Orion stood still, his sharp gaze piercing through the darkness, his voice barely above a whisper as he called out, "Xu Chu."
"My lord!" Xu Chu responded instantly, his silhouette barely visible in the moonless night. He caught the gleam in Orion's eyes and knew immediately what was required. No further words were needed.
"Leave everything around us to me!" Xu Chu said, his confidence unwavering. Years of following Orion had honed his instincts; there was no hesitation in understanding his lord's intentions.
Without delay, Xu Chu expanded his spiritual consciousness, enveloping the surrounding miles in an invisible net. Every minute sound, every breath of wind, every hidden threat was laid bare to him. Night sentries, hiding in the cover of darkness, were no exception.
"Humph!" Xu Chu let out a soft grunt, his power flaring like a sun igniting in the void. The immense aura of an emperor burst forth, silently yet swiftly snuffing out the lives of those hidden watchers. In the stillness, muffled sounds echoed as bodies dropped, unseen and unheard.
"My lord, it's done," Xu Chu confirmed with a nod.
Orion smiled approvingly. "Well done, Xu Chu."
He turned his attention to Yuan Zuozong. "The Dragon Cavalry Army is ready to strike. Ensure the attack is swift and unexpected. Tonight, we weaken their numbers, nothing more."
"Understood," Yuan Zuozong replied in a hushed voice, his expression solemn. He quickly signaled his troops with a series of precise hand gestures. The 100,000-strong cavalry moved like a single organism, soundlessly shifting into a deadly charge formation.
Under the protective veil of Xu Chu's and Qingyun's spiritual auras, the cavalry moved as ghosts. The horses' hooves, seemingly heavy, were cushioned by silent ripples of energy, leaving no trace of their advance. The ground beneath them remained undisturbed, a stark contrast to the chaos they were about to unleash.
As they approached the sprawling camp outside Chang'an, Orion's lips curled into a faint smile. The fires from the enemy's camp cast long shadows, illuminating the unsuspecting soldiers who patrolled, unaware of the storm approaching.
"Dragon Cavalry—charge!" Orion's voice sliced through the night like a blade, and the calm was shattered.
The cavalry surged forward, the quiet broken by the thunderous roar of thousands of hooves pounding the earth. The sheer force of their advance was like a tidal wave, overwhelming and unstoppable.
Inside the camp, confusion erupted. Soldiers tumbled out of their tents, some still groggy, others frozen in disbelief at the sight before them. The last thing many saw was the glint of spearheads, like stars descending from the heavens.
"Desert Silver Spear, break it for me!" Yuan Zuozong's bellow rang out, his spear glowing with the full power of a Martial Saint. The ground trembled as he thrust forward, a massive spear shadow tearing through the fortifications and sweeping away entire sections of the camp, tents and all. In a single strike, thousands perished.
The devastation was total, and for a moment, silence reigned—a stunned, disbelieving silence. Then, panic set in.
Chang'an trembled in the distance. The explosion of sound and power jolted the city awake. Dust drifted down from beams that hadn't stirred in centuries. In the palaces and mansions, high-ranking officials rushed to vantage points, staring westward, their faces pale.
"Xicheng? There's fighting outside the west gate?" Nobles whispered anxiously, their voices trembling. Chang'an's airspace ban prevented them from seeing the battlefield, leaving them in agonizing ignorance.
Within the imperial palace, Zhou Linglong, who had not slept in days, felt the massive shockwave from her chambers.
"The western camp?" Her heart sank as realization dawned.
Before she could act, Xiao Shan burst into her room, panic etched into his features. "Your Majesty! The western camp is under siege—cavalry! It has to be Orion!"
He was breathing hard, and his eyes were wild with fear. Not long ago, he might have led a charge himself, but now? Facing Orion's legendary forces was a death sentence.
Others soon followed, the room filling with panicked generals and ministers. The truth was clear: Orion's army was here.
"What do we do, Your Majesty?" they pleaded, their voices trembling. For all their bravado, none dared face the overwhelming might outside the city walls.
Zhou Linglong's fury erupted. "What should you do? You're generals, and you're asking me?" Her voice was sharp, cutting through the air like a whip. "Orion is attacking! Will none of you lead our soldiers into battle? Do you expect me to fight him myself?"
Shame filled the room, but none stepped forward. Every one of them knew the truth—they were outmatched. Facing Orion was nothing short of suicide, and they valued their lives too much to throw them away.
"Your Majesty," one general finally spoke, his voice barely a whisper. "Even if we go, it will make no difference. We're not strong enough..."
Zhou Linglong's eyes flashed with cold rage. "I don't care! You will go to the West Camp now, or so help me, I'll have you all executed for cowardice!"
There was no room for debate. Under her harsh glare, the generals had no choice but to march out, their faces pale as they headed toward what they knew would be a blood-soaked battlefield.