Chapter 85: Holding the Line!

Ever since he learned from the necromancer’s mouth that only four necromancers remained within the city of Mus, Xu Wen had already guessed what scheme those dark sorcerers were plotting behind the scenes. Regardless of whether the rescue signal from the royal member “Prince Rong” was genuine, Helian Quan’s force numbered eleven seven-star powerhouses, nearly two hundred six-star experts, and over five hundred above four-star. Even if the necromancers gathered every corpse in the city, it would be difficult for just four of them to break through. Therefore, an immediate attack by the necromancers was unlikely.

However, on Xu Wen’s side atop the eastern wall, though they had a sizable force, there were only two seven-star powerhouses and a mere fifty six-star experts. If the necromancers hidden in the shadows weren’t blind, they would certainly strike at the city wall first—seizing the ten thousand civilians outside and the soldiers stationed atop, swelling their undead legion before swooping down on Helian Quan’s group.

But Xu Wen absolutely did not want the remaining four necromancers to gather and attack the wall together; if that happened, no matter how well he understood their tactics, it would be impossible to help everyone weather the crisis.

Xu Wen’s plan was to provoke an early assault on the wall by the necromancers.

He produced two “Breath Suppression Pills,” giving one each to Zhang Ke and the seven-star lightning mage from **** Town. By forcibly lowering their apparent cultivation to the four-star level, the two blended inconspicuously among the ranks of soldiers.

The seven-star lightning mage, having witnessed Xu Wen’s methods and strategies before, naturally followed his instructions—donning a plain robe and mingling with ordinary mages. Zhang Ke, too, finally understood why Helian Quan had so confidently entrusted the rear to this “kid,” and why some of the strongest members of the Six Great Families placed such trust in Xu Wen.

His actions, while sometimes strange, were truly extraordinary!

On the surface, it now appeared that the eastern wall had lost the protection of seven-star fighters. With only dozens of six-star experts present, any necromancer approaching and probing with mental waves would struggle to curb the urge to attack.

As expected!

Barely half an hour passed before something happened on the eastern wall, where scenery and silence had reigned.

“They’re here!” The seven-star lightning mage, embedded among the ordinary magicians, opened his eyes and warned the others.

The two thousand soldiers and powerhouses atop the wall had already received Xu Wen’s instructions; each quietly heightened their vigilance.

Zhang Ke gazed at the pitch-black sky and whispered to Xu Wen beside him, “Bone dragons.”

Xu Wen nodded. Though his spiritual detection was not as sharp as the lightning mage’s, nor was his eyesight as keen as Zhang Ke’s, the chill of death and the sinister wind sweeping from above allowed him to guess the necromancers’ intent.

He issued orders at once: “You two, hold your fire for now! Archers, stay alert below the wall! Six-star water mages and wind mages, prepare your slowing spells!” Xu Wen, by now well acquainted with the abilities of those atop the wall, continued, “Everyone else, focus your firepower! Do not let the bone dragons near the wall!”

Xu Wen’s experience as a commander was extensive. Though he had previously led undead such as Death Guards or magic beast skeletons embedded with magic cores and bone dragons, commanding people came just as naturally.

His orders flowed out in an orderly stream. The news of bone dragons’ arrival, which had initially caused panic among those on the wall, soon gave way to steadiness—even though the commander was but a youth.

A shrill roar came hurtling from the darkness, and a massive form plummeted from the sky! A menacing dragon’s head was first to enter the torchlight, exuding waves of deathly energy and oppressive gloom. Its twin bony wings, thick with shadows of death, cast a pall over every heart atop the wall.

But the two thousand defenders did not panic in the face of this sudden onslaught. Four water and wind mages simultaneously completed their spells.

Several thick tornado pillars shot up from the wall, howling skyward! The first bone dragon was struck head-on by the raging gusts, its furious dive abruptly checked, then sucked into the whirlwind, spinning like a top!

The other bone dragons swooping into the light from the sides fared no better, each battered by another tornado, tossed about in dizzy confusion.

“Attack!” Xu Wen’s command rang out. Dozens of magical energies surged from the wall at once.

Facing the evil, savage necromancers, the six-star mages dared not hold back. Each unleashed their most powerful attack spells.

Violent bolts of lightning crashed down in waves, making the bone dragons’ bodies flare and crackle with electricity. Some dragons caught in the tornadoes had their limbs shattered by hundreds of stone spears, crashing toward the inside of the wall, while others had their skulls smashed, only to be hurled from the ramparts by six-star warriors wielding combat skills.

Eight bone dragons fell in rapid succession—not only failing to inflict any casualties, but instead sending a surge of joy and morale through the defenders.

Not far from the gate, on the rooftop of a house less than five hundred meters away, a mysterious figure in black robes stood surrounded by a dozen Death Guards. Below, over three hundred blood-red skeletons of various ranks, armed and eerily silent, waited in the shadows. Beyond them, countless zombies were much more restless, their crimson eyes darting hungrily, eager to find prey to tear apart.

The black-robed necromancer stared at the wall, now returned to silence after the swift battle, a cold glimmer of surprise flickering in his eyes.

Eight bone dragons, their strength between six and seven stars! Though they could not inflict significant casualties on the two thousand defenders, his goal of shattering morale and sowing chaos had failed, which left him slightly taken aback. The defenders’ decisive and efficient response made him reassess his underestimation, and he lowered his head in contemplation.

After a while, his gaze flickered, and seven Death Guards at his side bent their knees in unison. In the next instant, they vanished from the rooftop, landing twenty meters away on another roof, sprinting toward the wall.

“They’re coming again—many of them!” On the wall, the seven-star lightning mage opened his eyes once more. The defenders had already noticed the dense horde of undead swarming from the darkness, with blood-red skeletons interspersed among the zombies.

“Archers, hold your positions!” Xu Wen’s timely command steadied the hearts of all those preparing for battle. He barked out the next orders: “The first wave is for the magicians—everyone below six stars, use wide-area spells, attack with full force! After the first magical volley, only then may archers fire!” Calm and composed, he strode to the center of the wall as he issued commands: “Six-star warriors and mages, ignore the zombies and skeletons—your target is the Death Guards. Their bodies will be coated in deadly poison; under no circumstances allow them to reach the wall. Zhang Ke, this task is yours.”

Even as he spoke, the undead swarm surged up to the wall, but the passageways left and right were tightly sealed by crossbowmen and a handful of six-star battle-masters.

As more than a hundred four-star and above mages finished their chants, a barrage of area spells rained down upon the undead, growing ever denser.

A moment ago, the undead army was packed as thick as wheat; now, in an instant, half of them fell like stalks at harvest—bones and blood flying, most archers suddenly deprived of targets.

Yet a few dark shapes braved the magical onslaught, leaping like lightning from below toward the wall.

“Loose!”