After this battle, the front forces of the Imperial Army suffered heavy casualties, with the surviving soldiers terrified. Even with the support of the War God Formation, they struggled to maintain combat effectiveness.

Moreover, witnessing the unstoppable terror of the Xuanwu Guards and Jiang Chengdao had cast a deep shadow within the hearts of other Imperial Army soldiers. They couldn’t fathom confronting such a terrifying force.

The morale of the Imperial Army suffered significantly. If it weren’t for the strong prestige accumulated by Empress Zhao and Xiahou Yan over the years, the entire Imperial Army’s morale might have spiraled out of control, becoming difficult to stabilize.

Although the morale remained intact, the tens of thousands of Imperial soldiers had begun to feel unsettled. The overwhelming intimidation brought by the Saint-King’s presence was too much to handle. Particularly after witnessing the Saint-King wreak havoc on the battlefield, this psychological trauma couldn’t be easily overcome.

At night, the gates of the capital city were tightly closed, and the Imperial Army set up camp about thirty miles away from the city gates. Empress Zhao dispatched most of the experts to guard the surroundings, while Xiahou Yan arranged for thousands of elite troops to take turns on guard duty. They watched every movement around them closely and ordered their soldiers not to remove their armor at night, prepared to face an enemy attack at any moment. They were fearful that Jiang Chengdao might launch an assault under the cover of darkness.

The immense Imperial Army showed a deep sense of fear toward the mere thirty thousand Xuanwu Guards led by the Saint-King.

The extent of the Saint-King’s might was truly evident.

However, they were unaware that Jiang Chengdao currently couldn’t carry out a nighttime attack. It wasn’t due to his physical exhaustion from the day’s battle or the fatigue of the Xuanwu Guards. Instead, it was because Empress Jiang Chengwan needed time to recover her Saint spirit power to sustain the power of the Saint Relic.

At this moment, within the Purple Pole City…

Looking fatigued, Empress Jiang Chengwan and Jiang Chengdao sat facing each other.

Rubbing her throbbing temples, Jiang Chengwan spoke softly, “Brother, where has the 200,000 Cangming Army reached by now?”

Jiang Chengdao sat upright, displaying no improper behavior or use of his status as her older brother and the Saint-King.

“I received news earlier that the army has reached the vicinity of Yunlan Mountain. It’s estimated that by tomorrow’s third hour (9-11 am), they will arrive within the jurisdiction of Luojing, aiding Your Majesty to completely control the realm.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chengwan’s eyes brightened involuntarily, and the tense expression on her face relaxed slightly.

“That’s good…”

After a moment of contemplation, a gleam of determination flashed across her eyes.

“In that case…”

She paused briefly, then her eyes suddenly lit up with determination.

“Let’s proceed to the next phase of the plan.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

The following day, the court assembly was once again canceled.

Jiang Chengdao led a few select court officials, including Li Zheng and Xie Hongyun, out of the eastern city gates of Luojing in the first rays of dawn. Bathed in the warm morning sunlight, he led twenty thousand Xuanwu Guards, rapidly heading towards the direction where the Imperial Army was stationed.

Though the enemy was numerous, a single strike would suffice!

Under his tremendously dominant presence, the Xuanwu Guards, though appearing somewhat fatigued, didn’t show a hint of wavering. They still resolutely followed in Jiang Chengdao’s footsteps.

The foremost army of the Northland of Central Continent, nothing less!

Jiang Chengdao slowly raised the long spear in his hand, preparing to boost morale and lead another charge. Just as he was about to speak, he suddenly heard Jiang Chengwan’s voice in his mind:

“Brother, the enemy forces are overwhelming. Return to the city to regroup; I’m nearing my limit too.”

Hearing her words, Jiang Chengdao immediately shouted, “Soldiers, listen up!”

The Xuanwu Guards immediately tensed up, awaiting Jiang Chengdao’s command.

“Turn your mounts around and head back to the city!”

“Yes, sir!”

Almost instinctively, the Xuanwu Guards swiftly turned around, displaying their high degree of obedience.

Although they didn’t understand why the Saint-King ordered a retreat amidst such a grand momentum, they knew that even with their combined strength, they couldn’t eliminate the entire enemy army. However, they could still take a considerable chunk out of it and inflict serious damage.

Furthermore, in their understanding, with the Saint-King’s power, even if they exhausted their last breath, he could use his supreme Saint power to lead them away from the battlefield.

No matter how bewildering it seemed, they would unquestioningly follow the commands of the Xuanwu Guards.

Obedience was deeply ingrained in their nature.

The Xuanwu Guards turned and rapidly charged toward the city gates, while Jiang Chengdao remained, gripping his spear firmly, standing tall and proud.

Breaking contact was still necessary.

However, he alone was enough for the task!

As the Xuanwu Guards retreated, the soldiers and officers of the Imperial Army saw no joy in the situation. Even though Jiang Chengdao was the only one staying behind, bearing witness to the tragic state of the front lines, they didn’t rush forward to chase him down. They advanced steadily; no one was willing to become cannon fodder to drain the Saint-King’s strength.

Watching the Imperial Army approach at a cautious pace, Jiang Chengdao’s eyes held a sense of disdain.

“The mighty Great Xia’s first army, once a force that slaughtered all under the rule of my father, has now fallen to such a pitiful state. How pathetic.”

He shook his head. After the Xuanwu Guards had retreated to safety, Jiang Chengdao spurred his mount.

Neigh!!

The Supreme Shadow Steed let out a neigh, and its iron hooves struck the ground, carrying Jiang Chengdao away from the battlefield at a rapid pace.

His departure marked the end of the first clash between the Cangming Army and the Imperial Army, resulting in a crushing victory for the Cangming Army.

Below the walls of the Eastern City, tens of thousands of Imperial soldiers closed their eyes forever.

Under the relentless assault led by Jiang Chengdao and his Xuanwu Guards, over a hundred thousand front-line Imperial soldiers fell like harvested wheat. Simultaneously, due to Empress Zhao’s misjudgment of Jiang Chengdao’s capabilities, the central command tent was located only about ten miles from the battlefield. Although this distance was generally safe in most warfare scenarios, when facing the fierce Xuanwu Guards, there wasn’t enough buffer space, nor time to adjust tactics.

Moreover, no one knew just how powerful Jiang Chengdao’s personal strength truly was.

In its prime, a Saint-King could be equated to a nuclear bomb’s level of impact if placed in modern terms. Perhaps even more potent.

The feat of seizing the enemy general’s head amidst a sea of soldiers, even for a Saint-King not operating at full capacity, wasn’t entirely implausible.

Within the context of facing the fearsome Cangming Saint-King, the distance of ten miles couldn’t be considered safe, and in fact, posed extreme risks. To ensure safety, Empress Zhao and Xiahou Yan, who were at the core of the Imperial Army, had no choice but to abandon their carriage and stand their ground. They ordered the central command and the high-ranking warriors to advance and resist the Xuanwu Guards’ assault to their death, while they carried the Xuanfeng Banner and retreated. Simultaneously, they ordered the flanking forces and the rear guard to advance.

However, their retreat led to the instantaneous collapse of the War God Formation. The front-line, which was already overmatched by the Xuanwu Guards, collapsed like an avalanche once it lost the support of the War God Formation. The fleeing soldiers trampled each other as they screamed for their parents, even though the command team’s brutal efforts to stop them. In a matter of moments, the fleeing soldiers turned into a bloody mess.

Fortunately, the flanking forces arrived in time, and the rear guard acted swiftly. With support coming from three directions, the hundred-thousand-strong Imperial Army managed to barely stabilize the situation.

Facing the reorganized Imperial Army, Jiang Chengdao slightly tightened his grip on the black spear in his hand. His body was drenched in blood, and the dark armor he wore was stained with dark red bloodstains. The mane of his previously pitch-black Supreme Shadow Steed had turned blood-red. Even his breath, when he exhaled through his flaring nostrils, carried a tinge of scarlet.

He had lost count of how many Imperial soldiers had died by his hand.

The tip of his long spear was continuously dripping blood, stained with various shades of flesh.

Behind him, the thousands of Xuanwu Guards trod upon a path made of the mangled remains of tens of thousands of Imperial soldiers, while ahead of him, an endless horde of Imperial soldiers approached like a gathering storm cloud.

Yet, even in this situation, beneath his faceplate, there wasn’t a hint of fear on Jiang Chengdao’s face.

In their eyes, Land Chen had offended the Cangming Saint-King, and his fate was surely miserable. At the very least, he would be dismissed from his position and sent back to his hometown.

As influential courtiers of the Shenghe Dynasty, they held their positions with pride and wouldn’t bother themselves with a commoner like Land Chen, who was bound to be crushed by the Saint-King. They might occasionally show some generosity once he was sent back to his hometown as an ordinary villager, to uphold the camaraderie they shared while serving together.

Observing that Land Chen was still defending him even in this situation, Jiang Chengwan lifted her head and cast a deep gaze towards him.

‘This man is indeed as reliable as my elder brother…’

As Land Chen turned back, Jiang Chengwan swiftly averted her gaze and returned to her façade of being a submissive weakling.

“Your Majesty, your complexion seems a bit off. Is there an issue with your health?” Land Chen looked at the Empress’s fatigued appearance with an expression of “deep concern.”

“If Your Majesty is feeling unwell, you should see a physician immediately. Your Majesty’s well-being is intertwined with the fortunes of millions in Zhongzhou. We cannot afford any mishap. You can leave this to the Saint-King. Moreover, with so many people here enjoying his splendid display, Your Majesty’s absence won’t be missed.”

This pitiful young girl, if she lived in modern times, would only be a high school student. Yet, she was repeatedly humiliated by both her elder brother and powerful ministers. Although she was obviously terrified, as evidenced by the paleness of her face from the battlefield’s shock, she dared not disobey the Saint-King’s previous orders in the Taiji Hall. She followed obediently here and didn’t dare leave.

Jiang Chengwan shook her head but didn’t say anything. She simply stood quietly in place, seemingly exactly as Land Chen had guessed.

However, Land Chen failed to notice that whenever the Cangming Saint-King initiated an immensely powerful martial technique or spell, the Empress’s small hand clenched tightly, as if suppressing something. Simultaneously, an invisible force surged from within her, rapidly converging towards the battlefield where Jiang Chengdao was continuously using the Saint’s Relic, “Jiuyou,” to slaughter enemies.

The Empress’s judgment was accurate. Behind anything that defied common sense, there was a corresponding price. Just like how “free” is often the most expensive option.

The cost of Jiang Chengdao using the Saint’s power outside the Saint’s Domain was the unsurpassed Saint’s power within her jade seal, as well as her own Divine Spirit power.

If she left, Jiang Chengdao’s already limited capabilities would further decrease, adding more risk.

Soon, the one-sided trend solidified completely. More and more Xuanwu Guards arrived, joining the battlefield and shattering the hopes of the Imperial Army. Signs of defeat were showing within the Imperial Army, and the Xuanwu Guards led by Jiang Chengdao were charging toward the center where Empress Zhao was stationed with an unstoppable momentum.

Recognizing the situation, Empress Zhao promptly ordered all their elite warriors to face the enemy while she and Xiahou Yan turned and fled.

The battlefield gradually turned into a one-sided situation.

“What a terrifying power, what a horrifying army of wolves…”

One elderly courtier’s lips trembled slightly, as he shakily vocalized what was on everyone’s mind.

Those courtiers who had been secretly plotting earlier were now breaking into cold sweats and speechlessness. Their faces were marked by relief as they realized they hadn’t acted on their ill-conceived plans. They were fortunate not to have provoked the wrath of the Cangming Saint-King, whose power could even make the concept of “battle” seem meaningless.

Thinking about their near-miss, they instinctively wiped the cold sweat off their foreheads.

Li Zheng, Xie Hongyun, Wang Zhi, and others who had already shown their allegiance to the Saint-King exchanged smiles, brimming with satisfaction. This was a testament to Jiang Chengdao’s keen insight. Only those who could see the bigger picture could seize the opportunity and establish a relationship with the Saint-King ahead of time.

Land Chen, having grasped the situation, also smiled.

Indeed, the unimaginable strength of the Saint-King wasn’t a bad thing for him.

“Uh-huh…”

Just at that moment, a slightly pained soft moan sounded next to him.

He instinctively turned to look and saw that the Empress had appeared next to him, seemingly out of nowhere. She clenched her fist tightly, as if suppressing something. Her face was as pale as paper, and beads of sweat dotted her fair and delicate skin, making her appear disheveled. She seemed devoid of imperial majesty.

The courtiers around quickly noticed the Empress’s presence, but they chose to ignore her as if she wasn’t there, their expressions remaining unchanged, showing no signs of acknowledgement.

“Your Majesty!”

Land Chen, of course, didn’t ignore the Empress like the others. He respectfully greeted her with a bow.

The play must go on, and if acting like a loyal subject was required, he would do it wholeheartedly.

Since he had taken on the role of a loyal advisor, he could overtly disregard the Empress. Otherwise, he might have been suspected of being possessed by malevolent forces, and before he knew it, the Inquisitorial Bureau’s agents might have taken him to the Demon-Sealing Tower.

The Empress waved her hand weakly.

“Minister Land… no need for excessive formalities.”

She maintained her slightly fragile demeanor, no different from her usual puppet-like state under manipulation.

Land Chen stood up and then scolded the surrounding courtiers with a displeased tone, “Are you rebelling? Or are you deaf? Blind? Can’t you see that Her Majesty is here? Why haven’t you paid your respects?”

Hearing this, the surrounding courtiers finally turned their heads somewhat sluggishly and performed a perfunctory bow, not saying much in response.

The reality proved that the extraordinary power of the Sacred Relics was something beyond human capabilities to counter, even if the Saint-King couldn’t fully unleash their Saint-level power outside the Sacred Domain.

As Land Chen joined the group of courtiers on the city wall, witnessing the figure under the city wall who was slaughtering enemies with an air of invincibility, he deeply felt this truth.

Clad in black heavy armor, the Cangming Saint-King sat atop a tall and armored horse, charging forward relentlessly. Their silver-black spear acted like a deadly reaper’s scythe, mowing down groups of well-equipped Forbidden Army soldiers with each swing.

Wherever they went, carnage followed. In an instant, a narrow vacuum zone was carved through the battlefield.

For someone who had experienced countless battles in video games, Land Chen even felt like he was watching a game of grass-cutting.

Despite being surrounded by thousands of enemy soldiers on a fierce battlefield, they still managed to sweep through with an immensely powerful force, cutting down the enemy in droves.

“Is this for real?!”

Land Chen was utterly shocked.

He had spent a considerable amount of time in this world and while he wasn’t a complete expert on it, he was fairly well-informed. He had heard of the Saint-King as a special existence, a symbol of power who guarded the Sacred Domain with their unsurpassable Saint-level strength.

But he only knew that the Saint-King was powerful in a vague sense; he lacked a concrete understanding of their strength.

Until now…

Witnessing the concept of a true “one against a thousand” in reality was beyond description.

It felt somewhat like when he played Dynasty Warriors as a child and encountered Lu Bu, the nearly invincible warrior who effortlessly crushed all opposition when he appeared.

In this world where supernatural forces like spells, techniques, and formations existed, even the strongest cultivators couldn’t possibly go against tens of thousands on a battlefield where malevolent energies ran rampant, greatly affecting their abilities. The only one capable of this was the Saint-King.

Furthermore, the Saint-King’s strength wasn’t confined to just their individual combat prowess.

As the Saint-King swiftly advanced as if in a realm of their own, the three thousand Xuanwu Guards followed closely, killing off the frightened Forbidden Army soldiers in their wake. The entire unit functioned like an unfeeling reaper, rapidly mowing down waves upon waves of enemy soldiers.

Tens of thousands of Forbidden Army soldiers couldn’t halt the advance of the Cangming forces led by Jiang Chengdao. Instead, they only served to momentarily slow down their march with their own corpses.

With the Forbidden Army’s assault blocked, the once evenly matched balance was shattered by Jiang Chengdao. Despite the Martial God Formation boosting their momentum, the massive unit couldn’t get anywhere near the city gate anymore.

Empress Zhao snorted coldly and said, “The Saint-King may be formidable, but throughout history, they have always been confined to the Sacred Domain, unable to influence the land of Central Continent. This suggests that there must be some form of limitation on the power of the Sacred Relics, preventing them from using the power of Saints outside the Sacred Domain.”

Having once held the reins of power for six years, Empress Zhao possessed both political acumen and insight. She could perceive the essence behind surface appearances and draw her own judgments based on that understanding.

“For countless years, this has been the case. I don’t believe that this generation’s Saint-King will be an exception. If that’s the case, then he’s not an unbeatable force!”

Xiahou Yan cast a subtle glance at her.

“Yet he managed to silently transport tens of thousands of elite Cangming troops to the Purple Polar Hall and defeated the Imperial Guards and Warrior Battalion, which outnumbered them fivefold. This is enough evidence that he can indeed use the power of Saints outside the Sacred Domain.”

“Behind anything that defies common sense lies a tremendous cost. This is the essence of the natural order.”

With her arms crossed, the aura of the Divine Phoenix wrapped around Empress Zhao’s graceful figure, evoking an impulse in others to prostrate before her.

Powerful and noble.

“Although I don’t know how he accomplished it, that guy can’t recklessly use the power of Saints outside the Sacred Domain, nor can he unleash that mysterious technique that can transport tens of thousands of people again. There must be costs and limitations. We just don’t know what they are. Therefore…”

At this point, her gaze turned strangely indifferent.

“As long as we probe a few times, we might find his vulnerabilities.”

Xiahou Yan asked directly, “What if we can’t find them?”

“It doesn’t matter for the time being.”

“In our initial clash, I’m not aiming for a definitive outcome. I only want to ascertain whether he’s using his full power now, whether he can display that terrifying power that can change the entire course of battle with his own strength. In any case…”

As she spoke, Empress Zhao let out a cold smile.

“I have ample forces at my disposal, all eighty thousand Forbidden Army soldiers are under my command. I hold a substantial advantage in military strength, whereas he, right now, commands only a force of over twenty thousand.”

And just as she said this—

Boom!

A deafening and heavy thud suddenly echoed from the city walls. Then, a black figure soared into the air and leaped onto the sky above the vanguard of the Forbidden Army, who were launching an assault on the Longevity Gate. The black spear in their hand was thrown with tremendous force.

In that moment, the figure that bore the title of the world’s strongest revealed its awe-inspiring fangs to the world.

And the entire Xuanwu Guards bore an immensely strong sense of honor. Even in light of their remarkable accomplishments, Zhu Yong, as a participating general of the Xuanwu Guards, still felt deeply remorseful.

Other commanders who had followed Jiang Chengwan and heard Zhu Yong’s words didn’t offer a hint of consolation. They stood solemnly in place, clearly believing that Zhu Yong’s self-blame was justified.

The dignified Xuanwu Guards, even with such a numerical disadvantage, were actually unable to swiftly defeat the enemy. It was truly a disgrace!

Jiang Chengwan shook his head.

“It’s fine. The Forbidden Army utilized the Xia’s secret technique, the Heaven-tier Grand Formation, which significantly enhances their combat capabilities. Zhu Yong, your ability to hold your ground thus far is already commendable. There’s no need for self-blame.”

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yong earnestly cupped his fist and performed a respectful military salute.

“Thank you for Your Highness’s understanding.”

After calming Zhu Yong somewhat, Jiang Chengwan proceeded systematically to mobilize the Xuanwu Guards to reinforce the defenses and simultaneously utilized his Sacred Spirit power to swiftly repair the damaged protective formation. This caused the energy barrier that allowed soldiers to charge towards the city wall to become turbulent.

Furthermore, with the arrival of the Saint-King, the morale of the Xuanwu Guards was instantly boosted. With the augmentation of the Saint’s power, their already formidable combat strength broke through its limits in an instant. For a while, the Xuanwu Guards, who were previously almost evenly matched with the forces several times larger than them, began to launch a swift counterattack. They soon demonstrated a trend of suppressing the Forbidden Army.

For the Xuanwu Guards, or rather for the entire Cangming Army, the Saint-King was their belief, their banner. With him present, even if he did nothing, as long as he stood there, he could invigorate the Cangming Army, allowing them to unleash extraordinary combat power.

Soon, within the center of the Forbidden Army, guarded by hundreds of top-tier experts and capable commanders, the former Empress Zhao, along with her senior martial uncle Xiahou Yan, sensed something amiss.

“The consumption of the Cloud-Piercing Technique has increased, and the casualties among the vanguard forces have suddenly surged.”

Empress Zhao’s brows furrowed tightly as she spoke coldly, “It seems that he has arrived at the city walls.”

Xiahou Yan, with white hair and an exceptionally tall stature resembling a formidable iron tower, eliciting awe from those who gazed upon him. Upon hearing Empress Zhao’s words, he instinctively looked towards the distant city walls.

His vision far surpassed that of an ordinary person, allowing him to quickly notice a figure seated atop a mighty warhorse.

“The one who commands the unsurpassed divine power within the sacred relic, the Saint-King of Cangming…”

Though his appearance was aged, his murky old eyes glimmered with a chilling light.

“Not easy to deal with, this incredibly powerful being that defies belief.”

“Hmph!”

“Kill!”

“Execute the false king, establish the true order!”

“A reward of a million for the head of the false king, and the title of Marquis for a thousand households!”

“Charge! Brothers, our chance for glory and achievement is now!”

…

Beneath the Changle Gate of the Eastern City in Luoyang, tens of thousands of soldiers donning Forbidden Army standard armor surged forward as if possessed, heedless of the continuous rain of arrows, rolling stones, and wooden logs falling from the sky. They charged forward against a translucent, pale blue energy barrier extending from the thirty-yard-tall city walls.

Behind them, more than twenty warriors clad in golden armor stood within a constantly shimmering array, brandishing a massive flag adorned with the symbol of the former Empress, a profound phoenix. They shouted and cheered loudly to boost morale.

The radiance emitted by the array enveloped the charging soldiers, causing their eyes to be filled with blood-red threads, their faces betraying no trace of the terror they faced on the battlefield.

Some of them were fighting with an all-or-nothing spirit, as if they were gambling everything on one throw of the dice.

Brave and fearless!

For a moment, driven by their numerical advantage, they held their ground against the formidable Xuanwu Guards, plunging the battlefield into a deadlock. This situation was far from the one in the past, where the Yu Lin Wei and the Warrior Battalion were swiftly crushed by the Xuanwu Guards in Zi Ji City.

“Oh?”

On the city tower of the Eastern City, Jiang Chengwan, riding a Shadowflash Horse, had rushed to the scene at high speed. He couldn’t help but narrow his eyes at the sight.

“The War God Formation, interesting…”

“Your Highness.”

Quickly spotting Jiang Chengwan’s arrival, the garrison commander Zhu Yong swiftly swung his blade to cleave a dozen or so soldiers in front of him into two halves. Then, in a single agile step, he left his original position and appeared before Jiang Chengwan. Kneeling on one knee with a deeply remorseful expression, he said in a loud voice:

“I have failed, in my hands, I couldn’t swiftly break through the enemy forces of twenty thousand with the three thousand Xuanwu Guards. I beseech Your Majesty to pass judgment.”

If it weren’t for the sincere self-reproach evident on his face, one might have thought he was acting in a drama.

It should be noted that the ones currently desperately attacking the city were equipped with the best equipment, possessed the strongest spells, and were nominally the most powerful Forbidden Army in Great Xia.

Although this claim of being the most powerful contained some exaggeration, the equipment, individual physical prowess, and spells were undoubtedly real.

Even so, they could only rely on a seven to eight-fold numerical advantage and a powerful formation to barely hold their own against the Xuanwu Guards. This gave a clear indication of just how unbelievably powerful the Xuanwu Guards’ combat abilities were.