Chapter 281 - Black Turtle Guard (2/2)
Ye Chen’s own body was nothing more than a beginner Heavenly Venerable Rank!
The gold-armored soldier materialized from his Astral Body had given him long-range offensive power. Even so, Ye Chen’s actual body had always been frail. With the Black Turtle Guard, Ye Chen had an additional life-saving technique for when he encountered hazardous situations.
Besides that, a martial art technique like Black Turtle Guard had immense room for improvement. If Ye Chen continued to funnel Celestial Chi toward the Celestial Martial Chi, his Black Turtle Guard would grow more formidable.
Ye Chen sat down for a moment, recovering his breath. Then, he stood up.
“Little Wingsy, let’s continue with training this technique!” Ye Chen knew that his technique was not particularly perfect yet. It still had to undergo major practical adjustments before it would reach its most perfect state.
In the following period, Little Wingsy had an additional task besides his own martial art cultivation. Namely, he had to train with Ye Chen. Under Little Wingsy’s countless attacks, Ye Chen’s Black Turtle Guard was polished day after day.
Besides cultivating Black Turtle Guard, Ye Chen also constantly trained his Celestial Chi and his Astral Body.
In the blink of an eye, they had been on the island for more than a month.
…
The Xiwu Empire, within the capital of the Imperial City, in the palace’s main hall.
Great Emperor Mingwu sat upon the imperial throne, his face ashen as he looked at the memorials that were presented to him.
Within the hall, other than Nie Qingyun and the elder that transformed from an Eclipsing Firebird, both of whom were sitting languidly, the remaining war generals and courtiers were trembling in fear and trepidation.
“Your Majesty, the Nanman Kingdom’s main forces have crossed the frontlines at Horseridge River. Prince Ming, Second-rank Prince Dong, and the rest of the six Second-rank Princes have led their troops in surrendering to the Nanman Kingdom. We’ve appealed to the Tribunal Council to adjudicate but they turned down our request, claiming that before the Exclusion Zone is established, the Tribunal Council isn’t allowed to get involved in disputes between nations. The Grandrueler of Nanman must’ve used some tactics on the Tribunal Council,” an aged elder said respectfully. He was Right Chancellor Chengzai of the Xiwu Empire.
Great Emperor Mingwu frowned slightly as he looked at the war reports from various regions. Six counties had already been occupied by the Nanman Kingdom. The remaining counties, getting wind that the Nanman Kingdom’s army was approaching, had descended into a complete mess. All of the refugees had swarmed toward the Capital City.
“Your Majesty, Prince Yin has sent a memorial, stating that he’d rather die in battle within Yinbei County than retreat a single step.” Right Chancellor Chengzai sighed ruefully.
Great Emperor Mingwu frowned again. “Send a letter to Prince Yin asking him to return to the capital at once.” Yin Mengtian had come from the same sect as Great Emperor Mingwu and was the martyr of many generations. If he died in battle, Great Emperor Mingwu would be wracked with guilt.
Right Chancellor Chengzai was about to say something but stopped himself. Instead, he merely replied respectfully, “Yes.” Yin Mengtian had made up his mind. Great Emperor Mingwu would not be able to summon him back.
Great Emperor Mingwu read a private memorial that came from Donglin County. It stated that Donglin City was attacked by five thousand of the Nanman Kingdom’s elite troops, and was thus already occupied. Countless citizens were dead or injured, and a few major families had been wiped out while others had surrendered. The experts which Great Emperor Mingwu had stationed at Donglin County had wanted to look for the Ye Clan to escort them to the capital. However, no matter what methods they employed, they were ultimately unable to locate the Ye Clan.
Moreover, mystical beasts had appeared in Donglin County, attacking the Nanman Kingdom’s barracks, resulting in some losses for the Nanman Kingdom’s army.
After he read this, Great Emperor Mingwu understood the situation. Although Donglin County had been seized, the Ye Clan was free from danger and there was no cause for worry.
Besides that, the Stalwarts of the Heavenly Stars Sect and the Taiyi Sword Sect had sent messages to the Nanman Kingdom to pledge their allegiance. The disciples of the Emerald Cloud Sect had withdrawn from the sect and were hiding within Emerald Cloud Mountain. The Hao Clan and other powerful families were also secretly communicating with the Nanman Kingdom.
The Yin Clan of the Royal Tribe was about to fall. Who knew how many people within the imperial court harbored ulterior motives, just waiting to backstab the Yin Clan of the Royal Tribe? Many would have been itching to do so long ago, if only they were not afraid of a peak Heavenly Venerable expert like Great Emperor Mingwu.
The Xiwu Empire was in an unstable state. An enterprise operated by ancestors over ten thousand years was going to be destroyed in one day. Great Emperor Mingwu was deeply unreconciled to this fate but he knew that this was the irresistible course of events. He knew very well that he would lose in this single war. He had already secretly sent a few princes out of the Xiwu Empire. As long as the Yin Clan still had a trace of bloodline, there was still hope!
“For a few days, I shall be isolated along with Brother Nie and this senior. Hand all matters of the imperial court over to the right chancellor. When I come out of isolation, I shall fight against the Nanman Kingdom to death!” Great Emperor Mingwu commanded.
They were at a critical juncture but Great Emperor Mingwu wanted to be in isolation. The war generals and courtiers discussed fervently.
“Dismissed!”
As they watched Great Emperor Mingwu leave, the group of war generals and courtiers left one by one as well. Each of them harbored their thoughts, some of whom were eager to return home and send their subordinates to contact the Nanman Kingdom.
In the study room above.
“Brother Mingwu, now that you’ve announced you’ll be in isolation, the Xiwu Empire will fall into chaos.” Nie Qingyun smiled. He did not care whether the situation in the Xiwu Empire was messy or not as long as he fulfilled the tasks given to him by His Highness the Daemon King. He wondered when His Highness would be returning.
The elder transformed from an Eclipsing Firebird sat upon a cattail hassock in a corner of the study room. He closed his eyes and cultivated silently without saying anything.
“I’m worried they won’t fall into chaos,” the Great Emperor Mingwu replied. As the ruler of a vanquished nation, he no longer had the pride to use royal pronouns in referring to himself. The decline of the Yin Clan of the Royal Tribe was inevitable. Whether it would survive depended on the course of things. “My Xiwu Empire had lasted up until now and I’ve still reserved a portion of my forces, namely, my secret guards. They’re all Ninth or Tenth Level combatants, equipped with excellent hidden weapons. They have access to almost all of the intelligence. Over these few days, anyone who’s communicated with the Nanman Kingdom will be slain without pardon!”
When he heard Great Emperor Mingwu’s words, Nie Qingyun shuddered deep down. Great Emperor Mingwu usually did not seem like much. To think that at such a crucial moment, he would act so resolutely. A single command from him had determined the fate of thousands upon thousands. Following this, the Capital City would undergo a massive, bloody cleansing.