Eternal life begins with saving my clan

Chapter 88 : The battle on the sea - Part 2

The atmosphere on the Crimson Jade Pavilion's flagship was tense and charged with anticipation.

In the distance, a formidable fleet of ten battle ships formed a triangle formation, cutting through the waters with unwavering determination.

These vessels carried thousands of soldiers, each clad in an unfamiliar and ominous armor that hinted at a formidable adversary.

Wang Baozhai, the heiress of the Wang family, remained outwardly composed as she observed the approaching threat.

Her countenance, an embodiment of authority, displayed no immediate reaction. She regarded the approaching ships with an icy detachment that hinted at her ruthless nature.

Then, in a voice as cold and unforgiving as an arctic wind, she uttered her orders, sending a wave of dread through the soldiers on board.

"Kill them all."

The chilling command hung in the air, and the soldiers swiftly prepared for action. Archers drew their bowstrings, nocking arrows and pulling them taut.

Wang Baozhai herself descended to the deck, her eyes locked on the archers with a bone-chilling gaze. It was a moment poised on the precipice of violent confrontation.

But just as the order to unleash a volley of arrows was imminent, the incoming fleet executed a sudden shift in formation.

The ten ships split into three groups, adopting a Four-Three-Three formation that rapidly increased the gaps between each formation.

The realization of their enemy's strategy dawned, and Wang Baozhai's face contorted with displeasure.

She understood that their foes were attempting to corner the Crimson Jade Pavilion's flagship in the center, exposing it to an impending assault.

Amid the tension and uncertainty, a grumble of disbelief from her right hand man, Dong, emphasized the precariousness of their situation.

Wang Baozhai, however, only spared a fleeting glance at the enemy's maneuver before dismissing it with a scoff.

"Send a ship to deal with one of their flanks."

The atmosphere remained tense, but her response conveyed a determination to face this unexpected threat head-on.

On the other side of the ship, Su Ming maintained a stoic composure as he gazed at the massive, intimidating enemy fleet. His expression gave nothing away, but his silence spoke volumes.

"No matter how intimidating your ships are, when you decide to attack my barren land, you must be prepared to face the consequences..." he declared calmly, a sense of unwavering resolve in his words.

He surveyed the thousands of soldiers on board and then issued his next command.

"Archers, ready."

In response to his command, archers from each ship took their positions at the edge, nocking arrows to bowstrings.

They began to pull the strings back, but their efforts seemed limited.

However, in an astonishing display of power, the soldiers' armor emitted a radiant light, bolstering their strength to new heights.

With this newfound strength, they drew the bowstrings to their limits.

Unbeknownst to the Crimson Jade Pavilion's crew, the other nine barren ships were in perfect sync with Su Ming's orders.

The uniformity of their actions left the soldiers of the enemy fleet bewildered and perplexed.

"Are they puppets? How are they working as though they are being controlled?" Dong inquired, turning his gaze towards Wang Baozhai for an answer.

Wang Baozhai, however, exhibited an unwavering determination. "Who cares how they're controlling them? I just need to kill them and be done with it."

Dong chuckled in agreement, looking at his men as they eagerly anticipated the approach of the barren ships.

The significant distance between the two fleets and the perceived inferiority of the barren ships' bow and arrows lulled them into a false sense of security.

Yet, unknown to the enemy, they had just committed their first grave mistake.

"Fire," Su Ming commanded from the flagship of the barren land.

In an instant, thousands of arrows were released from three different directions.

At first, the soldiers on the Crimson Jade Pavilion ships did not take the attack seriously, convinced that the distance between them was too great to be bridged by a mere arrow assault.

However, under their stupefied gaze, the volleys of arrows closed the distance in the blink of an eye, raining down upon their ships.

"What the..." Wang Baozhai's usual cold and ruthless expression transformed into one of confusion and shock.

"Take cover!" she screamed, attempting to regain control of the situation, but her warning came too late.

With a whistling sound, the thousands of arrows descended upon the enemy ships like the wrath of the heavens. Stupefied soldiers were impaled to the decks, cries of agony and terror filling the air.

Ah! Ah! Ah!

Screams and chaos erupted as the enemy soldiers desperately sought shelter from the relentless rain of arrows, but it seemed that fate had already decided their course.

"Save me…" A soldier's desperate cry pierced the air as he found himself impaled on a wooden pole by two arrows, blood streaming from his chest.

His face contorted with despair as he called for help, but the cruel twist of fate offered no reprieve.

Just as he uttered his plea, another arrow whistled through the air, racing towards him.

He locked eyes with the incoming projectile, a resigned sigh escaping his lips before his world turned to darkness.

This grim and merciless scene played out simultaneously on all three Crimson Jade Pavilion ships.

Once pristine vessels now bore witness to gruesome horror. Soldiers were skewered on poles, multiple arrows protruding from their bodies, the grim irony of survival etched into their expressions.

Wang Baozhai, her gaze fierce with anger, surveyed the horrific scene that had unfolded before her.

Half of her loyal soldiers had been wiped out in the sudden onslaught. Those who had found refuge within the ship's various rooms had been spared the relentless barrage of arrows.

Gradually, the ceaseless rain of arrows subsided. The remaining soldiers breathed sighs of relief, shock and confusion etched onto their faces. The unexpected onslaught had rattled them to their core.

Historically, the barren land had been a desolate realm, a place of exile for society's castaways.

The spiritual energy within it had been almost nonexistent. It was considered too weak and barren for anyone to lay claim to. The land itself lacked valuable resources.

Now, they confronted a perplexing reality. How could such a seemingly forsaken land unleash such formidable and deadly prowess?

While the soldiers of the Crimson Jade Pavilion pondered this enigma, Wang Baozhai held a different perspective.

She emerged from her place of concealment, a defiant and confident smirk gracing her lips.

"Is that all?" she taunted, her voice laced with unwavering arrogance.