: Divine Power Shatters the Army!

Though Xu Dali lacked flexibility, he had plenty of battlefield experience.

He grew increasingly anxious, knowing full well his side was sliding into the abyss of defeat.

The Iron Bucket formation couldn't be fully deployed; if it remained only as the inner circle's small formation, it would be hard to turn the tide.

Seated on his heavily armored rhinoceros, Xu Dali roared, "Bring me the commander's banner, now!"

Four Foundation Establishment physical cultivators immediately carried over the heavy commander's banner.

Such a crucial military artifact, which gathered the army's strength, became harder to move once the battle formation was activated, let alone store in a storage pouch.

As the banner was brought to Xu Dali's side, the four Foundation Establishment cultivators were red-faced and panting, drenched in sweat from the effort.

Xu Dali reached out with his rough, large hand, gripped the banner pole tightly, and bellowed as he activated his military strategy.

Military Strategy—Unify the Army's Morale!

In that instant, every soldier's attention fixed on the commander's banner.

The banner hadn't fallen yet!

This battle wasn't over.

There was still hope.

Countless cultivators shared similar thoughts, their minds buzzing in unison.

An invisible military force began accumulating on the banner, making it flutter as if in a windless void.

"Fight, fight, fight!" Xu Dali roared.

His personal guards and elite soldiers echoed his cry.

For a moment, the battered morale surged noticeably.

Not only did the Savage Demon Camp feel Xu Dali's fighting spirit, but the besieging barbarian cultivators also showed signs of concern.

"Commander Xu Dali might not be clever, but he's tenacious and stubborn—a tough nut to crack," the barbarian cultivators murmured, a hint of respect in their tones. They despised weakness and admired resilience.

"Heh, interesting," Biteng Yi remarked with a light chuckle, then pointed a finger.

A surge of Nascent Soul-level magic power erupted, vast and overwhelming!

Divine Power—Vineborn Hell!

Just as the Savage Demon Camp's morale was consolidating and the commander's banner fluttered proudly, an emerald wind arose out of nowhere, swiftly enveloping the army.

An ominous aura spread as the ground cracked open with countless fissures.

Deep green vines and thorns burst forth from below like giant pythons and serpents, writhing wildly!

These thorns and vines grew at an alarming rate, twisting and extending to ensnare cultivators, piercing through one living being after another.

Even Foundation Establishment and Golden Core cultivators, with all their defenses raised, were pierced as easily as paper, blood spraying everywhere.

Despite their desperate struggles and various attacks, the vines remained unscathed.

Within a few breaths, these cultivators lay dead on the ground.

Meanwhile, the thorns and vines had spread out, covering the area like a sprawling, verdant hell.

Dense, sharp thorns resembled countless blade tips, harvesting lives relentlessly.

The Savage Demon Camp was thrown into chaos!

Unlike Gu Ya, Biteng Yi wielded a divine power, marking her as a True Monarch.

Though Tu Ming was also a Nascent Soul True Monarch, his Formless Poison was only a spell, not a divine power.

The might of a divine power naturally surpassed that of spells.

The outer ranks of the Savage Demon Army were slaughtered, with over half dead or wounded.

Vines wove through the surroundings, forming a terrifying, deep green hell.

Biteng Yi sneered; under her deliberate control, masses of vines divided the battlefield into sections, trapping the Savage Demon Camp's cultivators in cage-like enclosures.

Unable to break free, the cultivators watched as vines would periodically shoot out, snatch the unluckiest among them, and hoist them high.

Then, in full view of everyone, the unfortunate cultivator would be strangled to death. Thorns pierced through their armor and flesh, eliciting agonized, desperate screams as they died in torment and horror.

This caused the Savage Demon Camp's morale to plummet like an avalanche.

The army's spirit that Xu Dali had rallied with his military strategy rapidly dwindled to its lowest point.

Seeing this, the deputy general urgently advised, "Commander, the situation is lost. We should retreat."

But Xu Dali refused. "I am the vanguard leading the charge. How can we retreat?"

"Fight to the death—stand firm without retreating!"

His stubbornness flaring, Xu Dali stood his ground, adamant.

The deputy general gritted his teeth, sighed inwardly, and resolved to fight on without another word about withdrawal.

The Savage Demon Camp's defeat was inevitable.

Yet, at its core, the small Iron Bucket formation held firm as ever.

Xu Dali's personal guards and elite soldiers maintained their positions steadfastly, unmoved even by the relentless assaults of the wolf packs.

On the mountainside.

Cang Teng Wang watched Biteng Yi with concern, inquiring about her condition.

Biteng Yi had blood trickling from her nose and mouth, her energy rapidly declining.

Unfazed, she grinned and said, "So this is what it feels like to attack a nation's defense and bear the backlash of its might. Heh heh, ha ha."

Her laughter was hoarse and unpleasant, like the cawing of crows.

Though the Savage Demon Camp was newly formed and its composition mixed, Xu Dali was a general of Liang Zhu Kingdom, bearing the commander's seal. This made the Savage Demon Camp an official part of the kingdom's defense.

Loose cultivators like Biteng Yi, without the support of another nation's power, would inevitably suffer the backlash of the kingdom's might when attacking its defense alone.

Now, not only was Biteng Yi lightly injured, but she was also suppressed by the kingdom's power, her combat strength reduced by thirty percent.

It would take some time to recover gradually.

Leaving Liang Zhu Kingdom's borders and entering another country's territory would reduce the suppression and speed up her recovery.

For the cultivators of Thousand Peaks Forest, this was their disadvantage—Thousand Peaks Forest was part of Liang Zhu Kingdom's territory, and they had no other nation's power to share the backlash.

On another mountainside.

"Such a big move—is that old woman from the Ancient Vine Tribe not planning to live anymore?" Du Fu High Priest Tu Ming thought, slightly surprised.

He, too, was a True Monarch with divine power but acted cautiously.

After all, suffering the kingdom's suppression slowed recovery, and they still had to face the main and vanguard forces of Liang Zhu Kingdom.

With the battle just beginning, it was wise to hold back.

Having made up his mind, Du Fu High Priest sent out a secret messenger.

Soon, a venomous snake emerged from the grass, approaching Biteng Yi with Tu Ming's message.

Tu Ming: "Xu Dali alone has shown the resilience of Liang Zhu Kingdom's cultivators—they are not to be underestimated. Now that a small portion of the Savage Demon Camp's cultivators are trapped by vines, it's unfavorable for the overall situation."

"I hope you, Biteng Yi, will proceed as planned and use these routed troops to assault the White Jade Camp."

Biteng Yi sneered, unwilling: "Mo Yuan Cave Lord's mind is sharp indeed, managing the Six Caves Sect so prosperously and profiting immensely in both open and covert ways. But I, an old woman, have paid such a price and have these military merits within reach. To follow his plan now—who will cover my losses?"

Tu Ming was a Nascent Soul True Monarch, and so was Biteng Yi.

Tu Ming's words made sense, but Biteng Yi's interests were tangible.

Such were the flaws of an alliance—unity was hard to achieve, as everyone prioritized their own gains.

Tu Ming had anticipated this and spoke through the venomous snake messenger: "Biteng Yi, have you forgotten that Long Ye might be watching you from above?"

Biteng Yi's expression shifted slightly.

She had signed the Divine Decree, requiring her full commitment.

She was the first in the assault team to do so.

Though the Divine Decree was rigid, only assisting in recording battle merits based on headcount,

Shen Xu Dragon King had sent His temple priest, Long Ye, to personally supervise and record the entire battle process.

Though reluctant, Biteng Yi dared not defy Shen Xu Dragon King's will. Snorting coldly, she agreed: "I will open a passage to let these routed troops escape the battlefield. But how to guide them to assault the White Jade Camp is not my responsibility."

The venomous snake messenger relayed Tu Ming's laughter: "Don't worry, I will personally take action and send subordinates to drive them all the way."

"As for here..."

"Leave it to the people of Cang Yue Tribe."

(End of )