MTLNOVEL Chapter 13: Battle!
The oppressive dark clouds roiled, the torrential rain not only falling on White Emperor City but also concealing most of the area protected by high walls and garrisoned cities, spanning over ten thousand miles, covering ten garrison cities and faintly reaching the two strong cities of Human Pole and Earth Flame.
Chen Yi walked leisurely on the official road of the inner city, dressed in a blue robe, with a longsword hanging at his waist. His black long hair was simply tied behind him, resembling a graceful gentleman walking among the people.
At this moment, his heart god perception enveloped a radius of ten thousand miles.
He had long noticed Bian Wenbo's movements and also sensed the flag soldier disguised by the bone demon through the skin painting divine power who followed behind him.
"Old thing, you really couldn't hold back!"
Chen Yi slowed his pace even more.
Once the bow is drawn, there's no turning back.
Since Lu Chen and several Great Demon Kings wanted to give him a warning, he would use this as a plan to expose those demons and human traitors, and thus get a glimpse of their true nature, revealing the iceberg's tip to see the whole picture.
Chen Yi had indeed just arrived at the Taizhou Mountain Battlefield, but after learning from Lou Yuchun and the tiger demon about the situation here, he quickly perceived the differences between here and the Tianyuan Continent.
On the Tianyuan Continent, the Wei Dynasty and the Demon Court were separated by the Beixiong Pass, with monks from Buddha Country aiding in the west, and the islands to the east also opposed to the demons, thus forming a siege against the Demon Court by the Wei Dynasty.
However, on the Taizhou Mountain Battlefield, the situation was quite the opposite—the Demon Court, relying on its strength, surrounded the Human Race, forcing them to find refuge in one corner.
No matter the timing or geographical advantages, the Demon Court had the upper hand and could launch offensives against the Human Race cultivators at will, depleting them.
The Human Race seemed to possess three strong cities, thirty garrison cities, and a hundred towns within, but due to the disparity in strength between the enemy and themselves, they could only defend passively.
One could say it's unbearable.
"There's no such thing as a thousand days being a thief and never slipping up as a guard; no matter how you guard, there's always a time when a mistake will be made."
Chen Yi watched the two troops of soldiers charging from a hundred miles away, with a slight curl at the corners of his mouth.
Just like now, after a millennium of guarding, the Demon Court learned to buy off insiders and plant spies.
Fortunately, everything was still timely!
"Temporary roadblock on the official road, halt!"
Those two troops, clad in dark blue armor, shouted toward Chen Yi from dozens of miles away.
Chen Yi halted, watching them calmly, with crystalline eyes sparkling, having already condensed the divine will of the [Deceiving Mask].
There were none of the Demon Court's puppets or divine will incarnations.
Were these insiders being directed by other insiders, or were they ordinary soldiers?
Soon, as the two troops landed, the leader, dressed in purple scale armor resembling a general, glared at him and shouted:
"Who are you, do you have an identity token?"
"Heh."
Chen Yi couldn't help but grin; were they deliberately delaying his journey to the Human Pole Strong City?
He didn't waste words, directly showing his identity token: "Grand Void Sect, Chen Yi, summoned by Ancestor Hong Tian to proceed to Human Pole Strong City."
"Ancestor?"
The leading general looked at the seemingly genuine identity token, a trace of suspicion flashed in his eyes.
The Grand Void Sect was renowned in both strong cities and garrison cities, having taken root here for a millennium, always a mainstay in humanity's defense against the Demon Court.
However, cultivators from the Grand Void Sect were rarely seen here, primarily stationed near the Sky Dome Strong City.
Thinking of this, the general motioned to his subordinates, "Someone, go check his token."
Soon, a soldier in dark blue armor examined Chen Yi's identity token and replied:
"General Shi, the identity token is genuine, he indeed is a cultivator from the Grand Void Sect, having just arrived here from the Tianyuan Continent."
Hearing this, the general's expression softened slightly, appraising the still calm Chen Yi, he cupped his fists and said:
"I am Shi Bi, the garrison general of Hailing City, I greet Taoist Priest Chen Yi."
Chen Yi nodded slightly, "General Shi, at your service, since the misunderstanding is resolved, may I take my leave now?"
These men weren't puppets controlled by demons, and it wasn't clear if they were aware of anything, so best not to cause further complications.
Upon hearing this, Shi Bi shook his head, "Pardon me, Taoist Priest, I have received the flag command from Human Pole Strong City to temporarily block this official road."
"So I cannot proceed to Human Pole Strong City?" Chen Yi couldn't help but laugh.
"You can, but you must take a detour," Shi Bi pointed to a town guarded by walls not far away, "You can detour through Shanye Town to Bailin City, bypassing the official road guarded by my Hailing City."
Saying this, an apology appeared on Shi Bi's upright face: "I hope the Taoist Priest will understand, if the Ancestor holds us accountable later, I will testify for the Taoist Priest."
"No worries."
Chen Yi smiled and waved his hand, under the heart god perception, he had already detected unusual auras intruding, and thus planned not to leave immediately.
"General Shi, don't mind me, proceed as you wish."
"Does the Taoist Priest plan to wait until the official road reopens?" Shi Bi, unaware of his intentions, guessed before advising:
"Pardon my words, previously when the strong cities blocked the official road, it was always after uncovering inbound Great Demons of the Demon Court intending to assassinate.
Although those Great Demons don't come every time, they do one or two times out of ten, and if the Taoist Priest doesn't detour, there's a risk of getting caught up and endangering life."
Chen Yi raised an eyebrow, looking at him, "Then wouldn't General Shi's guard here be more dangerous?"
Shi Bi showed a solemn expression, "I have an important duty, if the demons don't come, so be it, if they do, I will fight to the death!"
Chen Yi assessed him, nothing escaping his perceptive gaze, making it clear that Shi Bi's words were not false.