65: Seven thousand white-robed soldiers spread their fame

On the Qingmu City wall.

Qingmu Lang's suppressed heart gradually lightened. He looked at the Wu Dynasty's million-strong army, helpless, and felt his spirits soar with pride.

"Brothers, man the heavy crossbows! If the Wu Dynasty army dares to advance further, shoot them down with arrows!"

"Though their army is numerous, it is led by an incompetent general. Neither advancing nor retreating, they are merely depleting their morale—a great taboo in military strategy."

"General, after this battle, our Qingmu City defenders, having repelled the Wu Dynasty's million-strong army, will surely be famous throughout the Four Seas and Five Regions. General, you might even make it onto the list of famous generals."

The defending soldiers were in high spirits, showering him with compliments.

"It's not our Qingmu City that should be famous throughout the world, but this Nine Revolutions Unceasing Life Yuan Grand Array."

Qingmu Lang smiled bitterly, then sighed with emotion, "The Xuan Emperor is tyrannical and unjust, oppressing our Jinmu Kingdom. In contrast, Her Majesty the Empress of the current Sun Moon Imperial Dynasty is wise and virtuous, a brilliant strategist, not inferior to any emperor in history. She is the enlightened ruler worthy of our loyalty."

"The King has already issued an abdication decree. Once the Spirit Phoenix King captures the Heavenly Fox Kingdom and Her Majesty the Empress's imperial edict arrives, we will also be citizens of the Sun Moon Imperial Dynasty. I've heard that in recent years, after the Sun Moon Imperial Dynasty annexed those smaller nations and incorporated them as new prefectures, they have flourished and never experienced unfair treatment."

Qingmu Lang described the beauty of the Sun Moon Imperial Dynasty, and the defending generals and soldiers yearned for it.

The Jinmu Kingdom was located in the Nineteen Chaotic Domains, and the country had never truly been stable. Its borders were often raided by the Seven Kings City and other non-human races.

Every year, in addition to paying tribute to the Imperial Dynasty they were affiliated with, they also had to marry off royal princesses to other forces in the Nineteen Chaotic Domains to barely maintain stability and continue their national destiny in humiliation.

"General, the New Martial God seems to be preparing to order an attack on the city!"

The moment Xia Xuan appeared, the hearts of the Qingmu City defenders tightened.

After all, among this million-strong army were the Heavenly Martial Army and the Hundred Battles Camp, two renowned elite forces, as well as Divine Dharma Aspect Realm experts. A full-scale war was bound to cause tension.

"Beat the drums."

Xia Xuan raised his hand, and within the army formation, the drums beat rapidly and continuously.

The various armies remained still, while the seven thousand White Robe Army charged boldly.

"General... what's going on?"

"Did they offend a powerful official in the Wu Dynasty, and now they're being sent to their deaths out of personal vendetta?"

The Qingmu City defenders looked at the "meager" seven thousand White Robe Army, laughing in astonishment, "The general was right, the commander is an incompetent fool. Even with a million more troops, he wouldn't be able to break through Qingmu City."

"Dong... dong... dong dong dong..."

Just then, beside the White Robe Army, a phantom of a white-robed scholar appeared. He personally beat the drums; the sound was weak, yet it strangely harmonized with the White Robe Army's horse hooves.

Chen Qingzhi, the God of War of Southern Liang, was physically frail and not skilled in archery or martial arts, yet he possessed the charisma to inspire his soldiers to fight to the death.

As his phantom appeared, the momentum of the seven thousand White Robe Army collectively rose by one level.

While the spirits of heroes are absolutely loyal, they also experience emotions and fear the pain of each death. Forcing them to their deaths, leading to a disharmony between body and mind, would only damage their state of mind and prevent them from unleashing their full strength.

However, under the influence of Chen Qingzhi's heroic spirit phantom, these seven thousand White Robe Army truly achieved unwavering loyalty, facing death without regret.

Their army formation and military might were unique; they did not condense into a single killing Dharma Aspect, but rather dispersed among each individual.

Where the blade pointed, there lay their belief.

They were unstoppable, advancing with indomitable spirit.

"How is this possible? These Red Refining Heavy Crossbows can easily penetrate the Protective Aura of a True Martial Realm Cultivator, and even injure a Divine Martial Realm Cultivator. How is it that not a single one of them is killed!?"

The defending soldiers were horrified.

Looking down from the Qingmu City wall, Xuan Iron arrows rained down, mixed with Red Refining Heavy Crossbow bolts capable of killing True Martial Realm Cultivators.

But the seven thousand White Robe Army ignored them, their Protective Aura like Dragons around them, shattering the arrow rain. In just a moment, they had charged to within three hundred feet of the city gate.

Qingmu Lang suppressed his trepidation and calmly reassured them, "Don't worry, they can't break through the Grand Array. Charging to the city wall will only be in vain."

Before he finished speaking.

In front of the imperial carriage, the yuanfu mountain in Xia Xuan's palm trembled slightly. Ten thousand runes were branded into the Void Realm, emitting a brilliant white divine radiance that resonated with Qingmu City's Nine Revolutions Unceasing Life Yuan Grand Array, their auras growing increasingly similar.

The brilliant white divine radiance split into thousands of strands, projecting onto the White Robe Army's heroic spirits.

The Grand Array blocking their path was like a mere illusion, neither breaking nor offering any obstruction.

"Gen... General, they've come through!?"

"Even Divine Dharma Aspect Realm experts were blocked outside, how did they get through?"

The faces of the Qingmu City defenders changed dramatically. If the city's protective Grand Array was Failure, didn't that mean the Wu Dynasty's million-strong army could directly attack the city?

"No, there must be some restriction. Otherwise, they wouldn't just send a few thousand men, but would have Divine Dharma Aspect Realm Cultivators take action."

Qingmu Lang calmly pondered and analyzed, "The Grand Array is operating normally. We must not panic. Prepare to meet the enemy."

No matter how high the city wall, it could not stop Cultivators above the Innate Realm from rushing onto the wall; at most, it could only cause interference. In a battle, the outcome primarily depended on the true strength of both sides.

"They are cavalry. Although their charge is fast, there will inevitably be a weakness when they dismount. Archers of the Divine Archery Battalion, prepare..."

Qingmu Lang gave the order, and the sound of taut bowstrings rang out.

Suddenly, everyone on the city wall's face changed in shock. When Qingmu Lang spoke again, his voice was slightly hoarse: "Divine Martial Realm..."

All seven thousand White Robe Army were Divine Martial Realm Cultivators.

The white horses neighed once, then dissipated into phantoms.

The seven thousand White Robe Army heroic spirits walked on air, like Heavenly Soldiers and Generals, ascending the city wall. The cold glint of their spear tips flickered, instantly taking the lives of thousands of defenders.

"Famous generals should not hold themselves back; a thousand armies and ten thousand horses avoid the White Robes."

"Kill!"

The White Robe Army heroic spirits had cold expressions, their Evil Qi piercing the sky, coldness swirling around them. They were decisive in killing, without any hesitation.

The defending army of Qingmu City could not withstand a single move against them.

Even Qingmu Lang, a Void Dharma Aspect Realm Cultivator, was in a sorry state, surrounded and attacked.

Each White Robe armored soldier was filled with Qi, their combat techniques exquisite, their resolve unyielding. The three-foot cold gleam from their long spears was incomparably sharp, achieving the effect of an anomalous pseudo-Dharma Aspect, even capable of directly injuring Dharma Aspect Realm existences.

Qingmu Lang's face was as pale as paper. Watching the defending soldiers on the city wall fall one after another, his heart turned cold.

The city wall could not accommodate too many defenders; no matter how many more troops from the city rushed onto the wall, it would only be sending them to their deaths.

The White Robe Army heroic spirits' life-for-life encirclement tactic quickly put Qingmu Lang on the defensive, leaving him covered in wounds and utterly disheveled.

"We promised to defend the city for three days, but in the end, we couldn't even hold it for three hours..."

Qingmu Lang numbly cleaved down a White Robe Army heroic spirit, then turned his head and hoarsely roared, "Retreat! Retreat from Qingmu City, preserve our forces, and fall back to Muzhou!"

Puff!

A sharp, gleaming silver spear tip pierced through his shoulder blade.

One of Qingmu Lang's weaknesses was seized by the White Robe Army heroic spirits, and he immediately paid the price.

"General... it's too late, the city gate has been breached!" The defending Lieutenant General screamed in despair.

Not long after the bloody battle on the city wall began, the Hundred Battles Camp armored soldiers, carrying the mountain shaking battle flag, launched a simultaneous charge. Working in concert with the White Robe Army from both inside and outside, they breached the city gate and stormed into the city.

"Kill! An Innate Realm head earns one point of military merit!"

After the twenty-rank military merit system was implemented, both new and veteran soldiers of the Wu Dynasty were highly motivated, fearless of death.

Three hours, and the city fell.

Of the six hundred thousand Qingmu City defenders, over one hundred thousand fled.

Three hundred thousand were killed, and two hundred thousand were captured.