Chapter 375: Chapter 375 - 367: Emperor Yiyuan

"Your Majesty, the troops have gathered!" A Beastman ran over, panting to report.

The morning mist had yet to disperse, Shen Tang took a deep breath, suppressing a trace of sadness. As she turned, her gaze had become as cold as ice.

"Let’s move out."

She waved decisively and personally led the charge toward the battlefield.

The decisive battle between the Imperial City and Black Blade City officially commenced at this moment.

The battlefield quickly turned into a meat grinder.

In the trenches, soldiers either transformed into beast forms to fight each other, or used superpowers to bomb, or fired artillery attacks. The fight was relentless, with corpses piling up into mountains and seas of blood everywhere, and smoke billowing high.

Fighter jets roared in the sky, while corpses littered the ground.

The battle became increasingly stalemated, dragging on for days, neverending.

...

Meanwhile.

The assault on the Imperial City grew fiercer, and Black Blade City Lord Xiong Kui was so anxious that he couldn’t sleep all night.

That midnight, he urgently summoned the generals for a meeting to discuss strategies.

The meeting hall was shrouded in smoke, with everyone arguing incessantly.

"Enemy attack—ah!"

Suddenly, a scream pierced through the night outside.

Next.

With a loud boom.

The meeting hall’s door was shattered by a terrifying force.

A slender silver figure appeared at the entrance like a specter.

Behind him lay a ground full of corpses, leaving none alive.

"Who are you!"

"Th-this is impossible!"

Xiong Kui stood up abruptly, his face turning pale.

The generals inside were in chaos; someone overturned a tea cup, another slumped in a chair, looking angrily and fearfully at the silver-haired man with malevolent intent.

"Stop him quickly!"

Xiong Kui shouted at the top of his lungs.

A dozen Beastmen roared and charged forward.

Xue Yinzhou’s lips curled into a cold smile, as black fog rustled from around him, and terrifying Tenth Rank skills poured out like tide, slicing through those Beastmen like invisible blades, instantly turning them into puddles of blood.

Xiong Kui’s face turned drastically, and he turned to flee.

Xue Yinzhou raised his hand, and invisible power condensed in the air; Xiong Kui’s neck was clamped like by a vice, his face turning red, unable to move.

With a crisp "crack," City Lord’s neck was snapped, and he slumped to the ground.

With the City Lord dead, the morale of the army fell into disarray.

Black Blade City’s defenders instantly crumbled, retreating rapidly, incapable of resistance.

The Imperial City’s army frequently reported victories.

Breaking through the enemy’s barricades repeatedly, they penetrated deep, and directly struck at its heart.

As success was imminent in capturing this lost territory, the battlefield suddenly reversed, undergoing a dramatic change.

"Bad news, Your Majesty, Black Blade City has teamed up with Lieguan City, and the Northern Territory rebel army has started to move. They’ve sent out several troops overnight to attack!"

Shen Tang looked grim, "How could this happen so suddenly?"

"Our spies report that the Empire’s attacking forces are led by the Third Commander of the rebel army. Just recently, the Third Commander died unexpectedly, and the newly appointed commander wields even harsh means. During this period, the rebel army underwent an internal purge. After resolving internal forces, this new commander is eyeing the Empire and certainly wants to seize it in our turmoil!"

The Beastman reporting was anxious, "Black Blade City has gathered another 150,000 troops over there, and we have less than 50,000 troops remaining that can be mobilized! The rebel army also aims to be the spoiler! Your Majesty... should we continue attacking, or retreat immediately to protect ourselves?"

Shen Tang’s expression was somber, clenching her fists tight as her mood plummeted.

Capturing Black Blade City was a certainty.

Unexpectedly, those in Black Blade City were not willing to give up, not only did they team up with another warlord power Lieguan City, but the Northern Territory rebel army also intervened.

Now, the Imperial City troops are besieged on both sides, with the situation extremely unfavorable.

Shen Tang issued orders, "Troops, cease the attack, don’t act recklessly, summon all the castle’s defenders to discuss countermeasures."

"Yes."

...

During the internal conflict within the Night Glow Empire, other neighboring countries are also covetous.

A skinny camel is bigger than a horse; the Night Glow Empire is now in chaos, but such a gigantic entity is not easily shaken by these neighboring small countries.

The nearby countries have long been divided into several forces by the Empire’s ancestors, continually embroiled in internal strife, let alone uniting to fight against the Night Glow Empire, temporarily forming no threat, and are of no concern.

The biggest threat to the Night Glow Empire actually comes from the two Empires across the sea from the south and north—the Eternal Winter Empire and Yiyuan Empire.

The Eternal Winter Empire rules the Extreme North Realm, which is filled with glaciers and dangerous Secret Realms.

Within the country, Beastmen are scarce, but each one is extraordinarily strong, reigning supreme in the Northern Territory, unmatched.

If the Eternal Winter Empire sends troops now, it will be a stronger blow than the rebel army, difficult for the Night Glow Empire to resist!

Fortunately, the Eternal Winter Empire is separated by the sea from the Night Glow Empire.

This sea area belongs to New Atlantis.

The Old Emperor was also a person with schemes, having earlier formed an alliance with New Atlantis through marriage, now the two countries are united, the Eternal Winter Empire wants to send troops, it would first have to break New Atlantis’s defenses, equivalent to declaring war on two Empires simultaneously, the price is too high.

For now, the Northern Territory dares only to watch from afar, not daring to act rashly.

The Yiyuan Empire and the Night Glow Empire are also separated by the Forgotten Sea.

But unfortunately, after the Forgotten Sea was polluted, it’s difficult for living creatures to survive; hence this sea area was abandoned and sealed by Atlantis.

Later, internal revolts occurred several times within Atlantis, and after split and consolidation, it formed the current New Atlantis.

Yet this polluted and deadly sea area of the Forgotten Sea remains unclaimed, becoming a no man’s land.

The Forgotten Sea harbors many dangerous pollutant species, but for such a powerful Empire as the Yiyuan Empire, traversing this sea area is not difficult.

For the Yiyuan Empire, the gains from annexing the Night Glow Empire outweigh the loss of troops.

Now, the most likely to launch a destructive strike on the faltering Night Glow Empire is the distant, coastal Yiyuan Empire!

Currently, various forces within the Yiyuan Empire are stirring.

In the imperial court.

Ministers and nobles came forth to pay their respects, kneeling on the ground in salute.

"Salutations to the Sovereign!"

"Wishing the Sovereign well, long live!"

The esteemed high position above all, obscured by red gauze, elusive and majestic, true visage unseen.

Intermittently, coughing sounds emanated, the melodious voice carried a frail tone,

"Cough... Cough cough... Dear ministers, is there anything to be reported today?"

The ministers below were apprehensive, glancing at each other, their thoughts complex.

Their Emperor, this Emperor had been frail since childhood, and after experiencing a coup years ago, afflicted by severe illness, bedridden for years, rarely seen in true form.

Since the Emperor last attended court, half a year has passed.

It’s been heard that His Majesty’s health has improved recently, thus resuming court sessions.

A minister stood out, performed a ceremonial report, "Your Majesty, we come today to petition You! Regarding the matter of marching to attack the Night Glow Empire."

Another minister emerged, speaking respectfully, "Although You have resided in the deep palace for years, You must have heard of the recent events in the Night Glow Empire; as it stands chaotic, it is a ripe prey for all to divide, why not seize this opportunity to wage war, capturing it all!"

"To be honest with You, we’ve privately discussed this matter; this expedition bears numerous benefits for the Empire, without any harm, please grant Your consent!"