Chapter 97
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: The Feint Exposed
-----------------------------------------------------------------
In the Martial Alliance, it was customary for elders to hail from the Nine Great Sects. This naturally drew together the power of those sects.
But the Righteous Heaven Alliance did things differently. The Tyrant Dragon's appointment as an elder stemmed not from the strength of his Tyrant Sword Sect, but from his status as one of the Ten Great Experts.
The Righteous Heaven Alliance's elders were thus filled with such renowned masters. Among them were even a few wanderers who roamed the martial world alone, unattached to any sect. Of course, they too had carved out their places within the alliance.
Cheon Yeong had brought them all. In effect, the Righteous Heaven Alliance's base in Zhangsa was left all but empty. True, it was shielded by formations, but should the Demonic Alliance slip away undetected, the blow to the alliance would be devastating.
As a result, those in high positions within the Righteous Heaven Alliance grew sharper and more on edge with each passing day. They strained their ears for any hint of Demonic Alliance activity, desperate not to miss even the smallest scrap of intelligence.
The Demonic Alliance's movements were so vast and brazen that the alliance had shifted toward Nanchang for the time being. Yet that very openness gnawed at them.
Of course, the Demonic Alliance had a history of charging ahead thoughtlessly and without guile, so this was likely no different. Its leader remained Gal Cheonak, after all.
The Righteous Heaven Alliance Leader moved alongside the elders and the alliance's key figures. They led from the vanguard, directing the march. With formations to erect, they pressed on with utmost haste.
Victory was a foregone conclusion in their minds. The only question was how to minimize casualties. If they could establish the formations, losses might be negligible. So they believed.
"At this pace, we should arrive by tomorrow night."
Pae Yeop drew alongside Cheon Yeong as he spoke. Cheon Yeong gave him a sidelong glance and nodded.
"The momentum exceeds expectations. We'll beat the Demonic Alliance there by at least three days at this rate."
"That gives us plenty of time to set the formations."
"Naturally. Though lack of time will weaken their potency somewhat."
"Haha, what does that matter? Morale is sky-high. The Demonic Alliance won't stand a chance—they'll scatter like leaves in a storm."
Cheon Yeong gave a faint smile at Pae Yeop's words.
"One can only hope."
The cordial air between the two eased tensions among those nearby. If all went to plan, they could annihilate the enemy without a scratch, couldn't they?
Should that come to pass, the Righteous Heaven Alliance's name would echo across the realm—perhaps even eclipsing the Martial Alliance. Its leaders inwardly mocked the Martial Alliance, who stood idly by with folded arms.
Fortifying their position would let them poach sects from the Martial Alliance. In time, they could dismantle it entirely, leaving the Righteous Heaven Alliance to reign supreme in the martial world.
Such a bright future painted smiles on every face.
Toward these buoyant Righteous Heaven Alliance warriors rode a lone horse, trailing clouds of dust.
"Hm? What's that?"
The rider's garb marked him unmistakably as one of their own.
"What could have happened?"
Anxiety crashed over them like a wave.
"Disaster strikes!"
The warrior leaped from his mount in a tumble and dashed to Cheon Yeong, clutching a crumpled letter—clearly one delivered by carrier pigeon.
Cheon Yeong took it, unfolded the missive, and read. His face darkened into a scowl.
"Alliance Leader, what is it?"
The elders pressed, barely containing their dread. Cheon Yeong passed the letter wordlessly. Horror dawned in the eyes of each reader.
"I-Is this real?!"
"Tricked by the Demonic Alliance? Impossible!"
The letter detailed a second Demonic Alliance maneuver, scrawled in frantic script: their overt advance was a ruse—the true force aimed south through Jiangxi Province into Hunan.
"If true, we must turn course at once! Alliance Leader!"
The Righteous Heaven Alliance's march had ground to a halt. With leader and elders frozen, the ranks behind followed suit.
Under every eye, Cheon Yeong spoke gravely.
"We have no choice but to divide our forces."
The elders' eyes bulged. Their numbers were vast, yes—but halved, blocking the Demonic Alliance would prove arduous.
"Alliance Leader! Out of the question! The Demonic Alliance is no pushover! And now, even erecting formations will be a trial!"
Precisely the issue. Time for formations was nil. They might intercept and blockade paths ahead, but not with the luxury of setup.
Without formations, overwhelming the Demonic Alliance grew unlikely—pure melee loomed. Splitting then? Victory itself hung in doubt.
The alliance's leaders could no longer mask their bleak despair as fears materialized.
Cheon Yeong regarded them steadily, then declared resolutely.
"We divide. Unequally."
Silence fell. His tone brooked no defiance.
Cheon Yeong divided them with crisp efficiency.
The Heaven-Shattering Squad and Heaven-Annihilation Squad would proceed to the original target, accompanied by formation specialists.
The elders found no ground to object. Those squads were small; their detachment wouldn't cripple overall strength.
"Alliance Leader, what if this intel itself is their trap?"
Pae Yeop voiced his concern. Cheon Yeong smiled faintly and shook his head.
"No need for worry. They lack the spare capacity for traps."
Pae Yeop cocked his head at the unflappable confidence. Excessive, after squandering time on bad intel and fumbling a golden chance.
"Move out!"
At Cheon Yeong's order, the Righteous Heaven Alliance surged forward once more. Their new bearing: White Cloud Mountain in southern Jiangxi.
The Demonic Alliance had long lacked true intellect, rendering its raw might ineffective. The Golden Alliance's crude ploy had toppled it for that very reason.
Admittedly, prior clashes with the Martial Alliance had drained them; else, the fall wouldn't have been so pathetic.
Its collapse forced evil sects nationwide into hiding. They outnumbered the orthodox, sure—but quality told another tale.
Numbers alone achieve nothing without unified, organized resistance. The Demonic Alliance had been that nexus, coordinating the unrighteous.
Shattered, the evil sects hunkered down. Orthodox forces pressed hard, knowing their rivals' absence would solidify dominance.
Into that crisis reemerged the Demonic Alliance. Diminished, yes—but still a boon to the unrighteous.
Thus, most evil sects aided covertly. Rumors and diversions? Their métier.
Hence the rumor of a Demonic Alliance thrust toward Nanchang blanketed the land. Part of their force did head there—for real.
Neglect Nanchang, and they'd storm Zhangsa to raze the Righteous Heaven Alliance outright.
Gal Cheonak, bounding tirelessly, shot a glance at the scheme's architect.
A black-masked figure, features concealed. Yet now, the Demonic Alliance's most trusted ally.
He'd divulged all on the Black Warriors, served as their brain trust, even bankrolled shortfalls. A patron saint.
Call him Shadowless, he'd said.
'Shadowless... Apt indeed.'
True to his name, he defied capture.
"A masterful stratagem. The Righteous Heaven Alliance will flounder."
Shadowless shook his head firmly at Gal Cheonak's praise.
"Underestimate them at your peril. My plan's no masterstroke—many will have sniffed it out. Prepare accordingly."
Gal Cheonak's brow furrowed at the pessimism. Rebuttal eluded him. Scheming wasn't his forte.
He fell silent, leaping onward. At his fore, a thousand Black Warriors of the Demonic Alliance raced toward White Cloud Mountain.
A short ride south of Nanchang lay a broad plain—off the main road, yet ideal for large groups.
Some two hundred black-clad figures sped across it. Sleeveless black garb cloaked them; their skin matched near pitch.
They arrayed in escort formation around one: another dark-skinned man in black, his hue marginally lighter.
"Grh, no show after all. No ordinary foe to game this out."
He muttered, eyes sweeping ceaselessly. Still, oversight was possible. He'd brought most of the league's steel golems.
Missing the Righteous Heaven Alliance's main force nearby? A setback.
Two hundred golems couldn't prevail—but could stall. And that delay would choke them.
His gaze fixed ahead, spotting a distant band.
"Hm? Righteous Heaven Alliance?"
Too few for the core host. Formations or not, under a hundred couldn't halt the Demonic Alliance.
"They caught on, then. Purpose served regardless."
He scrutinized them keenly. Long ensconced, preparations evident. Formations, no doubt.
"Heh heh, care to reveal your array?"
Sinister mirth curled his lips. Shadowless had schooled him in counters to myriad formations. He was primed.
Better yet—if they banked on it and slacked, victory would be child's play.
Distance vanished in a blink. Faces sharpened into view. He reined the golems. Probe the formation first.
Golems obeyed through him. His death wouldn't halt them. Allyless, they grew deadlier.
No controller equaled no leash.
Human guidance imposed restraint, subtly. Stripped away, they devolved into monstrosities.
He maneuvered the golems, probing. Time stretched—yet the formation eluded grasp.
"How? It's there, plain..."
The array existed. Undetectable. Scope unknown. Realization hit: ensnared.
"Damnation! Such a formation!"
Beyond Shadowless's countermeasures. Perhaps unknown even to him.
A Righteous Heaven Alliance specialty he'd overlooked. Dire straits.
Panic gripped him. Golems slipped his thrall—formation's doing.
The erstwhile stationary foes stirred. They ghosted into the array, converging.
He saw their advance. Felt no presence. Ghosts.
"Ugh..."
Formation's toll. A groan escaped before steel rasped free.
Ching!
Black Warrior, skilled one. Outnumbered, yes—but no easy prey. Escape the array, reclaim the golems.
Three closed. He lunged sword-first.
Pishuk!
Sword qi sheathed the blade, rending the oncomers.
Chwaaak!
Eyes flared wide. Impact registered. Unscathed. Afterimages only—they'd never advanced.
'The formation.'
Panic etched his face.
Pusuk!
Flesh rent hideously. Eyes dropped to the blade piercing his chest. Crimson trailed its edge.