Chapter 417: Approaching Heaven Dou City
Hearing this, the city defense commander turned pale.
Faced with the pressure of a Divinity, he did not even have the courage to draw his sword.
A moment later, the city gates opened wide.
The Heaven Dou army abandoned their weapons.
The Spirit Empire army marched straight in.
The second city.
The third city.
The fourth pass.
In just a few short days, the western defenses of the Heaven Dou Empire collapsed completely.
Those originally sturdy cities were as fragile as paper in front of Qian Renxue.
The Soul Master Legion could not stop her.
The city defense Formation could not stop her; even when several Soul Douluo joined forces to execute a Martial Soul Fusion defense, it disintegrated rapidly under the Angel Holy Light.
For a time, the court of the Heaven Dou Empire was shaken.
Xue Beng sat on the throne in the imperial palace, listening to one report of defeat after another, his face pale and devoid of color.
"Defeated?"
"Defeated again?"
"Doesn't Yanmen Pass have three hundred thousand troops?"
"How could it not even hold for a single day?"
Below, a messenger knelt on the ground, his voice trembling as he said:
"Your Majesty, it is not that the army refused to fight."
"It is Qian Renxue... she has already become a God."
"She shattered the gates of Yanmen Pass with one sword strike, most of the defending Soul Masters were killed, the main general was severely wounded, and the remaining soldiers fled without a fight."
Inside the palace, the ministers turned pale.
Become a God?
These two words were enough to crush everyone's psychological defenses.
It was not that the Heaven Dou Empire lacked powerhouses.
But currently, Tang Chuan was not in Heaven Dou, and Dugu Bo, Ning Fengzhi, and the others were supporting the Star Luo City direction.
Within the Empire's territory, there was simply no one capable of contending with a Divinity.
Xue Beng gripped the armrests of the dragon throne tightly.
"What about Tang Chuan?"
"Where is Tang Chuan?"
"And what about Tang San?"
"Doesn't Tang San also have a vendetta against Qian Renxue? Why isn't he going to stop her?"
No one in the hall dared to answer.
Because everyone knew that Tang San was no longer someone they could rely on.
That heir to the Clear Sky Sect, who had once been pinned with high hopes by the Heaven Dou Empire, had long since fallen into the path of the Rakshasa, slaughtering cities and devouring Souls across the continent, making him even more terrifying than Qian Renxue.
One was the Angel God.
The other was the Rakshasa God.
And they, these Mortals, could only tremble between two Divine Rank existences.
After a long while, an old minister said with a trembling voice:
"Your Majesty, if we do not consolidate our forces now, I fear Jialing Pass will not hold."
Hearing the words Jialing Pass, Xue Beng's eyes trembled violently.
Jialing Pass.
One of the most important strategic passes of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Once Jialing Pass was lost, the Spirit Empire army could march directly into the heart of Heaven Dou.
At that point, the Heaven Dou Empire would truly be in imminent danger.
Xue Beng gritted his teeth and said:
"Issue the order! Mobilize all forces to defend Jialing Pass to the death!"
"Additionally, send people to Star Luo City to request support from Dugu Bo, Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo! And send others to find Tang Chuan!"
"No matter where he is, tell him that if Heaven Dou falls, there will be no one left on the continent to check the Spirit Empire!"
...
Jialing Pass.
The cold wind howled.
This majestic pass stood between the mountains, its walls tall and thick, covered in sword marks and scorch marks left by Soul skills bombardments.
It had blocked the Spirit Empire's southward advance many times before.
To hold this pass, the Heaven Dou Empire had invested a massive number of troops.
On the ramparts, the Heaven Dou military banners snapped in the wind.
Hundreds of thousands of troops were arrayed within the pass.
Heavy crossbows, catapults, Martial Soul guide cannons, and defensive Soul Masters were all in position.
Marshal Ge Long personally climbed the ramparts, his face filled with grim resolve.
Behind him, several Soul Douluo-level generals wore solemn expressions.
They all knew this battle was different from the past.
Before, they faced the Spirit Empire army.
But now, they were facing a true God.
The Angel God, Qian Renxue.
At dusk, on the distant horizon, a dense, dark army slowly appeared.
The Spirit Empire military banners blanketed the sky.
The golden Angel flag unfurled in the wind at the very front.
Immediately after, a golden sun rose from above the army.
No.
That was not the sun.
That was Qian Renxue.
She hovered in mid-air, her six wings unfurled, her Angelic Sacred Sword hanging down, her golden eyes looking down at Jialing Pass with indifference.
She alone suppressed the Aura of a million-strong army.
On the ramparts, the Heaven Dou soldiers turned pale.
Many of them had spears trembling in their hands.
Even though officers roared continuously to maintain the Formation, facing a Divinity, that fear from the depths of the Soul could not be suppressed.
Marshal Ge Long stared fixedly at Qian Renxue in mid-air and said in a deep voice:
"Hold steady!"
"We cannot retreat from Jialing Pass!"
"Behind us lies the heart of Heaven Dou!"
"If this pass is lost, the Empire will be in imminent danger!"
But just as he finished speaking, Qian Renxue slowly raised the Angelic Sacred Sword.
She had no superfluous words, nor did she need to demand surrender.
Because Jialing Pass was the last tough bone of the Heaven Dou Empire.
Only by shattering this place would Heaven Dou truly understand that Mortals could not stop a God.
"Angel, Judgment."
Golden sword light descended from the sky.
In an instant, the entire world was illuminated by Holy Light.
The defensive Martial Soul guide Formation above Jialing Pass lit up instantly.
Dozens of Soul Masters simultaneously released their Soul Power, pouring it into the defensive Formation.
A massive blue light barrier enveloped the entire pass.
The next moment, the Angelic sword light slashed down.
Boom—!
The entire Jialing Pass shook violently.
The defensive light barrier trembled crazily, and countless cracks appeared on its surface.
On the ramparts, dozens of Soul Masters maintaining the Formation vomited blood and were knocked flying.
Marshal Ge Long's expression changed drastically.
"One sword..."
"Just one sword..."
Before he could recover, Qian Renxue's second sword fell.
The golden Holy Light was like divine punishment.
This time, the defensive light barrier could no longer withstand it.
Crack!
A crisp shattering sound echoed across the entire battlefield.
The defensive Formation enveloping Jialing Pass collapsed on the spot.
The morale of the Heaven Dou army instantly fell into chaos.
The Spirit Empire army erupted with a thunderous roar.
"Kill!"
"Break through Jialing Pass!"
"Long live the Angel God!"
Countless Soul Masters soared into the air, and the Spirit Empire heavy armor legion began to advance.
Martial Soul guide cannons roared.
Crossbow bolts fell like rain.
On Jialing Pass, the Heaven Dou army resisted desperately.
Marshal Ge Long personally drew his sword and roared:
"Do not retreat!"
"Archers, fire!"
"Soul Master Legion, stop them!"
A dense rain of arrows fell from the ramparts.
The Heaven Dou Soul Master Legion simultaneously unleashed their Martial Soul Abilities, various colored lights blasting toward the Spirit Empire vanguard.
For a time, explosions occurred continuously on the battlefield.
Although the Spirit Empire had Qian Renxue presiding over the battle, Jialing Pass was, after all, the last major pass of Heaven Dou, and the number of defending troops was huge, so they still caused considerable obstruction at the beginning.
But such obstruction was meaningless in front of a God.
Qian Renxue looked coldly at the battlefield below.
She did not immediately slaughter all the defenders.
She wanted victory, unification, not to turn everything into a dead land like Tang San.
But if anyone stood in her way, she would not show mercy.
She raised her left hand, and the Angelic Domain unfolded.
Golden radiance instantly enveloped half of Jialing Pass; any Heaven Dou soldier struck by the Holy Light felt as if their body were being pressed down by a thousand-pound weight, their movements becoming incredibly sluggish.
Meanwhile, the Spirit Empire Soul Masters, under the augmentation of the Angel Holy Light, saw their Soul Power recovery speed skyrocket, and their attack power increased accordingly.
With this shift, the Jialing Pass defense line collapsed rapidly.
At the city gates, several Soul Douluo from the Spirit Empire charged together, forcibly tearing open the defenders' Formation.
On the city walls, flying Soul Masters crossed the pass and launched attacks from the air.
The Heaven Dou defenders were beaten back step by step.
Marshal Ge Long was covered in blood, still fighting desperately to command.
"Plug the gap!"
"Rear army, fill in!"
"Do not let them enter the city!"
But just then, a golden light descended from the sky.
Qian Renxue landed on the ramparts.
She did not look at the ordinary soldiers.
Her gaze fell on Marshal Ge Long.
"Are you the commander of Heaven Dou?"
Marshal Ge Long gripped his sword tightly, his face pale, but he still did not retreat.
"Correct."
Qian Renxue said indifferently:
"Surrender."
"You can live."
Marshal Ge Long sneered and said:
"As the Marshal of Heaven Dou, how could I surrender to the Spirit Empire?"
Qian Renxue's expression did not fluctuate in the slightest, and she said calmly: "Foolish loyalty."
Marshal Ge Long roared, released his Martial Soul, his Soul Rings lit up, and he charged toward Qian Renxue; he knew he couldn't win, but he was the commander.
If the commander retreated, Jialing Pass would be completely finished.
Qian Renxue merely raised her hand.
A wisp of golden Holy Light fell.
Marshal Ge Long's charge came to an abrupt halt; he was suppressed in place by the Holy Light, the sword in his hand shattered inch by inch, and cracks appeared on his armor.
The next moment, Qian Renxue waved lightly.
Marshal Ge Long was knocked flying, smashing heavily against the city wall, spraying blood from his mouth.
"Marshal!"
The Heaven Dou generals were shocked.
Several Soul Masters charged at Qian Renxue simultaneously.
But Qian Renxue didn't even turn her head.
Her six wings vibrated gently, and a wave of golden light swept out.
All the charging Soul Masters were blown away.
Some fell unconscious on the spot.
Some had their Meridians severed.
Several Soul King-level generals even fell off the city wall, their fates unknown.
The morale of the Heaven Dou army finally collapsed completely.
"We can't stop her..."
"She is a God!"
"How could we possibly stop a God?"
Fear spread through the military Formation like a plague.
The Spirit Empire army seized the opportunity to rush into Jialing Pass.
The city gates were opened.
Heavy cavalry poured in like a flood.
Inside Jialing Pass, the battle turned into a one-sided rout.
The Heaven Dou Empire suffered heavy losses.
A large number of defenders were routed, the Soul Master Legion lost more than half its strength, and several high-level generals were killed or captured.
Blood stained the walls, and the war banners fell.
Jialing Pass, the majestic pass that once cost the Spirit Empire a huge price to even attempt to break through, was declared lost in less than a day after Qian Renxue became a God.
When night fell, Qian Renxue stood at the highest point of Jialing Pass.
Below her feet was the devastated battlefield.
The Spirit Empire's golden Angel flag had already been planted on the ramparts.
In the distance, the remnants of the Heaven Dou army were retreating toward the heartland.
Qian Renxue did not order them to be hunted down to the last.
She just looked coldly into the distance.
"Pass the order."
"Reorganize the army."
"Three days from now, continue the advance."
"I want to end the Heaven Dou front before Tang San completely becomes a God."
A Spirit Empire general knelt to receive the order.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Qian Renxue raised her eyes slightly, looking toward the further horizon.
There, two distinct Auras were faintly surging in the depths of the continent.
One was Tang San's Rakshasa Death Qi.
One was Tang Chuan's life and Sea God Aura.
Qian Renxue gripped the Angelic Sacred Sword, her divine light cold.
"Tang San."
"Tang Chuan."
"You had better not let me down."
"This continent will eventually return under the Angel Holy Light."
A few days later.
Heaven Dou Empire, outside Heaven Dou City.
Dark clouds hung low, and war banners were like a forest.
On the plains in the distance, the Spirit Empire army stretched for dozens of miles, a dark mass, pressing toward Heaven Dou City like a tidal wave.
At the very front was the Spirit Empire heavy armor legion.
The iron armor was cold, and the long spears were like a forest.
Further back was the Soul Master Legion.
One by one, Soul Masters rode warhorses or hovered in mid-air, their Martial Souls already released, the light of their Soul Rings appearing particularly dazzling under the dim sky.
And at the very top of all the Spirit Empire armies, a golden figure hovered silently.
Qian Renxue, her six wings unfurled behind her, her Angelic Sacred Sword flowing with holy golden radiance, she herself was like a scorching sun suspended above the battlefield.
She did not unleash her full Divine Might.
But just by standing there, it was enough to make all the soldiers in Heaven Dou City unable to catch their breath.
Jialing Pass had fallen.
Several cities along the way had either surrendered or been defeated.
Now, the Spirit Empire army had finally arrived at the gates of Heaven Dou City.
On the ramparts, Xue Beng's face was pale, his hands gripping the battlements tightly.
Behind him, a group of Heaven Dou generals had unsightly expressions.
Everyone knew that the Heaven Dou Empire had reached its final moment of life and death.
If Heaven Dou City fell today, the Empire would exist in name only.
Xue Beng looked at Qian Renxue in the mid-air in the distance, his eyes full of fear and unwillingness, and said:
"What about Tang Chuan?"
"Has he not returned yet?"
A messenger knelt behind him, his voice trembling:
"Your Majesty, the people sent out have not returned with any word."
"We only know that Your Excellency Tang Chuan went in the direction of the Star Dou Great Forest; it seems he went to chase Tang San."
Xue Beng's expression became even uglier.
Tang San had fallen into the path of the Rakshasa, slaughtering cities and devouring Souls across the continent.
Qian Renxue had achieved the status of Angel God and led the Spirit Empire army to counterattack.
And they, the Heaven Dou Empire, were caught between two monsters, with almost no power to fight back.
Just when the atmosphere in Heaven Dou City was suppressed to the extreme, several sounds of breaking through the air suddenly came from the distant sky.
Several powerful Soul Power Auras were rushing over from the horizon at high speed.
On the ramparts, someone shouted in surprise:
"It is Senior Dugu!"
"Sect Master Ning has also come!"
"Sword Douluo!"
"Bone Douluo!"
"And Senior Yang Wudi!"
Xue Beng looked up abruptly.
He saw several figures approaching rapidly from the distant horizon.
At the very front was a jade-green stream of light.
Dugu Bo stepped through the air, the phantom of the Jade Phosphor Serpent flickering behind him; his injuries had not yet healed, and his face still carried a hint of paleness, but those eyes remained cold and sharp.
Behind him, Ning Fengzhi arrived in a carriage lifted by Soul Power, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in his hand shining brightly; Sword Douluo Chen Xin was dressed in white, the Seven Kill Sword floating beside him, his Sword Intent soaring to the heavens.
Bone Douluo Gu Rong had a gaunt figure, with the phantom of white bones circling around him, his Aura cold and deep.
Yang Wudi held the Soul Breaking Spear, his whole person like a long spear piercing the sky, sharp to the extreme.
They had finally rushed back from Star Luo City.
But no one had a relaxed look on their face.
Because they had seen that golden figure from afar—Qian Renxue.
Qian Renxue, who had truly become a God.
Dugu Bo landed on the ramparts, his gaze fixed on the Angel God in mid-air, and he couldn't help but curse in a low voice: "Damn it, we were still a step too late."
Ning Fengzhi came to Xue Beng's side and said in a deep voice:
"Your Majesty, what is the status of the defenders in the city?"
Xue Beng, as if grasping at the last straw, said hurriedly: "There are still over two hundred thousand defenders, the Soul Master Legion is less than three thousand, and the remnants who retreated from Jialing Pass are also in the city."
"Sect Master Ning, Senior Dugu, what should we do now?"
Ning Fengzhi did not answer immediately.
He just looked up at Qian Renxue.
The former Qian Renxue was the Heaven Dou Crown Prince Xue Qinghe.
She had lurked in Heaven Dou for many years, almost playing the entire Empire in the palm of her hand.
Now, she no longer disguised herself, nor did she need to.
Because she had already become a God.
Facing such an enemy, any number of strategies seemed pale.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin slowly gripped the Seven Kill Sword, his eyes solemn.
"Her Aura is much stronger than when we last saw her."
Bone Douluo Gu Rong said in a deep voice:
"Is this the Divine Rank?"
"Just by looking at her, my Martial Soul is trembling faintly."
Yang Wudi snorted coldly, the Soul Breaking Spear struck the ramparts heavily, and he shouted:
"So what if she is a God?"
"If we retreat today, Heaven Dou will be gone."
(End of chapter)
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