【The Divine Eagle Empire】(Unabridged Volume 5, Chapter 175 - Volume 6, Chapter 2)

Chapter 175 Blood and Flesh Fill the River
Wu Tianhu stood on the city wall of the capital, coldly watching the Shura soldiers below. He understood the current situation;
the most arduous battle for the Divine Eagle Empire had arrived. Since its founding, the empire had never fought such a
war. The outcome would be directly written into the wheel of history. Whoever won this war
would undoubtedly become the future hegemon of the continent.
Wu Tianhu understood that the fall of the capital could directly lead to the destruction of the Divine Eagle Empire. Even if the Shura
people withdrew from this land in the future, the result would not change. The history of the continent for the next few hundred years would
begin from this moment. He hoped that this would not plunge the history of the Divine Eagle Empire into darkness.
How the war should proceed was a matter of debate; no one had a definitive answer. Perhaps this was
an unprecedented era. In such a turbulent time, who should act and who should not act—even
the gods could not know.
Lu Zhong, the deputy commander of the Central Army Corps, was probably in the most precarious situation. The Shura Army's Third, Twelfth
, and Thirteenth Army Corps had already surrounded him on the Liusu Plain on the south bank of the Long River. They
weren't launching a large-scale encirclement, but rather blocking his route back to the capital,
setting up layers of roadblocks and encirclements. If they could tie down Lu Zhong's hundreds of thousands of troops and prevent him from returning to reinforce the capital,
they would have won half the battle for Tianjing.
However, Lu Zhong understood the Shura's mentality. At this crucial moment, no army would risk
their lives to encircle him. As long as he didn't break out towards the capital, the resistance he faced wouldn't be too strong.
Lu Zhong knew that if he didn't return to reinforce the capital, its fall was only a matter of time. After all, without
external support, the capital's isolation was unparalleled. The Shura were determined to take it, and the Divine Eagles
would fight to the bitter end, leaving no room for compromise or negotiation.
It could be said that no matter how vast the rear of the Divine Eagle people was, no fortress could compare to the capital.
This was a terrible psychological blow to their resistance; a nation lacking security would not
have the courage to fight back with all its might.
However, Lu Chong also understood that his most important role now was not to defeat the advancing Asura army, but
to coordinate the future national defense operation from a strategic perspective. After five days of deliberation, Lu Chong
resolutely decided to retreat eastward to Dongtian City, abandoning the strategy of a direct return to reinforce the capital.
Lu Chong understood that the area east of Dongtian City was the empire's richest land and its largest grain-producing region. From there, he
could get ample rest and replenishment, and then take the route through the Dragon River or the Mei River to join forces with Nantian City and Beitian City to
send troops to reinforce the capital, launching a three-pronged attack on the Asura army.
Although this operation would take twice as long as usual, Lu Chong believed that with Wu Tianhu and Zhuge
Qingyun in charge, the capital city wouldn't be so easy to capture. Moreover, Wu Wudi hadn't left, subtly
intimidating the Shura people.
Based on this, Lu Chong was confident that the capital city wouldn't surrender without a fight. Given two months
, he could maneuver to the Shura army's flank, directly attacking their rear and center from the side.
Using cavalry and heavy infantry in a coordinated assault, and leveraging the terrain of the capital, he might be able to defeat
the main Shura army forces, especially their main force, before the capital fell.
Strategically speaking, Lu Chong's failure to seize the optimal opportunity to reinforce
the capital city directly led to its isolation. His lack of overall strategic planning in the early stages of the war
left him suddenly in a very difficult situation.
It wasn't until later that Lu Chong completely abandoned his knightly honor as a soldier and
made a great decision from a strategic perspective. In a sense, Lu Chong's strategic shift fundamentally
saved the Divine Eagle Empire from destruction.
The armies of the eight tribes of Shura completed a large-scale assembly about five miles from the capital. This was
the largest military assembly in the history of the Shura people; it could be said that there had never been such a large-scale military
assembly in their history, and the target of the attack was the same.
The massive defense system of Tianjing City made Shura Qinglong dare not relax in the slightest. After all, this was the capital,
the first fortress of the Divine Eagle Empire. The slightest misjudgment in his command would result in the loss of countless Shura warriors. He hoped that
the resistance here would not be too strong.
On that day, the Shura army did not rush to attack, but instead encircled Tianjing, cutting off the land
and water transportation lines on the east, south, and north sides of the capital, making it a completely isolated city, cut off from the outside world.
Below, the Asura army besieged the city; above, the Asura army's horned eagles patrolled the skies. The land and the sky were entirely
under the Asuras' control. Even if the capital wanted to send a message for help, it couldn't get through. Isolated and without support,
not only were the Asuras optimistic, but many of the Divine Eagle people were also pessimistic, believing that the fall of Tianjing was only a
matter of time.
On March 17th, 1677, in Tianjing, the allied forces of the eight Asura tribes completed their siege
. Nearly a million troops surrounded Tianjing from all sides, their densely packed armies
setting up camp one after another. The massive attack on the isolated city was about to begin.
The supreme commander of the siege was the Crown Prince of the Asura Empire, Asura Qinglong. His forces
included not only the Asura clan's own troops, but also those of the Celestials, Dragons, Yakshas, and
a large number of Divine Eagle rebels under Cheng Youcheng and his son.
Initially, to preserve his own strength, Shura Qinglong planned that the siege would
be carried out independently by the Divine Eagle rebels, with the Shura tribe's regular army not participating. However, he recently learned that his father,
the Emperor, had arrived in Xitian City and was heading towards Tianjing.
According to news from Xitian City, the Shura Emperor expressed impatience with the speed of the Shura army's advance
. Shura Qinglong had to consider that if he couldn't capture Tianjing in a short time, he, as the crown
prince, would appear extremely incompetent in front of his father. Moreover ,
it would be a disgrace to the Shura army if a million elite Shura troops failed to capture the enemy capital.
Therefore, he still ordered all the regular Asura legions to prepare for battle—although he himself
believed it was completely unnecessary, as a single wave of hundreds of thousands of rebels would be enough to overwhelm Tianjing City.
On March 18th, after a day of rest and reorganization, the Asura army launched an attack on Tianjing City. Following
the strategy set by the Asura Azure Dragon before the battle, the attack would be a feint from the east, south, and west, with the north gate as the main attack. The north gate was chosen as the primary target because
its terrain was the most open and advantageous for the army's deployment.
From dawn, the bugles of the Asura army and the Divine Eagle rebels sounded in unison, bugles blared, and
drums thundered. Countless soldiers roared like a tsunami, then surged towards the city walls.
The attack began, and the defending Divine Eagle soldiers immediately felt the entire city wall and the ground tremble; even
the most seasoned veterans had never witnessed such a ferocious attack.
As the morning fog lifted slightly, the Divine Eagle soldiers could clearly see the enemy's first wave of attack, and they were
stunned: surging forward at the forefront of the enemy lines were not the resilient rebel infantry, nor the valiant Asura
cavalry, but countless Divine Eagle prisoners. Most of these prisoners were
civilians who hadn't had time to escape the Asura troops and had been captured earlier; they were mostly the elderly, children, and women, but many were also young men,
Divine Eagle officers and soldiers captured in previous battles.
They carried sandbags on their shoulders, ordered to fill the moat. Rebel and Asura troops followed behind
, driving them forward, whipping them, stabbing them with spears, and slashing them with sabers. As they ran, they cried and wailed
, "Don't shoot arrows! We're on the same side!"
The cries and wails rose to the heavens, bringing tears to the eyes of all who heard them. The enemy hoped to use this method to force a crossing of the moat
and further demoralize the defenders of Tianjing City.
The supervising military judges roared, "Fire! Fire! Don't let them get any closer!"
But the soldiers hesitated, their arrows hanging low. How could they bear to shoot their own comrades
? Unable to bear witnessing this cruel scene, several soldiers cried and tried to leave the city walls, but were mistaken for deserters and
mercilessly shot by the supervising troops.
Many soldiers shouted down towards the city walls, "Don't come any closer! Run! Don't come any closer!" Some
prisoners paused briefly, but were immediately slaughtered by the Shura cavalry. Hundreds of them
lay dead in an instant. The remaining prisoners were terrified and began to advance again.
Wu Tianhu's clear voice echoed throughout the city walls: "I order, fire immediately!"
Someone fired the first arrow. The second arrow... the soldiers hesitated. Arrows rained down. Watching their comrades
scream and fall in their hands, even the hard-hearted supervising military judges were moved to tears. But the enemy did not
give up, driving wave after wave of prisoners forward, forcing them to advance. The moat turned crimson, gradually
filled with sand, stones, and blood.
Stepping onto the bridge built of flesh and blood, the combined forces of the Asura army and the rebels charged forward with shouts, densely packed together , one after
another. Leading the charge were the formidable rebel infantry—30,000 men, the elite of the rebel army, specially
selected to spearhead the attack. Cheng Youcheng and his son knew that here they would face the fiercest resistance. The 30,000
rebels, panting heavily, clad in iron armor, wielded their sabers with a fierce clang.
The second line consisted of 100,000 resilient Celestial Legion soldiers. The Celestial army was not adept at open field battles, but
particularly suited for siege warfare, possessing a natural talent for climbing; equipped with bayonets and spears,
they would begin close combat.
Next came a mixed force of over 100,000 rebels, all promised
a large reward if they could breach the city that day. The first soldier to enter, whether soldier or officer, would
receive 100,000 gold coins and be appointed governor of any county in the Divine Eagle Empire.
The one who took the head of Wu Wudi would be ennobled as a marquis by His Majesty the Asura Emperor. Hearing such tempting conditions, the rebels
' eyes turned red. Before the battle, they drank their fill of strong liquor to bolster their courage, shouting, "My parents only gave birth to me once!" and
charged forward with all their might.
Following them was the powerful Tenth Army, known as the "Heavenly Wolf Legion," commanded by the Left Wolf King, Asura Teng.
In contrast to the chaotic formations of the Divine Eagle rebel forces, the Asura regular army appeared orderly and disciplined.
Advancing in skirmish lines, rows upon rows of archers, swordsmen, spearmen, and shield bearers combined in
perfect order, their discipline exuding a chilling aura. Since cavalry was useless in the siege, they all dismounted
and advanced, brandishing their scimitars.
The Sirius Legion was renowned and extremely powerful, a meritorious force since the start of the war. In the battle of Xitian City alone,
they annihilated over 100,000 Divine Eagle Army soldiers, resulting in the
deaths of Xitian City's garrison commander Zhao Dianchen and General Wei Ding, while suffering only a few thousand casualties themselves.
Following them was the Yaksha Legion of the Eight Tribes of Asura. This legion
had been plagued by bad luck since the start of the war, failing to achieve any significant victories. Instead, they were surrounded by Lu Chong's army in Mianyang and nearly
wiped out. Legion Commander Ye Fei was determined to be the first to breach the city today, taking the
heads of Wu Wudi or Wu Tianhu to achieve instant fame. He was also dissatisfied with today's order of battle: "Why aren't we
being put in the lead?"
Their ranks seemed somewhat impatient, with the front line repeatedly colliding with the rear of the Sirius Legion. Behind him
followed countless Asura troops. The crowd was so dense that it was impossible to distinguish one from another; the dense
flow of people surged forward like a tidal wave, slow but unstoppable.
In the distance, the Asura clan's Second Army, the Royal Legion, remained stationary, its formation as solid as a rock. The Royal Legion
included 50,000 highly skilled Asura Iron Guards, the Asura Emperor's personal guard. The Emperor had
specifically dispatched a portion of them to assist the Azure Dragon Prince, hoping he could decisively defeat the enemy.
Hundreds of tall siege ladders approached the city walls, and siege engines, lined up along the way, rumbled slowly into the crowd
—this equipment was originally prepared by the Asuras to conquer the Western Heaven City fortress, but the Azure Dragon of Asura had
used a clever strategy to conquer Western Heaven City, leaving these breaching machines to be used later, and now they were proving invaluable.
Such a large number of soldiers crowded the vast plains below Tianjing City, shoulder to shoulder, row upon row.
Crowded together, so tightly packed it was hard to breathe—Cheng Youcheng, the leader of the Divine Eagle rebels and commander of this attack,
cared little for military tactics or strategies; he only hoped to use his numerical superiority
to overwhelm the capital with his overwhelming force.
(fxcmz.com
Chapter 176: Mountains of Corpses and Seas of Blood)
Despite the already packed city walls, Cheng Youcheng continued to mobilize
troops, sending one rebel force after another, ordering the rear troops to push forward. With such a relentless surge
, no one could resist advancing.
The troops below the city were so densely packed that the archers of the Divine Eagle Central Army on the city walls didn't even need to aim;
they simply fired indiscriminately. Row after row of archers took turns firing relentlessly, tens of thousands of powerful bows
repeatedly drawn to their full extent, then whistling as arrows rained down like a continuous downpour on the rebel
and Shura troops.
On the filled-in moat, countless rebels fell, struck by arrows; similarly, countless Shura soldiers
perished under the arrows, their corpses forming a small hill encircling the capital. Yet they continued their advance,
rushing across the moat and heading straight for the city walls. But there, an even more terrible disaster awaited them.
The relentless rain of arrows continued, and boulders rained down from the city walls, crushing them into a bloody pulp.
Boiling oil was poured over their heads. The walls were slippery and steep, difficult to climb; sometimes, just as they reached
the top, a flurry of blows and spear thrusts sent them crashing to the ground. The sheer
number of people meant that siege ladders and ramparts were stuck in the throng
, unable to reach the base. The impatient besiegers below, growing increasingly desperate,
began to climb the walls with their bare hands, only to be met with a barrage of arrows and boulders from the defenders, suffering countless casualties.
The elite troops of the Divine Eagle rebels were routed before even reaching the walls, suffering over half their losses
. Some units, broken and attempting to retreat, were
trampled to death on the way.
One after another, soldiers marched forward, trampling over the blood of their own brothers. Below the city walls, the enemy's
remains piled up to form a second wall, yet the enemy offensive continued. Under Cheng Youcheng's supervision, the subsequent
rebel troops charged forward at the cost of their lives, as if Cheng Youcheng was determined to slaughter all his own troops.
Stepping over the mountains of corpses and seas of blood, the first wave of rebel soldiers finally reached the top of the city walls. The defending Central Army
refused to yield an inch, fighting a desperate battle. A fierce hand-to-hand combat ensued, with countless sharp
weapons clashing and slashing. Both sides gritted their teeth, blood flowing freely, and the air was filled with the glint of swords
. Soon, the walls were piled high with corpses, and the two sides continued their slaughter, stepping over the wounded and the dead, their screams echoing continuously.
A detachment of the Sirius Legion also climbed up to provide support, giving the enemy a numerical advantage and
boosting their morale. One Shura soldier even seized the Central Legion's flag, excitedly
displaying it to his comrades below the city walls. The Shura army erupted in a deafening cheer: "Kill!" For a moment, everyone
thought the city was within reach, filled with excitement!
But just then, Li Cheng, the Central Army's Wanwei, swiftly led three battalions to provide support. Li Cheng
was a fierce general; he charged ahead, his blade flashing, cutting down the Shura soldier and reclaiming the flag.
The Divine Eagle Army launched a counterattack, unstoppable. Their square formation, composed of shields, sabers, and spears,
pushed the rebel and Shura troops back to the outer lines. Archers continuously fired arrows from the gaps behind, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy.
In less than a moment, the Shura soldiers on the city walls suffered heavy losses, leaving behind thousands of corpses, and were driven off the walls.
At this moment, the siege ladders and assault vehicles, which had been slowly and reluctantly approaching the city wall, finally drew near. Standing
atop the assault vehicles, level with the wall, the Asura army's archers began firing back at the defenders on the wall, hindering their
movements.
Simultaneously, hundreds of siege ladders creaked against the wall, and the ferocious Asura soldiers
, daggers clenched in their teeth, frantically climbed upwards, oblivious to the rain of arrows, the scalding oil, and the heavy
stones pounding down. Each soldier was as brave as if they had nine lives, and in an instant, the wall was densely packed with climbing
soldiers, like ants crawling on a sugar cube.
The Divine Eagle defenders on the wall retaliated in kind, forcefully prying open the ladders hooked to the wall and pushing them outwards.
The string of enemy soldiers on the ladders all fell high into the air, turning into bloody pulp. However, fueled by
their relentless attacks and the cover provided by their archers, the enemy, after suffering heavy casualties,
managed to scale the western city wall a second time, engaging the defenders in fierce hand-to-hand combat.
The Divine Eagle soldiers knew that if the Asura army breached the city, none of them wanted to live! In this life-or-death situation,
everyone gave it their all, their blades flashing as they clashed with the Asura soldiers. Taking advantage of their
numerical superiority, thousands surged forward, launching a massive attack. In an instant, the hundred-plus Asura soldiers who had scaled the wall
were all hacked to pieces, and the city wall was recaptured.
The entire northern defense line of Tianjing was undergoing a severe test under the onslaught of storms. Wave after
wave of attacks surged forward, with the rebels and the Shura Army repeatedly breaching the lines and advancing onto the city walls. However, they encountered fierce
resistance from the Divine Eagle Army. Fueled by rage over the deaths of their comrades, the defenders of the capital displayed unparalleled resilience and
tenacity, launching desperate counterattacks with unstoppable courage, repeatedly driving the enemy back. Before the resolute chests of the Divine Eagle Army
, the Shura Army's relentless attacks were shattered time and again, like ocean waves crashing against reefs,
leaving only piles of corpses.
The northeastern section of the city wall was the focus of today's fierce battle. The enemy had deployed a massive force of thirty regiments there
, attempting to break through the defenses in one fell swoop. However, Wu Tianhu and Zhuge Yuan had anticipated this, deploying 40,000 of the Central Army's most elite troops there
, including the pride of the entire Divine Eagle Empire, the "Divine Vanguard Battalion."
The "Divine Vanguard Battalion" was originally the core force of the Imperial Guard. During the current crisis in the capital, Wu Tianhu took
office and, under the guidance of strategist Zhuge Qingyun, abolished the original organizational structure of most troops in the capital, incorporating them into...
The Central Army. Every soldier in the "Divine Vanguard Battalion" was an elite warrior, handpicked from thousands. Here, they
engaged in the most brutal and bloody battle against the Asura Army! The situation on 　　the city wall was constantly shifting; one moment it
was captured by the Asura Army, the next by the Divine Eagle Army. The two sides fought countless battles , and the city wall changed hands many times! Corpses gradually piled up, one layer, two layers, three layers... The ears 　　were ringing, and everywhere there were screams and curses. The Asura soldiers shouted, "Long live the Asura Emperor!" The Divine Eagle Army responded: 　　"You'll die!" 　　 Then came the fierce clash of weapons, sparks flying, the wounded groaning. The soldiers were bloodthirsty, having 　　even removed their armor, wielding gleaming sabers and going into battle bare-chested. One strike and it was either you or me. 　　Their feet were slippery, covered in human bodies, whether friendly or enemy, and the thick, pungent smell of blood was 　　intoxicating. 　　 Spears were broken, blades were dulled, daggers were snapped, yet the Shenfeng Camp soldiers, unarmed, 　　dared to pounce and seize the enemy's weapons! Even with half their heads chopped off, arms broken, legs snapped, 　　chests pierced by spears, and bodies riddled with bullets like hedgehogs, the Shenfeng Camp soldiers still dared to bite the enemy 　　's throat, gouge out their eyes, and kick their groins—their ferocity could only be described as madness! 　　 Whether rebels or Asura soldiers, despite their numerical advantage and fresh blood, faced with this 　　frenzied counterattack, seeing the blood-soaked, grinning Shenying Army, they were all chilled to the bone and terrified: those 　　were not human! They were ferocious demons! 　　 In one day, the enemy stormed the city walls more than ten times, but met with the impenetrable defenses of the Shenfeng Camp, each 　　time suffering crushing defeat and fleeing in disarray. 　　 From morning until noon, and then from noon into the afternoon, the siege lasted a full day. The 　　battle between the two armies was like two giants fighting to the last drop of their strength in a life-or-death struggle, panting heavily and covered in wounds 　　. 　　 Under the golden lion banner of the Shura army in the distance, watching the fierce battle on the city walls, Shura Qinglong's face turned pale. 　　 Messengers rushed back and forth beside him, reporting: "The 5th Regiment of the 20th Army has gone up!" 　　 "The Heavenly Wolf Legion has gone up!" 　　 "Cheng Youcheng has requested reinforcements! He said the 17th Regiment of the 20th Army can't hold on!" 　　 "Report! Lord Guwa has been killed in battle!" 　　 "The Heavenly Army has gone up!" 　　 "Cheng Da's regiment has suffered too many casualties and is no longer able to fight!" 　　 The Azure Dragon Prince's hands trembled slightly: the fierce battle had lasted for five or six hours! Tianjing City was like a bottomless black 　　hole, swallowing up one regiment after another; countless elite soldiers and generals had vanished, yet Tianjing City still stood tall and imposing. 　　 He couldn't understand what was going on: the invincible million-strong Asura army had fought a grueling day, 　　paying a heavy price and suffering countless sacrifices, yet they couldn't even capture a single stronghold on the city walls! After a 　　day of fierce fighting, weren't the enemy soldiers exhausted? How could they maintain such high morale and boundless energy? 　　Were the defenders of this city truly superhuman or supernatural beings? 　　How many more of us would have to die to conquer this Heavenly Capital? 　　 Asura Qinglong cursed softly, "Wu Tianhu, I truly underestimated you!" 　　 *Clang!* He drew his sword. Unlike most Asura warriors, whose traditional 　　weapon was the Asura scimitar, Asura Qinglong had spent his early years wandering 　　the martial world of the Divine Eagle Empire, deeply influenced by the Divine Eagle people's culture. He not only admired their literature but also 　　their weapons, with the sword being his favorite. 　　 Shura Qinglong, mounted on his horse, stood ready, sword pointed at the distant city walls, and raised his voice to command: "Pass on my order, Shura Empire Air 　　Force—attack!" 　　 The Shura Empire's air force knights had been fully prepared, but Shura Qinglong 　　knew the power of the Divine Eagle's crossbows, cannons, and arrows, saving them for last. Air forces had always been a rare commodity for the continent's nations; each air force knight and 　　each flying mount was bought with gold. Shura Qinglong wouldn't 　　easily deploy his air force unless absolutely necessary. 　　 ───────────────────────── 　　 fxcm Bookstore http://www.fxcmz.com 　　 northfx Library: http://www.nordfxs. Chapter 177 　　 Falling Objects from High Altitude 　　 Air force has always been a crucial force in conquering cities and seizing strongholds; whoever controls the air will ultimately win. 　　Not long ago, the Shura Army, relying on its air superiority, 　　captured Wanglong City in one fell swoop. This time, in attacking Tianjing, Shura Qinglong also hoped that the air force would be deployed to cooperate with the ground army to capture the northern city. 　　 Whoosh… Several long horns sounded at the front of the Shura Army's formation, and the eight thousand horned eagle knights waiting in the rear ranks roared 　　excitedly upon hearing the order to attack. At the command of the leading air force knight, Shura Zhu, in an instant 　　, all the beasts took to the air. The eight thousand horned eagles, like a dark cloud in the sky, pressed down on the northern 　　city wall of Tianjing. 　　 Zhuge Qingyun, observing the battle from the city wall, paled upon seeing the situation and cried out, "Oh no! The Asuras have deployed 　　their air force! What should we do?" 　　 Zhuge Qingyun's greatest worry was the Asuras' air force. The capital city had high, thick walls, creating a strategic advantage for both offense and defense. The Divine 　　Eagle Army, relying on the city walls, could hold off hundreds of thousands of Asura land troops, but against the Asura air force, 　　even the highest walls were insufficient. 　　 There were only two ways to deal with the Asura's griffins: one was to use crossbows, but after a day of fierce fighting, 　　nearly half of the crossbows on the city walls had been destroyed by the Asuras, making it difficult to kill so many griffins. The other was air combat 　　, but the Divine Eagle Army's air force in the capital was small, consisting of only a two-thousand-strong Griffin Knight regiment, far 　　inferior to the Asura's griffin knight regiment. To engage in aerial combat would clearly be like throwing an egg against a rock. 　　 Wu Tianhu remained remarkably calm, showing no panic whatsoever. Instead, a sinister smile crept across his face as he said, "Master 　　, don't panic. I have a plan." With that, he ordered in a deep voice, "Pass on my command! The Griffin Cavalry 　　is to move out and shoot the Asuras' air force back!" 　　 Whoosh…

A long, drawn-out horn blast echoed from the city walls. Two thousand griffin riders, already fully equipped and ready, heard
the order to attack and soared into the sky above the northern city, meeting the oncoming gryphon riders head-on.
If the Asura Army's gryphon air force was likened to dark clouds, then the Divine Eagle Army's griffin air force was like white clouds—
only, compared to the overwhelming, sun-obscuring clouds, the white clouds were clearly too small. Two thousand griffin riders against eight
thousand gryphon riders—both the Asura and Divine Eagle armies considered this an asymmetrical aerial battle. It
was like a child fighting an adult; no matter how strong the child was, could they possibly win?
Shura Qinglong, standing at the forefront of the Shura army, used a bamboo tube-made "telescope" to observe the Divine
Eagle Air Force appearing above the northern city. The number and scale of the opposing Griffin Knights matched the intelligence he had received before the battle. He couldn't help but
sneer, turning to Shura Teng beside him, "Uncle, it seems we'll be able to enter the city soon!
Haha! Our Shura Empire is not only unparalleled in cavalry, but also invincible in air force. Wu Tianhu's attempt
to withstand our eight thousand Eagle Beast Knights with a mere small number of Griffin Knights is nothing short of suicide!"
Shura Teng nodded slightly, saying, "Knowing it's impossible yet still doing it, it seems Wu Tianhu has already..." "We're at our wits' end,
with no other choice, so we've sent out all our remaining griffin riders. Our eagle-beast riders can wipe them all out in one
go. Once we gain air superiority, with our combined land and air forces, even the mighty Divine Eagle Army can't hold the city
walls!"
Shura Qinglong nodded, but frowned slightly, saying, "However, we can't underestimate the Divine Eagle Air Force.
Their equipment is far superior to ours, especially their crossbows. Not only do they have a longer range, but they also have greater destructive power. In a fierce battle with such an air force
, casualties among our eagle-beast riders are inevitable!"
As they spoke, the Divine Eagle Air Force and the Shura Air Force clashed. Just as Shura Qinglong had said,
the Divine Eagle Army's griffin riders, relying on their powerful crossbows, launched the first
attack when the two armies were more than thirty feet apart. The griffin riders at the front pulled the triggers, firing their crossbow bolts. 　　 A sharp whooshing sound echoed through the sky, followed instantly by a series of agonizing screams. 　　Black griffins and their riders, amidst a rain of blood, plummeted from the heavens, crashing into the Shura 　　army below, their bodies pulverized. In
wars 　　 between nations, aerial combat is often the most brutal. For air knights, their fate 　　is inextricably linked to their flying mounts. In high-altitude battles, once a mount is struck by an arrow and dies, the knight's fate is predictable 　　. Although the Shura air force possessed a vast numerical advantage, the Divine Eagle air force, with its ultra-long-range crossbows, 　　launched a preemptive attack. Before even engaging, dozens of griffin riders were killed or wounded. Men and beasts alike fell into the Shura 　　army below; falling from such heights, even if they survived, they would be trampled into a bloody pulp. 　　 After suffering some casualties, the Shura Air Force quickly approached the Divine Eagle Air Force, launching 　　a counterattack from a distance of twenty zhang (approximately 33 meters). Simultaneously, their flanks extended to encircle and fire upon the Divine Eagle Air Force. 　　 Air combat differs from land combat. In land warfare, one side can use its numerical superiority to 　　encircle and annihilate the other. Air combat is different; the sky is vast, and even with numerical superiority, it's extremely difficult for one side 　　to completely annihilate the other. Air combat is not only about powerful arrows but also about the ferocity and speed of flying mounts. Often, before 　　the air force knights even engage in battle, their flying mounts will already be fighting. 　　 It is said that Shura Pearl, the commander of the Shura Air Force's Gryphon Knights, is a member of the Shura royal family. Her 　　fame and prestige are far inferior to Princess Shura Flying Phoenix, and even less than Princess Vermilion Bird. However, she commands the Shura 　　Empire's most important force: the air force. This alone demonstrates the Shura Emperor's high regard for her, something neither Shura Flying 　　Phoenix nor Princess Vermilion Bird can match. 　　 In previous battles, the air forces of the Shura Empire and the Divine Eagle Empire had been evenly matched, with neither side gaining a decisive advantage 　　. However, this time, if the Griffin Knights were eliminated and Tianjing City captured, the Shura Air Force would be 　　the ultimate victor. Shura Pearl spared no effort in securing victory for the Shura Empire. 　　 After the air force knights of both sides fired their arrows, close combat ensued. Under the watchful eyes of the thousands of troops below, 　　the "Little White Cloud" and the "Big Dark Cloud" met head-on in the sky. Just when everyone thought the two "clouds" were about to collide and engage in 　　a fierce battle, no one expected that the vanguard of the "Little White Cloud" would suddenly 　　split into two groups, rapidly turning back… 　　 Seeing this, not only were the Griffin Knights in the sky puzzled, but even the Shura Azure Dragon and the Shura generals watching from below 　　were bewildered. The Yaksha Legion Commander exclaimed, "What kind of tactic is this?" 　　 "They're trying to escape!" said the Dragon God Legion Commander. 　　 "It doesn't look like it!" Shura Qinglong said solemnly. 　　 "Huh! What's that?" Shura Teng suddenly pointed to the sky ahead. 　　 Shura Qinglong raised his "telescope," and upon seeing it, his expression changed drastically. He exclaimed in horror, "This is impossible 　　!" 　　 After the two "white clouds" flew back, what finally appeared before the Shura Air Force was an incredibly huge flying 　　magical beast. Even from a great distance, Shura Qinglong could see it very clearly: it was 　　a huge magical beast with a lion's head, a crocodile's body, and bat wings. Shura Qinglong and the Shura generals all recognized this magical beast: the Celestial Lion Beast. 　　 The reason Shura Qinglong was shocked was because he believed that the Celestial Lion Beast was Lu Chong's mount. According to 　　the intelligence he had received, Lu Chong had already retreated to Dongtian City. How could he appear in Tianjing City? Flying back? That's impossible! 　　 Little did Shura Qinglong know that the Celestial Lion Beast that appeared was not Lu Chong's Celestial Lion Beast, but rather 　　the Celestial Lion Beast of Lu Chong's sister, Lu Qing. The Azure Dragon of Asura only knew that Lu Chong possessed the Celestial Lion Beast, but was unaware that Lu Qing also possessed one. 　　 This time, the Griffin Knights attacked to intercept the Gryphon Knights, having made prior tactical arrangements. Two 　　thousand Griffin Knights led the way, intentionally leaving Lu Qing and the Celestial Lion Beast at the rear. By the time the Gryphon Knights discovered the Celestial Lion Beast 　　, it was too late to avoid it. 　　 "Roar..." The Celestial Lion Beast let out a roar that shattered the heavens, like a thunderclap. With just 　　this roar, a vast expanse of "black rain" immediately began to fall from the sky.

The roar of a level nine magical beast was no small matter; the powerful sonic waves from that single roar killed or
injured nearly a hundred hippogriff knights. Regardless of whether they were killed or injured, they all fell to the ground.
This was just the beginning. After the roar, the Sky Lion charged towards the group of hippogriff knights like a tiger among sheep.
Any hippogriff knights who couldn't dodge in time were torn to shreds by the Sky Lion. Not only that, the Sky Lion spewed out large
amounts of foul-smelling venom; any hippogriffs and knights touched by it screamed and plummeted to the ground.
With the level nine magical beast Sky Lion leading the charge, two thousand griffin knights also charged towards the hippogriff knights. This
time, the griffin knights suffered even heavier casualties.
Watching his air force knights fall one after another, Shura Qinglong's face turned pale. He could no longer maintain his composure and immediately
ordered, "Quick! Quick! Recall the air force!"
A waiting air force knight immediately flew into the sky to relay the order. Although the Azure Dragon of Asura reacted
quickly, retreating was not so easy. The speed of the griffins was comparable to that of the griffins,
making it easy for the griffin riders to shake off the griffin riders. However, shaking off Lu Qing and the Celestial Lion was not so easy.
The Celestial Lion was not only fast in flight but also incredibly fierce in attack. Even with three squads of griffin riders deployed by the Asura Pearl to intercept
and block them, they couldn't hold them off. This wasn't to say that her griffin riders weren't brave enough, but rather that they were facing
a level nine magical beast. The sheer power of a top-tier magical beast was something these mid-level griffins couldn't withstand; they
crumbled at the first touch…
In the sky, wherever there were many griffin riders, the Celestial Lion charged, and wherever it passed, eagles and beasts
alike became falling debris.
Seeing his air force suffer heavy casualties, Shura Qinglong was sweating profusely, like an ant on a hot pan, and cried out:
"Air Force! Air Force! My air force, damned Lu Chong! I won't let you get away with this!"
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Chapter 178 Ironclad
Torrent Compared to the shock and helplessness of the Azure Dragon Prince, Wu Tianhu and Zhuge Qingyun were overjoyed. Zhuge Qingyun
laughed heartily, giving Wu Tianhu a thumbs-up, and said, "No wonder you were so calm. It turns out you invited
that girl Lu Qing. This is going to be a real headache for the Asuras!"
Wu Tianhu looked up at the sky, a smile appearing on his cold face, and exclaimed, "The might of a high-level magical beast
is truly something that a mid-level magical beast can't withstand. Luckily, Lu Qing was here, otherwise, the Asura army would have stormed into
the city on the very first day!"
Zhuge Qingyun nodded repeatedly, then shook his head, saying, "This is also thanks to that kid Wu Tianjiao. If
he hadn't given the Lu siblings two Heavenly Lion Beasts, we wouldn't have been able to withstand the Asura air force! It's a pity Lu Zhong wasn't here,
otherwise, with his Heavenly Lion Beast, we could have severely damaged the Asura air force!"
The Asura air force suffered heavy losses, and the ground forces also suffered heavy casualties. Compared to the shock of the Asura people, the Divine
Eagle Army was greatly encouraged. Every soldier roared like thunder, their faces flushed with adrenaline, gaining a hundredfold
strength. Any Asura soldiers who dared to scale the city walls were hacked to pieces.
The Divine Eagle Army achieved a double victory, both in the air and on the ground. After a day of fierce fighting, although the Asura army's offensive
continued, they left behind thick layers upon layers of corpses at the city's walls.
Despite the loss of air power, the Asura commanders continued to redeploy troops, sending fresh forces
to attack the city. However, the Asura soldiers were exhausted, both physically and mentally. The towering city of Tianjing before them was like a
meat grinder, sending one after another, vibrant Asura teams, alive and well, to be turned into
corpses.
The air was thick with the stench of blood, and beneath their feet lay a mass of soft, rotten flesh, with pools of blood forming
small rivers. Both the Asura soldiers and the Divine Eagle rebels were filled with dread, but the military
orders rang in their ears, forcing them to advance.
The eagle-beast riders falling from the sky with a series of thuds further chilled the Asura army's spirits. So, they began to dawdle
, slowly inching forward, hoping the sun would set soon to end the offensive, or that other units
would quickly enter the city so they wouldn't have to climb that "meat grinder." The eager, pioneering
spirit of the morning was completely gone.
The enemy's offensive was beginning to weaken. Zhuge Qingyun was the first to keenly notice this. He
said to Wu Tianhu, "Tianhu, it's time to attack! Be quick and ruthless!"
Looking down at the city walls, Wu Tianhu's face was grim, so cold it seemed to pierce through the air. He replied curtly, "Master,
then I entrust this to you!"
Zhuge Qingyun nodded, "Go with peace of mind. As long as I'm here, the Asuras won't be able to reach the city!"
Wu Tianhu gazed at the magnificent mountains and clear rivers stretching for miles. In an instant, countless memories flooded
his mind, complex and indescribable. Strangely, a previously blurred memory suddenly surfaced clearly
: the first time he saw Wu Tianjiao was in the courtyard of the Jin Yang Prince's mansion. He had thrown him out into
the freezing snow, leaving him half-dead… He murmured softly, "Wu Tianjiao, you're truly lucky…"
He didn't know why… A pang of guilt stirred within him. He thought to himself, "I wronged you back then, but
at this crucial moment, you indirectly helped me. The world is truly full of wonders!"
A whole day had passed, the bloody battle raging until dusk. Both the Asura soldiers and the Divine Eagle rebels were utterly
exhausted, having given up hope of ending the battle that day. They prepared to retreat to their camps
. However, no one expected that at this very moment, the city gate, which they had been attacking all day without success, would suddenly
open by itself!
Such a stroke of luck! Wasn't this a windfall?
Xiu Boren, the commander of the 10th Asura Army, was leading his troops in a final assault. Seeing the city gate suddenly
open, the Asura soldiers could hardly believe their good fortune. One infantry platoon, shouting and yelling, tried to rush in...
They were sent to be the first "glorious troops" to enter the city—only to be crushed into mincemeat by the surging tide of steel
. The Central Army's armored cavalry had struck!
In the history of warfare on the continent, the armored cavalry of the Divine Eagle Empire had always shocked the world with their terrifying impact and destructive power
, inspiring fear and trepidation. Each charge of the armored cavalry could often rout an enemy ten times their
size.
Once, Zhao Dianchen, the garrison commander of Xitian Town, used only five thousand armored soldiers to crush thirty thousand Shura light cavalry into dust
. On the southern front, a charge by a ten-thousand-cavalry unit had also
shattered tens of thousands of troops of the Peacock Dynasty.
However, as time went on, the enemy gradually understood how to deal with the armored cavalry: setting up
defensive tools such as spikes and tripwires could easily turn the seemingly impenetrable armored cavalry into a rout.
Especially during the battle where the Shura Azure Dragon captured Xitian City, the Xitian Legion, with its 50,000 armored cavalry
, was utterly routed by the Shura army. The Shura people gradually began to underestimate the armored soldiers of the Divine Eagle Army. However, they overlooked
a crucial detail: the Shura army's capture of Xitian City was a night raid. The 50,000 armored cavalry of the Xitian Legion
were essentially rendered useless; they were annihilated without proper preparation and caught off guard.
Twenty thousand cavalrymen, all clad in gilded armor and adorned with red tassels on their heads, wielding their cloud-like
spears, swiftly completed their attack formation below the city walls, arranging themselves into a fifty-row square formation.
The sky was slowly darkening; the "white clouds" and "dark clouds" in the sky had dispersed. In this
aerial battle between the two nations, the Divine Eagle Air Force achieved an unprecedented and complete victory. Two thousand Griffin Knights decisively defeated eight thousand Gryphon Beast Knights.
Of course, the Griffin Knights were able to win because they had a Celestial Lion Knight, a level nine magical beast
mount.
With the air force victorious, it was now the Empire's heavy cavalry's turn!
Wu Tianhu stood at the front of the formation, calmly watching the Asura Army and the Divine Eagle rebel
alliance surge forward like a tidal wave, raising his right hand high. The ranks behind him stood in solemn silence. Suddenly, he forcefully
pressed his raised hand down, and the cavalry roared deafeningly: "Glory belongs to us!" This was the Central Legion's new
battle cry!
The entire army of twenty thousand armored soldiers leaped from their saddles, and the torrent of iron cavalry surged towards the oncoming Asura Army and Divine Eagle rebel
alliance, the thunderous sound of hooves echoing through the air. Despite the overwhelming numbers of the enemy, their ranks a dark,
overwhelming mass stretching across the Mekong River plain like an avalanche, seemingly endless, the armored cavalry remained fearless
!
Leading the charge were Yan Boren's three thousand-man squads. Being closest, they
felt the terrifying momentum of the approaching force most acutely: the Central Army's armored cavalry was a battle
-hardened elite force, each member a seasoned veteran, now charging with
the resolve to die!
A powerful army is terrifying, but a powerful and fearless army is practically invincible
! The sheer force of the armored cavalry, their roaring ranks, exuded a terrifying, lion-like fighting
spirit that made the oncoming Divine Eagle rebels tremble!
The earth trembled violently beneath their feet, making it difficult to stand. The thunderous roar of hooves echoed in their ears
as the impenetrable armored ranks, heavy as a towering mountain, pressed down upon the enemy lines. The front ranks of the Asura soldiers
didn't even have time to utter a cry of alarm before being thrown back by the immense force, falling beneath the iron hooves of those behind. The second rank, the third
rank… the orderly Asura legion, row after row, was swept away by an unstoppable torrent of steel,
as fragile as paper and clay!
"Kill!" The thunderous roar of the Divine Eagle cavalry drowned out the surroundings. The screams of men and horses hitting the ground, the clanging of weapons
—in the face of their overwhelming, terrifying onslaught, Yan Boren's three teams couldn't even withstand a moment's resistance.
In an instant, they were engulfed by this golden, armored torrent, their annihilation happening in the blink of an eye!
Seeing the situation was dire, Yan Boren shouted and led his personal guards forward, determined to halt the heavy cavalry
's charge. Thirty thousand Asura soldiers charged forward, the two forces clashing head-on like two waves crashing together
, creating countless splashes of spray – the sparks from the cavalry's swords and spears!
The Asura soldiers were incredibly brave, but their weapons clanged against the armor of the Divine Eagle warriors
, offering no resistance. On the contrary, with every swing of the Divine Eagle soldiers' weapons, an Asura soldier screamed and fell to the ground!
In no time, large swathes of the Asura army had fallen, men and horses tumbling down like
waves of rice after a typhoon. Follow-up troops rushed forward relentlessly, only to be driven back by the impenetrable armor, trampled into mincemeat by the iron hooves!
Men and horses alike were crushed to the ground under the overwhelming weight of the armored torrent. The
sheer force resembled a colossal dragon, while the enemy ranks were merely clouds drifting beside it,
easily dispersed by a single sweep of the dragon's massive claws!
Finally, reason triumphed over courage, and the Asura soldiers realized: these heavily armored monsters were simply unbreakable
! With a terrifying roar, Yan Boren's troops crumbled instantly, scattering in all directions, desperate to escape
the deathly torrent behind them.
At this moment, both Cheng Youcheng and the Asura army commander realized their precarious situation: their
flank had been breached, and the enemy was about to stab the attacking forces in the flank from the side!
A chorus of terrified cries erupted from the Asura army formation: "Watch out! The cavalry is coming! The cavalry is coming!"
The Asura Azure Dragon, observing from the rear, immediately turned and ordered: "Wolf cavalry
, prepare to attack!" Only the ferocity of the heavily armored wolf cavalry could withstand the onslaught of the armored infantry! Cheng Youcheng wanted to turn his army around
to deal with Wu Tianhu's cavalry, but the multiple units were mixed together, the troops crowded together, each hindering the others, making
movement extremely difficult. Cheng Youcheng's series of orders only added to the chaos!
A roar erupted from both flanks, sending chills down everyone's spines: the torrent of the Divine Eagle Armored Army was surging forward, already close in!
The armored army charged again, the Flying Eagle banners fluttering in the wind, swords and spears clanging loudly.
They charged specifically at the enemy's strongest points, spears in hand, sabers drawn, rushing towards the enemy's fortified human wall! This
momentum was like a raging storm, sweeping away and destroying everything in its path; its thunderous force
was unstoppable by any person, any order, or any commander!
The elite troops of the Shura Army and the Divine Eagle Rebel Army were terrified by this earth-shattering power!
Those positioned in the direction of the armored cavalry's charge, whether Shura soldiers or rebel soldiers, were terrified and desperately tried to retreat.
But orders were urgent, and the troops behind pushed forward relentlessly, shoving them forward. The two opposing
waves collided, the ranks in complete chaos. The front ranks cried out in terror, "Let us go!"
while the rear shouted, "Charge! Charge! Kill Wu Tianhu!" The chaos spread like ripples from a stone thrown into water
, circle after circle.
The wind howled overhead, horses neighed in their ears, and mountains of swords and spears flashed around them! The armored cavalry had charged
in! Clad in full armor, they emerged from the darkness like vengeful gods, their might awe-inspiring and their courage unmatched…
Caught up in the frenzy, they were unfazed by blades piercing their flesh or spears piercing their bodies. Even as blood gushed from the cracks in their armor
, they paid no heed. Arrows pierced their eyes, but they pulled them out without a second thought, as if they were born
knowing nothing of death!
Their frenzied ferocity meant there was nothing they wouldn't do. A single armored cavalryman dared to
challenge an entire enemy platoon, each possessing seemingly limitless strength. A single swing of their steel spear
could dismount several cavalrymen, and one could scatter an entire enemy column
, chasing after fleeing soldiers with mad shouts: “You bastards! Come on! You sons of bitches! Get up here!”
Overwhelmed by this frenzied ferocity, any of the Divine Eagle rebels and… The Asura army was terrified,
their hands trembling and hearts pounding. They halted in their tracks, hesitant to advance and retreat step by step, their
hands gripping their weapons shaking uncontrollably…
Wu Tianhu was at the very front of the assault formation. He charged ahead, leaping into
the forest of swords and blades of the Divine Eagle rebel army. Holding a heavy steel spear in one hand and a saber in the other, the gleaming saber and spear were like
the scythe of death in his hands. Within a ten-foot radius of this fierce whirlwind, not a single enemy soldier survived!
Before him, the mighty Asura army suddenly transformed into a flock of chicks, screaming and fleeing in terror.
Though not tall, to the Asura soldiers at this moment, he was not human, but an enraged Grim Reaper!
The armored army surged forward, following his retreating figure, pushing deeper into the enemy ranks and expanding their gains. Enemies fell dead at the touch of swords and spears,
wave after wave of rebel soldiers perishing, their ranks as dense as wheat fields battered by a raging storm!
The dense ranks were like a sharp dagger, deeply slicing into the massive, cumbersome bodies of the enemy,
each movement causing them to bleed profusely! Faced with this unstoppable offensive, the enemy's heavily armored weapons were
utterly destroyed, and one seemingly impregnable formation after another crumbled, the scattered soldiers
fleeing in panic.
Both the Asura Azure Dragon observing from the rear and Cheng Youcheng commanding from the front lines realized the dire situation
and attempted to immediately halt the movement of this dagger. Fresh troops were dispatched to intercept, but due to
their sheer number and overcrowding, the troops were either trapped in the chaotic flow of people, unable to move, or, having
finally managed to squeeze through, were routed by the onrushing armored army.
Caught off guard, the massive combined forces of the Asura Army and the Divine Eagle Rebels were thrown into chaos. People pushed and
shoved, trampling each other, resulting in countless deaths and injuries!
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Chapter 179 A Crushing Defeat
The armored army successfully penetrated the enemy's center, causing great panic among the Asura Army and the rebel alliance. The
Divine Eagle rebels, unaccustomed to open-field combat, were the first to drop their weapons, howling like wild beasts, and turning to flee in disarray.
However, the Shura army had already blocked their retreat. The Shura troops suddenly opened fire on the fleeing soldiers
, unleashing a hail of arrows. With nowhere to run, the rebels scattered to the flanks, then charged
the formation of the Heavenly Wolf army led by Shura Teng. The mountain of swords and spears crumbled into chaos. Taking advantage of the confusion, the Ironclad Army's
iron torrent surged in!
The Heavenly Wolf Legion stubbornly resisted this raging storm, attempting to buy time for the heavy wolf cavalry to advance. The Shura
cavalry wielded countless spears and swords, clanging and clashing against the Ironclad soldiers' chainmail, helmets, and breastplates
. They fought desperately, but under the overwhelming pressure of the steel giants, they could not withstand the onslaught, unable
to stand firm, and retreated step by step.
One after another, they were pierced through by heavy spears, cleaved into dust by sabers, and trampled into mincemeat by horses' hooves.
More and more men and horses fell to the ground—first a few, then hundreds, then thousands, then tens of thousands… The battlefield was littered with
the corpses of the Asura soldiers. The armored cavalry's fierce offensive surged like a raging avalanche,
unstoppable by anyone!
The Heavenly Wolf Legion's formation crumbled little by little, until finally, with a "whoosh," this
renowned legion was utterly routed for the first time. The Asura soldiers fled in a frenzy,
pursued relentlessly by the armored soldiers, who then charged into the ranks of Tianhe, the commander of the Heavenly Clan's ten thousand cavalry.
General Tianhe, of royal birth, was renowned for his bravery and strength, and was considered second only to General Yunxiao, who was hailed as the Heavenly Clan's most powerful
general. But General Yunxiao had died in battle twenty years ago during the attack on Xitian City, and since then
he had often referred to himself as the "Number One Warrior of the Celestial Clan."
This time, seeing his subordinates being slaughtered one by one, either rolling off their horses or
turning to flee, under the fierce offensive of the Divine Eagle Ironclad Army, Tianhe was simply furious! Seeing that the number of people around him was dwindling, he ignored it all and
refused to retreat an inch.
Fueled by rage, he became doubly fierce. The steel spear, weighing hundreds of pounds, moved with the ease of a toothpick in his hands.
Even the armor of the ironclad cavalry could not withstand his devastating blows. Several cavalrymen surrounding him were quickly
struck on the head by his spear, their brains splattering as they died. He grew even more arrogant, launching his own attack, brandishing his
spear and charging left and right. Wherever he went, ironclad cavalrymen screamed and fell from their horses!
Tianhe laughed wildly, shouting in broken Divine Eagle language, "I am the fiercest general of the Celestial Clan! Who dares to fight me!"
An ironclad soldier charging alongside Wu Tianhu silently spurred his horse forward. Tianhe laughed again
, "You little brat, you dare come to your death!" Indeed, compared to Tianhe's massive frame, exceeding nine feet,
the ironclad soldier of average build looked rather pitiful.
The two horses faced each other, galloping closer. Tianhe, steel spear in both hands, used the momentum of his horse to strike
his opponent's head from above, intending to kill this tiny eagle soldier in one blow!
The steel spear whistled through the air in a breathtaking arc as it struck down. A
ferocious smile appeared on Tianhe's lips: "How could the great Celestial Clan be defeated by a mere eagle-man?"
He anticipated the muffled sound of his opponent's brains splattering... but that sound never came. The armored
soldier executed a nimble sidestep, disappearing from his horse like a gust of wind.
Tianhe's sure strike missed, and the two riders galloped past each other.
Before Tianhe could even react with surprise, he suddenly witnessed a bizarre scene: he was rising higher and higher off the ground,
and he could see his headless body tumbling heavily off his horse, a gush of blood spurting high from his neck, even
staining the steel blade in the small, armored soldier's hand crimson... Seeing their valiant commander perish,
the soldiers of the Heavenly Legion let out a mournful cry, losing their last shred of fighting spirit. As the armored soldier, sword in one hand and
Tianhe's bloodied head in the other, charged forward menacingly, every army was terrified: "This is
a demon! This is an evil fiend! He's not human!"
Whether it was the meritorious troops of the Eight Tribes of Asura or the rebel army of the Divine Eagle, they all lost their courage, offering
no resistance, turning and fleeing. One elite unit after another was routed, scattered and fleeing in disarray.
Large groups of scattered Asura soldiers fled in terror, disoriented and disoriented. The armored soldiers hacked and
slashed at them, driving them away. They dared not turn back to fight, behaving as docilely as sheep being herded by a shepherd,
being slaughtered in droves from behind. Seeing this, the others dared not linger and ran even faster. Seeking
safety, they specifically chose to flee to areas where their own troops were most numerous. With this shared desire, the deserters quickly formed
a torrent, rushing back towards their own ranks!
The newly formed Asura units, before even engaging in battle, witnessed the ironclad army's overwhelming power routing
the units ahead. As the defeated tide surged past them, a sense of panic and
fear quickly spread. The soldiers lost all will to fight; at the slightest cry of "Run!"
, the entire force crumbled. Soldiers joined the fleeing
tide in the chaos, ignoring the officers' shouts and threats.
Asura officers began to kill their own men in an attempt to halt the collapse, but it was futile.
The torrent of thousands engulfed them, and even they themselves were swept away by the fleeing masses.
One organized unit after another was destroyed by their own people before even reaching the battlefield.
This flow grew ever larger, drawing in more and more units until it became an unstoppable
mass rout. Countless people screamed, "It's over! It's over!"
"Run! They're attacking!"
Soldiers and officers alike had lost their minds, gripped by hysterical panic.
Trampled to death by their own kind amidst the chaos and commotion, the fleeing Asura and rebel soldiers surged like a waterfall, rushing
towards the main camp, for only there could their fortifications withstand the armored infantry's invincible attack.
To speed up their escape, the Asura soldiers abandoned their spears, swords, and bows;
the colorful flags of their various units lay scattered on the ground. Behind them, a terrifying golden dragon pursued,
rampaging and awe-inspiring!
The desperate Azure Dragon Prince had hoped to turn the tide by deploying his heavy wolf cavalry phalanx, but to no avail. Hundreds of thousands of defeated
soldiers surged forward like a tidal wave, utterly routing the heavy wolf cavalry phalanx intended to resist the ironclad army.
Even the royal legion's main force crumbled, and the majestic lion imperial banner vanished in the chaos.
The hundreds of thousands of Asura soldiers suffered a crushing defeat at the Meishui Plain and were now retreating in disarray towards their camp. The once-proud
Asura Eight Tribes soldiers were utterly disheveled, their armor and helmets discarded, their banners dragging behind them. They never imagined
they would find themselves in such a state, a scene of utter devastation and wailing filled the air.
The first day of the siege of Tianjing ended in this way, with the Asura army suffering a crushing defeat. In this battle, the Asura Eight Tribes
army, along with the Divine Eagle rebel forces, totaling 700,000 men, met a bloody and devastating defeat at the gates of Tianjing, leaving countless corpses
.
At this moment, Tianjing City was a sea of jubilation. From here to there, groups of warriors,
their uniforms stained with blood, cheered: "Long live! Long live! Glory! Long live the Empire!"
People were moved to tears, embracing each other and weeping. From east to west, flags waved everywhere, and everywhere
the proud cheers of the people echoed: "Long live! Long live! Long live!"
Whether officers or soldiers, or civilians, regardless of class, at this moment, people's
feelings were the same. Whether they knew each other or not, people joined hands, sang, embraced, and cheered, "We won!
We won!"
Waves of cheers rose and fell, and as soon as one person started, thousands spontaneously joined in:
"The brave warriors embarked on their journey, brandishing swords and spears, braving a rain of arrows, advancing step by step towards the enemy." The majestic and resounding
song was sung again and again, echoing through the sky.
This was the most glorious day for the Shenying people! A lone, weak army besieging the capital, personally defeated an enemy
force many times their size, avenging countless fallen compatriots and comrades! Even the continent's most elite heavy wolf cavalry were no match for them.
They fled in disarray! Before their resolute chests, the surging tide of the Asura race and rebels was utterly crushed.
The humiliation and helplessness of the Eagle Clan since the start of the war were finally released: after this battle, who would dare say we,
the Eagle Clan, are cowardly? The Empire's Central Legion would henceforth be renowned throughout the world!
Those who witnessed the Ironclad Legion's attack were even more thrilled: what a magnificent and awe-inspiring
display of power! To have witnessed this scene in one's lifetime was enough to leave no regrets!
Even the newly arrived militiamen, witnessing the unstoppable might of the armored army, couldn't help but
feel their blood boil with excitement, exclaiming with envy, "Heroes! If one day we could be so majestic, we'd die
happy!"
The captured banners of the eight Asura tribes and the rebel army were smashed on the ground, excitedly
stomped on, some even urinating on them, before being hung on the city walls as an exhibition for the Asuras
and rebels to "see for free."
In contrast to the jubilation and jubilation in Tianjing City, the Asura army camp that night was deathly
silent.
The Asura Azure Dragon's defeat at the gates of Tianjing City caused a huge uproar. No one had expected the first day's attack on
Tianjing to end like this, especially
the Cheng family father and son, who had confidently boasted to the Azure Dragon of Asura that they would "take Tianjing and Wu Wudi within a day." In their own tent, they were in agony
, tearing at their hair in fear and anxiety.
To save face before their master, he roared an order for the retreating rebel troops to launch a nighttime
assault on the capital. But no one obeyed. The defeat had shattered their prestige.
The captains of the Divine Eagle Clan army were in an uproar; even the most obedient officers were grumbling. Everyone shouted,
"You're killing our own troops!"
"Your attack method is insane!"
"You can't beat Wu Wudi, you can't even beat Wu Tianhu!"
Everyone echoed in unison, "Yes, you can't!"
Cheng Youcheng roared, "Who says I can't beat Wu Tianhu! Think about it, brothers, we've won so many
battles, the Mianyang campaign, Wanglong City, every time was a resounding victory! Now we have many soldiers and generals, our forces are
seven or eight times his, and we also have the Shura clan's army to help us. What is Wu Tianhu? He has no soldiers, no food
, he can only cower there waiting to die! Brothers, as long as everyone cheers and puts in a little more effort, we'll definitely be able to take
him down in one go!"
Chapter 180 Black Fox
"Whether it's Mianyang or Wanglong City, Wu Wudi isn't there." A rebel leader complained,
"Don't forget, Wu Wudi is the number one expert in the world!"
"We saw it coming a long time ago, Wu Wudi is the reincarnation of a war god," another rebel leader said. "How
can we possibly contend with him?"
Everyone buzzed with discussion, "That's right, none of us can beat him!"
"Yes! Wu Wudi is a god descended to earth, and even his son is incredibly powerful. It's just that his son
is fighting today; otherwise, if he were out there, our men would crush him one by one like insects. Our
men wouldn't even be able to get close to him."
Someone agreed, "Yes! I've seen him before. I saw with my own eyes
a huge golden light surrounding Wu Wudi! The elders say he's a celestial being descended to earth, protected by five ghosts and six evil spirits!"
"That must be it! Otherwise, just because his son came out, he killed so many of our brothers? They died
like wheat being harvested in autumn, one after another, in huge numbers."
Cheng Youcheng screamed in despair, "What should we do! I've already promised His Highness the Azure Dragon that I will definitely
take the capital today!"
Everyone said in unison, "Even if you've promised your life to His Highness the Azure Dragon, that's your business! Just don't
drag us down with you. If you keep arguing, we might as well tie you up and hand you over to Wu Wudi; maybe that way he'll spare us.
" "Survive!"
No matter how furiously the Cheng family father and son threatened, intimidated, cursed, and pleaded, the rebel leaders refused to move
, repeating themselves like a broken phonograph: "Anyway, we're not going to our deaths... If you want to go, go yourself
... You can't beat Wu Tianhu."
These unruly rebel leaders could fight
fiercely against any of the empire's troops, but when they encountered Wu Wudi's central army, they immediately wilted, their hands went limp, their
legs trembled, and they only wanted to run back.
A sound came from the doorway, and a messenger entered: "Commander Cheng Youcheng, there are orders for you to
go to the central command tent immediately!"
Cheng Youcheng trembled.
The sky was dark and gloomy, the clouds hung low, the moonlight was hazy in the mist, and the stars were almost invisible. In
the open space in front of the command post and between the tents, the Asura soldiers clumsily pushed and shoved, each one
terrified. Their warhorses kicked anxiously, emitting irritating neighs. The officers, their tempers flailing
, were utterly stern, issuing orders in a frenzy that sent the trembling soldiers
scurrying in and out.
The faint crackling of the torches seemed unusually loud, the air heavy
and oppressive.
The punishment had been given: the five commanders of ten thousand who had failed in their duties had been ordered by the Asura Emperor to commit suicide immediately.
Sixty-eight commanders of three thousand had been beheaded, their heads now hanging high on the crossbeams of the Asura central army's gate
, a long string of heads.
The first few thousand Shura soldiers to retreat were bound and stuffed into sacks. Two thousand-cavalry units
executed the Shura Emperor's orders flawlessly, trampling over the sacks repeatedly until each sack was reduced to a bloody
pulp. Hundreds of thousands of Shura soldiers watched this spectacular scene, their faces deathly pale.
Cheng Youcheng cautiously entered the central command post and stopped. He, too, was terrified:
the string of heads hanging from the beams included several acquaintances he had spoken with that morning. Now they
were all hanging there, their snarling expressions seemingly mocking something.
Cheng Youcheng was terrified: they were all regular Asura generals, usually favored even more than him,
yet they had met such a fate; his own was predictable…
He wanted to run, to leave this eerie and terrifying place immediately, but his legs were weak, and he couldn't move an inch.
On either side of him were regular Asura soldiers, glaring menacingly, and he wasn't even surrounded by one of his own men.
Sweat poured down his face, and he felt dizzy. In his daze, he already imagined
what it would be like to have his head hanging there…
"Cheng Youcheng?" A voice suddenly came from behind.
He turned abruptly. A figure in black appeared like a ghost, already standing behind him
. Cheng Youcheng's heart pounded. He recognized the man in black:
Black Fox, the chief strategist of the Asura Eight Legions Alliance.
Black Fox was arguably the most mysterious figure in the Asura court. He seemed to descend from the heavens,
suddenly appearing in the Asura Clan's palace one day and gaining the Asura Emperor's unconditional and absolute trust.
Apart from the Asura Emperor himself, no one knew his origins, no one had ever seen his face. Regardless of the season
, his entire body was wrapped in a large black robe, his face veiled in a thick black gauze. The Asura Clan even
struggled to determine his race and gender: judging from his physique, he should belong to the Asura Clan's royal family, but
he could also be a Divine Eagle.
The high-ranking officials of the Asura Clan were filled with curiosity about this mysterious figure's origins, offering numerous speculations, but the only
certainty was that he enjoyed the Asura Emperor's utmost trust and favor.
Once, a drunken general, having overindulged at a banquet, demanded to see the face behind the black fox veil.
After being coldly refused, he pretended to turn away, but suddenly drew his sword and ripped open the veil.
Afterwards, to prevent the secret from leaking, the Asura Emperor had to personally take action, immediately
killing all seventy-one officers who had seen or might have seen Black Fox's face at the banquet.
"Military...Military Advisor...Greetings!" Cheng Youcheng stammered, shocked to encounter this most powerful figure of the Asura clan in the camp.
A terrifying thought flashed through his mind: Could he be the one to carry out
my death sentence?
Cheng Youcheng's gaze involuntarily drifted to the troop of imperial guards following behind him. They were all strong and
muscular, their faces grim and expressionless.
"Come with me," Black Fox said curtly. His voice was deep yet melodious, giving a chilling impression.
Cheng Youcheng was terrified and hurriedly said, "Strategist, but I'm still waiting for His Highness Qinglong's audience.
He sent me..."
"I was the one who sent you. The Crown Prince has been relieved of his command of the troops and is now under guard and confinement
."
Cheng Youcheng's mind went blank: his greatest protector had lost power, and no one would come to
his rescue. What to do, what to do...
His mind was in turmoil, and his legs trembled so much he could barely support himself. Several Shura Iron Guard soldiers
grabbed him without explanation and followed Black Fox into a tent. Black Fox turned around and said, "His Majesty has
an order for you."
Cheng Youcheng immediately knelt down, his face deathly pale: It's here, it's here! Was it an order to commit suicide, or to be dragged
out and beheaded? "Please, please don't let it be a beheading or slow slicing; I'd rather bite my tongue and kill myself right now..."
"His Majesty has decreed: General Cheng, since submitting to our clan, has been utterly loyal and brave in battle.
His Majesty is greatly pleased and hereby bestows upon you the title of Marquis of Zhen Dong!"
Cheng Youcheng's legs went weak, and he collapsed to the ground. He couldn't believe his ears, his eyes
wide with disbelief.
Black Fox's voice turned stern: "Marquis of Zhen Dong, why don't you thank the decree?"
"Yes, yes, yes!" Cheng Youcheng kowtowed repeatedly: "Your Majesty, I kneel to thank
you for your boundless grace. Even if I were to be shattered to pieces, I could never repay Your Majesty. From now on, I will certainly do my utmost to be loyal to our empire..." He stammered a long string of words,
still unable to accept the reality: not only was he not dead, but he had been promoted!
Black Fox gave a cold, amused snort, his voice becoming much more amiable: "Marquis of Zhendong, please rise. From now on
, you have the right to directly meet His Majesty. If you have any words of thanks, you can express them to His Majesty in person."
The "Marquis of Zhendong," still unaccustomed to his new title, rose timidly and asked softly, "This...
this...Strategist, if possible, could I know why I was promoted? You know, we
did suffer a defeat, this...this seems..."
Black Fox interrupted him: "Marquis of Zhendong, you've misunderstood! His Majesty is rewarding your loyalty.
A small defeat is nothing; why would His Majesty punish you? Of course..." Black Fox said meaningfully:
"Someone spoke well of you before His Majesty,"
Cheng Youcheng said with a fawning smile. "Ah, yes, yes, His Majesty the Asura Emperor is wise, wise! I
will repay you with utmost loyalty. And thank you for your promotion, strategist. Please convey my regards to Prince Qinglong when you have the chance..."
He guessed to himself that it must have been Prince Qinglong who spoke well of him. Yes, that must be it.
It was a wise choice to side with Prince Qinglong back then!
"Strategist, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now!"
Black Fox nodded.
The newly appointed Marquis of Zhendong bowed and smirked as he backed away. Watching his retreating figure, the Asura Clan's chief strategist
let out a cryptic hum. He slowly poured himself a cup of tea but didn't drink it, saying, "It's time to come out."
The curtain behind the tent was lifted, and a middle-aged man stepped out. It was none other than the Left Wolf King, Asura
Teng. He bowed respectfully to Black Fox, and the chief strategist returned the bow, asking, "Did you hear everything just now? What did you say?"
Shura Teng smiled wryly, "This man is cowardly and unreliable! However, his abilities are still outstanding
!"
Black Fox nodded in agreement, saying, "I think so too, but if it weren't for him, we wouldn't have
reached the gates of Tianjing so quickly. In terms of military talent, he is far inferior to Wu Xiongfeng, the garrison commander of Beitian Town."
Shura Teng echoed, "The strategist is wise. However, I have a question I would like to ask the strategist."
"Please speak."
"At today's imperial meeting, all the generals unanimously accused Cheng Youcheng of being the culprit—
claiming that his troops were the first to desert, causing the entire army to collapse. Tianjue said he panicked and mismanaged,
leading to our defeat. That Long Tengfei simply said he was a traitor, attempting to kill the soldiers of our eight tribes.
Even the Crown Prince agreed with them—I want to know, why did the strategist still try so hard to save his
life?"
"It's not surprising that they said that," Black Fox chuckled. "If Tianjue and the others wanted to keep their heads,
they had to shift the blame for the defeat. The best excuse would have been 'poor command,' but unfortunately,
today's commander was His Highness the Azure Dragon, the future Asura Emperor. They didn't dare offend him, so they had to find Cheng Youcheng to
be their scapegoat. At this critical moment of life and death, His Highness the Crown Prince didn't care about loyalty."
When Black Fox said the word "loyalty," his tone was unmistakably sarcastic. Shura Teng
understood what he hadn't said: The Crown Prince, as a ruler, lacked any courage or backbone, only capable of shirking responsibility to his subordinates.
How could someone with such character bear the heavy burden of being an emperor?
"You don't need to overthink it," Shura Teng said. "Cheng Youcheng is still very useful to our army, so I protected him. I
meant no other. It's just a pity about so many generals. They pleaded and schemed, yet still couldn't escape death.
The legion commanders were spared only because of their military achievements, but they were stripped of their dukedoms. Our Emperor
is truly swift and decisive! Even Prince Qinglong has been stripped of his military power and sent to confinement for reflection."
Shura Teng couldn't help but ask, "Strategist, who is the new commander-in-chief of the army?"
Black Fox smiled without answering. Shura Teng blushed and said self-deprecatingly, "..." "This is a highly confidential matter. I apologize for my intrusion, but
please, strategist, pretend you didn't hear anything."
Black Fox took a sip of tea and said, "Your Highness, it's alright. You are the commander of the Heavenly Wolf Army, a high-ranking officer, and have the authority
to know—by the way, His Majesty is very concerned about your health. I wonder how your recovery is going?"
Black Fox suddenly changed the subject. Shura Teng didn't understand what she meant, but then he suddenly realized that a few days ago,
in order to gain the trust of that "tigress," he had followed the Azure Dragon Prince's plan and "mutilated" his body, remaining bedridden for two days. He figured
that after the "tigress" visited him, she had reported it to His Majesty the Shura Emperor.
Shura Teng's face flushed red, and he hurriedly said, "It's nothing, thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I'm much better now
and there's nothing to worry about."
"Has your martial arts recovered? Are you ready to go into battle?"
"Ah? Well, my martial arts have declined somewhat, but not significantly. If Your Majesty has any requests, please feel free to give
them. It won't delay Your Majesty's business."
"Hmm," Black Fox nodded with satisfaction, "Your Highness, didn't you just ask about the new commander-in-chief? Now
I can tell you." As if to achieve the greatest shock effect, he deliberately paused for a moment and said,
"It's you."
After a moment of shock, Shura Teng came to his senses and hurriedly humbled himself, saying that he was not
talented enough and unworthy of such an important position, and that he was afraid of failing His Majesty's judgment of people. He also stated that there were many people in the army with greater talent and prestige than him, and
asked the strategist to reconsider and consider other candidates... and so on.
Black Fox chuckled and said, "This is His Majesty's will, Your Highness, please don't refuse anymore. Prince Qinglong is still young,
how can he compare to you!"
His tone turned serious: "His Majesty appointed you as Commander-in-Chief of the Three Armies because he appreciates your talent.
The troops led by that little thief Wu Tianhu are truly battle-hardened elites, already exceptionally strong. Now they have nowhere to escape, they will surely
fight to the death like cornered beasts, their counterattack will be exceptionally powerful, this battle will not be easy. Prince Qinglong, in order to
curry favor with His Majesty, underestimated the enemy and acted rashly, and now he has suffered a great loss. I hope you will not disappoint His Majesty."
He deliberately spoke the last sentence softly and slowly, allowing Xiu Luoteng to slowly grasp the meaning behind his words.
Thinking of the string of heads hanging at the camp gate, Xiu Luoteng broke out in a cold sweat: "Yes! I will certainly
remember the strategist's teachings."
"There's something I must remind you of: the person who actually commanded the heavy cavalry to defeat Prince Qinglong today
wasn't Wu Tianhu. The enemy is hiding an extremely skilled commander. You must be wary of him."
Xiu Luoteng exclaimed in surprise, "Ah? Strategist, I personally saw Wu Tianhu himself in the attacking formation,
and General Tianhe was also killed by his guards..."
"Your Highness, use your brain!" Black Fox's voice carried a hint of impatience. "Think about this: back then, Wu
Tianhu himself charged into our ranks at the forefront. It was a scene of swords clashing, men and horses falling, dust flying
everywhere, and the crowd so dense you couldn't see more than five paces ahead. In that situation,
how did Wu Tianhu manage to fight and defend himself while simultaneously commanding his nearly 20,000 troops with perfect precision and without any chaos? Even if he could
, how did those 20,000-plus men receive his orders in such a noisy and chaotic environment?"
Xiu Luoteng was considering this question for the first time: "This…"
"Your Highness, the enemy commander is extremely shrewd. If you observe their attack route, you'll notice:
after the Ironclad Army routed the Heavenly Army on the flank, they didn't directly attack the closest Heavenly Wolf Army. Instead, they circled
around to attack the Shuntian Army in the center, opening a gap through the relatively weaker Twentieth Army
—you see, this circle was very cleverly designed. It avoided exposing their right flank
to the direct threat of the Heavenly Wolf Army's attack, while also making the angle and direction of the attack very ingenious. The routed Shuntian soldiers were driven
and forced towards the Wolf Cavalry, essentially giving them free lead-up attacks to disrupt our formation—this wasn't accidental
. This tactic has appeared many times since then, using our own men to disrupt our follow-up troops." " 　　The enemy commander's
accurate grasp of the overall situation, keen awareness of our army's weaknesses and ability to quickly mobilize forces to create local advantages
, skill in creating chaos within our army and then seizing the opportunity to expand, and intentionally severing the connection between our troops and command system —their tactics were so skillful they reached the level of art! Although we had nearly a million troops, 　　we had no opportunity to use them at all, and could only be slaughtered bit by bit like a heavy, dead pig, gradually collapsing in the chaos 　　—think about it, Wu Tianhu was at the very center of the most intense vortex of the battle, barely able to protect himself, 　　could he possibly have achieved such near-perfect command?"

Following his train of thought, Xiu Luoteng recalled the scene in his mind: Dusk fell, a sea of people,
a forest of swords and spears, dust billowing, hundreds of thousands of troops fighting, fleeing, dying, and bleeding under the setting sun
. The sounds of battle, screams, groans, hooves, and footsteps mingled, creating a chaotic cacophony. The cavalry, driven by their frenzy, were drenched in sweat,
each one a match for twenty. Flags fluttered atop the city walls, while his own troops were completely overwhelmed, abandoning their armor and
weapons, flags strewn across the ground…
He suddenly widened his eyes and exclaimed, “Strategist! I understand! It’s the flags! He’s
remotely commanding the entire army from the city walls using the flags! Only from the high walls can he clearly see the overall situation!”
“Very correct, but…” Black Fox’s tone was calm: “Who is this unknown commander?”
“Strategist, rest assured,” Xiu Luoteng said confidently, “Whether it’s him, Wu Tianhu, or even
Wu Wudi, before our million-strong army, they only face death!”
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Chapter 181 Embroidery
On the vast Mekong River plain, the hundreds of thousands of troops from both countries who had fought there during the day had retreated like a tide, leaving
behind a blood-soaked layer of corpses that covered the entire land. Countless broken spears and halberds stretched to the horizon,
displaying the cruelty of war.
In the distance, a dark shadow and the reflection of metal appeared, its outline growing larger and larger until it became clear
that countless Asura troops were advancing in this direction. Like locusts devouring the earth, various colorful
tents, like countless blooming flowers, covered the vast Mekong River plain.
Zhuge Qingyun and Wu Tianhu exchanged a horrified look: they had inflicted such heavy losses on the enemy during the day, yet within hours
, their reinforcements had returned. Fighting an enemy with such astonishing resilience was terrifying;
they possessed virtually endless reinforcements. And today, less than six hours of fierce fighting had almost exhausted
all of the central army's resources. Now, their bows, arrows, rolling stones, and oil were almost completely depleted, and the entire army
was utterly exhausted.
Wave after wave of Asura infantry advanced, carrying torches, their momentum suggesting the enemy was unwilling to accept their daytime defeat and intended
to fight again through the night. The alarm horns sounded again atop Tianjing City, and the soldiers returned to their posts.
But the Asura soldiers did not advance further; they stopped less than a hundred feet from the city walls and began
clanging and banging on something. Soon, the Divine Eagle Army understood: the enemy was setting up
palisades and tripwires specifically designed to counter heavily armored cavalry, and some were burying something in the ground. Zhuge Qingyun guessed they were installing spikes,
small, sharp-pointed devices also used against cavalry.
Behind the Shura soldiers, large groups of Divine Eagle rebel soldiers appeared, carrying not weapons on their shoulders
, but entrenching tools, digging trenches around Tianjing City. In this rainy season, the soil
was soft, making trench digging easy. The Divine Eagle rebel soldiers were working diligently, but
many Shura officers were still monitoring them with whips, roughly lashing those who weren't working hard enough,
so no rebel soldier dared to slack off.
Zhuge Qingyun sighed heavily. His worst fear had come true. The enemy had changed tactics,
abandoning a direct assault and opting for a formal siege. With 700,000 against 300,000, a breakout was virtually impossible
.
Compared to the frenzied chaos of the daytime, the enemy now appeared calm and orderly, working in shifts
with efficient and coordinated movements. Wu Tianhu murmured, "Strange, have they changed commanders?"
Wu Tianhu's intuition was correct. The new commander of the Shura Army, Shura Teng, was a composed individual. He knew
the strength of the Central Army well; such troops, when cornered and fighting to the death, could unleash terrifying fighting power, as the daytime battle
had clearly demonstrated. Although he possessed overwhelming forces, even if he were to forcefully capture this
fortified city, it would only be a Pyrrhic victory.
He resolved to adopt a more cautious and methodical approach, ordering the severing of the waterways east and west of Tianjing. The Shura Army and the Divine Eagle rebel
forces began digging trenches and constructing fortifications around the capital to prevent the enemy from escaping, ensuring their own
invincibility first.
"Strategist, just you wait and see!" Shura Teng pointed to the brightly lit walls of Tianjing and smiled at Black Fox
, "This seemingly impregnable castle will be taken down without bloodshed in a month at most!"
The latter nodded in satisfaction, deeply gratified. Shura Teng's seasoned experience, compared to Shura Azure Dragon's inexperience, ensured
the capture of the Divine Eagle Empire's capital.
The siege of Tianjing began late at night on March 18th, 1677.
The defense of Tianjing entered its most difficult phase. Shura Teng, the new commander of the eight Shura tribes, was
a renowned general of the Shura Empire, a veteran of countless battles, possessing both wisdom and skill. He knew that the fortified Tianjing would not be easily taken. Therefore
, he resolved to use "hunger" as a weapon to force the invincible army, which had been undefeated until now, to surrender.
Tianjing City had a large population, and each person consumed a large amount of food every day. Shura Teng believed that even with
the best preparations from the Divine Eagle Army, under the heavy siege of the Shura army, the Divine Eagle soldiers and civilians would inevitably face food
shortages within a few months, at which point Tianjing City would fall without a fight.
To prevent the Central Army from making a desperate breakout, following Shura Teng's orders, the Shura Air Force's griffin
riders closely monitored the situation in Tianjing City. Although the Shura Air Force suffered
heavy casualties in its first aerial battle with the Divine Eagle Air Force, losing over three thousand men, it had not crippled its core and still held a significant advantage . However, they were wary of Lu Qing's Celestial Lion Beasts and dared not launch another 　　attack
until they devised a countermeasure . 　　 To deal with Lu Qing's Celestial Lion Beasts, the Shura army deployed dozens of crossbows around the city.

The cannons, captured by the Shura army from the Divine Eagle army, were incredibly powerful. Their crossbows could fire
at altitudes of four to five hundred zhang (approximately 130-250 meters), which even the mighty Heavenly Lion Beast couldn't withstand.
Besides air defense, the Shura navy was also constantly
patrolling the Mei River at both ends, preventing the Divine Eagle army from escaping by water. Various units of the Shura army and the Divine Eagle rebels began constructing trenches here and there
. Large groups of Shura and rebel soldiers worked diligently and tirelessly. Although it was
the rainy season and rained every day, everyone was highly motivated because they were eager for the war to end soon.
Within two days, the trenches formed a ring around the city, and then, at a rapid pace, the fortifications
advanced towards the city walls in several directions. The purpose was very clear: to extend the trenches to the walls of Tianjing, allowing troops to be
safely deployed to launch a strong attack at any time. At that time, if possible, Shura Teng also planned to send engineers to dig out
the corners of the city walls, causing some collapses and creating gaps in the walls.
To hinder the fortifications, the Central Army had to send troops out to raid the camp every day. But as soon as the Divine Eagle Army
appeared at the city gate, the Shura ambushers waiting inside the fortifications would immediately pounce, resulting in fierce
fighting and heavy losses, with countless corpses.
The city moat, the plains, the trenches—everywhere became a graveyard. Many unburied corpses
lay on the ground, forming small mountains. Fortunately, the weather wasn't hot, so there was no immediate fear of the corpses rotting.
Besides digging fortifications, the attacks on Tianjing City continued unabated. Groups of 50,000 Shura troops or Divine
Eagle rebels took turns attacking, raiding, and clashing day and night, aiming to wear down the city's defenders
' strength and morale.
Sometimes, these attacks almost succeeded. On the night of March 26th, the Shura command mobilized 20,000
fresh troops and prepared siege ladders. To prevent the sentries from spotting the reflection of their weapons, they
covered their swords with black cloth.
They emerged from the moat closest to the city wall, advancing barefoot under the cover of darkness. Exhausted
, the sentries on duty were too sleepy to notice them. Suddenly, they appeared beneath the southern wall, dozens of siege
ladders simultaneously erected on the wall, and the Shura infantry surged up the ladders with unstoppable force.
By the time the Divine Eagle sentries spotted them and issued a warning, the first wave of nearly a hundred Shura soldiers had already reached the top!
They were exceptionally brave, swiftly cutting down the few sentries, and a cacophony of Shura soldiers filled the darkness!
At normal speed, reinforcements would have taken at least fifteen minutes to arrive from the camp. Within a quarter
of an hour, the Asura army would have reached the top and established a foothold on the city wall. Once they held their ground
, reinforcements could pour in through the breach, engulfing the entire city!
But at this crucial moment, it can only be said that Heaven had not abandoned the brave defenders of Tianjing.
The dutiful General Wu Tianhu, leading his guards on a night patrol, happened to pass through this area and discovered the Asura army surging
onto the city wall like a tide. Everyone's faces turned pale instantly. Without needing orders, the guards
charged forward, engaging the Asura army in a fierce battle.
One side was determined to win, the other fought desperately to protect their position; blade against blade, the two sides fought a bloody and evenly matched fight. The Asura
army had a numerical advantage, but the Divine Eagle Army had another advantage: Wu Tianhu's guards were all top-
tier experts, several of whom were the Wu family's "Holy Guards"!
Before the formidable inner strength of the Holy Guards, not a single Asura soldier could withstand their fierce strike! Even if they managed
to parry the weapon, the blade's energy could still penetrate the heart and kill.
In the blink of an eye, relying on hand-to-hand combat, Wu Tianhu's guards had annihilated dozens of Asura soldiers! The remaining
Asura soldiers dared not approach, scattering and dodging. The Divine Eagle Army reached the city gate, and the guards quickly pried
open the enemy's siege ladders, while simultaneously dealing with the fighting behind them. The enemy kept reinstalling the ladders,
climbing up again like ants, and the situation remained extremely critical.
At this moment, a centurion from the "Divine Vanguard Camp," having just finished his shift, passed by on his way back and heard
the shouts of battle. The centurion, knowing the situation was dire, immediately came to reinforce. The two forces joined together, and the Divine Eagle Army finally held its
ground.
Soon after, reinforcements arrived. They unleashed a dense rain of arrows upon the swarming
crowd below the city walls, indiscriminately hurling pre-prepared logs and stones.
Under this immense pressure, the Asura army's siege ladders crumbled and broke, and many Asura soldiers
plummeted from mid-air with screams. Later, arriving troops wielded spears, which the Asura soldiers, armed with short swords, were unable to
withstand, resulting in even heavier casualties.
Over two thousand of the elite Asura infantry lay dead at the foot of the walls. The remaining troops, pursued by arrows, hastily
retreated into the moats. As for the one hundred and twenty-three Asura infantrymen who had scaled the walls, aside from a few who
jumped to their deaths with nowhere to escape, the rest were all hacked to pieces.
Upon learning of the failed night raid, Asura Teng merely remarked, "What a pity." He hadn't placed his
hopes on such a small-scale battle; success would have been an unexpected bonus. No, that's alright
. He had unwavering confidence in the final victory.
Although the frontline forces were already quite sufficient, completely surrounding Tianjing City, Shura
Teng was cautious by nature. To ensure the best possible outcome, he ordered nearly a hundred teams, totaling over 300,000 Shura reserves, to enter
the second line of defense and participate in the siege, ensuring that "not even a mouse could escape."
The surrounding area of the capital, except for the waterways, was filled with colorful tents, as if a new city had been built on the flat ground
. Its vastness and bustling activity even surpassed that of the besieged Tianjing City.
After preparations were complete, Shura Teng asked Black Fox for his advice. After inspecting
the battleground layout personally designed and planned by Shura Teng, Black Fox found no flaws or weaknesses and smiled, saying, "Your Highness,
rest assured! Wu Wudi can only escape if a celestial being descends to save him!"
The two looked at each other and smiled, as if they could already see Wu Wudi's head being chopped off and presented as tribute
to the great Shura Emperor on a golden platter...
Although the Shura army abandoned its large-scale siege, which relieved Wu Tianhu and Zhuge Qingyun, they realized
that as time went on and the city's food supplies dwindled, the capital would inevitably be difficult to defend
...
That night, Wu Tianhu hurriedly returned to the Jinyang Prince's Mansion and rushed to Feixue Tower to see Wu Wudi. To his
surprise, Wu Wudi did not see him, but instead asked him to stand outside the door and report on the military situation. This puzzled Wu Tianhu
, but he still explained in detail the Shura army's plan to starve the capital.
After Wu Tianhu finished speaking, Wu Wudi in the room let out a soft, high-pitched laugh: "Let them be trapped,
the longer they're trapped, the better, this is exactly what I want!"
Hearing his father's voice, Wu Tianhu frowned repeatedly, thinking, "Father's voice is becoming more and more like a woman's,
what kind of martial art is he practicing?" He dared not be negligent and bowed, saying, "Father, our provisions
can only last for two months at most, I'm worried..."
"Hmph!" Wu Wudi snorted coldly, "Two months is enough, perhaps not even two months, the Shura Army will
have to retreat! Tianhu, no matter what the Shura Army plans, you just need to defend the city for me! Go!"
"Yes! Father!" Wu Tianhu replied, and left helplessly.
After leaving Feixue Tower, Wu Tianhu had just reached the entrance of Furong Garden when he saw a beautiful woman in a pink silk dress, incredibly alluring,
walking gracefully towards him. It was none other than the wanton woman, Baili Feishuang.
Upon seeing her, Wu Tianhu, without a word, grabbed Baili Feishuang's wrist and dragged her away.
"What are you doing? Let go of me! Don't let anyone see!" Baili Feishuang exclaimed, helplessly following
him.
"I have something to ask you!" Wu Tianhu said coldly, his face grim.
He dragged Baili Feishuang until they reached a deserted corridor before releasing her. Baili Feishuang touched
her right wrist, rolled her eyes at Wu Tianhu, and said irritably, "What do you want? I'm warning you,
don't you dare try anything with me again. If the Prince finds out about us, neither of us will be spared!"
"Enough nonsense!" Wu Tianhu glared at her. "I'm asking you, what happened to my father? What
kind of martial arts does he practice? Why has he become neither male nor female? He's even lost his beard!"
"You're asking me so many questions at once, how am I supposed to know!" Baili Feishuang giggled. "Young Master,
you can ask the Prince what kind of martial arts he practices, why are you asking me? The Prince has completely ignored me now. Even if I wanted to
see him, he might not see me!"
Wu Tianhu's expression changed, and he frowned. "Then... what about Xiu'er?"
"Hongxiu!" Baili Feishuang shook her head and sighed, "She and I haven't seen
the Prince for a long time. We're bored to death staying in Jingyuan every day!"
Wu Tianhu didn't believe her and snorted, "You woman... Your brother is always guarding Feixue Tower.
You don't know what my father is doing? Humph! Last time I came, my father saw me, but this time he won't even let me in.
Tell me, what is my father doing in his room?"
Baili Feishuang's eyes were full of laughter as she chuckled and asked, "Do you really want to know?"
Wu Tianhu nodded and glared at her, "Otherwise, why would I come to you?"
"Then I'll tell you!" Baili Feishuang beckoned him closer and whispered
something in his ear.
"What?" Wu Tianhu jumped up as if pricked by a needle, his face showing disbelief and
shock. He cried out, "My father is embroidering!"
"You're going to die! Why are you shouting so loudly!" Baili Feishuang looked around in panic and said, "If someone hears
this, it'll be terrible! Don't tell anyone! Otherwise, even if you're his son, he won't let you off!"
"This... how is this possible?" Wu Tianhu was utterly astonished and still couldn't believe it. He said, "My father is a grown man
, a prince, a great general, and he's... embroidering? That's impossible! Embroidery is a woman's thing.
How could my father do that? Are you lying to me?"
"Why would I lie to you? If you don't believe me, just pretend I didn't say anything!" Baili Feishuang said irritably.
"Let me tell you, the Prince is becoming more and more like a woman! He... Princess! Not only does he wear my clothes, but he also had
me have a tailor make him so many women's outfits, all in vibrant colors, especially this red one I'm wearing!"
She struck a very flirtatious pose, exuding charm.
Wu Tianhu was stunned, speechless for a long time.
Baili Feishuang continued, "Furthermore, the Prince has also had many embroidered shoes made, lots of rouge and powder,
jewelry, pearl necklaces... these are all things for us women!"
Wu Tianhu couldn't help but recall the last time he saw his father, his androgynous appearance, every gesture
displaying feminine tendencies. No wonder his father...
Wu Tianhu shuddered, staring at Baili Feishuang and asking, "How did my father become like this?"
"How would I know!" Baili Feishuang giggled, "However, perhaps one person knows!"
"Who?" Wu Tianhu asked in a deep voice.
"Heavenly Physician Old Man!" Baili Feishuang said, enunciating each word clearly.
───────────────────────────
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-------------------------------------------------------
Volume 6 Chapter 1 Emerging Forces
That winter, the million-strong army of the Asura Empire invaded the Divine Eagle Empire, capturing Xitian City. Their advance was unstoppable,
their invasion swift and fierce, until they reached the capital of the Divine Eagle Empire, Tianjing.
That spring, while the armies of the two nations clashed fiercely for control of the capital, rivers of blood flowing and
mountains of corpses piled high, unbeknownst to many, a nascent power was quietly rising in the distant north
…
Wind City, a small town situated on the edge of the borderlands and the edge of the Monster Forest, would have been unknown to anyone just over six months ago.
They wouldn't have noticed. But since the arrival of the new city lord, this small city has been rapidly changing every day, becoming
the center of competition and convergence for various forces.
Wu Tianjiao, the Golden Knife Prince Consort of the Divine Eagle Empire, this previously unknown figure, arrived in Wind City and
acted swiftly and decisively. He eradicated the Xiong Family Fortress, subdued the barbarians, drove away the Asuras, expanded the city... one feat after another
earned him the respect and admiration of the people, becoming a widely discussed topic and attracting a large influx of people to Wind City.
In less than a year, the entire Wind City underwent a dramatic transformation. From the east to the west, from the
south to the north, buildings sprang up, forming towns and villages of all sizes. In particular,
Wind City, as the political and economic center of the territory, expanded more than tenfold, transforming from a remote small town into a
mega-city.
The roads were bustling with activity, and immigrants from all directions could be seen everywhere, along with jubilant mercenaries
, hunters, and adventurers. There were nobles in splendid attire, weary travelers from distant lands, and even
overseas tribes rarely seen elsewhere.
On the road, some walked, others rode tall horses, and lavishly decorated, exquisitely crafted carriages were a common
sight. Carriages made of the finest purple yew wood, shafts of fine steel, and adorned with family crests symbolizing glory
, along with numerous attendants and servants, all proclaimed the status of their owners.
Elsewhere, when faced with traffic jams, many nobles would impatiently throw tantrums, using
their privileges to forcibly clear lanes. But
here, neither the wealthiest merchants nor the most powerful nobles dared to act recklessly.
This was because this was Wind City, unique in the world, a thriving territory unafraid of evil forces
!
After eliminating Xiong Family Fortress, driving out the Asura people and Red Plum Manor, Feng Fortress took control of everything in Feng City, possessing
inexhaustible resources, vast territory, a large population, a powerful army, and a bloodthirsty and ferocious demonic beast legion.
It quickly became a rising power in the northern lands.
Even the most arrogant nobles dared not act recklessly after arriving in Feng City!
On Zhongxing Street, the main street of Feng City, a handsome young man in white brocade robes strolled along,
followed by a crimson dragon beast mount with a single golden horn on its head.
Seeing the man and beast, the crowd wisely parted to the sides, bowing respectfully to the young man and calling out
, "Greetings, Lord City Lord!"
Watching the bustling, orderly flow of people and hearing the greetings from his subjects, the young man nodded repeatedly in response,
a smile on his face, yet also a slight frown. He muttered to himself, "The population of Feng City is growing rapidly. It seems I
must accelerate the city's expansion, lest the city become too small and overcrowded!"
This young man was none other than Wu Tianjiao, the City Lord of Feng City.
He had been back in Feng City for seven days. The fire at the Eagle King's Mansion in Iron Dragon City had not killed him. Not
only did he survive, but those around him—Xiao Qionghua, Xiao Yuehua, Lady Nightingale, Princess Wude, Princess Qianning, Yang Yumei,
and the Heavenly Spirit Mother and her disciples—were also unharmed and returned safely to Iron Dragon City.
Jin Ji's burning of the Eagle King's Mansion and his plot to murder Wu Tianjiao and Princess Wude were no longer just simple
criminal cases. According to the imperial laws, Jin Ji, as a high-ranking general, plotting to murder a member of the imperial family
was undoubtedly treason and a conspiracy to rebel.
Jin Ji's plot enraged Princess Wude. She had never suffered such a loss before; first, she was
imprisoned by Lady Mei, and then she was nearly burned to death in the Eagle King's mansion. Had it not been for Wu Tianjiao's Nine Dragon Jade Bracelet space, she would have been
doomed.
After returning to Fengcheng, Princess Wude only stayed one night. The next morning, she and her disciples, including the Heavenly Spirit Mother, eagerly
returned to Hanhai City to mobilize troops and seek revenge on Jin Ji.
Jin Ji was the commander of the Falcon Legion, commanding a large army and stationed in Iron Dragon City. Even if Princess Wude mobilized
all the troops in Hanhai City, they would likely be no match for him. Therefore, Princess Qianning was also rushing back
to Dayuan City to gather all the mercenaries of the Rainbow Mercenary Group to help Princess Wude eliminate Jin Ji.
Logically, with Princess Wude and Princess Qianning about to clash over Jin Ji, Wu Tianjiao, as one of the parties involved, should
not remain uninvolved and should cooperate with the two princesses to jointly send troops to Tielong City.
Wu Tianjiao had readily agreed to this before the two princesses left.
However, seven days have passed, and Fengcheng remains calm. There is no sign of any troop movement, whether in the city or Fengbao
. Every day, Wu Tianjiao spends his time indulging in pleasure with his many beautiful wives and concubines,
or leisurely strolling through the streets, showing no concern whatsoever for sending troops.
After wandering the streets for a while, with nothing else to do, Wu Tianjiao left Fengcheng and inspected the construction site outside the city.
Since the unfortunate death of his strategist Qin Wu, Wu Tianjiao had entrusted the important task of building the city to Si Ningwu.
In terms of experience, talent, and efficiency, Si Ningwu was far inferior to Qin Wu.
Entrusting him with the task of expanding the city was a last resort for Wu Tianjiao; he lacked capable people around him and had no choice but to
temporarily put Si Ningwu in charge of the project. Fortunately, Si Ningwu was loyal and honest, and Wu Tianjiao wasn't worried about him
causing any trouble.
Arriving at the construction site, accompanied by Si Ningwu, Wu Tianjiao walked around the newly dug moat.
The site was bustling with construction workers, all working enthusiastically and energetically. One end of the moat had been dug, and
the city's foundation was beginning to take shape. Si Ningwu estimated that the entire expansion project would
take at least three years to complete.
After inspecting the site, Wu Tianjiao gave Si Ningwu a few instructions, and seeing that it was getting late, he returned
to Fengcheng. He seemed restless the whole way.
Three years?
Wu Tianjiao shook his head, sighing inwardly, thinking, "I hope that Fengcheng will remain peaceful and free
from war for the next three years. Otherwise, if the enemy attacks at this time, my project will likely have to be abandoned halfway!"
A layer of worry settled between his brows as he thought of this.
In these chaotic times, the Shura Empire's million-strong army besieged Tianjing, and the Divine Eagle Empire was teetering on the brink of collapse.
The possibility of annihilation loomed. In Xitian City, the Shura Empire stationed two main legions, totaling 300,000 troops,
eyeing Hanhai County with predatory intent, and threatening to advance north at any moment.
But these concerns didn't worry Wu Tianjiao. What worried him was Jin Ji of Tielong City. Judging from the signs
, Jin Ji's burning of the Eagle King's Mansion wasn't simply a plot to harm him and Princess Wude; there seemed
to be a larger conspiracy.
Since the plot failed, Jin Ji must have received news of his return to Feng City. What would Jin Ji do next?
"Damn it!"
While lost in thought, Wu Tianjiao stepped into a puddle. Although it only wet his boots, he
was still annoyed. Only then did he notice that it was already dark. Stopping his wild thoughts, he mounted
the Crimson Dragon Beast that had been following him and sped towards Feng Fortress.
Twilight descended, and smoke rose from chimneys throughout the city. Wu Tianjiao slowed his pace slightly as he crossed a depression,
for ahead lay a construction site littered with boulders.
Suddenly
, the advancing red dragon beast roared and halted. Wu Tianjiao's heart skipped a beat, and
he thought, "Not good!" Without thinking, he leaned back on his mount. *
Whoosh!* Almost simultaneously, a white light grazed his nose and embedded itself in a large rock by the roadside, buzzing loudly
—it was a crossbow bolt.
That was close!
Wu Tianjiao nearly broke out in a cold sweat. If he had been even a fraction slower, he would have lost his nose.
Without a nose, how unsightly would that be? He probably wouldn't attract any women!
Being assassinated again on his own turf, Wu Tianjiao was enraged. A nameless
fire surged to his head, and he roared, "Where did this scoundrel come from, daring to ambush your father!" With that, he
flicked his right index finger—*whoosh!* A blue sword aura shot out, heading straight for the direction from which the crossbow bolts had come. The weapon wielded was none other than
the Zhongtian Sword, one of the Nine Heavens Divine Swords.
"Hmm..."
A muffled thud came from the shadows, indicating the assassin had been injured by the sword aura!
Before Wu Tianjiao could even investigate, *whoosh! whoosh!* Two more crossbow bolts, carrying a burst of energy, whistled through the air from behind
, swift as lightning, almost too fast to react to.
With a cold snort, a flash of crimson light appeared, and Wu Tianjiao drew his Emperor's Sword, rolling to the side of his mount
to dodge one arrow. Simultaneously, he struck with his sword, *clang!* deflecting the other arrow! Swords clashed, sparks flew, and Wu
Tianjiao's arm trembled, his tiger's mouth burning. He was secretly shocked: "Such strength!" 　　 The Crimson Dragon Beast roared again, its single horn emitting a dazzling golden light.
Then, 　　with a deafening boom, a purple lightning bolt streaked through the air, landing on a pile of rubble to the left. A thunderous crash followed, rubble flew everywhere, and a scream 　　of "Ah…!" rang out as a man in black was thrown from the rubble, landing on the stone ground, his hair 　　standing on end and his body charred black. 　　 "Damn it!" a woman's voice suddenly rang out: "Go! Surround him, don't let him escape!" 　　 As soon as she finished speaking, a group of men in black rushed out from the surrounding rubble, 　　surrounding Wu Tianjiao and the Crimson Dragon Beast from all sides. 　　 ───────────────────────── 　　 fxcmz.com http://www.fxcmz.com Northfx 　　 Library: http://www.norfxs.com 　　 ------------------------------------------------------- 　　 Volume 6, Chapter 2: A Failure at the Last Moment 　　 At least twenty men in black arrived, all masked with black cloths, wielding sharp blades, and several carrying 　　crossbows. They aimed at Wu Tianjiao and the Crimson Dragon Beast, their eyes cold and exuding a chilling killing intent. The 　　 Crimson Dragon Beast was a high-level magical beast, quite intelligent. Upon seeing this, it roared, and without its master's command, 　　leaped over the enemy's heads and charged forward. But what followed was a sharp, whistling 　　sound of wind cutting through the air. 　　 Listening to the wind and discerning the direction, Wu Tianjiao swung his sword to parry. Clang! Clang! 　　Sparks flew everywhere. The powerful force sent him flying off the Crimson Dragon Beast. He landed several steps back, his arm numb and his hand aching. 　　He was astonished: "So powerful!" 　　 Just then, he heard the Crimson Dragon Beast's angry roar. Wu Tianjiao turned his head and his expression changed drastically. 　　He saw five or six men in black holding a huge net, tightly binding the Crimson Dragon Beast. The net was incredibly 　　strong; no matter how much the Crimson Dragon Beast struggled, it couldn't break free. It seemed the enemy knew Wu Tianjiao very well, knowing he 　　possessed the Crimson Dragon Beast, and had prepared a way to deal with his mount beforehand. 　　 "Giggle..." A tall, veiled woman in black laughed triumphantly, pointing at the trapped 　　Crimson Dragon Beast and cursing, "Beast! I can catch you once, and I can catch you again! You think you can escape? 　　This time, I'm going to kill you, roast you whole, and reward my brave Asura warrior!" 　　 Uh! Wu Tianjiao understood immediately, his mind sharpening. He secretly channeled his Dragon Elephant Divine Skill to protect himself while 　　staring intently at the woman in black, saying in a deep voice, "So you are Asuras. Who sent you? Yan Song 　　?" 　　 In his mind, only Yan Song among the Asuras harbored a deep hatred for him, which would lead him to send assassins to kill him. 　　To everyone's surprise, the woman in black sneered, "What is Yan Song? He thinks he 　　can boss me around?" 　　 She then glanced at Wu Tianjiao and scoffed, "I, Wu Tianjiao, the 　　'Golden Knife Prince Consort' who supposedly slew the Three Asura Heroes and injured my husband, am supposed to be a formidable young hero? But today, I see 　　you're nothing but a callow brat. You're not as impressive as you've been made out to be! I don't understand why they're so wary of you! Humph! Wu Tianjiao, 　　you're unlucky to have met me! If you don't want to die, you'd better surrender!" 　　 At this moment, the Crimson Dragon Beast, trapped in the net, had stopped struggling. The net that bound it was peculiar; 　　the more it struggled, the tighter it tightened. Perhaps the Crimson Dragon Beast had learned its lesson from this net and understood its power.

Reason. Therefore, after struggling for a while, it stopped moving.
Wu Tianjiao looked around and noticed many more figures approaching. He frowned,
thinking, "If it's not Yan Song, then who is it? The Azure Dragon Prince?"
At this moment, the enemy was getting closer and closer, leaving him no time to think. He glared at the woman in black and sneered, "You woman, you
're like a toad yawning—what a big mouth! Don't you know where you are, daring to
speak to me like that? Heh heh, if you ask me, you'd better surrender now, otherwise, none of you will survive!"
These words enraged the woman in black, who sneered, "You brat, let's see who dies first today! Everyone
, attack! Dead or alive!"
At her command, the surrounding men in black immediately brandished their blades and pounced on Wu Tianjiao. The gleaming blades
whistled through the air, aiming straight for Wu Tianjiao's vital points, seeking to kill him!
Uh! Wu Tianjiao's expression changed, and he dared not be careless. He used the "Shifting Stars" technique, spinning his body to dodge the
seven incoming sword lights. With a "whoosh," he unleashed the "Heavenly River Crossing" move. This move
was a fierce killing technique from the Heavenly River Sect's swordplay. The sword light was like a rainbow, and the three incoming sword lights were instantly shattered by the Emperor's Sword.
Accompanied by three screams, the three men in black were injured by the sword energy and fell backward.
Taking advantage of this gap, Wu Tianjiao's figure blurred, and he rushed out through the gap, escaping
the encirclement of many men in black. But in an instant, many men in black surrounded him again.
These men in black were all top-notch experts, each with extraordinary cultivation. Most of them were Emperor Martial experts, and the weakest were
at the Heavenly Martial level. Facing so many martial arts masters, even Wu Tianjiao, no matter how powerful, could hardly resist.
Two fists cannot fight four hands, and a fierce tiger cannot withstand a pack of wolves. In the briefest of moments, Wu Tianjiao had already been stabbed three times, his clothes
stained with blood. Dozens of black-clad assassins formed an impenetrable encirclement, trapping Wu Tianjiao no matter how he charged left or right
. Even when Wu Tianjiao managed to break through the encirclement at great expense,
a dozen or so crossbowmen with military crossbows shot him back from the outside.
Seeing its master trapped and in imminent danger, the Crimson Dragon Beast roared anxiously. It struggled to save its master,
but the more it struggled, the tighter the net around its body became. Soon, the net became too tight for its legs to support it, and it collapsed to the ground with
a mournful cry, watching helplessly as its master faced the enemy alone.
Seeing Wu Tianjiao trapped and like a turtle in a jar, the woman in black breathed a slight sigh of relief, but
her heart was also filled with dread and horror. Before witnessing Wu Tianjiao's martial arts, she was dismissive, thinking others were
exaggerating. Now, having seen it with her own eyes, she couldn't help but be shocked.
"What a formidable lad!" The woman in black gritted her teeth, glancing around. She knew she couldn't delay any longer;
if she did, the warriors from Fengbao would arrive, making it difficult to kill Wu Tianjiao.
With this thought, the woman in black leaped into the air, like a bird, rushing towards Wu Tianjiao in the midst of the formation
. Before even reaching him, while still in mid-air, three zhang away, she struck Wu Tianjiao with a palm strike. A ball of white light shot out from her palm,
as powerful as thunder.
Wu Tianjiao, entangled by six men in black, suddenly felt a pressure from the air. In this critical moment,
he quickly used the "Void Shift Technique," disappearing into thin air, vanishing from the formation.
The men in black missed Wu Tianjiao; the force struck the ground with a thunderous boom! It exploded like a thunderclap. Shards
flew everywhere, and the six men in black in the formation, unable to dodge in time, were blasted away, three of them coughing up blood,
suffering severe internal injuries.
The woman in black hadn't expected that her palm strike, instead of injuring Wu Tianjiao, would injure her own men—an unexpected
phenomenon she had never encountered before. She was furious, yet also horrified, unable to understand how Wu Tianjiao
had vanished into thin air.
She scanned her surroundings, but Wu Tianjiao was nowhere to be seen, and cried out, "Where is he? Where did he go?"
All the men in black also searched, but it was already dark, and the surroundings were pitch black, filled with
piles of stones; finding someone was truly difficult.
But what they didn't expect was that, without their searching, Wu Tianjiao himself revealed his presence. Just as the
woman in black was looking around, suddenly, from the northwest, with a "whoosh," a large rock carrying the force of a thunderbolt
flew straight towards her.
"Danger!" one of the men in black shouted, bravely intercepting the flying rock, thrusting out a palm strike in an attempt to
deflect it. However, he underestimated the rock's power. Upon contact, an incredibly powerful internal force surged forth
, scattering his inner energy. The rock slammed heavily into his chest, shattering his sternum and causing him to spit blood. Not
only that, the rock propelled him backward, sending him flying five zhang (approximately 10 meters) before he crashed into a pile of stones, completely buried
and seemingly beyond recognition.
"Where is it!" the woman in black, with the sharpest eyes, shouted, pointing to a pile of stones to the northwest. But before she finished speaking, whoosh
! Whoosh! Whoosh! Three large rocks flew straight towards them.
Having witnessed the gruesome death of the man in black, the remaining men in black learned their lesson and, knowing the danger, none dared to
intercept them. But the woman in black was incredibly skilled; she reacted quickly, leaping back behind a pile of rocks. With a series of powerful thrusts
, she unleashed three palm strikes! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Three large rocks flew up, crashing into the three large rocks.
The six rocks collided mid-air, and upon impact, boom! boom! boom! Three earth-shattering explosions erupted,
sending debris flying and raising a cloud of white mist.
"Damn it!" the woman in black cursed, waving her sleeves to disperse the
mist. Like an enraged lioness, she roared and pounced on the opposite pile of rocks.
However, when she reached it, she found it empty; Wu Tianjiao was nowhere to be seen.
Unable to find it, the woman in black grew even more enraged, cursing, "Wu Tianjiao, if you have the guts, stop hiding and come out
to fight me to the death!" A glance caught sight of the Crimson Dragon Beast lying on the ground in the distance. An idea struck her; she flicked her sleeve and
drew a gleaming sword from her waist.
In a flash, she appeared beside the Crimson Dragon Beast, her sharp gaze sweeping around as she shouted, "Wu Tianjiao
, you listen to me! If you don't come out, do you see what happens?!" With that, she pointed the tip of her sword at the Crimson Dragon Beast's head.
"I'll kill this beast! You wouldn't abandon your mount like this, would you?" she shouted.
Several men in black surrounded the Crimson Dragon Beast, raising their steel blades, waiting for their leader's order to hack it to pieces
.
The poor Crimson Dragon Beast, such a ferocious top-tier magical beast, was immobilized by the silken netting binding it,
lying on the ground, helpless to be slaughtered.
To force Wu Tianjiao out, the woman in black had resorted to any means necessary, even using
the threat of killing the Crimson Dragon Beast to threaten him. In truth, this was a last resort. Everyone knew this
was Feng City; if too much time passed and the Feng City army rose up, their mission would be ruined.
Stirring up the enemy would make it harder to kill Wu Tianjiao later.
Of course, her move was extremely clever, almost striking Wu Tianjiao's Achilles' heel. How could Wu Tianjiao possibly
watch his mount be killed?
A dozen or so crossbowmen gathered together, lined up with their crossbows, and were all on high alert,
watching their surroundings intently. The moment Wu Tianjiao appeared, they would pull the trigger without hesitation and kill him.
After waiting a while, seeing that Wu Tianjiao still hadn't appeared, the woman in black lost her patience. Just as she was about to pierce
the Crimson Dragon Beast's head with her sword, one of the men in black beside her suddenly pointed to the sky and shouted, "Heavens! What's that?"
Everyone looked up in the direction he was pointing, and what they saw made them all pale with fright.
A dense, dark mass appeared in the sky. Those with good eyesight could see that it was thousands upon thousands of
bee-like beasts, led by two enormous queen bees, flying straight towards them.
"Not good! Those are Golden Horned Bees! Everyone, retreat!" the woman in black shouted, abandoning her pursuit of the Crimson Dragon Beast and
turning to flee. Her men followed. But by then, it was too late for them to escape.
The woman in black threatened to kill the Crimson Dragon Beast to coerce Wu Tianjiao, which enraged him. He didn't
want to get entangled with these assassins any longer, so he summoned all the Golden Horned Bees from the Nine Dragon Jade Bracelet's space, intending to wipe them out
in one fell swoop.

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【The Divine Eagle Empire】(Unabridged Volume 5, Chapter 175 - Volume 6, Chapter 2)

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