Chapter Eighty-Six: The Northern Abyss Gambit, Part Five

That day over the Northern Abyss, the air was heavy with killing intent, and a crushing, oppressive mood filled heaven and earth.

A dazzling blaze of gold and red spread across the sky. Snow-white profound ice melted at tremendous speed; the chill was driven away, and searing heat swept through the void. In the hundred-zhang expanse above, threads of solar flame linked together into a vast net that covered millions of li. Within its meshes flew countless illusory three-legged golden crows, carefree and untroubled, filling the eye in dense, endless profusion. Above this net of solar fire stood ranks upon ranks of golden-armored divine generals and heavenly soldiers, all broad-shouldered and stern, towering two or three zhang high, bearing golden sabers and silver spears, their cold gleam fiercely intimidating. Most terrifying of all were the monstrous beasts at the front.

These beasts were like tyrannosaurs from the Jurassic age, yet every inch of them was covered in gold-red scales as large as baskets. From their mouths and nostrils they puffed out streams of solar fire, so scorching that even the void before them seemed unable to endure and began to melt, sending out wave after wave of ripples. Each beast was dozens of zhang long. They were none other than the solar dragons, living creatures born of the Sun Star.

Millions of solar troops and a hundred thousand solar dragons—such a formation was enough to inspire terror. Especially with the profound array they had taken up, even a quasi-sage caught within it would likely face grave danger.

Contrary to expectation, when faced with Emperor Jun's assault, Kunpeng actually led millions of sea monsters and colossal beasts to hold the line. Yet he merely stood above the Northern Abyss, ready to retreat into the sea at the first sign of danger.

"You bird-fish, dare to speak such wild words? If you have the courage, then today do not hide in your turtle shell!" Taiyi shouted, raising the palm-sized Chaos Bell in his hand.

"Brother, why waste words on him? Better to see the truth in battle!" Emperor Jun said coldly. Then he lifted his left hand and brought it down in a fierce sweep.

Kill!

Kill, kill, kill!

The earth-shaking roar of slaughter shook the whole universe. Clouds for hundreds, even thousands of li were torn to shreds by the sound waves and collapsed into nothingness.

The net of solar fire pressed downward slowly, approaching inch by inch, while the illusory three-legged golden crows within the meshes shrieked shrilly, unsettling the mind!

"Hmph! An old trick!" Having exchanged blows more than a hundred times, Kunpeng had long since grown used to this net of solar fire. With a look of contempt and a curl of disdain on his lips, he gave the customary order for millions of sea monsters and gigantic beasts to spew forth the Heavy Water of Primordial Origin and rise against it.

In terms of quality and rank, solar fire was the sovereign of fire, while the Heavy Water of Primordial Origin fell short by several measures. But now Kunpeng's side needed only to hold back the fire net and keep it from pressing down, which was easy enough. Moreover, they had the advantage of terrain, with the Northern Abyss providing nearly inexhaustible Heavy Water of Primordial Origin. By any calculation, they were not at a disadvantage. This was the benefit of fighting on home ground. The power of the sun was sparse here in the Northern Abyss, and it greatly weakened the solar army. Their solar fire techniques were reduced by twenty to thirty percent, and even their recovery was sluggish. Had it not been for Emperor Jun and Taiyi, Kunpeng would likely have already dealt with the entire solar army.

As time passed, the situation remained unchanged, mired in stalemate, while the momentum of the solar army steadily declined.

"Fight to the death! Use all your strength, and at any cost, wipe them out!" Emperor Jun roared again and again, looking furious and flustered. Taiyi was equally indignant.

"My lord, the battle is going badly. We should sound the retreat for now and decide another day!" Bai Ze grabbed Emperor Jun and urged him loudly, his face anxious, his eyes full of hesitation, which happened to be seen by Kunpeng, who had been watching him all along.

"This Bai Ze has ambition but no courage. At the critical moment he hesitates and cannot decide. Hmph! Big plans, thin substance, and he still dreams of scheming over Emperor Jun's foundation?" Kunpeng mocked Bai Ze inwardly. He had never held him in high regard. After all, Kunpeng was a quasi-sage, while Bai Ze was only a Great Luo Immortal; they were simply not on the same level. Before, when he had received Bai Ze's secret plotting, he had been somewhat wary, thinking him a patient and formidable figure. Now he looked down on him completely.

"Get lost! Today, no matter what it takes, I will destroy this bastard Kunpeng!" Taiyi suddenly lashed out and kicked Bai Ze hard in the chest, sending him coughing blood and flying back dozens of zhang.

"I quit. I rebel!"

"Right! I've had enough too. Rebel! Rebel!"

"Rebel!"

...

Bai Ze's treatment seemed to ignite the crowd's fury. Seventy to eighty percent of the commanding generals surged angrily to Bai Ze's side and confronted Emperor Jun and Taiyi. Of the remaining twenty to thirty percent, most were at a loss, and only a few immediately backed the two brothers. As for the millions of solar troops and the hundred thousand solar dragons, they were utterly bewildered. The situation had changed too quickly for them to believe it real.

"Emperor Jun and Taiyi are tyrannical and without virtue. Everyone join forces and destroy them!" Bai Ze raised his arm and shouted, and responders gathered like clouds.

"That villain Bai Ze dares betray us! Everyone, with me, kill him!" Taiyi raged like a thunderstorm. Beside him, Emperor Jun seemed only now to wake from a dream and hurriedly tried to stop him, but by then the situation was beyond control.

"It looks like there really is internal chaos. Still, I should watch a little longer. If they are joining hands to stage a performance and lure this old ancestor into the trap, that would be disastrous."

This was Kunpeng's thought as he continued to observe from the sidelines.

"Kill! Everyone forward, and slay Emperor Jun and Taiyi!"

"Kill! Kill these stubborn traitors!"

...

The two sides turned their armies against each other and fought. Though the millions of solar troops and the hundred thousand solar dragons were still confused, military orders had been given, and as soldiers they could only obey. This obedience had long since been drilled into their bones through daily training; it was practically instinct.

At once a bloody slaughter unfolded. Severed limbs flew everywhere, heads burst and blood sprayed into the sky, golden sabers and silver spears were nicked, bent, and shattered...

Among them, Taiyi was the most eye-catching. He frantically unleashed the Chaos Bell, pouring his power into it as though it cost nothing. Waves of sound spread outward and rolled straight into the ranks of the hundred thousand solar dragons. At that moment, the Chaos Bell became a bell of death. With each clang, hundreds of solar dragons were annihilated in body and soul, turned to powder and scattered forever from heaven and earth. Though there were many solar dragons, they could not withstand Taiyi's slaughter. In no time at all, they suffered heavy casualties.

"Children, follow this old ancestor into battle!" Seeing Taiyi's actions, Kunpeng no longer doubted and gave the loud command. He then led his millions of sea monsters and colossal beasts in a fierce assault. Such an opportunity did not come often. If Emperor Jun and his brother managed to stabilize their formation, it would be too late for regret.

Seeing Kunpeng make his move, Emperor Jun, Taiyi, Bai Ze, and those who knew the truth all sneered in their hearts.

The situation tilted overwhelmingly to one side. Under the combined assault of the majority of the solar army controlled by Bai Ze and Kunpeng's forces, Emperor Jun and Taiyi were forced back step by step. Though the two were quasi-sages, Kunpeng fought them desperately while millions upon millions of solar troops, sea monsters, and colossal beasts pressed in. They had been driven entirely onto the back foot.

"Fellow Daoist Kunpeng! Don't let Emperor Jun and the others escape, or there will be endless trouble later!" With both armies now joined, Bai Ze urgently said to Kunpeng. Emperor Jun and Taiyi were already leading several hundred thousand solar troops and were on the verge of shaking off the encirclement and slaughter of both armies.

"This old ancestor knows what to do!" Kunpeng said coldly, snorting inwardly: fellow Daoist? You are not worthy. Once I have dealt with Emperor Jun and Taiyi, I will settle with you, wretch.

Such a once-in-a-millennium opportunity—how could Kunpeng possibly be willing to let it slip away? Immediately, in high spirits, he led his force of millions in pursuit. At this moment, even the gloom and frustration that had weighed on him these past days seemed swept away.