223: Chapter 223 The Emperor's Personal Expedition

“Right now, my soldiers are suffering from unprecedented, massive setbacks and blows.”

“My Military God has suffered near-fatal injuries for the sake of this country, and his fate remains unknown to this day.”

“The morale of the entire army has hit rock bottom.”

“At a time like this, as their Emperor and their commander, if I were to continue hiding safely and comfortably in this warm palace, directing operations from afar, then what face would I have to face them?!”

“What qualification would I have to sit on this Dragon Throne?!”

“I must go!”

“I must go to the front lines myself! I must go to the side of my soldiers!”

“I want them to see with their own eyes that their Emperor is with them!”

“I want to use my actions to tell them that the sky will not fall, because I am holding it up for them!”

“And I want to use my fists to tell those high and mighty, so-called Western gods!”

A brilliant golden divine light, enough to outshine the sun and moon, suddenly erupted from Gao Feng's eyes!

A terrifying imperial pressure, filled with endless dominance and disdain, surged from within his body into the sky!

“Those who offend the Wu Dynasty, no matter how far, shall be punished!”

“Those who harm my people, even gods shall be killed!”

On the night before the expedition, Gao Feng did not handle any more government affairs.

He temporarily handed over all complex state affairs to the interim regency cabinet composed of Liu Chengfeng and Li Qingzhao.

He returned alone to the warm and tranquil harem.

He first arrived at Luo Qin's Fengyi Palace.

This gentle Empress, who had accompanied him the longest and had already borne him a lovely son and daughter, showed endless worry and reluctance in her eyes upon learning the news that he was about to lead the expedition personally, yet she did not utter a single word of dissuasion.

She simply and silently packed his travel bag, carefully placing inside each piece of undergarment that she had personally mended with the warmest threads.

“Your Majesty, please be careful on the front lines,” Luo Qin's voice choked with emotion. “I and the children will wait in the palace for your triumphant return.”

Gao Feng gently pulled his gentle wife into his embrace and left a deep kiss full of apology and affection on her forehead.

“Rest assured, I promise you, I will return safely.”

Immediately after, he went to the palaces of his other consorts, including Su Yue, Gong Qianxue, and Evelyn, to bid them farewell.

He bade them farewell one by one, giving detailed instructions for them to take good care of themselves and the children.

Finally, he called the Crown Prince Eldest Son, who had already grown into a handsome young man, and the Second Son, who was still somewhat mischievous but whose eyes were equally filled with admiration and reluctance, to his side for a profound father-son conversation.

He did not teach them profound imperial arts, nor did he instruct them on complex methods of governing the country.

He simply acted like an ordinary father about to go on a long journey, sharing with his sons some of his most simple views and expectations for this world, this country, and the future.

At the end of the long conversation, Gao Feng took out the Imperial Jade Seal from his bosom, carved entirely from the finest mutton-fat jade, with the eight ancient seal characters “Received from Heaven, May Longevity and Prosperity Last Forever” engraved on the bottom.

He solemnly placed the heavy Jade Seal, symbolizing the supreme imperial power of the Wu Dynasty, into the hands of the Crown Prince Eldest Son, whose eyes were already red.

Then, he said in a tone of unprecedented seriousness and gravity.

“Eldest Son, remember every word your father is about to say.”

“If I can return safely from the front lines, then everything will be fine.”

“But if I cannot return...”

“Then, from the moment I die, you will be the sky of this Wu Dynasty!”

“Remember, protect this great land that your father has worked so hard to build for you!”

“Treat your people well! Treat your brother well! Treat all the loyal officials and generals who have contributed to this country well!”

“Your father believes in you; you will surely become an even greater emperor throughout the ages than your father!”

The next morning, the sun rose as usual.

Gao Feng did not hold any grand expedition ceremony; he did not even disturb any civil or military officials.

He only brought the simple-minded giant who had long regarded him as the only faith in his life—Big Fool.

And the prairie wolf king—Wulu—who, despite his small stature, always had eyes flashing with the fierce light of a wild beast.

And those three thousand Royal Iron Guards, composed of the most elite imperial guards, each possessing the terrifying strength to fight a hundred enemies alone.

They arrived quietly at the Tiangong Pavilion's secret experimental base, located in the deepest part of the Forbidden City and under the strictest guard.

There, a massive mechanical flying ship, with a design full of sci-fi and violent aesthetics, made entirely of an unknown black metal and resembling a ferocious black Dragon spreading its wings to fly, was floating silently in mid-air.

That was the ultimate war weapon, the only experimental high-speed flying ship in the entire Wu Dynasty, tailored for Gao Feng by the head of the Tiangong Pavilion, the Grandmaster of mechanism arts, Gongshu Ban, who had poured his life's blood and wisdom into it!

—The “Yutian”!

Gao Feng did not say any unnecessary words.

He only took a deep look back at the magnificent Forbidden City, where he had lived for nearly twenty years and which was filled with endless memories and attachments.

Then, he resolutely turned around and was the first to board the huge mechanical flying ship full of the unknown and hope.

“Set sail.”

As Gao Feng's calm voice fell.

“Hum—!!!”

On the entire massive hull of the “Yutian”, countless mysterious and complex mechanical runes were lit up at the same time!

A terrifying energy fluctuation, so massive it was suffocating, erupted from the core power room of the flying ship!

The next moment, this huge mechanical flying ship, like a black Dragon, turned into a brilliant streak of light that the naked eye could barely catch, instantly piercing through the thick clouds and flying towards the distant, dangerous Western horizon filled with endless slaughter!

The Dragon rises from the East!

Its wings are like clouds hanging from the sky!

Its flight soars ninety thousand miles up!

On this day, the Martial God marches West!

The fate of the entire continent would be completely rewritten by this crazy decision of the young Emperor, who was full of endless courage and responsibility!

The “Yutian”, this epoch-making aerial giant ship that condensed the highest wisdom of the entire Tiangong Pavilion, driven by a terrifying power core composed of several huge, high-purity Demonic Energy crystals, had reached a flight speed that far exceeded the limits of what any Mortal of this era could understand.

Like a black phantom from the future, it silently cut through the boundless blue high sky.

The majestic mountains and rivers below, the magnificent flowing rivers, and the bustling towns scattered like stars were all rapidly elongated and deformed under its terrifying speed, eventually turning into blurred, colorful ribbons of light that retreated rapidly behind it.

The long overland journey, which would normally take several months to complete, was infinitely shortened in the face of the “Yutian”'s terrifying speed, which almost ignored spatial distance.

It was only ten days.

Ten days later, when that magnificent, god-like white holy city—St. John City—and its iconic cluster of spires reaching into the clouds appeared once again at the end of the horizon, it announced that this black aerial giant ship, carrying the last hope of the entire Eastern Empire, had finally arrived at its final destination.

At this moment, the temporary camp of the Central Route Army, located a hundred miles east of St. John City, was shrouded in a suffocating, death-like silence and depression.

Since that day when they suffered the devastating blow that felt like a divine punishment, the morale of the entire army had completely hit an unprecedented low.

All the surviving soldiers had faces filled with lingering, deep fear and confusion.

They no longer gathered together to boast loudly about their heroic deeds on the battlefield as they once did.

They no longer wiped their beloved weapons, which were already stained with the blood of enemies, as they once did.

They just huddled silently in their respective tents like walking corpses without Souls, staring blankly at the grey sky with empty and desperate eyes, as if the next moment a death meteor burning with black flames would fall from the sky again, turning them and everything they possessed into ashes.

Even the sentries who were usually responsible for patrolling and guarding became listless and low in morale, merely repeating their boring work that they had long known by heart.

The entire massive military camp seemed to be completely shrouded in a thick cloud of “failure” and “despair.”

And inside the largest commander's tent located in the center of the army, the atmosphere was so oppressive it was almost enough to drive people crazy.

Dozens of Advanced generals of the Central Route Army, their helmets askew and armor awry, their faces haggard and decadent, gathered around a simple camp bed like defeated roosters, hanging their heads in dejection.

And on that camp bed, Zhao Yu, the undefeated Military God hailed as the Soul of the Wu Dynasty army, lay with his eyes closed, his face as pale as a thin piece of gold paper, devoid of any blood.

His chest was wrapped in layers of thick white bandages, yet strands of bright red blood continued to slowly seep out from the gaps in the bandages, staining the sheets under him a shocking dark red.

His breathing was so weak it was almost inaudible.

If not for his chest, which continued to rise and fall, albeit with an extremely small amplitude, everyone would have thought that this legendary general, who had spent his life in battle and achieved great merits for the Wu Dynasty, had already passed away.

“Military doctor! Military doctor! How is Commander Zhao?!” A general with the most fiery temper grabbed the collar of the military doctor who had just finished examining Zhao Yu's injuries, roaring in a hoarse voice, “Say something! Is Commander Zhao still savable?!”

The old military doctor with white hair and beard heard this, and a look of bitterness and helplessness appeared on his face.

He slowly shook his head, his voice dry as he said, "Reporting to the generals. Marshal Zhao has suffered injuries at the level of Law; his internal organs are shattered, and the Meridians throughout his limbs and body are completely severed. I have exhausted all methods, and can only barely manage to sustain his final breath with a thousand-year ginseng."

"As for whether he can wake up... that will depend on Marshal Zhao's own fortune and the will of Heaven."

"The will of Heaven? Bullshit, the will of Heaven!" The hot-tempered general was furious upon hearing this, and he fiercely slammed his fist into the thick tent pillar beside him!

"Boom!"

A loud sound!

That pillar, crafted from hard ironwood, was actually dented deeply by his punch, which was filled with endless anger and sorrow!

"If not for those damned Western scumbags using that despicable Demonic Technique! How could Marshal Zhao have fallen into this state today?!"

"If I don't avenge this, I, Ma Qianli, swear I am no longer a man!"

"Avenge? With what?!" Another relatively calmer general laughed a despairing, miserable laugh upon hearing this. "General Ma, have you forgotten the meteor that descended from the sky that day?!"

"In the face of that terrifying power like a divine punishment, we aren't even as significant as a humble ant!"

"What do we have to fight against gods?!"

Once these words were spoken, the entire command tent fell into a deathly silence once again, and everyone's faces revealed a deep sense of powerlessness from the depths of their Souls.

That's right.

How could a Mortal possibly contend with gods?

Just at this most critical juncture, when the morale and military spirit of the entire Central Army were about to completely collapse, a strange, piercing sound filled with majesty and penetrative power suddenly came from the distant eastern horizon, moving from far to near without any warning!

"What is that sound?!"

All the generals in the command tent, already like birds startled by the mere twang of a bow, changed expressions drastically upon hearing it!

Without thinking, they immediately rushed out of the command tent, looking towards the direction of the sound with vigilant expressions!

However, the next moment they saw the most shocking and incredible scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives!

In the distant eastern sky, a massive black shadow, filled with the aesthetic of science fiction and violence, resembling a ferocious black Dragon with wings spread, was piercing through the thick clouds at a terrifying speed beyond their imagination, flying towards their main camp!

What is that?!

Is it a new secret weapon of the Taixi Empire?!

Is it a divine punishment even more terrifying than the meteor that fell from the sky?!

For a moment, all the Wu Dynasty soldiers who saw that massive black aerial warship had expressions filled with terror and despair!

The entire massive army camp, which had been lifeless, exploded into chaos in an instant!

Countless soldiers were running around and crying in the camp like headless flies, and the entire scene fell into unprecedented chaos and panic!

However, just when everyone thought the apocalypse was about to descend again, a massive Wu Dynasty Dragon banner, which all citizens of the Wu Dynasty were all too familiar with, embroidered with a ferocious black five-clawed golden Dragon, slowly rose from the deck of that black aerial warship!

Immediately following this, a young voice, though not particularly loud, seemed to contain a strange magic capable of soothing all restlessness and unease in the world, filled with endless majesty and composure, resonated through the entire chaotic camp like rolling spring thunder, amplified by an amplification array!

"I, the Emperor of the Great Wu, Gao Feng!"

"-- am here!"

"All soldiers, listen to my orders!"

"-- Return to camp! Form ranks!"

Boom!!!

"Your Majesty!"

"It's Your Majesty's voice!"

"Heavens! Your Majesty has actually come to the front line himself!"

In that instant, the entire massive army camp, which had already fallen into chaos and panic, seemed to have been pressed with a magical pause button!

All the soldiers who were running in all directions stopped in their tracks simultaneously!

They abruptly raised their heads, looking blankly with eyes filled with shock, fanaticism, and disbelief at that massive black aerial warship slowly hovering above their camp, and that ferocious black Dragon flag representing the highest imperial power of the Wu Dynasty, flapping in the biting cold wind!

Immediately after, an indescribable, massive ecstasy and excitement flooded their parched hearts, which had already been completely filled with fear and despair, like a breached flood!

Their Emperor!

Their legendary Emperor, who was omnipotent like a god!

He had not abandoned them!

He had actually risked the great danger of the world-destroying divine punishment to come to this front line, which had already turned into a dead zone!

He had come to be with them!

"Long live our Emperor! Long live! Long live! Long, long live!"

It was unknown who was the first to react from that massive shock and ecstasy; without thinking, he immediately threw away the weapon in his hand, fell to his knees with a thud, and performed the most solemn kowtow, facing the massive black aerial warship in the sky and the stalwart figure, whose face could not be clearly seen but who made them feel incomparably safe and trustworthy!

Immediately after, just like triggering a chain reaction.

The second, the third, the tenth, the hundredth...

Hundreds of thousands of Central Army soldiers all knelt down at the same time!

Cheers like mountains collapsing and seas roaring, filled with endless fanaticism and worship, rose to the sky like the most terrifying sonic weapon, instantly dispelling all the haze and despair that had shrouded the entire camp!

The military spirit and morale, which had already been on the verge of collapse, were like being injected with the most powerful stimulant; at this moment, they stabilized instantly and began to climb crazily at an even more terrifying speed!

The arrival of Gao Feng was like a brilliant sun dispelling endless darkness and cold, once again bringing endless light and hope to these lost lambs who had already been lost in the abyss of despair!

However, Gao Feng did not stay in the camp for long. He simply comforted the soldiers who were already emotionally charged, and then immediately went to the command tent to visit General Zhao Yu, who was still in a deep coma.

He personally infused this military god, who had spent his life in battle and bled the last drop of blood for this Empire, and who was worthy of everyone's respect, with a stream of the purest True Qi of Ten Thousand Daos Returning to One, which contained endless life aura, temporarily stabilizing his flame of life, which was already like a candle in the wind and could be extinguished at any moment.

After doing all this, under the worried and puzzled gazes of everyone, he walked alone, holding the black battle saber that had accompanied him for many years and had already drunk its fill of the blood of countless enemies, step by step towards the massive white holy city, which was completely shrouded in a layer of faint, holy white halo.

He did not order the army to launch any attack, nor did he even bring a single guard; he just walked alone towards that terrifying dead zone that had once unleashed world-destroying divine punishment.

His back, set against the desolate, vast plains filled with the scars of war, appeared so lonely and so small.

Yet, it radiated a sense of indomitable, supreme dominance and determination that could make the heavens and earth lose their color!

"What does he want to do?!"

"Does he intend to challenge an entire city with his own strength?!"

On the walls of St. John City, the Taixi Empire defenders who had already observed this scene through magic crystals, after seeing clearly the small figure walking towards them step by step, first revealed expressions filled with doubt and confusion on their faces.

Immediately after, when they confirmed that there was really only one person, this doubt quickly turned into a cruel, mocking smile filled with extreme disdain and contempt.

"Hahahaha! Look! That so-called tyrant from the East, he actually walked over alone!"

"Is he crazy?! Or does he think that with his own strength, he can breach our holy city, which is personally protected by our Lord?!"

"What a pitiful fool who doesn't know how to live!"

"Since he is so impatient to die! Then let us grant his wish!"

"Activate the 'Divine Punishment Heavenly Star Formation'! Let this humble Eastern heretic be completely turned into ashes under the endless radiance of our Lord!"

Accompanied by bursts of arrogant laughter filled with fanaticism and cruelty, the blood-red, massive magic formation filled with endless destructive aura, which shrouded the sky above St. John City, slowly emerged once again!

A terrifying energy fluctuation that was cold, evil, and filled with the aura of death once again shrouded the entire world!

The sky turned blood-red once again!

That massive black spatial vortex slowly tore through the thick clouds again!

A massive, terrifying meteor, identical to the last one, burning all over with strange black flames capable of incinerating everything in the world, was summoned again from the endless Void Realm outside the sky!

Dragging a long black tail flame that could obscure the entire sky, it smashed down fiercely towards the small and vulnerable black figure below, who was shrouded under its massive shadow, with an unrivaled, world-destroying, terrifying might capable of destroying everything in front of it!

"Your Majesty!!!"

In the distant Wu Dynasty camp, all the soldiers who witnessed this terrifying scene, which was like the arrival of the apocalypse, had their hearts tightly gripped by an invisible hand of fear in an instant!

One by one, they let out roars filled with endless despair and sorrow, their eyes splitting with rage!