Ch. 1444 - The Battle Formation, Wang Yuehai’s Revenge

“Actually,” Huo Yunzi said calmly, “I didn’t come here with any agenda. Everything in the city will continue as usual. You don’t need to report to me. As long as the city remains safe, I couldn’t care less about the rest.”

Wang Yuehai narrowed his eyes. Huo Yunzi seemed too agreeable, something about that didn’t sit right with him. When things seemed overly smooth, there was usually a trap beneath the surface. Normally, a new official would assert authority right away, but this one appeared completely passive.

He exchanged glances with the others gathered in the hall. None of them spoke, he was their spokesman, and among them, he wielded the most power.

“In that case,” Wang Yuehai said coolly, “I won’t be reporting to you about anything from now on.”

Huo Yunzi smiled faintly. “Would you like to know who killed Blade Tyrant?” he asked suddenly.

Wang Yuehai’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Where?”

“Right here in Stone Flame City,” Huo Yunzi said. “If you want revenge, I won’t stop you, but I won’t encourage it either. Think it over yourself.”

Wang Yuehai paused, then his thoughts began to churn. Whether he actually avenged Blade Tyrant didn’t matter. What mattered was what people thought. If he led the soldiers to avenge their fallen lord, he’d earn their loyalty, building an image of a righteous, loyal brother-in-arms.

Once he gained that reputation, it would be easy enough to force Huo Yunzi out and claim the position of city lord for himself.

Truth be told, Wang Yuehai had known something of Blade Tyrant’s dealings. He knew his “brother” had been capturing Water Beasts, offering them up to some powerful figure in hopes of climbing higher within the hierarchy. But now, looking at things, Stone Flame City was the better place after all. Remote, self-contained, free from interference. Let the great figures play their games, he just wanted to rule as a local king.

That was Wang Yuehai’s ambition.

“Blade Tyrant was my brother,” he said solemnly. “And he was a brother to every soldier in this city. His death must be avenged.”

With that, he turned and strode out of the City Lord’s Mansion.

Finding Xu Zimo and Shangguan Xian wasn’t difficult. He didn’t even need to ask Huo Yunzi. In a place like Stone Flame City, which rarely saw outsiders, all he had to do was check for recent strangers.

As Wang Yuehai left, Huo Yunzi watched him go, the corners of his lips curving upward. Whatever the outcome, it would benefit him either way.

Still, deep down, he knew the truth, Wang Yuehai was marching to his death. When the man fell, Huo Yunzi would easily consolidate control. Then the entire city would be his.

The night passed quietly.

When Xu Zimo and Shangguan Xian stepped out of their rooms the next morning, they immediately sensed a commotion outside.

Thousands of soldiers had surrounded the inn, layer upon layer, sealing it completely.

Wang Yuehai might have been all muscle, but he wasn’t stupid. He knew that anyone capable of killing Blade Tyrant, a Grand Emperor, was no ordinary opponent. So instead of confronting Xu Zimo alone, he had brought overwhelming numbers.

But this wasn’t just a mob of soldiers. These were Stone Flame City’s elite, battle-hardened warriors who trained together and mastered battle formations. Wang Yuehai intended to crush Xu Zimo with the full might of their formation, to overwhelm him through sheer force and coordination.

He stood proudly at the front, his armor gleaming, a towering presence before the assembled troops. The deputy general stood beside him, awaiting orders.

Wang Yuehai’s gaze never left the inn. Finally, when Xu Zimo and Shangguan Xian emerged, the general’s aura surged, filling the air with killing intent.

“Oh? What’s all this?” Xu Zimo said with an amused smile. “Such a grand welcome. You must be here to see us off. How thoughtful.”

“Like hell I am,” Wang Yuehai replied coldly. “You killed Blade Tyrant, and now you dare come strolling into Stone Flame City. I can’t decide if you’re confident, or just a fool.”

“Sounds like you think Blade Tyrant’s lonely down there,” Xu Zimo said evenly. “Don’t worry, I’ll send you to keep him company.”

“Formation!” Wang Yuehai barked.

At his command, thousands of soldiers moved as one. Their steps synchronized, their breaths aligned, an army acting like a single organism.

In that moment, they were no longer many, they were one. The collective power of their battle intent began to converge.

The deputy general took command, his hands signaling rapidly. Above them, the sky itself seemed to respond.

Cries of “Ha! Ha! Ha!” rose in unison. Thousands of voices shouted in rhythm, the sound shaking the heavens.

Xu Zimo looked up. The battle intent had taken form, two colossal figures, a dragon and a tiger, coiled and crouched in the air, glaring down at him with murderous intent.

With a downward motion from the deputy general, the dragon and tiger roared and dived toward Xu Zimo. The shockwave that followed made the ground tremble.

“Is this seriously your trump card?” Xu Zimo said, shaking his head with a faint laugh.

“Get down.”

Power exploded from within him. Behind him rose a towering giant, its form vast enough to pierce the sky. The colossus slammed its massive hands downward, pressing against the dragon and tiger.

The clash reverberated like thunder. With two earth-shaking impacts, both beasts were slammed into the ground, pinned under the giant’s might.

The formation faltered. The soldiers wavered, their synchronized rhythm broken.

“Hold the line!” the deputy general shouted frantically.

After a moment of chaos, the formation stabilized once more.

“Attack!” the deputy roared again.

The dragon and tiger struggled, their roars echoing as they fought against the giant’s suppression.

“Impressive,” Wang Yuehai said, his eyes narrowing. “No wonder my brother fell to you. His death wasn’t in vain.”

He stepped into the air, rising to hover at the heart of the battle formation. His presence anchored it instantly, where it had been unstable before, now it was firm and unshakable, like a nail driven into the center of the world.

The dragon and tiger bellowed again, breaking free of the giant’s grip and circling Xu Zimo.

A single sweep of the dragon’s tail smashed the inn behind them to rubble.

Under Wang Yuehai’s control, the two beasts moved with strategy now, attacking in concert, pressing Xu Zimo from all sides.

At this point, the dragon’s aura had grown so immense it nearly surpassed that of a Grand Emperor, though still short of a Saint Sovereign.

“This formation has slain many Grand Emperors,” Wang Yuehai said confidently. “Today will be no exception.”

“Then tell me,” Xu Zimo said softly, “what if your opponent isn’t a Grand Emperor?”

“What?” Wang Yuehai frowned.

The next instant, an overwhelming saintly pressure erupted from Xu Zimo’s body. The dragon and tiger were blasted backward, slamming into the ground.

He stood tall, eyes dark with surging demonic power, his presence like that of an awakened god of war.

Even surrounded by thousands of his own soldiers, Wang Yuehai felt a chill crawl up his spine. Death itself seemed to be closing in.

“Kill!” he roared, desperate to fight off the fear that had seized his heart. His eyes burned with wild determination.

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