Eternal Saber

Chapter 666: Chapter 86: A Glimmer of Hope

"This sight..."

"It was sunny just now, how did this weather change so suddenly?"

"This looks abnormal, the black clouds can still change shape, it seems like a giant beast is hidden within."

The soldiers of Liangzhou City looked up at the sky filled with dark clouds, lightning, and thunder, their expressions were bewildered, the military morale fluctuated, discussions were rampant.

Li Yan and a group of main generals from Liangzhou City swiftly set out, arriving at the top of the city wall, looking into the distance.

The Mad Lion Army of the Barbarian Race had already been assembled, advancing towards Liangzhou City.

The Mad Lion Army was well-trained and highly disciplined, with tens of thousands of Mad Lion Warriors forming the central army, the largest in number, uniformly organized.

On both sides of the central army, there were over ten thousand Mad Lion Iron Cavalry wearing heavy leather armor, holding long spears and curved knives, their warhorses strong and healthy, lightly raising their forehooves, manes fluttering in the wind.

The Mad Lion Iron Cavalry on both flanks moved with the army, ready to strike at any moment.

But the Mad Lion Army stopped at a position a li away from Liangzhou City.

At this distance, most bows and arrows cannot reach.

Even if a Martial Artist with strong arm strength shoots with a Strong Bow from a distance, the power would be far insufficient, easily blocked by the Barbarian Army soldiers.

"What is that?"

Li Junqing pointed to a location in the center of the Mad Lion central army, a sacrificial platform several zhang high was extremely conspicuous.

A young Priestess stood atop it, wearing peculiar clothes, her face painted with colorful designs, holding a bowl in one hand and a wooden staff in the other, chanting words, her feet stepping in strange patterns!

As she waved the wooden staff in her hand, the black clouds in the sky kept tumbling and transforming, lowering more and more.

The sky turned dark, sand and stones flew!

"Ha!"

The Priestess suddenly shouted lightly.

Crack!

Immediately, a sudden thunder rang out!

All the generals on the city wall were startled in their hearts.

"Ha!"

"Crack!"

As the Priestess’s voice became more urgent, the thunder in the sky also kept ringing, the echoes lingering.

This black cloud just hovered over Liangzhou City, seemingly within reach, instantly darkening the sky, electric serpents shimmering in the dark clouds, extremely terrifying!

At this, everyone realized the terrifying scene before their eyes came from the Priestess on the sacrificial platform!

Li Yan suddenly remembered something, his heart sank, he subconsciously looked at the Vermilion Bird Lord beside him, asking, "Ling Guang girl..."

Ling Guang’s expression was solemn, nodding.

The Vermilion Bird Lord was skilled with firearms, but firearms were most afraid of getting wet.

If heavy rain fell from the sky, the threat posed by her and the Vermilion Bird Guard behind her would greatly diminish!

In the previous two siege battles, Liangzhou City managed to defend itself, not just thanks to the few Innate Experts, but also the united effort of all in the city, and most importantly, the firearms from the Vermilion Bird Bureau.

"What is she trying to do?"

Many people were still unresponsive.

Before the words fell, raindrops were already falling on Li Boxiong’s face.

He instinctively reached out to wipe them, his face changed dramatically!

Initially scattered raindrops, within a few breaths, turned into pouring rain!

On the city wall, the originally placed fire altars were quickly extinguished by the rain.

The bows and arrows wrapped in oilcloth were also unable to be lit.

At this moment, a tall figure stepped out from the front of the Barbarian Army formation.

The person had golden hair, donned a battle robe, holding a Mountain-opening Axe in hand, imposing and intimidating, it was the Barbarian Army Commander Mad Lion Tuer.

Also the Grandmaster level powerhouse in the Barbarian Army this time!

Even with the support of firearms before, the casualties in Liangzhou City were heavy, two Innate Experts had died, barely holding off Mad Lion Tuer.

Now, with the aggressive advance of the Mad Lion Army, combined with this sudden heavy rain, even he felt immense pressure!

Li Yan realized that even he had no confidence, the other soldiers would surely be even more panicked and uneasy.

This battle hadn’t even started, yet there was no fighting spirit on the Liangzhou City side!

The trick of the Priestess in the Barbarian Army was too formidable, manipulating the weather, summoning wind and rain, like a deity, too great a psychological blow to the soldiers!

"Everyone."

Li Yan said in a low voice, "Originally, the Barbarian Army had two Grandmasters sitting in the rear, but in two days of siege, only one Grandmaster showed up, this means something must have happened in the Barbarian Army rear!"

"As long as we unite and defend Liangzhou City, continue to hold out, we will surely see the dawn, await reinforcements, and repel the strong enemy!"

Seeing the soldiers still silent, Li Yan took a deep breath, raised his voice, "The Barbarians always have the habit of slaughtering cities, all of you and I have no retreat, once the city falls, it will mean family destruction, death, and devastation, no one will be spared!"

"Commander, is there really hope?"

The Defender of Liangzhou City asked softly.

"There definitely is!"

Li Yan clenched his fist, said in a low voice, "The safety of Liangzhou City, entrusted to all of you! I, Li Yan, will defend here even if I die, surviving or dying with Liangzhou City!"

"Fight, fight, fight!"

Up and down Liangzhou City, the soldiers roared loudly.

Just as Li Yan said, they had no retreat.

Running would also mean death.

Might as well choose to die in battle, waiting for that possible dawn.

Li Yan turned his head to look at Li Boxiong, Vermilion Bird Lord, said in a low voice, "Judging by the Barbarian Army’s intent, they might want to use the Grandmaster’s Power of Mad Lion to break the city, if Mad Lion ascends the city wall, Bo Xiong, you lead all the light cavalry in the city, Ling Guang girl, gather the Vermilion Bird Guard and the masters in the city into a team, together storm out of the city gate, charge into the Mad Lion’s central army!"

"As long as we can kill the Barbarian Master on the sacrificial platform, as soon as the rain stops, Liangzhou City still has a chance to turn defeat into victory."

Ling Guang furrowed her brows and said, "That Barbarian Master surely is the key to this battle, but if we leave, Commander you..."

She didn’t continue speaking.

She was one of the few experts in Liangzhou City, once she ventured out of the city, relying on Li Yan alone as a Third Grade, he simply couldn’t hold off Mad Lion Tuer.

Li Yan shook his head, "Without firearms, it’s the same if you stay, even if we join forces, we can’t stop the Grandmaster, the disparity in strength is too wide."

"Only by using the elites in the city to attack the key points of the Barbarian Army, can we have a chance to snatch a sliver of opportunity."

Ling Guang nodded.

This might be the only opportunity.

But for Li Yan, who was staying behind in Liangzhou City, facing the Grandmaster alone, it was extremely perilous, almost no chance of survival.

"Junqing, you should go together."

Li Yan looked at his daughter beside him, said, "Recently, you’ve been learning a lot from Ling Guang girl, just a chance to test it on the battlefield, if you can kill the Barbarian Master, I’ll credit you with the first merit!"

Li Junqing looked at her father, her eyes gradually reddened.

Staying behind to face the Grandmaster would be a sure death.

She knew her father was trying not to let her die here, so he would let her follow Sister Ling Guang and venture out of the city.

"No."

Li Junqing’s gaze was determined, "I’ll stay here with you."

"Foolish child."

Li Yan saw Li Junqing’s reddened eyes, knowing his thoughts had been guessed by his daughter, gently patted Li Junqing’s shoulder, a trace of tenderness flashed in his eyes, "This is father’s last instruction, be obedient."

"Father!"

Li Junqing’s eyes were brimming with tears.

She had already heard the farewell in her father’s voice.

Li Yan looked at Li Boxiong, Vermilion Bird Lord, and the others, said softly, "If Liangzhou City falls, if you can’t break through the Mad Lion Army formation when venturing out, if it’s not feasible, don’t force it..."

Stopping here, Li Yan paused, said, "Still choose to break through."

After saying this, he seemed to have used his last strength.