Chapter 45: Chapter 46: Making an Entrance

The sixteen-eyed monster’s eyes followed the Soul-Stabilizing Banner, its head even tilting slightly as it watched with rapt attention.

After waving the white banner for just a short time, Bai Shan and Cyan Water, two young and sturdy Attendants, were already covered in sweat.

However, the sixteen-eyed monster stopped moving, its usual ferocity and suspicion replaced by confusion. The Soul-Calling Banner before it masked all other signs of life and emitted a pleasant ripple, but focusing on it consumed a great deal of Soul Power and muddled its already restless mind.

Its effect on the creature was like that of a tranquilizer on a human.

After a moment, the sixteen-eyed monster even scratched the back of its head in a surprisingly human-like gesture, then turned and slowly walked away.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief as they watched it turn into black smoke and follow the main host into the sky.

Bai Shan and Cyan Water put away the Soul-Stabilizing Banner and sat down right where they were, struggling to regulate their breathing, oblivious to the sweat pouring from their foreheads.

Waving the banner for just that short period had exhausted them both physically and spiritually.

The Resentful Souls now emerging from the Pool Well were enormous, but few in number. They each kept their distance, unlike the previous souls who had swarmed together with no sense of personal space whatsoever.

Many were even trailed by smaller groups of Resentful Souls that mimicked their every move, like a retinue of followers.

Watching this, Hee Lingchuan realized that these creatures held high power and status among the Resentful Souls. ’Just like with humans. The powerful and important are never short on lackeys.’

Fortunately, they were not as perceptive as the sixteen-eyed monster, or perhaps they simply had no intention of sparing a glance downward. Escorted by the swarm of souls, they ascended into the sky.

Once they had all departed, the Pool Well grew quiet. No new Resentful Souls emerged.

At that moment, the light from the Illusionary Barrier began to dim. Clearly, Sun Fuping’s claim about its short duration had not been a mere excuse.

Seizing the lull, Nian Songyu whispered to Sun Fuping, "I think that was the last of them."

Sun Fuping, ever cautious, shook his head, indicating they should wait a bit longer.

While they were safe and could converse normally, outside Panlong City, a fierce gale was already sweeping the land, whipping up sand and stones, leaving not an inch of ground undisturbed. The Soul-Preventing Powder was still in effect, and the crowd could clearly see the pillar formed by tens of thousands of Resentful Souls erupt halfway to the heavens before scattering wide. Every black dot, each the size of a sesame seed, was a Resentful Soul. These dots filled the sky, riding the raging winds toward every corner of the Panlong Desert.

The Sandstorm Season had begun. This was the first time any of them had witnessed its birth.

Within a mere half-day, the Sandstorm Season would engulf the entire Panlong Desert, blotting out the sky for months to come.

At this sight, the entire detachment silently bowed their heads.

Hee Lingchuan turned his head and saw the grave expression on Hee Chunhua’s face.

Although September was just days away, and regulars on the Red Cliff Road understood the Panlong Desert’s fickle temper well enough to leave early, Sun Fuping had triggered the Sandstorm Season prematurely. Countless people would surely die as a result.

To say nothing of the relay stations that hadn’t had time to evacuate—they would certainly be wiped out completely.

But they had only learned of Sun Fuping’s plan after entering Panlong City. His rank was far superior to theirs; how could they have defied him?

He feared the psychological burden on his father was too great and whispered, "Dad, are you okay?"

"Mm," Hee Chunhua replied subconsciously, his gaze lost in the Pool Well. "Protect me. The real danger is likely just beginning."

"Oh. Okay."

For a good while, no new Resentful Souls appeared from the Pool Well.

Everyone looked to the National Preceptor for instructions.

While they all stood and watched, Sun Fuping had not been idle. He had picked up a branch and begun to draw a Talisman Array on the ground.

The Array was large enough to encircle everyone, and the process of drawing it didn’t look complex.

Though they were simple lines, the more Hee Chunhua watched, the more intrigued he became. He couldn’t help but ask, "National Preceptor, is this a summoning Array?"

"It is. A precaution," Sun Fuping said. Feeling they had waited long enough, he paused his work. "Alright. Since nothing else is emerging from the pool, let us prepare—"

Before the words were out of his mouth, the calm surface of the pool exploded without warning, and another cluster of Resentful Souls surged out.

It was, shockingly, another army of Wandering Souls.

There were infantry with blades and shields and cavalry on horseback with Long Spears. The moment they appeared, they brought with them an overwhelming killing intent that shot to the sky.

Even from dozens of feet away, Hee Lingchuan felt a chill run down his spine and goosebumps prickle his skin.

They let out the same grieved and furious howls, and their eyes were filled with the same hatred, yet the onlookers felt something was different this time.

They didn’t seem any more formidable than the other warrior souls; in fact, many of the soldiers looked gaunt and frail. The fletching on some soldiers’ arrows was a motley collection of colors, made from scavenged feathers of unknown origin. The Long Spears some cavalrymen carried were freshly cut shafts of white wax wood, still rough with splinters and not yet polished smooth. The armor on most soldiers was ancient, exuding the dusty aura of old relics. The plates were mismatched in color and size, clearly repaired over and over, perhaps even cobbled together by cannibalizing other sets of armor.

But their eyes held the same tenacity and cruelty as a mountain Wolf Pack.

Even the frailest among them charged forward with an indomitable, death-defying spirit.

The Black Water City People were directly facing this army, and nearly all of them instantly lowered their heads and shut their eyes, not daring to meet their gaze.

It was an edge honed through a thousand trials, one that even the Black Water City Army—veterans of many battles—and the ruthless, blade-licking bandits of the desert did not dare to confront head-on.

These Resentful Souls were truly different from all the others before them.

Hee Lingchuan’s fists tightened at his sides.

’This must be the Great Wind Army.’

Sure enough, the appearance of a flag-bearer confirmed his suspicion.

This Resentful Soul rode a bay horse, holding a large flag high. On the flag’s bright red surface was a single, flamboyantly written character:

Zhong!

Hee Lingchuan remembered that his own detachment also had a "Zhong" banner hidden away, and a complex mix of emotions washed over him. His group carried the "Zhong" banner to ward off disaster and ensure their safety. This army carried it to wage war and slaughter their enemies.

This was the real Great Wind Army, the army of legends.

He could hear the heavy, ragged breathing of those around him. Clearly, everyone present was overcome with emotion.

Hee Lingchuan’s own eyes widened, hoping to catch a glimpse of the two legendary figures themselves.

’He had already spotted several generals in the ranks of warrior souls. Does that mean Zhong Shengguang or the Red General will also emerge from the Pool Well?’

Unfortunately, though he scanned the vast, mighty host until his eyes ached, he couldn’t spot them.

But at that exact moment, Sun Fuping cried out urgently, "The Barrier won’t hold!"

Nian Songyu and the others were deeply alarmed. They looked and saw the Illusionary Barrier was indeed wavering precariously. The ochre-colored shield of light flickered, brightening and dimming, looking exactly like the temperamental chandelier in the attic Hee Lingchuan once rented.

Hee Lingchuan yelped, "Can’t it hold on a little longer?"

This was the Great Wind Army! Whether in life or death, their ferocity was the same!