CHAPTER 1396: CHAPTER 1370: THE EVE OF THE FINAL BATTLE

In the wake of such tides, many countries have just begun to realize and are scrambling to imitate, but no matter how they try, they can’t regain the people’s trust that has already been lost. Once the people’s trust is broken, trying to gather it again is not so easy. Moreover, the Anyang Kingdom is at the height of its power, naturally making the attempts of these countries seem feeble.

Under such circumstances, several countries even brutally killed those who tried to flee, which directly incited even greater chaos. Civil unrest erupted one after another, plunging several countries into direct disorder. Plus, with some of An Shitong’s plans, this caused large-scale chaos to break out in a dozen neighboring countries. At this moment, the Anyang Kingdom dispatched troops to campaign, under the banner of justice, advancing triumphantly.

Everywhere they went, there were cheers; the enthusiasm of the people was very high.

Two months later, with several countries surrendering their cities, the Anyang Kingdom miraculously governed twelve surrounding countries, expanding the territory to thirteen nations. The military strength naturally expanded tenfold. The reputation of the Anyang Kingdom genuinely shocked the entire Mystic Spirit Continent, becoming a new rising hegemony in the eastern region of the Mystic Spirit Continent.

Now, describing the Mystic Spirit Continent as broken is not an exaggeration, with more than half of the countries annihilated, and the remaining ones barely hanging on, having little power left.

Besides the Anyang Kingdom, a country called the Demon Empire also grew rapidly, even more powerful in momentum than the Anyang Kingdom. Of course, the momentum of the Demon Empire was marked by Tie Xue, dominance, and bloodthirsty tactics. On the other hand, the Anyang Kingdom followed the banner of justice, the route of people’s hearts. One won the people’s hearts, while the other instilled fear. These two forces walk on two extremes.

Half a month later, the remaining countries also perished, some submitting, others broken. The entire Mystic Spirit Continent had only two empires left, one was the Demon Empire and the other was the Anyang Empire. Both forces occupied half of the Mystic Spirit Continent. Comparatively, the Anyang Empire gathered more subjects, resonating with more people under the banner of benevolence and righteousness.

At the Signal Fire Platform, Tangyu, An Shitong, Zhu Sanliang, and other decision-makers of the Anyang Empire gathered there, gazing at the frontline army base of the faraway Demon Empire. The two camps were merely separated by a hundred miles.

The world was grey and desolate, the atmosphere before the battle already suppressed to the extreme.

In the Demon Empire’s camp, on a high platform, the Great Prince of the Yao Race lazily sat on a dragon chair, with several murderous-looking men standing behind him, led by the nominal Great Emperor of the Demon Empire. However, he was just a man of the Golden Core Realm Ninth Layer. This person, named Di Qi, was a talent cultivated by the Great Prince of the Yao Race. This person was exceedingly adept at psychological tactics, capturing people’s hearts with consummate skill, greatly satisfying the Great Prince of the Yao Race.

Di Qi respectfully said, "Master, the Anyang Kingdom is nothing but a ragtag group, utterly vulnerable. Our Demon Empire consists of elite soldiers and generals; this battle we will undoubtedly be as unstoppable as a flood breaking its dam. Master, order the city attack!"

The Great Prince of the Yao Race gave a sinister smile, "No rush. The good play has just begun. This Tangyu is somewhat interesting, neither dazzling nor ordinary at first, yet in these past two months, was able to conceive such a move, rapidly strengthening the Anyang Kingdom. However, he is destined to lose if he wants to play with me. It’s a pity that this time I can’t act personally. Otherwise, I could play with this guy properly; both of my disciples died in his hands, and I naturally won’t miss the chance to avenge blood and hatred."

Another half a day passed, and the Great Prince of the Yao Race finally gave the order, and the army set off.

Thus, the army of hundreds of millions formed a dragon spanning hundreds of miles, pressing towards the Anyang Empire, a sight to overwhelm mountains and rivers. The earth trembled violently, with a thundering sound as if it were heavens collapsing.

At the Signal Fire Platform, An Shitong and others squinted their eyes, their blood igniting.

"Here it comes, the final battle is about to break out." An Shitong’s face was fervent, almost mad. The last battle would decide victory and defeat, life or death.

The fate of the Anyang Empire rested on this final battle.

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

With a wave of An Shitong’s hand, the army of hundreds of millions from the Anyang Empire also shouted their battle cries, voices resounding through the Nine Heavens. Such a sound almost felt as if it could lift the sky.

This battle is destined to be unprecedentedly magnificent and soul-stirring.

Tangyu looked calm, his eyes fixed on the approaching army of the Demon Empire, though his gaze landed on that high platform, on that demonic figure.

"This is a member of the Yao Race, and looks very similar to some other Princes of the Yao Race I’ve seen, it seems it must be a Prince of the Yao Race. There are many Princes in the Yao Race, and several are quite famous. The one comparable to the young king of the Human Clan and skilled in scheming must be the Great Prince. It seems this time, the one sent by the Hongchen Palace is the Great Prince of the Yao Race." Tangyu thought to himself, immediately aware of his opponent’s identity.

The Great Prince of the Yao Race’s gaze also fell upon Tangyu.

The distance between both camps quickly closed, soon only a mile apart, and with a wave of the Great Prince of the Yao Race’s hand, the army halted. However, the formations of both armies were ready, prepared for battle at any moment. The eyes of the soldiers on both sides turned crimson, like crazed beasts. At this point, they had all become fearless warriors, eager to use their blood to ignite this battle.

"Prince of the Yao Race." Tangyu called out.

The Great Prince of the Yao Race smirked but did not reply to Tangyu.

Tangyu sneered coldly and continued, "Right now, our forces are almost evenly matched, and our combat power is about the same. If we go to war now, it will only mean sending these soldiers to their deaths, creating a great slaughter. The power that ultimately decides the outcome does not lie with these soldiers. Crown Prince of the Yao Race, how about we play a game of chance? Determine the victory between us with the smallest cost and the quickest time."

The Crown Prince of the Yao Race smirked evilly, "Why should I? I don’t like playing games with you. What I want to do is crush you. This is all a game anyway, what’s the point of adding a gamble?"

Tangyu could naturally hear that the Crown Prince of the Yao Race didn’t care at all about the lives of these people. In short, even if everyone on the Mystic Spirit Continent died, he wouldn’t bat an eye. These people, what are they to him?

"Hmph, so you, Crown Prince of the Yao Race, are afraid then. You’re afraid you’ll lose to me, so you don’t dare to gamble with me." Tangyu provoked.

But the Yao Race Great Prince was unfazed, "Save your little tricks, they won’t work on me. Enough with the nonsense, I want to see how much combat power your ragtag group has." With a wave of his hand, the Crown Prince of the Yao Race ordered Di Qi to command the army to attack, directly unleashing the final total war, deploying all their forces. When he strikes, he spares nothing, this move can’t be described as anything less than ruthless.

Tangyu shook his head. It seems there’s no choice but to fight. He said to An Shitong, "Issue the order; fight for justice, fight for peace, fight for justice!"

An Shitong immediately nodded, his loud voice resonated, and with just three sentences, he boosted the morale of all the soldiers, allowing every soldier to find their belief. With the support of conviction, people become powerful and terrifying.

Fight, fight, fight!!!

Kill, kill, kill!!!

The forces committed by both sides exceed hundreds of millions, stretching across hundreds of miles. Just the sight of it is enough to deeply shock anyone. Even Tangyu was somewhat overwhelmed. This scene is truly indescribable.

Both sides’ archers drew their bows and fired rapidly, the sky was immediately filled with a rain of arrows, like a storm striking, dense and swarming, like a plague of locusts.

One after another, soldiers were pierced by arrows and tragically died on the spot. Every moment, large numbers of soldiers fell, becoming corpses. The blood immediately dyed the surrounding hundreds of miles red. The air was even filled with a mist of blood, making the already dark sky even more gloomy.

The cries of battle pierced the sky, sounds of clashing blades, cries, wails, arrows...

All the sounds mixed together, deafening everyone; this scene alone is enough to make one’s scalp tingle. Tangyu’s brow furrowed deeply. The thought of sacrificing countless lives for a game was extremely cruel. Besides, being a part of this made Tangyu very uncomfortable. If he could refuse, Tangyu wouldn’t want to play such a game; it simply feels like being manipulated.

However, on the side of the Yao Race Great Prince, he was at ease; this grand scene of slaughter, in his eyes, was a kind of enjoyment. In his view, it was like watching a group of ants kill each other, an indescribable amusement.

"Sigh, battle, it’s truly cruel. In such a desperate fight, who knows how many will survive in the end. The price to pay for victory is just too high." An Shitong also shook his head helplessly and sighed.

Zhu Sanliang also sighed and lamented, "Indeed, the cost of victory is too high. But we have already come this far, there is no retreat. Only through victory can we console the souls of those who have died. We are the righteous army, following the path of justice, seeking the welfare of all people. Therefore, these people keep coming forward, willing to die on the battlefield, using their blood, their lives, to vie for this, to defend all this."

"Their deaths are great, noble, and worthwhile. It’s just that the cost is too great, too great. Alas, there is no way around it."

A sigh of lament, a sigh of helplessness.

This battle lasted for three days and nights, with more than half the troops dead or injured, wailing everywhere, the air wholly stained red. Corpses were strewn across the field, piled like mountains. The ground turned into a massive mountain of corpses and river of blood, unbearable to witness. At a glance, it’s shockingly appalling.

Three days and nights of battle left everyone exhausted, with no combat power remaining.

All that was left was bloodlust, hatred, and the intent to kill.

The scene was unbearable to witness, An Shitong and the others could only sigh repeatedly, the losses from this battle were terrifying. The forces might have been reduced by sixty to seventy percent, which translates to tens of millions of lives; just the thought gives him chills.

If he could choose, he wouldn’t want to fight this battle.

But he had no choice!