"Obey the emperor's orders!" Sa Noko of the Holy Sun Sect and General Zaye of the Ram country rejoiced secretly. Li Tianba's actions would weaken the nation, a welcome outcome for them.
"Kill!"
Li Tianba shouted, "Kill them all!"
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
The million-strong army poured into the capital, throwing it into chaos. Cries of battle and death filled the air.
The invaders, especially those from the Holy Sun Sect and the Ram country, showed no mercy, leaving destruction in their wake.
Soon, the once-prosperous capital was in ruins, with bodies littering the streets, fires burning, and blood soaking the ground.
"That boy Zhao Hao dared defy me. Show the world my power. Kill everyone!" Li Tianba, leading the charge, aiming to unleash a bloodbath in the imperial palace.
...
In the center of the imperial capital, the palace.
"The commander is back with the army."
"Zhao Hao's end is near. We should unite."
"Seize the Golden Phoenix Temple and destroy Zhao Hao's forces."
The sound of battle reached the palace, throwing it into chaos. The Army stationed in the palace rushed towards the Golden Phoenix Temple, led by their commanders—Li Tianba's loyalists, ready for this moment.
The entire palace descended into turmoil.
....
"Where is the emperor? Where is the emperor?"
"I don't know. The emperor hasn't attended court for days."
"Surely, the emperor hasn't fled, right?"
Outside the imperial palace, the sound of battle shook the ground. In front of the Golden Phoenix Temple, officials looked at each other in fear.
"The emperor has just regained power, but all the military strength is still controlled by Li Tianba. We haven't formed an army yet. With soldiers now at the gates, how can we defend against the enemy?"
"Soldiers at the gates? The Imperial Guards and Embroidered guards have already stormed the Golden Phoenix Temple."
"I've only been in office for three days. Will I witness the fall of our nation so soon?"
Seeing the enemy forces charging, the officials were as frantic as ants on a hot pot.
Sun Bin stood at the forefront, his white feather fan in hand. His handsome face was creased in seriousness. Why hadn't the emperor returned? Without him, the nation would surely fall.
"First kill the newly-appointed officials of Zhao Hao," Commanded the three generals as they led 30,000 troops toward the Golden Phoenix Temple.
"This is troublesome," Sun Bin murmured. With no soldiers to command, even his knowledge of military strategy was useless. He had no choice but to act.
"Whoever steps on the stone steps of the Golden Phoenix Temple shall die!" A thunderous voice erupted.
"Oh!"
A brilliant sword light accompanied by thunder and lightning cleaved the air, tearing the ground and carving a gully 100 meters long in front of the temple.
The three generals halted, stunned.
A massive sword, entwined with lightning, descended from the sky.
"Boom!"
The sword struck the ground, causing the earth to crack. The shockwave forced the generals back as if hit by a tidal wave.
Under the force of the sword, the advancing army retreated.
"Dong Zhuo is here! Who dares challenge me?"
With a loud roar, the ground cracked like a spider web. A towering figure, three meters tall and engulfed in black flames, landed.
"It's him again."
Seeing the monstrous figure, the three generals trembled.
"The emperor relies on this man. We must join forces to eliminate him and clear the path for our general." They rallied their strength and charged at Dong Zhuo together.
"Together, kill him."
"Attack!"
The leader of the Embroidered guards shouted, and the other two others joined in. Their combined power formed a colossal force, like a dragon, twisting the ground and hurtling toward Dong Zhuo.
The combined might of the three generals, each at Tier 6 of the War Spirit realm , could crush a mountain. If Dong Zhuo couldn't stop this, the Golden Phoenix Temple and all within it would be destroyed.
As the deadly force approached, Dong Zhuo snorted. Raising his arms, the giant sword lifted from the ground.
"Break!"
Dong Zhuo swung the sword, its thunderous blade slicing through the air and smashing into the combined force.
"Boom boom boom..."
The combined force shattered under the impact, but the giant sword's momentum continued, striking the three generals and sending them flying in terror.
The retreating armies behind them were too slow to escape.
"Boom boom boom..."
The giant sword carved a bloody path through the army, creating a ravine filled with shattered limbs and bodies.
"Ding Ding Ding..."
Dong Zhuo's power surged.
Thousands of elite guards lay dead, and the three generals trembled with fear.
…..
"Boom!"
The midday gate shattered as the regular army rushed in, followed by looters and dark assassins, flooding the imperial city.
"The Grand Marshal is here."
The three defeated generals quickly reported to Li Tianba.
"The young emperor is formidable," Li Tianba growled, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Zhao Hao, you killed my family! I will slaughter this city to avenge them!" He roared, looking at the corpses hanging from the city gates. "Slaughter everyone in the palace! Paint the imperial city red!"
Dong Zhuo stood tall before the Golden Phoenix Temple, his giant sword ready.
"Is that the man backing Zhao Hao?" Li Tianba's eyes widened.
"With all the officials gathered outside the temple, Zhao Hao must be inside. Only you can kill such a strong guard," Sa Noko said, covering her mouth with a chuckle.
"Under my sword, there are no strong men, only dead souls," Li Tianba declared, leaping into the air with a black knife in hand, aiming for Dong Zhuo.
"Li Tianba himself!" The soldiers gasped.
"A war emperor!" Dong Zhuo narrowed his eyes.
"You are my master's nemesis. I will face you for him," Dong Zhuo's aura surged. "It's worth killing your family. Finally, a worthy opponent!" Laughing wildly, he soared into the sky, his giant sword crackling with lightning.
"Kill!" The giant sword descended like a divine hammer.
Li Tianba rose to meet him, his black blade slicing through the sky.
The clash of sword and blade sent shockwaves in all directions, shaking the ground and making the soldiers' ears ring.
Under the impact, the world seemed to tremble.