The great calamity was approaching, and the ministers of Tai Cang sighed deeply, with no time to dwell on the matters regarding the young girl.
They had walked for a long while with Ji Xia, passing many ruined houses that were a pitiful sight, and witnessing the gaunt, emaciated people.
Finally, they reached a city tower.
General Ji stood at the front, gathering the troops. Soon after, military formations were neatly arranged in front of the palace.
Ji Xia looked at the strong, resolute Tai Cang soldiers before him and couldn't help but wonder, "Such a magnificent Cang Guard army ranks only second in Tai Cang?
Then, how powerful must the Cang Wei army, once ranked first, have been?"
He had just witnessed Ji Qian personally rally the Tai Cang forces and saw firsthand the formidable strength of the Cang Guard, a force of eight thousand soldiers. They were well-disciplined and incredibly strong, wielding crude, heavy weapons—reportedly over a hundred pounds each—and managing them without breaking a sweat.
"It's a shame that the Cang Wei army was wiped out by that cursed meteor. Otherwise, I'd like to see how much stronger an army than the Cang Guard could be."
"Now, the real concern is whether the Yin Soldiers from the Yin Soldier Nest can deal with the vicious Hound Army, which is even more fearsome than the Cang Wei army," Ji Xia thought as he observed Ji Qian, clad in black and red armor, with her black cloak billowing behind her—her bearing as heroic as ever. He was deep in thought.
Actually, Ji Xia hadn't acted out of turn just now.
Although he had some memory gaps, he could still recall enough from the descriptions of the old man, Lu Yu, about the horrific nature of the "Kiu Dog" race.
If Tai Cang were truly attacked, he would have no place to hide, and could only imagine the torment they would face.
Even if the Yin Soldiers' strength was insufficient, their participation could bolster Tai Cang's forces.
The eight thousand Cang Guard soldiers stood in perfect formation on the large training grounds in front of the palace.
Ji Qian, Lu Yu, and Ji Xia stood at the forefront, while Tai Cang's court officials stood behind them.
"Soldiers!" Ji Qian's calm voice echoed across the training ground.
"The six thousand troops of the Kiu Dog army have crossed the Deer Cry Mountain and are heading toward Tai City!
Tai Cang has struggled for two hundred thirty-two years in this savage wilderness, and now, a great enemy approaches, threatening to destroy all that we have worked for...
Are you afraid?"
Ji Qian spoke without flinching, her voice calm but powerful, amplified by her spiritual energy, resonating through the entire training field.
The Cang Guard remained perfectly still, their discipline unwavering.
"You should not fear, for behind you stand your parents, your wives, and children," she continued, her gaze resolute. She gripped the hilt of her sword tightly, her voice echoing.
"The world truly is marvelous; this must be the power of spiritual energy!" Ji Xia marveled quietly.
"Too bad the original owner of this body had such potential but was too distracted and careless with cultivation."
He couldn't understand the crown prince's thoughts—how could someone with the potential to be a superhuman willingly remain ordinary?
The soldiers on the training grounds responded loudly to Ji Qian's speech:
"Great Wind!
Great Wind!
Great Wind!"
The Great Wind was the sacred totem of Tai Cang, depicted as a dragon-headed, human-bodied figure, with two dragons coiling around its arms and standing atop two continents—a symbol of immense power and grandeur.
After the soldiers finished their chant, Ji Qian's voice rose again, resolute:
"The enemy approaches, and I will lead the charge. We will fight for humanity, for Tai Cang, and for the people behind us!
May the Great Wind protect us, and may Tai Cang endure!"
The eight thousand soldiers were filled with unshakable resolve, their eyes unwavering, knowing that only by fighting to the death could they save the people of Tai Cang from an even greater terror than death itself.
Just then, a middle-aged general stepped forward and, with his hand on his chest, saluted the officials on the city tower. "We will surely die in this battle. Please, your Majesty, grant us your blessing!
We will not serve you in this life, but in the next, we will return to serve you again and defend Tai Cang!"
Ji Qian was moved by the general's words. Her eyes misted over as she remembered the Tai Cang ruler, who had fallen in battle, though the news of his death had been suppressed.
Suppressing her grief, she raised her voice:
"The ruler fought fiercely against the Kiu Dog general, sustaining heavy wounds. After the disaster of the falling star, he did not rest or heal for two months, and his body gave out. Since yesterday, he has been in a deep sleep, recuperating."
"We... we cannot disturb him. Let him rest. Our lord has not had a moment's peace for many years."
Upon hearing this, the Cang Guard soldiers, who had remained in perfect formation, suddenly erupted into chaos. Their voices, filled with concern and disbelief, echoed throughout the training field.
Ji Xia watched the scene quietly. Though he had never met the Tai Cang ruler, nor did he know his complete history, he couldn't help but feel a deep respect for someone so beloved by the people.
Before he could reflect further, Ji Xia noticed something strange. He stared down at his feet, unable to endure the sorrowful, desperate gazes of those around him.
"Your Highness!"
Lu Yu, though old, still stood as straight as a pine tree. His voice rang out, "Please, issue the Tai Cang Imperial Order and command the troops to march out and face the enemy!"
Ji Xia was taken aback. He frowned and asked, "Me?"
"Of course, it should be you, Your Highness. As the eldest of the ninth-generation royal bloodline, you must address the soldiers. You are the rightful heir!" Lu Yu replied.
The court officials whispered among themselves, and Ji Xia could guess what they were saying—likely nothing good.
One of them sighed, "Lu Yu, we should invite the senior ministers, Zé and Qing, to speak with the soldiers?"
Lu Yu shook his head and was about to respond when an elderly man with a long beard stepped forward and softly said, "Before the soldiers march, the ruler must bless them, according to our customs. With the king gone, only the prince can fill his place. Otherwise, it would be ill omen."
This man, named Zhao Qu, was Tai Cang's chief diviner, responsible for all rituals, divinations, and religious matters in the kingdom.
Upon hearing his words, the whispers among the officials ceased.
"Rituals? Divination?" Ji Xia pondered. "This world is truly strange. Perhaps these rituals and divinations have real power. The 'ill omen' they speak of... maybe we should take it seriously."
"Your Highness, please step forward." Lu Yu urged.
Ji Xia hesitated. With his past experience and knowledge, he wasn't easily intimidated.
He stepped forward, looking down at the eight thousand soldiers before him.
Despite their meager equipment, with no armor and only basic weapons, the soldiers' eyes were filled with courage. There was no fear—only the resolve of those willing to die for their country.
Seeing this bravery stirred something in Ji Xia's heart.
The defenders of the homeland care little for life and death!
He cleared his throat and tried to recall the many speeches he had seen in his past life.
Suddenly, a figure dressed entirely in black, the one who had earlier tried to coerce Ji Xia into revealing the location of Tai Cang's Imperial Order, pointed at Ji Xia from afar.
Ji Xia's voice rang out, echoing across the training ground.
(Excerpted and adapted from Winston Churchill's speech before WWII, prior to Germany's invasion of Britain.)
"Soldiers, today, we will likely perish at the hands of the Hound Army!"
At Ji Xia's words, Ji Qian and Lu Yu furrowed their brows.
"Heaven is so unjust!
Over two hundred years of effort from nine generations, undone in a single night!"
"The Cang Wei army is gone, but the Hound Army still lurks at our gates, eager to devour us. They have the strength to do so," Ji Xia continued, pausing to gather his thoughts, before pushing forward, "The Hound Army, the Hunters, are bloodthirsty and will devour everything in their path, including the people of Tai Cang—your parents, your wives, your children."
"They will even eat the animals you've raised.
We are weaker than them, and so we will suffer the worst torments!"
A strange silence fell across the training field. The soldiers, who had remained silent, now seemed to be listening intently to Ji Xia's words.
Among the officials, some were furious and were about to scold Ji Xia for his defeatist speech. However, they were stopped by Lu Yu and Ji Qian's stern glares.
"But!" Ji Xia continued, his voice growing firmer: "We may know that we are doomed, but should we surrender without a fight?
Should we open the gates and let these beasts trample over us?