The vast sea stretches endlessly, with the towering star fortress of Iron Spine floating high in the sky, resembling a flying steel island.
Inside the star fortress, tens of thousands of martial artists stand in formation, dressed in various types of armor and attire. There are Iron Spine warriors clad in heavy armor, mist-bound warriors wearing neat knightly uniforms, and exotic cultivators from different islands.
Although in this world, only grandmasters can control the battlefield, even lower-level martial artists have their uses.
Iron Spine is famous for its forging techniques, and this star fortress is its pinnacle creation.
The enormous spiritual cannons mounted on both sides usually require grandmasters to activate them, but now they can be controlled by these low-level martial artists, using a swarm tactics approach.
Not only Iron Spine, but the secret treasures and magical weapons from various countries can also be operated by these martial artists, freeing up higher-level experts to preserve every advantage for the upcoming decisive battle.
In the core hall of the star fortress, the top Western powers are gathered.
"The entire sea area within several kilometers has been arranged with various formations. As soon as the Emperor of Xia enters this formation, I will detect him immediately," said a woman with a vermilion mole at the corner of her eye and purple hair, smiling as she spoke.
Before her, a formation plate floated in the air, activated not only by her but also by over a thousand martial artists specializing in formations.
The woman is Juno, the vice president of the Raven Trade Guild.
The Raven Trade Guild is a powerful and influential organization on the Western Continent, its reach and power comparable to the great nations, and thus, it too is involved in the war against the Emperor of Xia.
"Yes, once we detect his whereabouts, we will act according to plan..." The Grand Elder of Iron Spine snorted coldly. "Let him experience the depth of our Western Continent's heritage, built over thousands of years!"
For this war, every country has brought out their ultimate treasures and magical formations, and the Grand Elder firmly believes that no matter how powerful the Emperor of Xia is, today he will be defeated!
"By the way, shouldn't your Pope show up now?" said Akmond, the leader of the Royal Knights, squinting and coldly staring at White from afar.
"We're at a crucial point, yet she hasn't appeared. Does she want to reap the benefits without getting involved?"
White immediately sneered, "Her Holiness the Pope is our greatest trump card. Can she just show up at will?"
"This is not the time for internal strife." The Grand Elder of Iron Spine interrupted them, his murky gaze slowly turning toward White. "But for the sake of our alliance's stability, the Pope must appear!"
As his words fell, the eyes of all the forces in the hall turned toward them, and the air was thick with silent pressure.
If the threat of Fang Yuan hangs over their heads like a sword, then the Pope is the hidden poisonous blade lurking in the shadows. If they finally manage to defeat Fang Yuan but get stabbed in the back by the Pope, it would be a great loss.
"...Fine." White fell silent for a moment, then finally took a dark-colored card from his pocket.
As the card shattered, radiant holy light suddenly erupted, and the Pope's figure slowly appeared in the glow, still as pure and untouchable as ever, still high above.
"Everyone need not worry." She smiled, her lips curling in a serene yet unfathomable expression. "I will give my all in this battle."
Despite her words, most of the people in the hall still looked at her with distrust.
"These arrogant fools have completely ignored us," said a man covered in scales in the corner of the hall, lowering his voice and speaking in an ancient beast language.
He was Narl, an ally of Xirwei.
Xirwei slightly nodded, her companion Dragon Anvil was also part of this action, though they were habitually excluded from decision-making.
Even though they were grandmaster-level experts, in the eyes of the Western Continent's nobility, they were merely expendable pawns.
"With such a massive coalition army, do you think the Emperor of Xia can withstand it?" Narl continued softly. "Looking at the situation of the Western Continent nations, they seem determined to fight to the death."
"I have seen the Emperor of Xia's strength," Xirwei said calmly, her voice steady without a hint of wavering. "He will surely find a way to turn the situation around."
Seeing his companion so confident, Narl's tense expression slightly relaxed.
But Xirwei then turned her head, and with a barely perceptible sigh, she whispered to herself.
What she had just said was merely to comfort her companion. In fact, facing the profound heritage displayed by the nations of the Western Continent, even that powerful Eastern Emperor might not have much chance of winning.
But since she had already chosen to stand with the Empire of Xia, there was no turning back.
At this moment, Juno, who had been focusing on controlling the formation plate, suddenly glinted with sharp light in her eyes:
"The detection formation has locked onto the target—Fang Yuan is here!"
With this thunderous declaration, all eyes in the hall converged at once. The Grand Elder of Iron Spine spoke in a deep voice, "What is the exact location? How many people?"
"Twenty miles to the southeast, a total of four people!" Juno quickly responded.
"Only four people?" The Grand Elder of Iron Spine sneered. "It seems the Emperor of Xia truly looks down on us Western Continent people."
"No more words, act immediately! Time is of the essence!"
The Pope stood up solemnly, her usual composed face now filled with seriousness. "This battle is about life and death, so I ask everyone to give their all!"
"White, follow me!"
"Yes!"
As soon as the words fell, the Pope and White's figures disappeared from the hall.
"I didn't expect your Federation to be so proactive. Then we, the Misty Court, will not stand behind!" Akmond raised his holy sword high, his eyes burning with battle intent. "Today, where our swords point—"
"Is where glory lies!" the other holy knights roared in unison.
"Although Odius is a small country, we are also willing to lend our strength!"
"Haha, so is the Omega Mercenary Corps!"
"Come, come, let's kill with all our might today!"
Oaths thundered, and the battle spirit surged.
Amidst the rising oaths, the doors of the star fortress opened with a loud crash, and dozens of streaks of light tore through the sky like falling stars, heading straight for the southeast!
"Let Iron Spine send them a big gift first!" The Grand Elder of Iron Spine sneered, his voice fierce. "Spiritual energy cannon, ready!"
Inside the star fortress, thousands of martial artists shouted in unison, their spiritual energy surging, converging toward the cannons like rivers flowing into the sea.
On the side of the star fortress, a black cannon slowly extended out, and the destructive energy gathered within it!
"I'll assist you!" Juno said, her formation plate glowing as well.
"I will activate the amplification formation, doubling the power of the spiritual energy cannon while locking onto the target, making sure they have nowhere to escape!"
"Haha, very beautiful, very beautiful!" The Grand Elder of Iron Spine's eyes gleamed with malice. "Then, let's begin!"