109: The true "Soul Slayer"

The number on the signal device turned to five seconds.

Shen Xiaochuan pressed the button.

A red flare flew into the sky and exploded before dawn, like a red-hot nail driven into the dark clouds.

Shen Yan looked up, gripping the vibranium hammer in his hand.

He turned to look at the Azure Dragon Legion behind him; everyone was ready.

"Ram the gate!" he shouted.

Armored vehicles rushed out of the forest, heading straight for the city gate.

The ground shook, and rocks flew everywhere.

The city gate was slowly closing.

The mechanism hummed, and the metal edges flashed with blue light.

Shen Yan stared, roaring, "Hurry! Hold the gate!"

Two armored vehicles rushed up side by side, using their front battering rams to wedge tightly into the gate gap.

Metal grated against metal, and sparks rained down.

Shen Yan jumped off the vehicle and raised his hammer.

He poured strength into his arm, raised the hammer high, and smashed it hard against the lock cylinder.

Clang!

The crack widened.

He struck a second time.

With the third strike, the entire gate shook violently and collapsed inward with a loud bang.

Shen Yan was the first to rush in.

The vanguard split into two teams, quickly charging toward the towers on both sides.

The defenders hadn't even reacted before being hit by electromagnetic devices.

The soul lamps flashed three times before they started sounding the alarm.

A team member shouted excitedly, "Captain, three minutes is enough!"

Shen Yan nodded, "Clear the towers, set up jammers, and prepare to support the White Tiger and Vermilion Bird."

He took out his communicator: "Brother Shen, the first gate is broken; we're in."

"Received," Shen Xiaochuan's voice came through, "Continue the advance."

Shen Yan put away the communicator and wiped the dust off his face.

He looked back at the smashed gate and whispered, "We were the ones who smashed this gate open."

The second gate was sealed by earth and stone.

Runes were drawn on the wall, emitting a yellow light.

If destroyed, the mountain would collapse.

Shen Yan led his men there and saw a crack on the wall.

This was the mark Shen Xiaochuan had left earlier.

"It's weak here," he said, "Demolition team, move in. Install 3.2 kilograms of explosives, but don't bring the mountain down."

The demolitionists quickly installed them.

Shen Yan stood at the very front and donned the Remnant Armor of the Thunder Emperor.

"When I yell retreat, you pull back."

The explosives detonated.

Rocks fell like rain.

Shen Yan stood still, blocking a large rock with his body.

Cracks appeared on the armor, but he didn't move.

The smoke cleared, and the passage was open.

"Second gate, broken," Shen Yan said into the communicator.

On the other side, Yang Lie was crouching in a tunnel under the third gate.

"There are trap wires below," he said, "They aren't bombing the gate; they're bombing the foundation, trying to make us fall through."

The Scout had already cleared the mines.

Yang Lie ordered, "Pillar positions confirmed; detonate."

With a rumble, the ground tilted.

The entire gate tilted and collapsed, creating an opening.

"The third gate is open," Yang Lie stood up and brushed off his legs, "Vermilion Bird Legion, follow me."

The three teams advanced simultaneously.

The alarm sounded in the city, but it was too late.

In the Main Hall, Anbei Jinshi stared at the crystal ball, his face turning pale.

"All three gates are lost?" his voice trembled, "Impossible!"

An aide knelt and said, "The Azure Dragon came in from the east, the White Tiger cut off communication in the south, and the Vermilion Bird bombed the western warehouse. Our defensive line... is gone."

Anbei Jinshi grabbed a jade talisman, his fingers turning white from the force.

"Send an S-class distress signal! Tell the seven Kings Domains to send troops immediately!"

He pressed the jade talisman into the altar.

Red light flashed, and the message began to transmit.

A few seconds later, the signal was cut.

With red eyes, he roared, "What happened?"

In the underground utility room, Ling Feng kicked open the control box.

Wires smoked.

"Communication is cut," he said to his teammate, "Go back and report that no one can contact the Main Hall now."

The teammate nodded and ran off.

Ling Feng glanced in the direction of the Main Hall and whispered, "Brother Shen, the path is clear."

On the city tower, Shen Xiaochuan stood up.

He formed seals with both hands, and two beams of light appeared in his palms.

One red, one blue.

"Summon."

The ground shook.

A giant burning tiger jumped out from the fire, crushing the stone slabs.

The heat wave forced people back.

A rift opened in the sky.

A green-scaled Dragon spiraled down, its tail sweeping across the rooftops, sending roof tiles flying.

"Go," Shen Xiaochuan waved his hand, "Guard both sides of the Main Hall; don't let anyone get close."

The giant tiger roared and charged to the left.

The high temperature melted the Yamata barrier.

The barrier dripped down like wax.

The Azure Dragon dove, spewing cold air.

A group of sorcerers on the platform instantly froze into ice and shattered into pieces.

The two beasts stood in front of the Main Hall gate, looking up and roaring.

The remaining soldiers in the city heard the sound, and many dropped their weapons and ran.

"That is... a Divine Beast?" someone sat on the ground, "We can't stop it..."

Inside the Main Hall, Anbei Jinshi heard the roar and swayed.

"The barrier is broken?" he grabbed the table, "Impossible! The Yamata barrier can even swallow Heroic Spirits!"

The aide trembled, "It's... a dual-attribute summoned beast; fire counters the barrier, and ice freezes the sorcerers. Our defenses... are completely useless."

Anbei Jinshi stared at the gate, sweat on his forehead.

"Order all remaining troops to retreat into the Main Hall and activate the final barrier. I will guard the gate myself."

"But... the reinforcements are still ten minutes away."

"Shut up!" he roared, "As long as I am still standing, the gate cannot open!"

He took out the Godhead Command Token and bit his finger to smear blood on it.

"In my name, I summon the remnant soul of Yamata—protect the hall!"

The command token glowed.

The ground cracked, and red mist emerged.

But before it could take form, it was dispersed by the roar from outside.

Anbei Jinshi stumbled backward.

"Why... so fast..." he looked down at the command token, "I had it all planned out..."

Outside the city, Shen Xiaochuan jumped onto the back of the Azure Dragon.

He stood on the Dragon's head, head held high, looking coldly at the Main Hall.

Shen Yan's voice came from the communicator: "The East District is controlled; no one escaped."

Ling Feng said, "The command post has been built on the southern wing; communication is still down."

Yang Lie said, "The western warehouse has been bombed, supplies are completely destroyed; no one can counterattack."

Shen Xiaochuan listened, not saying a word.

He raised his hand.

In the distance, the giant tiger turned to look at him.

The Azure Dragon also turned its body, waiting for orders.

"It's not over yet," he said.

He squeezed the Dragon's body.

The Azure Dragon flew up, carrying him toward the front of the Main Hall.

At a distance of thirty meters, he stopped in mid-air, parallel to the gate.

It was very quiet inside.

He knew Anbei Jinshi was still there.

He could feel that aura.

"Open the gate," he spoke softly, but the entire plaza heard him.

"Or, I will open it."

No one responded.

Shen Xiaochuan reached for his waist.

There was no sword there.

But he knew that there was no need to draw a sword for this battle.

He just needed to stand there.

On the street, Shen Yan led the Azure Dragon Legion to form ranks.

Ling Feng led the White Tiger to blockade both sides.

Yang Lie pressed in from the west, blocking all escape routes.

The Main Hall had become an isolated island.

Shen Xiaochuan looked at that gate.

The wind blew his clothes.

His eyes were firm as he whispered, "Three years ago, you killed my Believers and erected a monument saying 'Forever Suppressing the East.' Today, I am standing right here, and the gate is right before me."

He raised his hand.

The Azure Dragon opened its mouth, cold air gathering within.

"Tell me, how much longer can this gate hold?"

Just as he finished speaking.

The Main Hall gate shook slightly.

The aura inside became chaotic.