When Li Xiao and his companions entered the capital of Chen Guo, an eerie chill gripped the air, striking them with an unnatural cold. The sun blazed high above, but within the city's walls, a bone-chilling frost swept through the streets, forcing them to shiver uncontrollably.
"This... this!" one of the soldiers gasped, his breath misting in the frigid air.
"My heavens, the entire city is frozen!"
Another guard, his voice trembling, whispered in disbelief, "Is this truly God's punishment?"
"How could it happen so quickly?" another murmured. "The city was intact, and now... it is frozen to its very core. What sort of terrifying power could cause such destruction?"
"But it's not just the capital. Dozens of other cities in Chen Guo have also been frozen. Only the smallest, most remote cities, with few people, have survived," said one of the officers, his voice steeped in awe and fear.
"Look there!" Another pointed, eyes wide with shock. "Isn't that the Lord of Chen? And the Prime Minister, General, and the other high-ranking officials—look at them, they're frozen solid in the palace!"
The truth was undeniable: those who had once held dominion over the kingdom had now become lifeless statues, their forms preserved in ice as though they had been caught in a moment of terror.
"This is no mere disaster," one whispered in a voice filled with dread. "It is divine punishment, an anger from the gods that no mortal power can withstand."
The streets of Chen Guo, once bustling with life and commerce, now lay silent and still. People who had once walked with purpose, who had peddled their wares, or stolen from the shadows, were now encased in ice, their movements frozen in time. Soldiers who had patrolled the streets stood as statues, as did the wealthy and powerful—every life extinguished in an instant.
The ice had swept through the city like a tidal wave, as though the very heavens had turned against the kingdom. A powerful chill surged through the streets, freezing everything in its wake, from the poorest beggars to the highest officials. No one had been spared, not even the ruling family.
The weight of the catastrophe sank into the hearts of the soldiers from Tang State. They could see the fear, the helplessness, and the crushing inevitability of the moment in the frozen expressions of Chen Guo's people.
Even the Lord of Chen, with all his resources and the might of his kingdom, had no time to react. He had perished along with his generals and advisors, frozen before they could grasp the enormity of the divine punishment descending upon them.
"Your Highness... is this truly divine punishment?" One of Li Xiao's personal guards stammered, his voice shaking as he stared at the frozen wasteland before him.
The realization struck him like a thunderclap. The power of the Primordial Gods was not something to be questioned. It was beyond mortal comprehension.
Li Xiao nodded slowly, feeling a chill that had nothing to do with the ice surrounding them. This was not the power of mortal men. No army, no artifact could have wrought such a fate.
"It is terrifying. The ice, it won't melt for months, perhaps even a year," one of the generals said grimly, shuddering as the cold gnawed at his bones. "Even a Diamond-level warrior like myself feels the bitter sting of this chill."
"Yes, it is true," Li Xiao murmured, his voice filled with awe and fear. "What the Primordial Gods spoke has come to pass. Chen Guo is destroyed, utterly wiped out. Their army, their rulers—gone. The entire kingdom, nothing more than a frozen graveyard."
His legs trembled slightly, not from the cold, but from the weight of the power he had just witnessed. At first, he had wished for the destruction of Chen's military forces and the death of its leaders. But the Primordial Gods had interpreted his words differently, wiping out the entire kingdom, down to the last living soul.
Such power was both a blessing and a curse. If his wish had been more reckless, he could have condemned Tang Guo to a similar fate. The gods were not to be trifled with—they granted their desires, but at a terrible cost.
"I must be careful," Li Xiao thought, his respect for the Primordial Gods growing deeper with each passing moment. He had only been a shallow believer before, but now, he was a true devotee, humbled and awed by their immense power.
"Your Highness," a general asked, his voice filled with reverence. "What shall we do now?"
Li Xiao straightened, his eyes blazing with purpose. "First, we will take control of the entire territory of Chen Guo. Every city will be under the rule of Tang, and our soldiers will station themselves throughout the land."
The generals nodded eagerly, their excitement palpable. This was an opportunity unlike any other—an opportunity to expand the borders of Tang and claim a vast and fertile land. This was a feat that had eluded the Tang for generations, yet Li Xiao had achieved it with the will of the gods on his side.
"But there is more," Li Xiao continued, his voice firm. "I will order the Artisans Department to carve sculptures of the Primordial Gods. From this day forth, the entire Tang State will become their loyal servants, their true believers."
His words carried weight, and the generals knew this was more than a mere political move. It was a declaration of faith and a pledge of loyalty to the ancient gods that had helped him achieve the impossible.
Li Xiao had seen firsthand the devastating power of the Primordial Gods, and now, he understood that no mortal force could challenge them. With their protection, Tang Guo would never fear invasion. They would stand, unchallenged, for eternity.
"Yes, Your Highness," the generals responded, their eyes gleaming with excitement and awe. The bond between Tang Guo and the Primordial Gods was unbreakable, and with it, the future of the kingdom was secured.