That piercing whistle was like a death warrant, instantly igniting the Killing Intent across the entire wilderness!

Over a hundred dark figures, like ghosts emerging from the ground, "whooshed" out from behind the sand dunes in every direction!

These people were dressed in black, wearing ghost masks with green faces and fangs. The weapons in their hands also exuded an evil aura; they were either poison-coated short blades or bone banners emitting Evil Qi. Their movement techniques were as elusive as ghosts, clearly marking them as elites specialized in doing dirty work!

"It’s the Shadow Fiends! Those Great Qin bastards!" Someone in the troop roared in shock and anger, their voice cracking.

The reputation of the "Shadow Fiends" was enough to stop children from crying at night along the border. They specialized in sneak attacks, assassinations, and sabotage. Their methods were ruthless, and they appeared and disappeared like ghosts; whoever encountered them was doomed.

Fang Hao saw it clearly from inside the flying boat, and his heart skipped a beat.

There weren’t many of them, but each one had a gloomy aura. The weakest among them was at the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and those leading them were radiating overwhelming Evil Qi—they were definitely ruthless characters at the Golden Core Stage!

They were clearly launching a deadly surprise attack while the Confinement Formation hadn’t been fully broken and the main army was unable to maneuver easily!

"Form a circular formation! Defend! Archers and spellcasters, suppressive fire! Don’t let them get close!" Commander Lei’s roar sounded like a thunderclap across the chaotic battlefield, carrying an unquestionable determination.

Having just emerged from a bloody battle in Black Wind Canyon, this general, facing the sudden attack, instead erupted with even more ferocious intensity.

The well-trained army immediately executed the order. Each flying boat scrambled to close ranks, their defensive light shields connecting to form a temporary barrier.

Arrows shot out like a swarm of locusts, and the lights of various Spells smashed toward the incoming dark figures, attempting to block their advance with a net of firepower.

Bang! Bang! Bang! Rumble!

Arrows and Spells collided with the protective spiritual light of the Shadow Fiends, bursting into clusters of light and emitting dense explosions.

The few Shadow Fiends Cultivators charging at the front were instantly overwhelmed, falling from the sky with screams.

But more of them, slippery like loaches, wove through the gaps in the attacks with extreme speed, on the verge of rushing to the front of the formation!

"Stop them!" Commander Lei’s eyes turned red. He personally led a squad of elite guards, rushing out from the main ship to meet the enemy’s Golden Core Stage leaders!

He knew that if these Golden Core Cultivators broke into the formation, it would truly be like tigers entering a flock of sheep!

"Kill!"

The high-end combatants of both sides collided instantly! Commander Lei’s long spear transformed into a bolt of silver lightning, striking straight at a Shadow Fiends Golden Core Cultivator holding dual hooks!

That Golden Core Cultivator let out a strange laugh, crossing his dual hooks to unleash two sickly green arcs of light, meeting the attack head-on!

Clang! Boom!

The piercing sound of metal clashing and the roar of energy explosions rang out almost simultaneously! Commander Lei’s figure swayed, and his opponent also retreated half a step; they were evenly matched!

On the other side, the other two Golden Core generals from Luoxia City also found their respective opponents and began to fight in pairs.

The aftermath of the Golden Core Cultivators’ battle spread like a storm, shaking the surrounding flying boats uncontrollably.

The high-end combatants were temporarily held back, but those Foundation Establishment Stage Shadow Fiends Cultivators broke through the firepower net like ghosts, killing their way to the edge of the flying boat formation!

They didn’t engage the defenders head-on at all, but instead used strange movement techniques and vicious Magical Artifacts to specifically target areas with weak defenses! 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

Puchi! Ah!

A Shadow Fiends Cultivator slid against the light shield of a flying boat like a gecko. The poison-coated short sword in his hand, like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, instantly pierced the shield and skewered a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Cultivator who was casting a Spell inside!

The Cultivator screamed, his whole body instantly turning pitch black, and he collapsed, dead!

"Watch out for their poison!" Someone shouted in terror.

Another Shadow Fiends Cultivator flung out a small black banner. With a shake of the banner, it spewed out large billows of black mist. The mist was foul-smelling and highly corrosive; when it touched the light shield, it made a "hissing" sound, and the shield quickly dimmed!

"It’s Spirit-Corroding Poison Mist! Dispel it quickly!"

The battlefield immediately fell into chaos! The Shadow Fiends’ sneak attack tactics were extremely effective. Although they were few in number, each was an elite, coordinating tacitly and focusing on one point, quickly tearing several gaps in the tight defensive formation!

"Guest Official Ning! Watch out!" On the flying boat, Little Grandson suddenly cried out and violently pushed Fang Hao to the side!

Chih!

A bolt of black light flew past, almost grazing Fang Hao’s ear, corroding a large hole in the ship’s railing where he had just been standing! A Shadow Fiends Cultivator had somehow managed to sneak near their transport flying boat!

"You’re courting death!" Fang Hao broke out in a cold sweat, and rage instantly surged into his heart! The yitian sword unsheathed instantly, and the sword light swept out like a bolt of white silk!

The Shadow Fiends Cultivator had bizarre movement techniques; he performed a backbend to dodge the sword light and struck back with three bone-piercing nails emitting black smoke!

Fang Hao utilized the Divine Spirit Steps, his figure swaying as he narrowly dodged the bone-piercing nails. At the same time, he formed a seal with his left hand, and a Star Shattering Finger pointed silently toward the opponent’s Dantian!

The Cultivator didn’t expect Fang Hao to react so quickly, only realizing when the finger wind reached his body. He twisted his body to dodge in a rush, but was still grazed in the ribs by the finger wind, causing him to grunt and his movements to falter!

"Die!" Fang Hao pressed his advantage relentlessly; the yitian sword transformed into a streak of light, stabbing straight at his throat!

Puchi!

The sword tip pierced precisely into the opponent’s throat. The Shadow Fiends Cultivator widened his eyes, looking at Fang Hao in disbelief, before his eyes dimmed and his corpse fell from the sky.

Fang Hao caught his breath, but before he could relax, he heard a scream from nearby! Turning his head to look, he saw a Guest Elder on the same boat who was skilled in Alchemy, having his chest pierced by a bone spike from another Shadow Fiends Cultivator, killing him on the spot!

"Fellow Daoist Wang!" Great Master Zhao cried out in grief, waving the whisk in his hand. Streams of clear light shot toward that Shadow Fiends Cultivator like sharp arrows, forcing him to retreat.

War, at this moment, revealed its bloodiest and most cruel fangs. There was no probing, no mercy, only a life-and-death struggle! The companion who was alive just a moment ago had turned into a cold corpse in the blink of an eye.

Fang Hao looked at the Guest Elder’s corpse, then looked at the chaotic battlefield around him, listening to the incessant screams and explosions. A cold Killing Intent rose from the bottom of his heart. He gripped the sword in his hand tightly, his eyes becoming sharp as knives.

This was not a sparring match; this was a battlefield! Being merciful to the enemy was being cruel to oneself!

"Form a formation! Let’s close ranks! Cover each other!" Great Master Zhao was an experienced veteran of Jianghu after all; he quickly steadied his mind and loudly called out to the remaining Guest Elders.

Fang Hao, Little Grandson, and the other surviving Guest Elders immediately formed a small circle, back to back, each using their own methods to fend off the continuously attacking Shadow Fiends Cultivators.

The battle entered its most tragic phase. People fell every moment, some enemies, some of their own. Blood stained the deck of the flying boat red, and corpses fell from the sky like dumplings being dropped into a pot. Above the wilderness, the Killing Intent filled the field, and spiritual light flashed, as if it were an Asura Hell.

Fang Hao didn’t know how many people he had killed. The edge of his sword was already chipped, and he had added a few wounds to his body, stinging with pain. But he dared not stop, nor could he stop. To stop was to die.

He only knew that he had to hold on, hold on until the Confinement Formation was broken, hold on until reinforcements arrived... or, hold on until the very last moment.