Chapter 359: The He Family Defeated Again
"Of course, granting priority access to enter the Song Empire," the Feng Family Heavenly Ancestor chuckled. "All of you have neglected cultivating bottom-tier strengths, but my Feng family is different. We've been selecting and training since the Second Transition. I can say without exaggeration that even if all twenty of your families combined, you wouldn't be able to defeat my Feng family."
Upon hearing the Feng Family Heavenly Ancestor's words, the other family heavenly ancestors showed disdainful expressions. What cultivation of bottom-tier strength? Wasn't it just because the Feng family was weak, with little potential for individuals to advance on their own past the Third Transition, that they began focusing on concentrated training for Second Transition experts?
The Feng family's cultivation model was disdained by stronger families in the All Heavens and Myriads of Worlds. The reason is simple: the Third Transition is the backbone of battle power and is the standard worth nurturing.
Any cultivation below the Third Transition is a helpless choice for weaker families.
However, this time, the Feng family ran into some good luck and stumbled upon a chance to shine.
Upon hearing this, families like the He, Huang, Bai, and Gao families fell into silence.
After a while, the He Family Heavenly Ancestor shook his head, saying, "Our He family is willing to give it another try. Your Feng family should wait and see first."
Evidently, they were unwilling to give up the struggle for the Song Empire. It's known that the family that first breaks through the Song Empire's defenses has the best chance of uncovering its hidden secrets.
The twenty families naturally wouldn't want an outsider like the Feng family to snatch their meal.
Hearing the He Family Heavenly Ancestor's response, the Feng Family Heavenly Ancestor sneered coldly, "Fine, I don't mind. As long as you're not afraid of your losses."
Under the Heavenly Ancestor's orders, the defeated remnants of the Huang family began to retreat and fled the Song Empire.
Upon seeing the opposing army retreat, Lu Hong did not order a pursuit. If the Blood-colored Divine Might Army chased beyond the Song World, they would likely be torn apart by those Heavenly Deity experts in no time. Even if the Heavenly Deities did not make a move, those fifty-plus family experts could easily overwhelm them.
Seeing the Huang army retreat, Song Jinzong, observing from afar, felt a surge of excitement. It seemed he had made the right bet. If they could drive back one family, they could certainly drive back a second, a third, and eventually all of them.
The undefeated myth that those external families had left in the Song Empire was finally broken today. Only by shattering the myth could the Song Empire step out from under the shadow of those families and triumph over them.
Calming his emotions slightly, Song Jinzong summoned Xu Peipei and spoke, "Xu Qin, could you please go and ask the State Preceptor if they need our assistance or supplies? Our Song Empire is willing to provide any help they need."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Xu Peipei, having received the order, quickly came to Lu Hong's side, knelt on one knee, and saluted, "Master!"
Lu Hong glanced at her, smiled, and helped her up, "I don't practice that, stop kneeling all the time. So, what does your Majesty want you to convey?"
Xu Peipei then conveyed Song Jinzong's message.
After listening to Xu Peipei's words, Lu Hong nodded, "Tell Song Jinzong to prepare some good wine. Once I drive back their offensive again, send the wine over. I intend to celebrate well with the soldiers."
As Xu Peipei returned to report, spatial fluctuations came from the entrance of the Song World once more.
A large group of soldiers entered the plane again.
Yet again, Lu Hong did not attack directly but waited for their gathering.
The He family's flag was striking, and Lu Hong squinted slightly as he watched the He Family army enter the Song Empire, a vague sense of crisis arising within him.
"Di Shu, perceive what they are carrying."
Soon, Di Shu reported back.
The object causing Lu Hong's unease was indeed a Divine-level annihilation weapon, and the battlefield weapon was shrouded in a dense Divine Power, as if it had just been infused.
However, according to Di Shu's report, this Divine Power was only at the Mortal Realm. Understandably, a higher-level Divine Power might not be bearable for a Divine-level weapon and would require something of an even higher world level.
"A weapon of annihilation?" Lu Hong chuckled. "That's a bit of cheating, isn't it?!"
Knowing the opponent had brought out a significant weapon, Lu Hong naturally would not stand idly by. Back when he led his troops to the Nuoshan before entering the Song Empire, Tang Shi's world had asked him whether he wanted to take one or two stored weapons.
To this, Lu Hong shook his head. He himself was the Blood-colored Divine Might Army's greatest weapon, wielding a power comparable to a Heavenly God. How could such a weapon compare to the true combat power of a Heavenly God?
In less than an hour, sixty thousand elite He family cavalry had gathered at the vast world entrance.
Compared to the Huang family, these He family soldiers differed little in strength, comparable in ability. Without a significant weapon, they would likely face the same fate as the Huang family and be crushed by the Blood-colored Divine Might Army.
Not waiting for Lu Hong to launch an attack, the He family launched the offensive first.
Instantly, dust filled the air, and the He family army surged forth like an iron torrent, charging toward the Blood-colored Divine Might Army.
At the same time, Divine Power surged from the rear of the army.
In an instant, the sky erupted with brilliant divine light, and a seven-colored beam shot into the clouds.
In the blink of an eye, it crashed directly into the center of the Blood-colored Divine Might Army.
The imposing Divine Power contained within almost suffocated the Blood-colored Divine Might Army soldiers, causing Second Transition soldiers to buckle under its weight, kneeling to the ground. Yet these soldiers would not yield, struggling to rise. Under the Star Lord's banner, they were the strongest warriors, representing the Star Lord and the Star Sea. Even in death, they would display the Star Sea people's indomitable spirit.
Seeing the defiant and unyielding expressions, Lu Hong was exceedingly pleased.
He immediately chose to take action.
The Bloodline Power surged forth from Lu Hong's body.
A ferocious lion's roar erupted from his mouth, soaring to the heavens.
The roaring sound waves, almost tangible, struck fiercely against the descending seven-colored beam of light.
The seven-colored beam was instantly shattered by the sound waves, bursting into a cascade of starlight, falling across the land.
The shredded Divine Power lost its threat, transforming into pure energy, pervading the ranks of the Blood-colored Divine Might Army.
Breathing in this pure energy, the soldiers quickly replenished the energy expended in the recent battle.
Feeling their bodies restore, the Blood-colored Divine Might Army soldiers showed signs of joy in their eyes.
Simultaneously, Lu Hong's order followed, "Kill!"
Upon witnessing a mere roar shatter the attack released by a Divine-level weapon, the advancing He family soldiers were already shaken to the core.
They were originally a newly and hastily assembled force. With the previous defeat of the Huang family and the shadow of severe casualties still looming, compounded by this terror, they were bereft of any combat courage.
These relatively self-preserving younger members of the He family began to rout.
"No... no, no, no, I can't die here. I have the potential to become a prodigy. I absolutely must not die here!"
The He family had always been lofty. The family's strength made these He family offspring naturally feel superior, and this distorted mindset was prone to extreme reversal in the face of absolute power.
As the first He family soldier turned to flee, the entire charging front unraveled in chaos, with the majority of the He family soldiers choosing flight.
And those soldiers with fervor, eager to battle, saw those nearby turn and flee, so they could only reluctantly halt and choose to retreat. After all, if most of the soldiers fled, they couldn't possibly defeat the advancing Blood-red cavalry.
"No! Stand firm and fight back! We cannot retreat, advance! Where are the cannons? How much longer for cooldown?! Hold the line! Hold it!"
The He family's temporary commander roared from the rear but to no avail.
Thus, a one-sided massacre unfolded once more.
The Blood-colored Divine Might Army didn't even need to split up for combat; all one hundred thousand cavalry, like a sweeping blade, mowed down vast swathes of the He family soldiers.
Within an hour, more than 600,000 of the He family's iron cavalry gathering at the massive world entrance fled in disorder.
The He family lost, retreating in disarray with over 200,000 remaining soldiers, fleeing the Song World in disgrace.
Upon hearing of the He family's defeat, the Divine-level weapon lost, and the defeated He family's temporary commander knelt before the heartlessly furious He family commander, who stared at him coldly: "If you lost, how dare you come back?!"
Immediately, before the other could respond, the divine power surged, and struck the commander's body with a roar.
Instantly, the poor commander's body exploded, turning into a rain of blood.
"Damn it! Damn it! Why did you come back after losing?! You have no face to return!"
The loss was substantial for the He family, not just in numbers, but because this contingent represented their most promising and talented people within the family, their future investments. Moreover, losing a Divine-level weapon was no small loss; crafting such a weapon was not easy, and creating another one would demand an unknown quantity of precious materials and costs.