Chapter 693: Survival Versus Impasse
At that very moment, the force of the hundred pinnacle assassins led by Hen Bieli and Hong Zhan successfully converged. It was like a massive, treasured sword that could not be separated; unstoppable, it charged all the way, breaking through obstacles with a frightening momentum.
There was no one along the way, who could stop their swift action!
Like a motor that was running on the remnants of its gas, they shot to the middle section of the martial artists' secure siege.
However, a bright light suddenly flared from the opposite side of the hundred assassin's combined sword light. The glaring sword light manifested into a phalanx of swords that rained down forcefully and continuously.
Everyone's heart almost stopped beating upon witnessing the sight.
It was a scene created by over twenty pinnacle swordsmen who had unleashed their ultimate skill simultaneously.
Anyone of these people was on par with the Berserk Dragon Swordsman, Yu Jianfei; their motives and state of mind were far more superior than his as well. They had been hiding, reserving their genuine capabilities in hopes of reaping what was sown by others. Now, however, it had come to the stage where they had to do something to stop it.
If they waited any longer, the assassins would have fled far and high, breaking away from the siege.
It was like heaven's river had been tipped. Hen Bieli attacked first with a thunderous howl, hair streaming wildly behind him. Streaks of black actually appeared from the sword light he painted across the sky - the air itself had been split into separate voids, an empty space created by the aftertrail of the slash. It was overwhelmingly powerful.
As for Hong Zhan, the man growled furiously as he followed right behind Hen Bieli. His saber was like an enraged dragon that soared into the sky, charging vehemently against the sword mountain.
Any of the hundred assassins following behind them were capable men who had gone through countless battles; they knew what options to take upon seeing the unreserved and fearless charge of the two leaders. All of them became as one with their swords as they ignited their maximum cultivation base.
The impact of the collision of the fierce attacks from both sides was literally earth-shattering! All the buildings within three thousand feet were crushed flat into the ground and soon, debris blocked off the sky.
At this time, a stream of blood shot out. No one knew who had been injured, but both sides were roaring, flirting with death, and launching strikes. No one cared to note who had drawn first blood.
"Kill!"
The dust and debris drifted to the ground, revealing the tattered martial world men. Everyone who was involved in the attack had been flung at least hundreds of feet away. The assassins fared no better; more than thirty people laid on the ground, bloody, without any sign of life, while the rest of the group was injured. They drew back with staggering steps. Rare was the man who could stand steadfast under such circumstances.
The martial world men did not slow down. With a bellow, thousands of men surrounded the killers. For a few thousand men to besiege the group of fewer than a hundred men, a secure steel-like fence would be put up if the siege succeeded.
Hen Bieli sucked in a deep breath and tried his best to stop his retreating steps, yet he could not help spitting out blood. He knew that the other party's besieging momentum had picked up, but they had yet to complete it. Once they managed to form the siege once again, the killers would truly be doomed.
They had to charge out using this opportunity - only then could be there a chance of survival.
Fortunately, the events that unfolded up to now were still as per what he had anticipated. He believed that the subsequent episode would be smooth sailing.
He roared; at the instant, he pulled at Hong Zhan. Both men catapulted outwards in unison once again with an even more powerful stance than before. Their abilities were extraordinary; easily trouncing the martial world experts who were still in retreat or flung unconscious within the blink of an eye.
The frontline of their enemy was gone, but the backup relief had yet to come. This delicate moment was the moment of hope, where the path in front of them was clear of obstacles.
Hen Bieli perked up and roared, "The road to survival is here. Follow me!"
The two leaders of the assassins managed to exchange a glance despite the hectic situation, triumph written across their eyes. The assassin's team behind them was made up of nearly sixty people, a handful more than the duo's best expectation. Each one from the team was an excellent expert as well.
Of course, the path of escape they would follow until they arrived at a safe spot would still see a substantial amount of casualties. However, the final damage should be too severe. With a reserved estimate, the pair thought they could still have twenty-five to thirty people with them when they reached a safe range.
Safe to say, these people were basically the cream of the crop, the elites among elites! Moreover, they were all lucky ones, without exception!
Assassins who could stay alive until then were absolutely lucky presences to have around.
These would suffice!
The sixty killers rushed forward, bolting towards the gap in their enemy's defense, where their survival was at its most fragile. The gap was only guarded by no more than a hundred people; it was almost as if the ending of the killers' escape was already a reality.
The martial world artists naturally shared the same point of view and thought of the outcome. All of them were filled with indignation.
In spite of it, this was the situation Hen Bieli and Hong Zhan had long plotted out. Both assassin leaders had an incredibly accurate and precise grasp of the current situation and analysis of the group's capabilities. In fact, this was key to their longevity in the martial world - if they had assessed even situations like this wrong, they would have died a long time ago.
However, right when the killers shone and displayed their prowess, slaughtering the martial men who were at the breach, and were about to break free, the sound of the horn suddenly resonated in the air. A solemn and authoritative voice emerged - "In accordance to His Highness the Crown Prince's order, the rebels are to be executed - the assassins to be exterminated. Recover the clear skies of Yutang!"
The sudden order had Hen Bieli and Hong Zhan widening their eyes simultaneously, their gaze filled with disbelief.
What was going on? This was actually a dictum to kill from Yutang's crown prince. Was this - was this a joke?
For a moment, the two leaders were baffled.
However, this was obviously not a joke, as there was a loud noise from the surroundings right after the order. With a glance, countless Deicide Bow archers were perched everywhere - on the ground, the collapsed walls, the tall walls, the trees, taller buildings - they lined the space tightly and could be seen almost everywhere.
Every one of them wore a black military uniform, while on their uniform, there was the emblem that belonged specifically to the crown prince's direct armed forces. These were the crown prince's troops! They were the military forces belonging directly to His Highness' command. It was apparent just by the look of the uniforms.
What neat movement - what majestic military discipline!
At this time, there had to be at least over ten thousand Deicide archers around the vicinity, pointing the chilling tips of their arrow right at the sixty over assassins who had just made their arduous escape. The archers had pulled their bows as far as they could, the crescents turning into full moons; their gazes were icy, the thousands of arrows waiting to strike with a command.
Hen Bieli roared in fury and halted his steps, bellowing, "Your Royal Highness! What is the meaning of this?"