I Contracted All Ancient Divine Artifacts

Chapter 314: Chapter 213: Four Guardians, Four Directions

It was mentioned when contracting the Xuanyuan Sword that the higher one’s mastery of Sword Dao, the more harmoniously they wield the Xuanyuan Sword, and the greater its power!

First, the bamboo forest sharpened his Sword Dao, then the Sword Remains reforged his foundation. Now Han Zhan has made a qualitative leap in his Sword Dao mastery.

Han Zhan did not hold back with this strike.

When he made his move, it was with full force!

The pitch-black tide of Exotic Beasts was split into a blank space with just one slash from Han Zhan.

A dense blood mist dissipated into the air.

The black Demon Crossing Cloak fluttered loudly in the wind.

”How do we fight?”

Elder Bing and the others did not catch up, still maintaining coordination atop the city wall, and asked aloud.

They didn’t ask ”should we flee,” nor did they ask ”should we escape,” but rather ”how do we fight.”

Because in their hearts, since they dared to come, let them forever remain here!

”Four people, defend in four directions.”

As for how to fight this battle.

Han Zhan had already drafted a mental plan before making his move.

The enemy attackers on the other side belonged to four factions. This was both a disadvantage and an advantage.

The disadvantage was that the four factions attacking the same target simultaneously imposed unimaginable pressure on the defending side.

But the advantage was that they weren’t united, and things like using borrowed strength to kill or redirecting disasters eastward could be achieved in battle without any psychological burden.

Though Han Zhan and his team currently seemed isolated, he was sure that the Anti-Xia Alliance’s reinforcements would arrive soon.

Because,

the Alliance Leader of the Anti-Xia Alliance was his wife.

With concerns about the rear addressed, the focus for Han Zhan became, ”How to hold out until the Anti-Xia Alliance reinforcements arrive.”

This involved their combat strength and strategies.

First, in terms of combat strength, Elder Bing, Chen Zui, and Dong Dachui all had Tier Seven Peak strength, only a step away from Tier Eight.

As for Han Zhan, who just broke into Tier Seven, ordinary Tier Seven ranks simply couldn’t compare to him.

Even if facing a Tier Eight, with the requirement of not seeking victory but merely avoiding defeat and surviving, the difficulty was significantly reduced.

”The Exotic Beast Tide’s beasts aren’t of high rank; they rely purely on numbers for victory. I will handle them.”

The Exotic Beasts in the tide ranged from Tier Five to Tier Six, occasionally led by several Tier Seven heads — strength equivalent to the main force of a small-scale battle.

Only Han Zhan could ”boast” and evaluate them this way.

With the Xuanyuan Sword, Fu Xi Zither, Shennong Cauldron, and Nuwa Stone, Han Zhan was least afraid of mass and attrition battles.

He could not only adequately handle the Beast Tide but also potentially end the fight early and free himself to support the others.

”Uncle Dong, you’re responsible for dealing with the Life and Death Apostle.”

From the few recent observations, the Life and Death Apostle’s abilities were indeed bizarre, but his attack means were somewhat singular.

Hard to kill, undying, quickly replicating, frantically devouring.

These were the labels of the Life and Death Apostle.

Everyone had a corresponding shortfall; the Life and Death Apostle’s weakness was his low aggressiveness, which is why he could only be an Apostle and not the Old Covenant Pope.

Among the remaining three, Dong Dachui was the most suitable to handle the Life and Death Apostle.

As an Artifact Refining Master, Dong Dachui’s endless array of tools was most suitable for handling a target that was not strongly aggressive but troublesome.

”No problem!”

Dong Dachui nodded, immediately rushing toward the north where the Life and Death Apostle was.

As he passed by the blacksmith area,

the weapons scattered around — axes, halberds, hooks, forks, knives, spears, staffs, lances, and various strange tools — all responded to his call, flying out together with Dong Dachui!

After retracting his gaze, Han Zhan’s eyes fell on Chen Zui.

He quickened his pace and said:

”Uncle Chen, you’re responsible for holding off the Fallen Knight.”

This round was the main event.

The Fallen Knight was the leader of the Sun Never Sets Knight Order, an Tier Eight Peak knight powerhouse, with considerable prestige even in the Imperial before his exile.

His strength was undoubted.

A king of single-target attacks, capable of contesting with Gongyang Jin in his prime; letting Chen Zui face him had a pitifully low survival rate.

Among the four, Han Zhan would be the most reliable to combat the Fallen Knight directly, but this would increase the pressure from the Exotic Beast Tide significantly.

Compared to the other two, Chen Zui, being a brewer whose brewed wines had a myriad of effects, could use flashy means to stall the Fallen Knight — it was the second-best solution.

The reason Dong Dachui wasn’t chosen was that Han Zhan speculated the Fallen Knight’s abilities likely involved corruption.

Brewers could enhance themselves by drinking, while Artifact Refining Masters relied entirely on tools. If those tools became tainted and ineffective, the consequences would be unimaginable.

Upon hearing that he was to face the Fallen Knight, the leader of the Sun Never Sets Knight Order, Chen Zui let out a ”hey.”

He suddenly tilted his head back, gulping down a mouthful of strong wine.

Chen Zui wiped the wine stains from his mouth and smashed the wine jar over the city wall.

”Very well, I’ve long heard of how formidable the Fallen Knight of the Sun Never Sets Knight Order is. Today, let me face him!”

With Chen Zui and Dong Dachui both assigned,

only Elder Bing remained unassigned, and the only threat without someone to counter was the Mechanical Sect’s Strategic Cruise Ship fleet!

”Elder Bing,” Han Zhan was about to speak.

But Elder Bing shook his head at him.

In the distance, the previously emptied area was once again gradually being filled by Exotic Beasts.

They surged like a tide towards the city wall.

”No need to explain, I understand your intention.”

”The Precepts involve too many variables with constantly changing enemies, and the sudden situations needing analysis and handling are numerous, not suitable for my skill set.”

”However, the Mechanical Sect is different; their methods are consistent, and the attack methods of the Strategic Cruise Ship are fixed. The only concerns are the frequency and saturation of their attacks.”

”I’m the most suitable to engage them.”

After Elder Bing analyzed on his own, he voluntarily left the city wall, turning towards the interior of Buried Sword City.

The direction from which the Mechanical Sect was attacking lay above Buried Sword City.

He needed to reach the central area to engage with the Mechanical Sect there.

...

The actions of the four in Buried Sword City were also exposed to the eyes of the attackers from the four factions.

To the south.

The Fallen Knight sat mounted on his warhorse atop a high slope.

The Path of Corruption behind him slowly closed.

”Four people, attempting to guard four directions?”

”Truly bold courage.”

”Zhan Ning, Yu Lian, you two go first, and entertain that Tier Seven Awakened from the Anti-Xia Alliance.”

By his side, Zhan Ning and Yu Lian stood gravely on either side, exchanged a glance, and then knowingly looked away.

The Fallen Knight wasn’t in a hurry? Then they were even less in a hurry.

To the north.

The Life and Death Apostle looked at the myriad weapons and tools flying toward him and the tall figure among them, and he grinned.

”It seems I’ve been underestimated.”

To the west.

In the rear of the Exotic Beast Tide, a giant ape standing tens of meters tall ignited black flames in its eyes.

It stood on its hind legs, pounding its chest with its hands, letting out a deafening roar.

The Exotic Beast Tide launched an all-out attack!