CHAPTER 272: CHAPTER 269: BATTLE_1

"Damn it, we need to hurry to the ’Divine Gate’!" Zhuge Liang said hurriedly. Ignoring the ban on flying in the Imperial Capital, he tore through the sky, and the others hastily followed. Everyone’s hearts were filled with anxiety and unease. They hadn’t expected so much to happen during their seclusion; even the ruler of a nation was going to the front lines to boost morale.

Xiao He was very powerful. With a wave of his right hand, he tore the Void before him and vanished.

"I hope we’re not too late! Your Majesty, you absolutely must not let anything happen to you!" the guard mumbled to himself, continuing to stand watch at the entrance, waiting for Huo Qubing to emerge from seclusion.

On the battlefield of the ’Divine Gate’, thanks to Qin Wudao’s support, the assault of the Cang Dragon Guard was temporarily repelled, morale was boosted, and the situation stabilized. However, with it came an even greater crisis.

"Huh, Qin Wudao?"

Prince Sea and Han Yuquan both peered through the Formation, spotting the young and spirited Qin Wudao clad in golden armor. They exchanged glances, both seeing deep surprise in each other’s eyes.

The Emperor belongs in his grand hall, how did he end up on the battlefield?

"Heh heh heh, since you’re here, don’t expect to leave!" Prince Sea laughed cruelly, his eyes gleaming with a sinister red light. They say that when enemies meet, their eyes burn with particular fury. Prince Sea was determined to kill this enemy who had made the Cang Shen Region a laughingstock; surging killing intent filled his heart.

"Order the army—attack!" Prince Sea roared coldly, an unprecedented amount of Evil Qi shaking the Void.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The war drums echoed through the sky. Millions of Ancient Court soldiers of the Cang Sea, holding their weapons, launched their attacks in succession, like surging waves threatening to engulf the ’Divine Gate’.

"Fortify the Formation! Fire the Magic Crystal Cannons!" Qin Wudao ordered calmly, standing atop the City Lord’s Mansion.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Thousands of cannons fired in unison, their projectiles emitting a deep black light that obliterated countless enemies. The sky filled with flying gore and shattered bones.

Even so, the soldiers of the Cang Sea Ancient Court showed no signs of retreat. They still pressed forward, wave after wave, fearless of death, even using the bodies of their fallen comrades as shields.

BOOM!

A colossal blue Sword Qi erupted, towering from earth to sky.

"Die!" Prince Sea roared, manipulating the Sword Qi to slash towards the ’Divine Gate’. Its endless sharpness, like divine wrath, tore a gash in the Formation.

After this strike, Prince Sea did not immediately attack again. Instead, his vast and mighty Semi-Emperor power condensed two more streams of Sword Qi that whistled through the air.

BOOM! BOOM!

With two deafening explosions, the ’Divine Gate’ trembled, and its Formation continued to crumble.

"Kill! Charge!"

"The Prince has decreed: kill one enemy, earn ten Spirit Stones! Kill ten, get promoted one rank! Kill a hundred, get promoted three ranks!"

Ancient Court generals shouted out the orders one after another. The rich rewards made the soldiers’ eyes gleam; they eagerly surged through the breach in the Formation, desperate to achieve glorious deeds and reach the pinnacle of their lives.

For ordinary soldiers, the chance to change their destiny lay in how many enemies they could kill!

"Stop the enemy!" Qin Wudao ordered, his brow furrowing slightly. The influence of a powerful expert on the battlefield is immense. If Prince Sea hadn’t intervened, the ’Divine Gate’, with its advantageous terrain and Formation, could have held out for ten to fifteen days without a problem. But with Prince Sea destroying the Formation, the ’Divine Gate’ would be in dire straits.

Millions of Qin soldiers, brandishing their weapons, fought fiercely against the charging enemy. However, the disparity between the two sides became evident as soon as the battle began.

The soldiers of the Divine Court, after all, were no match for the Ancient Court soldiers!

The Great Qin’s Divine Court was forced into a steady retreat, with more and more territory falling into enemy hands. From every direction came the clang of weapons and the agonizing screams of the dying.

"Your Majesty, it’s dangerous on the city walls! Please retreat to the rear!" a blood-soaked general reported, returning to the city tower and cupping his fists.

The court officials looked at Qin Wudao and silently drew their weapons. They knew their monarch; he was not one to cling to life fearing death, much less abandon his soldiers to flee alone.

"The Son of Heaven guards the nation’s gates; the monarch dies for the state! Our soldiers are all defending their homes and country. How could I possibly retreat?" Qin Wudao shook his head resolutely. If I flee this battle, how will the world see me? What face would I have to show the people of this land? How could an emperor who fears death rally the hearts of the people and lead the nation to greatness?

"Fight!" Qin Wudao commanded in a resonant voice, drawing his Imperial Sword and charging into the battlefield.

The civil and military officials followed. Many among them were scholars or administrators who had never taken a life, yet on the battlefield, they brandished their weapons, striking down foes again and again.

The court officials possessed considerable strength, inflicting heavy casualties on the Ancient Court soldiers and managing to stem the tide of the rout.

"He is the Monarch of Great Qin! Kill him!" A Lieutenant General of the Ancient Court, at the mid-stage of the Saint Realm, flew towards Qin Wudao, his eyes gleaming with excitement. This is a monumental war trophy! Enough to have me enfeoffed as a marquis and join the ranks of the Ancient Court’s nobility!

"Five Elements Sword Art!" Qin Wudao’s eyes flashed, showing no fear. With his current strength at the peak of the Reaching the Holy Realm, coupled with his powerful physique and sword techniques, he could easily fight opponents of higher cultivation levels.

The title of the Eastern Grand Road’s foremost prodigy was not merely for show!

RUMBLE!

Five dazzling streams of Sword Qi intertwined, forming a Reincarnation that struck the enemy general charging at him. The general’s excited expression instantly froze, and he spat out a large mouthful of blood.

He slowly lowered his head, only to see the five streams of Sword Qi piercing through his five vital organs one by one, extinguishing all his life force.

"Interesting!"

Further away, a general at the Saint King Realm saw Qin Wudao slay his subordinate. He licked his lips, a savage expression twisting his features, and charged forward to kill.

Imagine the exhilaration, personally snuffing out a prodigy destined to become at least a Great Emperor Martial Artist in the future! What a delightful prospect!

"A Saint King!" Qin Wudao’s expression turned solemn. With my current abilities, I can defeat cultivators in the Saint Realm, but vanquishing someone in the Saint King Realm is almost impossible... unless...

Qin Wudao silently sheathed his Imperial Sword and retrieved the Xuanyuan Sword from his storage space. As he did, reflections of the sun, moon, stars, mountains, rivers, flowers, and grass seemed to appear in the sky, coalescing into an supreme Sword Qi.

This single strike was like the stars, like the sun and moon!

This single strike was like the mountains and rivers, all of creation, like the boundless cosmos itself!

"Hmm?" The charging Saint King general’s heart inexplicably skipped a beat. A sliver of unknown dread bloomed within him, and the hairs on his body stood on end. This sword strike... it seems alarmingly powerful!

But the arrow was already nocked; it had to be fired!

He gritted his teeth and charged forward, meeting the Sword Qi head-on. The instant contact was made, the weapon in his hand shattered explosively. Then, the dazzling Sword Qi effortlessly pierced his skull.

A Saint King expert—fallen!

Everyone present gasped, inwardly astounded. A Martial Artist at the peak of the Reaching the Holy Realm had actually skipped several cultivation levels to slay a Saint King expert!

Terrifying!

Simply too terrifying!

"This man must die! If he continues to grow, he will undoubtedly become a grave threat to the Ancient Court!!" Prince Sea’s eyes blazed with murderous intent. Terrifying Spiritual Energy gathered in his palm; Rhymes in Dao permeated the air as a colossal palm print, tens of zhang wide, formed and shot towards Qin Wudao.

This palm strike suppressed the cultivation of everyone present; all those engaged in battle found themselves struggling to move a muscle!

"Your Majesty—!" The Martial Artists on Great Qin’s side cried out in alarm. They yearned to intervene but were powerless, their hearts filled with grief and indignation.

"Stop!"

At that critical moment, an furious voice thundered, shaking the very heavens.