The cries echoed throughout Lingyan City, and more and more Silver Armor troops joined the doomed charge, rushing toward the Iron Legion with resolute defiance. Even facing the colossal, unstoppable Qilin Rhino, the eyes of every soldier held unyielding determination...

Watching the grief-stricken Silver Armor soldiers charge towards them in a final, desperate stand, Ye Jingyu’s face remained impassive, devoid of joy or sorrow. With a gentle wave of his hand, the Chiyi warriors behind him spurred their Qilin Rhinos forward to meet the charge. The eight thousand iron cavalry, led by Ying Xiaoxiao and Chen Qi, surged into the fray, clashing fiercely with the spirit-driven Silver Armor cavalry who were resolved to die for their cause...

The slaughter raged on...

Ye Jingyu, however, did not re-enter the fray. Astride Ni Bo, he watched the carnage coldly: the ground slick with blood, strewn with severed limbs, a messy carpet of pulverized flesh and entrails—and the unwavering soldiers amidst it all...

This was war. This was the brutal reality of war, offering no rationale, no mercy. What remained was the starkest, most naked form of killing...

Either you die, or I live. This was the law of survival in war, and indeed, the law of survival in this world...

To survive better, he must become even stronger...

Just as Ye Jingyu began to unleash his spirit art, many masters within Lingyan City simultaneously sensed the surging power...

At Mingyan Tower, the establishment was not open for business as usual. All the courtesans huddled fearfully in their rooms, sitting, perhaps dozing. They cared little for the battle raging outside; their sole concern was their own fate in the coming hours...

Only in the private box on the third floor did a woman in a black gauze dress open the window, catching sight of that single beam of white light. A look of ecstatic joy instantly flooded her brown eyes...

Empty Origin Star Severance—wasn't that Grandfather's ultimate technique? Could Grandfather be near Ah Yu? Or had Ah Yu truly ascended to the Spirit Manifestation Realm?

Impossible. How long had he been cultivating Soul Arts? How could he reach the Spirit Manifestation Realm? But Grandfather rarely left the tribe, let alone personally interfere in the affairs of the outside world?

Could it be that Ah Yu has truly reached the Spirit Manifestation Realm?

Thinking this, the satisfaction in the woman's eyes deepened...

At the same moment, in the City Lord’s Mansion, Sima Xuan, who had just returned, also witnessed the flash of light. His expression shifted dramatically once more. A Spirit Manifestation Realm Soul Master? Did their enemy camp harbor a Soul Master of that tier? This... how could this be? How large was the state of Shu Yun? How could they possibly possess a Spirit Manifestation Realm Soul Master? It was utterly impossible! Even by the side of King Yan, Xuanyuan Yan, there were only two Soul Masters at that level. Even if Shu Yun had such a master, the ruler of such a minor kingdom would never dispatch them!

Yet, that was undoubtedly a spirit art only a Spirit Manifestation Realm Soul Master could unleash, and only a technique of such devastating power could instantly obliterate Grandmaster Yu Wuhen...

Seeing the two wings descending from the sky, Sima Xuan suddenly understood: this city truly could not be held...

But as the City Lord, was he supposed to abandon the city and flee? No, he could not. To abandon his post now would be desertion in the face of the enemy, a crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of his clan. Though the world was vast, where could he possibly run to?

Forget it, forget it. It is but a death. Sima Xuan has fought countless battles in his life; could he truly fear death now?

"Father..." Just as Sima Xuan was about to make his decision, a crisp, feminine voice called out. Sima Xuan turned to see his sixteen-year-old daughter walking slowly towards him. Following behind her was a handsome young man. Sima Xuan knew this was the man his daughter had rescued months ago while traveling in the Heavenly Dipper Mountain Range. Delighted by his daughter's kindness, he had never obstructed her rescue efforts, nor paid the young man much attention...

He never expected that at this critical juncture, his daughter would bring this man out with her. In an instant, Sima Xuan seemed to realize something...

"Daughter, since you are here, quickly gather your things. I will send men to escort you and your mother out of Lingyan City, heading for Blazing Flame City..." Sima Xuan had made his peace with death, but he refused to let his family share in his sacrifice, making this decision in a flash...

"Father, why must we go?" Sima Xuan's daughter, Sima Lingling, kind-hearted and gentle in appearance, knew the enemy army was besieging the city, but she had always trusted that with her father holding the line, Lingyan City was impregnable. How could it possibly fall, requiring her departure?

"The East Gate has already fallen, and the South and West Gates are close to breaking. The enemy army will soon reach the City Lord’s Mansion. If we don't leave now, it will be too late..." Sima Xuan was deeply worried, yet he knew his daughter, despite her outward gentleness, possessed an intensely stubborn core. If he didn't explain the gravity of the situation clearly, she would never leave...

"What? The East Gate has fallen? How is that possible? It has only been this short a time?" Upon hearing her father confirm the breach of the East Gate, shock flooded Sima Lingling's eyes...

"Nothing is impossible. Our soldiers today, for reasons unknown, are utterly exhausted, unable even to lift their swords—they are mere lambs to the slaughter. Furthermore, the enemy commands terrifying Savage Beasts that human power cannot repel, and they even have a Spirit Manifestation Realm Soul Master. Even General Yu Wuhen was killed, his soul scattered. Daughter, stop asking questions. Don't bother packing anything. Call your mother out, and leave immediately..." Sima Xuan relayed the state of the battle as quickly as possible, hoping his daughter would understand and depart at once...

"No, Father is not leaving, and neither will I. I want to share life and death with Father. I believe Mother would also never wish to leave alone..." To his surprise, Sima Lingling flatly refused. She understood perfectly well that her father intended to stand and die with Lingyan City...

"Lingling..." Sima Xuan’s face changed, and just as he was about to reprimand her, he was interrupted by a man's voice...

"City Lord, may I ask which army broke the East Gate? And who is the commanding general?" The man standing behind Sima Lingling spoke up...

Sima Xuan paused. He had not expected this fellow to dare interrupt him, but at this moment, he couldn't afford to be harsh; he might need this man to protect his daughter later...

"The Iron Legion under the command of Luo Ruofeng, the Third Young Master of Shu Yun. The commander is a youth named Ye Jingyu..." As the City Lord of Lingyan, he naturally possessed this piece of intelligence...

"Oh? If it is truly him, then there's no need to leave?" The man paused, then stated plainly, "Then we don't need to go?"

"Hmm?" Both Sima Xuan and Sima Lingling turned to look at the man, both displaying clear confusion...