Chapter 12: The War Begins! Snow Empress!
Outside Jialing Pass, war drums thundered, their sound shaking the heavens.
The Spirit Hall's offensive came without warning, like dark clouds pressing down on the city, instantly shrouding the imperial fortress in a chilling atmosphere.
Inside the Shrek camp, Tang San, who was preparing to reorganize his troops and snatch Xiao Wu back from Navelette, was abruptly stopped by this sudden military intelligence.
A scout, his face covered in blood, stumbled into the tent and fell to his knees with a thud.
"Report—!"
"Your Highness, King Lan Hao! The Spirit Hall... the Spirit Hall army is pressing in!"
"Bibi Dong personally led the Holy Dragon Legion in a general offensive, and the defenses of the Heaven Dou Empire's front lines are in dire need of attention!"
Tang San's face, which was originally filled with murderous intent, stiffened slightly, and then quickly turned gloomy.
He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails almost dug into his palms.
On one side is Xiao Wu, his lover who has suffered humiliation and whose fate is unknown.
On one side is the imperial defense line on the verge of collapse, and on the other is the Tang Clan, which he built with his own hands and is determined to make a name for himself today.
If he were to divide his forces to attack Tianshui City now, and Jialing Pass were to fall, the Spirit Hall could advance unimpeded, and all his previous plans would be in vain.
Damn it!
Tang San slammed his fist on the table, his eyes filled with resentment.
Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang had already bandaged his wounds. Although his face was pale, he still forced himself to stand up and grabbed Tang San's arm.
"Mistress, the bigger picture is what matters!"
"Tianshui City can't escape, and neither can Vilette."
"But if we lose Jialing Pass, we're truly finished!"
"Repel the enemy first, then rescue the people!"
Tang San took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the urge to kill.
He turned his head and looked through the gaps in the tent at the golden banner that had just appeared in the sky.
[Eighth Place: Qian Renxue]
[Treasure: Angelic Holy Sword.]
Upon seeing this line of text, Tang San's previously depressed mood miraculously improved somewhat.
He even felt an overwhelming sense of superiority welling up inside him.
The inheritor of the angel god, yet his divine artifact is only ranked eighth?
That arrogant Qian Renxue is nothing special.
If even a divine artifact of the Angelic Holy Sword can only rank eighth, then what kind of heaven-defying existences are ranked ahead of the top seven?
More importantly, since the Angelic Holy Sword is the eighth and the Rakshasa Demon Scythe is the ninth.
Then his Trident of Poseidon must be among the best, and very likely the best!
Thinking of this, Tang San's lips involuntarily curled upwards.
The thrill of crushing a powerful enemy underfoot diminished much of his earlier anger.
"What a great eighth place."
Tang San sneered, his eyes flashing with a sharp light.
"It seems that the list of rare treasures on the continent does have some discernment."
"Does the mere Spirit Hall even dare to covet the top spot?"
He seemed to remember something else, and his gaze turned greedy and fiery.
Since there are still so many open spots between eighth and first place, aside from his trident, if all the remaining treasures could fall into the hands of the Tang Clan…
Why worry about not achieving great things?
As for that Navelette...
Tang San sneered inwardly.
After we've dealt with the Spirit Hall and obtained the top prize, we'll go and raze Tianshui City to the ground, crushing that charlatan under our feet and letting him know who the true ruler of this continent is!
"Pass on my orders!"
Tang San suddenly turned around, his long blue hair moving without wind, regaining his usual commanding and strategic demeanor.
"Tang Clan disciples, assemble!"
"Follow me to the Jialing Pass to confront the Spirit Hall!"
...
Meanwhile, outside Jialing Pass, in the main military tent of the Spirit Hall.
The atmosphere, however, seemed somewhat strange.
Bibi Dong held the scepter, staring at the enormous "eight" in the sky, her beautiful face filled with astonishment.
Standing beside her, Qian Renxue froze in place, her grip on the Angelic Holy Sword tightening slightly.
Eighth place?
How is that possible?
This is a divine artifact of the Angel God, a supreme being symbolizing light and holiness.
How could it only be ranked eighth?
"Mother..."
Qian Renxue turned to look at Bibi Dong, her eyes filled with disbelief.
"Is there something wrong with this list?"
"My Holy Sword of Angels, how could this be..."
Although Bibi Dong was equally surprised and uncertain, as the Pope, her composure was far superior to that of Qian Renxue.
She quickly concealed the shock on her face, her gaze becoming deep and dangerous.
The Rakshasa Demon Scythe is ninth, and the Angelic Holy Sword is eighth.
This means that there are at least seven other treasures in the world that surpass the artifacts possessed by the mother and daughter.
This is definitely not good news for the Spirit Hall, which aims to unify the continent.
Especially the top seven who have yet to appear.
If it were Tang San's Trident of the Sea God, that would be fine.
If it were in the hands of that mysterious Tianshui City...
Bibi Dong dared not think any further.
In any case, the most urgent task at present is to capture Jialing Pass and completely destroy the will to resist of the two great empires.
Once the continent is unified, no matter how deep Tianshui City's foundation is, it will not be able to withstand the iron hooves of the army.
No need for further explanation.
Bibi Dong waved her scepter, her voice majestic and resounding throughout the army.
"Rankings are just empty titles; true strength is what matters."
"Now that the war has begun, let's use the blood of our enemies to prove who the real champion is."
She looked at Qian Renxue, her tone stern:
"Xue'er, put away your doubts."
"Follow me into battle!"
"Today, I will make the Jialing Pass a river of blood!"
Qian Renxue took a deep breath, her golden eyes regaining their resolve.
"Yes, Mother."
With two commands given, the Spirit Hall's Spirit Master Legion, like a sophisticated war machine, roared into action and launched a tidal wave of attacks towards Jialing Pass.
...
Tianshui City, City Lord's Mansion.
Compared to the tense atmosphere at Jialing Pass, this place remains peaceful and serene.
Xue Di stood quietly in the corner of the room, her gaze fixed on the crystal-clear ice sculpture in front of her.
Within the ice sculpture, Xiao Wu maintains that terrified posture, lifelike.
Through the thick ice, Xue Di could even see the texture of every single strand of Xiao Wu's hair, as well as her eyes filled with despair.
As the ruler of the far north ice plains, the Snow Empress's heart is actually very cold.
But at this moment, looking at Xiao Wu, who is also a 100,000-year-old soul beast in human form.
Even if they are of different races.
Even if one is a rabbit and the other is an ice and snow woman.
But they were all once soul beasts, and they all struggled to survive during those long years.
Now, seeing their kind suffer such a fate, frozen into sculptures and displayed here as trophies.
Xue Di raised her hand, and a point of crystal-blue light gathered at her fingertips.
She could break free of the ice and release the girl inside whenever she wanted.
However, just as her fingertips were about to touch the ice sculpture...
Xue Di's hand stopped in mid-air.
The gentleness in her icy blue eyes quickly faded, replaced by rationality and clarity.
no.
It cannot be placed there.
[end of the chapter ]