Wang Man's voice boomed with disdain. “So what if we killed them? The Northern Plains Imperial Court is nothing but a trifle; we could wipe them out with a flick of a finger!”
The middle-aged man on the other end fell silent for a moment, utterly stunned. Never before had anyone dared speak to the Northern Plains Imperial Court with such blatant disrespect! His face twisted into a grotesque mask of fury. “Good! Very good! Since you're so arrogant, let's see if you have the guts to stay in Fengcang City! Let's see how long your bravado lasts!”
He continued, his voice laced with venom, “I am Huang Fu, one of the Imperial Capital's Five Tiger Generals! I've sworn a military oath to annihilate you rebels...”
Before he could finish, Wang Man scoffed, “Go on, call for more!”
The voice turned utterly savage. “Insolent! Still running your mouth! My Imperial Court will ensure you die without a burial place!”
Ji Fuyao's jade hand swept with a casual grace, and a heaven-reaching spirit fire erupted, directly engulfing Huang Fu's illusory Dao patterns. His spectral form was instantly annihilated!
Moments later, flames flickered in Ji Fuyao's eyes. “Form ranks, entire army! Prepare for battle!”
Immediately, the Imperial Dragon Guard surged with battle intent, ready to fight at a moment's notice.
***
Meanwhile, millions of miles away in a distant city, Huang Fu's face was contorted with boundless fury. He had used Fengcang City's Spatial Array Patterns to transmit his voice, only to be utterly humiliated! Who was he? He was a powerhouse of the Imperial Capital, Huang Fu, a trusted general under the Ice Frost Empress! One of the Imperial Capital's Five Tiger Generals! And he had sworn a military pledge to return with Ji Fuyao's head!
At this thought, boundless killing intent erupted on Huang Fu's face. He immediately activated a supreme secret art, transmitting orders to the Ice Flame Army and the powerhouses in various cities. “Within half a day, I want you all to converge on Fengcang City and annihilate Ji Fuyao's rebel forces! Disobey, and you die!”
This message caused a sensation. At the Fire Alliance headquarters, Red Cliff City, the Ice Flame Army besieging them received the order and temporarily withdrew.
The Ice Flame Army commander frowned, reporting to Huang Fu, “We only need a few more hours to wipe out the King Generals here!”
Huang Fu coldly retorted, “The Fire Alliance is nothing but a trifle; my Imperial Court can crush them with a flick of a finger! Our priority now is to annihilate the Fuyao Dynasty! Converge on Fengcang City within half a day, or face execution!”
Hearing this, the Ice Flame Army commander could only issue the order: “Temporary retreat!”
Boom, boom, boom! In an instant, the Ice Flame Army surrounding the Fire Alliance activated their Spatial Array Patterns, traversing the void directly to the spatial teleportation arrays in nearby cities. It was well-known that the Northern Plains Imperial Court had constructed numerous teleportation arrays throughout the region. They could reach Fengcang City in less than half a day!
At this moment, watching the Ice Flame Army withdraw, Su Yunxi, a King General of the Fire Alliance headquarters, was utterly stunned. “What just happened?” All the Fire Alliance powerhouses were equally bewildered. Their headquarters was on the verge of collapse, yet the Ice Flame Army had simply retreated! They had been besieged for days, unable to hold out much longer, and now the enemy was just... gone? For days, this entire region had been completely sealed off, leaving them oblivious to external events.
Su Yunxi, her chest heaving, quickly swallowed a healing elixir. Her voice trembled, “That was a close call! The Ice Flame Army could return at any moment. What is the Fire Alliance to do now?”
Hearing this, several elders with weak auras spoke, “If you could obtain the ultimate inheritance of Huang Chao, our Fire Alliance's founding Supreme, perhaps we could still make a stand!”
Su Yunxi frowned, her face pale. “Really?”
Huang Chao, the Fire Alliance's founding Supreme, was a legendary figure. He was the first Quasi-Dao Supreme in the Northern Plains to defy the Imperial Court, and he had nearly attained the Supreme Fruit Position on the Supreme Path! But he ultimately failed. Many anti-Imperial Court forces had emerged in the Northern Plains, but their inheritances all stemmed from Huang Chao. It was Huang Chao who left behind the prophecy: “A powerhouse of the Path of Spirit Fire will eventually overthrow the Northern Plains Imperial Court!” With this in mind, everyone looked at Su Yunxi. “King General, Supreme Huang Chao's inheritance contains a terrifying Path of Spirit Fire. As long as you can obtain it, we still have a chance!”
Su Yunxi frowned, thinking internally, Can it really work? The Fire Alliance headquarters had nearly fallen this time, plunging her into endless despair. Only now, with the Ice Flame Army's retreat, was she emerging from that suffocating hopelessness. Supreme Huang Chao's inheritance? Even if she obtained it, could she truly resist the Northern Plains Imperial Court? Even the mighty Supreme Huang Chao couldn't stand against them!
Su Yunxi murmured, “I want to live.” An idea sparked within her. If she defected to the Imperial Court, would the Ice Frost Empress forgive her? The Ice Frost Empress had lost the Extreme Cold Three Thousand Flames and had always coveted Supreme Huang Chao's ultimate inheritance. If she offered it as a pledge of allegiance, would the Ice Frost Empress spare her? Was this her only chance? As for betraying the Fire Alliance, betraying Supreme Huang Chao—that no longer mattered! Survival was paramount!
At this thought, Su Yunxi's gaze hardened. Her eyes swept over the others, and she thought to herself, Forgive me, but this isn't my fault. Blame the Imperial Court for being too powerful.
She composed herself and looked at everyone. “I need your help. Once I obtain Supreme Huang Chao's inheritance, we will surely march on the Imperial Capital!”
They had once visited Supreme Huang Chao's inheritance grounds. Obtaining the inheritance was incredibly difficult! She intended to present this inheritance, whole and complete, to the Ice Frost Empress, but she couldn't do it alone. Yet, it was her pledge of allegiance! The unique fire left by Supreme Huang Chao was comparable to the Extreme Cold Three Thousand Flames, obtained from the Bronze Ancient Palace! She had to get it! And now, time was running out. There was only one way: to use the lives of the Fire Alliance powerhouses to forcibly break through the restrictions left by Supreme Huang Chao and seize it!
Su Yunxi looked at everyone, her face resolute. “To forcibly break the array and obtain Supreme Huang Chao's inheritance, we will need to sacrifice lives... but...” She trailed off, then looked at the other two King Generals. “I will use Soul Combustion, burning my lifespan to help you obtain Supreme Huang Chao's inheritance! If I die, I die!”
The other two King Generals shook their heads. “No, we are already heavily injured. You are our greatest hope!”
At this, several old men's faces showed firm resolve. “We will help you, King General! This is our last hope!”
Other powerhouses in the field likewise declared, “We will help you! We're just worthless lives anyway. After we die, if the Imperial Court is destroyed, remember to offer us sacrifices and let us know the news!”
Even the remaining two King Generals stepped forward. “Let's risk it all!” This was because, in the battle for the Fire Alliance headquarters, they had been severely wounded protecting Su Yunxi. Now, to offer their power as a sacrifice, they were willing to act!
Before long, the Fire Alliance powerhouses activated a supreme secret art, directly using Spatial Array Patterns to reach Supreme Huang Chao's inheritance grounds. Everyone declared, “Even if we die, we will help King General Su Yunxi!”
***
In the Imperial Capital, Lu Xuan leisurely finished his meal. He told the owner, “Another serving of Spirit Ice Noodles, some Grilled Cold Spirit Noodles, and a few Great Demon Buns...”
Moments later, carrying his food, he entered a tavern and comfortably reclined.
Lu Xuan directly transmitted a message to Ji Fuyao: “Disciple, have you tried the Northern Plains specialties? They're quite tasty.”
Ji Fuyao was slightly startled. “No, Master.” She had been fighting constantly, with no time to eat!
Lu Xuan chuckled. “Try some.” With that, he directly activated Spatial Array Patterns, teleporting the food to Ji Fuyao.
Ji Fuyao stared at the food before her, utterly stunned. Her mind went blank. A wave of warmth surged through her body. Her eyes welled up, tinged with red. In this moment, she truly felt her Master's warmth. Everyone else was concerned with whether she could conquer the Northern Plains Imperial Court, but only her Master cared if she had eaten. This was her Master!
Ji Fuyao took a bite, a faint smile gracing her lips. “Master, you're so good to me.”
Lu Xuan asked, “Is it good?”
Ji Fuyao's nose stung, and she remembered how many days it had been since she last saw Lu Xuan. “Master, I miss you.”