Chapter Sixty-Two: Yunshan Strikes

Half a month ago, he suddenly received an assignment: to aid the Empire of Izumo in conquering the Jia Ma Empire.

To be frank, this mission did not stir much in Xiao Yan’s heart. As long as the Xiao Clan could remain safe and untouched, he truly didn’t care under whose protection they ultimately resided. Moreover, the reward promised this time was exceptionally generous—not only would it allow him to break through to the rank of Nine-Star Da Dou Shi, but he would also obtain a Dou Technique of the Earth Tier, the Flame-Splitting Wave Ruler.

Yet, this was not the most crucial part. The key lay in the system’s gift—a Death Arrow, a single arrow capable of instantly killing a Dou Zong-level expert. And it was specified that Xiao Yan must use this arrow to slay Yun Shan.

Upon learning this, Xiao Yan agreed readily. He considered it an advance payment of interest from the Yun Lan Sect—killing their greatest pillar would certainly make him curious what expressions the Yun Lan Sect’s members would wear in the end.

Afterward, Xiao Yan orchestrated a series of coincidences to encounter the Crown Prince of Izumo, offering him his puppet art. This was how the Empire of Izumo came to possess their tireless, pain-immune, invincible soldiers.

Meanwhile, thanks to the Crown Prince’s assistance, Lin An went into hiding, following the expedition’s commander, Marshal Sun Ming, under a false identity. Especially after learning that Lin An could kill a Dou Zong expert from the Jia Ma Empire with a single arrow, Sun Ming immediately set his sights on Yun Shan.

Even though half a month had passed with no sign of the Yun Lan Sect, Xiao Yan remained unflustered. He knew well the principle that when the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold; he did not believe the Yun Lan Sect would ignore this truth. Most importantly, everyone assumed that as long as they had a Dou Zong-level expert to hold the line, victory was assured—Xiao Yan intended to show them just how overrated such experts truly were.

“Marshal, the Jia Ma Empire has suddenly gained a number of youthful fighters. Judging by their attire, they must be from the Yun Lan Sect,” a soldier reported just then.

“They’ve finally arrived. If the Yun Lan Sect is here, that means Yun Shan is likely here as well!”

“Marshal, I don’t care about the others, and I’ll help you kill Yun Shan too, but there are two people I ask you to spare, for their final opponent must be me!”

Xiao Yan stepped forward and spoke to Sun Ming.

“Oh? Who could make you, Brother Yan, bear such a grudge?” Since the start of the campaign, their victories had been overwhelming; even the old fox Jia Xingtian had nearly been captured. The Izumo Empire was riding high, and Sun Ming, as marshal, could not hide his joy.

“Lin An and Nalan Yanran,” Xiao Yan—now known as Yan Xiao—replied.

“Do you have some personal score to settle with them?” Sun Ming asked curiously.

“That’s my private affair. Marshal Sun, you’d do well not to pry,” Yan Xiao warned.

Sun Ming laughed awkwardly and did not pursue the matter further. He knew that all of Izumo’s victories were thanks to this mysterious, black-robed Yan Xiao, who possessed methods beyond imagining—Jia Xingtian himself had fallen to his hand.

“Go and make your preparations. If any Dou Huang-level experts appear, notify me at once.” With that, Yan Xiao returned to his quarters.

...

The Jia Ma army, bolstered by the Yun Lan Sect’s aid, immediately felt the pressure lessen considerably. At the very least, the Izumo Empire would not be able to break through the current defenses for a while, allowing Jia Ma’s soldiers a precious night’s rest to recover their strength.

“The situation remains dire for us. Unless we find a way to neutralize those bizarre soldiers, victory is impossible,” Jia Xingtian reported all the intelligence he’d gathered, hoping it might prove useful.

At that moment, Yao Chen entered, dragging a captured Izumo soldier behind him. The man’s eyes were vacant, his face expressionless. Upon seeing Lin An and the others, he immediately tried to attack them, heedless of his own safety. Even restrained by Yao Chen, he struggled endlessly to break free.

“You see? These creatures can no longer be called human. To call them corpses would be more apt. In my eyes, they are puppets driven only by the instinct to fight,” Yao Chen explained.

“Does that mean... they’re already dead?” Jia Xingtian pressed.

“In a manner of speaking, yes,” Yao Chen nodded.

“To defeat the Jia Ma Empire, the Izumo Empire has become utterly depraved, using such cruel methods even on their own men. Aren’t they afraid their soldiers’ families will rebel?” Yun Yun’s brows drew together in a deep frown—clearly, she found Izumo’s tactics both vile and abominable.

“Not all of them were living to begin with. Many had long since died, merely preserved through some method,” Yao Chen continued. “That’s why these puppet soldiers are so hard to fight. Some among them are Dou Ling or Dou Wang-level experts. If you manage to win under such circumstances, it would be nothing short of a miracle.”

“I see. Do you know which faction on the continent possesses such methods?” Jia Xingtian asked again.

If the Izumo Empire had long possessed this technique, the Jia Ma Empire would likely have ceased to exist already. That could only mean some other force was aiding them.

“By my understanding, the most likely candidate is the Hall of Souls. They have always incited wars across the continent and specialize in soul research,” Yao Chen surmised.

But Lin An quickly dismissed this possibility. It could not be the Hall of Souls—their relationship with the Yun Lan Sect was well known, and one of their own experts had mysteriously died within the sect. According to Yun Shan, Elder Vulture from the Hall of Souls intended to visit the Yun Lan Sect soon to uncover the truth behind another’s death. If it were truly the Hall of Souls, they would have far more effective ways of invading the Jia Ma Empire.

“Let’s not dwell on this for now. Since we know these are puppets, I want to see whether my methods can destroy them, rendering them powerless,” Lin An suddenly said.

“These puppets can be easily neutralized by any Dou Huang-level expert—in the hands of a Dou Zong, they could wipe out swathes of them in an instant,” Yao Chen replied.

“In that case, let’s get ready to attack! To minimize our soldiers’ casualties, Yun Shan, you should act as well. Let’s eliminate these puppets first,” Lin An declared, feeling no compunction whatsoever. Not only would Yun Shan join the fray, but Yao Chen, the Amethyst Winged Lion King, Jia Xingtian, and the others would also take part.