The experts of the Six Sects and Five Nations, already at a disadvantage, were utterly demoralized upon witnessing the fall of their Ancestors and lost all will to fight. Consequently, the battle, which lasted only four hours, concluded with their complete annihilation.
Thus, this grand-scale campaign ended in victory for the Qin Dynasty.
"Excellent, we've won!"
"I knew it! His Majesty was sure to repel the invaders and claim ultimate victory!"
"Wansheng! Wansheng! Wansheng..."
The citizens of the Imperial Capital discussed amongst themselves, their eyes filled with崇拜 as they gazed upon Emperor Qin. This great monarch had never once disappointed them.
"Congratulations, Your Majesty, on eliminating the formidable enemies from the Six Sects! Henceforth, the Qin Empire faces no further threats!"
After the 'Five Elements Formation' was dispelled, Li Si bowed deeply, his respect profound.
He and Emperor Qin were both Martial Artists who had reached the Saint Realm and, in theory, should have held equal status. However, Li Si alone knew that his breakthrough to the Saint Realm was entirely thanks to Emperor Qin's assistance.
Not only him, but Bai Qi and Zhang Gan had also achieved their breakthroughs due to the Emperor's aid.
"That We could eliminate the powerful enemies from the Six Sects is also due to the contributions of all Our loyal subjects," Emperor Qin said with a smile to Li Si. "After this battle, We will reward meritorious service. But for now..."
His expression then turned cold, and an unparalleled imperial might erupted from him. Drawing the Sword of the Emperor, he roared, "My people of Great Qin! In the 100,000 years since our nation's founding, we have endured countless tribulations!"
"At the nation's inception, Our Great Ancestor personally fought on the front lines, slaying millions from foreign races and seizing the northwestern region of the East Ancient Domain!"
"In the tens of thousands of years that followed, the Six Nations and Six Sects took turns to oppress us. Our forefathers persevered, defending our homeland with their passionate blood! They did not lose a single inch of our land, nor did they abandon a single one of our people!"
Listening to Emperor Qin, the stirred-up citizens gradually calmed. It was as if they had returned to those arduous times, witnessing the fall of countless martyrs.
"Kill!" someone roared, the sound echoing through the silent Void.
"Kill! Kill! Kill!"
Countless old Qin people roared, their voices like a tsunami, echoing for hundreds of miles, like thunderclaps. The hatred accumulated over tens of thousands of years erupted at this moment.
Great Qin should be sweeping the East Ancient Domain by now! Qin Wudao mumbled to himself in the imperial palace. He well understood why Emperor Qin was rousing the morale of the officials and people. He looked at Emperor Qin with eager anticipation.
Whether he would receive the system's reward depended on Emperor Qin's next arrangements.
There should be no surprises.
"Yes! The time for vengeance has come!" Emperor Qin declared, sensing the murderous intent that filled the air and nodding with satisfaction. He raised the Sword of the Emperor high and loudly commanded, "We shall use the weapons in our hands to avenge our ancestors! I hereby decree: Ninth Prince Qin Wudao is appointed Heavens Strategy General! He is authorized to command all the nation's armies and experts to attack the Five Nations and the Six Sects!"
His voice, powerful and resonant, spread throughout the entire Imperial Capital, and no one voiced any opposition.
"Your son accepts the command!" Qin Wudao flew into the sky and bowed respectfully.
In a magnificent palace, the Eldest Prince, Qin Xiaolong, seemed somewhat crestfallen but showed no jealousy. Not only had Qin Wudao saved his life, but the Ninth Prince's abilities were also far superior to his own.
Ninth Brother is indeed more suited to be the Crown Prince than I am! Qin Xiaolong sighed. Under the gaze of his followers, he entered his training chamber.
From this day forward, he resolved to dedicate himself to martial arts and become a powerful Martial Artist, putting aside all other power struggles.
While Ancestor Tiangang and numerous experts were attacking the Imperial Capital, the armies of the Five Nations gathered. Marching from Shangyong City in the State of Chu, they launched a massive offensive.
After marching one hundred and fifty miles, they clashed with the Qin Army at Ye City.
Wang Jian defended Ye City. Leveraging the city's sturdy walls and his million-strong army, he held out for three days before retreating with seven hundred thousand troops.
He lived up to his name as a famed general of the Qin Dynasty. At the cost of three hundred thousand of his own men, he annihilated over one and a half million enemy soldiers.
Had the city walls not been severely damaged in the fierce fighting, he could have held out longer and killed even more enemies.
This retreat meant abandoning a vast territory nearly three hundred miles deep, falling back to Hangu Pass.
The armies of the Five Nations, relentless in their pursuit and commanded by the Chu Emperor, launched a ferocious assault on Hangu Pass. The din of battle was deafening. Before long, the Void itself was stained blood-red.
Fortunately, Hangu Pass's walls were exceptionally sturdy and consistently maintained. They could withstand far greater assaults than Ye City's and thus did not fall.
"General, the enemy is using sheer numbers! We can't kill them all!" the Deputy General, bloodied and exhausted, reported, his gaze sweeping over the city walls. Below, the ground swarmed with soldiers from the Five Nations, their eyes bloodshot as they attacked ferociously.
These invading forces were the elite troops of the Five Nations. They possessed strong combat awareness and were unafraid of sacrifice. Thus, despite suffering heavy casualties, their morale remained unbroken.
"Hold your positions! Wait for news from the Imperial Capital battlefield!" Wang Jian commanded gravely. He hadn't seen any Peak Realm experts on the battlefield, leading him to deduce that the enemy's top masters had all gone to the capital city.
His only hope now was for a victory at the Imperial Capital; otherwise, he couldn't hold out much longer.
"Yes!" the Deputy General gritted his teeth in affirmation and resumed slaying enemies on the wall, defending the land under his feet.
They could lose the lands of the Great Wei Empire.
But they had to defend the land beyond Hangu Pass to the death.
Their ancestors had shed blood to open up this land. Every inch of mountain and river was bought with an inch of blood; the blood in the soil had not yet dried.
"Charge! Continue the attack for Us!" From the rear of the battlefield, the Chu Emperor stood on his battle chariot. He wasn't arranging formations, merely waving his battle sword repeatedly, directing his army's charge.
In his eyes, victory was at hand. Even if it meant sacrificing some soldiers, it was worth it.
Two days passed slowly.
A breach was torn in the ancient Hangu Pass, already choked with corpses. The Qin soldiers and the Five Nations' armies fought atop the corpses, adding ever more bodies to the piles.
The two armies fought like madmen, a dense Evil Qi emanating from their bodies.
Both sides knew that if this breach widened, Hangu Pass would be in grave danger.
"Royal Guards, follow this general into battle!" Wang Jian, directing from the command tower on the wall, drew his battle spear. He resolutely gave the order, preparing to lead his one thousand Royal Guards—the last reserves at Hangu Pass—into the fray.
The thousand Royal Guards charged into the battle, like a stone tossed into the ocean. They barely made a ripple before being engulfed by the overwhelming tide of enemies.
Positioned at the breach on horseback, Wang Jian wielded his spear. With powerful swings, he sent out sharp blasts of spear energy, cutting down the enemy soldiers who surged forward. Soon, the bodies around him piled up into a small mound.
But, as the saying goes, two fists are no match for four hands. As the battle wore on, wounds multiplied on Wang Jian's body, and his aura began to weaken.
"We're about to capture it!" From a distance, the Chu Emperor watched Wang Jian, who fought like a lone wolf. A cold, excited smile played on his lips. Once Hangu Pass fell, his iron cavalry would crush the last vestiges of the Qin Empire's national destiny.
However, he did not know that the Ancestors of the Six Sects had already been defeated, and all the top experts sent to the Imperial Capital had perished.
Meanwhile, on the Qin Straight Road, a powerful legion, manning war chariots, was advancing at full speed.