Chapter 74: The Empress Arrives in Person

The walls of Linjiang City were broad enough for horses to gallop atop them. Shui Han rode to the southern gate, where the battle raged fiercely; corpses blocked the path, forcing Shui Han to dismount and proceed on foot. Southern Liang soldiers were still scaling the walls, and Shui Han, blade in hand, carved a bloody path forward.

At last, he reached Li Xian’nan, who was assisting Emperor Luoxi in besieging Shangguan Wei. After slaying Shangguan Feng, Li Xian’nan had frightened Shangguan Li into fleeing, then turned to help Emperor Luoxi attack Shangguan Wei.

Shui Han tried to control his voice, calling out as he approached, “Princess, General, something may be wrong with Diaoyu City! The banners atop the walls have changed!”

If he spoke too softly, they wouldn’t hear; too loudly, and other soldiers might overhear, weakening morale.

Shangguan Wei, locked in fierce combat with Emperor Luoxi and Li Xian’nan, heard the message clearly: Diaoyu City’s banners had changed.

It was as if Shangguan Wei had swallowed a potent tonic; he instantly revived, laughing heartily, “Murong Xiao has succeeded!”

The Tianwei Legion’s losses in the siege were catastrophic; of the four family retainers, only two remained. Shangguan Li had fled, Shangguan Yi was still struggling desperately, bloodied by attacks from Xuan Yi and Qing Yue.

Despite such grievous losses, Shangguan Wei persisted. He knew he could not kill Emperor Luoxi, but he was waiting—waiting for Murong Xiao’s victory.

After hearing Shui Han’s words, Shangguan Wei felt it had all been worth it.

Emperor Luoxi and Li Xian’nan also heard Shui Han. Their spirits lifted, and they laughed in unison, “Old villain, your schemes have long been seen through by Long Cheng’en! Murong Xiao is doomed!”

Shangguan Wei had expected Emperor Luoxi to collapse in despair, but instead she laughed, claiming his plot had been uncovered.

“Impossible! You’re bluffing!”

Shangguan Wei’s face twisted in fury, hair bristling. He refused to believe that Long Chen could see through his strategy—it was absolutely impossible!

“Old villain, you planted Murong Xiao in Caishi City to seize Diaoyu City, hoping to isolate Linjiang City. You also had Shangguan Xiu covertly lead fifty thousand elite soldiers away under the guise of transporting the wounded; all of this was within Long Cheng’en’s calculations.”

“Every move you made was anticipated by Long Cheng’en. Do you really think yourself so clever?”

Emperor Luoxi, wielding her mighty spear, mocked Shangguan Wei mercilessly. Li Xian’nan bore a serene expression, showing no concern.

Vice-General Shui Han, who had arrived in haste, now saw the calm demeanor of Emperor Luoxi and Li Xian’nan, realizing they had long been prepared.

But if they were prepared, why had Diaoyu City still fallen?

“Even if you knew, so what? Is there an ambush hidden within Diaoyu City?” Shangguan Wei had sent Feng He to scout before the battle—there were indeed no troops within Diaoyu City.

Emperor Luoxi chuckled, “There are no troops, but Murong Xiao is doomed.”

Shangguan Wei’s face darkened as he considered the worst outcome—could it really be...?

“Old villain, let us fight three hundred more rounds!” Emperor Luoxi laughed, spear in hand, charging Shangguan Wei, with Li Xian’nan covering her.

Nearby, Xuan Yi pierced Shangguan Yi’s heart with a single thrust, eliminating all the Shangguan family’s retainers. The two immediately joined the assault on Shangguan Wei.

Seeing this, Shui Han raised his blade and joined the attack.

Five against one, and though Shangguan Wei’s cultivation was high and his battlefield experience vast, he was finally driven into chaos.

Especially since Emperor Luoxi remained calm and composed, Shangguan Wei dreaded that there truly might be an ambush in Diaoyu City.

“No matter—hold out just a bit longer. If Murong Xiao seizes Linjiang City, he’ll soon return to reinforce us, and then we’ll slaughter these witches together!” Shangguan Wei steeled himself, swinging his halberd with ferocity against all five.

...

Diaoyu City.

Murong Xiao was cautious in all things. Even though Shangguan Wei claimed Diaoyu City was empty, Murong Xiao still had his forces infiltrate in disguised groups, with the main army following behind.

The most elite soldiers entered the city disguised as merchants, then launched a sudden attack, seizing control of Diaoyu City’s four gates and ushering in the main force.

After securing Diaoyu City, Murong Xiao confirmed there were no hidden troops inside—his joy was boundless.

“General, this is the original general’s residence,” said a handsome young officer standing before the mansion.

This was Murong Xiao’s subordinate, Tao Zhigang.

Murong Xiao stood at the entrance; the mansion was utterly empty.

“General Shangguan’s strategy was brilliant—he drew all Diaoyu City’s garrison to Linjiang City, leaving nothing behind.”

Tao Zhigang praised Shangguan Wei’s tactics.

“Yes, Diaoyu City is the southern fortress of Eastern Zhou, bordering the great river and easy to defend. We tried many times to capture it, but never succeeded.”

“But this time, we took it with astonishing ease.”

Murong Xiao admired Shangguan Wei’s strategy, though the cost had been steep.

Shangguan Mu was dead, Shangguan Xiu gravely wounded, only a handful of retainers remained, the Tianwei Legion nearly wiped out.

He had just witnessed the situation at Linjiang City. Even from afar, the sounds of slaughter rang clear, thick black smoke drifting north of the river, attesting to the battle’s ferocity.

“Let’s go inside and see!” Murong Xiao strode into the general’s residence. Inside, drums and weapons were neatly arranged, and birds chirped in the trees.

Tao Zhigang and a dozen guards followed closely behind.

Crossing the wide training grounds, they reached the front of the main hall. Murong Xiao, in high spirits, stepped through the threshold...

His front foot was already inside, but his back foot froze.

Tao Zhigang, hurrying behind and distracted by his surroundings, nearly collided with Murong Xiao.

“General...”

Tao Zhigang followed Murong Xiao’s gaze and saw, seated in the main hall, a woman in phoenix robes.

She possessed both regal grace and an aura of unrivaled dominance—it was the Empress of Eastern Zhou.

“Guests are always welcome. General Murong, please sit.”

The empress gestured to a nearby chair, her tone calm.

Murong Xiao stared at her, as if seeing a ghost.

Tao Zhigang and his guards drew their blades, but instinctively stepped back.

The Empress of Eastern Zhou—the only one in the world to attain the Emperor’s realm.

Before her ascension, all believed the peak of martial cultivation was the Martial Sovereign. When the empress broke through, stepping into the Emperor’s realm, martial artists everywhere realized there was another level.

A maid poured tea; the empress lifted the cup, and with a slight movement of her hand, the cup drifted onto the table beside the chair.

This was the source of Murong Xiao’s fear: the Emperor’s realm was no longer mere martial skill, but half-divine.

Yet, even the Emperor’s realm was not invincible.

After the empress’s ascension, martial artists feared her as a tiger. But Long Ye, with his five sons, launched an attack on Linjiang City, besieging the empress with Martial Sovereign-level power.

After a day and night of battle, the empress was forced to retreat, and Linjiang City fell.

But Long Ye paid a heavy price, nearly destroyed by the empress.

He proved the Emperor’s realm was not insurmountable, while also demonstrating its terrifying power.

“Does General Murong find my tea unworthy?”

The empress’s expression was placid, her voice even more so, yet an overwhelming pressure emanated from her, chilling the heart.

Murong Xiao gritted his teeth as cold sweat beaded on his brow, inner turmoil raging, but in the end, he lifted his back foot and entered the hall, bowing respectfully, “I did not know the empress was here—my intrusion was presumptuous.”

Tao Zhigang and the guards saw Murong Xiao’s posture of humility, and were at a loss for what to do.