Ling Tian Sword God

”Just a thousand men?”

Liu Xin and Zhuge Liuyun were both deeply disappointed, even suspecting Ling Chen was joking with them.

What could a thousand men possibly do? Against Black Chonghou’s fifty-thousand-strong army, they wouldn’t even be enough for a mouthful.

”I’m not joking.”

Ling Chen knew what they were thinking and immediately waved his hand. ”A thousand men will suffice. I will ensure Black Chonghou’s forces are annihilated.”

Upon hearing this, the corners of Liu Xin’s and Zhuge Liuyun’s mouths twitched. Did Ling Chen really think Black Chonghou’s army was made of paper? One thousand against fifty thousand—unless these thousand men were forged from iron, there was no chance of victory.

”Alright, you two head back and await the good news.”

Ling Chen didn’t want to say more, his tone clearly indicating he was seeing them out.

Liu Xin and Zhuge Liuyun remained deeply uneasy, their hearts filled with uncertainty. It seemed Ling Chen couldn’t be relied upon; they could only depend on themselves.

With a sigh, the two of them hurriedly departed.

Ling Chen remained in Bright Moon Tower, savoring fine wine and delicacies.

「Three days later.」

Outside Dark Sky City, dense masses of figures swarmed—countless warriors forming immense battle formations, arrayed beneath the city gates.

WHOO WHOO WHOO...

The somber call of horns echoed, and the very ground began to tremble slightly.

”They’re here already?”

Ling Chen, still within Bright Moon Tower, felt the vibrations from the ground. It seemed this attacking army was indeed formidable.

Yet, despite this, Ling Chen’s expression remained unchanged. The songstresses and dancers around him, however, had all turned deathly pale with worry.

Just as Ling Chen was about to pour more wine, he found the jug empty. He promptly waved to the Bright Moon Tower Owner, who was not far away, ”Tower Master, bring more wine.”

”Yes, Young Master.”

The Bright Moon Tower Owner signaled a nearby woman, who promptly came forward to refill Ling Chen’s jug.

For the past three days, Ling Chen had been drinking and making merry in Bright Moon Tower, which the Bright Moon Tower Owner found somewhat baffling. Moreover, with matters at such a critical juncture, the entire Dark Sky City was likely to fall today. How could Ling Chen still be in the mood to drink here? At such a time, one should either be preparing for battle or fleeing for their life.

”Prepare yourselves well. Later, the elders of your Black Market should all be here to join me for a couple of drinks,” Ling Chen said with a faint smile.

Hearing this, the Bright Moon Tower Owner inwardly shook his head. With a formidable enemy at their gates, the elders were likely frantic. How could they possibly have the time or mood to drink with Ling Chen?

「At this moment, atop the walls of Dark Sky City...」

Elder Tianhong, Murong Bo, Liu Xin, and other elders of the Black Market stood atop the city wall. Looking down at the terrifying military formation below, their faces were grim.

”I never thought Black Chonghou would advance so swiftly. In just a few days, he’s already here. We are ill-prepared, and I fear this battle is ill-omened for us.”

One of the elders had already lost heart.

Black Chonghou’s army of fifty thousand warriors was an unstoppable force, crushing all in their path. Currently, Dark Sky City’s defenders, excluding ordinary citizens, numbered at most just over ten thousand. The disparity in numbers was too great; holding the city seemed impossible.

Furthermore, Black Chonghou had over thirty Sky Apex Realm experts. They were far outmatched, both in total numbers and in the count of Sky Apex Realm experts.

”Don’t worry. Seven days ago, I summoned the leaders of Aqua Country and Thunder Country with their troops to reinforce us. They should arrive by tomorrow at the latest,” Elder Tianhong announced loudly, attempting to bolster everyone’s spirits.

Hearing this, the elders felt a measure of reassurance. With reinforcements, they might just be able to hold out.

”Report! Tian Ze, the leader of Aqua Country, and Lei Gang, the leader of Thunder Country, were defeated by Black Chonghou three days ago! They have now taken their remaining forces and defected to Black Chonghou!” a Deacon suddenly rushed up, his face pale with panic, and reported.

”What?”

This news struck like a bombshell, and the entire city wall erupted in an uproar. The faces of Elder Tianhong, Murong Bo, and the others turned deathly pale; they nearly fainted.

The other elders were also struck with terror, unable to sit or stand still. Even their reinforcements had defected to Black Chonghou! What did they have left to fight him with?

”We’re finished, finished! Black Chonghou will definitely not spare us.”

Some elders were consumed by regret, lamenting their decision to oppose Black Chonghou. Now, they feared for their very lives.

”Everyone, no need to panic. We are not yet at the end of our rope,” Liu Xin suddenly spoke up, just as panic gripped everyone’s hearts.

”What? Elder Liu, do you have a solution?”

All the elders turned to Liu Xin, their gazes fervent.

”What solution could I possibly have?”

Liu Xin shook his head. Just as disappointment began to set in among the elders, he continued, ”Although I have no solution, that doesn’t mean others don’t. Don’t forget, Ling Chen is still in Dark Sky City.”

”Ling Chen?”

The elders were stunned for a moment, then quickly asked, ”Didn’t he leave after we refused him last time?”

”Actually, he never left. He’s been staying at Bright Moon Tower all this time,” Liu Xin said with a smile.

”Ling Chen is still here! Wonderful! He’s our savior!”

”That’s right! I heard that when he quelled the internal strife within the Saint Witch Religion, he was accompanied by only three Experts from the Cyan Robe Association. Yet, he easily suppressed the turmoil and annihilated Sikong Yi’s Skypiercing Peak Lineage.”

”And that’s not all! I have intelligence that the Demon Elder and Xuanjizi, two great demons, were personally slain by him. Even Xie Zhiqiu, who obtained a Saint’s inheritance and wielded world-shaking Demon Might, commanding sixteen Sky Apex Realm demons, was ultimately defeated at Ling Chen’s hands!”

”What? Such critical information, and you’re only telling us now?”

The Black Market elders exclaimed one after another.

”Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go find Ling Chen and ask for his help immediately!” an impatient elder roared.

”But we offended him before. Would he still be willing to help?” another elder asked hesitantly.

”That’s right. We showed him no courtesy at all previously, and now we’re to beg for his help? I’m afraid he won’t agree.”

As he said this, the elder surreptitiously glanced at Murong Bo. It was Murong Bo who had been the first to mock Ling Chen during their previous council.

”Hmph! If he’s that petty, what right does he have to be a regional overlord?” Murong Bo’s expression darkened as he snorted coldly.

”Indeed. If he were nursing a grudge out of humiliation, he would have left by now. He wouldn’t still be in Dark Sky City. Let’s go see him quickly!”

A sharp glint flashed in Elder Tianhong’s eyes. With the enemy army pressing at their gates, Ling Chen was their last straw of hope, and they had to grasp it.

Even if they lost a bit of face, it was nothing compared to losing the city and their lives.

”Leave three people here to command the defense! The rest of you, follow me!”

Following Elder Tianhong’s booming order, the contingent of elders shot forth, rapidly approaching Bright Moon Tower within the city.