boyutpedia Chapter 365 Pioneers devour tigers, then sit back and watch the tigers fight?
Chapter 365 Pioneers devour tigers, then sit back and watch the tigers fight?
"The fall of Luoxia Pass means that the outer barrier has been breached, and Tiandou City will be directly exposed to the enemy's advance. Three hundred li is only a day or two's journey for a Soul Master Legion to march at full speed."
"The discussion is no longer about how to keep the enemy out of the country, but about how to ensure that the capital... no, the last core strength of the empire, is not destroyed in a single blow!"
"The enemy is at the height of their power, riding the wave of their victories. Moreover, they are mainly composed of Soul Masters, making them highly mobile and extremely capable of attacking fortified positions. If we hold our isolated city and passively take the beating, given the current state of panic within the city, the dispersed forces, and the fact that our Soul Master strength is far inferior to the enemy's, it is only a matter of time before the city falls."
Marshal Goron arrived hastily, his armor still dusty, and said in a deep voice upon hearing this:
"Sect Master Ning is absolutely right. Although the city's garrison is said to number 100,000, less than half of them are truly capable of fighting, and their morale is low. In open battle outside the city, they are no match for the Spirit Empire's Soul Master Legion. But if we defend the city to the death... the enemy's Soul Masters are unpredictable; destroying the city walls and creating chaos inside will be a piece of cake for them. The city walls alone cannot stop them."
Upon hearing this, Xue Beng's expression changed again, and he said in a hoarse voice:
"Could it be...could it be that we have to abandon the city and flee? Our ancestral heritage!"
Despite his words, fear was evident in his eyes.
"Abandoning the city is a last resort and should only be done as a last resort." Just then, Dugu Bo's emerald green eyes swept over the crowd, and he interrupted them.
"Abandoning the city is tantamount to declaring the complete collapse of the Heaven Dou Empire. At that time, the morale of the army and the people will be lost, and the exiled regime will have even less chance to achieve anything. It will only be hunted down to death by the Martial Soul Empire."
He paused for a moment, then uttered a bold idea.
"We can't run away; on the contrary, we must... take the initiative and meet them head-on!"
"Take the initiative to attack?" Marshal Goron exclaimed in surprise, "Senior, this... the enemy's strength is far inferior to ours. Wouldn't taking the initiative to attack be like throwing an egg against a rock?"
Dugu Bo waved his hand impatiently and said:
"I'm not sending you ordinary soldiers to clash head-on with the Soul Master Legion! What I mean is to concentrate all the Soul Master forces we can mobilize, raise the Emperor's banner, and make it look like we're personally leading an expedition and vowing to resist to the death, and advance to Iron Wall Pass, which is a hundred miles from Heaven Dou City! The terrain there is treacherous, and it's the last decent pass leading to Heaven Dou City."
Ning Fengzhi's eyes flickered, and he quickly understood Dugu Bo's intention. He said in a deep voice, "Poison Douluo, do you mean... to consolidate our forces, advance to defend, build momentum, and buy time?"
"That's right!" Dugu Bo nodded and continued, "First, gather all the Soul Masters who can still be contacted and are willing to fight for the Empire, regardless of whether they are from families, academies, or independent cultivators, and have them all under the unified command and dispatch of me and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School."
"Even if their numbers and quality are far inferior to the Spirit Empire, when they are united, they are still a force to be reckoned with. Relying on the treacherous terrain of Iron Wall Pass, we can at least hold them off for a while."
"Secondly, the fact that Avalanche Boy personally led the expedition, even if it's just for show, can greatly boost the morale of the front lines, demonstrate to the world the Heaven Dou Empire's determination to resist to the end, stabilize the morale of the rear, and at the same time... attract the main attention of the Spirit Empire, causing them to focus their attack on the Iron Wall Pass direction, thus buying more time for Heaven Dou City to deploy and prepare."
"Third, and most importantly, this is to buy time for Tang Chuan to return! As long as we can hold out until he comes back, with his strength and methods, the situation might turn around! The core purpose of all our current actions is—to stall! To stall until a change occurs!"
This plan is quite risky, placing the emperor and the remaining elite Soul Masters on the dangerous front lines, but there seems to be no better option at the moment.
Holding out in Tiandou City is tantamount to waiting for death, while abandoning the city and fleeing is tantamount to courting destruction. Only by taking the initiative to venture into dangerous territory and fighting with the spirit of a decisive battle against all odds can we possibly gain a glimmer of hope.
Upon hearing this, Ning Fengzhi pondered for a moment. He looked at Marshal Ge Long and asked in a deep voice, "Marshal Ge Long, how are the fortifications at Iron Wall Pass? Are the provisions and equipment sufficient?"
Goron immediately replied:
"Iron Wall Pass was originally the second fortress defending against Star Luo. Although it has not experienced a major battle for many years, its foundation is solid, its terrain is treacherous, and it is easy to defend and difficult to attack. Its food and equipment reserves can still last for several months. If it is urgently reinforced and a sufficient number of Soul Masters are deployed to defend it, it is indeed an ideal blocking position."
After listening to everyone's analysis, the fear on Xue Beng's face subsided slightly, replaced by a ruthless look of someone driven to the brink of despair.
He knew that although he was a puppet emperor, he also had no way out.
If the Spirit Hall were to invade, I fear I would lose even my position as a puppet emperor.
"Very well!" Suddenly, Xue Beng stood up, a hint of imperial ruthlessness finally igniting in his eyes. He roared, "Then let's follow Senior Dugu and Sect Master Ning's plan! I will immediately issue an edict announcing my personal expedition, summoning all Soul Masters to join me in this national crisis! All resources will be prioritized for Iron Wall Pass!"
"Marshal Gelong, you will lead 50,000 elite infantry and cavalry to accompany me to Iron Wall Pass to reinforce the city's defenses! Sect Leader Ning, Senior Dugu, I entrust the matter of integrating the Soul Masters entirely to you two! Make sure to bring all the forces that can be gathered before the enemy arrives at Iron Wall Pass!"
Several hours later, outside the Killing City, in an unnamed forest.
The cold morning dew dampened Hu Liena's cheeks, waking her from her brief slumber. She sat up abruptly, her icy gaze quickly scanning her surroundings.
Ancient trees reach for the sky, morning mist flows through the forest, and sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled light.
Birds chirped, the air was fresh, and it carried the scent of earth and grass.
For Hu Liena, this was a long-lost feeling of belonging to the normal world.
However, her surroundings were empty. The blue-haired figure wearing a ghost mask, claiming to be Xiao Yan, wielding the Golden Dragon Spear, and leading her out of Hell Road with near-crushing force had vanished, as if he had never existed.
Only the still-unsettled fluctuations of the God of Slaughter's Domain on her body, and the brief yet profound memory of her companion in her mind, proved that it was not an illusion.
The next second, a complex mix of indescribable disappointment and relief welled up in Hu Liena's heart. Looking at the empty woods, she said in a voice tinged with a melancholy she herself didn't realize, "He...he left all by himself?"
Yes, why would someone so mysterious, powerful, and with such unpredictable motives want to get entangled with her? They were just strangers who had temporarily come together because of the Hell Road!
Now that the road has come to an end, it's time to go our separate ways.
"What a pity. I was just about to persuade him to come back to the Spirit Hall with me." With another sigh, Hu Liena was about to get up to find her way back to the Spirit Hall to report back.
"Swish! Swish!"
Two swift, black-smoke-like figures silently swooped down from the treetops, landing like ghosts a few meters in front of Hu Liena.
He then knelt on one knee and said respectfully:
"Greetings, Your Highness! I have been waiting here for a long time on the orders of the Pope... no, His Majesty, and I am finally able to meet you!"
The newcomers were all dressed in black bodysuits of elite-level Spirit Hall personnel, with masks covering most of their faces, revealing only a pair of sharp, restrained eyes. They were clearly quite strong and skilled in stealth and tracking.
"His Holiness the Pope? My teacher...?" Hu Liena was taken aback at first, then keenly noticed the change in the other person's address, and an ominous premonition rose in her heart.
What happened outside while she was in the Killing City?
One of the men in black raised his head, his tone tinged with pride and excitement, and quickly explained, "Reporting to the Holy Maiden, during your absence, the landscape of the continent has undergone a dramatic transformation! The Spirit Hall officially changed its name and established a nation a few days ago, calling itself the Spirit Empire!"
"His Holiness the Pope, in accordance with the Mandate of Heaven, has been crowned the first Empress of the Spirit Empire! Now that the empire's territory is newly established, it is a time when talent is needed. His Majesty, mindful of the Holy Maiden, has specially ordered us to be here to meet her. We urge Your Highness to return to Spirit City immediately to discuss the empire's grand plans!"
The Spirit Hall...has been established as a nation? My teacher...has become an empress?
Even with her strong will, Hu Liena was still shaken to her core upon hearing such earth-shattering news, her beautiful eyes filled with disbelief.
She had only been in the City of Slaughter for a little over a year, yet the outside world had undergone such a dramatic transformation! The Spirit Hall had stepped out from behind the scenes and into the forefront, becoming a massive empire vying for supremacy with the two great empires!
Amidst the shock, a strong sense of mission and belonging also welled up within me.
She is her teacher's disciple and the Holy Maiden of the Spirit Hall. Now that the empire has been newly established, it is the time for her to display her talents, repay her teacher's kindness, and realize her ambitions!
"Teacher... how is Her Majesty doing lately?"
Hu Liena quickly suppressed the turmoil in her heart and asked in a deep voice, her tone subtly changing.
"His Majesty is in good health and his majesty is growing stronger every day. He is currently overseeing the overall situation in Wuhun City. Before long, the Empire should completely annex Xingluo and Tiandou," the man in black replied respectfully.
"Alright, I understand. Lead the way, we'll return to Spirit City immediately." Upon hearing this, Hu Liena slowly stood up, brushed the dust and grass off her clothes, and her eyes regained their firmness. The pride and demeanor of the Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden quickly returned.
"Yes!" the two men in black replied in unison, rising to prepare to lead the way.
However, neither Hu Liena nor the two Soul Masters who were ordered to provide backup noticed that not far from them, behind the gnarled trunk of a giant tree that would require several people to encircle, a blue figure stood quietly, blending seamlessly into the environment.
It was Tang Chuan, who had not gone far away.
He did not deliberately conceal his presence, but merely reduced his own presence to an extremely low level. Combined with the cover of the forest environment, even Hu Liena and the others who were right next to him did not notice him.
At this moment, Tang Chuan's brows furrowed slightly beneath his mask, and a cold killing intent flashed in his eyes. He had heard every word the man in black had said.
"Spirit Hall...you guys are really quick."
"How long have I been gone? And you've already established your own kingdom and started annexing two great empires...?"
This news was both unexpected and somewhat anticipated for him.
Given the Spirit Hall's ambition and resources, reaching this point was inevitable. It's just that the timing—coinciding with his departure from Heaven Dou City and entry into the City of Slaughter—seems somewhat ingenious.
"Bibi Dong has declared herself empress... The Spirit Empire... It seems the chessboard on the continent has been completely overturned. At this moment, Dugu Bo and Ning Fengzhi in Heaven Dou City must be under immense pressure."
His original plan was to deal with the Asura Demon Sword and the King of Slaughter after leaving the City of Slaughter, and then return to Heavenly Dou City to consolidate his forces and make his move gradually.
It now appears that the sudden attack by the Spirit Empire disrupted his plans.
"However... the Spirit Empire may seem to be on a roll, but as a newly established nation, there are bound to be many hidden dangers related to internal integration and the piecing together of multiple countries. At the same time, starting a war between the north and south is a major taboo in military strategy. As long as we withstand the initial fierce attack and stabilize our base, we may still have a chance..."
Thinking of this, his gaze once again turned to the direction where Hu Liena had left.
"The Holy Maiden of the Spirit Empire... the Killing God Domain. That old bastard Tang Chen should be catching up in a few days. I might be able to do something with Hu Liena."
"Luring Tang Chen to Hu Liena and Bibi Dong, allowing them to devour each other first and then watch them fight it out, is a pretty good plan. Then, we can wait until they're both severely weakened."
...............
A few days later, at the front line of the Heavenly Dou Empire, at Iron Wall Pass.
The once precipitous and majestic Iron Wall Pass has now been transformed into a grinding wheel of flesh and blood.
The once sturdy crenellations on the wall were riddled with holes by various elemental soul skills, and the wall was covered with cracks. In some places, it was even directly pierced by powerful forces, revealing the sandbags and wood and stones that were hastily used to fill the gaps.
Outside the walls, the scene was even more horrifying.
The open space in front of the pass, which was several miles wide, had already been plowed over and over again by all sorts of terrifying soul skills.
The ground was cracked and riddled with deep pits. Broken weapons, shattered armor, and countless unrecognizable limbs and torsos were scattered haphazardly across the earth, like decorations from hell.
The sky is the home ground of the Spirit Empire's Soul Master Legion.
Thousands of Soul Masters, like a swarm of locusts blotting out the sky, hovered in mid-air in front of Iron Wall Pass. They were not chaotic, but rather subtly divided into several square formations, according to their Martial Soul attributes or sects.
The Elephant Armor Sect's Soul Masters stood at the forefront, their heavy diamond mammoth phantoms radiating an incredibly solid aura, protecting their companions from sporadic counterattacks from the barrier wall.
The Soul Masters of the Holy Dragon Sect continuously spewed out scorching dragon breath or released the oppressive power of dragon might, bombarding the barrier walls and the Heavenly Battle Soul Masters who were trying to take off and intercept them.
The Wind Sword Sect's Soul Masters moved nimbly, transforming into streaks of azure sword light, specifically targeting and killing the commanders or defensive nodes of the defending troops who peeked out from the walls. Furthermore, Soul Masters from the Fire Leopard Sect, Black Tiger Sect, and other sects launched continuous attacks from the flanks, using their speed and attack power to tear apart the defensive line.
On the walls, the Heavenly Dou Empire's garrison had already suffered heavy casualties.
Ordinary soldiers were harvested like straw under such a dense barrage of soul skills.
Even the Soul Master defenders, facing a double disadvantage in both quantity and quality, could only rely on the advantage of the walled terrain and their determination to die to hold on. People were constantly being hit by stray arrows of Soul Skills, screaming as they fell off the city wall, or being directly swallowed by explosions.
Clad in golden armor, Avalanche stood on a relatively safe command platform, protected by his personal guards and Marshal Goron, but his face was already deathly pale.
"Your Majesty! The third defensive point of the eastern section of the city wall has been breached! Elephant Armor Sect Soul Masters are breaking in!"
"The western arrow towers are all destroyed! The Wind Sword Sect's soul masters are expanding their gains along the breach!"
"Our Soul Master squads, the third and seventh... all perished!"
Bad news kept coming in.
"Could it be... that Heaven is going to destroy Tian Dou...?" Xue Beng looked at the approaching Spirit Empire's Soul Master Legion, which was pressing down like a mountain, and felt an endless sense of desolation.
Iron Wall Pass, the last barrier on which so much hope was placed, was about to be completely torn apart today, at this critical moment when the Iron Wall Pass defense line was about to collapse completely.
"Buzz—!"
A vast and gentle beam of seven-colored light suddenly shone from the sky behind Iron Wall Pass, then pierced through the billowing smoke and precisely enveloped a gap in the city wall that was about to fall!
The remaining defenders, enveloped in mist, immediately felt a surge of energy; their fatigue and pain seemed to lessen, and their soul power was restored to a trace!
A Seven-Jeweled Glazed Tile Pagoda?!
Immediately afterwards, a cold, domineering, and death-laden emerald-green poisonous mist swept in from behind the gate, spreading rapidly along the ground and instantly enveloping a group of low-level Soul Masters from the Martial Soul Empire who were gathering in front of the gate, preparing to launch their final charge!
"ah--!"
"What kind of poison is this?!"
"My soul power is dissipating! My skin is festering!"
A piercing scream erupted from the poisonous fog, throwing the Martial Soul Empire's army into chaos.
P.S.: This is a combined two-part chapter, totaling 4000 words! (End of Chapter)