Chapter 00046: Fierce and Unstoppable
# Fierce and Unstoppable
Chapter 46
Novel: After the Immortals Disappeared
Chapter 46: Fierce and Unstoppable
Sun Fuping didn’t even bother to respond.
If the Illusory Barrier could hold until the end, he wouldn’t have wanted to complicate things further.
He Chunhua, however, urgently asked, “What do we do now?”
“Borrow the power of heaven and earth,” Sun Fuping spoke faster than ever before. “Governor He, prepare your Imperial Decree!”
While He Chunhua fumbled to retrieve the Falcon Coin, Nian Songyu and Zeng Feixiong had already issued orders, commanding the soldiers to form a circular formation, protecting the important figures in the center.
Zeng Feixiong shouted, “Hold on! The vengeful spirits are almost gone. We just need to hold out for a dozen more breaths!”
Though his words were meant to boost morale, they weren’t entirely wrong.
The number of Wind Army spirits rushing out of the well was indeed dwindling, and it seemed like the end was near.
The overwhelming tide of spirits had subsided.
No one could think of any other vengeful spirits that could make a grand entrance after the Wind Army.
So this should indeed be the final wave.
However, as hopeful as their wishes were, reality was often cruel.
Just as everyone mustered their courage, the Illusory Barrier let out a soft “puff” and shattered.
Shattered…
The earthen-yellow light trembled weakly, as if it had exhausted its last bit of strength, and then it vanished.
Everyone’s hearts tightened, and they swallowed hard.
He Lingchuan shouted a warning, “Don’t move!”
Though the Illusory Barrier was broken, the Soul-Soothing Powder they had taken hadn’t expired yet.
The life flames on their shoulders and foreheads were still burning—perhaps?
After all, even without the barrier, the vengeful spirits hadn’t noticed them earlier.
At that moment, a small squad of the Wind Army rushed out of the well—a commander leading a dozen cavalrymen.
They had just flown out five zhang when the Illusory Barrier shattered.
Gulp.
A bandit instinctively swallowed.
The dozen cavalrymen showed no reaction, but the commander suddenly reined in his horse and turned his head, staring straight at them.
The yellow-maned horse reared up with a whinny, spinning around so that its head faced them.
The dozen cavalrymen also turned in unison.
Time seemed to stand still.
The other side didn’t move, and even the horses stopped swishing their tails.
In this strange standoff, the living could hear their own hearts pounding loudly.
Nian Songyu hissed through clenched teeth, “Don’t—move!”
Then, the Wind Army commander spurred his horse, and the steed charged straight at them!
A dozen riders followed closely behind.
Though they were just spirits, though it was just a small squad, the thunderous sound of hooves made it seem like a thousand troops were charging.
The ground shook beneath them.
He Lingchuan clearly saw the commander’s spear tip rise slightly, and a cold glint flashed.
“Dodge, everyone, dodge!” he roared. “They’ve seen us!” Then he grabbed He Chunhua and ducked behind Sun Fuping.
If the sky fell, the Imperial Preceptor would be the one to hold it up.
The distance between them was already close, and with the speed of the horses, they were almost upon them in an instant.
He Lingchuan could even hear the snorting of the horses’ nostrils.
So real, so dangerous.
Nian Songyu didn’t even have time to roll his eyes.
He leaped in front of Sun Fuping, holding a ridged shield in his right hand, blocking the two of them.
The angle of his shield was tricky, calculated so that the charging spirits couldn’t easily change direction.
The shield was tilted to the side, not meant to take the brunt of the impact head-on.
Even so, he tensed his entire body, ready to defend.
The shield was made from the shell of a ridged turtle demon, enhanced by 150 years of cultivation, making it incredibly hard.
The grid-like surface could absorb external force and even neutralize some magical attacks.
He Lingchuan was slightly surprised: Could this thing block attacks from intangible vengeful spirits?
As if reading his thoughts, Sun Fuping tapped the shield with a finger and muttered, “Mou!”
A faint green light emanated from the shield.
Just as he retracted his finger, the commander’s spear struck the shield with a loud “thud.”
Nian Songyu was pushed back seven steps, but he managed to stay on his feet by using his waist and legs to steady himself.
Imperial Preceptor Sun was right behind him, a hand on his shoulder, moving back with him.
He looked as light as an empty sack, landing gracefully without a hint of awkwardness.
He took the opportunity to reach out, and the staff planted in the center of the formation flew back to his hand.
As for the He father and son, He Lingchuan had already pulled his father two steps away just before the spear and shield collided.
His footwork was swift and precise, allowing them to avoid the impact.
He speculated that Nian Songyu’s turtle shield could withstand the vengeful spirits’ attacks only because of Sun Fuping’s assistance.
Otherwise, how could a purely physical defense block a magical attack?
Nian Songyu couldn’t help but glance at He Lingchuan, thinking to himself that this kid’s cultivation and character were both lacking, but his survival instincts were surprisingly sharp.
He had managed to avoid danger several times.
But others weren’t as lucky as the He father and son.
While the Wind Army commander dealt with Nian Songyu, the dozen ghostly cavalrymen went after Zeng Feixiong’s troops.
Without needing instructions, everyone scattered.
But how could two legs outrun four? In just two encounters, six people were pierced through the chest by the ghostly soldiers.
Though the attackers had no physical form, the six victims clutched their chests, writhing in pain on the ground.
Two of them even spat blood.
It was clear that the ghostly soldiers’ spears weren’t just for show—they could harm the soul.
Unable to dodge or fight back, what could they do?
Panic set in.
He Lingchuan shouted, “Captain Nian is holding off the leader!”
He was stating the obvious, as there were many onlookers.
At his reminder, everyone quickly regrouped.
The dozen cavalrymen reined in their horses, preparing for another charge, but they found the intruders had regrouped in one place.
This time, it wasn’t a circular formation—all the soldiers had gathered behind their leader.
Their formation was a bit messy.
The Wind Army commander looked at the group, then at the injured lying on the ground, and tilted his head slightly.
The gesture was eerily human, as if he were thinking.
Situ Han whispered, “This guy can think?”
He Lingchuan also felt uneasy.
The commander was already formidable in combat.
If he could also strategize, this battle could become a nightmare.
As feared, the Wind Army commander lightly flicked the reins, and the yellow-maned horse charged at them again.
But as they passed the well, the commander pressed his arm down, dipping the spear tip into the water.
This time, Nian Songyu barely managed to deflect the charge, but his arms ached, and the tiger’s mouth of his left hand split open.
Unexpectedly, the commander rode past the side of the group, and with a flick of his wrist, the spear tip retracted and thrust out again!
Swift as a dragonfly skimming the water.
The bandit at the front was pierced through the throat.
Clean and precise, with perfect control.
As a few drops of blood splattered onto the faces of his companions, the yellow-maned horse had already galloped three zhang away, the bandit impaled on the spear.
He wasn’t dead yet, his body twitching uncontrollably.
The commander turned the spear, and a trail of blood dripped down, soaking his pants and staining the sand.
(End of Chapter)