Chapter 703: The Strategic Retreat

The Gu Master’s expression became increasingly ugly.

The situation had changed completely.

Just moments ago, he had been standing above the battlefield, convinced that everything was under his control.

Three Golden Immortal refined corpses.

Fifteen Earth Immortal refined corpses.

Several Immortal Ascension Realm refined corpses.

Such a force should have been more than enough to crush the Bai Clan.

Yet now, one of his Golden Immortal refined corpses had been completely erased.

Not defeated.

Not damaged.

Erased!

Not even a trace of its body remained.

And that was only the beginning.

The Gu Master quickly swept his divine sense across the battlefield.

His expression darkened further.

The second Golden Immortal refined corpse was still being held back by the five Bai Clan Earth Immortals.

Even though it possessed overwhelming physical strength, it had been unable to break free from their coordinated attacks.

Their objective had always been simple.

Keep it occupied. And so far, they have succeeded.

Meanwhile, the situation on the other fronts was no better.

Boom!

An Earth Immortal refined corpse was blasted backward.

Before it could regain its balance, two Bai Clan Earth Immortals attacked simultaneously.

BOOM!!!

The corpse crashed into the ground.

Elsewhere—

Slash!

A Bai Clan expert’s artifact cut across the body of another refined corpse.

The corpse immediately attempted to retaliate.

However, three more attacks descended at the same time.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Its body was buried beneath the rubble.

The Immortal Ascension Realm battlefield was equally unfavorable.

Although the refined corpses did not fear death and continued attacking relentlessly, the Bai Clan cultivators were simply too well-equipped.

Now, the situation was similar to how it had been before the Gu Master intervened.

The Shen Clan side was being slaughtered once again.

The Gu Master’s forces were losing.

On every front!

The Shen Clan cultivators gradually fell into despair.

The situation had returned to how it had been before the Gu Master intervened.

Previously, the Gu Master’s refined corpses had at least given them hope.

They had believed that the terrifying army of corpses would change everything.

Yet reality had proven otherwise.

The refined corpses could not feel fear.

They could not feel despair.

They could not feel regret.

But the Shen Clan cultivators could.

And now, they were terrified.

Boom!

Another Shen Clan cultivator was sent flying.

Before he could even stabilize himself, a Bai Clan expert appeared before him.

Slash!

Blood splattered through the air.

The cultivator’s body fell from the sky.

Elsewhere, another group of Shen Clan cultivators desperately tried to resist.

However, the result was no different.

The Bai Clan experts broke through their defenses.

One after another, the Shen Clan cultivators fell.

They weren’t some nameless Shen Clan members either.

Many of them were famous across the Empire and had their names carved into the list of the Top 100 strongest.

Yet even so, right now, they were being killed like powerless chickens.

The brief confidence they had regained after the Gu Master’s intervention had completely disappeared.

"Retreat!"

"Fall back!"

"We can’t stop them!"

Panicked voices echoed throughout the Shen Clan.

However, there was nowhere to retreat.

The Bai Clan’s flying ship remained above them.

And the Bai Clan cultivators had already surrounded the entire area.

The Shen Clan was trapped.

Shen Wuheng stood among the chaos.

His face had become deathly pale.

His body trembled slightly as he watched one Shen Clan cultivator after another fall.

His heart was filled with disbelief.

Then—

Regret!

Deep regret.

Back then, when these powerful cultivators had approached the Shen Clan, Shen Wuheng had believed that fortune had finally favored him.

They were powerful.

They possessed methods that Shen Wuheng could not even comprehend.

Golden Immortal refined corpses.

Earth Immortal refined corpses.

An army capable of destroying countless forces throughout the Eastern Continent.

With such people standing behind the Shen Clan, what did they have to fear?

Shen Wuheng had truly believed that this was his opportunity.

His chance to rise.

His chance to lead the Shen Clan to an unprecedented height.

Perhaps one day, the Shen Clan would become the absolute power of the Desolate Heaven Empire.

Perhaps even the Bai Clan would have no choice but to bow before them.

At the time, Shen Wuheng had believed that the Bai Clan was powerful.

But power could be surpassed.

As long as the Shen Clan had powerful enough allies, they could eventually stand above the Bai Clan.

That was what he had believed.

But now, reality had slapped him across the face.

Shen Wuheng watched helplessly as several members of his clan were killed mercilessly.

His fists slowly clenched.

No matter who stood behind them—

No matter how powerful their backers were—

The Bai Clan was simply too powerful.

Far more powerful than he had ever imagined.

Even with the Gu Master’s terrifying army of refined corpses supporting them, they still could not resist.

Even with Golden Immortal refined corpses—

They still could not reverse the situation.

The Shen Clan had believed that they had finally found someone capable of standing against the Bai Clan.

Instead, they had merely discovered how terrifying the Bai Clan truly was.

Shen Wuheng’s lips trembled.

"If only..."

His voice was barely audible.

"If only I hadn’t..."

If only he had not agreed to cooperate with those people.

If only he had not allowed greed and ambition to blind him.

If only he had not provoked the Bai Clan.

If only he had never touched Bai Xueqing.

Perhaps—

The Shen Clan would still exist peacefully.

Perhaps the clan would not be facing destruction today.

But what was the use of thinking about that now?

Shen Wuheng slowly closed his eyes.

There was no medicine for regret.

The moment he had chosen this path, there had already been no turning back.

The Gu Master’s face also gradually turned pale.

"Damn it..."

His fists slowly clenched.

He had completely underestimated the Bai Clan.

Originally, he had believed that the Shen Clan’s destruction would merely provide him with additional corpses.

He had never imagined that his own refined corpses would begin falling instead.

And now, the situation was becoming dangerous.

The Gu Master’s eyes flickered.

Unlike his junior brother, he had never been fond of personally fighting powerful opponents.

Yes!

He was a Golden Immortal.

However, that did not mean he enjoyed placing himself in danger.

His strength lay in controlling refined corpses.

Why fight personally when others could fight for him?

Why risk his own life when his corpses could die in his place?

His junior brother had been different.

That fool had been far too confident in his own strength.

And now, judging by everything that had happened, he was most likely dead.

The Gu Master had no intention of following the same path.

His gaze immediately landed on Bai Chu.

The moment their eyes met, his heart trembled.

Bai Chu still held the Saint Grade Sword.

The terrifying power of Fate Severing Slash was still fresh in his mind.

The Gu Master did not know how many times Bai Chu could use that technique.

Once?

Twice?

Perhaps more?

He had no intention of staying behind to find out.

The Gu Master’s expression gradually became cold.

"This battle is no longer worth continuing."

That was not fleeing.

It was—

A strategic retreat.

Once he returned and reported what had happened, he could gather stronger forces.

Perhaps even obtain additional refined corpses.

At that time, the Bai Clan would pay the price.

The Gu Master’s figure slowly began moving backward.

He intended to leave without attracting too much attention.

However, Bai Chu’s eyes immediately narrowed.

He had been watching the Gu Master from the very beginning.

The moment the man attempted to retreat—

Bai Chu moved.

Whoosh!

His figure instantly disappeared.

The Gu Master’s expression changed drastically.

"Damn it!"

He immediately accelerated.

However, a sharp sword intent suddenly descended from above.

The Gu Master’s pupils contracted.

Without hesitation, he moved to the side.

Slash!

A terrifying sword light swept past him.

The ground behind him was instantly split apart.

Bai Chu appeared in the distance.

The Saint Grade Sword pointed directly toward him.

"Trying to leave?"

The Gu Master’s expression darkened.

"I have no interest in fighting you today."

Bai Chu smiled faintly.

"Unfortunately..."

His grip tightened around the sword.

"I do!"

The Gu Master’s face became ugly.

He had no intention of personally fighting Bai Chu, especially not after witnessing Fate Severing Slash.

His eyes rapidly scanned the battlefield.

Then—

"Come!"

Whoosh!

The remaining two Golden Immortal refined corpses immediately reacted.

The one being held back by the five Earth Immortals suddenly abandoned its attempts to attack them.

Its body shot toward the Gu Master.

At the same time, the other Golden Immortal refined corpse also moved.

The five Bai Clan Earth Immortals immediately realized what was happening.

"Stop it!"

Boom!

Several attacks descended.

However, the Golden Immortal corpse completely ignored them.

It allowed the attacks to strike its body as it rushed toward its master.

Cracks appeared across its flesh, yet it did not slow down.

Within moments, it arrived beside the Gu Master.

The remaining Golden Immortal refined corpse also returned.

The Gu Master stood between them.

"You two."

The two Golden Immortal refined corpses turned toward him.

Their bloodshot eyes remained completely emotionless.

"Stop them!"

The Bai Clan experts immediately understood.

The Gu Master was planning to sacrifice them.

The five Earth Immortals moved forward.

Bai Chu’s expression also became cold.

However, the Gu Master merely laughed.

"Hahaha! You want to kill me?"

He slowly retreated.

"Then first deal with them."

He was planning to sacrifice his remaining Golden Immortal and other corpses as well to escape.

However, the Gu Master quickly suppressed his frustration.

A Golden Immortal refined corpse was valuable. But compared to his own life, it was nothing.

As long as he survived, he could always obtain more corpses.

Boom!

The two Golden Immortal refined corpses erupted with all their remaining strength.

The Bai Clan experts immediately responded.

Slash! Slash!

Meanwhile, the Gu Master turned around.

Without the slightest hesitation—

He fled!

He tore open the void and his figure transformed into a streak of light as he shot toward the horizon.