Yinge City.

Under the sweeping wind of the northern lands, a solitary figure flew swiftly.

The sentries atop the city walls had long since noticed his approach.

Zhu Weiwo remained seated, his Xin Jin Spear resting across his knees, his gaze unwavering.

It was the Grand Examiner of the Correctional Department who turned, welcoming the newcomer.

“What brings you here?” His voice resonated beneath his mask, a chilling response.

Li Jianqiu’s features gradually became distinct in the night, and he flew directly onto the high ramparts, bowing respectfully. “Greetings, Grand Examiner.”

He then greeted Zhu Weiwo: “Greetings, Senior Brother Zhu.”

Zhu Weiwo merely raised a hand, indicating that no such formality was needed.

Li Jianqiu was accustomed to Zhu Weiwo’s nature and did not take it to heart. He produced a black, square token from his robes, offering it with both hands to the Grand Examiner of the Correctional Department. “Prime Minister Du has instructed me to deliver this token, saying you will naturally know the arrangement.”

“Hmm?”

The Grand Examiner sounded puzzled as he reached out to receive the black token. “Did he say nothing else?”

Li Jianqiu pondered for a moment. “He only said the military situation was urgent and that I should deliver it as quickly as possible.”

The black token was now in his hand. Barely had it touched his palm, before he could even examine it, it silently crumbled, instantly dissolving into a pile of black dust, scattered by the wind!

The Grand Examiner remained silent for a long while, before closing his hand, clutching the last of the token’s fragments in his palm.

“Prime Minister Du has fallen,” he stated.

Li Jianqiu froze, stunned.

Zhu Weiwo, however, seized his Xin Jin Spear, and with a sudden movement, flew from the city wall.

His voice resonated like a spear’s cry, sharp and unparalleled. “I am returning to Xin’an!”

A wisp of flame rose from the spear’s tip, immediately engulfing his entire body.

Like a shooting star, he streaked across the southern border of the Zhuang Kingdom.

Before Lock Dragon Pass.

Du Ruohui, who was discussing the war situation with Zhuang Gaoxian on a high platform erected by the Zhuang army, suddenly fell silent.

Zhuang Gaoxian glanced at him and saw a small seal slowly forming on Du Ruohui’s waist.

The Seal of the Prime Minister of the Zhuang Kingdom.

It should have been worn by Deputy Prime Minister Dong A, stationed in Xin’an City, to help him stabilize the rear. Now, its return to Du Ruohui could only mean one thing – Dong A was dead.

The Deputy Prime Minister, who was stationed in the capital of the Zhuang Kingdom!

Aside from the emotional aspect, purely from the perspective of the situation, this was also a terrible, disastrous news.

What was the situation in the rear like now? Was there any possibility of turning the tide?

“Teacher Du, you cannot return,” Zhuang Gaoxian said.

He could not judge the situation based on Dong A’s death, and he was unclear about the current situation in Xin’an City – it was very likely a trap. If Du Ruohui used his divine power to return, and was trapped there, the current war would be over.

For the Zhuang army, Du Ruohui, who possessed top-tier divine power, was an absolutely indispensable core force.

His divine powers allowed him to advance and retreat freely most of the time, but there was one prerequisite: he could not be led by the nose.

With Du Ruohui’s intelligence, he certainly understood this principle.

So, he simply said, “There is no time left! We cannot wait any longer!”

The monarch and his ministers had been planning this war for many years, simulating countless scenarios, and had naturally prepared many backup plans. However, most of these backup plans required time to implement.

For example, among the royalist armies rushing from various places in the Yong Kingdom, there were agents of the Zhuang Kingdom who could suddenly turn against them in the midst of battle.

For example, lords of the Yong Kingdom like Yao Qi, who were dissatisfied with Han Yin, might have opportunities to win over. At least when the war was at a stalemate or when they were gaining the upper hand, there was a good chance.

For example…

But now, Dong A, who was stationed in the rear, they had already lost time. Time was no longer on their side, but favored Han Yin.

Because at this moment, they had no idea what the current situation in Xin’an City was.

Du Ruohui, who possessed the top-tier divine power of “咫尺天涯” (咫尺天涯, Zhǐchǐ tiānyá, inches away but worlds apart), did not dare to rashly return to take a look. The responsibility he bore was too great to risk even a little outside the Zhuang-Yong battlefield.

And once the news of the Deputy Prime Minister’s death spread, the blow to the morale of the Zhuang army would be devastating.

If the culprit was a strongman sent by the Yong Kingdom, they would certainly be eager to make this matter public.

The Zhuang army had no time to hesitate.

Du Ruohui and Zhuang Gaoxian saw it very clearly.

No matter what happened within the Zhuang Kingdom, even if the worst-case scenario occurred, and the Mo and Cheng Kingdoms joined forces, occupied Xin’an City, and launched a surprise attack, destroying the rear of the Zhuang army, so that Xin’an City could not even send out news.

As long as they took Lock Dragon Pass, they would still have strategic space.

With 300,000 troops gathered together, occupying Tianming Prefecture, establishing a country on the spot was not impossible.

Taking Lock Dragon Pass had always been their firm strategic goal. Now, at this moment, it had become the only choice!

A choice of life and death!

Zhuang Gaoxian’s gaze swept across the battlefield, across Du Ruohui, Huangfu Duanming, Duan Li, and Heba Dao.

At this moment, on this battlefield, among the 300,000 troops of the Zhuang Kingdom, only they knew the news of the incident in Xin’an City. Everyone’s expression was heavy, but no one flinched.

These were his civil and military officials, the sword in his hand, the knife for killing enemies.

The iron ruler named Dong A had already been broken, but the rest of them would still firmly rush towards the future. Rush towards a rising, radiant era.

“Come on. Let us forget all preparations, all backup plans.”

“Let us abandon all fantasies, all hopes.”

“Let us not care how the naval battle fares, let us not care whether the Jing Kingdom can break through Jing’an.”

“We only have us.”

“The Zhuang Kingdom only has us.”

“Before Lock Dragon Pass, there is only Zhuang and Yong!”

“This is the centuries of hatred between our Zhuang Kingdom and the Yong Kingdom, this is the life-and-death war between our Zhuang Kingdom and the Yong Kingdom.”

“The Zhuang Kingdom and the Yong Kingdom, one of them must perish in this battle. And I believe that the Zhuang Kingdom will never be destroyed!”

Zhuang Gaoxian changed his usual gentle, wealthy, and leisurely demeanor. He was now domineering, unrestrained, flamboyant, and wild.

“Du Ruohui, listen to the order!”

Du Ruohui knelt before him. At this moment, there were no teachers and students, only ruler and subject. “Your subject is here!”

“I order you to roam the Yong territory, disrupt all key points, and paralyze the Yong lands. If intercepted, I order you to contain as many God-Descended Yong Marquis as possible!”

“Your subject obeys!” Du Ruohui stood up, filled with murderous aura. With a step, he had already left.

“Huangfu Duanming, listen to the order!”

“Your subject is here!”

“I order you to lead the army and launch a strong attack, giving the Yong army enough pressure. Breaking through the pass is tonight. If any God-Descended Yong Marquis come out of the pass to meet the battle, you must kill them!”

Huangfu Duanming gripped his Guan Dao tightly and replied in a loud voice, “This general obeys!”

He took the opportunity to wipe his Guan Dao, and blood gushed out of his palm. He swore on the spot, “In this battle, either my blade will break before the pass, or my blade will be erected on the city tower!”

“Duan Li, Heba Dao, listen to the order!”

Duan Li and Heba Dao knelt at the same time. “Your subjects are here!”

“I order you two to mobilize the Nine Rivers Xuanjia and Baiyu armies to block the Yong Marquis as much as possible. You must not care about casualties, and clear the path between me and Han Yin!”

The two did not hesitate at all and said in unison, “This general obeys! We are willing to fight to the death for Your Majesty!”

Zhuang Gaoxian then spread his sleeves, turned around, and faced the towering Lock Dragon Pass, as if he were looking into the eyes of the Yong Kingdom’s ruler who had been in power for hundreds of years.

“Hasn’t Han Yin always wanted to find a chance to kill me?”

“I will give him the opportunity!”

“Let us see.”

“Whose world is it today!”

ps: The ending I mentioned yesterday was the ending of the Heroic Chapter, not the entire Crimson Heart…

There have indeed been many times when I wanted to give up, but without exception, I was defeated by passion.

I won’t drop it.

I still have savings, and I still have the spirit.

When I really can’t hold on, I will tell everyone in advance, I won’t disappear without saying goodbye.

I have a sense of ceremony.

Still looking for “Crimson Heart Ascendant” free novel

Baidu directly search: “” is very simple!