314: Chapter 314: Emperor Qian, come out and see me.

Xiao Ran decided to ignite a great war.

He had no intention of hiding it at all.

The news that the Demonic Path army had departed from the Eternal Night Demon Sect swept through the entire Northern Territory like a hurricane.

Xiao Ran's deployment had long been finalized.

The Blood Fiend Sect would attack the Heavenly Sword Sect, the Myriad Gu Sect would harass the Shangguan Family, and the Nether Hall would cut off communication between the various sects of the Righteous Path.

These three feints were to disperse the forces of the Righteous Path.

He himself led the main force, commanding the main body of the Eternal Night Demon Sect, the Hehuan Sect, the White Bone Cave, and the Heavenly Corpse Sect, along with three Grand Elder Puppets and the carcass of the Nine-Headed Snake Emperor, heading straight for the Great Qian Dynasty.

The Great Qian Dynasty was the only one among the four transcendent forces of the Righteous Path that was based on a secular Imperial Dynasty.

Its advantages were its vast territory, large population, and numerous armies.

Its disadvantages were equally obvious—few Cultivators, few experts, and its elite forces were scattered across its vast territory.

Once the capital was breached, the entire Imperial Dynasty would collapse like a paper lantern.

This was exactly what Xiao Ran had his eyes on.

After the army left the Eternal Night Demon Sect, it split into three routes.

Blood Butcher of the Blood Fiend Sect, leading the elites of his sect, turned into a streak of blood light and flew toward the Heavenly Sword Sect in the east.

Old Man Myriad Gu of the Myriad Gu Sect, leading a sky full of poisonous insects, pressed toward the territory of the Shangguan Family in the south.

The Nether Child of the Nether Hall, leading countless undead, silently infiltrated the communication network between the various sects of the Righteous Path.

Meanwhile, Xiao Ran's main force advanced northward along the official roads of the Great Qian Dynasty in a mighty and imposing manner.

Disciples of the six sects, Disciples of the Eternal Night Demon Sect, and his army of Puppets.

A black mass extending from the foot of the mountain to the mountainside, endless to the eye.

Their footsteps were uniform, striking the earth with a dull roar that made the villages and towns along the way tremble.

The carcass of the Nine-Headed Snake Emperor circled above the army, its hundred-zhang-long body blocking out the sky and sun.

Its five heads hung low, its vertical pupils hollow, and the Peak Integration Stage aura radiating from its body pressed all living creatures within a hundred miles to the ground, unable to move.

The border guards of the Great Qian Dynasty were scared Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering upon seeing this scene.

Some turned and ran, some knelt to beg for mercy, and some were so paralyzed with fear they couldn't even run, collapsing to the ground and trembling.

Xiao Ran paid no attention to these small fry.

His target was the capital, the heart of the Great Qian Dynasty.

"Report!!!"

A scout flew in from the front, landed in front of Xiao Ran, and knelt on one knee.

"Sect Master, three hundred miles ahead is the first line of defense of the Great Qian Dynasty—Zhennan Pass."

"The defending general is a Void Refinement Peak general of Zhennan, with thirty thousand troops under his command and an ancient City Protection Array."

Xiao Ran did not even lift his head.

"Blast it open."

"Yes."

The scout retreated.

A moment later, one of the Nine-Headed Snake Emperor's heads lowered, opened its massive maw, and spewed a beam of dark red light.

The beam of light tore through the sky and slammed into the walls of Zhennan Pass.

The light of the City Protection Array flickered violently and then shattered like glass.

The city walls collapsed, rubble flew everywhere, and the screams of the defenders were drowned out by the roar.

Three breaths.

Zhennan Pass was reduced to ruins.

Xiao Ran didn't even glance at it as the army continued to advance.

...

Meanwhile.

Great Qian Dynasty, Imperial Capital.

Emperor Qian sat on the throne in the Golden Throne Hall, with a full map of the Northern Territory spread out before him.

His expression was as gloomy as water, and his fingers tapped rhythmically on the table, making a ticking sound.

News of the fall of Zhennan Pass had already been sent back.

It was breached in three breaths, not even lasting for the time it takes to burn an incense stick.

The Void Refinement Peak general he had sent hadn't even seen Xiao Ran's face before being blasted into dust by a beam of light from the Nine-Headed Snake Emperor.

"Your Majesty, the Demonic Path army is only five hundred miles from the Imperial Capital."

A minister knelt below the Golden Throne Hall, his voice trembling.

"According to their marching speed, they will be at the city gates by noon tomorrow."

Emperor Qian did not respond.

His gaze fell on the location of the Imperial Capital on the map, his brows furrowed tightly.

The Imperial Capital's City Protection Array was ten times stronger than that of Zhennan Pass, and there were five Integration Stage retainers stationed there.

But Xiao Ran had three Peak Integration Stage Puppets, one Peak Integration Stage Nine-Headed Snake Emperor, and Body Integration Stage Cultivators from the six great demonic sects.

The Imperial Capital's defenses could not hold them back.

"Pass down the order to activate the Imperial Capital's City Protection Array."

"All Cultivators above the Void Refinement Stage are to assemble at the Golden Throne Hall."

Emperor Qian's voice was calm, but every word seemed squeezed out from between his teeth.

"As you command!" The minister retreated.

Emperor Qian stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the streets of the Imperial Capital.

The common people did not yet know that disaster was about to befall them; vendors were hawking their wares, children were playing, and the elderly were basking in the sun.

A hint of complexity flashed in his eyes.

Emperor Qian was the emperor of the Great Qian Dynasty, the master of this land.

He could not watch the Imperial Capital fall.

But there was also a trace of fear in his heart.

Xiao Ran, that young man who had stirred up a bloody storm in the Far North Land, had grown to a height he could not reach.

Late Stage Body Integration, four Peak Integration Stage Puppets, and Body Integration Stage Cultivators from the six great demonic sects.

And he only had himself at the Peak Integration Stage, and five Fusion Stage Early retainers.

"Send a message to the Supreme Dao Palace and request reinforcements."

Emperor Qian turned and said to the eunuch beside him.

"Yes."

...

The war came faster than expected.

The next day at noon, the Demonic Path army arrived at the gates of the Imperial Capital.

Xiao Ran stood on the head of the Nine-Headed Snake Emperor, hands behind his back, overlooking the towering Imperial Capital.

The city walls were ten zhang high and five zhang wide, engraved with dense runes that shimmered with golden light.

That was the City Protection Array, a relic from ancient times, said to be able to withstand the attacks of a Peak Integration Stage Cultivator.

"Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot."

Xiao Ran's eyes were full of disdain.

He raised his hand, and the five heads of the Nine-Headed Snake Emperor simultaneously opened their massive maws, firing five beams of dark red light at the City Protection Array.

The array trembled violently, its golden light flickering unsteadily, but it did not shatter.

On the city walls, the faces of the defenders turned pale.

There was no helping it; Xiao Ran was too strong, so strong that they couldn't even muster the heart to resist.

"Keep blasting."

Xiao Ran said calmly.

The Nine-Headed Snake Emperor's five heads spewed beams of light again.

This time, it lasted for a full ten breaths. The light of the array grew dimmer and dimmer, and the runes extinguished one by one.

Cracks appeared on the city walls, and rubble fell with a rustling sound.

"Blast it again."

For the third time, the Nine-Headed Snake Emperor's beams of light slammed into the array, and the array finally could not hold on, shattering like glass.

Golden fragments scattered and flew everywhere, disappearing into the air.

The defenders on the city walls let out desperate roars; some jumped off the walls to flee, while others knelt to beg for mercy.

Xiao Ran paid no attention to those small fries.

His gaze fell deep within the Imperial Capital, where several Body Integration Stage auras were awakening.

"Emperor Qian, come out and meet me."

Xiao Ran's voice was not loud, but it clearly spread throughout the entire Imperial Capital.