Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 620: Chapter 620. The Lightning Calamity Strikes Again

Echos unleashed their full assault once the talisman traps were triggered.

The Yuanxu Cannons on the mountains started firing. Soldiers equipped with rifles emerged from hiding. They were prepared to fire at those who left the valley’s trail and traversed the rocky terrains. Martial Realm soldiers flew above the ravine, accompanied by battle puppets. These soldiers released Elemental Mines, which coordinated with the battle puppets to target Khode’s troops.

Khode’s troops thronged along the valley’s path in chaos. Most of the militias were low-level cultivators. Many perished, seared by flaming pillars. Those who survived soon found themselves under relentless bombardment from the Yuanxu Cannons and elemental mines. They fell before ever facing an enemy.

Xuang Feng had experienced this disaster before, so he expected this to happen. The troops he sent into the valley were mostly the dissident militias and low-grade battle puppets. He knew these troops would meet their demise. There was nothing he could do, considering his hands were forced. Since that was the case, he decided to make the most of the situation.

While Echos’ assault was concentrated on the troops inside the valley, Xuang Feng led their Martial Realm soldiers to fly over the mountain range. They were accompanied by battle puppets equipped with flight units. Their targets were the Yuanxu Cannons installed on the mountains.

He felt a sour taste in his mouth since he sacrificed those troops in the valley to give them the opening to strike at the enemy from their flank. He wished to avoid this if possible, but he would be damned if he let those people die meaningless deaths. Even though those people died because of their own foolishness, he still silently thanked them and asked for forgiveness.

Khode’s army had fewer Martial Realm cultivators on average compared to Echos. But since they had a massive army, even a small percentage meant a large number. Xuang Feng led around three thousand soldiers in this aerial assault. The battle puppets accompanying them numbered almost ten thousand.

When they almost reached the top, where the nearest Yuanxu Cannons were installed, they saw Echos’ soldiers and battle puppets flying out to face them. This force hid behind the numerous rocks scattered all over the mountains. When they revealed themselves, Xuang Feng was taken aback.

Although the number of battle puppets lost to theirs, Echos’ soldiers who flew up outnumbered them. In his knowledge, the Echos Army should have fewer than thirty thousand troops. Having so many flying troops meant their Martial Realm soldiers exceeded ten percent of their force, which was a huge proportion.

Xuang Feng was aware that enemy reinforcement came regularly from the border that the enemy had neutralized. He just didn’t expect it to be this many.

This was all thanks to Demon Gang. Their power and reach had many big clans under their thumbs. These clans regularly sent many talented cultivators to join the First Demon Army to curry favor and enjoy the boons provided by the Demon Gang. Many of these recruits were Mystic Stage cultivators.

”They have expected us to attack from here,” Wai Kung uttered.

”... They have,” Xuang Feng agreed. The two forces floated in the sky. They watched one another in silence while the Yuanxu Cannons continued to massacre the army in the valley.

”Should we attack?” Zue Du asked.

Xuang Feng observed the situation. Overall, their number was still larger thanks to their battle puppets. However, he noticed that aside from those flying soldiers, many Echos’ soldiers were on the mountaintop. These ground soldiers were equipped with rifles.

Xuang Feng looked at the army in the valley. His resolution was affirmed. If he pulled back, all those deaths would be wasted. He must gamble everything in this battle!

”We advance! Everyone, attacckkk...!!!”

Xuang Feng’s command drew a thundering cry from his followers. With Xuang Feng leading at the front, they charged forward.

Xuang Feng advanced with a talisman in his hand. He saw the soldiers on the mountaintop aim the rifles at them. The talisman in his hand flashed and transformed into a wide wall made of light just as those soldiers opened fire.

The rifles’ bullets hit the wall of light and failed to penetrate. Xuang Feng continued to use one talisman after another, building more walls of light to block the bullets. His army used these walls as cover while advancing.

Echos’ soldiers also advanced when their adversaries refused to retreat. Instead of meeting them head-on, Xuang Feng darted down in a blur. His movement art was swift. He closed the distance and reached the frontmost rifleman before the soldier even realized he was being targeted.

”This weapon has caused us enough trouble. Hand it over so our people can study it!” Xuang Feng exclaimed. His left hand grabbed the rifle while his right hand, wielding the whip sword, thrust into the rifleman’s chest.

The rifleman knew he was done for, but he didn’t take everything lying down. The rifle was still within his reach. His hand quickly peeled the talisman from the rifle. That talisman flashed once he did.

Xuang Feng immediately understood what was going on. With a quick kick, he sent the dying Echos soldier. The soldier flew away with the flashing talisman still in his hand. The talisman exploded before he landed.

Several Khode’s soldiers followed Xuang Feng’s lead and assailed the riflemen below, but their response was not as quick as Xuang Feng’s. The soldiers, from whom they snatched the rifles, performed the same act before they fell. The explosions hit them and destroyed the rifles they had robbed.

Soon, Echos’ martial realm soldiers were upon them, preventing them from snatching more rifles. Xuang Feng quickly pulled back. He chose the beginning of the battle to steal the rifles before the enemy was aware of his intention for a better chance. He passed the stolen rifle to one of his followers and ordered him to bring it back to their camp. Once he ensured that the soldier had left safely, he returned to the frontline.

He saw Yong Baili among the enemy soldiers. Wai Kung was engaging the man. He didn’t go and help Wai Kung. Their real targets were the Yuanxu Cannons.

As the battle raged on, Xuang Feng rose high into the sky, above the chaos. Once he made sure no one was paying attention to him, he pulled out two large talismans from his space ring and activated them. As he did, the sky above began to churn.

The phenomenon started small but grew bigger by the second. The clouds darkened, and the swirling sky became so large that it was inevitable that it attracted the attention of the battling crowd below.

Yong Baili, who saw the phenomenon, immediately knew what was going on. Zhong Yuan called it the Lightning Calamity.

Lightning shot down from the swirling sky and entered a vacuum above Xuang Feng. The gathered lightning energy continued to grow as more lightning came down from the sky.

Xuang Feng let it grow even when the enemies were already aware of his intention. That’s why he put sufficient distance. He had to ensure that the talismans succeed this time. These talismans consumed rare materials and took a long time to make. He spent his spare time making these two talismans while his army remained idle outside Tusha Valley. These two were all he had.

Yong Baili, who saw the gathered energy, was conflicted at first whether he should rush above and tried stopping Xuang Feng before the lightning calamity gained full power. But if he did, he believed he would become the main target of the lightning calamity. He didn’t know how Amon survived the blast the last time, but he was not confident he could do the same. So, he stayed down there and commanded everyone to prepare defensive arts.

Khode’s commanders, who had been informed by Xuang Feng beforehand, commanded their soldiers to pull back.

When Xuang Feng saw his force had pulled back far enough, he surveyed the enemy’s army. His eyes locked with Yong Baili’s. He then released the accumulated lightning energy.

Yong Baili, who saw the stare, knew immediately he was Xuang Feng’s main target. He instinctively used a movement art and dashed away.

The lightning that emerged out of the vacuum above Xuang Feng was in the form of an immensely thick lightning pillar. The pillar shot down in the blink of an eye. Any soldier, battle puppet, or Yuanxu Cannon that happened to be at the point of impact was immediately obliterated. Even the mountain itself exploded spectacularly.

Rocks and dirt flew in all directions. A massive rockslide rolled down the mountain, burying Echos’ riflemen who happened to be directly below the shattered mountain. The rockslide kept rolling and hit Khode’s soldiers in the valley, pushing them into the ravine.

The Lightning Calamity didn’t end with only that single contact. Countless lightning snakes spread from the point of impact. These lightning snakes went in all directions and assailed everything in the vicinity. All Human Realm riflemen and most beginning Mystic Stage soldiers who were struck by these lightning snakes died. Those with higher cultivations were wounded. The degree of their wounds depended on their defensive arts.