Xiao Chen Forced into a Solo Fight Against an Eighth-Tier Anomaly

On the high platform, the New Emperor Sword watched, dumbfounded.

"Is this what you humans call an assault?"

Wang Hao said indifferently, "No, this is a rich man's assault."

Wei Zhongxian said softly, "Your Majesty is wise."

The New Emperor Sword clicked its tongue. "It's good to be rich."

Wang Hao glanced at it. "You are now my sword. If I have money, it means you have money."

The New Emperor Sword's eyes lit up.

Wang Hao added, "But you have no right to control it."

The New Emperor Sword: "..."

It suddenly felt like a wealthy second-generation heir in name only.

The moment the formation shattered, the Great Zhou war drums boomed.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

The drums sounded like thunder.

The 700,000-strong coalition army turned into a torrent of steel, charging into the Crimson Moon Canyon.

"Kill!"

Battle cries tore through the blood-red clouds.

Xiao Chen and the other prodigies of the vanguard camp charged at the very front.

It wasn't that they were brave.

It was because the supervising squad behind them held military law plaques, on which eight words were clearly written:

"Fail to meet performance targets, report to logistics."

Xiao Chen's eyes twitched wildly.

"Wang Hao, I'll carve this sentence on your tombstone sooner or later."

Ye Guyun said, "Survive today first."

Wanyan Gu drew his giant axe and roared, "Northern Barbarian warriors will never scrub toilets!"

He charged faster than anyone else.

The red silk in Qin Hongye's hands was like fire, charging into the group of demonic cultivators. With a sweep of the red silk, several demonic cultivators were cut in half.

In the canyon, the demonic aura was intense.

A river of magma surged in the distance, heat waves distorting the air. Bizarre puppets continuously crawled out of cracks in the ground. Some looked like giant dogs with human faces on their backs; some were like balls of flesh stitched together from dozens of corpses, spitting out putrid poison as they rolled; others wore tattered kasayas but had sheep heads, chanting reversed scriptures.

Xiao Chen swept his heavy ruler horizontally, and strange fire erupted with a bang.

The blue-gold flames turned into a fire dragon, burning a Tier 6 rotting bone aberration to ashes.

"First one!"

Just as he finished shouting, a Tier 7 blood-eyed spider pounced from the cliff, its eight legs thrusting like spears.

Ye Guyun's sword light flashed.

Three spider legs broke.

Xiao Chen smashed his heavy ruler onto the blood-eyed spider's head, pouring strange fire in, and blasted it apart with a boom.

"Second one!"

Wanyan Gu roared from the side, "You two are kill-stealing!"

Qin Hongye sneered. "Do we still talk about first come, first served on the battlefield?"

Wanyan Gu said angrily, "We Northern Barbarians hunt by the rules!"

The voice of the New Emperor Sword drifted from a distance. "That's why you Northern Barbarians are poor."

Wanyan Gu was so angry he was almost bitten on the butt by a demonic puppet.

The battle quickly reached a fever pitch.

The Great Zhou Imperial Guard advanced in formation, Demon-Suppressing Crossbows firing continuously in volleys. Aura-breaking talisman arrows fell like black rain, pinning swaths of demonic cultivators to the rock walls. The mercenary legions of various sects charged left and right, and the Sky-Soaring Realm ancestors broke through the demonic sect's branch altars one by one.

The Crimson Moon Demonic Sect's resistance was extremely tragic.

They knew there was no retreat.

When Wang Hao said he wouldn't accept surrenders, he meant it.

The remnant souls of the Black Water Demon Cave were all struck clean by lightning. The Crimson Moon Demonic Sect naturally wouldn't think they had more face than Black Water.

"Blood Sacrifice!"

A demonic sect elder roared, his body suddenly expanding, turning into a blood-red torch.

Hundreds of demonic cultivators simultaneously detonated their essence blood.

In the center of the canyon, three blood pools exploded.

Gurgle—

From the blood pools, three behemoths crawled out.

Each was over ten zhang tall.

The first had three rotting heads, six arms dragging on the ground, and a giant maw torn open on its chest and abdomen, filled densely with human hands.

The second looked like a giant ape, but it had no skin, its bright red muscles exposed. Its back was pierced full of broken swords and spears, and with every step, the earth trembled.

The third was the most bizarre, looking like a headless female corpse, but a giant vertical pupil opened on its abdomen. As the vertical pupil opened and closed, the surrounding low-level soldiers immediately clutched their heads and screamed miserably.

Tier 8 bizarre puppets!

Equivalent to the early stage of the Sky-Soaring Realm.

Moreover, they were fearless of death and felt no pain.

As soon as the three Tier 8 aberrations appeared, the front line was instantly torn apart.

The giant ape smashed down a fist, and over ten Aura Realm martial artists were smashed into meat paste before they could even scream.

The vertical pupil on the headless female corpse's abdomen swept across, and dozens of soldiers suffered soul damage, bleeding from their seven orifices and falling to the ground.

The three-headed rotting corpse opened the giant maw on its chest and abdomen, swallowing over ten sect disciples in one gulp, the chewing sound making one's scalp tingle.

Xiao Chen's expression drastically changed.

"Where are the Sky-Soaring Realm ancestors?"

Ye Guyun looked into the distance.

Over thirty Sky-Soaring Realm ancestors were besieging the inner layer restrictions of the Crimson Moon Demonic Sect, and several other Sky-Soaring Realm experts were being held back by demonic sect elders. Eight demigods suppressed the formation, unmoving, clearly guarding against the Martial God Body deeper in.

These three Tier 8 aberrations were stuck in an extremely disgusting position.

If not dealt with, the front line would be torn apart.

If dealt with, ordinary Aura Realm experts going up would just be serving themselves on a platter.

On the high platform, Wang Hao watched the battlefield, his expression calm.

Wei Zhongxian said softly, "Your Majesty, should we send Sky-Soaring Realm experts back to support?"

Wang Hao shook his head.

"The Sky-Soaring Realm has Sky-Soaring Realm matters."

His gaze fell on Xiao Chen, Ye Guyun, and Wanyan Gu.

"Pass down the order."

Wei Zhongxian's eyelids twitched, seeming to have already guessed something.

Wang Hao said indifferently, "Xiao Chen, Ye Guyun, Wanyan Gu, each pin down one Tier 8 aberration. Hold on until the ancestors free up their hands, and it counts as A-rank performance."

Wei Zhongxian said respectfully, "This old slave will go right away."

A moment later, the military order reached the vanguard camp.

After hearing it, Xiao Chen froze entirely.

"Say that again?"

The messenger braced himself and said, "His Majesty has ordered Walker Xiao to pin down the three-headed rotting corpse, Walker Ye to pin down the headless female corpse, and Wanyan Gu to pin down the flesh giant ape. Hold on until the ancestors free up their hands, and it will be recorded as A-rank performance."

Xiao Chen almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Is he crazy?"

"We are in the Aura Realm!"

"Tier 8 aberrations correspond to the Sky-Soaring Realm!"

"This isn't called pinning down, this is called suicide!"

On the high platform, Wang Hao's voice came from afar.

"Xiao Chen, have you forgotten that you defeated a half-step Sky-Soaring Realm opponent in the martial arts tournament?"

Xiao Chen roared, "That was half-step Sky-Soaring! This is true Sky-Soaring level!"

Wang Hao said, "They are puppets with low intelligence. If you can't beat them, can't you walk them?"

Xiao Chen's vision went dark.

Walk them?

Do you think this is walking a dog?

That dog could bite me in half in one bite!

Wang Hao continued, "The resources the Prodigy Pavilion consumes on you every month are enough to raise five hundred spirit pigs. Now is the time to test the results."

Wanyan Gu said angrily, "Your Majesty, am I inferior to a spirit pig?"

Wang Hao thought for a moment.

"Currently, spirit pigs don't complain."

Wanyan Gu: "..."

Qin Hongye couldn't help but laugh.

Xiao Chen took a deep breath, strange fire rising from his palm.

He knew he had no choice.

Behind him was military law.

In front of him were Tier 8 aberrations.

Both sides were death.

The only difference was that dying on the battlefield still had some dignity, while scrubbing toilets might get him mocked by the New Emperor Sword for a lifetime.

"Ye Guyun!"

"Wanyan Gu!"

"Don't die!"

Ye Guyun drew his sword, his sword intent condensing into a line.

"You too."

Wanyan Gu hoisted his giant axe and grinned.

"Northern Barbarian warriors would rather be beaten to death by monsters than smoked to death by toilets!"

The three charged out at the same time.

Xiao Chen headed straight for the three-headed rotting corpse.

The monster's three heads turned towards him simultaneously, its six murky eyes locking on, and the giant maw on its chest and abdomen tore open, spewing out a foul-smelling black mist.

Xiao Chen stomped his foot, his figure moving laterally.

The black mist brushed past his body and landed on the ground, instantly corroding the yellow sand into black water.

A chill ran down Xiao Chen's spine.

If that touched him, not even his bones would remain.

He swept his heavy ruler horizontally, and the strange fire transformed into a wall of flames, blocking one of the rotting corpse's arms.

Bang!

The immense force tore the webbing between his thumb and forefinger. He was sent flying backward for dozens of feet, crashing heavily into the rock wall.

"Cough!"

Xiao Chen spat out a mouthful of blood.

The three-headed rotting corpse roared and lunged at him.

Xiao Chen forcefully gathered his qi. Moving like lightning, he weaved between the rotting corpse's six arms.

Once.

Twice.

Thrice.

Every time, he dodged right on the edge of death.

The rotting corpse smashed a fist into the rock wall, causing the entire section to collapse.

Xiao Chen rolled out from the rubble. The strange fire condensed on the edge of his heavy ruler as he viciously hacked at the rotting corpse's knee.

Clang!

It was like striking divine iron.

It only left a scorched black scar.

Xiao Chen's expression worsened.

"This hide is way too thick!"

In the distance, Ye Guyun faced the headless female corpse.

Its vertical eye opened, and a soul attack surged forward like a tidal wave.

Ye Guyun let out a muffled groan, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, yet he still slashed out with his sword.

The sword light was incredibly thin.

Like a silver needle.

It pierced precisely into the edge of the vertical eye.

The headless female corpse shrieked. Tentacle-like long hair erupted from the severed neck, blotting out the sky as it entangled toward Ye Guyun.

On the other side, Wanyan Gu was sent flying by a punch from the flesh-and-blood giant ape.

He rolled on the ground over a dozen times before scrambling up and cursing loudly.

"This thing is even more savage than my dad!"

The giant ape charged again.

Wanyan Gu's eyes turned crimson. His Northern Barbarian bloodline burned as he held his giant axe horizontally in front of him, taking the punch head-on.

Boom!

The ground beneath his feet shattered, and the blood vessels in his arms burst open, but he forcefully held his ground without taking a single step back.

On the high platform, Wang Hao watched this scene and nodded slightly.

"Not bad."

Wei Zhongxian said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, they are heavily injured."

Wang Hao replied, "How will they remember if they don't get hurt?"

Wei Zhongxian fell silent.

He suddenly felt that His Majesty's method of cultivating prodigies was no different from a blacksmith forging iron.

First, heat it until it is red hot.

Then, hammer it fiercely.

If it does not shatter, it is good material.

If it shatters, it goes back into the furnace.

Xiao Chen repeatedly jumped back and forth on the edge of death.

Seventeen times.

He had already dodged seventeen fatal attacks.

A chunk of flesh was scraped off his left shoulder.

Three of his ribs were broken.

The cracks on his heavy ruler spread further.

But his eyes grew brighter and brighter.

Because he realized that Wang Hao was right about one thing.

This monster was indeed stupid.

It only chased and attacked the person with the most vigorous vitality. It could not predict, it could not coordinate, and because its three heads were simultaneously fighting for control of the body, its attack rhythm often had brief pauses.

Especially its left leg.

Every time it turned, it was half a beat too slow.

There was an old injury there!

Xiao Chen suddenly roared, "Ye Guyun! Wanyan Gu! These puppets all have fusion flaws! Look for old injuries! Look for the stitches!"

Hearing this, Ye Guyun's gaze sharpened.

He no longer clashed head-on with the vertical eye. Instead, he moved at high speed around the headless female corpse, finally spotting a dark red suture line on its waist and abdomen.

Sword light suddenly flared.

It pierced into the suture.

The headless female corpse screamed miserably.

Wanyan Gu was even more direct.

He noticed a broken spear stuck in the giant ape's right knee. The flesh and blood around the spear shaft bulged abnormally, clearly a weakness.

"I will show you savage!"

He roared, hacking down with his axe.

The broken spear was driven half a foot deeper.

The giant ape fell to one knee.

The three of them acted like madmen, frantically moving, kiting, and stabbing the weaknesses around the Tier 8 aberrations.

They could not kill them.

But they could stall them.

They could harass them.

They could keep these three monsters too busy to slaughter the military formation.

An incense stick's time later.

Xiao Chen looked as if he had been fished out of a pool of blood.

His vision darkened, and his footsteps grew unsteady.

The three-headed rotting corpse swept an arm across, and he was too late to dodge.

Right at this moment, a laugh came from the clouds.

"You held on well."

The Ren Family Patriarch had arrived.

He lightly tapped his dragon-head cane.

A giant finger formed from vitality descended from the sky, pressing directly onto the top of the three-headed rotting corpse's heads.

Bang!

The Tier 8 aberration exploded into pieces on the spot.

It was not heavily injured.

It was not knocked back.

The entire thing was crushed into a puddle of mud.

Subsequently, the Heavenly Sword Pavilion Master annihilated the headless female corpse with a single sword strike.

The Beiming Saber Lord split the flesh-and-blood giant ape in half with a single slash.

The three Tier 8 aberrations were wiped out in an instant.

Xiao Chen fell backward, staring up at the blood clouds, his throat letting out gasps that sounded like a broken bellows.

Ye Guyun half-knelt on the ground, supporting his body with the tip of his sword.

Wanyan Gu lay sprawled out on the sandy ground, still muttering, "No scrubbing toilets... no scrubbing toilets..."

Wei Zhongxian walked over with a smile, handing Xiao Chen a jade slip.

"Walker Xiao, a special instruction from His Majesty."

Xiao Chen struggled to raise his eyes.

Wei Zhongxian said, "A-rank performance, rewarded with one hundred contribution points, and an additional bestowal of a Heaven-tier low-grade new ruler."

Xiao Chen's lips moved.

He wanted to curse.

But he really did not have the strength.

Ye Guyun patted his shoulder.

"At least we got stronger."

Xiao Chen closed his eyes.

"I do not know if we got stronger."

"But I do know that in another three months, we will either die fighting monsters or die of exhaustion on the way to fight monsters."

On the high platform, Wang Hao looked toward the deepest part of the Crimson Moon Canyon.

Over there, a volcano was trembling.

Magma shot up into the sky.

A terrifying aura, far surpassing that of a Tier 8 aberration, finally awakened.

There was no panic in Wang Hao's eyes.

There was only a hint of a long-awaited smile.

"The main course is here."