The Ethereal Domains

Chapter 693: Glorious!

Glorious! . . .

Cha Eun Xiao had orchestrated every detail with precision. He was well aware of Wenren Jianyin's meticulous nature and the Commander's tendency to examine the dead after such an invasion. Wenren Jianyin's habits were predictable and consistent.

In preparation for the assault, the Kingdom of Chen's assassins executed a daring ruse, feigning death as they infiltrated the camp. They lay still beneath the looming presence of their foes, each moment fraught with peril, all for the sake of this audacious assassination scheme.

This operation involved two waves of assassins. Following the initial invasion, when Wenren Jianyin momentarily relaxed his vigilance, the lethal trap was poised to spring. Had it not been for the timely intervention of Wenren Chuchu, Wenren Jianyin might have unwittingly walked into their deadly embrace.

The ramifications of this perilous plot weighed heavily on the minds of those present, leaving them petrified at the thought of what might have transpired. Their eyes lingered on the blood-soaked sword impaled in the earth, each harboring profound gratitude for their miraculous escape. They were fortunate survivors of a nightmarish ordeal, utterly shaken by the horrors they had narrowly avoided.

It was an extraordinary scheme, and the assassins displayed a level of horror-inducing proficiency. Their precision and audacity were unmatched.

A Sky Origin Stage elder, standing tall beside Wenren Jianyin, was about to speak when he unexpectedly coughed up a mouthful of blood. Despite his long service as a royal martial artist and being among the Kingdom of Lan-Feng's top five cultivators, he had sustained serious injuries in the confrontation with the assassin. The final strike had been astonishingly potent.

As the bloodied elder tried to regain his composure, he suddenly gasped, "One sword to conquer the world—Zhao Pingtian!"

"The third-ranked assassin globally, the Killer King—Zhao Pingtian!"

This revelation left the generals pale and their bodies flooded with cold chills. Their gazes fixated on the blood-stained sword, and they felt a creeping, icy dread take root deep within their cores.

Zhao Pingtian!

In the world of assassins and martial arts, this name was akin to thunder shaking the heavens, transcending far beyond the boundaries of their clandestine world. Zhao Pingtian was the figurehead of a new echelon, standing on par with Ning Biluo, and the mere mention of his name prompted influential individuals worldwide to reassess their priorities.

Zhao Pingtian was a force to be reckoned with, capable of claiming anyone's life with chilling ease. His reputation was unassailable, and his skills, peerless.

However, the shock ran deeper than surprise; it was perplexity. Zhao Pingtian had never demonstrated any national allegiance. His identity was that of a rogue, a wandering assassin. Every practitioner of martial arts knew this about him. The very notion of him fighting for the Kingdom of Chen was bewildering.

Wenren Jianyin chose to withhold the knowledge that Ning Biluo was also aligned with the Kingdom of Chen. Disclosing that both of the world's most formidable assassins had joined the enemy's ranks would undoubtedly shatter the soldiers' resolve.

Wenren Chuchu bore a serious expression, her thoughts veering toward the enigmatic Ning Biluo and the formidable Zhao Pingtian. The top assassins were now entrenched within the Kingdom of Chen's army, and the circumstances were growing ever more complex. She gritted her teeth in frustration, silently vowing to confront these formidable adversaries.

Cha Eun Xiao remained composed and collected, his demeanor as cool as ice while observing the returning men.

"Brothers, you've had a long day," Cha Eun Xiao acknowledged their efforts and immediately rewarded them for their dedication. Despite this, a trace of disappointment clouded his expression.

Zhu Chenggong's enthusiasm was palpable, and his face practically radiated excitement.

Cha Eun Xiao had indeed been satisfied with the outcome of this battle, for he had strategically aimed to have Zhao Pingtian at the very least gravely wound Wenren Jianyin. To have inflicted any harm upon the formidable Commander was a step in the right direction.

Regrettably, the expected success had eluded them. Wenren Jianyin remained unharmed, along with their key generals, rendering Cha Eun Xiao's plan a resounding failure. The disappointment was evident in his heavy sigh.

"All that effort, all for naught," he lamented, expressing his dejection.

Zhu Chenggong, struggling to comprehend Cha Eun Xiao's reaction, regarded him with wide-eyed incredulity. "What?" he exclaimed. "Commander, I can't believe what I'm hearing. Our actions today were a triumph! It's an achievement to be proud of!"

Cha Eun Xiao, failing to grasp Zhu Chenggong's perspective, responded with an earnest question, "Vice-Commander Zhu, why are you so content? I think we've achieved next to nothing. This doesn't look like success at all. Today, Wenren Jianyin was attacked, but he emerged unscathed. None of their key figures met their end. What is there to be proud of in such a failure?"

Zhu Chenggong's face reddened slightly, and he tried to convey his viewpoint. "Misunderstanding? No, Commander, I have not misunderstood. We've been struggling in battle recently. Our soldiers' morale has been dwindling. This invasion signifies a great deal for the Western Army. Additionally..."

As he continued, Zhu Chenggong realized the wisdom of experience that Cha Eun Xiao might have overlooked in his youthful zeal. "I understand the aggressive spirit of the younger generation, but Commander, you still lack experience in warfare. There is one critical aspect you've missed. After this battle, it's unlikely that Wenren Jianyin will expose himself on the battlefield. We possess more than one skilled assassin, any one of whom could claim his life if he were to appear on the front lines. Do you understand the significance of this? It means that they will face difficulties in conveying real-time information and receiving orders. To simplify, if Wenren Jianyin engages in battle with his troops, he can assess the field's situation on the fly. He can make swift adjustments, ensuring seamless command over his army. However, if he remains behind the scenes, directing his troops based on transmitted information and relaying orders remotely, it will not be as efficient. The speed and accuracy of information transmission will be affected."

Zhu Chenggong's tone conveyed the potential benefits of this scenario. "That works to our advantage. The field's dynamics shift by the second, and any error due to the delay in information transmission may open up opportunities for us. This flaw can be exploited, giving us a chance to gain a foothold in the Iron Peak. The Kingdom of Lan-Feng will not advance any further into our territory!"