potent energies rising at the other end of the passageway.

Daring not to take things lightly, he immediately transformed the five elements array.

“The Five Elements Great Escape! Earth, Metal, Water, Wood, Fire—generate!”

In an instant, the five elements’ forces began circulating within the array, making the already raging protective shield even more solid.

“They’re coming,” Qin Shu said mildly.

A moment later, a sound pierced the air—a scarlet arrow streaked through, its whistling shriek sharp as it hurtled straight for the protective barrier.

Ping!

The arrow moved with incredible speed, little more than a black blur, but was firmly repelled by the Five Elements Great Array. After a brief stalemate, the arrow shattered into pieces, while the array’s protective shield remained as steady as Mount Tai.

“That’s all?” Lu Yixi remarked. “Looks flashy, but seems pretty useless.”

Then, a massive volley of such arrows came shooting from the incomplete gateway, spanning over ten kilometers, resembling miniature missiles in flight.

Black-red arrows pelted against the protective barrier like a tempestuous storm, striking with a symphony of clangs before shattering into fragments.

Qin Shu’s thoughts stirred slightly, causing the array’s protective shield to begin trembling.

He smirked mischievously. “So? Still think it’s all looks and no substance?”

“No, but can you actually hold them off?” Lu Yixi asked, her voice tinged with fear as she witnessed the terrifying onslaught of arrow rain.

Qin Shu stomped his foot, channeling true essence into the apricot-yellow flag. The array instantly steadied, ceasing its wavering motion. “Relax,” he said reassuringly. “This level of attack is well within my array’s capabilities. No need to panic.”

With that, he resumed swinging his Flying Sand Sword, each stroke unleashing sword glares that danced like serpents through the air, converging on the banesoldiers encircling them from all directions.

In an instant, yellow sand swirled wildly, banesoldiers falling in waves—each wave bringing fresh corpses to the pile.

Hundreds of swings passed through Qin Shu’s hands, each blade piercing a banesoldier. The residual energy from these explosions would then annihilate another dozen or so soldiers.

In other words, he had already vanquished thousands of first-rank banesoldiers, making it possible for him to teleport back to the God Soul Continent at any moment.

Within the safety of the array, Lu Yixi also let out a sigh of relief; at least they were now secure.

“Do you wish to continue?” she asked.

“Would you?” Qin Shu countered.

Lu Yixi pondered for a moment before saying, “If you can still hold on, then let’s continue.”

“That works for me,” Qin Shu replied. He wanted to earn more spiritual soul coins; as it stood, this trip to the Abyss wasn’t even worth the trouble.

Suddenly, the sound of hoofbeats echoed in the distance.

Through the barrier of the spell formation, Qin Shu watched as the main gate opened. A tide of cavalry surged forth like an unstoppable flood.

At their head was a formidable general, wielding a massive blade. His sheer presence marked him as undoubtedly a second-rank monster.

The riders moved with breathtaking speed, forming an arrow-like formation with their leader at its tip. They charged forward with a velocity rivaling that of a high-speed train.

Covering over six miles would take them mere minutes to reach the gates.

Upon closer inspection, this contingent consisted of no more than a hundred or so soldiers. Yet, bolstered by the spell formation, they emanated an aura typically reserved for third-rank monsters.

As they advanced, the cavalry unleashed a murderous intent capable of shattering mountains and cleaving earth.

Unaccustomed to such spectacle, Lu Yixi felt her anxiety rise. Unable to resist asking, “Do you think we can withstand this assault?”

“Why bother?” Qin Shu responded coolly. With that, he spat out the Qingping Sword Pill and embedded it into Flying Sand Sword, transforming it into a powerful weapon. “All we need is to disrupt their charge, right?”

He activated the first form of the Cyan Lotus Sword Art: Lotus Blooming.

With divine will guiding his sword, Flying Sand leapt from the formation, ready to meet the enemy.

Outside the formation, sand exploded into a swirling tornado that enveloped Flying Sand Sword, transforming it into an enormous yellow lotus platform.

The platform ascended above the cavalry before detonating with a thunderous boom.

Qin Shu precisely spared the second-rank rider banesoldier ahead, allowing the sword energy to pierce through the ranks of cavalry behind him.

Each grain of sand became a tiny blade, hundreds of billions descending like a tempest.

These cavalry banesoldiers dissolved as swiftly as snow under sunlight, vanishing in an instant.

Only one second-rank rider banesoldier remained, its mount—a similarly ranked banesoldier warhorse—yet their charge had lost all its former might.

With a thought from Qin Shu, Flying Sand Sword reversed course, its tip piercing the rider banesoldier from behind, unleashing a burst of sword energy.

In this moment, the rider banesoldier began to disintegrate into sand, while the warhorse collapsed dramatically, its front hooves giving way as it slammed into the ground. The impact sent a wave of flying sand billowing into the air.

Witnessing this attack, Lu Yixi couldn’t help but ask, “What kind of sword technique is that?”

“Something I devised myself,” Qin Shu replied. “I call it the Cyan Lotus Sword Art. How do you find it?”

“It’s incredibly impressive!” Lu Yixi mused for a moment, then said, somewhat wistfully, “Now I’m torn—should I learn formations or sword techniques? They both seem so powerful. And that lotus was truly beautiful.”

Qin Shu spoke without turning his head, “That depends on you. Your Lu family is wealthy and influential; learning anything shouldn’t be a problem for you.”

“You’re right,” Lu Yixi agreed without any offense at Qin Shu’s words, finding them quite natural. “Let’s discuss it when the time comes.”

The initial cavalry charge was merely an appetizer. As they were annihilated, the main gates fully opened.

The true regular army appeared. Each banesoldier had a complete body, with tattered flags fluttering in the wind. The infantry and cavalry coordinated seamlessly, numbering tens of thousands, as they marched towards Qin Shu and Lu Yixi en masse.

Their speed wasn’t fast, but their might was overwhelming like a tidal wave.

Lu Yixi felt as if she were facing a massive tsunami, while the Five Elements Formation was just a solitary boat.

“Maybe we should leave,” she suggested, showing her quick understanding of the situation.

“We’ve barely started!” Qin Shu exclaimed excitedly. “But indeed, we need to move - not back, but away from here first.”

With that, the apricot-yellow flag flew into his hand, while the other four flags surrounded them both. “Let’s go!”

Lu Yixi’s eyes lit up. “This formation can move too?”

“Why wouldn’t it?” Qin Shu replied, stepping forward forcefully. He soared dozens of meters away before calling out, “Keep up.”

This was called a strategic retreat, used to avoid the overwhelming might of thousands of soldiers.

Lu Yixi, not one to be outdone, quickly caught on to Qin Shu’s plan and chimed in, “You’re truly clever.”

“It’s called wisdom,” Qin Shu replied mildly. “Cleverness is for children.”

Naturally, their speed surpassed that of the advancing army. Before long, they had left this ten-thousand-strong force behind, nearly disappearing from their sight.

Just then, the army halted and began an about-face—front ranks moving to the rear, rear ranks stepping up to the front—as they turned to leave.

Qin Shu kept his eyes peeled. This was too good an opportunity to pass up!

He activated the Five Elements Formation with a cry: “Five Elements Great Escape! Fire Transformation! Fire Dragon emerges from its cave!”

The vast elemental power within the formation coalesced into fire energy, manifesting as a hundred-meter-long fire dragon that soared forth, bearing down on the banesoldier army with searing heat.

“Roar!”

Sensing provocation and extreme heat from behind, the banesoldier general let out an enraged bellow. He wheeled his horse around, raising his massive blade high. The malevolent energy condensed into a colossal sword, dozens of meters wide, which slashed down towards the fire dragon.

“Boom!”

Two forces collided explosively in mid-air.