Volume Four: Winds Sweep Away the Clouds, The Four Continents Sink Chapter One: The Descent

The soldier’s instincts told Yuan Ji that what was happening to the thousand Spirit-Helm soldiers before him was far more than mere possession. When one’s body was possessed by a spirit, there were no physical changes; but this was a true and tangible transformation. The black mist enveloping these men grew thicker and thicker. Without hesitation, Yuan Ji dropped the limp Lang Xian from his arms, seized Huang Yu by the hand, and spun around to flee.

Huang Yu, petrified by the horrifying spectacle, had lost all strength in his legs. Yuan Ji’s sudden, forceful pull only caused him to fall to the ground. The poor youth was so terrified that he had lost control of his bowels.

Yuan Ji had barely taken a step when he found himself unable to move. Glancing back, he saw that Huang Yu’s right leg was already gripped by one of the blackened Spirit-Helm soldiers.

Yuan Ji shouted, “Who are you? Why do you treat us so?”

From deep within his throat, the black-armored giant issued a voice that seemed to come from the very depths of hell: “I am General Sha Shang of the Dark Dirge Vanguard. I should be asking you why you removed your helmet!”

A cold shudder ran through Yuan Ji’s heart. As a descendant of the royal house of Zhu Yuan, he knew a little of the hierarchy within the Dark Dirge Army. This Sha Shang was likely the last of the Four Generals of Earth among the Eight Generals of Dirge. Though ranked lowest, his strength was not to be underestimated—by the standards of Xuanhuang, he was at least of the third or fourth rank of the Immortal class.

“So, they’ve really sent heavy hitters this time—Sha Shang himself. I wonder if the other Generals are here as well. But… now that they look like this, how can I even recognize if my brothers are themselves anymore? And what about Strategist Lang—what am I supposed to do?” Yuan Ji’s mind was a storm of inner struggle.

At that moment, another burly man, wreathed in even thicker darkness, strode up behind Sha Shang. Without a word, he seized Huang Yu from the ground and said, “I never imagined that warping through the void would be so draining. I’m completely exhausted—this feels awful.”

Yuan Ji, caught off guard, was jerked forward by the force of the man’s pull and stumbled straight into Sha Shang’s waiting arms. With a single move, Sha Shang subdued him.

The black giant who had seized Huang Yu now gripped him by the throat with one hand, and with the other, held both his legs. No matter how Huang Yu struggled, it was in vain. He opened his mouth wide to cry out, but not a sound escaped.

The black-armored titan hoisted Huang Yu overhead and let out a thunderous roar. Yuan Ji, terrified, squeezed his eyes shut and thought, “That’s it for Huang Yu—the villain will surely tear him in two.” He waited, eyes closed, but did not hear the expected blood-curdling scream.

He cracked open his eyes, only to see countless threads of white light streaming from Huang Yu’s body into the black giant. Huang Yu’s face was contorted with terror, his body shriveling and blackening at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Meanwhile, the black giant’s complexion grew ever more radiant, his face twisted with pleasure and satisfaction.

With a dull thud, a charred, withered corpse was flung to the ground. Huang Yu still clung to a thread of life, his mouth opening and closing without sound, and in the next moment, the last spark in his eyes flickered out.

Yuan Ji thrashed with all his might, desperate to break free from Sha Shang and bid farewell to the warm-hearted youth who had perished so cruelly. But no matter how he struggled, Sha Shang’s grip was unbreakable.

Yuan Ji roared, “We had an agreement! You were only to take our power, not possess our bodies!”

The black giant who had just drained Huang Yu’s essence sneered. “Is everyone here so naïve?” He glanced at Sha Shang and said, “Old Fourth, why are you keeping him around? This one looks strong, brimming with energy—why not enjoy him now and restore your strength?”

Sha Shang gave a sinister smile. “Third Brother, is one not enough for you? I could give you this one too. Besides, the Vanguard has prepared a feast for us outside—I’d like to go out and eat my fill.”

Yuan Ji cursed, “You faithless rats! Where is your Vanguard? She promised our Zhu Yuan clan she would support our restoration and treat our people well. Where is she? Bring her out! You treacherous, despicable scoundrels!”

Tu Shang shook his head. “If you hadn’t taken off your helmet, you’d have become our Vanguard. If you want to see her, you’ll have to put it back on.”

At that moment, two more hulking, black-armored figures approached. They were even larger, their heavy steps thudding dully with each stride.

Tu and Sha immediately straightened up and addressed them, “Big Brother, Second Brother.”

The one called Big Brother glanced at Yuan Ji’s furious face and asked Sha Shang, “So, the Vanguard is missing because this brat took off his helmet?”

Sha Shang chuckled. “That’s right! The brat even demanded to see our Vanguard. Isn’t that funny? Heh heh.”

Shi Shang waved his hand at Sha Shang. “Fourth Brother, enough games. Put the helmet on him. The Vanguard’s spirit transfer is about to begin again. If it fails, her consciousness will be stranded aboard the Nebula Ark.”

Shan Shang nodded in agreement. “Second Brother’s right—good thing the Vanguard is only sending her spirit. If the first transfer had failed with her actual body, who knows when the next chance would come.”

Sha Shang’s sinister smile vanished as he nudged the fallen Spirit-Helm with his toe, caught it, and clapped it onto Yuan Ji’s head.

Yuan Ji shook his head desperately, trying to throw the helmet off, but Shan Shang’s massive hand pressed down, pinning his head in place. Helpless, Yuan Ji could only curse, “You murdered my thousand brothers—I’ll haunt you even in death!”

Shan Shang snorted. “Your soldiers are indeed dead, but you won’t die. Our Vanguard will possess your body for a while—your consciousness will remain. Hmph! The people of Xuanhuang are always so squeamish about these things.” He spat on the ground in disgust.

Shi Shang glanced around, then stepped closer and whispered, “Big Brother, you mustn’t speak so. She is the Emperor’s personally appointed Vanguard. We, the Four Generals—Shan, Shi, Tu, and Sha—are all subject to her command. We must show her some respect.”

Tu Shang strolled over, stretching lazily. “What’s so scary about a stray dog? Who knows what spell she cast on the Emperor to get this position? Big Brother has followed the Emperor for years, and yet, just before the expedition, the Vanguard title was handed to her. I feel nothing but injustice for Big Brother.”

Sha Shang raised an eyebrow and said in his cold, biting tone, “Third Brother, she may be a stray dog, but can you kill her? Not even Big Brother lasted more than three moves against her.” He looked at Shan Shang. “No offense, Big Brother. I just speak my mind.”

Tu Shang grunted and withdrew into the crowd, falling silent.

As the Dark Dirge Vanguard soldiers traded idle words, another flash of lightning split the sky. This time, there was no pillar of blinding light—just an ordinary bolt that crashed into the underground palace.

Sha Shang, who still held Yuan Ji, caught the lightning’s strange glow in the corner of his eye. Without even looking up, he released Yuan Ji and flipped backward in retreat.

While Sha Shang was still airborne, the lightning struck Yuan Ji’s helmet, blasting the ground around him into a circle of scorched earth.

Moments before, the four generals—Shan, Shi, Tu, and Sha—had been utterly unbothered. Now, they urgently shielded their vital points. In the distance, the rest of the Dark Dirge Vanguard troops were thrown sprawling by the shockwave.

When the wind died down and the dust settled, they turned to look at where Yuan Ji had been. In his place now crouched a tall, poised woman. She had fair skin, delicate features, and wore a suit of silver-scaled armor edged in gold. Her crimson brocade battle skirt fluttered in the wind, and from her palms, ghostly blue blades of energy flickered into shape. Her sword-like brows were drawn in icy defiance.

Tu Shang spat out a mouthful of dirt and muttered, “That madwoman is about to make a scene again.”

The cold beauty swept her sharp gaze across the assembly and asked in a cool, calm voice, “Who—kept me waiting so long?”

The words were not loud, but they sliced through the air like knives. The Dark Dirge soldiers all shrank their necks instinctively.

Sha Shang stepped forward, saluted, and reported, “Vanguard! The leader with the twin-tailed fox helmet inexplicably removed his helm, so your first attempt at possession failed. As soon as we arrived, we subdued him for you.” He bowed his head, not daring to say more.

The woman’s tone was icy. “If not for our shortage of manpower, I’d have had the lot of you executed as an example.”

Just then, Yuan Ji’s voice suddenly emerged from within her body. “What’s happening? Why do I look like this?”

The woman snorted. “It’s called the Art of Transfiguration, you country oaf. If your Zhu Yuan royal family had a single presentable woman, do you think I’d want your hulking frame?”

Yuan Ji’s voice struggled. “Get out of my body! Let me go!”

She snapped, impatiently, “So noisy. If you weren’t still useful to me, I’d have refined your spirit already.” She began to circulate her energy.

From within, Yuan Ji’s voice cried out in terror, “What are you doing? You… you’re…”

The cold beauty’s lips curled into an intoxicating smile. “Don’t be afraid. I’m just suppressing your consciousness. I, Fairy of Lanling, gave my word not to kill you, and I won’t.”

She paused for a moment, then added softly, “At least—not for now.”