Chapter 140: 115. Heading to the immortal path, the mortal dust becomes hard to see again (6K large Chapters, asking for monthly tickets)
Time passed.
In the blink of an eye, half a day had gone by.
Ready for battle, the elite soldiers of the Army Seeking Revenge donned their felt armor, drenched with cold water. Under the freezing cold, the water on the fur solidified into ice, making it even more robust than an ordinary steel shield.
With their armor on, the burly soldiers stepped onto the cloud ladders and began the siege.
Meanwhile, the Imperial Court Soldiers were also prepared.
Gold, rolling wood, and rolling stones were all set.
In the blink of an eye, less than half a moment had passed in the siege, and thick piles of corpses had accumulated under the city walls. The morale of the new dynasty’s people could not compare to that of the old dynasty. Emperor Chongming could not defend this fortified city, but Xu Xing could handle it with ease.
If Li Xiaozu only has this ability... He will not be able to take this city.
Xu Xing did not hide in the Imperial Palace but stood on the front line. The Imperial Palace was too far from the outer city, and it took too much time for the warhorses to deliver information. As a Civilian Emperor, not accustomed to the sheltered life of emperors like Chongming, he did not overly concern himself with temporary comforts or appearances.
At this time, he observed the progress of the siege by the Army Seeking Revenge for a while and shook his head.
"Generals, do not slack off. Relocate the common people near the outer city, and use the wood from the civilian houses as rolling wood..."
He arranged the defense matters one by one.
With his current cultivation, it would not be difficult for him to kill Li Xiaozu with a single sword strike. However, when he attacked Shenjing, his Great Imperial Court Sword Qi had injured Ye Jeming’s arm, shocking the entire city.
Now, Li Xiaozu had come well-prepared. Although Xu Xing guessed that there was no warrior in the Li Family capable of blocking his sword, it was still better to be cautious. A son of a wealthy family should not court unnecessary danger.
At least I have to test Li Xiaozu’s strength first.
When the defense of Shenjing shows signs of collapse, I will decide the outcome with a single sword strike.
One side attacked while the other defended. The stalemate dragged on until the third day.
"Prince, we can’t wait any longer! The Imperial Court Army is already returning to aid the Emperor. Li Yong and the others have withdrawn their troops and returned beyond the border. Without Li Yong and the others to tie them down, we’ve become trapped beasts..."
"Either we fight desperately to attack the city, or we can only surrender."
The generals knelt, begging Li Xiaozu to make a decision as soon as possible.
Speed was the essence of a surprise attack.
However, the towering Shenjing City Wall was solid, the most fortified city in the Fengxi Country. Even though the soldiers of the Army Seeking Revenge were brave and seasoned by years of war, they could only sigh in helplessness when faced with this city.
"Put my armor on for me... This time, this general will personally lead the attack on the city."
Seeing the soldiers’ morale was still high, Li Xiaozu nodded inwardly. He had been stalling until this moment for two reasons. First, to probe for any weaknesses in the Shenjing City Wall’s defenses. Second, to wait for an opportune moment like this.
Rebelling against the Imperial Court was a capital offense.
Fierce tigers ahead, starving wolves behind. Now, only a little over 30,000 soldiers remained in the Army Seeking Revenge. The Imperial Court would never accept their surrender. Once the Army Seeking Revenge was defeated, it was predictable that the generals would be beheaded and the soldiers exiled to the frontier to serve as convict laborers.
Therefore, the desperate Army Seeking Revenge could only burn their bridges and fight with their backs to the wall.
This was the only chance for survival, the only way to defeat the Imperial Court, that I could think of after learning Princess Anren had been kidnapped.
With 30,000 death-sworn soldiers, a swift capture of the capital would forge my prestigious reputation!
「Half an hour later.」
After Li Xiaozu gave a pre-battle speech to boost morale, the more than 30,000 soldiers of the Army Seeking Revenge fell into a deadly silence. They stared at the distant, tall, dark city walls, their chests boiling with the will to fight.
This time, the attack on Shenjing was not just for revenge for Li Liang.
It was also for their own survival, to ’beg for life’.
"Attack!"
"This time, this king will be at the forefront! If we don’t break Shenjing, we won’t take a single step back! You are all brave men of the Outside Iron Riders. How can you throw your lives away here? Beyond the border, your parents are waiting for you, your wives and children are waiting for you..."
"Once we break into Shenjing, you will be among the most powerful and influential under the sky!"
"The wealth, beauty, and land of Shenjing—this king wants none of it! It shall all belong to you!"
Mounted on his armored Yellow Pony Horse, Li Xiaozu once again roused the spirits of the Army Seeking Revenge.
The next moment, the Army Seeking Revenge, now committed to fighting to the death, launched their assault.
The fierce battle raged from dawn until dusk approached.
The setting sun was like blood.
The outer city of Shenjing was about to be breached.
White-robed soldiers gradually filled the passageways of the outer city.
Under the relentless, fearless attacks of these white-robed soldiers, the official soldiers in red armor fell back step by step.
"You dog Emperor... This prince is here to take your life..."
Li Xiaozu, clad in heavy armor and protected by his Personal Guard Camp, finally ascended the city wall of Shenjing, thanks to the efforts of the 30,000 death-sworn soldiers of the Army Seeking Revenge. He saw Xu Xing standing on the corner tower, hatred filling his eyes.
He promptly led his soldiers and horses to charge forward.
With victory imminent and the dog Emperor not knowing enough to retreat...
Though surprised, I have no time to think. Emperor Tiande is within reach, and capturing him will ensure victory in the war. Even if I cannot capture Tiande, killing him would still count as a victory.
A hundred paces...
Fifty paces...
Thirty paces...
He was almost at the city’s corner tower.
A cold smile appeared at the corner of Li Xiaozu’s mouth.
After I capture Emperor Tiande, I will humiliate his women in front of him to avenge the theft of my wife. This blood feud is a surging tide, impossible to wash away!
However—
The next moment, he was dumbfounded.
He saw Emperor Tiande, dressed in a Bright Yellow Dragon Robe and wearing a Black Wing Crown, leap down from the corner tower. He walked in the air as if stepping on invisible stairs, and a bright yellow Sword Qi, dozens of yards long, whipped out from his sleeve, like a rainbow bridge hanging in the sky.