CHAPTER 464: CHAPTER 248: XIANG YU GOES TO WAR_1

"It’s New Year!"

In the Imperial Capital, Qin Wudao, dressed in a nine-dragon imperial robe, stood on the ninety-nine imperial steps, his hands clasped behind his back as he gazed towards the mighty western frontier stretching for ten thousand li.

That year, not a single red silk banner adorned the city; the daily lists of soldiers killed on the front lines had cast a pall over the New Year’s spirit.

"Your Majesty," Zhuge Liang said, walking behind Qin Wudao and saluting with clasped hands, "Yue Fei reports that he has led his army to attack Qionghua Sacred Land and Thousand Demon Saint’s Court, in search of General Huo Qubing and the Great Desert Army!"

"I am aware!" Qin Wudao replied, his expression calm, showing little reaction. Generals in the field must have a degree of autonomy. He had complete trust in the generals on the front lines and naturally supported their decisions.

"Your Majesty, please don’t worry excessively. General Huo is blessed by heaven. Moreover, with General Guan Yu leading the four southern armies as reinforcements, he will certainly return safely!" Zhuge Liang consoled. He understood Qin Wudao’s concerns very well. It wasn’t just Qin Wudao; he felt the same. Throughout the Great Qin Dynasty’s imperial court, all civil and military officials were concerned for Huo Qubing’s safety.

Qin Wudao nodded but said nothing, merely gazing at the snowy landscape before him—a beautiful vista of a thousand miles of ice and ten thousand miles of drifting snow.

The Imperial Capital’s environment was beautiful, far removed from the smoke and fire of war. Everything was serene, save for the palpable tension in the air.

Compared to the Imperial Capital, the front lines were like hell.

Wherever the armies of Qionghua Sacred Land and Thousand Demon Saint’s Court passed, their sharp weapons and formidable presence terrified the populace into submission. If they were merely passing through, the common folk might only be frightened and suffer no other losses. But if their armies camped, the surrounding populace was doomed to suffer. Prolonged warfare had made the soldiers incredibly brutal. They stormed into people’s homes, burning, killing, and plundering, committing every imaginable atrocity.

In the dead of night, the piercing screams of women could be heard.

In the camps of the foreign races, countless human civilians were slaughtered and turned into blood food. Human infants were even roasted over their bonfires.

The upper echelons of Qionghua Sacred Land and Thousand Demon Saint’s Court tacitly condoned these acts.

In stark contrast, wherever the Qin soldiers passed, they coexisted peacefully with the local populace. No incidents of abuse occurred, and they won the hearts of the people.

「Five days later, in the Godfall Dao Domain!」

The Qin army encountered the forces of Qionghua Sacred Land and Thousand Demon Saint’s Court, facing each other across a river.

To the east of the river were the Bei Wei Army and the Overlord Heavy Cavalry, totaling over seven million troops, all formidable cavalry renowned for their combat prowess.

To the west of the river lay the armies of Qionghua Sacred Land and Purple Sky Sacred Land, a vast force numbering as many as one billion, stretching as far as the eye could see and occupying nearly half the Dao Domain.

Of course, what drew the most attention were eight figures in black robes standing above the billion-strong army, emanating auras so immense they seemed to suppress Heaven and Earth.

"Pass on my command!" Zheng Guiqiong ordered harshly, sitting atop his warhorse. "For each enemy killed, one shall rise one rank! Kill enemies for three days, and advance two ranks! Kill ten enemies and be named a Vice-General!"

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the Qionghua Sacred Land soldiers lit up, their killing intent surging.

"My lads, delicious blood food is right before us! Attack!" Xiong Lie also encouraged. The foreign race legions revered strength; the powerful naturally held higher positions. Thus, these soldiers cared little for official ranks—what they craved was blood food. The flesh and blood of the human race held a fatal allure for them.

BOOM!

BOOM!

Two terrifying torrents of morale erupted. Waves of bloody light and slaughterous aura surged, covering half the Godfall Dao Domain. Ripples of this aura spread, and the Void continuously fractured.

The river exploded, sending water columns hundreds of zhang high into the air. Then, a bone-chilling Evil Qi froze the columns, leaving them suspended mid-air—a spectacular, if terrifying, sight.

"In a previous life, I failed to realize my ambition to feast on the flesh of Xiongnu and laughingly drink their blood. So in this life, I shall drive my war chariot and trample all foreign tribes!" Yue Fei declared, his eyes narrowed as he raised his war spear high.

CLANG, CLANG, CLANG...

Over three million soldiers of the Bei Wei Army raised their weapons in unison. Flashes of bloody light and plumes of Evil Qi billowed upwards, coalescing into a spear-shaped army soul that radiated an endless, sharp aura.

Facing an enemy dozens of times their number, their fighting spirit soared. Not one man retreated, not one man cowered!

When the mountains and rivers are pacified, we shall pay homage at the Heavenly Palace!

"Haha, to battle!" Xiang Yu roared with laughter from atop his Black Zebra, his eyes blazing with an unquenchable battle lust. Finally, a chance to fight to my heart’s content!

His back was as straight as a divine spear, its sharp point seeming capable of piercing Changkong!

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

Soldiers from both sides charged simultaneously.

Xiang Yu took the lead, his entire being transforming into a streak of spear light. The war spear in his hand erupted with brilliant spear qi, blazing with glorious light as he thrust it forward forcefully.

The overbearing spear intent permeated the Void.

"Seeking death!"

The Void rippled, and an Eternal Temple powerhouse, an expert of the Ancient Great Emperor Realm, suddenly appeared. He brandished chains in both hands, and a profound black energy surged, transforming into two black tigers that swooped down from the sky, colliding with the spear qi in an earth-shaking explosion.

BOOM!

A world-shattering sound echoed.

Their attacks locked in a stalemate for a moment before dissipating into the heavens and earth.

"Well met!" Xiang Yu retreated a few steps, his excitement palpable. His eyes sparkled, revealing a heaven-and-earth-shattering killing intent as the war spear in his hand swept out like a thunderbolt.

"Seeking death!" The Eternal Temple powerhouse was enraged, his eyes blazing. A mere martial artist of the Ancient Great Emperor Realm dared to fight me to a standstill?An insult!

"Double Chain Annihilation!" the Eternal Temple powerhouse roared, unleashing the full might of his Ancient Great Emperor Realm cultivation. Two chains tore through the air, accompanied by tiger roars that shook the soul.

Sounds of earth-shattering clashes rang out incessantly. They battled from the ground to the sky, sparks flying, leaving devastation wherever they passed. In the blink of an eye, they had exchanged tens of thousands of blows.

The sky above the entire Godfall Dao Domain was filled with their afterimages, pockmarked with spatial tears, and roiled with violent shockwaves!

"I underestimated you!" After another fierce exchange, the Eternal Temple powerhouse retreated. His black robe was shredded, revealing a gaunt figure with sunken, ghost-like eyes. Drops of blood fell into the Void. Deep spear wounds, some exposing bone, appeared on his body. He stared at Xiang Yu, who stood ten thousand zhang away, his overbearing intent unwavering. The powerhouse’s face was grim, and he hesitated to attack.

So, the Great Qin Saint’s Court indeed has some tricks up its sleeve!

Another Eternal Temple powerhouse, who had been observing, joined the battle. He extended a withered hand, upon which floated a white flame. It pulsed like a skull, emanating a terrifyingly eerie aura.

"Elder Soul Dan!" the first Eternal Temple powerhouse called out respectfully.

The Eternal Temple boasted numerous experts and a profound heritage. Only those who broke through to the Original Source Great Emperor Realm, possessed exceptional unique skills, or made immense contributions to the Eternal Temple could attain a certain status and an honorific title.

Soul Dan was a Heaven-rank Alchemist of the Eternal Temple, ranking among the top three on the entire continent. Although his cultivation was only at the Ancient Great Emperor Realm, his status and position were by no means inferior to those of the Original Source Great Emperor Realm.

"Attack together!" Soul Dan commanded coldly, his eyes turning blood-red. The bone-white flame shot through the air, forming a ten-thousand-zhang ghostly specter that radiated an icy chill.

The other Eternal Temple powerhouse nodded, his body erupting in an even more dazzling bloody light as his two chains streaked across the sky.

"Tyrant’s Spear!"

Facing two opponents, Xiang Yu remained dauntless. He swung his war spear, unleashing a spear qi that seemed to connect heaven and earth, blasting away the incoming chains.

The terrifying force sent the chain-wielding Eternal Temple powerhouse reeling.

"Die!" Xiang Yu narrowed his eyes, his body wreathed in spear qi as he lunged towards Soul Dan. His spear struck like a downpour, its momentum like thunder!