The people of Yao City wept openly. Cultivators rushing in from afar gazed at this tragic scene and wiped the endless hot tears streaming from their eyes. Some hot-blooded cultivators, heedless of the blood-soaked ground, drew their blades and charged towards the two Innate Realm experts.
“Who dares stand in my way!” the two Sha Kingdom national advisors roared. Their weapons swung outward, smashing soldiers and cultivators into a bloody pulp.
“Stop them!” Soldiers and cultivators surged forward one after another, fearless of death. They all knew clearly that if the Yao Kingdom king were captured, the entire country would face utter destruction. They had heard tales of Sha Kingdom’s cruelty. If given the chance, Sha Kingdom would surely trample Yao Kingdom into ruin.
Soldiers and cultivators threw themselves at the enemy. It was a flock of sheep facing fierce tigers. Though they fought without regard for their lives, they could not halt the brutality. One by one, they fell amid pools of blood.
This was a scene of heroic tragedy that would be recorded in Yao Kingdom’s history books. Ordinary citizens watching it had tears welling in their eyes, their gazes red with grief.
With no one able to stop the two Innate Realm experts, they continued slaughtering Yao Kingdom’s soldiers and cultivators. Blood flowed across the ground.
Su Rong stood in one spot, her eyes brimming with tears, her body trembling. Her gaze fixed tightly in one direction. Her fists clenched hard as she waited for Zhang Su’er’s return.
In the midst of Su Rong’s anxious wait, someone finally shot out from that direction. An old man strode forward like an unyielding monument, wielding a long spear at incredible speed to block the Sha Kingdom national advisor.
“Halt!” This fierce shout drew every eye towards him. Seeing the old man’s blazing aura, the already despairing crowd felt a spark of hope ignite.
“It’s the old Marquis Weiyuan!” The people of Yao City roared in excitement. Colour finally returned to their pale faces.
“It’s really the old marquis! The old marquis is here! Everyone, lend him your strength and hold them back!” The cultivators shouted. Marquis Weiyuan was one of the only four Innate Realm experts in Yao City.
Two national advisors guarded the palace, and Yao Kingdom’s generals were stationed far away and could not return in time.
“Marquis Weiyuan!” The Sha Kingdom national advisors’ expressions shifted. They knew this man well. In the past, he had led troops that forced Sha Kingdom to keep their heads down. Only three years ago, when the Yao king suddenly stripped him of military command, had Sha Kingdom finally breathed a sigh of relief.
This man was one of the most hated figures in Sha Kingdom. Without him, Sha Kingdom might already have seized Yao Kingdom’s fertile lands.
“Today I will kill you to avenge the warriors of Sha Kingdom who died!” one national advisor roared. His power erupted as he swept towards Marquis Weiyuan.
Marquis Weiyuan met him with his long spear. The two forces collided, sending shockwaves that sliced like blades across nearby soldiers, leaving burning pain on their skin.
“Sha Tianyun, I will hold this old fellow. You go capture their king!” The national advisor knew Marquis Weiyuan was no easy opponent and could not be defeated quickly. He could only delay him, allowing his companion to seize the Yao king.
“None of you are going anywhere!” Marquis Weiyuan roared. He thrust his spear to block both of them. But before the strike could fully launch, the opponent’s mace intercepted it.
“You should stay and play with me properly.” As he spoke, the mace swept out, its hedgehog-like spikes stabbing viciously towards Marquis Weiyuan, aiming to pierce him through.
Marquis Weiyuan had no choice but to dodge and block. His spear clashed against it, forcing him back several steps. The opponent also retreated, and even their hand trembled. Marquis Weiyuan held the slight advantage!
Yet this minor edge was useless. He could not force the opponent back or stop the other Sha Kingdom Innate Realm expert. That one remained unstoppable.
“Let the old marquis hold one. We will block the other!” The guard captain roared, leading the guards to charge towards Sha Tianyun, buying time for the king to escape.
“Hahaha… just a bunch of sheep!” Sha Tianyun laughed wildly. The laughter sounded especially horrifying amid the blood-soaked ground. His mace swept out, sending blood droplets flying. Crimson blood flowed, staining the palace red.
The people of Yao Kingdom grew furious. Ignoring their own lives, they rushed forward, stepping onto the blood-drenched earth, using their bodies to block Sha Tianyun and buy even a moment more for the king.
“Get out of my way!” Marquis Weiyuan roared, thrusting his spear fiercely. Looking at the blood under his feet, his eyes blazed with fury. This was the land he had once protected, yet now, right under his nose, the people of Yao City were being slaughtered one by one.
“Killing so few hardly warrants such hatred towards me!” The Sha Kingdom national advisor laughed. His power surged as the mace swept out, aiming to shatter Marquis Weiyuan.
Marquis Weiyuan, filled with rage, wanted to stop it all, but he was blocked and could only watch helplessly as person after person fell into pools of blood.
“Your Majesty! You cannot go forward. Retreat quickly!” A group of guards surrounded the Yao king, trying to hold him back.
“Move aside! My people are dying! How can this king hide like a coward!” The king’s voice thundered as he appeared on the battlefield, bow in hand. He drew the string taut and shot an arrow straight at Sha Tianyun.
But it did nothing to Sha Tianyun. With a casual push of his hand, the arrow was deflected by his qi and fell to the ground.
“Good! Very good! You have finally shown yourself. Now I can capture you and force Yao Kingdom to cede fertile cities to us!” Sha Tianyun laughed heartily. His mace spun even faster. No one could withstand him.
“Get out of the way! Anyone who blocks this national advisor dies!” Sha Tianyun roared, carving a bloody path forward.
Su Rong, with Zhang Su’er in tow, rushed into the palace and stood protectively beside the king. “Father! You must leave first!”
Su Rong felt utter despair. The Innate Realm was too terrifying. They could not be stopped. Without cultivators of equal strength, Yao Kingdom could not escape this calamity.
“Stand aside!” The Yao king roared. “Where could we possibly flee to? Better to die fighting here! If I do not become a prisoner, they cannot threaten Yao Kingdom. Our country still has hope!”
Seeing the king take up arms, ready to face Sha Tianyun in battle.
Su Rong stared at Sha Tianyun advancing like an unstoppable force towards them. Her throat felt raw and hoarse. Her swollen, bloodshot eyes fixed on him. She took a weapon from a nearby soldier and stood guard beside the king.
As Sha Tianyun drew closer to the king, the people of Yao City wailed in grief. If anything happened to the king, Yao Kingdom would fall. All their peaceful lives would turn to ashes.
It was a tragic and heroic scene. Su Rong could never have imagined that on the day of her birthday, such a catastrophe would occur. Wiping away streaming hot tears, despair filled her heart. No one could save them. All that remained was to fight to the death!
“Kill!” Beside the king, she roared, her hair standing on end as she prepared to defend their country with her life.
Sha Tianyun sneered disdainfully. His mace swept out, instantly sending several flying as he stepped forward.
“So be it!” Su Rong glared with wide eyes, gripping her bloodstained weapon tightly, ready to charge and die in battle.
Just when everyone had sunk into complete despair, a figure landed in front of Sha Tianyun. He seized the nearby log and forcibly blocked Sha Tianyun’s strike. The massive impact rang out, drawing every gaze to the spot.
Su Rong and Zhang Su’er stared at the figure, hands over their mouths, eyes wide in shock. Tears of excitement welled up: He… he actually came? But… this is the Innate Realm!