Ling Tian Sword God

The Azure Guards, each one an elite chosen with great discretion, were orphans gathered from all over by the Cyan Robe Association. Since they were young, they were subjected to the association’s severe training regimes. As they grew up, virtually every one of them became a seasoned warrior.

Each of them was powerful and fearlessly bold.

Such individuals, even one of them would be terrifying, let alone a thousand.

The Azure Guards were now all under the command of Liu Feiyue.

However, there was a rule among the Azure Guards: they did not interfere in internal disputes. Consequently, they were absent from the previous battle for the position of Sect Leader.

This time, in the Black Market civil war, Ling Chen mobilized the Azure Guards, ordering Liu Feiyue to lead them swiftly into battle.

So these are the Azure Guards of the Cyan Robe Association!

Black Chonghou was also taken aback. From Linghu Yi, he had learned that there was an incredibly powerful and mysterious force within the Cyan Robe Association known as the Azure Guards. Their appearance now perfectly matched the descriptions.

However, the total number of Azure Guards was only a thousand.

Just a thousand, Black Chonghou thought, calming himself. What sort of trouble can they truly cause? Despite losing over two thousand men to Ling Chen earlier, the core of his army remained unscathed, and he still held an absolute advantage.

But in the next moment, the rapidly changing situation on the field almost made his jaw drop.

A thousand Azure Guards descended from rooftops, towers, rocks, and trees, plunging into the Black Market’s army like a dense shower of rain.

In just the blink of an eye, Ling Chen’s surroundings were cleared. Powerful figures from the Cyan Robe Association, including Liu Feiyue, Duan Qingxu, and Mo Shangke, appeared by his side.

These thousand individuals moved like a hot knife through butter; wherever they passed, the Black Market’s forces crumbled and were utterly routed.

The Azure Guards themselves were not overly powerful individually. Among them, only a few leaders had reached the Sky Apex Realm; the rest had not yet broken through to that level. If judging by individual strength alone, they might not have seemed unstoppable. However, their coordination was breathtakingly effective, almost suffocating to their opponents.

A square formation of about twenty Azure Guards was so formidable that even a Top Sky Apex Strong could not break through it. Their attacks and defenses flowed together seamlessly, every second, as if executed by a single person—offense and defense perfectly balanced, like a unified entity.

No wonder Ling Chen said that a thousand was enough! Liu Xin finally understood. Indeed, these thousand could match an army of one hundred thousand.

「」

”I hope I’m not too late,” Liu Feiyue said, landing behind Ling Chen. She cupped her fist to him in greeting. Dressed in a cyan martial uniform that couldn’t conceal her perfect curves, she exuded a valiant and formidable aura, truly possessing the bearing of a commander.

”If you had arrived a moment later, you probably would have had to collect my corpse,” Ling Chen replied, shaking his head with a smile. After all, he wasn’t made of iron. If he had been besieged by those dozen or so Sky Apex Realm leaders from the Black Market, along with their tens of thousands of troops, he would have undoubtedly perished.

The Human Emperor lent me his strength during the battle with the Undying Old Demon, Ling Chen mused. Even he probably doesn’t have any more power to lend me now. If Liu Feiyue hadn’t appeared when she did, I would inevitably have been drawn into a bitter struggle.

”That wouldn’t have happened,” Liu Feiyue assured him. ”We were already in position. If you had truly been in danger, we would have acted sooner. We had an ambush prepared, just waiting for the right moment to enter the fray.”

”So, what’s next?” Liu Feiyue asked. ”Do we target Black Chonghou himself, or do we drive his army out of the city first?”

”Neither,” Ling Chen said, pointing to the sky. ”We just need to take down that thing.” Above them hovered the Puppet Warship.

”The Puppet Warship?” Liu Feiyue recognized it. This warship was a unique asset of the Black Market, renowned far and wide. She had never seen it in person, so its appearance now naturally startled her. This Puppet Warship is truly remarkable, she thought. It can actually hover!

”If we capture the Puppet Warship, Black Chonghou’s forces will undoubtedly crumble without a fight,” Ling Chen stated, a keen light flashing in his eyes.

”Then let’s move!” Liu Feiyue declared. A woman of action, she immediately summoned a Qingfeng Jue. She and Ling Chen leaped onto its back, and the creature flapped its powerful wings, shooting straight towards the Puppet Warship.

Duan Qingxu, Mo Shangke, and other prominent figures of the Cyan Robe Association also mounted their Qingfeng Jues and followed closely.

What are they up to? A sense of unease crept into Black Chonghou’s heart. Damn it! That little rascal is after the Puppet Warship!

The realization struck him, and he flushed with rage. He hadn’t expected Ling Chen’s insight to be so sharp, spotting his greatest vulnerability at a glance. The Puppet Warship wasn’t just a combat vessel; it was the symbol of his entire army. If it were captured, his forces would undoubtedly disintegrate.

”Stop him!” Black Chonghou roared. He tried to return to the Puppet Warship himself, but as soon as he moved, a ferocious Palm Seal attack shot out from the front, blasting him backward.

”Your opponent is me.”

The one who had intercepted Black Chonghou was Black-robed.

”Who are you?” Black Chonghou’s face darkened. The strength of this Black-robed man was extraordinary, fully matching his own. After exchanging twenty moves, he hadn’t gained the slightest advantage.

”You’re not from the Cyan Robe Association, are you? Why help that Ling Chen brat? Why not consider cooperating with me? Whatever he can offer you, I can give you too.”

”I want to become the Black Market Master. Can you give me that?” A sneering smile touched Black-robed’s lips.

I’ve witnessed Ling Chen’s strength firsthand, Black-robed thought. Even someone as powerful as Xie Zhiqiu was nearly defeated and killed by him. I barely escaped with my life. Ling Chen gave me a second chance. If I dared to betray him now, it would be a dead end for me. Besides, I have no such intention.

”You!” The smile on Black Chonghou’s face froze. Black-robed’s words made it clear he had no intention of negotiating; the matter was impossible.

「」

On the Puppet Warship, an officer, seeing Ling Chen and Liu Feiyue rapidly approaching on the Qingfeng Jue, yelled, ”Archers, release! Quick, don’t let them get close!”

Three rows of archers appeared on deck. As soon as the command was given, a dense barrage of arrows shot out, raining down on Ling Chen and Liu Feiyue.

HUM!

Their Protective True Qi flared, forming a shimmering shield of True Qi Protection around them. The countless arrows struck the barrier, lost all momentum, and clattered harmlessly to the ground, not even scratching the pair.

WHIZ!

The Qingfeng Jue suddenly accelerated, punching straight through the clouds. When it reappeared an instant later, its back was empty.

The warriors on deck sensed something was wrong. They spun around, looking towards the center of the deck. There, as if out of thin air, two figures now stood.

Ling Chen and Liu Feiyue had boarded the Puppet Warship, silently and unseen!