The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 720: Glorious Victory

Glorious Victory . . .

They had traversed an arduous journey of eight thousand nine hundred miles for this momentous chase. In a span of seven full days, they ran tirelessly, relentlessly hunting down the Kingdom of Lan-Feng's forces. Their relentless pursuit took its toll on their steeds, with only about twenty percent of Cha Eun Xiao's army's horses surviving the grueling ordeal. Those that survived weren't unscathed; each of them bore the physical scars of this unrelenting pursuit, while approximately eighty percent of the horses succumbed to exhaustion and the demands of this ceaseless chase.

As they reached Sky Nerve City, the beleaguered soldiers streamed through the city's gates, finally finding solace within the walls of their formidable stronghold. However, even within the city's relative safety, their ordeal continued. The long days of being on edge, the gnawing hunger, and the ever-present terror had taken their toll. Their mental and physical endurance was pushed to the limits, with thousands succumbing to exhaustion even as they slept. Those who fell asleep found themselves unable to wake, their lives extinguished within the walls of Sky Nerve City.

Wenren Jianyin's million-strong force had swelled to one and a half million men, yet less than three hundred thousand returned to Sky Nerve City, with each soldier bearing the scars of their retreat. Many had been trampled in the chaos of the chaotic flight, each fallen soldier causing a cascade of others to fall in a relentless tide. The ground became a macabre tapestry of twisted bodies and spilled blood.

Rank and file, generals and soldiers alike, were subsumed by a collective mania that rendered them unable to wield their weapons even when facing their adversaries. During those harrowing seven days, Wenren Jianyin experienced brief moments of consciousness, each time expelling blood before succumbing once more to unconsciousness. By the end, he was gravely ill and bedridden. Only Wenren Chuchu's constant vigilance during the past week had kept him alive.

Cha Eun Xiao recognized the dire need for his men to rest, and so he established a camp before Sky Nerve City. That night, with only a handful of assassins on night watch, most of the soldiers were deep in slumber, their exhaustion having caught up with them. The very thought of rest had caused some to drift off before they even had the chance to recline. A few even nodded off in mid-meal.

In fact, if it weren't for Cha Eun Xiao's insistence on everyone drinking a bowl of the magical water infused with dan beads, thousands might have perished. The physical toll of running and fighting continuously for several days had pushed not only the Kingdom of Lan-Feng's soldiers to their limits but Cha Eun Xiao's men as well. Fortunately, Feng Monarch possessed an ample supply of supreme dan beads, preventing any of his soldiers from perishing during this extraordinary ordeal, a feat that defied replication.

Cha Eun Xiao was among the few who remained on night watch. After several grueling days of ceaseless effort, he and the others were the only ones left with the stamina to stay vigilant. He harbored a sense of foreboding that if Sky Nerve City's inhabitants were to launch an attack, he could not defend all of his soldiers. One hundred and thirty thousand men would stand little chance in the dark.

Yet, that night remained tranquil. The city was in disarray, its inhabitants unaware of the situation outside its walls. They hesitated to mount an assault, as none wanted to make the first reckless move. They had their hands full tending to the influx of wounded soldiers. The city reverberated with groans and snores, as many exhausted soldiers lay slumbering in the streets.

The soldiers under Cha Nantian's command were utterly fatigued, their physical and mental reserves depleted by their relentless pursuit. Wenren Chuchu, unlike the ordinary soldiers, remained alert and composed, her extraordinary constitution enabling her to withstand the grueling ordeal. The generals and soldiers, however, succumbed to their weariness, collapsing one by one. This battle had taken a toll on all participants, causing them to shed weight and appear emaciated.

Several physicians worked tirelessly to attend to the critically injured Wenren Jianyin, their expressions grave. Meanwhile, the general tasked with guarding Sky Nerve City, a capable commander named Meng Chuanshi, busied himself with coordinating the treatment of the wounded.

Meng Chuanshi's confusion was palpable as he approached Wenren Chuchu. He questioned, "Princess, what has happened? We had penetrated the Kingdom of Chen not long ago, on the verge of capturing their capital. A million troops of ours, marching with determination and triumph. Victory seemed imminent. How did we end up in this dire state so suddenly?"

General Meng's confusion was understandable. After all, this was Wenren Jianyin's army, the renowned war deity of the world. Their defeat in such a wretched manner was a stark anomaly. Their staggering losses were perplexing, and it cast a shadow over the mighty foundation of the entire Kingdom of Lan-Feng.

Wenren Chuchu sighed and contemplated the question. She confessed, "It is truly an inexplicable defeat. If there's any rational explanation, it must be attributed to... destiny."

General Meng was baffled by this notion. "Destiny? How could that be?"

Wenren Chuchu nodded and elaborated, "Yes, destiny. We had firmly secured advantageous positions on all fronts, advancing like a razor-sharp blade. Victory was within our grasp, and all that remained was breaking down the Kingdom of Chen's final barrier. We were on the cusp."

"At that moment, our enemies received significant reinforcements, making them formidable adversaries. Furthermore, Ye Nantian's army was en route, just ten to fifteen days away from our location."

She shared the intricacies of the situation, recounting how Cha Nantian, their commander, had devised a plan to hasten the conclusion of the war. It was an impeccable strategy, perfectly timed and executed. Meng Chuanshi couldn't comprehend how such a well-conceived plan could have failed, considering the strategic superiority they had held.