Chapter 1027: Chapter 1027: Dragon Soars to the Nine Heavens (Part 2)

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Puffs of white smoke suddenly erupted from the frontline of the West Liang Army, and a multitude of Yan Cavalry charging from hundreds of steps away fell like wheat before the scythe of Death, a large swath of them collapsing in unison.

Yet the Yan Cavalry behind seemed unfazed, their eyes filled with rage as they hoisted their long spears high, ruthlessly spurring their mounts with the spurs affixed to their boots’ heels, maintaining their steeds in the wildest of frenzies.

Such brutal tactics were extraordinarily abnormal for a Yan Cavalry, who ordinarily loved his war horse more than wife and children.

For once a mount is spent, it might collapse and never rise again, dead or utterly ruined.

But they had no choice!

The West Liang Army’s firearm division in front had weathered five consecutive charges by the Yan Cavalry and stood unwavering.

And in front of their military formation lay countless bodies of Yan State’s soldiers.

The problem was that if they could not break through the firearm formation, they would be unable to deliver a fatal blow to the West Liang Army.

Nor could they possibly win this decisive battle!

Seven days earlier, the West Liang Army had suddenly marched west out of Hanhai Pass, capturing Dongwang City that very day and taking tens of thousands of soldiers and civilians prisoner.

Subsequently, this army swiftly overran Xiazhu, White Sand, and Stone Cliff.

This caught Yan State completely off-guard.

Despite Great Yan having already begun another campaign against West Liang, the various allied armies were still en route, and though provisions and baggage were ready–indeed, much had been stored in advance in the four cities that had just been captured.

These precious resources had inadvertently provided immense aid to the West Liang Army!

Seeing the tide turn against them, Great Yan’s Pillar Nation General, Yan Wuhui, personally led thirty thousand Iron Cavalry, arriving at the eastern stronghold–Jialuo City–day and night, and along with four hastily assembled armies, formed a massive troop of three hundred seventy thousand.

They intercepted the invading West Liang Army on the Wuding Plains.

Thus unfolded a battle of unprecedented scale.

In terms of numbers, the Yan Army held an absolute advantage, with the continuous arrival of reinforcements eventually tallying over half a million.

On the other hand, the West Liang Army, counting auxiliary troops and reinforcements, peaked at no more than one hundred fifty thousand.

Yet from morning to midday in this decisive battle, not only had the Yan Army gained no advantage, they had suffered tens of thousands of casualties.

The West Liang Army’s cannons were formidable, not only firing far but also with tremendous lethality.

In particular the cannons, with a blast powerful enough to reach for miles, tore flesh gruesomely where their balls landed, and even Martial Artists of the fourth or fifth tier dared not face their edge. For those below rank, to be touched meant death or injury–armored though they were, it was of no use.

The Yan Army still had the advantage in numbers, but many were now shadowed by the invincible cannons, trembling involuntarily at the thunderous boom of artillery.

Dreading that the incoming shells might land upon their heads!

Yet Pillar Nation General Yan Wuhui showed no intention of retreat; this renowned general of Yan State personally enforced the battle, beheading more than a dozen generals who fled from the front lines, and forcefully ordering the Yan Army to launch wave after wave of assaults.

More than a thousand Yan Cavalry braving a storm of bullets and with the tremendous sacrifices of their comrades finally advanced near the firearm division.

Just as they prepared for a last, desperate charge, the frontmost West Liang firearm shooters suddenly retreated in unison.

Dozens of field cannons immediately revealed themselves, their dark muzzles aiming at the Yan Cavalry.

The eyes of these Yan Knights widened and mouths agape, fear of death arising in every heart.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Over thirty field cannons simultaneously fired hundreds of grapeshots, covering a vast area of the battlefield.

The charging Yan Knights were blasted to pieces, man and horse alike, the sight of flesh flying so dreadful it was unbearable to behold!

Despite displaying the valor expected of knights, such bravery proved futile against the roaring cannons; on the contrary, their valor only fortified the latter’s reputation as gods of war.

The Yan Army was defeated once again.

Time and again, their fruitless attacks resulted in massive casualties and exhaustion, leading the Yan Army to feel weary and hopeless. Even with the Enforcement Team’s menacing presence behind them, their morale remained extremely low.

Some of the retreating soldiers even abandoned their weapons, collapsing motionlessly on the ground.

It was at this moment that the originally clear sky suddenly became overcast with clouds, a howling wind gathering and moving towards the area where the West Liang forces were stationed, accompanied by the continuous rumble of thunder.

This abrupt change in the weather immediately caught the attention of both sides involved in the battle.

From the lookout tower in the middle of the West Liang army, Wang Chen’s gaze swept across the vast battlefield, resting on the Yan Army’s rear camp.

Despite the great distance, he could still clearly “see” streams of Mana rising into the sky, stirring up the clouds and altering the weather.

Clearly, there was a substantial force of Cultivators present.

Kunlun Taoist Palace!

A name instantly surfaced in Wang Chen’s mind.

He knew that this was the contingency plan of Pillar Nation General Yan Wuhui of the Yan State!

On the cruel battlefield, the power of a few to a dozen Cultivators was negligible, barely making any difference.

Even under the onslaught of the military array’s formidable aura, they would be stripped of their ability to cast spells!

However, when the number of Cultivators increased to several thousand and they formed a large Array, with a Great Heavenly Master-class figure commanding the operation, it was a different story.

Wang Chen easily deduced the opponent’s intentions.

These Cultivators from Kunlun Taoist Palace were working together to create a sudden storm above the West Liang army, aiming to affect the performance of firearms and cannons, thereby greatly weakening the strength of the West Liang forces.

It must be said that this was a clever tactic.

Because gunpowder is most afraid of moisture; once wet by rain, all firearms and cannons become useless piles of scrap metal.

At that point, sheer numbers would be enough for the Yan Army to overwhelm the West Liang forces!

The Yan side undoubtedly understood the weakness of gunpowder; they had their own cannons that had been kept in reserve and not pushed forward.

If the plan succeeded, then it would be time for the West Liang army to taste the onslaught of cannon fire!

Yan Wuhui was truly a renowned general of Great Yan.

But he had miscalculated Wang Chen’s strength.

Wang Chen stood tall on the lookout tower, raising his head and pinching a spell with his hands, he shouted in a deep voice, “Let the wind rise!”

Since the opponent wanted to call forth winds and summon rain, then Wang Chen would aid them.

As his power joined in, the fierce winds abruptly turned into a massive storm, carrying the rain clouds high into the sky where they spun away, quickly moving beyond the skies above the West Liang army.

Crack!

Accompanied by lightning, the rain poured down, nourishing the parched land.

Not a single drop fell on the West Liang military formation.

Back in the Yan Army rear camp, the thousand Cultivators were stunned, hardly believing what had just happened.

The wind and rain Array they had jointly activated had encountered no issues, and its effects had been obvious.

However, the adversary had effortlessly borrowed the wind and manipulated the spell, neutralizing their tactic.

Such an outcome was incredibly frustrating!

——-

Here’s the first update.