NOVPUB
Chapter 328: The Battle in the Mountainous Range
"Keep attacking those bastards! Don’t let them escape!"
"Uwoo!"
The cultivators from the Flamecrest family roared their battle cry as they relentlessly pushed the devils toward their final stronghold—an underground mining base. The fierce battle raged across the mountainous range, with auras from cultivators of all stages colliding and causing the surrounding heaven and earth energy to become chaotic.
Aldrey, who had become one of the protagonists in this battle, displayed his remarkable ability and strength, truly worthy of the title "Fire Apostle." The flames emanating from his body radiated such intense heat that even marquess-stage cultivators would be forced to keep their distance, lest they risk being burned alive.
Aldrey’s flames rampaged across the battlefield like a relentless rain, targeting the devils. Those unfortunate enough to be touched by the fire were instantly consumed. With a swift motion of his will, his sword ignited, the blade engulfed in roaring flames. As a devil launched an earth-element attack at him, Aldrey swung his blazing sword, countering with devastating precision.
The earth spikes that surrounded Aldrey, intended to pierce him, were destroyed in an instant by a slash of his sword. His flames continued to spread relentlessly, surging toward the devils’ troops who had formed a defensive formation. The flames disrupted their ranks, killing many baron-stage devils and plunging their troops into chaos.
"Don’t lose formation! Kill the ’Fire Apostle’ first, and we can break through!" one of the devil commanders shouted. However, the devils’ efforts were hindered by the Flamecrest family, who had meticulously prepared for this attack.
Although Aldrey was only a high duke-stage cultivator, the situation could have turned dangerous if devils with far greater cultivation had been sent after him. Fortunately, the Flamecrest family’s preparation ensured that those devils with higher cultivation levels were occupied by others from the family who matched their strength.
The devils continued to pour out from the mining entrance, forming defensive formations. Their numbers had already reached thousands, though many had fallen at the hands of the Flamecrest family’s cultivators. 𝘯𝑜𝘷𝘱𝘶𝑏.𝘤𝘰𝑚
Aldrey raised both hands above his head, clasping them together. Suddenly, flames erupted from his hands, forming a colossal fire blade that towered nearly a kilometer high. The intense heat radiating from the blade made it difficult for the devils to keep their eyes open, the mere sight of it causing them pain.
"That’s young master Aldrey’s ’Sky-Splitting Flame’! Be careful not to get caught in its sweep!" one of the Flamecrest cultivators warned.
As Aldrey brought his hands down—
Whoosh!
The impact caused the earth to tremble, and flames spread out to Aldrey’s left and right. The inferno surged forward, extending up to three kilometers and engulfing devils in its path. Many devils scrambled to defend themselves, and while some managed to survive, most with cultivation levels lower than the earl stage were swept away by the fire, reduced to blackened charcoal and killed instantly.
The number of casualties quickly reached the hundreds, a testament to the devastating power of Aldrey’s technique. For the low-level devils, there was no hope of withstanding such overwhelming force—even in their Devil forms. To a duke-stage cultivator like Aldrey, those souls were nothing more than ants.
Aldrey’s technique left a blazing trail of fire across the mountainous region before him. He observed the destruction with a calm and composed expression, his handsome face unruffled. The devils, shaken by his overwhelming display of power, did not dare to recklessly attack him.
Above, in the sky, dozens of figures engaged in fierce combat, wielding a variety of techniques and artifacts. The auras of king-stage and emperor-stage cultivators clashed violently, each exchange radiating immense power. Had they been fighting on the ground, the mountains would have already been flattened.
Even the space around them struggled to contain their battle, cracking in many places. Yet, despite the fractured space, the intensity of the fighting showed no signs of diminishing.
"You Flamecrest bastards will regret this! When the time comes, the devils will dominate this land!" roared the strongest of the devils, his voice filled with venom. His cultivation is the middle emperor stage, and he had already used his Devil form to amplify his strength. However, his body was riddled with wounds—a testament to the fierce opponent he faced.
Standing before him was Grand Duke Flamecrest, his low divine-grade sword enveloped in an intense red flame. The grand duke gazed at the devil with a sneer, his confidence unwavering.
"Bold of you to make such a statement. Even if you believe it, you won’t live to see that day!" Grand Duke Flamecrest retorted.
Without wasting another moment, he activated his movement technique, flames bursting from his feet as he closed the distance in an instant. The middle emperor-stage devil raised his broadsword, swinging it with all his might, but the grand duke intercepted the strike with his own sword. In a fluid motion, the grand duke unleashed a devastating flame-infused palm with his free hand, aiming directly at the devil.
The devil noticed the incoming flame-infused palm and quickly evaded, retreating to create distance from the grand duke. However, that decision proved to be his fatal mistake. As he gained some space, the grand duke was already poised in a striking stance, his sword ablaze with flames so intense that they warped the surrounding space. The air shimmered, and cracks began to form in the fabric of space, a testament to the heat’s overwhelming power.
"Wrong move, devil," Grand Duke Flamecrest said, his voice laced with a mocking sneer.
"Shit!" Before the devil could react, the grand duke unleashed his sword technique.
Flame Dragon Sword Technique: Fourth Form—The Dragon Soaring to the Heavens!
The grand duke unleashed a relentless series of attacks, each movement flowing seamlessly into the next, leaving no room for the devil to counter. The devil attempted to parry, but it was futile against the sheer speed and overwhelming power of the technique.
With the final strike of the Flame Dragon Sword Technique, the grand duke slashed upward from below, unleashing a towering pillar of flame in the shape of a dragon. The fiery dragon soared into the sky, its searing heat engulfing the devil completely.
"Arghhh! The devils will still win!" the devil screamed at the top of his lungs as the flames consumed him. When the blaze finally dissipated, his charred, broken body was revealed. Parts of his limbs were missing, his flesh crumbling to ash like burnt charcoal.
With a resounding crash, his lifeless body fell to the ground, marking the end of the battle between the strongest cultivators in the area.
As the scene unfolded, the cultivators of the Flamecrest family erupted in triumphant shouts, their morale soaring to its peak. In stark contrast, the devils were shaken to their core. With their strongest figure fallen, their resolve crumbled, and they lost all will to fight. Panic spread through their ranks as they began scrambling for any possible escape from the mountainous region. The devils no longer cared about anything except fleeing from for their lives.
But the Flamecrest family had no intention of letting them escape. Many of the devils, turning their backs in desperation, were swiftly cut down.
"Keep attacking, don’t let anyone escape!"
Aldrey, with his overwhelming technique, effortlessly cleared out the disorganized devils, his flames cutting through their ranks with ease. Meanwhile, Grand Duke Flamecrest, alongside the elders, took down the remaining emperor-stage devil, followed by the last of the king-stage devils.
Before long, the battle came to an end, with no devils left to escape. Every last one was slain.
"Uwoo!" A triumphant roar echoed as all the cultivators of the Flamecrest family raised their hands in victory. They had successfully raided the devils’ base, which had been established within territory controlled by the Larson family. All of them were aware of the family’s higher-ups exact motives and the sentiment behind their actions after being informed of the truth behind Commander Marcus’s case.
Before the battle began, everyone present had already been told the truth. Upon hearing it, all members of the Flamecrest family shared the same resolve—to strike at the Larson family. They were all determined, their passion burning fiercely, ready to attack without declaring a nobles war. Even though this might offend the imperial family, the Larson family’s brazen actions had enraged them to the point where they could not remain passive.
Even the lowest-ranking members of the family understood their higher-ups’ decision to strike at the Larson family’s territory without formally announcing a nobles war. Especially in this place, where the devils had secretly established their base. Declaring a nobles war would have been pointless—it would have merely served as an announcement of their plans, giving the devils time to escape or prepare.
Grand Duke Flamecrest landed beside his son, his gaze scanning the devastation across the battlefield.
"That mysterious swordsman’s information has been remarkably accurate and trustworthy. How did he come to know all of this? I still can’t see any reason why he would help us without expecting something in return. With his power, he could demand whatever he wanted, yet instead, he continues assisting us without asking for anything."
"He destroyed the Boraz Fortress in our family’s name, revealed the treasonous actions of the Larson family with irrefutable evidence, and even uncovered the devils’ main base within this empire. After this, our family will have the highest reputation in its history. I’m even worried it might offend the imperial family." Grand Duke Flamecrest replied.
"Tell me, Aldrey, do you know anything about this mysterious swordsman? From the looks of it, that person seems to be closest to you, and it seems he only wants you and you alone to act as a bridge to our family. Are you sure there’s no relationship between you two?" Grand Duke Flamecrest asked with a smile, turning to his son.
Aldrey, seeing his father’s smile, could only return it, though it was a bit awkward.
"Well, he is your grandson. Of course, he’s helping our family," Aldrey thought to himself.
"Now, how am I supposed to answer him?" If he responded without something to back him up, his father would likely catch on to something strange or even realize he was lying!
