CHAPTER 57: CHAPTER 57: CONTINUE THE ATTACK_1

After his injuries healed, the Emperor of Qin regained his former fighting spirit and commanded an attack on the Fire Domain. Millions of troops, with unstoppable momentum, shattered the Holy Fire Sect’s border fortress in one fell swoop, leaving rivers of blood in their wake. The demoralized soldiers of the Holy Fire Sect were continuously defeated. They dropped their weapons and fled; their numbers were unknown.

Within a week, the Qin Dynasty occupied one-fifth of the Fire Domain. They gathered an army of five million men and besieged Godfire Town, the southeastern stronghold of the Holy Fire Sect. Godfire Town was no ordinary town but a military stronghold, controlling thousands of cities in the southeast of the Holy Fire Sect. It was an incredibly grand structure, with walls a thousand feet tall and stretching for tens of miles, capable of housing ten million troops. The Azure Garment Legion, one of the ten sacred legions, was stationed here.

"General, the enemy is about to launch an attack! What should we do?" a Holy Fire Sect soldier asked from the city walls, his voice trembling beneath a fluttering azure flag. Lately, they had frequently heard news of defeats, which terrified them out of their wits. Only their years of training and loyalty to the Holy Fire Sect had kept them from deserting.

"Wait!" Wan Yunhu said calmly, his hand resting on his war sword. As the commander of the Azure Garment Legion and the army’s backbone, he could not show any fear, lest he demoralize his troops. In reality, he was also out of options. Although there were millions of troops in the city, without a Martial Artist who had Reached the Holy Realm to provide support, it was all just empty talk. The Qin Empire merely needed to dispatch one expert who had Reached the Holy Realm to destroy the city.

At the foot of the city walls, after the Qin troops had rested and regrouped, the Emperor of Qin drew his imperial sword and barked his command, "Give my order, attack the city!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill!" The army began the siege, their voices echoing like thunder. The gathering Evil Qi formed what looked like a blood-red sea, surging violently against Godfire Town.

"Slash!" Bai Qi soared into the sky. Like a divine sword, his sharp aura was fully displayed, Evil Qi billowing to the heavens, intent on slaughtering every enemy within the city. The Void began to tremble, and a bloody Sword Qi, a thousand zhang long, appeared, radiating an endless murderous aura. It slashed towards Godfire Town, leaving a massive fissure of Sword Qi across the sky.

BOOM! A deafening roar sounded as the walls of Godfire Town, which had stood for tens of thousands of years, catastrophically collapsed. Countless Holy Fire Sect soldiers met a tragic death, buried under the fallen ramparts, their blood staining the broken bricks and tiles red. Soon after, a dense wave of Qin Empire soldiers charged into Godfire Town, slaughtering countless enemies.

By the next day, Godfire Town had fallen. Its shattered city was filled with the corpses of Holy Fire Sect soldiers. A blood mist hovered in the Void, twisting into myriad shapes, as if demons were rampaging. Inside the City Lord’s residence, Wan Yunhu sat on the commander’s chair, wearing his azure priestly robe, and committed suicide with his sword. The banner of the Qin Empire was planted on the city walls, declaring sovereignty.

In the Holy City, Duan Yonghui, clad in a red imperial robe, sat on the throne of power. Reading the report of Godfire Town’s fall, his eyes were full of gloom and ferocity as he demanded angrily, "Gentlemen, the Qin Dynasty is pressing us hard! Do you have any viable strategies to repel the enemy?" After fleeing the battlefield, he had immediately returned to the Holy City and, with the support of the Grey-robed Bishop Duan Shouming, had become the new Pope.

Although he was the new ruler of the Holy Fire Sect, his foundation was unstable. Local dignitaries and powerful factions were growing restless, showing signs of breaking away from the Sect’s control. Furthermore, the disastrous failure of the invasion against the Qin Dynasty had resulted in the annihilation of the elite forces of the Red Garment Legion, Purple Garment Legion, and Yellow Garment Legion. Including the Azure Garment Legion stationed in Godfire Town, a total of four legions had been sacrificed. The Green Garment Legion and Blue Garment Legion had also suffered heavy losses. It was clear to everyone that the Holy Fire Sect was on the edge of a precipice; one more step, and they would plunge into an endless abyss. The bishops, priests, and deacons standing below were all silent, their faces etched with worry. None dared to speak.

After a moment of silence, Han Yuquan, the Black-robed Bishop, stepped forward and bowed respectfully. "Your Holiness," he said, "matters have reached this stage. Our only option is to request external aid!"

Requesting external aid! The crowd in the hall was silent. Duan Yonghui was silent. Everyone’s expression was incredibly complex, and an unnerving stillness filled the air for a while.

"From whom should we request assistance?" Duan Yonghui finally asked. The powers bordering the Fire Domain were only the Changeable Mansion, and Wuling Domain’s Sword Sect and Blade Manor.

"The Changeable Mansion!" Han Yuquan declared, taking a deep breath and speaking each word with stern emphasis.

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of those present shifted continually. Requesting aid from the Changeable Mansion... could they even succeed? And if they did, what exorbitant price would they have to pay? The most crucial point was their fear of inviting the wolf into the house. It’s easy to invite a demon, but hard to send one away. What if, after driving out the Qin Empire, they found themselves under the thumb of the Changeable Mansion?

Duan Yonghui closed his eyes slightly, hiding the humiliation he felt. Requesting external help was a disgrace for any power. But what else could they do now?

"Black-robed Bishop," Duan Yonghui commanded with dignity, "since you proposed this idea, you shall be the envoy to the Changeable Mansion to request aid!"

"As you command!" Han Yuquan saluted and then exited the main hall. As he stepped through the doorway, a sharp glint flashed deep in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth curled up slightly in satisfaction. Besides his position as a Black-robed Bishop of the Holy Fire Sect, he held another identity...

Once Han Yuquan had left, Duan Shouming stepped forward and counseled, "Pope, I suggest we amass heavy troops to defend Demonfire City, halt the Qin Empire’s advance, and protect the Holy City!" Demonfire City was the Holy City’s final barrier; if it fell, the very foundation of the Holy Fire Sect would be shaken.

"Granted!" Duan Yonghui’s commanding gaze swept across the hall, finally settling on Duan Shouming. "Issue the order: Grey-robed Bishop Duan Shouming will lead the Grey Garment Legion and White Garment Legion to garrison Demonfire City!" With the Holy Fire Sect in a state of panic, the only one he could truly trust was his clansman, Duan Shouming.

"As you command!" Duan Shouming did not refuse this perilous task. Ultimately, the Holy Fire Sect belonged to the Duan Family. As a member of the clan, his fate was inextricably linked with the Holy Fire Sect. Others might refuse, but he could not shirk this duty.

That afternoon, two contingents departed from the Holy City. One headed north, bearing lavish gifts; the other marched south, bristling with overwhelming military might.

In the splendid palace, Duan Yonghui stood by a window, his fist clenched, and swore silently, The Fire Domain belongs to the Holy Fire Sect, and no one can take it away!

It’s just that Father’s revenge cannot be exacted for the time being! But rest assured, Father, I will find a way to annihilate the Qin Empire and allow you to rest in peace...

Outside Godfire Town, the Qin troops did not enter the city itself but encamped in the outskirts. After all, with so many corpses within, it was unsettling to stay there, and disease could easily spread. On the vast open ground, the encampments stretched endlessly, banners fluttering as far as the eye could see. Countless soldiers clad in armor patrolled the camp, their backs ramrod straight, long spears pointed skyward, exuding a sharp aura, their morale soaring. The immense Evil Qi gathered over the camp, melding together to form a pillar of bloody smoke that pierced the heights of Purple Hell. It was as if a pillar of blood supported the heavens, a truly spectacular sight.