Refining the Mountains and Rivers

Chapter 650 - Qin Empire Betrayal

The Qin and Zhao armies seemed the same on the surface, but they began to secretly mobilize en masse. Their armies passed through large-scale array formations to arrive at the assigned strategic points.

A massive pocket began to slowly take shape. All that it awaited was for the monster race army to march in. Once they did, it would close up and the monster race army would be annihilated.

From Xianyang City, Emperor Ying passed down a decree that the four great war generals would join the warfront. The Qin army cheered and celebrated. As the four strongest divine generals of the Qin Empire, they had fought battles throughout the south and north and had never tasted defeat even once. They were the spiritual leaders of the army.

It could be seen from this how determined the Qin Empire was. After the Zhao Empire held a short discussion in Handan City, they dispatched a group of imperial powerhouses to enter the army. The time had come to compete for merits and they naturally couldn’t fall behind.

Though there wasn’t an exact count, the Qin and Zhao Empires had sent out an army totaling almost 10 million troops. They were prepared to deliver the monster race a fatal strike as soon as they received the order.

Before the start of the war, no one expected that the closely cooperating Qin and Zhao Empires would become the leads of this historical event. And that their actions would lead to the entire Land of Divinity and Demons falling into chaos and turmoil on an unprecedented scale.

The curtains would soon open on this play. Everyone had their own plans and calculations, but, would the final result really be as they wished it would?

Only time would tell!

…

A long time ago, Red Sand Valley used to be a place that a river ran through. But, because the river changed course due to various events, the riverbanks were exposed and gradually dried up, revealing the riverbed. The red stones were washed down from the mountain range upstream. Over time, they were smashed by the elements and turned into sand, eventually becoming today’s Red Sand Valley.

This was a low-lying land with some puddles and small lakes formed from the gathered rain. But, the land remained barren and it was hard for any vegetation to grow here. As the sun shined down, it seemed like blood had dyed the earth red, giving it a strange and eerie feeling. Due to this, it was rare for anyone to visit this place.

But right now, this barren land was especially lively. Squads of tall and strong monster race warriors patrolled back and forth. Their expressions were grim and sharp like hawks. The space at the center of the valley was twisted up. If one looked in, they could only blurrily see the phantom of a massive altar. All aura was isolated inside by the warped space, so no one outside could sense it.

Red Sand Valley was surrounded by rough and dangerous terrain. The mountains weren’t high but they were extremely steep. The landscape of the mountains sunk without warning, as if they had been chopped by sharp sabers.

Somewhere beneath a broken cliff, space suddenly twisted and collapsed inwards. Because arrangements had been made to isolate auras ahead of time, no fluctuations spread out.

Two Qin cultivators walked out first. They held lotus-shaped lanterns in their hands. As they flooded the lanterns with magic power, light spread outwards, covering the area beneath the cliff with an enchantment.

Soon after, the army continuously poured out. The first were the Qin army soldiers that occupied the left, and then the Zhao army soldiers that occupied the right. No one spoke and the atmosphere was constrained.

Even though both countries had joined forces and held an overwhelming superiority, they had fought with the monster race several times before and knew how horrifying their enemies could be. The monster race were a bunch of lunatics that would try to drag someone down with them even if they were on the verge of death. They couldn’t be underestimated at all.

As if sensing the tense atmosphere, a Qin cultivator carrying a lotus-shaped lamp smiled and said, “You may all speak. It’s fine as long as you don’t use your cultivation.” He looked in the direction of the Zhao Empire army. “I also think my colleagues there will approve.”

The Zhao army cultivator responsible for concealing their auras nodded, “That’s right.”

The constrained atmosphere relaxed. A Qin soldier glanced at a Zhao soldier not too far away. “Brother, where are you from? I visited the Zhao Empire a long time ago, so perhaps I’ve been there.”

The Zhao soldier smiled. He said in a low voice, “My home is in the far north in quite a remote area. You shouldn’t have gone there before.”

The Qin soldier reached out and patted the Zhao soldier’s shoulder. “Once we force the monster race back, Qin and Zhao will become brothers for 10,000 lifetimes. If there is a chance, we soldiers should get to know each other. Perhaps I might come and visit someday in the future. If that happens, brother must make sure to entertain me!”

The Zhao soldier thumped his chest. “That doesn’t even need to be said. If any brothers from the Qin Empire come, I will have my woman cook you up some great dishes!”

“Brother is married? Do you have a child…?” Before the Qin soldier finished speaking, his complexion suddenly changed.

The Zhao soldier across from him thought he was remembering some painful event. The Zhao soldier hurried to comfort him, “Marriage is a matter that will happen sooner or later. There is no need to worry so much about it.”

…

Demonic Path, Holy Palace.

Qin Yu suddenly laid down his teacup. He looked up above, his eyebrows slowly furrowing together.

Ning Ling had a puzzled expression. “What is it?”

Outside the pavilion, You Qi was trimming and watering some plants. She also turned around.

Qin Yu hesitated for a moment. Then he slowly said, “I don’t know, but I feel like something isn’t right. As if something is going to happen.”

Ning Ling’s eyes flashed. “Is it because you have been too anxious lately?”

Qin Yu shook his head. “No, this has nothing to do with the Immortal Sect…” As he said this, his heart skipped a beat and the uneasy feeling became increasingly strong.

Could the Immortal Sect really have done anything? The Demonic Path was normal in all aspects. If so, where would they begin moving in from?

Shua –

Qin Yu fiercely looked up, his eyes icy cold – the Qin Empire battlefield!

…

The Qin soldier lowered his head. His mood became gloomy and depressed. After several breaths of time he said, “Brother from the Zhao Empire, I’m sorry.”

Puff –

The Qin soldier’s sword pierced through the Zhao soldier’s chest. Strength erupted and crushed the Zhao soldier’s vitality. Blood gushed out from his head and his eyes filled with shock.

…Why?

Unfortunately, this question was doomed to never receive a reply. The soldier’s highest priority was to follow the commands given to him. The soldier had no idea why he would receive such an order, but it was a joint one that came from the four great war god generals. Since it was sent to the receiving stone he held on his body, it shouldn’t be wrong…

The land beneath the cliff instantly turned into an Asura hell. The Zhao soldiers were caught off guard and suffered immense casualties!

Meanwhile, the monster race army in Red Sand Valley suddenly rushed out, wildly firing towards the Zhao Army encampment like a crazed snake.

…

The Qin Empire had changed sides. They joined together with the monster race army to create an inescapable net. The Zhao Empire completely lost the three million strong army they sent to assist the Qin Empire. The avatar of Yama, one of the supreme beings of the world, died. With her death as the price, she sent the inheritance treasure Samsara away. News of this spread throughout the Land of Divinity and Demons like a hurricane, causing the entire world to go into an uproar!

At the Qin Capital, Xianyang –

Emperor Ying went to the temple and prayed to his ancestors. He announced to the world that traces of the Demonic Path were found in relation to the death of the founding emperor. After listing the evil crimes that the Demonic Path had committed over the years, he indicated that the Qin Empire’s actions today were justified.

From this day forth, with the rebellion of the Qin Empire, there was no more chance for peace. All influences throughout the Land of Divinity and Demons veered towards them.

First, the Demonic Path had joined forces with the Dao Arena in order to invade the Immortal Sect and kill the avatars of the Buddhist Nation Sovereign and Nether Domain Master, also inflicting severe casualties on the Immortal Sect. Now, the Qin Empire had revolted, swallowing the three million man army of the Zhao Empire and becoming eternal enemies with the Demonic Path…countless people couldn’t help but sigh over such a series of events!

No one was an idiot. If the Qin Empire had no support, no matter how powerful they were, how could they dare to betray the Demonic Path? Although no one saw traces of the Immortal Sect in this affair, to say that they weren’t involved would be a joke!

With things having come this far, it was impossible for it to end like this. The Demonic Path was always overbearing in their disposition and never liked to suffer a single loss. So, how could they endure something like this? The true chaos was still to come!

…

“Qin Ying! Qin Ying!” In the central palace of the Blue Skies Yellow Springs, Yama’s angry screams reverberated outwards. Her luck was poor. Not only had her avatar died but her true body had suffered an immense backlash.

And the Six Path supernatural arts she had just crossed the threshold of had been destroyed. If she wished to cultivate it again it would be over ten times more difficult. It was simply impossible for her to ever reach large success.

How could she not hate!

But no matter how angry she was, she never lost her sense of reason. She knew that the Qin Empire had laid down an inescapable net.

If she went forth to take revenge, whether or not she would be able to kill anyone was uncertain. There was a high likelihood that she would be suppressed and killed instead, her life’s cultivation wasted.

At this moment, Yama received a message from the Holy Palace. She stood up and stepped out, vanishing from sight.

In the next moment, space shook around Yama. Everyone kneeled as she walked into the hall.