Swallow Cloud City!
Swords clanged as battle cries shook the heavens. Blood and fire consumed the entire city, and a foul wind carried a rain of blood everywhere. This was a brutal battle.
After Fang Xuan slashed open the gates of Swallow Cloud City, the hundred thousand soldiers of the allied army charged in and engaged in a fierce battle with the fifty thousand Persian soldiers. The ground trembled, and the walls crumbled. Swallow Cloud City was on the verge of collapse.
"Kill!"
Fang Xuan led the charge, cutting through tens of thousands of Persian soldiers like a merciless killing machine. Every time he swung his sword, hundreds of enemy soldiers fell.
In no time, he had killed over a thousand Persian soldiers. His black hair was disheveled, and his body was covered in blood. He looked like a demon god from the depths of hell. His murderous aura filled the skies, striking terror into the hearts of countless Persian soldiers.
"Unstoppable Thunderbolt!"
Yu Tianheng's right arm was covered in a layer of blue scales, transforming into a ferocious dragon claw. Blazing lightning coiled around it as he tore a Spirit Emperor-ranked enemy commander to pieces, sending blood and flesh flying.
With his powerful Rank 61 spirit power and the might of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, Yu Tianheng fought like an unstoppable God of War. No one could stand in his way as he cut through the Persian soldiers. Even Spirit Emperors were easily defeated. He swiftly killed hundreds of enemies, leading the allied army to relentlessly attack the Persian stronghold.
"Jade-Scaled Purple Poison!"
Dugu Yan's purple hair fluttered as her beautiful eyes emitted a cold light. Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, and black spirit rings intertwined around her, and the pressure of a Spirit King surged out.
A green Jade-Scaled Snake coiled around her delicate body, spewing purple poisonous fog at the surrounding Persian soldiers.
"Damn it! This fog is poisonous!"
"Ah! It hurts!"
"I can't take it anymore—I'm dying!"
Under the effect of the Jade-Scaled Snake's poison, large numbers of Persian soldiers bled from their seven orifices and died instantly.
In such a large-scale battle, Dugu Yan's poison was devastating. It instantly wiped out seven to eight hundred soldiers, killing far more enemies than Yu Tianheng.
Yu Feng, Shi Mo, and the other allied commanders also cut through the enemy ranks!
Meanwhile, Ye Lingling and her team led the medical squad to the rear, saving the wounded.
It must be said that the Persian army's combat strength was exceptional—no wonder they had wiped out the 50,000-strong Northwest Army so quickly. However, under the fierce attacks of Fang Xuan and his elite fighters, the Persian army soon collapsed.
At sunset, the horizon glowed red with the fading light.
The Heaven Dou Alliance's victory was finally secured.
With fifty thousand dead, the Persian army was utterly annihilated. The Heaven Dou Alliance had won a decisive victory, and all the soldiers were in a state of ecstasy.
"We won..."
Fang Xuan wiped the blood from his face and sighed in relief. Under his wise leadership, the Heaven Dou Alliance defeated the Persian army and occupied Swallow Cloud City. At the same time, they had opened the path to the Northwest.
The next step was to march onward and reclaim Norton Province.
"Quickly eliminate the remaining enemies in the city. Try to minimize our losses. Lastly, report our casualties," Fang Xuan methodically ordered his generals.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The soldiers showed respectful expressions and quickly followed Fang Xuan's instructions to carry out their tasks.
This was the first battle of the Heaven Dou Empire's crusade against the Persian Kingdom. Not only did they capture Swallow Cloud City, but they also dealt a heavy blow to the Persian Kingdom. The morale of the Heaven Dou Alliance was high, and they looked at Fang Xuan with admiration.
If anyone had doubts about Fang Xuan's ability to lead the Empire, no one doubted him anymore after this battle. In this fight, Fang Xuan greatly established the prestige of the new Emperor, which was important for his future rule.
However, Fang Xuan didn't care about these things.
Soon, the Heaven Dou Alliance soldiers cleared the remaining enemies and fully occupied Swallow Cloud City. It was a stronghold, easy to defend and difficult to attack.
By taking control of Swallow Cloud City, the Heaven Dou Alliance could either advance or retreat, making the city's strategic importance clear.
The final count of casualties was completed: fifty thousand enemies killed and five thousand losses. The casualty ratio was ten to one. The army of one hundred thousand was mostly unharmed, with minimal losses. This outcome left Fang Xuan very satisfied.
"Hey, where's my maid?"
While everyone was cleaning the battlefield, Fang Xuan suddenly noticed that the arrogant maid who had been following him was missing.
He must've killed too many enemies and forgotten about Qian Renxue. She had lost all her divine powers, and her fighting ability was now comparable to a wild boar's. Any random Spirit Master could easily kill her.
"This idiot couldn't have gotten into trouble, could she?"
Fang Xuan's heart tightened. He quickly spread out his spiritual power and searched Swallow Cloud City.
… …
Outside the City, under a secluded wall, two figures stood facing each other coldly.
One was a blonde woman dressed as a maid, the other a scholarly man in a white robe. They were Qian Renxue and Ning Fengzhi.
"Haha, should I call you teacher or Sect Master Ning?" Qian Renxue asked with a sarcastic smile, quietly watching Ning Fengzhi.
"Then should I call you Xue Qinghe or Qian Renxue?" Ning Fengzhi replied, his expression complicated.
He looked at Qian Renxue seriously and sighed, "I never expected you to hide so well. I didn't realize it for over ten years."
He had placed the future of the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect in Xue Qinghe's hands. He had spent countless years grooming his disciple, only to discover she was a spy for the Martial Spirit Palace. It was hard to accept.
"So, you brought me here to reminisce, Sect Master Ning?"
Qian Renxue narrowed her eyes, warily watching the gentle and refined Sect Master. She knew Ning Fengzhi wasn't as simple as he seemed. He was a very shrewd person. She wasn't naive enough to think that Ning Fengzhi wanted to discuss old times.
Looking at Qian Renxue, Ning Fengzhi had mixed emotions. After more than ten years of a master-disciple relationship, saying he had no feelings would be a lie. But thinking of the future of the Heaven Dou Empire and the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, he knew he had to be ruthless and eliminate this threat.
"I don't know why Fang Xuan didn't kill you back then, and I don't understand why he kept you, a member of Spirit Hall, at his side. But I know that if you stay, you'll become a danger sooner or later."
At this point, Ning Fengzhi's face turned ice-cold, and a murderous intent flashed as he looked at Qian Renxue.
Feeling the chilling intent, Qian Renxue's eyes widened in shock. "You want to kill me?!"