Chapter 123: The Grand Army Marches South to Assault Baihu City

In the 8,000th year of the Sword Qi Era, on the twenty-second day of the third month.

Xie Lingtian, along with Xie Jinxuan and Xie Wanyi, led the last eight million soldiers across several towering mountains.

Everywhere the army passed, local citizens and cultivators joined their ranks of their own accord.

They marched under their emperor, Xie Lingtian, the Crown Prince, Xie Jinxuan, and the princess, Xie Wanyi.

As they swept south to war against Kasa’s Demon Race army, the ranks continued to swell, with many prisoners choosing to enlist.

None wished to live as slaves with their nation lost. Faced with the so-called grand promises from the Demon Race, they put their faith in weapons, not dreams.

Just like that, the force rallying behind Xie Lingtian surged to fifteen million strong.

Among them were all sorts—commoners, cultivators, prisoners, rogue cultivators and battle-hardened warriors, all united in resistance.

Xie Lingtian led these fifteen million rebels straight toward the secondary major city occupied by Kasa’s forty million-strong demon host.

Fifteen million humans against forty million demons—it was a gamble with everything on the line. The smallest misstep would spell annihilation.

After much deliberation, Xie Lingtian chose to strike city by city, aiming to cut off the demon supply lines and reclaim lost lands with minimal losses.

He set his sights on Baihu City, closer to Xuanwu City, and after a day and night’s march, they set up camp a hundred li outside Baihu City.

But Baihu City’s defenses were no weak obstacle. Two mid-stage Demon Sovereigns commanded three mid-stage Demon Saints here, and ten million elite demons of the Demon Monarch and Demon Sovereign Realms stood guard.

Xie Lingtian knew well he was in for a brutal fight, but if they could take this city, it would connect them with Xuanwu City and lay the groundwork for future attacks.

He had no choice but to press on. With a commanding wave, he soared into the sky and stood before his fifteen million strong, radiating an unmatched royal presence.

His eyes were unwavering, filled with resolve as if telling everyone—their victory would be certain.

“Soldiers, people, cultivators of all kinds! We stand at the edge of a challenge like no other. Our foes are mighty. One mistake could cost us all our lives.

“But I believe in us. We will overcome them and take back our homeland!”

“Tell me, with your voices—do you have the confidence, are you prepared for sacrifice?”

Xie Lingtian’s shout thundered across the battlefield, sending morale soaring.

Xie Jinxuan and Xie Wanyi exchanged a look, then dropped to one knee, their voices booming, “We do not fear death! We vow to reclaim our people’s home at any cost!”

“Long live His Majesty! May the Prince and Princess live for a thousand years!”

“We swear to take back our home, to slaughter the demons—Victory to humanity!”

Their battle cries pierced the heavens, as if all creation was cheering them on.

Xie Lingtian turned to gaze at his soldiers, his chest swelling with pride and courage.

“Today, we fight the demons to the bitter end—not just for ourselves, but for our families, our dignity, and our future!”

“Raise your weapons! For our future. For our race. Charge!”

With his order, fifteen million troops surged forward like tigers down a mountain, charging the demon army outside Baihu City.

The city guards reacted quickly, sounding the alarm and roaring, “The humans are attacking! All troops, to battle!”

Within the city, demons flooded out, over ten million figures soaring into the sky and covering it so completely that darkness swept over the land—a scene like the end of days.

Brunn, a mid-stage Demon Sovereign and overall commander, saw the approaching human assault and flew into a rage.

“Humans, you’ve got some nerve! Daring to ambush us—next year on this day will be the anniversary of your deaths. Warriors of the Demon Race, attack! Kill them all!”

Ten million demons streaked forward like thunderbolts, weapons gleaming, mocking sneers on their faces as they swooped down.

The carnage began—both armies colliding in a storm of blood and steel.

Unfazed by the demonic onslaught, Xie Jinxuan pointed his sword at Brunn and bellowed,

“Warriors of my people, follow me! Leave none of these damned demons alive—avenge every friend and family member we have lost!”

“Kill!”

“Kill them and reclaim our home!”

Human soldiers all drew their swords, hungry for revenge against the demons before them.

Xie Jinxuan and Brunn led their armies into the heart of battle, enemies locking eyes in hatred.

The battlefield devolved into chaos, humans and demons locked in savage combat.

Xie Jinxuan charged at the vanguard, his sword harvesting demon lives with every strike.

Xie Wanyi refused to lag behind, leading her own troops and fighting ferociously on the blood-soaked field.

Even the civilians, rogue cultivators, prisoners—all found ways to contribute, whether treating the wounded, providing support, or fighting side by side.

The fighting was unbearably brutal. Corpses piled high across the land, painting the earth crimson and leaving rivers of blood.

The dead lay everywhere. Despite being weaker on average, the humans, battered by the ferocity of the demons, began to falter.

Still, the human race did not cower before the demon cruelty. Instead, every blow only hardened their will, and they fought on with desperate determination.

In their hearts burned one conviction:

For their home, loved ones and race, they would fight to the very end.

Brunn, furious at their stubborn resistance, roared, “Do ants dare to compete with the sun and moon? You’re just moths racing toward the flame—seeking your own death!”

He wielded his palm like a weapon, unleashing a vast shadow laced with suffocating death energy, swelling in the sky.

In an instant, the shadow crashed down and crushed ten thousand human soldiers into pulp, leaving a massive handprint embedded in the earth.

The rest of the soldiers looked on in shock, only for fury to overtake their fear. Eyes burning red, they roared with rage.

“I’ll kill you—pay for their lives!”

“Get out of here, demons! This land isn’t yours to invade!”

Thousands of soldiers took flight, blades raised and vowing vengeance against Brunn.

Mo Yi, a low-stage Demon Saint, reacted instantly and soared up, blocking their path, seething with wrath.

“Damn ants! You dare attack our commander? Are you seeking death?”

Mo Yi darted like a wraith through the humans, and in a blur, thousands burst into clouds of blood.

Looking down with arrogance, his voice thundered, “Listen well, you human insects—a bug should know its place. There’s no point in fighting back!”

Xie Wanyi glared with widened eyes. “Even ants can topple an elephant! I’ll kill you myself—for every human you’ve murdered!”

She erupted with cultivation at the fifth stage of Sword Emperor Realm, surging forward with her sword flashing like lightning, stabbing straight at Mo Yi.

Mo Yi scoffed, eyes full of contempt, and struck her with a palm that sent her crashing to the ground.

Like a swan with broken wings, Xie Wanyi plummeted. Just as she was about to hit the earth, cold determination flashed in her eyes; biting back the pain, she braced herself and drove her sword into the ground to slow her fall.

Barely steady, she was about to let out a breath when urgent shouts rang out behind her.

“Princess, watch out!”

Hearing someone call her, Xie Wanyi started to turn, but dozens of soldiers took to the air, throwing themselves between her and danger.

They turned to red mist in an instant, their blood spattering her face, leaving Xie Wanyi shaking in terror as she looked up.

Mo Yi floated down, eyes locked on her, his words dripping with malice and twisted delight.

“Well now, I didn’t expect you to actually be a princess. No wonder these little ants would risk their lives to save you.”

“And quite the beauty too. Here’s an offer—if you’ll follow me from now on, I’ll spare your life. How about it?”

Xie Wanyi spat blood at his feet and fixed him with a glare full of hatred.

“In your dreams! Even if I die today, I’ll never follow you! Give up already!”

Mo Yi grabbed her chin, smirking. “Tsk, tsk. Princess, that’s not the answer I was hoping for.”

“Since you refuse, I’ll just have to ruin you, little flower. Farewell, princess of the humans!”

Xie Wanyi closed her eyes, prepared for death. Seeing this, nearby soldiers scrambled to break free and rush to her aid.

“Filthy demon, take your disgusting hands off the princess’s face!” a soldier roared, soaring toward them with his greatsword ready.

All around, more soldiers sprang into action, eyes meeting in silent resolve as they surged at Mo Yi.

“Demon scum! Dare to insult our princess—pay for it with your life!”

Displeased, Mo Yi said, “Noisy pests! You bothersome little bugs—just die already!”

He raised his hand and, with a single strike, wiped out the attacking soldiers. They perished instantly, their souls snuffed out.

Xie Wanyi was stunned. Pain and guilt swept her face as she wept, murmuring, “It was my fault…the soldiers all died because of me.”

Mo Yi let out a mad laugh. “Don’t feel bad, princess. You’ll be joining them soon enough!”

With a sly, chilling smile, Mo Yi’s face darkened as he swiftly raised his hand, striking at Xie Wanyi, intent on ending her life.