NOVEL WEB CHAPTER 328
CHAPTER 328: Looming Chaos
Qinghe Province.
The war had already spread deep into the heartland of Qinghe Province.
On either side of the Sangba River, the Aeonians and the Alliance of Subverters faced one another in a tense standoff. Along the riverbanks, military camps stretched as far as the eye could see, punctuated by bizarre war machines that crouched near the encampments like predatory beasts awaiting a signal to strike.
The battlefield, however, was dominated by two remarkable structures: a city and a mountain.
The city was none other than the Sky City of the Corpse God. This formidable metropolis had moved from its original location in the Corpse God’s Territory to the frontline, its ominous presence signaling that the Corpse God had personally arrived. The massive floating city hovered above the western bank of the Sangba River, closer to the enemy encampment than the Aeonians' forward military base. This bold positioning demonstrated not only the Corpse God’s supreme confidence but also served as a powerful morale boost for the Subverters Alliance.
On the opposite side of the river floated a mountain of comparable grandeur. Its towering form was no less imposing than the Sky City. Upon closer inspection, the mountain's pale hue revealed that it was partly composed of Eternal Stones—a fact that only added to its mystique. This was the Mountain of Time, the divine artifact and mobile fortress of Vicky, one of the three guardian gods of the Eternal Clan.
At that moment, within the Master God Palace located atop the Mountain of Time, Jiu Han suddenly opened his eyes and exhaled deeply. The energy surrounding him expanded instantly, and the purplish-black patches that marred his face slowly receded, leaving behind only faint, unsightly scars.
"I didn’t eradicate the root... This is troublesome," Jiu Han muttered. "The Corpse God is indeed a formidable opponent. I’ve taken quite a loss this time."
As Jiu Han spoke to himself, a calm voice interrupted from nearby.
“Mr. Jiu Han, your losses will be covered on my end. Now that I am here, I will handle the Corpse God. You need only concern yourself with the others,” said Vicky, a God of the Eternal Clan.
Vicky was a striking figure, bearing the Eternal Clan’s signature silver hair and youthful appearance. His features were handsome, almost feminine in their delicate refinement. When he smiled, dimples appeared on either side of his face, softening his expression. His voice, gentle and warm, was matched by an air of elegance and serenity. However, it was the silver-white robe he wore—its surface shimmering with mysterious runes—that truly set him apart. The robe’s dazzling design hinted at an association with the power of time itself, though its exact functions remained unclear even to someone as experienced as Jiu Han.
Jiu Han smiled as he glanced at Vicky. “I’m relieved that you’re here.”
Initially, Jiu Han had been the commander of the battlefield. However, with the Corpse God’s arrival, it became clear that his power alone would not be enough to manage the situation. Despite his renown and strength, Jiu Han was not at the level of a guardian god, which is why Vicky had been summoned.
After a brief pause, Jiu Han shifted the conversation. “Now that you're here, Vicky, I doubt I’ll have much to do. In fact, I just remembered that there are a few matters back home that I’ve left unattended. What do you think...?”
Jiu Han’s intention to escape the battlefield was not subtle. Known for his aversion to unnecessary bloodshed, Jiu Han was also perplexed by the deeper causes of the war. To him, the conflict between the two major forces was riddled with anomalies, prompting his desire to withdraw from the increasingly chaotic situation.
Before he could continue, Vicky interrupted him with a smile.
“Mr. Jiu Han, as a member of the Eternal Clan, you must be aware of the urgency of our current circumstances. You’ve taught me for many years. Surely, you understand the principle of ‘without the lips, the teeth feel the cold’, don’t you?”
Jiu Han narrowed his eyes but chose not to argue further.
At that moment, the sound of thundering drums echoed from outside.
Vicky rose slowly and smiled at Jiu Han. “It appears they’re advancing again. Mr. Jiu Han, would you care to join me in facing the enemy?”
Jiu Han sighed inwardly but resigned himself to the task. Although he held a high position within the Eternal Clan, he could not overrule the authority of the guardian gods. More importantly, as this was a battlefield, military protocol demanded obedience. He could only focus on ensuring his own survival while navigating the treacherous political and military landscape.
Meanwhile, Lin Feng’s consciousness drifted into the dream realm space. Upon opening his eyes, he observed that over a dozen figures had already gathered. The numbers continued to grow, with increasingly diverse individuals appearing in the space.
Though they were all peripheral members of the Subverter Alliance, each reported to different superiors. Lin Feng’s own superior was the Blood-Eyed Venerable, whose identity remained a mystery even to those within the Alliance. Others, like the quasi-Divine realm expert standing beside him, were under the command of Moonfiend, who bore a grudge against Lu Ming.
The group in the dream space had gathered in Xuanshui City, each with their own secretive intentions. However, despite the growing number of Subverter Alliance agents over the past three years, Jiu Han’s leadership had kept any major incidents from occurring.
As Lin Feng stood in silence, more figures appeared, and soon the group totaled twenty-three. In the open space before them, accompanied by a blood-red light, two figures materialized. One was shrouded in a hazy, indistinct form, but the familiar aura and the blood-eyed phantom behind him clearly revealed his identity—Blood-Eyed Venerable.
Standing beside him was a far more fearsome figure, openly displaying his appearance. He was an Ancient Demon.
Towering nearly three meters tall, the demon’s skin was covered in black scales, and he wore light blue armor that appeared to be crafted from ice. His two curved horns resembled a crescent moon, and his pale golden eyes—vertical slits filled with cruelty—radiated an oppressive malevolence. Each time the demon exhaled, a chilling blue mist spewed from his nostrils.
Even though this was merely a dream space, Lin Feng and the others could feel the overwhelming cold—a cold that could likely obliterate them in an instant.
This demon was undoubtedly of the Divine Realm.
Recognizing the gravity of the situation, everyone in the group lowered their heads, not daring to meet the gazes of Blood-Eyed Venerable or the Ancient Demon.
Finally, Blood-Eyed Venerable spoke softly.
“Allow me to introduce one of the four pillar gods of the Ancient Demon Clan—the Ice Pillar Demon God, Jeros.”
“He is also a venerable within the Subverters.”
In unison, the gathered group murmured, “Greetings, Venerable.”
“Hmph,” Jeros grunted in response, his voice both cold and violent, though not entirely unfriendly.
Casting his gaze over the twenty-three individuals, Jeros asked, “Is this all we have in Xuanshui City?”
Blood-Eye Venerable quickly replied, “Of course not. These are merely the leaders of the sleeper cells. Each can still rally additional forces.”
“Oh,” Jeros muttered before chuckling darkly. “It doesn’t matter if we have more or fewer people.”
“What matters is that I’m here. And now that I’m here, Xuanshui City will fall.”
Jeros then turned to the assembled group. “This time, I will lead the assault. Our objective is the total destruction of Xuanshui City and the Three Elements Academy!”
End of Chapter 328