Chapter 684: Chapter 680: Final Battle (End)

The group of Martial Ancestors from the Xiao Family returned to meet up with the Tang Clan half a day after the volcano erupted, bringing with them a barely alive and scorched Tang Yao. The addition of Martial Ancestor Xiao Qi gave the Tang Clan a significant edge in their fighting forces, earning them wary glances from the remaining alliance chiefs in Xiling. After all, the Xiao Family had quite a reputation, especially the most powerful individual in Xiling, Xiao Jinlin, whose fame was widespread. With such powerful reinforcements, the remaining clansmen’s confidence in clearing up the disaster increased significantly.

The torrent of lava and fire remained for three full days. The South Ridge formation, which the Mi Clan took great pride in, was already shattered by the second day. The endless flow of magma and fiery rocks posed the greatest threat to the Mi Clan alliance army.

A large number of people on the not-so-spacious main peak of South Ridge resulted in heavy losses for the allied forces in the first round. Contrarily, the Martial Ancestors of the Mi Clan displayed astonishing tenacity in this disaster.

After bringing all the clansmen into the clan cemetery, the Mi Clan relied on the family’s final defensive line to resist the disaster. The large formation surrounding the cemetery kept all the magma and fiery rocks outside, but no one could find it in themselves to smile at what should have been a reason to rejoice.

Because the apocalyptic scene in front of them couldn’t negate the dignity of the Mi Clan that had been established over a millennium. But the real threat came after, from the villains.

The lava flowed into the lakes, raising countless sulfuric acid vapors. The yellow steam and black smoke mixed together, making the entire South Ridge seem like hell. Without a doubt, the clan in the center of this hellish landscape was the most unfortunate one.

Just when they were finally able to calm the volcano, acid rain carrying toxic gases descended once again. The rain clouds formed by the sulfurous vapors only covered the sky over South Ridge. The greenish rainwater corroded small pits wherever it fell.

The noble families who had planned on escaping South Ridge under the cover of black smoke were immediately discouraged. After all, to traverse through this acid rain would be akin to pushing their own people towards death. But if they chose not to go, they would be waiting for the butcher’s knife of the Tang Clan’s alliance. Caught between a rock and a hard place, Mi Jin once again gathered the clan chiefs together.

In a dark area under charred rocks, surrounded by the acrid smell of acid, Mi Jin spoke heavily to the seven family heads, “We have lost this battle. Most of our people will be trapped and die in South Ridge. The only plan we can consider now is to combine our family’s forces and send our bloodline away to ensure the continuation of our lineage.”

This frankly stated truth shattered the last illusions in everyone’s hearts. Even though everyone felt that the clans that managed to resist the disaster could no longer defeat the Tang Clan, they still held on to the false hope of being able to break out under the Mi Clan’s leadership. But now, listening to Mi Jin say these words, each of the clan heads’ expressions darkened as they began to contemplate an escape plan.

At the time of the attack on North Mountain, the allies were too ruthless and firm in their actions, thinking that their victory was guaranteed. They launched a massacre on the Tang Clan, aiming to crush them all at once. Little did they expect the situation to reverse now, with the allies being pushed to the edge of a cliff. Even surrender had become a fanciful wish.

Mi Jin looked at the crowd and said calmly, “My clan has a backup plan in Kunwu County, located in the middle of Longzhou. If you all still wish to develop in Longzhou, we can gather people to send a group of our blood descendants there.”

Kunwu Divine Mountain, a sacred place in Longzhou, is located in Kunwu County. Its presence makes Kunwu County the safest city in Longzhou. No one dares to wage war recklessly under the watchful eyes of Martial Saint Mountain. Almost every major clan in Longzhou has some properties in Kunwu County, using it as a refuge for the recuperation and propagation of their clan after a defeat.

Those who kill are destined to be killed eventually. Perhaps to outsiders Tang Mi in Xiling appears endlessly glorious, but only the two clans’ leaders understand that fortune is cyclical. A clan’s prosperity depends on fate, but how many offspring can be preserved during defeat is a testament to the clan leader’s ability. Therefore, both clans have made various preparations for retreat in various locations throughout Xiehe.

The Mi Clan might be defeated, but they won’t be completely wiped out. With the backing of the Mi Clan’s resources, they could return to their former glory within a century at most. After that, it all depends on the fate of their successors.

For the current clan heads, being trapped in a besieged city, they have no other options than to follow Mi Clan into the abyss.

Gloom is the prevailing mood in South Ridge. Perhaps due to the heavy toxic fumes, the noses of all the family heads are noticeably red, and tears fill their eyes. Their faces bear the marks of struggle and pain.

…

Outside South Ridge, aboard a warship

Tang Zhi watched as the acid rain dispersed the black clouds, revealing the charred South Ridge. He gave an order to the messenger officer, “Pass my command, counterattack South Ridge!”

Tang and Xiao Martial Ancestors took the lead, dozens of Martial Ancestors charged towards the South Ridge like arrows released from their strings, unleashing a massacre against the exhausted Mi Clan’s alliance army.

The ease at which the battle progressed exceeded everyone’s expectations. Although the resistance from the Mi Clan alliance was fierce, both their clan warriors and Martial Ancestors were already exhausted from fighting against the disaster’s acid rain. Facing the eager and ready Tang Clan alliance, they had no choice but to succumb to defeat.

The remnants of each clan’s defeated soldiers gathered together, retreating to the Mi Clan’s cemetery, and relying on the Mi Clan’s last resort to make a final desperate stand.

However, facing the continuous bombardment from hundreds of Fierce Realm powerhouses, the large Mi Clan formation surrounding the cemetery didn’t even last half an hour before it was completely torn apart. It revealed large numbers of the Mi Clan’s people and heavily injured Martial Ancestors inside, who were then surrounded by the new alliance’s Fierce Realm powerhouses.

Tang Zhi decisively brought down his raised hand, ordering the allied warriors to launch the final round of attacks on the stubbornly resisting remnant forces.

Golden pillars rising to the sky, the Five-Color Divine Dragon zigzagging around, mixed with the multicolored Spirit Arts of the Xuan class, the Fierce Realm warriors’ killing efficiency was demonstrated to the fullest extent in this moment.

With every passing second, countless lives were erased. Even the rocks and trees were reduced to dust along with the many lives lost. What disappeared along with them were also the millennia-old glory of the Mi Clan and their pride.

Tang Zhi stood on a distant mountain peak, looking at the besieged remnants of the alliance forces in the cemetery, his expression complex.

When the great achievement that the Tang Clan had been dreaming of for hundreds of years was finally realized in his hands within a few breaths, followed by an endless emptiness.

In the future, there will be no Mi Clan in Xiling. Can the Tang Clan, without a rival, still maintain such rapid progress and improvement?

Tang Zhi glanced at the head of the Clan Academy, Tang Yao, and the Marshal Star Pavilion’s Tang Luo standing beside him, scattering the unease in his heart. At least for this generation, the Tang Clan is certainly the most outstanding iteration.

The battle lasted less than half a day, and the Mi Clan’s alliance forces defending the cemetery were completely annihilated. Corpses were strewn everywhere on the ground, and the once magnificent cemetery of the Mi Clan looked as inconspicuous as any ordinary grave.

Except for a few Martial Ancestors who managed to escape using the Xuanji Jade, the rest were entirely killed. Even the new alliance had paid a considerable price. They thought that a handful of remnants would not be much of a challenge, but in the end, a large number of their Fierce Realm warriors were severely injured, with several of the Tang Clan’s Martial Ancestors among them.

Yet in the end, the Tang Clan still won the battle. Several elders looked out over the field of corpses, as though in a dream.