Over ten thousand terracotta warriors formed a massive military battle array.
Led by a commanding general, their weapons pointed outward with imposing, formidable momentum.
It was a terrifying sight that made everyone hesitate to take a single step forward.
Terracotta warriors were never living beings to begin with; they were fashioned and baked from clay, devoid of life. What was more, these relics dated back over two thousand years. Yet now, as though truly alive, they stood arrayed before the world.
Dark clouds choked the sky, accompanied by intermittent rumbles of thunder.
It was as if the occupant of the imperial mausoleum were roaring in fury,
warning the gathered crowd not to advance an inch.
Did the Ancestral Dragon of Huaxia still command such awe-inspiring majesty even after being dead for over two thousand years?
"They're just clay warriors! We're Awakened who possess extraordinary power—what is there to fear?"
"Exactly! The more mysterious and astonishing it is, the more certain it is that something incredible lies inside!"
"That's right! Cut our way through, enter the tomb, seize supreme fortune, and evolve once more!"
After their momentary shock subsided,
some among the crowd finally came to their senses.
They were no longer ordinary mortals; they were Awakened who had embarked upon the path of evolution.
Armed with formidable abilities, they could disregard countless dangers. What did a few mere terracotta warriors matter?
Without hesitation, several hundred people standing at the very front surged forward. Some drew sabers, some unsheathed iron swords, and others wielded spears, crossing dozens of meters in a single bound.
As Awakened possessing extraordinary might, their combat prowess and physiques far surpassed those of ordinary men.
Now they struck, halos of light swirling around their bodies.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
Sure enough,
in an instant,
an Awakened wielding a saber shattered several terracotta warriors with a single blow.
Another opened his mouth and spewed blazing flames, seeking to reduce the foes before him back into dust.
Brilliant flashes of light erupted everywhere. Many terracotta warriors were indeed unable to withstand the onslaught, instantly shattering and crumbling to the ground.
This was combat among the Awakened—so unlike that of ordinary humans, and far more resembling the stuff of myth.
"Hahaha! The imperial mausoleum's terracotta warriors are nothing special!"
The saber-wielding Awakened laughed boisterously. In that brief moment, he had already shattered dozens of them, finding it surprisingly easy. With tens of thousands of peers behind him, all striking together, it wouldn't take long to wipe out this terracotta army entirely.
The others were equally exhilarated, thinking it was a simple task and that their earlier worries had been completely unnecessary.
They had wondered just how powerful these warriors revived from two millennia ago would be.
And now?
Yet, a number of truly powerful Awakened
still stood in place, their expressions grave.
High above in the sky, the Winged Celestial stood with his arms crossed, having no intention of making a move for the time being.
These individuals were observing, assessing the situation so they could choose the right moment to act.
Lu Yuan did the same, remaining perfectly calm and still.
Yet at that moment,
he suddenly felt a subtle stir from the Daluo sword core. It let out a low hum, almost like a yearning.
*Hm?* Lu Yuan wondered, observing it closely. He realized the reaction was provoked by the terracotta warriors.
However, he did not yet know the specific reason and needed to investigate further.
So he decided to wait a little longer.
"Trespassers desecrate His Majesty's mausoleum! Soldiers, charge and slay them with me!"
At the foot of the imperial mausoleum,
the leading terracotta general spoke.
He gripped a long spear, exuding no breath of the living.
Yet he barked out orders at the top of his lungs, while the warhorse beneath him let out a piercing whinny.
At that exact instant, following his command,
the terracotta warriors in the rear
all raised their weapons high and roared in unison, "Kill! Kill! Kill!"
As the shout fell, they marched forward in unison, kicking up clouds of dust that transformed the grounds into a battleground. At the same time, the warriors that had clearly been shattered earlier actually reassembled, returning to their original forms and charging alongside the army, their weapons thrusting forward.
*How is this possible?*
*The terracotta warriors can't be killed?*
Shock filled the eyes of those who witnessed it.
Even so, they felt no fear, thinking they would simply kill them once more.
At last, the grand battle truly began.
An army from over two thousand years ago clashed directly with the Awakened of the New Era.
*Bang! Bang! Bang!*
A cacophony of collisions rang out.
The Awakened were indeed ferocious, cutting a swath through the military formations.
Yet within a single breath, the terracotta warriors reassembled and resumed their assault.
Though not infinite in number, they simply could not be killed. More importantly, they were well-versed in grand warfare and formed intricate battle formations, surrounding the Awakened one by one before bringing down spears and broadswords in unison.
Worse yet, these terracotta warriors had grown stronger than before.
*Clang! Clang! Clang!*
Blades met in close quarters, sparking furiously.
Some Awakened did possess supernatural powers, but their abilities were not particularly strong.
Before long, they could no longer hold out; blood seeped from their bodies, and they were wounded on the spot.
Meanwhile, those with tougher physiques received special attention, surrounded and besieged by clusters of warriors.
The Awakened, who had initially held the upper hand, gradually began to buckle as time dragged on.
Simultaneously, more terracotta warriors marched out of the pits, their numbers steadily swelling until even the Awakened who joined later were forced into the fray.
Eventually, someone failed to hold on and was slain on the spot.
A casualty had finally occurred.
This scene was captured on record as countless eyes across the world monitored the events at Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum.
Blood flowed freely, and a considerable number of people died—news that would cause an uproar outside.
"Hmph, a bunch of fools. Why bother fighting on the ground? Watch me fly over!" An Awakened with wings sneered. Flapping his dual wings, he soared dozens of meters into the air, aiming to bypass the battlefield entirely and fly across.
However, while he also possessed wings, he clearly paled in comparison to the Winged Celestial; he had no special abilities beyond simple flight.
Some looked up, eager to see the outcome so they could follow suit if it proved viable.
*Rumble!*
*Splat!*
Just as the man drew near the mausoleum's grand gates,
the draconic essence coiled around the mountain shuddered, releasing a terrifying aura of crushing pressure that instantly pulverized him into a cloud of bloody mist.
Seeing this, the Awakened below were thoroughly stunned and terrified.
As expected, the resting place of the Ancestral Dragon was not so easily breached.
"It seems one must carve a bloody path on foot to enter the mausoleum. Furthermore, every time they are shattered and reform, they become somewhat stronger. Even melting them with fire proves futile, and they retain their combat instincts from over two thousand years ago. This is rather troublesome."
The Winged Celestial descended and landed beside Zhou Yunqiong. Having gathered ample information, he spoke directly.
The fact that the terracotta warriors grew stronger with every reconstruction was more vexing than anything else.
"After all, this is Mount Li Imperial Mausoleum,"
Zhou Yunqiong replied, still composed, her tone cool and aloof.
"Why did you stop me earlier and forbid me from killing that man?"
The Winged Celestial spoke, his gaze turning sharp. "Now that I have restored my true form, no one is my match."
"There was no need."
Zhou Yunqiong shook her head, then looked into the distance at Lu Yuan, who stood quietly where he was. "He seems somewhat different now, far exceeding expectations."
With that, she brought an end to the topic and continued, "It is almost time. You should prepare to strike."
"The other four haven't arrived yet,"
the Winged Celestial remarked, shaking his head. "Though I can already sense their auras."
Ahead, the battle raged on.
Nearly the vast majority of the Awakened present had joined the fray, slaughtering their way forward.
Yet the terracotta warriors were numerous, and each time they shattered, they reformed stronger than before. Even if the increase was slight, the cumulative effect made them increasingly difficult to withstand. Cries of agony began to ring across the battlefield. Some tried to flee, only to find themselves hopelessly trapped in the melee.
Blood began to soak the earth, giving off a pungent metallic stench.
Less than half an hour had passed since the imperial mausoleum opened,
yet blood was already flowing.
It truly bore out the old adage: fortune and peril go hand in hand.
*Boom!*
Right then,
a massive, blood-red silhouette of light abruptly burst onto the battlefield.
In an instant, saber qi surged, and dozens of terracotta warriors exploded in a flash, shattering across the ground.
Simultaneously, a man appeared, draped in a black cloak and wielding a blood-red executioner's blade.
From the moment he arrived, an overwhelming aura radiated from him, thick with killing intent. Even when enveloped by the terracotta warriors, he shattered them with a single slash, though the backlash swept aside and injured nearby Awakened as well.
"It's Asura! Asura is here!" someone cried out in shock at his formidable battle prowess.
*Sizzle—*
At the same time, from another direction,
a bone-chilling, frigid aura rolled in.
Terracotta warriors were frozen solid one after another before shattering into pieces.
It was a woman clad in white—serene and elegant, with fair skin and her hands resting gently over her lower abdomen as she strolled onto the battlefield. Any enemy that stepped within ten feet of her was instantly turned to ice.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
In yet another sector, a two-meter-tall man with short hair appeared.
His skin was bronze, and he wielded no weapons or flashy techniques, relying solely on a pair of bare fists.
A mounted general was struck dead-on by his punch and instantly blew apart, his steed suffering the same fate.
Finally, there was a man of noble bearing and handsome, haughty features, enveloped in multi-colored radiance. With a single strike, he tore open the earth, reducing the terracotta warriors before him to rubble.
"The Ice Fairy, the Northern Emperor, the Southern Sovereign, Asura, plus the Winged Celestial from before—the Five Great Sovereigns have all gathered!"
"As expected of those who stand at the pinnacle of the Awakened today! They're so powerful!"
"They've carved out a path!"
The onlookers watched with awe and reverence written across their faces.
Compared to ordinary Awakened, these four were on an entirely different level. In just a short while, they had cleared a path forward. Though they remained quite far from the mausoleum's grand gates, they were steadily closing the distance.
"Now, it is my turn to strike. Yunqiong, you may simply wait here."
Seeing this, the Winged Celestial could hold back no longer. He spoke, battle intent surging in his eyes.
Indeed, he had chosen not to strike earlier simply because he deemed it too premature and pointless, offering no chance to display his true might.
Now that the other four had arrived,
the Winged Celestial's plan was simple: use this battle to suppress them all.
After all, only through contrast could the extraordinariness of his bloodline truly shine.
*Rumble!*
The next instant,
the wings of wind and thunder behind him beat violently, letting out a deafening roar.
An instant later, the Winged Celestial plunged into the battlefield, surrounded by surging bolts of lightning. Wherever he passed, terracotta warriors burst apart in succession, utterly incapable of checking his advance.
He truly was extraordinary. With his dual wings, silver hair, and golden pupils, paired with his commanding aura, he instantly drew every eye on the field.
Though he was the last to enter the fray, his rate of advance was astonishingly swift, quickly catching up to the other four.
"The Winged Celestial is very strong, likely the foremost among the five. Senior Brother is slightly weaker."
On the other side, Zhu Qingyu watched the spectacle and spoke in a solemn tone.
They had not made a move directly,
as the battlefield was utter chaos.
"Indeed. With them carving a path, entering the mausoleum is only a matter of time," Dean Zheng remarked, though he soon added, "However, it will not be an easy process. It seems they won't manage it anytime soon; the terracotta warriors further in will only grow stronger."
Sure enough, no sooner had his words landed than
"Kill!"
The terracotta warriors converged relentlessly, their numbers swelling the deeper one went to bar the way.
Every time they were shattered, they reconstituted even stronger.
Meanwhile, the crossbowmen in the rear drew their bows and released a volley of ten thousand arrows.
During the Qin dynasty two millennia ago, the crossbowmen were the most elite soldiers, possessing devastating combat strength.
In a flash, a rain of arrows filled the sky, plummeting downward.
The terracotta warriors were fearless; even wounded, they fought on.
But the Awakened were different. They could not withstand the barrage for long, and casualties mounted rapidly. Soon, more people fell. Even the advance of the Five Great Sovereigns, including the Winged Celestial, was checked as they halted to deflect the onslaught.
"Ahhh! These terracotta warriors are getting stronger and stronger!"
"Not only are they stronger, there are even more of them!"
"How can this be? Damn it!"
As the terracotta warriors gathered and grew in strength and physical might,
some Awakened could no longer hold out. Severely wounded, they retreated continuously as casualties mounted, blood staining the earth crimson.
At the same time, people realized
that if one pulled back beyond a certain distance, the terracotta warriors would cease their attacks.
Yet if they did that,
how could they reach the mausoleum gates and seize their fortunes?
Meanwhile, the Winged Celestial, the Northern Emperor, and the others found their advance halted, unable to push forward as easily as before.
Especially with the terracotta warriors multiplying, they had to devise a solution.
"Northern Emperor, Ice Fairy, Asura, Southern Sovereign!"
Suddenly, the Winged Celestial called out, "We cannot continue like this; things will only become more troublesome further in. Why don't the five of us join forces to carve out a path and enter the mausoleum together first?"
His words immediately drew widespread attention.
The Northern Emperor and the others paused,
considering his proposal.
In the end, Asura made his move first, closing the distance to converge with him.
The other three hesitated little before agreeing to the plan.
While none of the five faced any real danger, drawing near the mausoleum remained a grueling task.
If they joined forces, the situation would be far more manageable.
"The Five Great Sovereigns are joining forces! Quick, fall back!"
Seeing this, many onlookers were overjoyed and chose to temporarily disengage from combat.
After all, this was the very first time the five had ever united. Everyone wanted to see just how formidable their combined might would be.
Before long,
with the Winged Celestial at the vanguard,
the remaining four fell in behind him.
Without a word, each unleashed their most potent techniques.
A blood-red executioner's blade, a pair of devastating fists, biting glacial frost, and radiant multi-colored light—
all combined with the power of wind and thunder blazing from the Winged Celestial's wings.
Merged together,
they forged a colossal force that surged forth like a tempest.
*Rumble!*
The earth trembled, and clouds of dust billowed into the air.
The immense power caused even the Awakened to blanch.
Before the five, the terracotta warriors instantly fractured and crumbled to the ground, opening a clear path that left only a thousand meters to the mausoleum's grand gates. That single strike alone had shattered at least a thousand warriors.
"Brilliant!"
"Too strong!"
"As expected of the Five Great Sovereigns!"
Witnessing this, the crowd erupted into cheers.
It was truly magnificent; such power was simply terrifying.
Those were thousands of terracotta warriors! An ordinary Awakened would be proud to take down five at once.
Yet the five of them had obliterated thousands with a single blow—how could it not leave everyone awestruck?
All eyes turned toward the Winged Celestial and his companions,
their gazes tangled with admiration, dread, and awe.
And the five stood tall, gladly basking in the admiration of the crowd.
"They truly are powerful,"
farther away, Zhu Qingyu could not help but sigh in admiration at the scene.
With a single combined strike, they had wiped out over a thousand terracotta warriors. Even though the warriors would reassemble, the window gave them ample time to close in on the mausoleum gates and prepare their next attack.
"Indeed, their talent is genuinely astonishing,"
Dean Zheng concurred. Though privy to many secrets, he could not help but marvel at their talent.
To achieve such heights at the very dawn of the global upheaval was undeniably terrifying.
It was only a pity that among them, only the Northern Emperor belonged to Zhendan Academy.
Zhu Qingyu said nothing in response.
Involuntarily,
someone came to her mind, and she turned her head to look.
That single glance left her heart skipping a beat.
For that person had begun to move!
Chapter 46