Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

"This commander of the Black Armored Army, Xu Jianglin, was reportedly a frail Scholar before. For unknown reasons, he suddenly changed his temperament and joined the military. In just a few short years, he single-handedly established the Black Armored Army and became a very mysterious figure. My scouts have been dispatched far and wide but haven't found more information.

Honestly, I'm quite unsettled about this," Bai Chengchou admitted frankly.

Hearing this, the White Lotus Holy Maiden couldn't help but frown and muttered to herself, "It seems he is a troublesome character indeed!" A sense of vigilance had already risen in her heart.

"Report, traces of the Imperial Court's troops have been discovered ahead, and by the looks of the banners, it should be the Black Armored Army!"

Upon hearing this, Bai Chengchou and the White Lotus Holy Maiden instantly tensed up, looking at each other and saying, "An army marching so swiftly must undoubtedly be elite troops."

They quickly gave orders to prepare the main force for battle while they themselves sped on their horses towards the front.

Soon, the dense ranks of the Black Armored Army appeared before them. The dark glow of their iron armor and their uniform steps indicated to them that this was definitely a force of elite troops. The two exchanged a look, knowing that the greatest test had arrived.

Wu Jiang rode out on his horse, gazing at the vast expanse of people, and laughed to the person next to him, "Such a rabble actually managed to rout the Imperial Court's forces; it seems that Great Chen is indeed in decline."

As the vanguard of the Black Armored Army, Wu Jiang was qualified to disdainfully evaluate the opposing army which, in his eyes, barely counted as an army at all but rather a mob of rebels, hence his words were full of contempt.

"Beat the drums and charge! Let these bumpkins see what an elite force truly looks like!" he laughed heartily and waved his hand, issuing the first command.

The resonant sound of drums rang out, and every soldier in the Black Armored Army immediately focused their attention, knowing this was the command to attack. Tightening their grip on their weapons, they roared and charged along with the army.

Like a black river, the Black Armored Army surged forward into the White Lotus Sect's positions with an unstoppable momentum. In an instant, screams and battle cries rose and fell across the battlefield, where close combat turned gruesome, showcasing the most brutal aspect of war at that moment.

Life at that moment was as fragile as weeds on the ground, with the Black Armored Army like the chilling wind of deep winter, killing all in its path.

Usually, at this stage in a battle, the outcome would be practically decided. A single fleeing soldier could spark a chain reaction, and often, the most terrifying thing wasn't the enemy's steel sword but rather one's own comrades' footsteps.

This was when the true terror of the White Lotus Sect showed itself. Through their usual preaching, they had deeply rooted their faith in these simple-minded people's hearts. At this moment, they were fanatical, willing to sacrifice themselves for their beliefs.

The course of the battle didn't proceed as Wu Jiang had imagined. As time went on, he realized just how extraordinary these rebels were. Each of them had a frenzied look and no fear of death in their eyes. What kind of troops were these? Wu Jiang couldn't understand.

He didn't know these people lived in Hell on earth. When they were deceived with a false hope, even if there was just a slight possibility, they would convince themselves to believe, for those engulfed in darkness often refuse to give up any glimmer of light.

The vast numbers were the strength of the White Lotus Sect, using swarm tactics they trapped the Black Armored Army tightly within the crowd. Every soldier of the Black Armored Army valiantly fought hard; they were all battle-hardened warriors, but there were simply too many people. After cutting down one, another charged forward. Even the strongest warriors tire and run out of strength eventually.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

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"Holy Maiden, if this continues, our most devout followers will all perish!" Bai Chengchou was also becoming anxious. These were their most fanatical believers, who had always fearlessly driven their victories in every battle. If these people died here on this battlefield, the team would be difficult to lead in the future.

The White Lotus Holy Maiden was, of course, aware of this situation. These worshippers were those she had arduously gathered over great hardship. She then instructed her subordinates to set up an altar, and holding a token, she cast a spell on the altar, causing a great fog to suddenly appear and envelop the battlefield instantly.

Wu Jiang was fighting with all his might when a dense fog suddenly appeared before him. Soon, he could no longer see the figures around him, although the sounds of combat were still clearly audible, he could not see a trace of his enemies or his own men.

It was at this moment that the roar of a warhorse reached his ears, and a military general clad in armor and wielding a Guan Dao appeared before him.

This general was very tall, but his face was indistinct. The Guan Dao in his hand flickered with a deadly white chill, clearly not an easy opponent to contend with.

The two instantly clashed in battle, exchanging blows evenly, neither able to gain the upper hand over the other.

As time passed, Wu Jiang sensed something was amiss. The general opposite him seemed never to tire, attacking at the same frequency as at the start. Strangely, though he had been clashing with him for so many rounds and had been sliced a few times, he bore no wounds.

"This is wrong!" Wu Jiang realized something was amiss. Using the brief interval when their weapons crossed, he leapt out of the fray. Suddenly, he discovered that the military general he had been fighting for so long had disappeared, and the fog was gradually thinning. When he looked around, he couldn't help but gasp.

During his intense battle, his men had been completely wiped out by the people of the White Lotus Sect. Now, he leaned on his war saber, breathing heavily. The battle had exhausted him greatly.

"It seems it took the Holy Maiden's intervention. Such an elite force quietly perished on the battlefield; the spell is truly terrifying. But why haven't we ever seen such spells on the battlefield before?" Bai Chengchou, born of low status, didn't know much about the affairs of the Cultivation Realm.

"The world is in great turmoil now, the mandate of Great Chen is about to end, the human path's fortune and destiny can no longer be suppressed. Previously, under the suppression of the human path's fortune and destiny, all divine skills and Taoist laws were greatly diminished," the White Lotus Holy Maiden explained.

After speaking, she no longer concerned herself with the matters of the battlefield and left with her subordinates.

"This general, the battle is over now, why not surrender quickly? The White Lotus Army is in desperate need of talents. If you are willing to join, a great future lies ahead," Bai Chengchou had been observing Wu Jiang and perceived him to be a fierce warrior. He immediately felt a desire to recruit such talent.

He was well aware of the weaknesses of the White Lotus Army; the rebels, untrained in formal military tactics, could handle battles with the wind in their favor, but couldn't match a true army. The recent battle had clearly shown him the disparity, so he very much hoped to recruit Wu Jiang.

"The Black Armored Army has only generals who die in battle, never generals who are captured," Wu Jiang, though utterly exhausted, was a soldier through and through, his pride preventing him from surrendering.