Chapter 291 ·First Battle, Overwhelming Victory! Foreign Tribe General Brutally Crushed by Dian Wei!

On ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍a certain Abyssal Plane, there stood a City of the Stars surrounded by countless volcanoes, perpetually shrouded in scorching temperatures and poisonous gases.

Jiao ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Yang was a Level 30 Lord of the Flamehorn Troll Tribe who had become a lord only four years ago.

He ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍had already accumulated a remarkably solid foundation and was regarded as one of the most promising rising stars of his race. Because of this, he had earned a place in the Lord Tournament and had successfully advanced through the qualifiers into the finals at the Sea of Eternal Darkness.

Jiao ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Yang knew his own limits. With his strength, there was no way he could compete with the top Upper Races or Tier-4 Lords. Thus, he had never dreamed of winning the tournament, nor had he ever expected to break into the top one hundred.

Reaching ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the middle ranks.

That ‍​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍should not be too difficult.

Every participating lord would receive rewards.

The only difference was that higher rankings brought greater rewards.

Jiao Yang's goal was to enter the top five hundred and then strive to advance into the top three hundred.

The five hundred offspring he had selected had already landed on an island in the Sea of Eternal Darkness and were currently steering their island as it drifted across the sea.

A tournament was different from war.

Wars between lords were brutal.

Not only did they determine victory and defeat, but they usually determined life and death as well.

Even if the loser survived, they would completely lose their qualification to remain a lord.

The opposing lords in war were unlikely to come from the same City of the Stars and might not even belong to the same Star Domain.

The Lord Tournament was different. Like this competition, every participating lord came from Sacred Cang City.

The purpose of such tournaments was to nurture promising new lords. If hundreds or even thousands of lords died in a single event, it would not only bring no benefits, but would also greatly weaken the strength and future potential of the Starsea City-State.

For this reason, to keep conflicts within the bounds of competition, there were usually limits placed on the scale of forces that could be committed, and lords themselves were forbidden from personally entering the battlefield.

In other words.

During this tournament.

All the lords could do was observe and command from behind the scenes.

They could not physically participate in battle, though indirect intervention through certain special means was permitted.

Jiao Yang knew that many races possessed the ability to project their consciousness into their subjects. There were also many lords with unique talents or relics capable of producing similar effects or creating projection avatars.

The Flamehorn Trolls possessed no such innate ability.

Although Jiao Yang could not personally participate in the tournament, he was highly confident in his army.

The force he had deployed onto the island in the Sea of Eternal Darkness consisted entirely of Flame Bull Warriors, a powerful military unit that Flamehorn Troll Lords could only unlock after reaching Tier 3.

Flame Bull Warriors were extremely expensive to summon.

However, each one immediately possessed the strength of a Level 20 elite upon being summoned.

The 497 Flame Bull Warriors Jiao Yang had selected were undoubtedly the elite of his territory. Every one of them had been cultivated at enormous cost and had reached at least Level 27.

In addition.

He had dispatched three great generals from his territory.

Each one possessed the strength of a Level 30 top-tier commander.

With such a formidable lineup, merely aiming for an above-average ranking in the tournament should not present much difficulty.

"Lord!"

"We've discovered another lord's island!"

"It looks like it's a Human island!"

One of his officers sent the report through their communication method.

"Humans?" Jiao Yang immediately revealed a savage grin upon hearing this. "Human unit types are limited, and their racial talents are pitifully weak. Among all the races of the Stars, there are hardly any easier opponents. Who would've thought we'd encounter such a perfect appetizer the moment we entered the Sea of Eternal Darkness?"

Just as Jiao Yang, carried away by excitement, was about to order the attack, an elderly clansman beside him reminded him, "My Lord, humans are indeed a weak race. But precisely because they're weak, the fact that one reached the main tournament is unusual enough to deserve caution."

That made sense.

Anything out of the ordinary usually hid something unusual.

Wait.

He had heard that the first-place winner of the qualifiers had been a Human Lord.

Surely it couldn't be such a coincidence?

"My Lord, as far as I know, only a handful of Human territories participated in this tournament. The only one who could have qualified for the Sea of Eternal Darkness should be him..."

Jiao Yang said, "Looks like we've run into the champion of the qualifiers!"

The elder replied, "Anyone capable of taking first place must possess extraordinary methods. Perhaps we should avoid his edge for now and observe the situation first."

Jiao Yang did not want to let such an opportunity slip away.

If he could be the first to eliminate the qualifying champion.

It would greatly enhance his reputation!

Of course, if the champion had belonged to any other race, Jiao Yang would have fled as far away as possible.

The problem was...

The opponent was merely a Tier-3 Human.

Human military units were simply not worth mentioning!

According to the rumors Jiao Yang had gathered, this territory had only won the qualifiers because it had recruited a native Hero Unit possessing a unique Fate Talent and had taken advantage of a loophole.

Compared to truly well-established lords.

No matter how strong the humans were.

They were still only humans.

This opportunity was incredibly rare!

Even so, no matter what, the opponent was still the champion. Out of caution, Jiao Yang did not recklessly charge in immediately but patiently waited for a more suitable opportunity.

Only a few minutes passed.

Before the opportunity appeared.

The Human island discovered a Secret Realm Space node floating in the Sea of Eternal Darkness and immediately began exploring it.

"The opportunity has arrived!"

Most of the Human island's forces had entered the node.

The island itself had to be at its weakest now!

"Attack!"

"At all costs!"

"We must take down these humans!"

Jiao Yang was brimming with confidence. To him, the Human force was already nothing more than fish on his chopping block—a fat duck already cooked and ready to eat.

Thus.

Within the void of the Sea of Eternal Darkness.

The two Floating Islands rapidly approached one another.

………………

On the Human island, nearly half of the elite forces were still exploring and challenging the Den of Evil Sins Secret Realm Space. Only a portion of the relatively weaker players had died and returned.

Among them were more than thirty Tier-3 Players.

This included many top players above Level 25, such as Brother Xiao Ma, Niu Shisan, Hua Mulan, Dawnlight, and others.

"What? A Foreign Tribe is attacking us?"

"Have everyone withdraw first!"

Failing a Secret Realm challenge in the Sea of Eternal Darkness was no big deal—they could simply revive and try again.

But if the Floating Island fell.

It would be game over.

"Not yet!"

Dawnlight stepped forward and said to everyone, "With General Dian and Strategist Jia here, the enemy won't be breaking in that easily."

Brother Xiao Ma nodded.

"That's true. Let's first probe these guys and see what they're capable of. If things go south, it'll still be time to call everyone back."

Niu Shisan raised his greatsword high and shouted, "Charge! Kill those Foreign Tribes!"

Two to three hundred players locked onto the enemy island.

Unlike the Human island, the enemy island appeared somewhat larger, with rivers of lava flowing across it and thick smoke rising into the air, showing that different races had slightly different habitats in the Sea of Eternal Darkness.

There was no unnecessary prelude.

The Flamehorn Troll territory's Floating Island rammed directly into the Human territory's Floating Island.

When the protective barriers of the two islands collided, the two previously separate barriers immediately merged like two bubbles fusing together, eventually becoming one larger, complete bubble.

The next moment.

The two islands made contact.

Everyone felt a tremendous impact.

The first clash of the Lord Tournament had begun!

The carefully selected forces of both territories had long been prepared, and they charged toward each other's islands almost simultaneously.

The Scourge Army quickly spotted the enemy.

They were a race of hideous, flame-covered minotaur-like monsters!

Their entire bodies were crimson, radiating intense heat. Even the breath from their nostrils flickered with flames. Standing roughly three meters tall with heavily muscled physiques, they wore glowing red-hot iron armor and wielded gigantic axes or warhammers, while those in the front ranks carried massive shields.

【Flame Bull Warrior】, Level 28 Elite Unit... Introduction: A military unit of the Flamehorn Troll Tribe. Possesses an exceptionally powerful body and fire-attribute offensive abilities.

Tier-3 units!

Every single one of them was Tier 3!

And almost all of them were at least Level 25!

Having nearly five hundred Tier-3 elite soldiers alone would have been intimidating enough.

But everyone soon discovered that among these several hundred Flame Bull Warriors were several individuals who clearly stood apart.

These were also humanoid creatures with bull heads.

Their bodies seemed to be formed from cracked stone filled with half-molten magma, making them appear even more ferocious and imposing.

They were the Hero Units of the Flamehorn Troll Tribe.

Each one was a Tier-3 commander of top-tier caliber.

Such a lineup had already exceeded what the players could possibly handle.

Never mind the fact that half of the 450 players were absent.

Even if all of them fought together.

They still would not be able to defeat this force.

Although more than ten of the strongest players, including Black-Eyed Rui Ge and Ye Li Meng, had already crossed the threshold into commander-level combat power.

They had only barely crossed that threshold.

Among the more than four hundred players, nearly two hundred were still only Tier-2 at Level 20, severely dragging down the overall combat strength.

Unless they abused the Respawn Point.

There was virtually no chance of victory.

At this moment.

Streams of powerful aura.

Spread outward from the stone hall behind them.

【You have received the blessing of "Light of Tenacity"...】

【You have received the blessing of "Light of Loyal Souls"...】

【You have received the blessing of "Light of Berserk"...】

Several hundred members of the Scourge Army received the Fate Skill blessings of Dian Wei and Zhou Cang, causing both their strength and morale to surge dramatically.

"Hahaha!"

"The territory's big shots are backing us up!"

"These minotaurs are nothing to fear!"

"Everyone, attack! Don't let them advance!"

Brother Xiao Ma judged that the shield-bearing minotaurs in the front line would be difficult to deal with, so he summoned dozens of blazing wind blades into the air. They swooped down from above and struck multiple minotaurs in the rear who lacked shield protection.

-64!

-54!

-60!

……

Why was the damage so low?

Brother Xiao Ma was the strongest Warlock in the War God Hall Legion. In terms of equipment and skill proficiency, only Little Bell and Chimera Wraith slightly surpassed him within the Scourge Army.

Yet when his powerful spells struck these minotaurs.

They barely reduced their HP bars at all.

"Everyone, be careful! These minotaurs have extremely tough hides, and their fire resistance is incredibly high. Don't use fire-attribute attacks!"

Even if these Scourge Army members could not be called battle-hardened veterans, they were highly experienced.

They immediately recognized the characteristics of the Flame Bull Warriors.

First, these Tier-3 elite units possessed extremely high combat strength, ranking among the upper tier even compared to other elite units of the same level.

Second, they were classic warrior-type monsters.

Specifically, tank warriors built entirely for durability.

Their offensive power, mobility, and attack methods might not necessarily be outstanding.

But they were incredibly durable and extremely difficult to kill.

Once they got into close range.

The consequences would be disastrous.

After realizing this.

The Scourge Army intensified all forms of damage output.

Brother Xiao Ma switched to non-fire spells such as Chain Lightning.

Niu Shisan, Hua Mulan, and the others attacked with sword qi and arrows.

Dawnlight and the other Abyss Monks summoned large numbers of ghosts and skeletons to intercept them.

However.

The players' offensive.

Failed to halt the Flame Bull Warriors' advance in the slightest.

Whether spells or arrows.

Everything striking the giant shields in the front ranks was as harmless as raindrops.

Even attacks that bypassed the shields inflicted very little damage.

Meanwhile, the Bull Warriors possessed innate recovery skills as well as powerful healing items and potions.

Without overwhelming damage output.

They simply could not be threatened.

As for the skeletons, ghosts, zombies, and other minor summons created by the Monk players?

They were annihilated almost instantly upon approaching.

The only weakness these enemies had.

Was their somewhat lacking mobility.

Their displayed attack power was equally astonishing.

When the Scourge Army's attacks failed to stop the Flame Bull Warriors.

The latter advanced into range.

Several hundred Bull Warriors simultaneously gathered energy.

Their bodies erupted into blazing flames.

Clearly.

They were building momentum for a devastating charge.

"This is bad!"

Hundreds of Flame Bull Charges erupted at once.

A single wave was enough to wipe out every player present.

With the current strength of the Scourge Army.

Any defensive line they formed would be as fragile as paper before such a torrent.

"I was being far too cautious!"

Lord Jiao Yang smiled in satisfaction within his territory.

"They're nothing more than insignificant humans after all. Such weak and fragile creatures are destined to be trampled beneath the feet of the Myriad Races!"

However.

At the critical moment.

Scarlet hand halberds shot out from both flanks of the Human forces like returning boomerangs before suddenly accelerating into crimson lightning, crashing into the Flamehorn formation.

Shields shattered!

The shield wall collapsed instantly!

-6432 (Lethal Critical!)

-7011 (Lethal Critical!)

-6863 (Lethal Critical!)

……

The damage exploded!

The supposedly indestructible shields of the Flame Bull Warriors were as fragile as paper!

Even their invulnerable bodies were as brittle as porcelain!

In almost an instant.

Rows upon rows of Flame Bull Warriors collapsed.

Every single one was blasted into pieces!

"What?!"

Lord Jiao Yang was horrified.

He simply could not believe his own eyes.

Dian Wei hurled sixteen crimson flying halberds in one breath.

Wrapped in scarlet lightning.

The spinning projectiles tore through the ranks of the Flame Bull Warriors like harvesters.

Killing thirty to forty enemies in one strike!

The combined attacks of two hundred players over several rounds had achieved no more than one-tenth of that result.

It wasn't over.

Ten skeletal monsters.

Were summoned onto the battlefield.

【Blood Demon Skeleton】, Level 28 Commander Unit... Introduction: A powerful monster summoned by Demonized Dian Wei after harvesting lives with his Crimson Flying Halberds. Possesses tremendous combat power and can absorb the abilities of its victims!

"It's General Dian's move!"

"We've seen this technique before!"

"What's going on? General Dian's skill seems much stronger than before!"

"......"

The players recognized the move.

Dian Wei possessed an extremely versatile fighting style.

Not only was he overwhelmingly powerful in close combat.

He also excelled at long-range attacks.

This technique, "Crimson Flying Halberds," originated from his exclusive blue cultivation art, "Thousand Skeleton Phantom Demon Halberd." Like "Demon God Transformation," it had been tailor-made specifically for Dian Wei's physique and talents, making it impossible for anyone else to learn.

Before Dian Wei had joined the territory.

He could summon at most six Blood Demon Skeleton Commanders.

Each possessed only Level 25 commander-level strength.

Now.

He summoned ten Blood Demon Skeleton Commanders in a single breath.

And every single one possessed Level 28 commander-level strength.

This clearly proved.

That after joining the territory.

Dian Wei had become even stronger than before.

Once the ten commander-level summons appeared.

They instantly placed tremendous pressure upon the Flame Bull Warrior army.

The Scourge Army was overjoyed and immediately intensified its offensive, picking off weakened enemies and focusing fire to secure a considerable number of kills.

"This feels amazing!"

"As expected of General Dian!"

"He barely lifted a finger, and the power is already beyond anything we could imagine!"

"......"

The Flamehorn Troll territory was clearly no pushover either.

They quickly employed various methods to stabilize their formation before methodically healing, recovering, and launching counterattacks.

However.

Lord Jiao Yang soon discovered.

The Blood Demon Skeleton Commanders could not truly be eliminated.

Even if one or two were destroyed through concentrated attacks.

A new one would immediately be summoned.

Keeping their number fixed at ten.

At the same time.

Another change occurred.

The ten Demon Skeleton Commanders suddenly gathered together.

Their bodies rapidly fused.

Creating a monstrous being with six heads, twelve arms, and a wide assortment of weapons.

【Blood Demon Skeleton Overlord】, Level 29 Overlord Unit...

Ten Level 28 commanders.

Actually fused into a single Level 29 Overlord!

Once the Blood Demon Skeleton Overlord appeared on the battlefield.

The Flame Bull Warriors were completely unable to withstand its advance.

Not only did it possess terrifying innate abilities and skills.

It had also absorbed all the skills of every slain Flamehorn Troll.

"Destroying the summons is meaningless!"

"The Human territory has an incredibly powerful summoner!"

"A summoner capable of commanding ten commander-class summons—or even an Overlord-class summon—is extraordinary indeed!"

"But summoners themselves are usually extremely fragile!"

"As long as we kill him!"

"These monsters will collapse on their own!"

The three Flamehorn generals quickly reached the same conclusion.

These Flamehorn commanders were all Level 30 top-tier commanders.

Working together.

They might not necessarily lose to the Blood Demon Skeleton Overlord.

Yet instead of confronting it head-on.

They charged into the enemy formation under the protection of the Flame Bull Warriors.

Soon.

They locked onto Dian Wei, who stood before the stone hall.

"So this human actually looks this bizarre..."

Through the lord's perspective.

Jiao Yang observed Dian Wei.

Standing over two and a half meters tall.

His body was formed entirely from energy crystals.

No matter how one looked at him.

He hardly resembled a human.

"An Abyssal Physique?!"

"He's a recruited native!"

Jiao Yang immediately guessed Dian Wei's origin.

Normal Starsea offspring could never possess an Abyssal Physique.

Only natives who had undergone demonic transformation could become like this.

"So the rumors were true!"

"I'd heard this Human followed the King's Path, so he had recruited several powerful Hero Units!"

Jiao Yang sneered.

"No wonder he got lucky enough to win the qualifiers. But relying on a handful of natives won't be enough to stand out in this tournament. Today, I'll show you what true reality looks like!"

As these thoughts flashed through his mind.

The three Flamehorn generals.

Had already reached Dian Wei.

In their eyes.

Dian Wei was nothing more than a fragile summoner.

Once a summoner was caught in close combat without bodyguards.

Death was practically guaranteed.

"You've got guts!"

Following Jia Xu's instructions, Dian Wei had originally planned to simply throw flying halberds from afar and summon Blood Demon Skeletons to tie down the enemy army, allowing the Scourge Army to harvest more kills and maximize the spoils.

Who would've thought.

These three Foreign Tribes.

Would actually run right up to him.

Dian Wei let out a savage grin.

Of his six arms.

Four simultaneously drew battle sabers.

The remaining two reached into empty space.

The next moment.

The Blood Demon Skeleton Overlord transformed into a massive halberd.

It flew back from the battlefield.

Landing in his hands.

Because of Dian Wei's unique physique, all armor and accessory attributes became invalid on his body.

However.

He theoretically possessed six weapon slots simultaneously.

At this moment.

The Blood Demon Skeleton Halberd served as his two-handed primary weapon.

This halberd had been personally summoned by Dian Wei.

Its quality, attributes, and effects were not fixed.

Instead.

They scaled with Dian Wei's own strength.

The stronger Dian Wei became.

The stronger the weapon became.

With Dian Wei's current strength.

Its power was no weaker than a purple-quality weapon.

Moreover.

It could absorb the skills of those it slaughtered, increasing the weapon's enhancement level and attributes while temporarily adding those abilities to itself.

It was simply absurdly powerful.

As for the four battle sabers Dian Wei currently wielded.

Each one had been specially prepared by the territory as an off-hand weapon.

Every single blade was blue quality.

Every single blade possessed excellent bonus attributes and equipment skills.

The current Dian Wei.

Was even stronger than he had been in Old Wan City.

Even if Wen Ping, Zhou Cang, and Jia Xu joined forces.

They would still have no chance of defeating him.

Even if Hang Yu himself personally entered the battlefield.

He would still have to expend considerable effort to defeat Dian Wei.

"Impossible!"

As the three Flamehorn generals approached.

They sensed the terrifying aura radiating from Dian Wei.

Faced with pressure akin to confronting a Demon God.

The three Flamehorn generals immediately felt overwhelming danger.

They realized.

Their judgment had likely been completely wrong.

Although their opponent possessed ranged attacks and summoning abilities.

That did not mean.

He was weak in close combat!

"Take this!" Dian Wei roared.

His four battle sabers swung simultaneously.

Four crimson blade lights instantly enveloped all three opponents.

Retreating was already impossible.

The three Flamehorn generals could only grit their teeth and block.

Yet.

With nothing more than a casual slash.

All three were blasted back ten meters.

Each suffered varying degrees of injury.

"So this is all you've got? What a disappointment!"

Dian Wei grinned viciously.

"There's no real merit in killing trash like you. But even flies are still meat. I'll gladly take your worthless lives."

The next moment.

Dian Wei vanished from where he stood.

Several players who had been watching the battle.

Couldn't even perceive his movements.

They saw only crimson halberd light sweeping across the battlefield.

As unavoidable as an Inescapable Net.

As violent and unstoppable as a comet striking the earth.

Only a few exchanges later.

All three Flamehorn generals were coughing blood as they retreated in defeat.

Only now did they realize in utter despair.

The being standing before them was no ordinary Overlord.

At the very least.

He stood at the pinnacle of the Overlord Authority Level.

Perhaps.

He had already surpassed the Overlord Authority Level altogether!

Watching from behind the scenes.

Lord Jiao Yang was equally shaken.

Judging from the strength Dian Wei displayed.

Forget his three generals.

Even if Jiao Yang personally entered the battlefield.

He could not guarantee victory.

No wonder the Human territory had won the qualifying tournament.

The Human troops themselves were utterly insignificant.

But the Hero Units the Human Lord had recruited.

Were monstrously powerful.

To the point of being terrifying.

"We surrender!"

Jiao Yang knew.

As long as Dian Wei remained.

The Flamehorn Trolls had absolutely no chance of victory.

He immediately ordered his subordinates to surrender.

But Dian Wei had no intention of giving them the chance to speak.

His Blood Demon Skeleton Halberd completely shattered their defenses.

Then.

His four great sabers unleashed a storm-like offensive.

Brutally severing all four limbs.

"Little ones of the Scourge!"

Dian Wei laughed.

"They're yours!"

The players were still immersed in shock over Dian Wei's monstrous strength and incomparably savage fighting style.

Hearing those words.

Every one of them lit up with joy.

"Holy crap! Something this good actually exists?!"

"General Dian may look terrifying, but he treats us really well!"

"I love him already!"

"Thank you, General Dian!"

"Wow, we struck it rich this time! These three should all be Level 30 top-tier commanders!"

"Any one of them would be a top-tier Big Boss in the wild!"

"They're definitely going to drop amazing loot!"

"......"

There had never been any suspense in this battle.

With Dian Wei's fighting style—able to tank, fight, attack from range, and summon creatures—he possessed overwhelming dominance in battles of this scale.

He alone was enough to hold off the Flamehorn Trolls.

Not to mention.

He also enjoyed the Fate Skill blessings of Wen Ping and Zhou Cang.

Along with over two hundred reasonably capable members of the Scourge Army.

Dian Wei actually found the fight somewhat unsatisfying.

Because this battle simply hadn't allowed him to unleash his full strength.

As the opening battle of the Sea of Eternal Darkness.

Hang Yu naturally observed everything from behind the scenes.

Dian Wei had merely used his blue cultivation art, "Thousand Skeleton Phantom Demon Halberd."

Yet these Foreign Tribes had already been completely unable to resist.

The level of this cultivation art was roughly equivalent to Hang Yu's "Thousand Phoenix Blazing Spear."

It was a top-tier blue cultivation art.

However.

Dian Wei possessed far more than just this single cultivation art.

His true trump card.

The purple-quality "Demon God Transformation."

Had yet to be used.

Hang Yu estimated.

Under normal circumstances.

Dian Wei had already reached the absolute ceiling of the Overlord Authority Level.

If he unleashed Demon God Transformation with full power.

He would be fully qualified and capable of contending against an Abyssal Monarch for a certain period of time.

Dian Wei's talent and physique possessed extraordinary growth potential.

Once he broke through to Tier 4.

He would immediately obtain the Authority Level of an Abyssal Monarch.

For a very long time in the future.

He would become the territory's greatest combat force.

Second only to the Lord himself.

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