Chapter 344: Phoenix Arise

Leading the imperial army, Liu Guiya waited patiently. Nobody dared question her lead. Although the Noble Consort was someone known to be graceful and beautiful in the inner court, almost everyone knew she wasn’t entirely human. For starters, the lady did not seem to need any food or sleep. She did not age and constantly worked around the clock. The number of reported assassination and poisoning attempts has reduced to almost nothing ever since she joined them.

Everyone said the Noble Consort was only a title to fool the enemies. However, nobody expected there to be truth beneath all the rumours.

Donned in golden armour gifted by the emperor in his early days, Liu Guiya resembled a general more than a feeble beauty. Her eyes shone brightly, and she took to weapons like a fish in water. Most importantly, any seasoned warrior instinctively felt feared and protected in her presence.

Flipping onto her horse like a leaf floating in the autumn breeze, Liu Guiya tugged at her steed’s reins. Unlike other horses, her spiritual companion was unafraid of her. Feeling more like herself for the first time in over twenty years, Liu Guiya drew her spiritual sword and covered it in flames.

Raising it high into the night sky, like a beacon of hope for the army behind her, she turned to them.

"Tonight, we are not fighting men. It will be a battle between the living and the dead. If you do not wish to feed the great devil that has clouded even heaven’s eyes, do your best to remain behind me and live. The lives of those you care for rest entirely on your shoulders."

Confused, even the best-trained imperial guards looked at each other. Has she lost it?

"Twenty years ago, a murim cultivator embarked on an unorthodox path of necromancy. Today, that necromancer aims to bring down the array in Chang’an and steal an imperial treasure gifted by the golden dragon in heaven."

The story was a little different, but it was easier for non-cultivators to believe the tale than one about a vengeful ghost.

"Back then, the murim world failed to stop him. As a result, I had to abandon my sect and infiltrate the palace to protect their Majesties. On behalf of all my fellow cultivators, I apologise for failing to stop the tragedy before. However, we cannot do this alone. Tonight, please lend me your strength to protect humanity. Do not let a single zombie pass you. We have to hold out until dawn!"

Summoning her fiery heart skill, Liu Guiya unleashed the phoenix blood inside her fully. There was no need to hold back tonight or conceal her true identity.

Like a symbol of hope, the Phoenix burned brightly and screeched before soaring into the night sky, turning it as bright as day.

Moved by the magical sight and reminded of legends from a thousand years ago, the soldiers yelled with passion and unsheathed their weapons.

As if in sync with the phoenix’s awakening, the four gates started to glow and pulse. Liu Guiya checked the spirit circuit buried in the ground and turned her horse around. The zombies and ghost army were close. She could entrust the four mythical beast guardians to stop the ghost army. However, it was up to the imperial army to keep the undead at bay.

"Get into formation! Guard the city and stay alive!"

Leading the front charge, Liu Guiya summoned her famous fire swords, materialising at least twenty around her before she sent them flying right into the heart of the horde approaching the north gate.

As practised earlier in the short briefing, the city’s generals took charge of different gates, splitting the army into three, while Liu Guiya alone guarded the most vulnerable north, which had the largest group of undead.

Although greatly weakened by the corruption of the dragon scale, the four mythical guardians in hibernation continued to lend the array their limited spiritual strength. Liu Guiya glared at the ghost army hidden within the horde. Regular soldiers would not be able to see them. Only a few cultivators were able to sense ghosts, and they had to be at least of the Enlightened Core.

Liu Guiya clicked her tongue in annoyance. Whoever the mastermind was, they were a horribly great strategist. With so many ghosts hidden among the zombies, the royal army will be weakened almost immediately. Even if these ghosts were weaker, continuous exposure to extreme yin nature will disrupt the mind.

Slashing her forearm with a sword, Liu Guiya let the blood drip into the spiritual array. Her heavenly phoenix blood seeped into the ancient array, and for a moment, it pulsed with a new heartbeat.

A roar from the west told Liu Guiya her sacrifice was not in vain. Of the four sleeping guardians, she needed the White Tiger the most. The guardian of the west was known to be a protector of evil. What better way to counter the ghosts than awaken one who would make them wet their pants?

BOOM!

An explosion louder than cannons resounded from the south. The energy signature was unfamiliar. It did not seem to be Hong Nian Niang herself on the move. However, the barbaric yell was a huge giveaway.

Reinforcements had finally arrived from the Rainbow Alliance, and of course, the first had to be Bai Dajin. Liu Guiya smiled slightly and focused on the task at hand. With a mighty slash of her flaming sword, the horde burned into a revolting mass of ashes.

With the White Tiger assisting in the West, Bai Dajin in the south and another mysterious cultivator in the east, Chang’an did not fall. The northern horde seemed to realise there was no passing Liu Guiya and split to flood the east.

Torn between leaving her post at the north vulnerable to assist the weak Eastern gate, Liu Guiya considered pouring more blood into the array to awaken the Black Tortoise for a defence buff. However, a familiar messenger pigeon that came hours ago flew overhead, and immediately, Liu Guiya knew the children of the Celestial Dragon Sect were back.

With them around, there was no lack of ability. Yihao might be a simpleton, but he had Mingshen with him. Liu Guiya did not doubt he was strong enough for the both of them, and Mingshen was a master of strategy. He could easily take command of the soldiers to assist the front-liners.

As for Anji, Liu Guiya only hoped the youngest daughter and healer would not put herself too close to the front line. Yan Ping left not too long ago, right before the major disaster, for an emergency. Without Yan Ping to guide them through this darkness, Anji was the only prophet they had left.ℯℯ𝑙.