The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 718: Gods Want Me Dead!

Gods Want Me Dead! . . .

With Wenren Jianyin's order to retreat, his soldiers felt as though they were being blessed by divine intervention. They hastily began their escape, driven by an overwhelming sense of urgency. Remaining in that frozen wasteland was an impossibility—it was simply too cold.

Many of them stumbled upon trying to flee, only to realize that their legs had become frozen. Gritting their teeth, they struggled to stand, massaging their legs and attempting to keep them elevated, desperately seeking to revive their frozen limbs. Remaining exposed to this bitter cold would inevitably result in death by freezing.

As they began to move, anxious shouts erupted from all directions.

"Kill!"

The war cry was so thunderous it seemed to shake the very foundations of the world.

The once-impenetrable gates of Iron Peak had been flung open, or rather, they had been shattered. The gate had been reduced to iron fragments by the fire's intense heat. However, with the freezing temperatures, the metal had become brittle. Song Jue struck it with his iron fist, and it shattered into countless pieces.

A grand banner billowed high in the sky, leading the charge through the gate. The soldiers of Iron Peak, those who were still capable of fighting, surged forth as though they had all taken a potent elixir. They moved like tigers, their steeds resembling dragons.

Men and their horses alike wore heavy clothing, warm hats, and gloves. They were evidently well-prepared for this sudden shift in circumstances.

A white figure darted forward, leaping to the highest point of the icy expanse. It was none other than Cha Eun Xiao, Commander Cha.

Without the slightest hesitation, he delivered a fierce punch, smashing a gaping hole in the ice mountain. He plunged inside and emerged with an icy veneer. Then, he cried out, "Kill!"

As he advanced, he found himself effortlessly sliding along the icy surface. The ground had transformed into a sheet of ice, allowing him to move with remarkable ease. He didn't need to exert any effort; the ice did all the work.

Seeing their commander's display, his soldiers emulated him. They dismounted their horses and began sliding across the ice together.

- Shoot, shoot, shoot... -

Cha Eun Xiao's army had initiated a massive counterattack at that very moment!

Wenren Jianyin stood stunned, his eyes nearly popping from their sockets. His gaze fell upon the enemy, now clad in heavy clothing, gloves, and hats. He muttered to himself, "The heavens seek my demise!" His words were followed by a fit of coughing, and blood spattered from his mouth.

It was autumn, a time when summer had just come to a close.

Wenren Jianyin's soldiers were garbed in lightweight clothing that provided minimal warmth. Yet his adversaries were well-prepared, donning heavy clothes, gloves, and winter hats. It was a deliberate choice on their part, despite the fact that such attire was ultimately insufficient to withstand the onslaught of the pervasive cold. However, it was still vastly superior to the thin garments worn by Wenren Jianyin's forces. Most crucially, their gloves allowed them to maintain a grip on their weapons.

This slight disparity spelled disaster for Wenren Jianyin and his army.

The soldiers of the Kingdom of Lan-Feng had lost faith. Their ranks were in disarray, and they attributed this abrupt cold front to divine favor. Confidence had evaporated, and they were left disoriented.

Wenren Jianyin, despite his remarkable skills, could do nothing to rectify the situation. He couldn't even rally his troops or orchestrate an organized retreat.

He felt a burning anguish in his heart. All his strategic acumen and martial prowess seemed futile in the face of this calamity. How did it feel to be a renowned general, hailed as one of the world's best, yet only able to watch helplessly as your army crumbled before your eyes?

Wenren Jianyin continued to cough up blood several more times. Suddenly, he stood tall, his gaze fixated on the sky. Summoning all his strength, he cried out with a heart-wrenching tone, "Heavens..."

Another spurt of blood gushed forth, crimson and fresh, a testament to his suffering.

And then, he toppled from his horse.

The forces of the Kingdom of Chen were advancing like an unstoppable tidal wave. Even their horses' hooves were shrouded in cloth to muffle the sound.

Wenren Chuchu, supporting the unconscious Wenren Jianyin, retreated rapidly, moving like the wind.

"Form up! Prepare for defense!" she shouted, her voice echoing. Many generals tried to relay the same command, but chaos had descended upon the camp. Orders were drowned in the tumult. Their spirits crumbled as the enemy appeared, clad in heavy winter attire, shattering their last vestiges of hope.

"Why was the fire extinguished?"

"Why has it become so unbelievably cold all of a sudden?"

"Why were they wearing heavy clothing in advance?"

These were questions racing through their minds, but there was no time to ponder them. Before Cha Eun Xiao and his men stormed into their encampment, chaos had already reigned supreme.

The legendary figure of the world, the Feng Monarch of Ling-Bao Hall, and also known as Commander Cha of the Kingdom of Chen, had unwittingly wielded such extraordinary power, altering the natural order, tampering with the seasons, and manipulating the temperature. It seemed godlike, and no one could challenge such a figure.

In reality, Feng Zhiling of Ling-Bao Hall, also known as Cha Eun Xiao, had achieved this feat primarily through luck. He had never anticipated Wenren Jianyin's fire attack, which, in itself, was a sound strategy. If it weren't for Cha Eun Xiao as the commander, but rather anyone else, the Kingdom of Chen would likely have fallen to defeat. The Iron Peak might have ended up in the enemy's hands, or they would have perished in the fires. There was also the option of a final desperate battle, attempting to quell the flames and halt the enemy's advance, yet victory seemed an elusive dream. With just over a hundred thousand men, charging out to face one and a half million adversaries beyond the walls would be a fruitless endeavor, certain to end in defeat.

Hence, when Wenren Jianyin conceived the plan for the fiery assault, he believed it to be his best course of action, albeit one that defied nature and moral principles. He resorted to it as a last resort. Little did he know that Cha Eun Xiao was overjoyed when he learned of this fire attack plan.