Entering the gates of Haicheng, one reached the shallow beach.
Various factions, weary from their long journey, chose not to explore the heart of the ruins immediately. Instead, they set up camp where they stood.
Even the Ninbu and Rattlesnake, hidden in the shadows, fell silent.
Though the city appeared to be without immediate danger at first glance, no one believed it!
The city exuded an eerie and sinister atmosphere. To venture in rashly without stamina would surely lead to a nameless grave.
Taking advantage of the rest period, the leaders of the major factions held a brief meeting.
The meeting's agenda was simple: to divide the areas for exploring the heart of the ruins. Stronger factions would explore larger areas, while weaker ones would take on less.
Opportunity and risk went hand in hand.
It was unavoidable. Although past grievances were set aside and an alliance was formed for the time being,
all factions harbored their own motives, making seamless cooperation impossible.
Therefore, it was better to act independently!
...
Two hours later, the factions were ready to depart.
They had just begun to investigate their assigned areas!
However, as they prepared to move, they suddenly heard strange sounds.
"Crack! Crackle..."
Initially, everyone was somewhat puzzled, scanning their surroundings.
But soon, some faces paled, pointing at the skeletons clad in armor and stammering, "Th-those skeletons... they're alive!"
The skeletons, one by one, swayed their bodies as if loosening their joints, and slowly stood up.
Their empty eyes, at some unknown moment, had begun to glow with white spectral flames, appearing utterly bizarre and terrifying.
Such a sight made even the most ferocious villains tremble.
They had seen countless dead, animated stone figures, and tree spirits, and considered themselves well-traveled. But these skeletons were the ancient remains of long-dead humans.
The scene felt like the dead rising again, a spectacle they had truly never witnessed.
Crackle, crackle, crackle...
In a short time, all the skeleton soldiers had awakened, converging from all directions, surrounding all the factions at the city gates.
"Oh, Qian Bao'er, your words have come true!"
Within the Death Squad, Qiangwei looked at the skeletons with a sigh.
She had never expected that Yao Bao'er's innocent words from before would actually come true.
Those skeletons were truly about to rise and attack!
"Uh... you can't blame me for this..."
Yao Bao'er, immensely wronged, swallowed her snack. Could she really be blamed for something like this?
Even if she hadn't said anything, would the skeletons have refrained from attacking?
"There are too many skeleton soldiers. It will be difficult to look after you during the fight. You should find a safe place to stay first, and we will come to find you..."
Qiangwei frowned, then said to Yao Bao'er, preparing to lead the others into action.
The combined strength of all factions numbered only a little over a hundred people, while the skeleton soldiers before them, conservatively speaking, numbered four to five hundred.
Moreover, she suspected that these skeleton soldiers would be even more troublesome than the stone figures. In a real fight, not to mention protecting Yao Bao'er, even she herself would find it hard to escape unscathed.
...
The skeleton soldiers grew closer. Behind them lay the boundless sea. Although there were small boats, whether they could escape the skeleton soldiers by rowing with human power was still a question.
Thus, at this moment, all factions were effectively trapped with no retreat. Their only path to survival was to defeat the skeleton soldiers.
"Kill!"
In an instant, the remaining hundred-plus people raised their weapons and charged fiercely at the skeleton soldiers.
At this moment,
there were no selfish intentions, no retreats among all the factions; they fought with all their might.
For a time, blades flashed and swords gleamed, the battlefield exceptionally brutal.
Initially, the skeleton soldiers held a certain advantage.
Facing the skeleton soldiers for the first time, everyone was unaware of their weaknesses, and the skeleton soldiers were extremely difficult to deal with.
Even with severed arms or legs, they could still attack ferociously.
However, as the battle progressed, everyone discovered the skeleton soldiers' vulnerabilities.
Compared to the stone figures, the skeleton soldiers were more agile, possessed stronger attack power, and even had a degree of intelligence, capable of employing simple formations.
But their defense was very weak, almost nonexistent.
Their only defense was the armor they wore.
Besides that, their weakness was equally obvious: their heads.
Within their skulls lay a white crystal. As long as their heads were severed, the entire skeleton soldier would be completely rendered combat-ineffective.
It was upon discovering these traits that the tide of the battle began to slowly turn.
Severed legs, broken arms, severed necks...
After a period of fierce combat, the gains were considerable, but the losses were equally heavy.
By now, the smaller factions had been completely annihilated after this battle.
It was unavoidable; the skeleton soldiers were too powerful.
Most were at the Yellow rank or above, and there were even skeleton captains with Black rank strength.
The smaller factions, already suffering heavy casualties, had their remaining experts wounded and exhausted.
They fought more like individuals, unlike major factions such as the Dark Association, where experts could support each other.
Consequently, the experts of these smaller factions were all killed or severely injured.
After this battle, the Dark Association remained the outwardly strongest faction, with three Earth rank experts.
Their Black rank experts did not suffer any casualties, though some sustained injuries.
As for the Yellow rank members, casualties were heavy, with only Huang San remaining.
On the side of the Guangming Hall.
Hassar was accompanied by Philip, Nancy, and Hert, three Purple Robe Bishops, and six or seven Divine Envoys.
As for the Duanmu Mercenary Group, like the Caesar Mercenary Group, they were wiped out, with even their deputy leader failing to survive.
Then there was the Dragon Group. All members of the Dragon Group were present, but after this battle, they were all injured, their strength greatly diminished, and were being urgently treated by Yao Bao'er.
The Pandora Mercenary Group, with the exception of Zhao Ziyang and Mishar, had all been killed.
The only faction to remain with zero casualties was the Death Squad. Though all of them were injured, they still possessed formidable combat power.
...
"Hassar, Jian Wusheng, my Dark Association has already sent people to scout. Aside from inside the houses, all the skeletons in the city have now been cleared."
"Now, as per our previous agreement, we will search the heart of the ruins by dividing the areas. If any changes occur, we will gather promptly to face the enemy together..."
After a long period of rest, Zi Long finally sent for Hassar and Jian Wusheng to discuss matters.
The skeleton soldiers in the city were largely cleared, but this did not mean the city was safe.
Therefore, even though the Dark Association's three Earth rank powerhouses were in good condition, he had no intention of acting rashly.
While there were many skeleton soldiers, their attack power was significantly lower.
Even the Phantom Sword Manor had the strength to kill Earth rank experts. Haicheng surely held significant dangers, making a civil war at this moment the most unwise course of action.
Jian Wusheng and Hassar naturally had no objections to this.
After a brief discussion, everyone, according to their existing factions and numbers, re-divided the areas and began to meticulously search.
Ye Cangtian was also assigned to a separate area.
Within his area, there were several houses and a large courtyard.
It was unavoidable. Even the Dark Council, which had preserved its strength relatively well, had no more than a dozen subordinates. Haicheng was simply too vast.
Thus, Zi Long had to have everyone split up and act individually.
Fortunately, the area assigned to each person was relatively small, allowing for mutual support if any changes occurred in adjacent areas.
Shortly after, Ye Cangtian searched a few houses and then entered the largest courtyard.
The moment he entered the courtyard, Ye Cangtian felt a sense of impending danger. He had a feeling that someone was watching him from the shadows.
He looked around. The place was filled with broken weapons, and there seemed to be no immediate danger.
Could the danger be inside the rooms?
With a hint of doubt, Ye Cangtian cautiously pushed open a door. What met his eyes were countless weapons, all arranged on shelves.
Sabers, spears, swords, halberds, axes, battle-axes, hooks, and forks—everything was present.
An armory? What a fine place!
Ye Cangtian muttered to himself. Despite the ravages of time, these weapons still gleamed with a cold light, indicating they were no ordinary items.
However, in the next moment, Ye Cangtian lunged forward and rolled on the ground.
Clang!
At that moment, a cold glint shot directly into the wall.