【The Divine Eagle Empire】(Unabridged Volume 5, Chapters 166-174)

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Chapter 166 The Aerial Man
Stepping out of the underground palace, Wu Tianjiao looked back and, finding no one chasing him, secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He noticed a chill running down his
spine, cold sweat beading on his skin, and his heart was still pounding. He could
n't help but think, "That terrifying woman! Luckily, the Immortal Maiden of Ten Thousand Worlds didn't try to stop me. If she had, I don't think I would have made it out of the underground palace!"
The more he thought about it, the more terrified he became. He quickened his pace, swiftly leaving Jiangshan Tower. After finding his mount, the Crimson
Dragon Beast, he immediately left Mingyue Continent, not daring to linger for even a moment, fearing that the Immortal Maiden of Ten Thousand Worlds would catch up
and take him back to the underground palace.
Riding the Crimson Dragon Beast, Wu Tianjiao galloped back to the Eagle King's Mansion like a whirlwind. It was already evening.
The guards at the Eagle King's mansion, seeing Wu Tianjiao return alone, paled but dared not neglect him, bowing and
calling out in unison, "Your Highness!"
Wu Tianjiao ignored them, urging his Crimson Dragon Beast directly into the mansion. After dismounting in the courtyard,
he saw the middle-aged steward approaching. Before the steward could speak, Wu Tianjiao darted to him and
shouted, "Where is Madam Mei?"
Wu Tianjiao's aggressive manner startled the steward. Regaining his composure, the steward stammered, "She...is in the back
courtyard..."
"Take me to see her!"
Without further ado, Wu Tianjiao grabbed the steward and headed towards the back courtyard.
The middle-aged steward appeared refined, but he was actually a martial artist with considerable internal strength. To become
the steward of the Eagle King's mansion was no ordinary position. But he was held captive by Wu Tianjiao, offering no resistance whatsoever. His entire body was numb,
and he let Wu Tianjiao drag him along, crying out in pain, "I...I...Your Highness...please let go...I
'll lead the way!"
He felt a splitting pain in his wrist, as if the bones were about to shatter. Seeing the steward's pale face in pain, Wu Tianjiao had no choice but
to release him, coldly sneering, "Take me to see Madam Mei quickly, and you'd better not try anything funny. Otherwise, I'll
burn down the Eagle King's Mansion today, and see if you'll still be a steward!"
Seeing Wu Tianjiao's cold glint and murderous intent, the middle-aged steward repeatedly agreed, both frightened and terrified, obediently leading
the way. He had originally intended to say a few kind words, but now he refrained from doing so.
Before long, the middle-aged steward led Wu Tianjiao to the backyard and pointed to a circular
gate not far ahead, saying, "Your Highness, that...that's the Plum Blossom Palace where Madam Mei resides. This old servant is not at liberty to go in; please, Your Highness,
make yourself at home!"
Wu Tianjiao ignored him and walked towards the gate. Two guards with swords stood on either side of the gate.
They didn't recognize Wu Tianjiao, and seeing someone trying to enter Madam Mei's palace, they immediately stepped forward to stop him. One of them shouted,
"Who goes there? Stop!"
Wu Tianjiao ignored him and continued walking forward. Seeing this, the guard on the left shouted, "You're courting death!"
With that shout, he swung his right hand, throwing a punch straight at Wu Tianjiao. The punch carried a strong wind, with the force of thunder, and
its power was not to be underestimated.
But with Wu Tianjiao's current level of skill, how could he take such a gatekeeper seriously? Seeing this, he snorted coldly,
neither dodging nor evading. His right arm circled, seemingly boneless, forming a circle like a serpent. This
was a move from the Thousand Steps Dragon-Capturing technique, known as the "Great Circle Hand," a technique of "using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds." Wu Tianjiao used it
effortlessly, with complete ease.
The guard's fist struck the center of Wu Tianjiao's right arm's "circle." The seemingly ferocious punch, capable of shattering metal and stone,
vanished like a mud ox entering the sea upon hitting Wu Tianjiao's arm circle. The sharp force disappeared without a trace, as if struck by a whirlpool
, the power completely swallowed up.
The guard was stunned, not expecting his punch to be so easily neutralized by the young man before him.
But in the brief moment he hesitated, a sharp killing intent flashed in Wu Tianjiao's eyes. His right arm moved,
coiling around the guard's arm like a snake. His right claw instantly gripped the guard's arm, its five claws like hooks,
unleashing an extremely powerful force. The guard screamed like a pig being slaughtered: "Ah—!"
He only managed half a scream before Wu Tianjiao flicked his arm, sending the guard soaring into the air, becoming an "aerial
acrobat." Given Wu Tianjiao's skill level, the force of this casual flick was immense. The guard
shot into the air like an arrow, flailing his arms and legs, rising several dozen feet before falling, unfortunately landing
on a large tree in the backyard. He crashed down, breaking several branches, and hung motionless on a branch, unable to get down,
his fate unknown.
This all happened in an instant. The other guard didn't even have time to react, watching helplessly as his companion rose
into the air and fell, filled with shock and fear. Wu Tianjiao had no intention of letting him go. Using the same method, he tossed him into the air, and
without even looking back, he rushed into the courtyard gate, heading straight for a luxurious palace inside.
However, just as Wu Tianjiao approached a stone platform in front of the palace, he heard an extremely faint
sound of clothes fluttering in the wind. In an instant, a woman dressed in a black dress with long, flowing hair appeared before him. She
gripped her sword hilt and coldly said, "Who are you? How dare you trespass into the Plum Blossom Hall? What brings you here?
Anyone who enters the Plum Blossom Hall without permission shall die. Surrender now and come with me to await Lady Hou's judgment."
Wu Tianjiao was eager to see Lady Mei and wouldn't waste words with irrelevant people. He immediately said, "I want to see
Lady Mei. Tell her to come out!"
"How dare you!"
the woman in black shouted, "Does Lady Mei not appear before you as you please? Immediately strike your pressure points and come with me to await
Lady Hou's judgment."
It seemed this woman was used to being arrogant and didn't respect anyone. Wu Tianjiao didn't say anything more to her and
laughed loudly, "Since that's the case, then please lead the way, young lady. I'll go and speak with your lady in person."
He reached out with his left hand and swiftly grabbed the woman in black's right wrist.
Caught off guard, the woman in black was both anxious and ashamed as he grabbed her right hand. She quickly struggled free and
shouted, "You're courting death!"
She raised her left palm and slashed straight at him.
Wu Tianjiao smiled and said, "This young master only needs you to lead the way to see Madam Mei; I mean no harm."
As he spoke, he raised his right hand and pointed a finger, causing the woman in black to lower her left hand limply.
Wu Tianjiao chuckled, "Please, young lady!"
The words had barely left his lips when the woman in black, whose wrist he was holding, suddenly slumped to the ground.
"Huh!"
Wu Tianjiao was startled. He noticed a slight tremor in her body as she froze, then stopped moving
. He quickly looked down and saw blood slowly trickling from the corner of her mouth. She had clearly died from a heart attack.
He exclaimed in horror, "She actually committed suicide!"
and hurriedly released his grip.
Before he finished speaking, a soft rustling sound of clothes being torn through the air was heard. Four figures, swift as birds, landed on the platform
, surrounding him.
As the figure landed, four clanging sword sounds rang out. Four long-haired women in black robes swiftly drew
their swords. The leader shouted, "You audacious madman! How dare you injure someone before the Plum Blossom Hall! Kneel down and surrender!"
Wu Tianjiao clasped his hands in apology, saying, "I am truly sorry to this young lady. I only asked
her to take us to see Madam Mei, but unexpectedly, she died from a self-inflicted injury!"
"What a madman!"
The leader raised an eyebrow and said sharply, "How can a disciple of our sect fall into the hands of outsiders? Kneel down and
surrender!"
As she spoke, she flicked her wrist, and four gleaming swords simultaneously thrust towards Wu Tianjiao from all sides.
The four women's attacks were incredibly swift; the tips of the swords almost touched his clothes. At this moment, Wu Tianjiao could no longer even draw his weapon
.
"Kneel down and be bound?"
Wu Tianjiao laughed loudly, "A man's knees are worth gold, how can he kneel? The four ladies would better put away their swords
."
He made a gesture of protecting his chest with his right hand.
The leading woman, filled with hatred for his companion who had died at his hands, roared, "How dare you say another word?"
She thrust her long sword forward a little, but the tip of the sword still didn't pierce the other woman's clothes. She
was secretly puzzled, and with a slight push of her right hand, the tip of the sword went in an inch or so, but still didn't pierce the other woman's body. It
had gone in almost five inches, but the other woman's body didn't move at all. She couldn't help but wonder, "How come I didn't
pierce the other woman?"
At this moment, Wu Tianjiao's right hand swung up, and he laughed loudly, "Since the four ladies are unwilling to put away their swords, I have
no choice but to offend you."
With a flick of his sleeve, his body spun lightly like a top, and four clanging sword sounds rang out. The four
hundred-refined long swords that were pressed against his body instantly snapped in two.
The four women in black never dreamed that Wu Tianjiao's martial arts were so superb. With a mere flick of his sleeve, he
shattered their four longswords made of refined steel. They cried out in surprise and leaped away like birds in flight.
Just then, the two tall doors of the Plum Blossom Hall slowly opened, and the four women swiftly retreated inside.
Wu Tianjiao's gaze sharpened, and after a slight hesitation, he gracefully ascended the stone steps and stepped inside.
It was already dark, and the hall was completely unlit, yet Wu Tianjiao could clearly see
eight women in black robes with long, flowing hair standing on either side of the hall.
These eight women were dressed exactly like the four women from before, but they were at least ten years older.
The four women were only around twenty, while these eight were at least thirty. They
stood there silently in two rows, motionless, like wooden statues. If Wu Tianjiao hadn't possessed night vision, who could see them clearly in such darkness
?
Wu Tianjiao didn't stop walking, continuing forward without even drawing his weapon.
Just as he approached the center of the hall, the eight women in black robes, without a sound, flashed their swords and
swiftly surrounded him, moving with the speed of a gust of wind.
At that moment, a cold female voice rang out from behind him: "Wu Tianjiao, now that you're here,
you'd better run down and surrender."
Wu Tianjiao was startled and asked, "Who is this? Do you know me?"
"Of course I know you,"
the woman's voice said. "You can surrender now, or you'll die a horrible death!"
Wu Tianjiao laughed loudly: "Why should I surrender?" The
woman's voice behind him said, "Turn around and you'll see."
A thought flashed through Wu Tianjiao's mind, and he quickly turned around.
Chapter 167 One Move to Defeate the Enemy
The eight women in black stood according to the Bagua (Eight Trigrams) formation. Each held two longswords, surrounding
Wu Tianjiao. Their swords crossed, forming a sword formation—sixteen gleaming blades all
aimed at Wu Tianjiao in the center. Although they were still several feet apart, the sheer distance was chilling!
Suddenly, a hexagonal palace lantern was lit at the entrance to the hall Wu Tianjiao had just entered through.
Actually, they didn't need the lantern; Wu Tianjiao could see his wife, Xiao Qionghua, standing
not far from the entrance. Behind her, on either side, stood two women in black, their two gleaming longswords crossed
and poised at Xiao Qionghua's jade-like neck, their throats held in place!
No, there were three women in black; the third, with a cold expression, stood to the side, her sword still sheathed, one hand on the hilt—
the one who had spoken. Wu Tianjiao found her face somewhat familiar, as if he had seen it before
.
It was immediately clear that Xiao Qionghua had been restrained by their pressure points and was unable to speak.
Wu Tianjiao was furious. His brow furrowed, and he coldly demanded, "What have you done to my wife?"
The leading woman in black coldly replied, "Wu Tianjiao, as long as you surrender, the Second Madam will be fine
."
Hearing her mention "Second Madam," Wu Tianjiao's gaze sharpened. He scoffed, "You're Qiao'er?"
The leading woman in black couldn't help but giggle. "Young Master Wu, you certainly have an eye for talent and a good memory. You still remember
me. Since you recognize me, that's even better. Let me tell you, besides the Second Madam, there's also your sister-in-law,
Xiao Yuehua, as well as Lady Nightingale, Princess Qianning, Princess Wude, the Heavenly Spirit Mother, and her disciples.
They're all waiting for you. Tell me, is it worth surrendering?"
Wu Tianjiao was secretly shocked. Even the Heavenly Spirit Mother and Princess Wude had fallen into Madam Mei's hands;
it was truly unbelievable. How had Madam Mei managed to capture them all in one fell swoop?
Seeing that he remained silent, Qiao'er coldly said, "Wu Tianjiao, if you don't surrender,
I only need to make a gesture, and with a cross of my swords, your second wife's head will fall to the ground. Hmph! A woman as beautiful as her
, I really can't bear to kill her!"
Her words enraged Wu Tianjiao. His eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he laughed angrily, "I came here
with no intention of harming anyone. Since that's the case, then don't blame me for being ruthless."
Qiao'er said, "So, you don't care about your second wife's life or death."
Wu Tianjiao glared and shouted, "Why haven't you released my wife yet?"
Qiao'er shouted, "Tether him and capture him."
Wu Tianjiao snorted, "With your small force, you can't restrain me."
Almost simultaneously, Wu Tianjiao's shout was followed by three cries of alarm, and eight
women in black robes, wielding sixteen long swords, suddenly converged and thrust forward one after another.
To end the battle quickly, Wu Tianjiao flicked his left hand, unleashing three inch-long broken sword fragments. Earlier, on the platform outside the hall,
the leader of the four women in black had stabbed him
three times, but failed to land a blow. The fragments had been broken by Wu Tianjiao's right hand, which was protecting his chest. He never used hidden weapons, and these three broken sword fragments remained
in his hand after entering the Plum Blossom Hall. Now, he used them to subdue the three women in black at the entrance. Simultaneously,
he drew his Emperor's Sword with his right hand, a blood-red sword light flashing around him like lightning. A rapid,
rain-like clang of metal filled the air, and all eight women in black were forced back two steps.
However, these eight women in black were truly skilled in martial arts. Those who had just been knocked back
quickly returned, landing in their original positions and immediately launching an attack.
They were all highly trained, and each of the eight women, according to their respective Bagua (Eight Trigrams) positions, employed different attacks!
The Qian and Dui positions belong to Metal. The swordsman in the Qian position leaps forward, unleashing a move called "White Rainbow Hanging Upside Down." The twin swords in the Dui position gleam
with a dazzling light, performing a move called "Paper Drunken Gold," radiating light. The Kan position belongs to Water, with sword light surging like waves. The Zhen position belongs to
Wood, with twin swords thrusting vertically, their momentum like rolling logs. The Li position belongs to Fire, with a crouching stance and a sword strike, performing a move called "Raising Fire to Burn the Sky."
The Kun and Gen positions belong to Earth, rolling along the ground, one to the
left and one to the right, four longswords spinning like wheels, even more ferocious than a ground-sweeping blade! Eight women, wielding sixteen longswords in perfect coordination, instantly filled an area of ten feet in all directions with dazzling
, cold light, leaving almost no room for evasion.
Wu Tianjiao hadn't expected their swordsmanship to be so fierce; of course, he wouldn't dodge. A master swordsman
believes in the principle of "If the enemy doesn't move, I don't move; if the enemy moves, I move first."
Although the eight women in black moved with extreme speed, Wu Tianjiao's eyesight was incredibly sharp, and his attacks were naturally even
faster. His Emperor's Sword suddenly spun around, unleashing a rapid barrage of metallic clangs. The eight women, barely unleashing their sword strikes,
were simultaneously forced back.
While their martial arts skills were certainly inferior to Wu Tianjiao's, their training in sword formations made their movements extremely agile.
Even when thrown back, their sword formation remained intact; with a mere tap of their toes, they flew back with incredible speed.
Wu Tianjiao, anxious to release Xiao Qionghua from her restraints, barely moved before the eight
women in black surrounded him again. No, they landed and immediately unleashed their swords with renewed ferocity, their attacks intensifying once more!
Wu Tianjiao was both anxious and angry. Seeing their relentless entanglement, he had no time to waste.
With a loud shout, a dazzling sword light burst forth like thunder, followed by a chilling clang of metal
. His left hand simultaneously lashed out, and from within the chilling sword energy emerged a faint golden light—the "Dragon Elephant Divine Skill."
Almost half of the eight women in black robes dropped their swords, gasping in surprise. They staggered backward, their faces pale
, but after only a few steps, they collapsed to the ground, unable to get up!
Wu Tianjiao ignored them, rushing to Xiao Qionghua's side and swiftly releasing her
pressure points.
Xiao Qionghua managed a soft "Ah!"
Wu Tianjiao had already spun around, his movements swift as the wind, striking the pressure points of three women in black robes who stood frozen like chickens before sheathing
his Emperor's Sword. He then embraced Xiao Qionghua's slender waist, saying, "Sister Qionghua, you've suffered! I'm late!"
Xiao Qionghua nestled in his arms, her face flushed. After a moment of tenderness, she pushed him away, glancing at the surrounding
women in black robes. "Brother Jiao," she said, "these people..."
Wu Tianjiao's eyes flashed with murderous intent. He said coldly, "These people are all Madam Mei's people. They dared to harm my lady;
I won't let them get away with it!"
His thoughts raced, and after a slight hesitation, he focused his mind, storing all the women in black robes into the Nine Dragons Jade
Bracelet's space. He had made up his mind; he felt these women in black robes were quite skilled in martial arts. With
proper training, they might prove very useful in the future.
Looking around, seeing that Madam Mei hadn't yet appeared, Wu Tianjiao strode forward, passing through the main hall and entering
another hall.
This hall was still dark, and there was no one around. But on the stone steps in front of the hall, there were two people.
This time, it wasn't the long-haired woman in black, but two elderly women in black, with white hair and black canes.
Wu Tianjiao ignored them and strode over, passing through the hall, about to climb the steps.
The two white-haired old women, their four piercing eyes fixed on the two men, had
remained silent from the moment they entered the hall until they reached the stone steps. Now, unable to contain themselves any longer, the one on the left shouted,
"Why aren't you standing there?"
Wu Tianjiao stopped abruptly, raising his head and asking, "What do you want?"
The one on the right said, "Didn't you see the two old women standing here on the steps?"
Wu Tianjiao replied, "We saw them a long time ago."
The one on the left said, "Do you think we're just playing around here?"
Wu Tianjiao nonchalantly replied, "What does this have to do with me?"
The one on the right angrily said, "You little brat, these old women have been waiting for you right here."
Wu Tianjiao smiled faintly and said, "We've come, haven't we?"
Xiao Qionghua could tell that these two old women were not to be trifled with. Even if she couldn't tell, she could easily guess.
The eight women in black robes before them already possessed extremely high swordsmanship; they were only at the first level. Now they were at the second level, and the old women in black robes...
There were only two women, which didn't mean their martial arts were superior to the eight women in black robes in front. But Jiao Di seemed to
disregard them completely. She was very confident in her husband's martial arts, so she let Wu Tianjiao answer,
remaining silent as she followed behind him.
The woman on the left, annoyed by Wu Tianjiao's arrogant tone, snorted, "You little brat,
how dare you speak like that in front of us old women?"
Wu Tianjiao coldly replied, "What do you want me to say?" The woman
on the right said, "Young man, you're so young, you really don't know your place. Let me give you some advice
: when you see us two old women, you'll only have yourself to submit to."
"Oh!"
Wu Tianjiao casually uttered an "Oh," and asked, "Who are you two old women?"
The woman on the right replied, "We are the left and right protectors of the Plum Blossom Hall."
"Very well!"
Wu Tianjiao nodded and said, "I also have a piece of advice, which I hope you two will pass on to Madam Mei."
The one on the left glared at him and said, "You also have advice, and you want this old woman to pass it on to the Palace Master? You've got
quite the nerve!"
The one on the right said, "Let's hear what he has to say."
The one on the left said in a deep voice, "Alright, speak!"
Wu Tianjiao's face turned serious, and he said sternly, "Please tell Madam Mei that if she doesn't want to be
enemies with Feng Fortress, she should release all my men, otherwise..."
Before he could finish, the one on the left interrupted with a sharp laugh, "Feng Fortress? What Feng Fortress? This old woman has
never even heard of it. You can only fool the lowest of the low in the martial arts world with Feng Fortress. Hmm, you
're the lord of Feng Fortress, aren't you?"
"You could say that!"
Wu Tianjiao said coldly, "I am the Golden Knife Prince Consort of the Empire, the Lord of Feng City. You must have heard of me, right
?"
"So what if you've heard of them?"
the woman on the right said. "Go on, or what will you do?"
Wu Tianjiao said coldly, "If you don't release them, don't blame me for being impolite."
"What arrogance!"
the woman on the left said with contempt, sneering, "So what if you're impolite?"
Wu Tianjiao sneered, "I've already captured all those who tried to stop me. As I go in,
I'll capture them one by one, including your Palace Master, Madam Mei."
The two old women were taken aback. Seemingly still somewhat incredulous, the one on the right hurriedly asked, "
What have you done to the people in the front hall?"
Wu Tianjiao replied, "They have all become my prisoners, including your Eight Trigrams Sword Formation and
the three who were escorting my wife, a total of eleven people."
The one on the left was stunned for a moment, then his eyes flashed, and he shouted, "Boy, why don't you release them?"
Wu Tianjiao laughed loudly and said, "Release them? How could I release them? Unless you release my people.
Otherwise, I will capture them one by one, including your Madam Mei. I will even
burn this Plum Blossom Hall down. Do you believe me or not?"
The one on the left was enraged and shouted, "You little brat, this old woman will chop you down!" As
soon as he shouted, he raised his left hand and struck her with a palm. She was standing on the steps, and this palm struck down like Mount Tai
.
Wu Tianjiao stood tall, neither dodging nor flinching, and said, "Very well, I'll use you as an example and let your
Madam Mei see the consequences of not releasing them."
He hadn't raised his palm to block until the moment he finished speaking, at which point his left hand swiftly rose and struck out.
He could clearly see the gleam in the eyes of these two old women in black, indicating they were masters of unorthodox martial arts. Therefore
, as he spoke, his left hand had already unleashed the full power of the Dragon Elephant Divine Skill, aiming to cripple their martial arts in one fell swoop. He might be
gentle and considerate towards beautiful women, but he had no choice but to treat these old women in their seventies and eighties with ruthlessness!
The Dragon Elephant Divine Skill was the most extraordinary martial art in the world, the nemesis of all kinds of unorthodox and evil martial arts. Even the Heavenly Cauldron Divine Skill was
the ancestor of unorthodox martial arts, capable of crippling an opponent's power.
Although the old woman on the left didn't strike with her full strength, she was still attacking in anger, using at least 80% of her power. Seeing that Wu
Tianjiao neither dodged nor blocked, but continued to talk glibly, she thought to herself, "You're doomed!"
But before she could finish her thought, Wu Tianjiao raised his palm to meet the attack. In that instant, he sensed something was wrong. The opponent's
palm force contained an incomparably strong yang energy. The moment they made contact, he felt a violent shock in his heart,
as if struck by lightning. He groaned and fell to the ground with a thud.
The old woman on the right stared in disbelief, her dove-headed cane slamming down as she hurriedly asked, "Protector Tian, what's
wrong?"
The old woman on the left collapsed to the ground, looking utterly exhausted, gasping for breath, "This old woman... is finished,
this brat... has destroyed all my... martial arts..."
The old woman on the right never dreamed that the left protector's martial arts would be destroyed by this brat. She was both terrified and
furious. She slammed her dove-headed cane down and shouted, "Bro..."
She only managed to utter the word "bro," before she could finish her sentence!
Wu Tianjiao's eyes flashed with a cold light as he shouted, "I crippled her martial arts merely to set an example for you. Why
don't you carry her inside and tell your Madam Mei that I want to hear her response?"
The old woman on the right was stunned. In all her decades, she had never felt such a chill.
She had certainly encountered many formidable opponents in the martial world, but she had never seen
someone whose martial arts were comparable to hers cripple her with a single move, especially one so young.
In that instant, she seemed to be intimidated by Wu Tianjiao's aura. She lifted Protector Tian with both hands,
nodded, and said, "Alright, you wait here, boy."
Then she hurriedly went to the back of the hall.
Xiao Qionghua had immediately realized that the two old women in black were extremely skilled in martial arts. Even if her husband could handle them, it would likely
be a fierce battle. She was naturally overjoyed to see the old woman on the left have her martial arts crippled with a single palm strike from her husband.
But she also frowned secretly, feeling that her husband was too outspoken, because people's hearts are treacherous and cunning; if others knew you...
If someone is highly skilled in martial arts and not your match, they will resort to cunning schemes to plot against you. As the saying goes, it's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but
hard to guard against an arrow in the dark.
Chapter 168 New and Old Grudges As
the two stepped onto the stone steps, Xiao Qionghua whispered, "Brother Jiao, the Heavenly Spirit Mother, Princess Wude, and Lady Nightingale
are all extremely skilled in martial arts, but they have all fallen into the hands of Madam Mei. This Madam Mei is cunning and treacherous. When you see
her later, you must be careful and not fall into her trap."
Wu Tianjiao was taken aback and nodded, saying, "Sister Qionghua is absolutely right. I think so too. With the Heavenly Spirit Mother and
Princess Wude's skills, they would not have fallen into their hands so easily without reason."
Xiao Qionghua said, "Therefore, you must act according to the situation. If you fail here again, then no one will come to save us
."
Wu Tianjiao nodded, saying, "I understand." "..."
He had just finished speaking when his expression suddenly changed, and he whispered, "Someone's coming out!" Sure enough,
lights were already shining from behind the main hall, and then a woman in black robes with long, flowing hair
emerged from behind the hall, carrying a hexagonal palace lantern in one hand. She raised her eyes and asked, "Which one of you is the Golden Saber Prince Consort, Wu Tianjiao?"
Wu Tianjiao replied, "This young master is."
The woman in black robes glanced at Wu Tianjiao. She could hardly believe that such a handsome young man could cripple
the Left Protector's martial arts with a single palm strike, but that one glance was enough to make her heart flutter. Her face flushed, and she lowered her head,
saying in a clear voice, "The Palace Master requests that you come inside to meet him."
The Palace Master? Wu Tianjiao was slightly taken aback, then looked up and said, "Please lead the way, young lady."
The woman in black robes turned around and said, "Please follow me, both of you."
She then stepped towards the hall.
Wu Tianjiao and Xiao Qionghua followed her through the main hall and out to the rear hall. A bright light suddenly appeared before them—a large courtyard
covered with lush green grass, with a stone path running through the center.
The woman in black led them to the stone steps and bowed, saying, "Reporting to the Palace Master, the Golden Knife Prince Consort Wu
Tianjiao has arrived."
A cold voice came from the hall: "Please invite him in."
The woman in black stepped aside and bowed again, saying, "Golden Knife Prince Consort. Please come in. The Palace Master is
waiting for you in the hall."
A row of five halls at the top of the steps was brightly lit and appeared extremely deep. Wu Tianjiao and Xiao Qionghua stepped up
the stone steps and entered the hall.
Seated on a high-backed chair at the head of the table was a beautiful woman of elegant bearing, dressed in a dark yellow palace gown
—none other than Madam Mei.
Behind the chair stood twelve young women, all dressed in identical black dresses, with long, flowing hair. Each possessed exquisite features and
slender figures, and all appeared to be in their early twenties.
As soon as the two entered the hall, Madam Mei's sinister gaze fixed on Wu Tianjiao, and she coldly asked, "You
are the Golden Knife Prince Consort, Wu Tianjiao?"
Wasn't this a rhetorical question? It wasn't their first meeting; besides, they had even kissed!
Wu Tianjiao gave Madam Mei an annoyed look and said, "Madam Mei, stop playing dumb with me. Tell me honestly,
what is your status in the Heavenly Dragon Sect?"
"How dare you!"
Madam Mei slammed her hand on the armrest of her chair, her face turning pale with anger. "You arrogant brat, daring to act so
arrogantly in front of this Palace Master, are you tired of living? Do you really think this Palace Master is afraid of you?"
Wu Tianjiao laughed loudly and said, "Madam asked me if I am Wu Tianjiao? I asked you what your status is in the Heavenly Dragon Sect?
Where is the arrogance in that question? Madam is merely a Palace Master. Even if I act arrogantly in front of you, why
would I die? Madam is neither the Emperor's sister nor the Emperor's daughter, yet you say I'm acting arrogantly in front of you and
that I'm tired of living. Perhaps Madam's only advantage is that you've climbed up to the Eagle King's tree and your... " Martial arts?
Heh... As for status, since the Eagle King didn't take you as his queen, you can't be considered royalty. As for martial arts, before you surpass
me, you'd better keep your arrogant words to yourself; they'll only make people sneer."
Madam Mei was enraged by his retort, her face flushed red, and she shouted, "Do you really think I can't defeat you?"
Wu Tian proudly replied, "Whether you can defeat me or not, we'll only know after we fight. Isn't it too early for you to say that, Madam?"
Madam Mei snorted and said, "Bring me my sword and whisk."
Two girls in black robes standing behind her, one holding a long sword and the other an iron whisk, presented them
to her.
Madam Mei stood up abruptly, took the sword and whisk with both hands, and the two girls in black robes quickly retreated.
Madam Mei's piercing gaze fixed on Wu Tianjiao, and she coldly said, "Wu Tianjiao, today I'll let you
witness the unparalleled skill of my sword. Draw your sword."
Wu Tianjiao smiled arrogantly and said, "Since I've come to your door, I naturally wish to learn from you, Madam.
However, I have a question that requires your answer first."
Madam Mei snorted, "What is it?"
Wu Tianjiao said, "We've already fought, and there will always be a winner. Now that the outcome is decided, what should be done
?"
Madam Mei said haughtily, "What do you say?"
Wu Tianjiao said, "If I win, please release all my men..."
Madam Mei said, "And if you are the loser?"
Wu Tianjiao said, "Then I will submit to your will." Madam
Mei nodded and said, "Alright, you may draw your sword."
Wu Tianjiao said, "Sister Qionghua, please step back."
Xiao Qionghua obeyed and retreated to the entrance of the hall.
A flash of red light, and Wu Tianjiao had already drawn his Emperor's Sword. He adopted a "Sword Pointing to the Heavens" opening stance,
pointing his sword at Madam Mei and saying, "Madam, please demonstrate your skills."
Madam Mei's gaze sharpened, and she said, "You know the Heaven-Reaching Sword Technique?"
Wu Tianjiao replied, "That's right. I am proficient in the sword techniques of all six schools under heaven, and I am far more than just the Heaven-Reaching Sword Technique."
Madam Mei chuckled, her figure suddenly leaping three inches off the ground, flying horizontally towards him. With a flick of her left hand, a cloud of gray shadows
surged forth.
Wu Tianjiao felt the shadows of her whisks all around him, and he was secretly alarmed. This move of hers
was actually an attack on all thirty-six major points of his body, containing countless exquisite techniques within a single strike.
If you dodge to the left, the acupoints on your right will be struck; if you avoid the front, the acupoints on your back will be affected.
But Madam Mei didn't know that Wu Tianjiao had mastered the Dragon Elephant Divine Skill and the Heavenly Cauldron Divine Skill, and was not afraid of having his acupoints struck. Therefore
, she simply stood still and did not dodge. She felt a point being touched on her thirty-six acupoints by her iron whisk.
No, each point had a wisp of cold yin energy seeping into her body from the acupoint, but it was immediately harmless. This was because
one of the two divine skills Wu Tianjiao practiced was the "Heavenly Cauldron Divine Skill," which was extremely yin and gentle. Any unorthodox yin energy that invaded her body
was naturally neutralized by the "Heavenly Cauldron Divine Skill."
Madam Mei's iron whisk struck, and she was very pleased with herself. She couldn't help but smile and said, "You have repeatedly
opposed this Palace Master. It is not too much for me to kill you."
As she spoke, she thrust her sword at his chest. In fact, it was all over in a flash. As soon as she released her iron whisk, her
long sword also thrust out.
Wu Tianjiao raised his imperial sword and thrust it forward. A loud clang rang out, the metal clashing violently.
He had used all his strength in this strike, causing Madam Mei to stumble and stagger back two steps.
Madam Mei, seeing that her whisk had clearly struck his pressure points, wondered how he could possibly retaliate. Especially
after being forced back in the very first move, she was both surprised and alarmed. She immediately moved forward, her left hand flicking out the whisk, while her right hand's longsword
trembled, aiming straight for her opponent's brow.
This time, Wu Tianjiao was no longer careless. He brandished his sword in his right hand, unleashing the Thirty-Six Forms of the "Heaven-Reaching Sword Technique," while his left hand moved swiftly, pointing
and grabbing, employing the "Small Dragon-Capturing Hand" from the Thousand Steps Dragon-Capturing Hand technique, specifically targeting Madam Mei's iron whisk.
One woman unleashed an iron whisk, its shadow spreading in all directions, appearing and disappearing in a whirlwind, like a net.
Coupled with her longsword's feints and darting attacks, a single person caught in her iron whisk's net and then
caught in the swirling sword light would be either dead or seriously injured.
The other, however, focused on the sword, wielding the "Heavenly Sword Technique," a wide-ranging, profound, and unpredictable style, strange yet righteous. Her left hand
moved swiftly, pointing and grabbing, employing techniques like disarming with bare hands, not only seizing joints but also disarming the enemy.
The two women, each displaying their strengths, clashed, their swords flashing and whisks flying across the hall.
Madam Mei, wielding both sword and whisk simultaneously,
was enraged to find herself evenly matched with Wu Tianjiao. She tightened her grip on her sword and whisk, simultaneously channeling her "Plum Blossom True Qi" into them. Little
did she know Wu Tianjiao would unleash the "Heavenly Sword Technique." Naturally, he incorporated the "Dragon Elephant Divine Skill." His left hand,
using a grappling technique, unknowingly channeled the "Heavenly Cauldron Divine Skill." This dual-wielding of two divine skills
yielded unexpected results.
Madam Mei believed that Wu Tianjiao, having infused his sword and whisk with "Plum Blossom True Qi," would be unable to withstand it. However, the moment the
true qi entered the sword and whisk, she immediately sensed something amiss!
The "abnormality" she felt produced two different reactions: first, the true qi infused into the sword
vanished instantly upon contact with his sword, like snow thrown into boiling water; second, the true qi infused into the whisk leaked out continuously
, as if being absorbed by his opponent.
She was greatly shocked, never expecting that such a young man possessed such incredible skill.
It seemed the rumors were true; this young man was indeed the number one expert among the younger generation of martial arts, living up to his reputation.
Madam Mei's shock caused her to momentarily slow her movements. Wu Tianjiao grabbed the whisk's tail with his left hand and
easily snatched it away. Madam Mei felt a jolt in her hand as he disarmed her.
Wu Tianjiao laughed loudly, and his Emperor's Sword touched the blade with a "thud," simultaneously pressing down on Madam Mei's longsword. The two
swords clashed, and Madam Mei felt the "Plum Blossom True Qi" infused into her sword vanish completely. She quickly withdrew her sword and
retreated.
Just then, the lights in the hall suddenly went out, and the floor in the center of the hall, about ten feet in diameter, suddenly sank rapidly
.
It was as fast as lightning; the hall was equipped with traps. Madam Mei had captured the Heavenly Spirit Saint
Mother, Princess Wude, and others using these traps.
When Princess Wude and the others came to the Eagle King's Mansion and were brought to this hall, the floor suddenly sank while they were talking to Madam Mei
. Princess Wude and the others were completely unprepared, and by the time they realized something was wrong, it was too late. They
fell into Madam Mei's trap and were all captured.
Before Wu Tianjiao rushed in, Xiao Qionghua had secretly instructed her to be vigilant. As Madam Mei leaped back, the lights
went out, and Wu Tianjiao, with his night vision, used his inner energy to pursue her.
Although the hall floor was rapidly descending, he had already reached Madam Mei before it completely collapsed, his blood-
red imperial sword flashing like a shooting star, aimed at her throat. The area
within a ten-foot radius of the hall was rapidly descending, but where Madam Mei sat, there were still seven or eight feet of solid ground.
Madam Mei hadn't expected her opponent to be so fast. She hurriedly raised her sword to parry, and with a clang, the two swords clashed. This time,
in his rage, Wu Tianjiao had channeled his Dragon Elephant Divine Skill into his sword.
Madam Mei felt a fierce and domineering yang energy from his sword, which
seeped into her wrist through her own sword, instantly draining all strength from her arm. She quickly loosened her grip, and the sword fell to the ground with a clang
.
Wu Tianjiao flicked his sword and shouted, "Madam, are you still not going to admit defeat?"
The flick of his sword snapped Madam Mei's hair ribbon, sending her long hair flying!
The eight black-clad maidens standing behind Madam Mei, seeing their master's sword fall to the ground, didn't wait for orders. With a sharp cry
, eight gleaming swords clashed, ready to strike.
"Stop!"
Madam Mei shouted sharply. "Fine, I admit defeat tonight."
With a wave of her hand, the lights in the hall instantly returned to normal, and the sunken floor was restored.
Standing at the hall's entrance, Xiao Qionghua felt a sudden darkness before her eyes, only hearing two sentences: one from her husband,
"Madam, are you still not going to admit defeat?"
and the other from Madam Mei, "Fine, I admit defeat tonight."
Then the lights came back on.
Wu Tianjiao threw the iron whisk to the ground and laughed loudly, "A wise man submits to circumstances. Madam, can you release the person
now?"
Madam Mei's face was ashen, and she said coldly, "Wu Tianjiao, don't be so smug. Remember this, old grudges and new scores..."
"I'll settle accounts with you again sooner or later."
Wu Tianjiao laughed loudly, sheathed his Emperor's Sword, and said in a clear voice, "If I were afraid of others settling
accounts with me, I wouldn't have dared to come after your Heavenly Dragon Sect."
Madam Mei snorted coldly and turned around to order, "Bring them here."
A girl in black bowed and accepted the order, then withdrew.
Madam Mei then raised her hand and said, "Wu Tianjiao, you two can wait in the front hall." She
then looked up and said, "Lead them to the front hall."
As soon as she finished speaking, the girl in black who had led the way, holding a palace lantern, immediately responded and entered, bowing and saying, "Golden
Knife Prince Consort, please follow me."
Wu Tianjiao bowed slightly to Madam Mei and said, "Madam, I'll take my leave. There will be plenty of time in the future, see you again!"
With that, he and Xiao Qionghua turned and left with the girl in black.
Upon arriving at the front hall, the girl in black bowed and said, "Please wait here for a moment, I'll take
my leave." After saying that, she left.
Xiao Qionghua said happily, "Brother Jiao, I never expected your visit to be so smooth."
Wu Tianjiao smiled and said, "It's all thanks to you, sister, for reminding me to be careful and guard against tricks. If I
hadn't been prepared beforehand and rushed to Madam Mei's side just as the lights went out, I would have
fallen into her trap tonight."
Chapter 169 Burning the Eagle King's Mansion
Just then, a girl in black carrying a lantern walked ahead and said, "The person you all wish to see is in
the hall. Please excuse me."
The lights went out suddenly, and the figure disappeared in a flash.
Princess Wude's voice rang out, "Little vixen, what trick are you playing now?"
Wu Tianjiao recognized Princess Wude's voice and hurriedly went to greet her, saying, "Your Highness, we
're here."
"Wu Tianjiao!"
Princess Wude exclaimed in surprise, "So it's you! You really came! I was wondering
why that vixen, Madam Mei, let us out."
Madam Nightingale chuckled, "So it's my son-in-law, Princess. No wonder."
Xiao Yuehua leaped forward, calling out, "Tianjiao, Sister Qionghua, are you alright?"
Wu Tianjiao said, "Sister Yuehua, let's check the numbers first. Is anyone still trapped here?"
Princess Qianning smiled, "Not a single one is missing."
Behind her followed closely were Tianling Shengmu, Tao Danfeng, Liu Ziyan, Lianhun Feizi Yang Yumei, Ju Si, Xue Mei, and
several other important figures from the Rainbow Mercenary Group.
Upon seeing Wu Tianjiao, Tianling Shengmu blushed instantly and quickly turned her face away, pretending not to see
him. Yang Yumei's eyes shone brightly as she stared at Wu Tianjiao without any restraint, her alluring eyes blinking as she sent him flirtatious glances
.
Wu Tianjiao noticed the two women's reactions and chuckled inwardly. Just as he was about to speak, Princess Wude
said, "Alright! Everyone's here. Tianjiao, I'm a little curious, how did you manage to get Madam Mei to
release us?"
Xiao Qionghua replied, "Your Highness, it's like this: as soon as Madam Mei activated the mechanism, Tianjiao subdued
her, and that's when she released us!"
She briefly recounted what had just happened.
Upon hearing this, Princess Wude couldn't help but laugh angrily, "Well, I was wondering why that old hag would change
her mind and release us all. It turns out she only released us because she was defeated by the Heavenly Pride Prince Consort."
Yang Yumei also couldn't help but exclaim angrily, "That hag is utterly despicable!"
Turning to the Heavenly Spirit Mother, she said, "Uncle-Master, we've spent most of our lives roaming the martial world, each relying on our true martial arts skills.
It's understandable that we were defeated by her, but how can we swallow this pre-set trap and be lured into an ambush? Let's
go and call that hag out."
Tao Danfeng was also indignant, saying, "Senior Sister Yumei is right. We were trapped by her for no reason.
I can't swallow this insult. We must settle the score with her."
As soon as they finished speaking, they turned and walked inside.
Liu Ziyan said to Tianling Shengmu, "Master, let's all go and settle accounts with that old witch. We'll
destroy the Plum Blossom Palace tonight."
Xue Mei chimed in, "Yes, this is that witch's lair, so naturally we have to destroy it."
Princess Wude and Princess Qianning walked ahead, and Liu Ziyan and Xue Mei immediately followed. Tianling Shengmu,
Wu Tianjiao, Lady Nightingale, Xiao Qionghua, and the others had no choice but to follow.
As soon as the group reached the back of the palace, Princess Wude shouted loudly, "Witch, come out here! We'll
settle our score!"
Princess Qianning retorted, "Old witch, how dare you! You're so insolent, daring to imprison me!
What skill do you have with your mere traps? Let's settle this with our martial arts! If you keep hiding, I
'll burn down this dilapidated palace!"
All the lights in the hall behind the palace were extinguished, and no matter how much they shouted outside, no one paid them any attention.
Liu Ziyan said, "Master, Senior Sister Danfeng, Senior Sister Yumei, the two princesses have made their points very clear
. This old hag is pretending to be deaf and dumb. Let's burn down the Plum Blossom Palace."
Tao Danfeng said, "Yes, let's burn it down!" She
turned around and called out, "Hey, Miss Xue, Ju Si, Miss Yuehua, everyone come and help!
The old hag won't come out unless we set it on fire."
Xiao Qionghua frowned and said, "Setting fire? I'm afraid that's not a good idea. This is the Eagle King's Mansion!" "
So what if it's the Eagle King's Mansion?"
Princess Wude said angrily, "Burn it, burn it! You can burn it all you want. This ghost palace is harmful to people. Besides, the feud
has already been made. Madam Mei dared to imprison me, so I'll burn down the Plum Blossom Palace to vent my anger. Even if the Eagle
King blames me, I'll take full responsibility."
After she said this, Tianling Shengmu and Wu Tianjiao, who originally wanted to stop her, didn't say anything.
After all, everyone was holding their breath, and no one would feel good if they didn't vent. Besides, even if the sky fell, there were two
imperial princesses to hold it up.
Princess Wude and Princess Qianning were also consumed by rage and acted rashly, disregarding everything else. They were giving orders...
Ju Si, Xue Mei, Tao Danfeng, Liu Ziyan, and others were indeed setting fires everywhere, but none of Madam Mei's people
showed up.
Princess Wude cursed incessantly, but couldn't find anyone to vent her anger on. Seeing the Plum Blossom Palace engulfed in flames, the fire
growing ever more intense, she couldn't help but chuckle, "That old hag is hiding her head in the sand, what a relief!"
Princess Qianning said bitterly, "If I don't capture this hag and avenge my imprisonment, I swear I'm not human!"
Princess Wude said, "She's Xiong Shiguang's lover. If we want to find her, we have to cooperate with Prince Consort Tianjiao. We
'll eventually dig them out."
Seeing the Plum Blossom Palace on fire, Wu Tianjiao knew something was wrong and quickly said, "Your Highnesses, this place is not safe to stay any longer. We should
leave quickly!"
Princess Wude saw that the Plum Blossom Palace was about to be destroyed by fire, but Madam Mei and her entourage still hadn't appeared, clearly
they had left through another route. Nodding in agreement, they said, "That wicked woman got off easy!"
In the short time that followed, flames soared from the Plum Blossom Palace, illuminating the entire Eagle King's mansion in a fiery red glow. This Plum Blossom Palace
was built by Eagle King Yuwen Tao for Lady Mei, named after her surname, "Mei." Princess Wude and Princess Qianning
originally intended to burn down the Plum Blossom Palace to vent their anger, but they overlooked one crucial point.
The Plum Blossom Palace was located in the backyard of the Eagle King's mansion, an independent palace unconnected to the surrounding buildings.
However, it was currently the transition between winter and spring, and northerly winds would blow at night. Without the wind, the fire at the Plum Blossom Palace might
not have affected the other buildings. But soon after the fire started, the heavens turned against them, and a northerly wind suddenly arose.
As the saying goes, "Wind fuels fire, and fire gains strength from the wind." With this wind blowing, the fire quickly
spread like wildfire, engulfing everything in the Eagle King's mansion...
Princess Wude and the others were dumbfounded, not expecting the fire to be so large. Xiao Qionghua stamped her foot and exclaimed, "This is terrible!
The wind is too strong, the fire is spreading, the entire Eagle King's Mansion is about to catch fire!"
The fierce north wind and raging fire forced them to flee the Eagle King's Mansion immediately. In a short while, the entire
Eagle King's Mansion was in chaos. People rushed to put out the fire, and no one had time to care about Wu Tianjiao and his companions, allowing them
to escape in the confusion.
However, what Wu Tianjiao and his group didn't expect was that when they escaped through the gates of the Eagle King's Mansion, they were met
with rows and rows of imperial soldiers in gleaming armor. The Eagle King's Mansion was already
surrounded by tens of thousands of soldiers. Swords were drawn, arrows were nocked, and countless archers laid down their arrows, waiting for them to emerge.
"Wu Tianjiao, you dare to trespass into the Eagle King's Mansion, committing murder and arson! Your crimes are unforgivable! Surrender now!"
someone suddenly shouted.
Upon hearing the voice, Wu Tianjiao knew it was Jin Ji. Looking up, he saw Jin Ji not far away, fully armed,
riding a tall horse, surrounded by numerous guards like stars around the moon, looking so triumphant and spirited
.
Seeing Jin Ji's smug expression, Wu Tianjiao suddenly recalled the assassin's words from the previous night: "Beware of
Jin Ji!"
He shook his head, a bitter smile playing on his lips, thinking, "I'm locked in a fierce battle with Madam Mei, yet Jin Ji remains unaffected.
It's truly a case of the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind!"
Before he could speak, Princess Wude stepped forward, pointing at Jin Ji in the distance and shouting, "Jin Ji,
what do you mean by this? Are you plotting a rebellion?"
"A rebellion!"
Jin Ji chuckled coldly, looking at Princess Wude, "So it's Your Highness, the Eldest Princess. Why
do you say such things, Your Highness? This general is merely apprehending a traitorous official. Wu Tianjiao, as the Imperial Son-in-Law, a member of the royal family, has
dared to trespass into the Eagle King's residence, committing murder and arson—a heinous crime! Your Highness, are you going to collude with this traitor?"
What crime was this?
Princess Wude couldn't help but laugh angrily, glancing at the Eagle King's mansion engulfed in flames behind her. She said, "The fire was ordered by me
; it has nothing to do with the Golden Knife Consort. Jin Ji, what are you all doing?"
As she spoke, chaos erupted behind her as a large group of people rushed out of the mansion gates. It turned out that
the fire at the Eagle King's mansion was growing increasingly fierce, and the guards, servants, and other household members couldn't stay still any longer and fled the mansion. Their escape
, however, triggered a bloody scene.
"Fire!"
With Jin Ji's command, swish, swish… a volley of arrows rained down. Those guards and servants of the Eagle King's mansion who rushed to the front
were instantly riddled with arrows, their screams echoing through the air.
Wu Tianjiao hadn't expected Jin Ji to actually dare to do it. He hurriedly blocked Princess Wude's path, brandishing his Imperial Sword to deflect
the incoming arrows, shouting, "Everyone, retreat into the mansion! Jin Ji has rebelled! He's going to kill us all
here!"
Fortunately, Princess Wude and the others were all skilled in martial arts. They wielded their weapons, blocking the arrows,
as they retreated towards the Eagle King's mansion. Their only option now was to retreat into the Eagle King's mansion. In a short time,
the area in front of the mansion gate was littered with corpses. All the guards and servants of the Eagle King's mansion who had rushed to the front had fallen
; none had survived.
Arrows whistled like rain. Even with Wu Tianjiao and the others' high level of martial arts, they couldn't withstand the swarms of arrows. Tao Danfeng, momentarily
distracted, was struck in the left shoulder by an arrow and cried out in pain. Fortunately, the Heavenly Spirit Mother was behind her, quickly dragging her beloved
disciple into the Eagle King's mansion.
Wu Tianjiao was the last to retreat inside. As soon as he entered the gate, everyone worked together to close it. The moment the gate
closed, the rain of arrows outside stopped.
"General, they've retreated! Let me lead the troops in!"
A lieutenant approached Jin Ji's horse, volunteering.
"No need!"
Jin Ji waved his hand, coldly laughing, "The Prince's mansion is on fire. Retreating inside is suicide.
They'll rush out soon enough. We just need to surround the mansion; we'll kill each one that comes out
."
"What if they don't come out?"
The lieutenant frowned. "The Prince's mansion is large; even with a large fire, it can't reach every corner. I worry that if
it goes on too long…"
"Lieutenant Liu is right!"
Jin Ji interrupted, his eyes darting around, a cold laugh playing on his lips. "If they don't come out, we'll force them out."
"General Liu, take some more firewood. We'll set a fire on the outside. Hehe! No matter how powerful Wu Tianjiao is,
he won't be able to escape!"
"Brilliant! General, what a brilliant plan!"
The deputy general Liu gave a thumbs up, flattering him greatly. He immediately ordered his soldiers to quickly gather firewood
. In
no time, thousands upon thousands of pieces of firewood were piled up outside the Eagle King's mansion, doused with oil. At
Jin Ji's command, the soldiers lit the firewood. In an instant, flames soared
into the sky, engulfing the entire Eagle King's mansion, forming a giant furnace…
Chapter 170 Big Brother and Little Brother
Jin Ji's move was truly ruthless. He not only wanted to burn Wu Tianjiao to death, but also Princess Wude, Princess Qianning,
and others, including Madam Mei and everyone in the Eagle King's mansion, intending to burn them all to
ashes.
As the Eagle King's Mansion was engulfed in flames, Jin Ji was incredibly smug. He chuckled coldly and muttered to himself,
"Wu Tianjiao, Princess Wude, Princess Qianning, and Madam Mei, you never expected to die at my hands, did you?
Hehe! This is called 'when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits!' With you all dead, the entire Hanhai County will belong to my Jin family!
Soon, I will be the governor of Hanhai County, hehe!"
Just as he was feeling triumphant, a series of rapid hoofbeats suddenly came from the street, and someone was quickly approaching the Eagle King's Mansion
. The soldiers responsible for guarding the outer perimeter immediately went to intercept them. After stopping two fast horses,
upon seeing the riders, a soldier exclaimed, "Inspector Jin!"
It was Jin Changxu, accompanied by Mei Wenjun. They had been
bewitched by the heartless swordswoman Binglan at Jiangshan Tower in Mingyue Continent. After several nights of passion, their vital essence had been almost completely drained by the eight girls, and they
had finally fallen into a deep sleep.
Jin Changxu and Mei Wenjun were as if they were having a sweet dream, when they were awakened in the middle of the night by a huge noise. Running outside
, they saw that half the sky in the southwest was red. Realizing that a fire had broken out in the city, they
hurriedly rushed to the scene without even bothering to dress properly.
At first, they didn't know it was the Eagle King's mansion that was on fire, until they were almost there and saw large numbers of people moving about in the streets
, realizing something was wrong.
"Father!"
Jin Changxu jumped off his horse, weaved through the ranks of soldiers, and quickly ran to Jin Ji's horse. Pointing to
the Eagle King's Mansion engulfed in flames in the distance, he cried out, "What...what happened here?"
"Xu'er, you've come at the right time!"
Jin Ji also dismounted and solemnly said, "Wu Tianjiao rebelled, broke into the Eagle King's Mansion, killed Princess Mei, and then
set the mansion on fire. When I arrived, he was still resisting stubbornly. I had no choice but to trap him inside and let him die
!"
"What?"
Jin Changxu's face was frighteningly pale, and he trembled as he said, "Tian...Tian...Jiao...brother...inside? You...
burned him to death?"
Hearing Jin Changxu call Wu Tianjiao "Tianjiao brother," Jin Ji's face darkened immediately. He said, "Changxu,
what's wrong with you? How could you call that traitor brother? Remember, you are my son, an officer of the Empire,
a general of the Falcon Legion, the pride of our Jin family. You must not have any connection with traitors!"
"Jin Ji!"
Suddenly, someone shouted, and a figure quickly arrived in front of Jin Ji. It was none other than Mei Wenjun
. His face was as pale as Jin Changxu's, bloodless and frighteningly white. His eyes were wide open and bloodshot, and
his whole face was twisted and ferocious, a far cry from his usual refined appearance.
Mei Wenjun was clearly enraged, pointing at Jin Ji and shouting, "Why did you set fire to the mansion?"
"Set fire to the mansion!"
Jin Ji glanced sideways at Mei Wenjun, dismissively saying, "Young Master Mei, you misunderstand. It wasn't
me who set the fire, but Wu Tianjiao. He broke into the Eagle King's mansion, killed Princess Mei, and then set it on fire—his crimes are heinous! I
was doing this to eliminate a traitor for the country, to avenge your adoptive mother. Young Master Mei, how can you blame me!"
"You old fool, don't try to deny it! Anyone can see who set the fire. Do you think I'm blind?!"
Mei Wenjun's face turned ashen with anger. He pointed at the soldiers outside the Eagle King's mansion walls who were adding firewood to the fire, saying,
"What's going on there?"
"Oh, oh..."
Jin Ji chuckled, feigning sudden realization, "Young Master Mei, the fire outside... hehe! It
was indeed ordered by me. It was a last resort. Wu Tianjiao set the fire inside first. He tried to escape, but
luckily I arrived in time and trapped him. Young Master Mei, as you know, Wu Tianjiao's martial arts are formidable.
To avoid unnecessary casualties among my soldiers, I had no choice but to resort to fire! Since the Prince's Mansion has already
been burned down by Wu Tianjiao, I might as well burn it all down. After it's burned down, I'll fund the rebuilding of the Eagle Prince's Mansion.
What do you think, Young Master Mei?"
"You..."
Mei Wenjun was so angry he couldn't speak, trembling all over. The surrounding guards drew their swords,
glaring angrily, their killing intent palpable. Judging from their posture, if Mei Wenjun said anything more, they were ready to kill him.
"Brother Wu!"
Suddenly, Jin Changxu cried out in anguish, his legs gave way, and he knelt on the ground. Gazing at the raging flames of the Eagle King's Mansion,
tears streamed down his face as he sobbed, "I'm so sorry!"
The fire had burned for two days and two nights, reducing the entire Eagle King's Mansion to scorched earth and ruins. Everyone believed that Wu Tianjiao
, Princess Wude, and the others were surely dead. After the fire cooled, Jin Ji personally mobilized his soldiers to clear the scene.
Dozens of charred corpses were recovered from the ruins, their identities unrecognizable.
However, the soldiers found dozens of bodies in several ponds. These people were well-dressed and were all
guards, servants, and retainers of the Eagle King's Mansion. Apparently, they had taken refuge in the ponds to avoid the fire and died from smoke inhalation. As for Wu Tianjiao
, Princess Wude, and the others, none of their bodies were found.
As time passed, his soldiers reported one after another that they had not found Wu Tianjiao's body, which made the previously
calm and confident Jin Ji uneasy. If one or two people were to be reduced to ashes in a fire, that would be...
Possibly. But to say that Wu Tianjiao and the others all perished in the fire, with not a single body found, is absolutely impossible.
"Search! Search carefully! Don't miss a single place!"
Jin Ji loudly ordered his soldiers and personally went to search.
Not only was Jin Ji searching for Wu Tianjiao's body, but Jin Changxu and Mei Wenjun were also searching. They didn't believe that
so many of Wu Tianjiao's men could have been burned to ashes.
"Report—"
Just as Jin Ji was getting anxious, a soldier suddenly reported, "Reporting to the general, we've found a tunnel entrance!"
"A tunnel entrance!"
Jin Ji was shocked and shouted, "Where? Take me there quickly!"
Led by the soldier, Jin Ji hurriedly arrived at a ruined area. Many soldiers were already
guarding the place. Sure enough, there was a deep doorway on the ground, leading to a long and wide tunnel.
Although the entire Eagle King's Mansion had been reduced to ruins, Jin Ji was very familiar with the Eagle King's Mansion. Judging from the location, this
should be the location of the Plum Blossom Hall in the backyard of the Eagle King's Mansion. The tunnel entrance was originally extremely well-hidden and difficult to discover, most likely
exposed after being burned down by a fire.
Seeing the deep tunnel entrance, Jin Ji was utterly shocked, frozen in shock. At this moment, a man emerged from the tunnel entrance
; it was Vice General Liu. He approached Jin Ji, his face grave, and said, "General, this tunnel is extremely
long, seemingly leading directly outside the city. I found many footprints inside; it seems Wu Tianjiao and his group
escaped through this tunnel!"
"How is that possible?"
Jin Ji's face was as black as the bottom of a pot, his features contorted, still refusing to believe it. "They really escaped from here
? Impossible, impossible!"
Suddenly, someone burst into laughter. Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw Mei Wenjun laughing heartily.
He laughed so hard he bent over, almost breathless, and said, "Yes! Yes... Haha... It must be!"
"Bastard!"
Deputy General Liu cursed angrily, walked over, glared at Mei Wenjun, and shouted, "What are you laughing at?"
With great difficulty, Mei Wenjun stopped laughing, straightened up, and said with a very smug expression, "I'm
laughing because you've wasted your time. My elder brother is incredibly lucky, with a face that looks like he's destined for wealth and honor. You want to burn him alive? That's just wishful thinking
!"
"Your elder brother?"
Deputy General Liu asked in confusion, glancing at Jin Ji, who also looked bewildered, not understanding when Mei Wenjun
had acquired an "elder brother." "That's right, Wu Tianjiao is my elder brother!"
Mei Wenjun laughed heartily, "I'm not afraid to tell you, I made a bet with Wu Tianjiao, and I lost to him.
According to the agreement, whoever loses has to acknowledge the winner as their elder brother. Wu Tianjiao won, so he's my elder brother! Haha..."
He continued to laugh.
Deputy General Liu's face hardened with murderous intent. He sneered and said, "I don't care about your big brother or little brother. Since Wu Tianjiao
is your big brother, then you're just like him, a traitor. I'll kill you now!"
With that, he drew his sword with a clang, the blade flashing as it aimed straight for Mei Wenjun's head
.
"Stop!"
Just as Mei Wenjun was about to die under Deputy General Liu's blade, a sharp shout suddenly came from the side, and
a sword flashed from the side, blocking Deputy General Liu's sword with a "clang." The sword and blade clashed, sparks flying.
A powerful force caused Deputy General Liu's sword to bounce back, his hand burning, almost slipping from his grasp.
Deputy General Liu was shocked and quickly retreated ten feet. When he looked closely, he realized that the person who saved Mei Wenjun was none other than
Jin Changxu, and he was stunned.
Jin Changxu, his face contorted with murderous intent, his eyes flashing like lightning, stared at Deputy General Liu and said sternly, "Wu Tianjiao is also my elder brother,
and Mei Wenjun is my second elder brother. Deputy General Liu, if you want to kill my second elder brother, you'll have to kill me, Jin Changxu, first!"
Jin Changxu was Jin Ji's son, and even if Deputy General Liu had the guts, he wouldn't dare to make a move. Hearing this, he was momentarily at a loss
, his gaze naturally turning to Jin Ji. Jin Ji's face was ashen. He strode over, staring at Jin Changxu and shouting
, "You rebellious son, are you trying to rebel?"
Jin Changxu showed no fear, sternly replying, "Father, Mei Wenjun is my brother. If you want to kill him, you'll have to kill
me first!"
"You…"
Jin Ji pointed at him, furious and trembling, unable to speak. After a long silence, Jin Ji dejectedly lowered his hand,
stomped his foot like a defeated rooster, and cursed, "Changxu, you have disappointed your father greatly! Get out! Get
out of here! Just pretend I never had a son like you. Get as far away as possible, and never let me see
you again!"
Jin Changxu opened his mouth, about to say something, when Mei Wenjun hurriedly pulled him away,
saying, "Brother Changxu, let's go quickly!"
Mei Wenjun pulled and dragged him, and Jin Changxu followed him involuntarily. Looking back at his father Jin Ji's isolated
figure, he felt a sense of confusion: "Do I really have to leave my father? Am I doing the right thing or the wrong thing?"
Watching Mei Wenjun and Jin Changxu leave, Jin Ji remained calm, showing no urgency whatsoever. His men were
very anxious. Deputy General Liu hurried to his side and said, "General, we can't let Mei Wenjun go!"
Jin Ji waved his hand, closed his eyes, and sighed, "Let them go. A mere Mei Wenjun can't hinder our
important matters!"
After standing still for a moment, he opened his eyes, stared at the deep tunnel entrance, and snorted softly, saying, "
That kid Wu Tianjiao, I really underestimated him. If he really escapes through this tunnel, he will definitely return to Fengcheng. Deputy General Liu
, immediately send someone to Fengcheng to investigate!"
"Yes!"
Deputy General Liu replied. After hesitating for a moment, he cautiously asked, "General, if Wu Tianjiao and
Princess Wude are truly still alive, then what should we do..."
Jin Ji's eyes flashed coldly, and he sneered, "What good is it if they're alive? It's all too late. Everything they do
is in vain. Hmph! I'm sure news will soon arrive from Snow Dragon City!"
Chapter 171 Even Heroes Can't Resist the Charm of a Beautiful Woman
Jin Ji failed to find the bodies of Wu Tianjiao and Princess Wude. After discovering the tunnel, he assumed that Wu Tianjiao and the others...
He believed they escaped through the tunnel. Not only did he guess this, but his soldiers also thought so, even Jin Changxu and
Mei Wenjun thought Wu Tianjiao had escaped through the tunnel. In fact, they were all wrong.
Wu Tianjiao and his men hadn't even discovered the tunnel. Even if they had, with the Plum Blossom Palace engulfed in flames, they couldn't have escaped through it. The footprints in the tunnel were 　　left
by Madam Mei and her entourage when they left earlier . 　　 Very few people knew the origin of this tunnel leading from the Eagle King's mansion to the outside of the city. This tunnel was 　　a military tunnel secretly dug by Eagle King Yuwen Tao in his early years. Eagle King was stationed in Iron Dragon City year-round, commanding a large army, not only to defend against 　　the invasion of the Western Asuras, but also to face the covetous eyes of the surrounding counties of Hanhai County. To defend Hanhai County and deter 　　the restless evil forces in the surrounding areas, Iron Dragon City was extremely important. 　　 Iron Dragon City was a formidable fortress. Eagle King Yuwen Tao had considered 　　what he would do if the enemy besieged the city, surrounding it without attacking. Therefore, he secretly dug this underground tunnel as a precaution 　　. 　　 To ensure the tunnel's secrecy, after its completion, to prevent leaks, Eagle King ruthlessly executed all the craftsmen who had worked on its construction. This cannot be dismissed as cruelty; such actions are 　　a necessary decisiveness and ruthlessness 　　for any ruler . 　　 It must be said that Eagle King Yuwen Tao was farsighted and 　　prepared for all eventualities and difficulties facing Iron Dragon City. However, even Eagle King himself did not foresee that 　　while the tunnel was intended for military purposes, it would become a secret passage for his trysts with Lady Mei after their encounter. 　　 To avoid detection, Eagle King frequently used the tunnel to meet Lady Mei outside the city and 　　to bring her to his palace . For Lady Mei, the Eagle King even built a Plum Blossom Palace for her, 　　demonstrating the immense charm of Lady Mei and the depth of the Eagle King's affection. Perhaps this is what is meant by "even heroes cannot resist the charms of a beautiful woman." 　　No one expected that a great fire would expose the tunnel, making it no longer a secret. Fortunately, this 　　tunnel allowed Lady Mei to escape. As for Wu Tianjiao, Princess Wude, and the others, they didn't need to 　　escape through the tunnel. Even if Jin Ji set a huge fire, Wu Tianjiao's Nine Dragons Jade Bracelet space could hold enough people, allowing them 　　to escape the Eagle King's mansion unnoticed using the Void Teleportation Technique. 　　 The fire didn't kill Wu Tianjiao and his companions, but it was a pity for the guards, servants, and other personnel of the Eagle King's mansion. 　　Except for a small number who were rescued by Wu Tianjiao using the Nine Dragons Jade Bracelet space, the vast majority perished in the flames. 　　 March 16, 1677, Tianjing, dusk. 　　 Dark clouds gathered, and a heavy rain was imminent. 　　 This was the most famous restaurant in the capital, Hongyun Restaurant. The once bustling restaurant was now empty and 　　deserted. Dim candles flickered in the wind. A young woman in blue sat by the window, sipping tea. The window 　　faced the south gate of the capital. 　　 From the window, one could see a horrific scene unfolding on the road leading to the south gate. 　　 News of the defeat at the front had spread; the Asura tribe had reached the vicinity of the capital. Tens of thousands of residents were desperately 　　pouring out of the south gate, fleeing south. The dark, endless crowds carried luggage, carriages, children, livestock, and 　　bundles. The roadsides were piled high with all sorts of debris, abandoned by the panicked refugees. 　　 Wooden barrels, valuable nanmu furniture, utensils, baby cradles, bed boards, ceramics… everything 　　was there. Things that were once precious were now carelessly discarded, and no one bothered to pick them up. 　　 Military police sent to maintain order frantically lashed the crowd with their whips, shouting themselves hoarse. 　　 Cries, shouts, and curses filled the air. Children separated in the crowd wailed inconsolably, while 　　mothers with small bundles frantically searched for their children in the surging tide of people, their eyes red with 　　 worry. Small business owners, their horse-drawn carts blocked by the fleeing crowds, cursed loudly as they struggled 　　 through the throng. Elderly men and women, carrying bundles and leaning on canes, trudged 　　through the throng. 　　 Farmers from the countryside herded flocks of sheep, shouting as they watched their sheep 　　being scattered and their possessions disappearing bit by bit, tears welling in their eyes. 　　 Panic and despair permeated the crowd; the fear of impending disaster gripped everyone's hearts. 　　 The woman, lost in thought, was approached when a middle-aged man poured her a pot of tea. She thanked him, but 　　realized the man's clothes and demeanor didn't resemble those of a tea server. 　　 "You... are you a waiter?" 　　 The man smiled bitterly. "I'm the owner of Hongyun Restaurant. All the waiters have run away to the south for refuge. 　　All the chefs have also run away. Today, all the dishes you ordered, miss, were cooked by me." 　　 The woman nodded apologetically. "I'm sorry, I apologize for my rudeness." 　　 After a while, she asked curiously, "Then, since the waiters and chefs are gone, why don't you go to the south for refuge?" 　　 "As long as there's even one customer, Hongyun Restaurant will never stop operating! Even when there was a rebellion in the capital before 　　, and the rebel soldiers rushed in, looted our cash register, and killed our manager, we still 　　continued to operate. This is a rule passed down from our ancestors, unchanged for two hundred years!" 　　 The owner said proudly, his face beaming as he talked about the long history of his restaurant. 　　 But soon, his expression darkened, and he sighed, "It seems this rule will be broken by this unfilial descendant 　　. Miss, I'm so sorry, the restaurant will be closed starting tomorrow, you'll have to find another place. 　　Thank you for your patronage these past few days." 　　 The woman looked saddened. Even Hongyun Restaurant, which had been open day and night for two hundred years, was closing down? She took out 　　some money from her pocket and handed it to him, saying, "Thank you for your hard work." 　　 Looking at the money in her hand, the owner smiled bitterly, "Never mind, consider this my treat for you, beautiful lady 　　. Actually, I don't need this little bit of money. In this chaos, even if the Asuras come, you can't save your life, 　　what use is money?" 　　 The woman nodded and asked, "Where do you plan to seek refuge, sir?" 　　 "I plan to head south. If the Asuras attack, I'll hide in Tiandu. Now the court has moved the capital..."

"Tian Du, the empire has a large army there. Even if the Shura people attack Tian Du, they might not be able to take it down in a short time!"
"What if the Shura people even take Tian Du?" "
Then I'll hide in Jin Jing of the Peacock Dynasty. They still have Dongfang Xue to hold them off for a while—but
it's hard to say. Even our General Wei Ding, the General Who Guards the West, has died in battle. Dongfang Xue might not be able to help against the Shura people! If
even Jin Jing is taken, we'll have no choice but to jump into the sea."
The innkeeper gave a bitter laugh and bowed. "Please enjoy your meal. I'm going back to pack my things.
Take whatever you like in this restaurant. The paintings on the screen are quite valuable; they're genuine works by Master Wudaozi, and they're
five hundred years old. When you leave, please close the door for me—but it doesn't matter whether it's closed or not.
A thousand troops are useless. Can a door really stop the Shura people?"
Watching the innkeeper's figure disappear at the top of the stairs, Lu Qing sighed silently.
In war, it is the ordinary people who suffer the most! The imperial army was powerless to protect her
parents and siblings; she felt both heartbroken and desperate.
Steady footsteps echoed on the stairs, and a figure appeared at the top—it was
Wu Tianhu, commander of the Central Army Corps.
Lu Qing smiled and raised her cup to invite him, "General Tianhu, have you had dinner? If not, why don't we
eat together?"
Seeing Lu Qing drinking alone by the window, Wu Tianhu smiled wryly, "Miss Lu Qing, you're in a good mood,
still enjoying yourself at this hour. News from the outer garrisons indicates that the Asura vanguard has appeared around the capital."
Lu Qing smiled and pointed to the table opposite her, "General Tianhu, why don't we sit down and talk? I'd like to know
, as the newly appointed commander of the Central Army, are you truly capable of defending the capital?"
Wu Tianhu sat down opposite her, shook his head, and said, "Although I was appointed in this time of crisis, everyone knows that
the Asura army is incredibly powerful, advancing with unstoppable momentum, and will soon be at the city gates. How easy is it for us to defend the capital!
Miss Lu, your father and the others have already gone to Tiandu, why... haven't you left yet?"
"Leave?"
Lu Qing smiled, then frowned. "I can leave anytime I want. General Tianhu, have you forgotten? I
have a high-level magical beast flying mount. No matter how many Shura people have in the air force, they can't stop me!"
Wu Tianhu's face showed a look of realization, his eyes filled with envy. He slapped his forehead and laughed, "Look at
my memory! I forgot about Miss Lu's flying mount. Speaking of which, I really envy you two siblings
for having such high-level magical beast mounts. But I still don't understand
how you got them. How did they suddenly appear?"
Lu Qing giggled and said, "It seems General Tianhu's visit to me wasn't for nothing! Hehe!
You wouldn't happen to have your eye on my 'Flying Rainbow' and want me to lend it to you, would you?"
"How dare I! How dare I!"
Wu Tianhu hurriedly waved his hands and shook his head, saying, "Miss Lu Qing, you misunderstand. Even if I had the greatest courage, I wouldn't dare
to target your mount. I've come to you today mainly to verify something with you. This matter is extremely important, concerning
the survival of our empire, and cannot be taken lightly. I hope Miss Lu can tell me the truth without any
concealment!"
Seeing Wu Tianhu's serious expression, which showed no sign of joking, Lu Qing felt a chill run down her spine, and her expression also
hardened. She straightened up and said, "Wu Tianhu, just ask me whatever you want to know, no need to beat around the bush!"
Wu Tianhu coughed twice and said solemnly, "Miss Lu, I originally wanted to go find your brother, but he's been
isolated by the Asura Army, making it very inconvenient to contact him. Therefore, I had no choice but to come to you. I want to know
if your flying mounts were a gift from my younger brother?"
As he spoke, he stared intently at Lu Qing, his eyes full of anticipation.
Lu Qing was taken aback by Wu Tianhu's question and asked, somewhat puzzled, "Is this question
important?"
"Of course it's important!"
Wu Tianhu said seriously. "I suppose you know how important advanced flying magical beasts are to our Imperial Air Force.
The Shura people's griffin air force is ten times the size of our Imperial Air Force. If we can't deal with their air force, their
griffin riders will break through our city defenses, causing serious casualties to our soldiers. I'm sure
Miss Lu wouldn't want to see our capital's skies filled with Shura griffin riders."
"I understand what you mean!"
Lu Qing said calmly. "You want to get advanced flying magical beasts from your 'brother' to expand the Imperial
Air Force? If so, you'll be disappointed! Yes, our mounts were given to us by Wu Tianjiao
. But Wu Tianjiao is no longer in the capital; he's gone to Fengcheng, thousands of miles away. Asking him for flying magical beasts 　　 is
like trying to quench a thirsty thirst with water from a distant source!"
www.fxcmz.com
Chapter 172 A Cruel Law in Chaotic Times
"It really was him who gave it to you!"
Wu Tianhu stammered, then his expression turned serious, and he said solemnly, "Miss Lu, there's something important I'd like to
ask you for a favor!"
"What? Even General Tianhu has to ask for favors!"
Lu Qing said with a smile, "I wonder what you want to ask me for? If you want me to make a trip to Fengcheng for you
, then forget it. I can tell you right now that the two flying mounts that my brother and I have weren't
given to us by Wu Tianjiao, but rather temporarily lent to us. He might take them back someday! If you want to ask him for
the flying mounts, not only does he not have them, but even if he did, he might not give them to you!"
"I know that, of course!"
After pondering for a moment, Wu Tianhu said calmly, "Miss Lu, I don't want you to go to Fengcheng, but I want...
to ask you to be the commander of the Griffin Knights!"
"Commander of the Griffin Knights!"
Lu Qing exclaimed in surprise, then said somewhat dismissively, "General Tianhu, you...you're not joking with me, are
you? Asking me to be the commander of the Griffin Knights? Don't forget, I'm a woman!"
"Do you think I'm joking?"
Wu Tianhu solemnly said, "Miss Lu has practiced martial arts since childhood, receiving guidance from renowned masters. Her
martial arts skills are no less than mine. She is a heroine of our empire, a true heroine. Now, with your level nine magical beast, the Sky Lion, as your mount, I believe no one is
more suitable than you to be the leader of the Griffin Knights!"
Lu Qing couldn't help but giggle, saying, "Wu Tianhu, I suddenly realize that you are not only very eloquent
, but also very good at recognizing and utilizing talent! You're appointing me as the leader of the Griffin Knights not because my martial arts are so
strong, but because you value my high-level magical beast flying mount. You want me to..." " After becoming the commander of the Griffin Knights, I 'll be able to intercept
the Asura's air force for you, right?"
Wu Tianhu felt a little embarrassed, smiled awkwardly, and nodded, saying, "That's what I mean. In fact
, only you two siblings can withstand the Asura's air force. But Brother Lu is leading troops in the field and won't be able
to return to the capital for a while. In the capital, only Miss Lu can shoulder this heavy responsibility. For the empire, for the nation,
and for all the people of the capital, please grant Tianhu's request, Miss Lu?"
As he spoke, he looked at Lu Qing with eager eyes, his face involuntarily revealing a hint of pleading.
Meeting Wu Tianhu's eager yet pleading gaze, Lu Qing couldn't help but frown, staring at the
man known as the "Smiling Tiger," feeling bewildered and deeply puzzled.
This man, while not exceptionally handsome, was still quite good-looking. Due to his illustrious family background and considerable martial arts skills,
he consistently ranked among the top aristocratic sons in the capital, and was once
the object of affection for countless young women. Unfortunately, he was narrow-minded, excessively cunning and treacherous, and
too calculating. He resorted to any means necessary to secure the position of the Wu family's heir
. As a member of the upper echelons of aristocratic circles, Lu Qing, though a woman, was very well-informed about gossip. She had
heard that Wu Tianhu, in his pursuit of the Wu family's heir, not only secretly harmed the third young master of the Wu family, Wu Tianjiao, but also sent assassins to
Jinyang to kill Wu Tianlong. Regardless of the truth of this rumor, Lu Qing had already categorized Wu Tianhu as a villain
and avoided him at all costs.
But everything Wu Tianhu displayed today—an expression of "serving the country and its people," of "compassion for humanity"
—made Lu Qing wonder if this was really Wu Tianhu. Was he just putting on an act, or did he have ulterior motives?
Seeing Lu Qing's wary gaze, Wu Tianhu smiled and said, "Miss Lu, you don't need to rush to answer
me, but the Asuras don't have much time left for us! As the saying goes, 'The rise and fall of a nation is the responsibility of every citizen.' Miss Lu is
no ordinary citizen, but a heroine among women, and the eldest daughter of one of the four great families of our empire. Please take on the role
of commander of the Griffin Knights. Even if it's not for the empire and the court, at least you can contribute to your Lu family, right?"
"General Tianhu, I'm convinced!"
Lu Qing said helplessly.
Wu Tianhu's eyes lit up with joy. "So, Miss Lu agrees?" he asked.
"How could I not agree?"
Lu Qing laughed. "Just like you said, not for the empire and the court, but at least for my Lu family!"
Wu Tianhu chuckled. "I knew you would agree! With you as the commander of the Griffin Knights,
I believe that our empire's heroine, Miss Lu Qing, will teach the Shura people's griffin air force
an unforgettable lesson!"
"I hope so!"
Lu Qing frowned and said quietly. "Although I agree to be the commander of the Griffin Knights, don't expect me
to defeat the Shura people's air force. After all, I only have one Heavenly Lion Beast."
"I know that!"
Wu Tianhu nodded. "As long as Miss Lu can stop the Shura people's air force from flying over our city defenses, that
will be a great achievement!"
The two chatted for a few more minutes. Seeing that it was getting late, Wu Tianhu bowed and said:
"Miss Lu, it seems you didn't bring any guards with you. The capital isn't very peaceful right now, so let Tianhu escort you back to your residence."
Lu Qing didn't refuse. The two went downstairs, where Wu Tianhu's carriage was waiting.
Dark clouds hung low over the city. Looking back at the dim candlelight in the restaurant window, Lu Qing
had an ominous premonition, as if the future of this once glorious city was like the candlelight in the restaurant
, swaying in the wind, on its last legs.
Just as the two were about to get into the carriage, a carriage approaching from the opposite direction caught Lu Qing's attention.
Through an open window, she saw the face of Liu Wensi, the Minister of Personnel.
The two stopped and watched as the carriage, escorted by numerous guards, merged into the flow of fleeing people and
finally drove out of the south gate.
"Lord Liu Wensi has fled,"
Wu Tianhu said casually, as if it were something completely unrelated to him. "Almost all the court officials
have run away."
Lu Qing recalled how, at the beginning of the Shura invasion, Liu Wensi and the other court officials had solemnly called on
the people to hold their posts and vow to live and die with the capital. How inspiring those impassioned speeches had been
!
She smiled sarcastically and said, "General Tianhu, how can you say that the Minister has fled? Our
Minister Liu Wensi and the other court officials have only temporarily moved the capital; they will return. If you misunderstand them as being afraid of death
, then you are truly ignorant."
The carriage left the southern road of the city and entered the central avenue, which was densely packed with shops, and the crowds were much smaller here.
Lu Qing casually asked, "General Tianhu, are you planning to evacuate the capital?"
Wu Tianhu raised a thick eyebrow and said sternly, "I plan to stay. After all, my father has just handed over power to
me, and I haven't even taken to the battlefield yet. It wouldn't make sense for me to desert. Besides, my father is still in the city
!"
"Prince Wu!"
Lu Qing's heart skipped a beat. After hesitating for a moment, she finally couldn't help but ask, "How is your father...? The Asuras
have already reached the capital, and he's still... staying inside?"
"My father is in seclusion practicing his martial arts. He's reached a critical juncture and will be out of seclusion soon!"
Wu Tianhu said without changing his expression, "Miss Lu, don't worry! The reason Tianhu dares to stay is to protect him with his life."
"Our greatest asset in defending the capital is my father. As long as he succeeds in his mission and defeats the Asuras, it will be
a piece of cake." Lu Qing felt relieved. Although she didn't think much of Wu Wudi, he was, after all, one of the most outstanding
generals in the Divine Eagle Empire. In terms of military ability, apart from Princess Jingguo in the Southern Frontier, probably no one in the entire empire's generals could
match him. In terms of martial arts, he was the number one expert in the world
. With him in the capital, even if he didn't fight, his reputation alone would be enough to intimidate the Asuras.
Lu Qing was thinking of asking Wu Tianhu about her brother, Lu Chong. Suddenly,
a loud bang came from ahead, and the carriage abruptly stopped. Caught off guard, Lu Qing almost fell off her seat, but fortunately, Wu Tianhu
reacted quickly, grabbing her shoulder to steady her. "Be careful!" he said
. "Thank you, General Tianhu! What happened?"
The two looked out of the carriage window and saw several ragged men wielding wooden clubs and iron bars running towards
the carriage, shouting, "Robbery! Hand over all your gold and silver!"
They pounded on the carriage walls with their weapons, making loud banging noises, and yelled,
"Open the door! Open the door, or we'll kill you!"
Lu Qing and Wu Tianhu looked at each other, utterly incredulous that such an absurd thing could happen.
The guards at the front, realizing something was wrong, quickly turned around. The guards jumped off their horses and ran over, drawing their swords
.
Seeing that they had encountered the army, the thugs surrounding the carriage shouted and scattered.
The captain of the guards apologized at the carriage window: "I failed in my duty of protection, causing Miss Lu and the young master to be frightened. Please
punish me, young master." Lu Qing jumped off the carriage, looking around blankly. She found that there were still quite a few thugs,
wandering the streets in groups of three or five, waiting by the roadside to throw stones and other debris at passing coachmen. As soon as the carriage stopped, they would
pounce on it like wolves and rob it.
The thugs pried open the shops along the roadside and rushed in to loot. Several shops selling clothing and local specialties were broken into.
The thugs took everything they could eat and use. What they couldn't finish eating or take away, they smashed and burned. Several
shops were already ablaze with flames and thick smoke. They didn't seem to be robbing for profit, but rather they seemed to be purely thinking about
destruction and venting their anger.
A brewery was smashed open, and thugs rushed in, shouting and yelling. They jumped into the brewing vats and drank heavily.
Soon, some were dead drunk on the ground, some were laughing loudly, and some were crying and shouting, "The end of the world is here!
The end of the world is here!"
A drunkard whistled at Lu Qing from afar, "Beautiful lady, are you lonely?"
The thugs laughed wildly, but fortunately, they dared not approach because Lu Qing was surrounded by guards.
A desperate and frenzied atmosphere spread among the crowd, and the air was filled with the strong smell of fermented liquor...
Lu Qing never dreamed that the once clean, peaceful, and orderly Central Street would be transformed into such
a scene.
It was as if, overnight, the world she knew had vanished, and what lay before her was a mental asylum.
She turned to look at Wu Tianhu, hoping to get answers from him.
"Every time the wind and waves blow, the sediment at the bottom of the water is stirred up. Miss Lu, these are
local thugs and ruffians from the capital, as well as refugees from other places. With the chaos of war, no one is in charge of them, so they
take advantage of the situation to commit evil deeds."
Wu Tianhu calmly explained, "Miss Lu, you are of noble birth; you don't need to get entangled with them. Just notify the military police
to come and deal with them."
(fxcmz.com
Chapter 173:
The Enemy at the Gates) After rejoining the carriage, Lu Qing remained silent for a long time. The scene of the public losing control had left a deep
impression on her. She asked, "General Tianhu, do you have the authority to declare a wartime curfew in the capital?" After
a moment of contemplation, Wu Tianhu nodded and said, "Of course, in fact, that's exactly what I'm thinking of doing! Upon returning,
I will immediately issue an order to the army and the military police to declare a curfew in the capital. Anyone found breaking into houses, robbing,
intentionally causing harm, spreading rumors, inciting unrest, or otherwise disrupting public safety and order will be
executed on the spot by the army."
He then sighed, "In chaotic times, harsh measures are necessary. Fortunately, Miss Lu's reminder was timely. These are extraordinary
times. The Asura's spies and some scoundrels are active everywhere, causing widespread panic. If we
don't stop them in time, I'm afraid we'll be defeated before the Asura even get in!"
A flash of light appeared in the sky, followed by the distant rumble of spring thunder. The first spring rain of the year had finally arrived.
The carriage didn't go to the Grand Tutor's residence, but at Lu Qing's request, it headed towards the Imperial Palace. In the fine drizzle, the carriage
sped along the central avenue and arrived at the Imperial Square.
As dusk settled, this square, renowned throughout the continent, was bathed in brilliant light.
Lu Qing suddenly called out, "Stop!"
The carriage halted, and she jumped down, braving the dense drizzle, and strode into the solemn and expansive Imperial Square
.
The square, stretching for over a thousand paces, was vast and lonely, solemn, dignified, and majestic. The golden
eagle flag fluttered in the biting wind and rain, its imposing size exuding the awe-inspiring power of a great nation.
This was a place familiar to millions of families and subjects, a symbol of a great empire that had weathered three hundred years of trials.
Looking up at the enormous statue of the founding emperor, Yuwen Ying, standing in the very center of the square, Lu Qing remained lost in thought for a long time. Wu
Tianhu stood silently behind her, their shadows stretched long in the wind and rain.
After a long while, Lu Qing turned back and said to Wu Tianhu, word by word, "I can't imagine
what it would be like if those brutal Asuras marched across this square! Just thinking about it makes my heart
ache!"
Her eyes glistened, whether from tears or rain, it was hard to tell. "This is the city where I grew up. I know
every blade of grass and every tree in this city. Things I cherish are here, and I absolutely cannot give them to the Asuras! If the city falls, I will not
retreat; I am determined to live and die with the capital!" With that, she turned and ran straight towards the palace gates.
Seeing this, Wu Tianhu hurriedly called out, "Miss Lu, aren't you going back to the manor?"
"My family is all gone. I live in the palace now, with my aunt!" Lu Qing's clear voice
rang out as her figure gradually disappeared into the palace gates.
Watching Lu Qing enter the palace, Wu Tianhu remained stunned for a long time, until he was soaked to the bone, before hurriedly leaving the Imperial
Square and returning to the Jin Yang Prince's Mansion.
As one of the four great families of the empire, the Jin Yang Prince's Mansion was different from the other three. The mansions of the Cao, Xiao, and Lu
families were long deserted; everyone who could leave had gone, leaving only a few servants. But the Jin Yang Prince's
Mansion remained unchanged. No matter how chaotic or critical the situation outside, the Jin Yang Prince's Mansion remained steadfast.
Almost all the families of the court officials had fled, but not a single person from the Jin Yang Prince's Mansion had escaped.
Night hadn't fallen yet, but the Jin Yang Prince's Mansion was already shrouded in darkness. Except for the Flying Snow Pavilion, which was
still lit, the other buildings were completely dark, devoid of any human voices, deathly silent and eerie, like a scene from hell, unlike any human dwelling
.
Wu Tianhu returned to the Jin Yang Prince's Mansion, hastily changed his clothes, and then strode straight to the Hibiscus Garden.
As soon as he entered the garden, a deep roar reached his ears, and a gigantic figure came into
view.
It was an enormous, striped beast, a saber-toothed tiger. In the darkness, its two fierce eyes emitted a terrifying
golden light, captivating the soul. Its two fangs, protruding from its mouth, gleamed like two sharp blades,
sending chills down one's spine.
"Big Tiger!"
Seeing the saber-toothed tiger, Wu Tianhu cried out joyfully, quickly stepping forward and reaching out to stroke its head.
The saber-toothed tiger didn't resist at all; instead, it affectionately stuck out its tongue and licked Wu Tianhu's hand.
It was common knowledge that in the entire capital, only Prince Jinyang, Wu Wudi, possessed a saber-toothed tiger mount. He had even ridden
it to the royal arena. However, that was also the most humiliating moment of Wu Wudi's life .
Not only did he fail to tame the Crimson Dragon Beast, but he was also burned clean of his clothes and fur by its fiery breath, leaving him naked and
becoming the laughingstock of the world, a topic of conversation to this day.
Of course, it was after that incident that people remembered Wu Wudi's high-level magical beast mount, the saber-toothed tiger.
After cuddling with the saber-toothed tiger for a while, Wu Tianhu continued on his way. Just as he reached the entrance of the Flying Snow Pavilion, he encountered that
annoying young master of the Baili family, Baili Guxing.
Baili Guxing, dressed in white brocade robes with a sword at his waist, his face ashen, his eyes flashing with a chilling killing
intent, stared intently at the approaching Wu Tianhu, coldly saying, "Second Young Master, what brings you here again? The Prince is in
seclusion and has no time to see you!"
"Get out of my way!" Wu Tianhu's face was grim, his eyes filled with murderous intent, and he said sternly, "I have urgent military intelligence to
report to my father. If you try to stop me, don't blame me for being ruthless!" As he spoke, his left hand was already on the sword at his waist,
ready to draw his blade and kill at the slightest provocation.
Seeing this, Baili Guxing's expression changed slightly. He knew that Wu Tianhu was extremely anxious, and even if he was arrogant, he couldn't
afford to provoke him at this time. He smiled slightly and said, "Second Young Master, no matter how urgent the military situation is,
we must wait for the Prince's summons. If you barge in without prior notice, I can't guarantee the Prince won't be angry. When the Prince
is angry, the consequences can be severe!"
Wu Tianhu tried his best to suppress his anger and patiently said, "Then go in and announce
it!"
Baili Guxing smiled smugly, turned around, and entered Feixue Tower. Not long after, he came out and said, "Second
Young Master, the Prince invites you in!"
Somewhat surprised, Wu Tianhu looked at the man and was puzzled. He thought the other party would make things difficult for him,
but he was actually allowed to enter!
Meeting Wu Tianhu's puzzled gaze, Baili Guxing chuckled and said, "You don't need to look at me like that. In these extraordinary times
, I know what's important. Even if I stop you, the Prince will still see you!"
Wu Tianhu snorted, flicked his sleeves, and strode into Feixue Tower.
It was still the same room on the second floor. When Wu Tianhu entered, the scene before him astonished him beyond belief.
The luxurious bedroom was filled with pink—pink curtains, pink carpets, pink bed curtains
…even the bedding was pink. But this wasn't what surprised Wu Tianhu. What truly astonished him
was the sight of a person dressed in pink.
At first glance, Wu Tianhu thought the person in red was a woman, but upon closer inspection, he realized it wasn't.
Although the clothes were red, they were men's clothing. The person had a fair and delicate face, skin as white as snow, but very thick eyebrows;
judging from the contours of their face, it was a man.
They were sitting behind a table, holding a small bronze mirror, intently admiring their reflection, seemingly
appreciating their appearance.
Wu Tianhu stared at the man in red for a long time, but still couldn't recognize them. The man in red didn't speak
, only continued looking in the mirror.
Looking around and seeing no one else, Wu Tianhu finally couldn't help but ask, "Who...who are you? Why are you in
my father's room?"
"Haha..." The man in red let out a soft chuckle, saying, "Tianhu, you don't even
recognize your father!"
Ah...Wu Tianhu was shocked, staggering back five or six steps,
his eyes wide and bulging, staring at the man in red in utter astonishment, stammering, "You...you...you...you are
...my father?"
"Of course it's my father!" The man in red put down the small bronze mirror in his hand, gently saying, "How
come you don't recognize your father?"
Wu Tianhu's mouth gaped open, staring at his father before him, speechless for a long time. He couldn't believe that in such
a short time, his father had changed so much. What was going on?
Anyone who saw Wu Wudi's current appearance would probably not believe it. The current Wu Wudi was no longer
the rugged and imposing figure he once was. His skin was snow-white, his face was clean-shaven, and even his physique was much more slender. Coupled with
his bright pink attire, if he were dressed as a woman, he truly would resemble one.
Seeing Wu Tianhu's astonishment, he was speechless. Wu Wudi sighed softly and said, "Tian..."
"Tiger, don't be so surprised. Your father's appearance is the result of a transformation from cultivating a divine skill. Do
n't you think your father has become much younger and more handsome?"
Younger and more handsome?
Wu Tianhu almost fainted, both amused and exasperated.
He thought to himself, "You're not young and handsome, you're practically a transvestite, almost like a palace eunuch!" Thinking this, he dared not say it aloud, nodding in agreement, "Yes, yes, yes!
Father... you have indeed become much younger and more handsome. I... I didn't even recognize you!"
"Is that so!" Wu Wudi smiled, that "charming" smile making Wu Tianhu feel uneasy, raising
goosebumps all over his body. He forced himself to remain calm, though he wondered how his father had become neither male nor female.
But the military situation was extremely urgent, leaving him no time to think. He bowed and said, "Father, hundreds of thousands of troops from the Shura Empire are about to
besiege the city. The capital is in imminent danger. I specifically request that Father come out of the pass and repel the Shura army!"
"Have the Shura people reached the capital?" Wu Wudi asked calmly without changing his expression.
"Yes!" Wu Tianhu gritted his teeth and said, "Wanglong City has fallen, and His Majesty Emperor Tianshou and
all the civil and military officials of the court have... moved to Tiandu City!"
"They've all fled!" Wu Wudi picked up the small bronze mirror again, looked at his own face, and said in a shrill voice,
"Good that they're gone, good that they're all gone! They're gone, but we won't leave. We'll stay, and the whole capital will be ours!"
Wu Tianhu said anxiously, "But the Asuras..."
Before he could finish speaking, Wu Wudi waved his hand to interrupt him, "So what if the Asuras come? Even if a million Asura soldiers come,
so what? Father will wipe them out in the blink of an eye. Hmph! Tianhu, Father has already made up his mind.
You go and meet the enemy. This time, we will make sure the Asuras never return!"
As he spoke, he raised his right hand, revealing a delicate and fair hand like a woman's from his sleeve. While Wu Tianhu
was stunned, Wu Wudi flicked his finger, and whoosh! A glittering object flicked from between his fingers, piercing the air like lightning and
hurtling towards the window.
With a soft "thud," the object passed through the window, and instantly, a piercing
scream echoed through the night sky, quickly abruptly ceasing, followed by a deafening tiger's roar…
"A spy!" Wu Tianhu's heart skipped a beat, his face changing drastically. Just as he was about to go out to investigate, Wu Wudi coldly snorted:
"A mere clown, already dealt with by Father! Hmph! With such meager skills, he dared to try and
spy on me in my palace? He was simply courting death!"
"Father!" Wu Tianhu asked suspiciously, "What martial art did you just use…?"
"You don't need to know!" Wu Wudi said calmly, "You will know later!"
In the early spring rain, large numbers of troops surged towards Tianjing City along main roads, highways, field bridges, and forest paths, passing through forests
and villages, crossing valleys and highlands.
The armies rushing towards the capital included both the Shura army and the Divine Eagle army.
Reinforcements from all over the Divine Eagle Empire were converging on the capital; some were troops recently routed by the Shura army in the Battle of Wanglong
, while others were forces that had broken through the encirclement of Mianyang.
The Divine Eagle army retreated hastily towards the capital, fighting as they went. Their rearguard constantly engaged the Shura army
in covert battles, striving to prevent them from being pushed off the roads and reaching the city walls first.
But this was a head-on battle. The Shura army, spearheaded by a large cavalry force, was followed by elite infantry running at full speed
, guided by the 20th Army, composed of Divine Eagle rebels. Familiar with the extensive road network surrounding the capital
, they were able to advance rapidly.
The Asura cavalry weaved through the retreating Divine Eagle Empire forces, driving them off the road, and
arrived at the walls of Tianjing City ahead of the enemy at dawn on March 17th.
Gazing at the majestic city bathed in the crimson light of the morning sun, countless towering spires and skyscrapers
stood like a dense forest, the architectural complex stretching as far as the eye could see.
Witnessing this greatest achievement of the Divine Eagle civilization for the first time, the Asura army, stretching for over ten miles, erupted in a thunderous
, fervent cheer: "Long live the Emperor!"
Asura Qinglong, his horse halted before the ranks, sighing inwardly. When he first saw Tianjing City, he,
like the Asura soldiers now, was awestruck by its sheer size.
The Asura people knew Tianjing was a large city, but they had never imagined it to be this enormous. Compared to it,
Asura Fortress seemed like a humble little town! Not only did the Asura Empire lack a city comparable to it, but one could probably
search the entire world and find no other city like it.
The thought of conquering this rich and prosperous city filled the Shura army generals with fervor, and they roared to the sky:
"Woo-woo-woo-woo..."
Thousands upon thousands of soldiers joined in the roar: "Woo-woo-woo-woo..."
One team after another joined the roar, and finally, hundreds of Shura army teams shouted in unison
, the same roar echoing for dozens of miles. The frenzied shouts of hundreds of thousands of people shook the air, creating a
terrifying storm. The sound waves, with the force of a tsunami, pierced through the thick city walls and entered the capital, delivering
a solemn declaration to the soldiers and civilians of the capital: the Shura army of destruction had arrived, and all Eaglemen who refused to submit faced only 　　 death
! Chapter
174
The Eight Tribes
Long Tengfei, commander of the Fourth Army's Dragon God Legion, excitedly rode up to Shura Qinglong and said, "Your
Highness, apart from Wei Ding, we, the Eight Tribes, care about no one! Now that Wei Ding is dead in Xitian City,
is there anyone else who can stop our army?"
Shura Qinglong bowed slightly and said, "Your Highness is right, but we still cannot let our guard down."
He revealed a meaningful smile: Long Tengfei had forgotten one person. Besides Wei Ding, the Divine Eagle Empire had
another famous general. And this person, he had always kept firmly in his heart, taking it upon himself to defeat him in his lifetime. This person was
even more powerful than Wei Ding; he was the God of War of the Divine Eagle Empire, and his name alone could make the Shura
soldiers tremble with fear. He was a terrifying man who could make the entire army tremble with fear!
"King Wu Wudi of Jinyang, it's been a long time! Half a year has passed since we last met. Are you still as healthy as ever?"
With the arrival of the Asura army, alarm bells rang and bugles sounded throughout Tianjing City. Cavalrymen prepared their horses, and infantrymen scaled
the castle walls; everything was in position. The front lines were deathly silent, save for the wind whipping the banners.
The Asura army swarmed in, unfurling a long crescent formation, and began to surround Tianjing City from the west. The
Asura tribes' soldiers, like clouds, a forest of swords and blades, resembled a dark, oppressive forest. Countless fluttering banners obscured
the western sky and earth—this was not yet the full force of the eight Asura tribes, but merely
the vanguard, led by the Asura Azure Dragon.
The enemy army camped five miles from the city. By the light of their campfires, the Divine Eagle soldiers on the city walls could
clearly see the ferocious, snarling faces of the Asura soldiers. A dozen or so Asura cavalrymen rode up to the vicinity of the city walls
, gesturing wildly, making faces, and brandishing their Asura scimitars to intimidate the enemy. One cavalryman even
dismounted and urinated towards the city. As for what they were saying—few could understand it. The Asura cavalry were
cautious, not entering the range of the city's archers.
All the villages and manors around the capital, everything visible to the naked eye, were burned to the ground by the Asuras.
Smoke billowed, flames soared into the sky, and the night sky turned red. Frightened flocks of birds took flight from the forests and marshes, circling and
crying mournfully.
All the trees near the city were cut down, both to facilitate future Asura attacks and
to build their fortifications. The Shura Azure Dragon's troops worked through the night, erecting countless tents and lighting
numerous bonfires, illuminating the camp. The clanging and hammering sounds continued until dawn. The forest below the city
was transformed into a barren, exposed plain, while a massive structure appeared on an open area five miles away—
a small wooden city beginning to take shape. Although far smaller than the capital city of Tianjing,
the speed and efficiency of the Shura engineering force were still astonishing.
Wu Tianhu inspected the city's defenses through the rain, strictly forbidding any troop movements, allowing the Shura vanguard
to complete their mission undisturbed.
That night, reinforcements from various Shura tribes continued to arrive. The second, third, tenth, and
hundredth armies began to appear one after another. Countless torches appeared on the dark horizon, forming
ribbons of light that grew longer and closer, yet their end remained unseen, stretching all the way
to the distant horizon. Countless points of light on the ground flowed like rivers into the sea, all converging
at the foot of Tianjing City, merging into a vast ocean.
Dawn arrived, the rain stopped, and the enemy army could be clearly seen, a shocking sight: their
formations were gone. In the morning mist, countless Asura troops were crowded together, indistinguishable from one another
.
The assembled ranks, the endless lines of people and cavalry, a dark mass that stretched as far as the eye could see. This densely
packed army resembled towering mountains, their imposing weight extending beyond Tianjing City.
The entire city and its fortresses trembled under the immense pressure.
The Divine Eagle soldiers watched the formidable army of the Asura tribe with bated breath, their faces pale and hearts pounding.
The enemy's faces were so ferocious and terrifying, their numbers so vast, like an endless ocean, with countless fluttering banners and a dense swarm of griffin 　　riders forming a massive dark cloud
above . As far as the eye could see, it was a dark, oppressive mass. 　　 This was the greatest clash between the two great empires of the continent in nearly three hundred years. Since the start of the war, the Asura army had 　　swept through the land like a whirlwind, until its advance reached the heart of the Divine Eagle Empire, Tianjing. For the Asuras, capturing 　　this city, while not enough to destroy the Divine Eagle Empire, would at least deal a significant 　　blow to their morale, perhaps even shattering their will to resist and laying the foundation for future victories. 　　 But for the Divine Eagles, Tianjing represented the empire's capital and political center. The fall of the capital was tantamount to 　　the demise of the empire. Although Emperor Tianshou and the vast majority of court officials fled, as soldiers of the empire, 　　they had no choice but to defend the capital to the death, sharing the fate of the empire. 　　 Garrisoning the capital was the most elite force of the Divine Eagle Empire, the Central Legion. This was a battle-hardened army 　　with a glorious history and honors. The legion's founder was Shi Zhongcheng, a renowned general who helped found the empire. This was 　　the only army in the empire named after a famous general. 　　 Now, this most elite force of the empire would encounter the formidable Shura Legion. Both sides were composed entirely of experts; 　　each was a formidable foe. In the impending head-on battle, who would prevail? 　　 On the front lines of the Shura tribe, the legion commanders, including Crown Prince Shura Qinglong, Left Wolf King Shura Teng, Duke Meng Taiying, and Yaksha King Ye 　　Fei, coldly observed the towering Tianjing 　　City, shrouded in mist. They thought to themselves, "My most formidable opponent is here. This is the final battle! Once we capture this city, 　　the plains before us will be wide open!" 　　 It was foreseeable that this desperate battle would be extremely brutal and protracted. But the outcome was not difficult 　　to predict: the central legion, along with other troops, numbered less than 300,000, while the other side comprised the 　　most elite troops from various tribes of the Shura Empire. These were proud and fierce soldiers from Shura Fortress, Shura Territory, Heavenly King Territory, and Yaksha King Territory 　　, drawn from grasslands, valleys, forests, villages, towns, and estates—countless 　　soldiers, a vast and swarming sea of men. 　　 This was practically a grand display of humankind's racial prowess, as if all the monsters of nightmares had materialized 　　before the people: tall, muscular Asura soldiers leaped out, gritting their teeth and cursing, creating a cacophony of noise. They were 　　robust, fierce-looking, brimming with energy, and utterly aggressive, each one plotting 　　a massacre they would never forget after breaching the city, trembling with excitement. 　　 They were renowned for their ferocity, brutality, and strength, and firmly believed in their own power—the Asura 　　race was the most powerful race in the world, invincible. 　　 Medium-sized Celestial soldiers with golden hair and azure eyes watched the Asura 　　soldiers' performance with indifference, their eyes filled with disdain and arrogance.

The Devas were the most arrogant and self-important of the eight races of the Asura. They considered themselves descendants of gods
, deeply favored and protected, and thus superior to all human races. Whether man or woman,
old or young, all Devas regarded other human races as superior, displaying
an arrogant demeanor as if they were the true rulers of the world.
However, this arrogant race was unfortunate. Over a hundred years ago, they were the royal family of the eight races, but
other tribes, unwilling to submit to their rule, challenged them. After successively defeating the Dragon, Yaksha, and Garuda
tribes, the Devas were ultimately defeated by the Asura. Although not wiped out, their population drastically decreased, and they never recovered
.
The soldiers of the Dragon God Legion silently surveyed the city walls, as if assessing the
strength of their future adversary. The Dragonkin are taciturn, disliking interaction with other races. Resilient and skilled in battle, they are incredibly united, fighting
silently in both attack and combat. They are arguably the most fearsome tribe among the Far East races, though fortunately,
their numbers are not large.
Legend has it that the Dragonkin are descendants of a divine dragon. According to the Dragonkin themselves, their ancestors were
born from the union of a divine dragon and humans, making them descendants of the dragon—no one knows the basis for this claim, as no
one has ever truly seen a dragon. However, when a Dragonkin stares at you silently and sinisterly, opening their mouth to reveal
sharp, gleaming teeth, brandishing a weapon, it's best to believe whatever they say
.
The most terrifying elite force in the Asura Army is the heavily armored wolf riders, known as the "Invincible Cavalry." Each
wolf rider is a carefully selected elite from among the tribes. They are all tall, clad in heavy
armor, wielding massive spiked clubs, and riding towering, armored demonic wolves. Such heavily armored cavalry is enough to instill
fear in any opponent.
In past wars, the Divine Eagle People had come to realize the terrifying nature of this opponent: they excelled at frontal assaults,
easily breaking through even the most fortified phalanxes, making them the ideal vanguard
. Only the Divine Eagle People's heavy cavalry could confront them head-on.
Besides them, there was also the Divine Eagle Rebel Army, numbering over 100,000, the Shuntian Legion. They were entirely
composed of traitorous Divine Eagle People. This force was the most silent and helpless within the entire Shura army; many soldiers gazed at the
city walls of the capital, their eyes filled with anxiety and despair.
Gathered outside the capital were only half of the Shura tribe's forces for this eastern expedition; other tribal armies
, such as the Gandharva, Nara, and Mahoraga tribes, had not yet arrived. Imagine if all
the armies of the eight Shura tribes had arrived—it would be catastrophic for the Divine Eagle People.
This was a war waged by several major races of the Shura Empire against the Divine Eagle People. Surrounded by them, the capital city was
like a lone boat on a vast ocean, swaying precariously, seemingly on the verge of capsizing at any moment. At this moment, not only the Asura people believed this,
but even the people of Tianjing City had a premonition of misfortune: Tianjing City, surrounded by the arrogant and fierce generals of the Asura tribe, would
become the final resting place for hundreds of thousands of heroes, warriors, and generals of the Divine Eagle Empire!
On the city walls, whether officers or soldiers of the Divine Eagle people, seeing the unprecedented scale of the Asura army, the
undulating heads like a vast ocean, the dense forest of swords and blades,
the banners fluttering like clouds, and the eagle riders that blotted out the sky, all turned pale, their eyes filled with horror, their minds
filled with the same question: "How much longer can I live?"
This was a terrible storm,
a test of life and death, survival and extinction, for both the great Divine Eagle Empire and for them personally.
The capital city had never been so quiet. After the implementation of military control and the curfew, even during the day, few
pedestrians could be seen walking on the streets. This desolation was unprecedented in the more than three hundred years of the capital city's history.
Everyone understood that this place would no longer be peaceful.

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【The Divine Eagle Empire】(Unabridged Volume 5, Chapters 166-174)

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