Chapter 1682: No Hope

Gongzi Xiang, Yun Wanxiao, and Liu Bianhuang, representing the elite warriors of the Archaic Hunting Ground, ascended into the sky.

Gongzi Xiang stood with one hand behind his back and the other on his sword hilt, his gaze arrogant. "I have awaited your arrival for a long time!"

Yun Wanxiao's expression was grim. "How many Ancient Giants have arrived? This barbaric aura is far too potent!"

Liu Bianhuang, Jiang Yitian, and many other powerful individuals wore extremely grim expressions. Just as the time was approaching for them to return safely, the Ancient Giants attacked!

"Indeed, how could a perilous battlefield, brought forth by a forbidden zone like the Black River, end so easily?"

"If nothing unexpected happens, we might all be 'dragged to our deaths' in the Central Lands!"

"Don't lose heart yet; let's see the enemy's numbers first!"

Thump-thump! Thump-thump-thump! The ground, which had become a wasteland, began to tremble. Countless thundering hoofbeats trampled the land of Hunyuan Province, approaching like a mighty torrent. At the horizon, dust rose like dragons, and mountains collapsed as they were struck by unidentifiable beings. The dull clang of weapons followed in quick succession. This was something other Ancient Giant armies lacked!

Everyone held their breath and watched intently. They saw an army of approximately eighty Giant Kings, moving towards them like a range of mountains. These were no longer ordinary Golden Giant Kings. Instead, they were entirely clad in ancient, bronze-colored armor, covering them from head to toe, with only their large vertical eyes and mouths visible. Each carried a golden mace with immense destructive power. Leading them were two towering thirty-zhang Five-Star Giant Kings marching side by side.

"Central Tribe's Fifth Army, arrived on the battlefield! Awaiting His Majesty's command!"

Immediately after, another fully armed army arrived with a formidable presence.

"Central Tribe's Fourth Army, arrived on the battlefield! Awaiting His Majesty's command!"

"Central Tribe's Third Army, arrived on the battlefield! Awaiting His Majesty's command!"

"Central Tribe's Second Army..."

"Central Tribe's First Army..."

The five massive Giant King armies converged on the battlefield, resembling an unbroken mountain range that severed the boundary between heaven and earth.

Jiang Fan's eyes showed a grave expression. "Ten Five-Star Giant Kings, four hundred ordinary Giant Kings, and all of them clad in bronze armor?"

Princess Zijiang had lied. How could the army facing Tianzhou be merely twice as strong as an ordinary great province's army? The sheer number was more than double. And then there was the unprecedented bronze armor!

Liu Bianhuang's pupils constricted. "What's going on with your Southern Heavenly Realm's Giant Kings? Why do they have armor?"

Yun Wanxiao also exclaimed in surprise, "This is Senluo Armor, which only the Asura clan can forge! It can withstand attacks from those of equal cultivation!"

"The Central Lands are doomed! Completely doomed!"

"We will all be 'dragged to our deaths' on the Central Lands' battlefield!"

Jiang Fan suddenly recalled seeing many Angel clan corpses in the stone cone space within the Ten Thousand Tribulations Holy Temple. All of them had been clad in armor. The armor worn by the Giant Kings before them bore some resemblance to the Angel clan's armor. However, the Giant Kings' armor was much larger.

Jiang Fan looked towards Hong Xiu not far away; her eyes also showed surprise, and a trace of frost appeared on her face. "These Dark Asura clan members are truly aiding tyranny!"

"Are they not afraid of being held accountable in the future?"

Dark Asura clan? Jiang Fan's gaze sharpened, and he looked around. He then realized that since the experts from various realms arrived in the Central Lands, the pair of Dark Asura siblings had not appeared, nor had they taken action against the giants. His eyes flashed with killing intent, but there was no time to deal with them.

"Is the Senluo Armor truly that formidable?" Jiang Fan asked.

Hong Xiu nodded. "This is also because dark energy is extremely scarce in the Heavenly Realm. If the armor were fully charged with dark energy, its defensive power would rise another level."

Jiang Fan's expression remained calm. He took the hand of Venerable Zhenyan. Venerable Zhenyan understood the message Jiang Fan conveyed. He would not live to see the war end, thus unable to marry her.

"Is there truly no chance of winning? We've endured so many difficult battles."

Jiang Fan shook his head. "There's no hope."

"Four hundred Giant Kings, all clad in armor."

"We have no hope of victory."

Venerable Zhenyan looked at the group of foreign realm experts and said, "Don't we still have their assistance?"

Jiang Fan's eyes darkened. "In battles with a chance of victory, they will fight with all their might. In battles with no chance of victory, they will preserve their strength, distance themselves from the battlefield, and wait for an opportunity to escape the Central Lands."

As if to confirm his words, many foreign realm experts weighed their options and successively retreated, fleeing towards the outskirts of the battlefield. This battle was unwinnable. It was destined they would not return to the Archaic Hunting Ground. If that's the case, what was the point of risking their lives to fight the Ancient Giants? Saving their lives and finding a chance to escape the Central Lands was the wise course of action.

One by one, they left. Before long, most of the foreign realm experts had fled. Liu Bianhuang shot Jiang Fan a venomous glare before decisively retreating as well. Yun Wanxiao, even more so, chose self-preservation and retreated without a word. Finally, only a sparse few foreign realm experts remained.

Gongzi Xiang remained calm and composed, slowly drawing his cold, imperial longsword. "To retreat when faced with a stronger foe is not my way!"

Jiang Yitian wanted to leave, but looking at the damned Ancient Dark creatures, he snorted, "It's not too late to leave after I've used up all my poisons!"

Witnessing this scene, the hearts of the Central Lands army sank significantly. Venerable Zhenyan's lips trembled slightly. It seemed there was truly no hope for the Central Lands. Feeling the large hand tightly gripping hers, she hesitated for a moment, then intertwined her fingers and gripped his hand back. She glanced sideways at Jiang Fan, giving him a reassuring look. "I will stay with you until the end."

Jiang Fan's eyes showed sorrow. He had just promised to marry her after the war, but that promise could not be fulfilled. He looked back and said, "Alright, stay close to me later!"

Then, Jiang Fan looked around and called out, "White Tiger!"

The trembling White Tiger from a distance ran over, its eyes filled with unease.

Jiang Fan apologized, "I'm sorry, I've dragged you into this."

"I'll return your soul; go find your own way out." He retrieved a wisp of the White Tiger's soul and returned it to the beast. Keeping the White Tiger by force wouldn't change the situation; it was better to let it go.

The White Tiger was slightly taken aback, not expecting Jiang Fan to release it. After a moment of hesitation, it used its forehead to receive the wisp of soul. As the soul entered its body, it regained its freedom, yet it did not leave. Instead, it extended a tiger claw and drew a coffin symbol on the ground, with a small figure inside.

Jiang Fan deciphered it and said, "You want to stay and collect my body?"

The White Tiger nodded its large head.

Jiang Fan laughed, "Hmph hmph hmph..." His shoulders shook with laughter, and his voice, long and resounding in the somber battlefield, pierced the dark clouds like sunlight, spreading across the heavens and earth. "Since someone will collect my body, this battle... what is there to fear?"

Holding Venerable Zhenyan's hand, he leaped onto the White Tiger's forehead. Looking down at the Ancient Giants, vast as mountains, he laughed loudly, "Jiang Fan of the Central Lands is here!"

"Come at me!!!"