[Special Event—Crisis in the Western Border]
Meanwhile, in the Western Border.
An almost endless swarm of Wu Race tribesmen could be seen charging into the Shadowfell Prefecture.
The shamanic techniques of the Wu Race invoked the natural forces of heaven and earth—animating stone statues, controlling birds and beasts, and summoning spirits of nature—forming a terrifying black tide.
Meanwhile, the Human Race was putting up a desperate resistance. Yet, surrounded by the Wu Race from all sides, their battle lines were collapsing step by step.
At that moment, a giant tree standing over a thousand meters tall was packed with Wu tribesmen.
Its trunk was covered in sharp spikes, while its crown bore only a scattering of green leaves.
The bark of this giant tree twisted together to form a massive human face, possessing the demeanor of a composed scholar.
The spikes on the trunk appeared small relative to the tree's massive body, yet compared to a human, they were colossal.
Beneath the trunk, two long wooden legs had formed, sprinting across the earth and causing the ground to thunder and sand to roar.
Even when human cultivators bombarded it with Spiritual power, they could inflict no damage upon the giant tree.
Whatever stronger techniques were cast were easily blocked by the Wu Race Elders stationed atop the tree crown.
On one of the giant tree's green leaves stood numerous Elders clad in the long robes of the Wu Race.
While ordinary Wu tribesmen wore animal skins, those who had attained the status of Elder mostly imitated the Human Race by wearing robes, with patterns embroidered upon them representing their respective tribes.
Lei Dong was among them at this moment, his purple robe inscribed with motifs of thunder and lightning.
However, Lei Dong was relegated to the very back of the group; among the twenty-odd Elders standing on this green leaf, he truly held no significant rank.
The Elder standing at the very front possessed a kind and benevolent countenance.
He wore a robe as red as fire, upon which was depicted a soaring golden bird, making it appear as though the old man's entire garment had been ignited into a blazing inferno.
His white hair was tied into numerous small braids that scattered across his back, and in his hand, he held a white branch burning with wisps of flame.
Divine Bird Tribe, Sage Elder Nirvana—one of the Body Integration realm Sage Elders of the Divine Bird Tribe.
"I never expected the Human Race to be this weak. The moment we, Sage Elders, stepped forth, we were able to occupy their Shadowfell Prefecture."
"Find the Human Crown Prince!"
"The Crown Princes from over a hundred thousand years ago were nowhere near this frail."
"..."
Atop the giant tree, the Wu Race tribesmen laughed boisterously.
Sage Elder Nirvana gazed ahead, his expression unable to conceal his delight.
It had been over a hundred thousand years, and he had finally set foot on this land once again!
The giant tree, towering over a thousand meters high, advanced from the rear of the Wu formation.
Each step caused the earth to shake and the mountains to sway as it strode over the heads of the tide-like Wu army.
With just a single step, it easily breached the Human Race's defensive lines.
The soldiers of the Human Race raised their heads, gazing up in terror as the giant ancient tree's massive foot descended toward them.
The sole, large enough to blot out the sky and the sun, was imbued with immense Spiritual power; they could only wail in despair as they awaited the arrival of death.
From the rear, the Wu Race swarmed in from all directions.
The Human forces were like a patch of parched earth, gradually being encroached upon and submerged by a dark liquid pouring in from the distance, dyeing everything black.
One after another, cultivators attempted to intercept the experts atop the giant tree. Yet, with a mere wave of Sage Elder Nirvana's hand, Heavenly Fire descended, instantly incinerating them.
The giant tree advanced as if entering an uninhabited land, trampling the ant-like soldiers beneath its feet as it marched straight toward the garrisoned city of the Shadowfell Prefecture.
Inside the city, fleet after fleet of Spirit Boats were docked. Yet, like birds startled by the mere twang of a bowstring, the moment they saw the giant tree approaching and felt the terrifying aura radiating from it, they scattered in panic, fleeing in all directions.
That city, which had once seemed impregnable and had withstood the Wu Race's assaults time and again, saw its defensive formations fall without the Wu Race even touching them.
The cultivators, in their desperate haste to escape, had torn the arrays open themselves.
Atop the giant tree, Lei Dong let out a sigh.
Two years ago, he had been terrified that the Elders were being manipulated. But he realized now that he had underestimated their capabilities.
It was said that for over a hundred thousand years, the Sage Elders dared not set foot into the Azure Dynasty. Yet today, a Sage Elder had arrived in person!
Lei Dong suddenly furrowed his brows. He didn't know who spoke, but a voice drifted over: "It seems the Human Race still has capable people."
Hearing this, he turned his head to look.
In the distance, far behind the Human army that was retreating inch by inch, a crimson army was charging onto the battlefield.
Three hundred thousand cultivators strong, they were well-trained and utterly fearless of death!
However.
Sage Elder Nirvana didn't even spare a glance backward. Only a few Elders raised their eyebrows before flying toward the rear to intercept.
"Li Tianyue."
Lei Dong exhaled a long breath.
He recognized this army, and he spotted Li Tianyue wielding dual swords, commanding her troops to slaughter the enemy.
Back in the Azure Cloud Prefecture, she had once beaten them into a pathetic, scrambling rout.
Over the past century of warfare in the Western Border, this army had caused him no small amount of trouble.
But now...
"Is she trying to draw attention away to cover Crown Prince Fei Heng, buying him time to escape?"
Lei Dong turned his head away, unable to bear the sight.
"What a pity. I never got the chance to fight your Li Clan fair and square on the battlefield.
The Human Emperor cannot even leave the Heavenly Palace.
The world... no longer has any rules to speak of.
They can enter the Azure Dynasty at will. In their eyes..."
He raised his head.
There stood Sage Elder Nirvana, wielding a Spirit Treasure, summoning Heavenly Fire with a mere wave of his hand, and arbitrarily holding the power of life and death over the world.
This was his first time seeing a Sage Elder, yet within the Wu Race, there were many such Sage Elders.
In their eyes...
"All living beings are but ants."
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