Inner City.
Xu Pingzhi rode on horseback, leading fifteen mounted soldiers and fifty walking Imperial Blade Guards, patrolling the streets at an unhurried pace.
The Imperial Blade Guards carried bows and crossbows on their backs, swords at their waists, their expressions solemn.
The inner city was under martial law—civilians were forbidden to go out, and anyone on the streets without authorization would be killed without exception. This was both to prevent panic among the citizens and to guard against enemy agents potentially inciting unrest among the people.
Even a three-year-old child wouldn’t believe there weren’t Yun Province rebel spies in the capital.
“Chief, do you think we can hold the capital? From the sounds of it, the south gate seems to have fallen.”
From the right rear, a young Imperial Blade Guard spurred his horse forward, speaking with concern.
Xu Pingzhi was lost in thought, absorbed in his world, and didn’t hear.
“Chief?”
The young guard turned his head and called out louder.
Xu Pingzhi finally snapped back to reality, frowning:
“Just focus on patrolling and doing your duty. The officials will handle the rest—no need to think too much about it.”
The young guard grinned:
“If you’d said ‘my nephew’ would handle it, I’d feel much more at ease.”
Xu Pingzhi was now a Thousand-Household Commander of the Imperial Blade Guards, with real authority—truly a position of power and importance.
This was all thanks to his miraculous “educational” abilities. Everyone in the capital knew that Blade Guard Commander Xu Pingzhi had mentored both the legendary hero Officer Xu and the dual-qualification graduate Xu Xinnian.
The former was a household name, needing no introduction.
The latter was a brilliant scholar, capable in both civil and military affairs, repeatedly distinguishing himself on the battlefield.
By now, no one criticized Xu Pingzhi for being an unfilial son who had wasted Officer Xu’s scholarly potential.
True, Officer Xu had been destined for a scholarship, but training him in martial arts had certainly not been a mistake.
The young guard probed quietly:
“Chief, give us the truth—does Officer Xu have what it takes to hold the capital?”
Seeing Xu Pingzhi’s lack of response, he pressed:
“You don’t know, but when the capital began fortifying a few days ago, we brothers could all see the rebels were likely to attack. Everyone’s saying Officer Xu is at the end of his strength, that the victory at Xun City was Great Feng’s last gasp.”
“They’re even saying there might not have been any victory at all—that it was just to deceive the common people and little folk like us.”
Usually, Xu Pingzhi would defend his nephew, easily being drawn into revealing information.
But now, he only sighed silently in his heart.
Big Brother had reached the capital, meaning father and son would reach their conclusion today.
Second Uncle Xu was different from Auntie. Auntie stood firmly by her unfortunate nephew’s side—after all, she had raised him herself.
But Xu Pingfeng was their Second Uncle’s brother. Though the brothers had long since become strangers, now that it had come to this, thinking about how either his nephew or elder brother must die—kin slaughtering kin—filled Xu Pingzhi’s heart with inescapable grief.
…
In the barracks within the city, Wei Yuan stood before a map of the capital, though his gaze wasn’t on the map but on a bronze mirror in his hand.
The mirror was crescent-shaped, and incomplete.
It reflected scenes of battle. This treasure called the “Universal Divine Mirror” had been given to him by Xu Xinnian, helping him direct operations by observing the battle situation in real-time.
Wei Yuan, now in a mortal body, couldn’t participate in defending the city.
Of the capital’s four gates, the north was defended by Zhang Shen, Li Mubai, Xu Xinnian, and others from Cloud Deer Academy, facing former Yun Province Commander Yang Chunnan.
Wei Yuan remembered this man came from a military family and was openly aligned with the King’s faction. Appointed as Yun Province Commander in his early thirties, he hadn’t had much interaction with Wei Yuan, but Wei Yuan remembered Yang Chunnan’s father, Yang Zhao.
He had been a talented general, particularly skilled in leading troops and sieges.
The Yang family had a military text called “Twelve Strategies for Breaking Cities,” begun by Yang Zhao’s grandfather’s generation and passed down three generations before being completed in Yang Zhao’s hands.
It was said this book categorized and unified all historical siege tactics into twelve strategies. If made public, it would have earned the Yang family a place in military history.
However, from its completion, it had been designated as “family learning,” never to be shared with outsiders.
“Today proves its reputation is well-deserved.”
Wei Yuan glanced at the cracked north wall—it was no longer suitable for defense. In less than the time it takes to burn an incense stick, Zhang Shen and the others would have to withdraw, switching to street fighting like the south gate.
The west was defended by Hengyuan and Chu Yuanzhen, leading imperial troops and remnant Gu Clan warriors. This front was the most stable—the Corpse Gu Clan had raised an army of fearless undead soldiers, complemented by the Shadow Gu Division’s ghostlike assassination techniques, repeatedly repelling the Yun Province army.
For the west gate, Wei Yuan only needed to ensure sufficient ammunition and log supplies.
The east was held by the Night Watch Chiefs leading the capital’s twelve guards and the Hundred Battles Camp of the five Imperial Army camps.
This was the bloodiest battlefield, facing the Iron Turtle Army’s heavy infantry—these fully armored warriors were impervious to firearms and arrows.
Relying on their magical heavy armor and war blades, even the elite of elites, the Imperial Palace Guards, were no match for them.
Combined with Yun Province’s Tier 4 and 5 warriors, they were truly unstoppable.
Fortunately, there weren’t many Tier 4 experts, and the walls remained intact, allowing them to hold on.
The weakest south gate had already fallen, as Wei Yuan had deliberately left a gap.
Wei Yuan had buried numerous landmines in the south, hidden two thousand soldiers in civilian houses, set up sixteen artillery positions on the main roads, and evacuated all civilians.
Once the Yun Province army penetrated deeply, the Great Feng forces would trap and strike them hard.
But Qi Guangbo moved steadily, only sending a moderate force to attack the south gate, engaging the defenders while scouting the terrain.
The capital’s streets were complex—charging in without knowing the layout would make it easy for Great Feng forces to divide and destroy them using terrain advantages.
“Not a bad commander.”
Wei Yuan calmly issued orders, deploying forces according to each area’s situation while monitoring the scenes in the Universal Divine Mirror.
“Show me Kou Yangzhou!”
Wei Yuan commanded deeply.
The Universal Divine Mirror muttered nonsense while showing Kou Yangzhou’s situation.
He didn’t observe Xu Pingfeng because it exceeded the mirror’s capabilities and would face resistance.
But Kou Yangzhou was an ally and wouldn’t reject Wei Yuan’s observation.
Wei Yuan glanced and shook his head slightly—not because either Kou Yangzhou or Xu Pingfeng was performing poorly. Both were masters, their exchange of moves extremely brilliant.
It was just that they couldn’t escape the limitations of warriors fighting other systems, so there was nothing particularly amazing.
Perhaps only a warrior like Xu Qi’an, with his endless array of techniques, could break the stalemate that occurred when warriors fought other systems.
However, Wei Yuan noticed something—the two were fighting increasingly inward, moving toward the Imperial Palace.
“Show me Ji Xuan!”
Wei Yuan commanded, making the Universal Divine Mirror shift its view.
In the image, a dark figure appeared, wild hair flying, armor in tatters revealing a muscular upper body, untamed like a war god.
He held a jade token in his palm, gently crushing it. As cyan light rose, he vanished.
Only a white-robed figure remained in the sky. Sun Xuanji looked around for a moment, then suddenly turned his head toward the Imperial Palace.
“Their target is the Imperial Palace.”
Wei Yuan raised an eyebrow.
…
Above the Imperial Palace.
A small square platform flew from Xu Pingfeng’s sleeve. With a gentle push, the platform flew into a teleportation formation the moment it emerged.
The next instant, it crashed into the Imperial Palace with a boom, transforming into a platform seven chi high and about one zhang in length and width.
Cyan light flashed on the platform, revealing Ji Xuan’s disheveled figure.
He had used the teleportation jade token to reach the Imperial Palace via Xu Pingfeng’s transmission platform.
At the same time, bronze artifact components continuously flew out from the pouch at his waist.
The bronze components automatically assembled in the air, forming a huge metal disc.
Kou Yangzhou’s blade intentionally struck the bronze artifact repeatedly, shaking off misty cyan light but unable to damage this Mandate Master artifact in the slightest.
During this process, Xu Pingfeng continuously deployed teleportation and defensive formations to block Kou Yangzhou’s fierce attacks. The bronze artifact didn’t take long to assemble, completing in four or five breaths.
Xu Pingfeng stomped his foot, and the circular formation matching the artifact suddenly spread out, forming a domain of clockwise and counterclockwise rotation, isolating the Imperial Palace in another world.
This was a pre-planned strategy. Considering the existence of teleportation jade tokens, Xu Pingfeng had been observing the fortune within the Imperial Palace, locking onto the Empress’s position.
With his status, ordinary qi-concealing techniques couldn’t fool his eyes. Only artifacts left by the First Supervisor or supernatural domains like the Heaven Gu’s “Moving Stars and Changing Constellations” could do so.
…
“Fall back a hundred zhang!”
Zhang Shen waved his hand, and the dozen enemy soldiers who had just climbed the walls, brandishing their blades ready for slaughter, mysteriously vanished.
“Return!”
Li Mubai waved his sleeve, sending incoming arrows and cannonballs flying back all at once.
Compared to other gates, the north gate held by Cloud Deer Academy’s great scholars was the most stable, its walls best preserved.
The great scholars, working with Tier 4 experts among the defenders, had held the north gate well.
But due to the overuse of “Words Become Law,” both scholars were surrounded by an increasingly thin layer of cyan light, almost depleted.
Their physical and mental strength was on the verge of exhaustion. If they continued, without the protection of righteous qi, the backlash of their techniques would strike them directly.
“Whoosh—”
In the piercing whistle of air, a cold arrow carrying tremendous power shot toward Zhang Shen’s chest.
The exhausted Zhang Shen’s heart tightened, but then Second Young Master Xu’s calm recitation reached his ears:
“Three chi left!”
Cyan light surged as the spell took effect, forcibly shifting the arrow three chi to the left. It grazed Zhang Shen’s arm as it passed, blasting a deep crater in the wall behind him, sending stone fragments flying.
Second Young Master Xu shook the ashes from his hand, feeling relieved.
After the battle at Xun City, he had successfully advanced to become a Tier 6 Scholar, a level at which scholars could “borrow” others’ skills—whatever their eyes witnessed could be recorded by their brush on paper.
This granted genuine combat power.
At his age, this showed exceptional talent.
In the Xu family, only his elder brother, that freak of nature, could surpass him. Their father, Xu Pingzhi, was currently a Tier 7 Spirit Refinement warrior.
He had been recording Zhang Shen and Li Mubai’s techniques, succeeding only once, immediately using the wool he’d just sheared on its source sheep.
Due to his lower tier, Second Young Master’s recorded techniques weren’t as effective as the originals, so he could only deflect by three chi.
Second Young Master Xu peered over the battlements—the archer was former Yun Province Commander Yang Chunnan.
This former commander had demonstrated remarkable military talent during the Qing Province campaign, deeply versed in military strategy and particularly skilled in siege warfare.
This dog… Xu Xinnian gritted his teeth and said gravely:
“Teacher, Master Mubai, please rest for now. Leave this to the Imperial Guards.”
They couldn’t match warriors in stamina—even now, the warriors were still bouncing around, running up and down the walls.
Just as Zhang Shen and Li Mubai were about to nod, they suddenly sensed something and turned as one toward the Imperial Palace, where a massive disc radiating tremendous power enveloped the entire palace.
The Tier 4 and 5 experts present also sensed the overwhelming power emanating from the Mandate Master’s artifact.
They might not know what was happening, but all could detect the anomaly in the palace’s direction.
“Your Majesty…”
Xu Xinnian’s expression changed slightly.
Yang Chunnan felt relieved, then smiled. Having reached the capital, how could they not claim the Great Feng Emperor’s head to make the journey worthwhile?
With the Empress dead, how could Great Feng’s soldiers maintain morale? How could the officials remain calm? How could the citizens contain their panic?
Shoot the horse to get the rider, capture the king to catch the bandits—this was an eternal truth.
…
What’s happening… Chu Yuanzhen rose into the wind, soaring skyward.
Master Hengyuan, his golden body gleaming, leaped up to stand on his flying sword, blocking a cannonball for Chu Yuanzhen in the process.
“What artifact is that?”
Master Hengyuan gazed gravely at the distant bronze disc enveloping the Imperial Palace.
During the battle at Xun City, the Heaven and Earth Society members had been busy hunting Earthly Path Demon Cultivators, so they hadn’t seen this artifact.
“Her Majesty is in danger.”
Chu Yuanzhen’s expression was grave. He knew Huaiqing should have life-saving measures, but his instincts told him she was in peril.
At the front of the Yun Province army, Qi Guangbo took a deep breath and called out:
“Storm the city!”
Behind him were five thousand troops—Yun Province’s last elite forces.
Amid the drum beats, they surged forth en masse.
The moment the bronze disc manifested, almost all high-tier cultivators in the capital sensed its presence.
Such top-tier treasures each had their special symbolism, destined to never be subtle.
Zhang Shen, Li Mubai, Chu Yuanzhen, and the high-ranked experts among the Night Watch and Imperial Guards all felt their hearts tighten.
Since the bronze disc appeared above the Imperial Palace, whether friend or foe, the palace was clearly under attack.
Why hasn’t Lord Wei ordered reinforcements… some experts loyal to the Empress fretted impatiently.
Those considering the bigger picture thought: that if they reinforced the palace now, it would mean abandoning the walls.
…
In the underground chamber of the Western Garden, Auntie suddenly trembled, stammering:
“Lingyue, dear, I don’t know why, but I’m suddenly so afraid…”
As she spoke, she looked at her daughter and found Xu Lingyue’s expression grave, her gaze slightly raised toward the southeast above them.
Beside her, her good sister Mu Nanchi’s gaze matched Xu Lingyue’s.
“What is it?” Auntie pressed.
Xu Lingyue said softly:
“Experts have arrived.”
As for how powerful, she wasn’t sure, being self-taught and lacking relevant knowledge and experience.
“They’re Transcendent Realm experts, three of them…”
Mu Nanchi swallowed, finally showing some fear.
Though she had weathered great storms with Xu Qi’an, that surname Xu wasn’t here now, and the enemy seemed nearby—the Flower Spirit would cower when cowering was called for.
Auntie’s voice trembled:
“Is… is it Xu Pingfeng?”
Her voice was somewhat shrill.
Hearing the name Xu Pingfeng, Imperial Consort Chen turned to look, her expression complex.
The women in the underground chamber grew restless, the timid ones crying “yi yi yi.”
The bolder ones clamored for Imperial Guards to escort them from the palace, and chaos erupted.
Auntie wasn’t alone in her sudden fear—they all felt the pressure from the Transcendent Realm experts, falling into panic and dread.
The Empress Dowager took a deep breath and scolded:
“Silence! What manner of behavior is this commotion!”
The clamor subsided slightly.
Among these women were imperial consorts and the wives and daughters of civil and military officials. Huaiqing had gathered them in the palace ostensibly for protection, but in reality as hostages.
Though the Empress Dowager disliked her daughter Huaiqing, since she had entrusted these women to her care, as leader of the inner palace, she should manage them properly.
The Empress Dowager continued: “Her Majesty is still above. Since she hasn’t arranged for our withdrawal, she must have something to rely on. There’s no need to panic.”
Xu Lingyue immediately said:
“My… my big brother won’t abandon me and mother.”
Her words proved more reassuring than the Empress Dowager’s comfort. The consorts and officials’ wives finally calmed down, quietly wiping their tears.
Even the noisiest troublemakers no longer thought of escape.
The Empress Dowager glanced at Xu Lingyue with some surprise.
Xu Lingyue returned a gentle, endearing pose.
…
As Ji Xuan’s blade destroyed the swarming Imperial Guards, Xu Pingfeng’s voice reached his ears:
“The Hall of Supreme Harmony!”
Taking advantage of Xu Pingfeng’s engagement with Kou Yangzhou, he strode past layers of palace walls, treating the Imperial Guards as nothing, passing through the Meridian Gate to reach the plaza before the Hall of Supreme Harmony.
Ahead, under the eaves of the hall, on the imperial steps, stood the Empress in her dragon robes.
Gazing at the peerlessly beautiful Empress, hatred flashed in Ji Xuan’s eyes—it was this bitch and Xu Qi’an’s treasonous rebellion that had caused his brother Ji Yuan’s death.
He had died suffering endless humiliation.
As for Wei Yuan daring to raid Yun Province and kill his clansmen, Ji Xuan had learned of this from Xu Pingfeng.
As the “Seventh Prince,” he naturally wanted to avenge his clansmen by slaughtering the Great Feng royal family, sparing neither age nor gender.
Yet he felt no hatred, only anger at their base being destroyed. Those clansmen in Yun Province—let them die, better if his father died too.
Far from angry, Ji Xuan would have applauded.
How could a son rise while his father lived?
To the National Teacher, any royal bloodline would do.
Ji Xuan glanced at the teleportation jade token in the Empress’s hand and sneered:
“Why not try teleporting?”
The Empress’s expression was blank, her gaze cold as she looked down, saying icily:
“No need!”
Ji Xuan nodded and said:
“Great Feng’s soldiers are fighting outside—how can a nation’s ruler hide in the palace?”
“I’ll take you to see the Great Feng soldiers.”
He wanted to personally execute the Empress in front of Great Feng’s defenders.
Ji Xuan didn’t waste words, his qi surging as he rushed toward Huaiqing.
Huaiqing still didn’t move, raising her left hand holding a fragment of the Earth Scripture. She used it to point above Ji Xuan’s head.
The next moment, a black shadow fell from the sky, crashing heavily between Ji Xuan and the Empress, making the plaza before the Hall of Supreme Harmony shake violently, countless stones flying as dust billowed.
Embedded in the ground was the Galarue Tree, hands clasped in prayer, body covered in golden blood.
Ji Xuan jerked his head up to look at the sky.
He saw the bronze artifacts disintegrating one by one and saw the “curtain” isolating the palace from the outside world dissipate.
Saw Xu Qi’an standing in the sky, his body pure as jade.
The artifact left by the First Supervisor had been forcibly shattered by a Tier 1 warrior’s brute force.
…
From the Imperial City to the Inner City, from the Inner City to beyond the walls, all the experts paying attention to this place, whether Great Feng or Yun Province, witnessed the bronze artifact’s destruction.