Chapter 693: Open

Chapter 693: Open

These Immortal Soldiers didn't seem to belong to the Dharma Sect—they appeared to be military creations.

This suggested that with the Dragon Veins’ ownership changing, the military factions of Nanping and Si Qi had also switched allegiances.

Li Huowang didn’t bother anymore with these people. While still engulfed in flames, he prepared to join the battle and help rescue the others.

He assumed the situation would resolve quickly, but the statues continued to emerge from the mist. Although they were no match for those like Li Huowang, they still kept everyone else busy.

Li Huowang realized what the enemy’s strategy was. They’re stalling for time!

Right then, the ground shook violently. The Earth Dragon was moving again.

The earthquake caused water in the swamp to flood out. As it shook, the expanded swamp quickly swallowed up anyone who couldn’t find solid footing.

Despite the chaos, more Dharma Sect followers emerged from the mist, determined to drag someone down with them regardless of the risk of being consumed by the swamp.

Li Huowang had experienced the tremors caused by the Earth Dragon moving many times, and he knew what they signified.

“How many divisions have we lost?” Li Huowang shouted to Xuan Pin.

Xuan Pin showed him one finger in response.

Li Huowang muttered, “One division... That means one of the three Dragon Veins has been destroyed!”

This bad news stressed him out even more.

In such dire circumstances, there was no point in discussing any further. He gritted his teeth and led the others against the Dharma Sect’s onslaught, advancing toward the center of Cloud Swamp.

As they neared the center, the number of worm-infested statues decreased. They were replaced by living and formidable Dharma Sect members.

The opponents didn’t just consist of Dharma Sect members from Great Liang and Great Qi. There were also various sects that had pledged allegiance to the Dharma Sect, identifiable by the black cloths on their shoulders.

Li Huowang was still engulfed in flames and did not want to waste this opportunity. He charged at the front and used the fire burning him to dry the ground, kill the Dharma Sect followers, and pave the way for his allies.

They made swift progress with his lead. After two hours, they reached their destination—the deepest part of Cloud Swamp, which was unexpectedly a parched area.

The heads of Bai Lingmiao’s two upper bodies, clad in red veils, gently moved up and down in unison.

Hou Shu’s Chief sounded the horn, and everyone began to advance.

Armored cavalry charged forward, their murderous aura enveloping them like a giant sword that was aimed at the fortress.

“Kill!”

The fight erupted with a battle cry. Both sides unleashed their abilities against each other.

Li Huowang ignored the chaos around him and burrowed into the ground instead. He moved his tentacles like an octopus as he moved towards the fortress.

He knew the Dharma Sect had experts, so he did not advance by himself. Li Huowang was accompanied by his allies as they waited for the right moment. He knew that they shouldn’t be impatient, especially at a time like this.

Two hours later, the fortress was breached. The entire heart of the Cloud Swamp was thrust into chaos as incantations and battle cries filled the air.

Li Huowang spotted Zheng Boqiao of the Fangxian Sect chanting a spell that turned a Dharma Sect witch into a ball of flesh and swallowed him whole. He knew his opportunity had arrived.

He took out a box he carried and stuffed it into his mouth. Li Sui watched a bulge in her dad’s throat slide downwards.

Suddenly, the surrounding mud turned to transparent water, and Li Huowang’s charred skin began to heal rapidly.

“Li Sui! Let’s go!” Li Huowang said, leaping upward as a spring gushed from the ground.

The mysterious appearance of the spring drew the attention of the people on the battlefield, and Li Huowang, hidden from view, swiftly approached the Dragon Vein. As he moved closer, the agonized roars from the Dragon Vein assaulted his mind.

Li Huowang clenched his fists when he was near the edge of the quagmire. He watched the churning mud solidify while the stone pillars that pinned the Dragon Vein’s body liquefied.

Just as he started to make his move, an unexpected change occurred. The colors of the stone pillars and mud all faded to black and white. Only the golden dragon robes on the Dragon Vein retained their hue, providing a stark contrast.

Who’s there? What sect’s technique is this? This thought had barely formed when Li Huowang noticed the colors on his body fading.

It was like he was transforming into a figure from a grayscale landscape painting.