CHAPTER 188: CHAPTER 185: THE BLOOD NATURE OF QIN PEOPLE_1

After leaving the Divine Court of the Light God, Nie Feng headed west, briefly stopping at the Divine Gate. This stopover was also for a meeting with the surrendered sect forces, flexing his strength so that they would completely submit to him. After accomplishing all this, Nie Feng, with the Divine Army, strutted towards the Imperial Capital. Throughout their journey, they were extremely domineering. In every city they passed, the city lords were ordered to hold grand banquets to feast the soldiers of the Divine Army.

Walking on the spacious official road, Nie Feng picked his teeth and remarked disdainfully, "These officers of the Qin Dynasty have no backbone—a bunch of cowards!"

"After all, these are small places. It’s their good fortune to be able to treat the War King to a meal! Isn’t that right, brothers?" a general jested, not feeling the slightest bit of unease.

"Absolutely!"

"The one they’re serving now will be the new emperor in the future!"

"Once the War King completes his oath to the Heavenly Dao and kicks out the royal family of the Qin Dynasty, he will ascend to the throne and become the new Divine Emperor of this land!"

The generals discussed animatedly, their faces filled with visible delight. Once Nie Feng established a new nation, they would be the meritorious officials who followed him to power, the founding elders.

Nie Feng silently listened, a smile tugging at his lips and his eyes full of anticipation.

The army continued on until they reached the border of the East Ancient Domain. As usual, the Divine Army prepared to find a city where they could have a feast. Nie Feng consulted a map for a while and decided to head towards Fall Maple City, a large city about three thousand miles from the Imperial Capital. It was also the central city within a thousand-mile radius. The general garrisoning the city was a veteran named Pang Ling.

"General, we are approaching the Imperial Capital of the Qin Empire. It would be better for us to exercise some restraint. I feel that the local customs here are slightly different from other regions!" Ever since they entered the East Ancient Domain, Li Tianwen had been observing the surroundings. In the ordinary people he’d met, he sensed something unusual.

A sense of vitality! A surging, upward spirit!

Though they might not be as powerful as the people living in the Great Light Domain, their energy and spirit far surpassed the latter. This made him realize that the Qin Empire was truly extraordinary!

"Restraint? Li Tianwen, are you teaching me how to do things?" Nie Feng berated, his eyes glaring at Li Tianwen, two sharp glints of light shooting from them.

Suddenly, Li Tianwen felt as if he had been hit hard. He fell from his dragon-scaled horse, coughing up blood, his lips pale. He looked at Nie Feng, his expression complicated.

He knew Nie Feng had changed. He was no longer the brother with whom he had shared hardships, no longer the man who would sit down with him for hearty meals and drinks.

The other generals were also frightened into silence, still as cicadas in winter.

"Your subordinate understands!" Li Tianwen knelt on one knee, bowing his head.

"Let’s go!" Nie Feng glanced at him dismissively and continued to ride on.

The generals exchanged glances and followed in silence, the earlier boisterous atmosphere gone. Looking at Nie Feng ahead of them, they all felt an unfamiliar sense of distance.

Later that afternoon, Nie Feng arrived outside Fall Maple City, instructing the guard general to open the city gates.

On the city wall, Guard General Pang Ling stood clad in armor, his right hand resting on his war sword, his spine straight as a spear. He looked down from his high vantage point at the Divine Army outside the city, his eyes filled with boundless anger.

A surrendered general dares to swagger and show off his might in Qin territory?

Pang Ling slammed his left fist against the city wall, his mind racing to devise a strategy. After occupying the Nine Great Dao Domains, the old people of Qin began to call the East Ancient Domain ’Qin Land,’ signifying it as the ancestral land of the Qin people.

"General, I’ve heard that this Nie Feng is powerful and acts tyrannically. If we don’t open the gates, I’m afraid it will be hard to answer for... Perhaps we should..." the Deputy General began in a low voice. Suddenly, he saw Pang Ling turn his head, his eyes bloodshot, looking as if he wanted to eat someone. The Deputy General gulped, and the rest of his words died in his throat.

"You’re not from the East Ancient Domain, are you?" Pang Ling spoke with certainty.

"General, I originally come from the Purple Lightning Domain!" The Deputy General hesitated but, in the end, answered honestly.

"Do you know why I’m sure you’re not from the East Ancient Domain?" Pang Ling asked again.

The Deputy General shook his head.

"Because the old people of Qin from the East Ancient Domain never yield to threats! We only listen to the Emperor’s command and only obey the Imperial Court’s orders! You are not fit to serve under me. Go back where you came from!" Pang Ling finished coldly, then ignored the Deputy General and walked towards a war drum on the side.

The Deputy General’s face turned pale; he deeply regretted his words. He had gone to great lengths to get transferred to the East Ancient Domain, and now he was being sent back to square one.

What is he doing? Outside Fall Maple City, Nie Feng, who was growing impatient, watched Pang Ling walk towards the war drum, a hint of confusion on his face.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The resonant and powerful beat of the war drums echoed over Fall Maple City, carrying Pang Ling’s voice, "Without an order from the Imperial Court, the army is forbidden to enter the city! I hope General Nie will not court disaster!"

Nie Feng asked with a gloomy face, "What if I insist on entering?"

"Kill!" Pang Ling responded without turning his head, continuing to beat the war drum.

"KILL! KILL! KILL!" the defending soldiers roared, raising their weapons. Rows of siege crossbows, glinting coldly, were pushed onto the city walls and aimed at the Divine Army outside.

The air crackled with killing intent!

"Damn it! A bunch of contemptible peasants dare to obstruct me!" Nie Feng clenched his fists, his eyes blazing with intense Evil Qi. The might of a Second-Turn Saint erupted, pressing down on Fall Maple City, and the very Void seemed to solidify.

Engulfed by this immense pressure, the faces of Fall Maple City’s defenders turned crimson, their legs trembled, and they could barely stand. But not a single one retreated. They all maintained their battle stances, their eyes fixed intently below.

"General Nie, do you want to start a war?" Pang Ling stopped beating the drum, asking coldly.

Nie Feng was so enraged that veins bulged on his forehead. His fists clenched so tightly they made cracking sounds, as if he might lash out at any moment.

"General, don’t forget your Great Dao Oath!" Li Tianwen quickly stepped forward to remind him, afraid that Nie Feng would lose control and bring about a heavenly tribulation.

"Retreat!" Nie Feng took several deep breaths, giving Pang Ling a cold, hard look. He committed Pang Ling’s face to memory; once he completed his Great Dao Oath, Pang Ling’s death would be certain.

The army slowly retreated.

Everyone in Fall Maple City, including Pang Ling, breathed a collective sigh of relief. If Nie Feng had truly attacked, they had no confidence they could have held out.

After being turned away at Fall Maple City, Nie Feng didn’t linger on the road but proceeded directly to the Imperial Capital. Upon reaching the Imperial Capital, he refrained from causing any trouble. He had his army camp outside the city and entered alone.

"Your Majesty, General Nie requests an audience!" a guard reported respectfully in the royal study.

"Summon Yuan Tiangang, Wang Yangming, Jia Xu, and Li Si for an audience!" Qin Wudao’s expression turned grave; his greatest challenge was finally at hand. He instructed, "After these ministers have entered the Imperial Palace, then summon Nie Feng for an audience!"

"As you wish!" The guard saluted and left to deliver the message.

Yuan Tiangang, Wang Yangming, Jia Xu, and Li Si, who were in their offices, received the summons and hurried to the Imperial Palace.

An hour later, led by a guard, Nie Feng headed towards the royal study.