Chapter 51 The Zan Clan Arrives
A large group of cultivators wearing the robes of the Zan Clan sped toward the northern battlefield.
Leading them was Shenyuu.
Behind her followed several hundreds Zan Clan disciples.
Some flew on swords.
Others traversed the forests with astonishing speed.
Their destination was the collapsing northern frontline.
News had already reached them that the defenders were being overwhelmed.
If they arrived any later...
The enemy would break through completely.
As they hurried across a mountain road.
Shenyuu suddenly raised her hand.
"Stop."
The disciples immediately halted.
From the distance came the sound of horses and wagon wheels.
Soon, a convoy emerged from the forest.
Dozens of wagons carried wounded soldiers.
Some men had lost limbs.
Others were unconscious from blood loss.
Imperial soldiers escorted the convoy, their armor stained with fresh blood.
The moment they noticed the approaching cultivators, the escort soldiers instinctively drew their weapons.
"Who goes there?!"
Shenyuu stepped forward calmly.
"We are disciples of the Zan Clan."
"We have come to reinforce the northern frontline."
Upon hearing the words Zan Clan, the soldiers visibly relaxed.
One captain hurried forward and cupped his fists.
"So... the Zan Clan has finally arrived."
Relief washed over his weary face.
Shenyuu looked toward the wagons.
"What happened?"
The captain's expression darkened.
"The frontline has collapsed."
"Our commander, General Xu Jian, ordered us to escort the wounded to the eastern sector."
"He also sent messengers to inform the other defensive lines."
One disciple frowned.
"Where is General Xu Jian now?"
The captain lowered his head.
"He remained behind."
"He said someone had to buy time."
Silence fell over the Zan Clan disciples.
The captain clenched his fists.
"By now..."
"I'm afraid the Commander is already facing the enemy."
Shenyuu's expression became solemn.
She looked toward the direction of the battlefield.
The sounds of explosions and distant battle still echoed across the plains.
Just then.
BOOM!!
The earth shook violently.
The ground beneath their feet trembled as if struck by a heavenly force.
The horses pulling the wagons neighed in terror, nearly throwing their riders off.
The Zan Clan disciples instinctively stopped.
"What was that?!"
A disciple standing at the front suddenly looked toward the horizon.
His eyes widened.
"E-Elder Shenyuu..."
He slowly raised a trembling finger.
"Look..."
Everyone followed his gaze.
Several kilometers away...
A gigantic pillar of fire and smoke rose into the sky.
Moments later, it expanded into a massive mushroom-shaped cloud.
The terrifying explosion was visible even from their location.
A powerful shockwave swept across the plains moments later, causing trees to sway violently.
The disciples stared at the distant scene in stunned silence.
One of them swallowed nervously.
"What kind of attack could create... something like that?"
The massive mushroom cloud continued to rise into the sky.
Even from several kilometers away, everyone could feel the terrifying shockwave.
Shenyuu's expression turned grave.
Whatever had caused such an explosion...
It was undoubtedly a battle between powerful cultivators.
Without another moment of hesitation, she gave her orders.
"Move out!"
The wounded convoy was left in the care of the imperial soldiers.
"There is no time to waste."
"Our mission is the battlefield."
She turned toward the Zan Clan disciples.
"All Foundation Establishment Realm disciples!"
"Follow me!"
"Advance at full speed!"
"Yes, Elder Shenyuu!"
Immediately, dozens of Foundation Establishment disciples surged forward.
Their speed was several times faster than that of the Qi Refinement disciples.
The remaining Qi Refinement Realm disciples attempted to keep pace.
However, the difference in cultivation was simply too great.
Within moments, the distance between the two groups continued to widen.
One Qi Refinement disciple gritted his teeth.
"Damn it..."
"We can't keep up!"
Another disciple clenched his fists but continued running with all his strength.
Shenyuu glanced back briefly before issuing another command.
"Qi Refinement disciples!"
"Continue advancing at your maximum speed."
"Do not force yourselves to catch up."
"Proceed in formation and reinforce us as soon as you arrive."
The disciples immediately replied,
"Understood, Elder Shenyuu!"
Satisfied, Shenyuu focused her attention ahead once more.
The Foundation Establishment disciples followed closely behind her as they sped toward the battlefield.
Only a short time later...
Shenyuu and the Foundation Establishment Realm disciples arrived at the battlefield.
The first thing that greeted them was silence.
Not the silence of peace.
But the silence left behind by a devastating explosion.
At the center of the battlefield lay a massive crater, stretching hundreds of meters across.
The earth had been scorched black.
No grass remained.
No bodies could be found within the crater.
Only shattered weapons, broken armor, and traces of blood remained.
Several Foundation Establishment disciples involuntarily drew a sharp breath.
"What... happened here?"
"What kind of battle could leave behind such destruction?"
Shenyuu merely glanced at the crater before shifting her attention elsewhere.
The battle...
Had not ended.
A deafening roar echoed from the distance.
"KILL!"
She looked beyond the crater.
Only 50 of soldiers from the Crimson Empire were still desperately resisting the Northern Alliance.
Swords clashed.
Spears pierced flesh.
War cries and screams filled the air.
The imperial soldiers had clearly lost their commander, yet they continued fighting without retreating a single step.
The Northern Alliance, taking advantage of their numerical superiority, pressed forward relentlessly.
One imperial captain shouted,
"Hold the line!"
"Don't let them break through!"
His words were answered by another wave of enemy soldiers crashing into the imperial formation.
The situation had become increasingly desperate.
Shenyuu slowly drew her sword.
She looked at the Zan Clan disciples behind her.
"The battlefield is before us."
"Our mission begins now."
She raised her sword and pointed it toward the Northern Alliance.
"Zan Clan disciples..."
"Charge!"
"Yes, Elder Shenyuu!"
Dozens of Foundation Establishment Realm disciples erupted with spiritual energy and shot toward the battlefield like arrows released from a bow.
Whoosh!
A streak of light flashed across the battlefield.
No one could follow its movement.
Slash!
Several Northern Alliance soldiers were cut down instantly.
Before their bodies even hit the ground.
Another flash appeared.
Slash!
More enemy soldiers fell one after another.
The battlefield suddenly became silent.
Both sides instinctively stopped fighting for a brief moment.
A graceful figure slowly emerged from the dust.
Sword in hand.
Her robes fluttered gently in the wind.
It was...
Shenyuu.
Behind her, dozens of Zan Clan disciples arrived one after another.
Each released the aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
The imperial soldiers stared in astonishment.
One wounded soldier rubbed his eyes in disbelief.
"A... fairy..."
"Has a fairy descended to save us?"
Another soldier looked more carefully.
His eyes suddenly widened with excitement.
"N-No!"
"That's not a fairy!"
"It's the Zan Clan!"
"The Zan Clan has come to reinforce us!"
Hearing those words, hope immediately returned to the exhausted imperial soldiers.
"The Zan Clan!"
"We're saved!"
"They finally came!"
Cheers erupted across the imperial ranks.
Even the officers, who had nearly lost all hope, let out sighs of relief.
Shenyuu calmly surveyed the battlefield before raising her sword.
Her voice rang out clearly.
"Disciples of the Zan Clan."
"Protect the soldiers of the Crimson Empire."
"Eliminate all the enemy."
The Zan Clan disciples bowed in unison.
"Yes, Elder Shenyuu!"
Without hesitation, they charged into the battlefield.
. . .
Meanwhile...
Inside the Patriarch's residence.
Zan Yunxiao remained seated beneath the pavilion, leisurely sipping a cup of tea.
With a thought, he opened the Clan Interface.
The familiar translucent panel appeared before him.
His gaze quickly landed on Shenyuu.
Immediately, a live image of the battlefield appeared before his eyes.
He watched as Shenyuu led the Zan Clan disciples into battle, cutting down enemy soldiers while protecting the imperial army.
Zan Yunxiao nodded slightly.
"As expected of Shenyuu."
Then, another thought crossed his mind.
"Hmm?"
He suddenly realized something.
"Shenyuu isn't a member of the Zan bloodline..."
"Yet she's registered in the Clan Interface."
He looked at her information panel once more.
Everything was displayed clearly.
Her cultivation realm.
Her current location.
Even the live viewing function worked perfectly.
Zan Yunxiao fell into thought.
"So that's how it works..."
"The Clan Interface doesn't only recognize blood descendants."
"It also recognizes those who officially become members of the Zan Clan."
He quickly reached a conclusion.
"If a man or woman marries into the Zan Clan..."
"They are automatically registered as a member of the clan."
"In that case..."
"They can also be monitored through the Clan Interface."
Zan Yunxiao found the function more useful than he had initially imagined.
Not only could he keep track of his bloodline...
He could also monitor every important member who had become part of the Zan Clan through marriage or official acceptance.
He smiled faintly.
"This Clan Interface becomes more interesting the more I use it."
After satisfying his curiosity, Zan Yunxiao shifted his attention back to the battlefield.
His eyes calmly observed Shenyuu and the disciples.
Although they had entered the war, he had no intention of interfering.
This battle...
Was a trial they needed to overcome on their own.
Several hours passed.
Zan Yunxiao quietly observed the battlefield through the Clan Interface.
Under Shenyuu's command, the Zan Clan disciples steadily turned the tide of the battle.
Seeing that the situation had stabilized, Zan Yunxiao lost interest.
With a casual wave of his hand, the image of the battlefield disappeared.
He leaned back in his chair.
"I wonder where Feilan is now."
It had been quite some time since he had last checked on his daughter.
Without hesitation, he opened the Clan Interface once more.
Countless names appeared before him.
His eyes quickly found the familiar entry.
Name: Zan Feilan
He tapped her name.
The panel rippled.
A live image gradually appeared before his eyes.
At that moment...
Zan Feilan was walking alone along a mountain trail.
She still wore her familiar cloak, concealing her appearance from passersby.
A sword hung quietly at her waist.
The surrounding area was covered by dense forests, while towering mountains stretched into the distance.
There was no sign of danger nearby.
Zan Yunxiao quietly watched Zan Feilan for a while longer.
Seeing her calmly walking through the mountain trail without encountering any danger, he nodded in satisfaction.
"She's safe."
That was all he needed to know.
He had no intention of interfering with his daughter's journey.
Every cultivator had to walk their own path.
Only by experiencing the outside world could one truly grow stronger.
With a thought, the live image faded away.
The Clan Interface slowly closed, disappearing from before his eyes.
The courtyard returned to its usual tranquility.
Zan Yunxiao slowly closed his eyes.
"The war has Shenyuu overseeing it."
"Feilan is safe."
"There is nothing requiring my attention for the time being."