The setting sun bled crimson across the sky.

A fierce battle raged before the Lock Dragon Gate.

This clash had endured for a full night and day.

The most captivating struggle unfolded high above.

Two True Persons of this era engaged in a life-or-death duel.

Though, likely many could see nothing at all.

High above, it appeared as though two suns had been ignited, dazzling and brilliant. Even the true sun, sinking behind the western mountains, was dimmed and overshadowed.

Han Yin was wreathed in golden dragon shadows, his every move exuding unrestrained dominance.

The relatively younger Zhuang Gaoxian, was more reserved, displaying no flamboyant radiance, yet he steadfastly parried Han Yin’s attacks.

Having remained hidden in the depths of the palace for years, Zhuang Gaoxian’s sudden breakthrough upon emerging had established him as a Cave True cultivator. This ignited Han Yin’s killing intent.

Throughout the past year, he had sought an opportunity to assassinate Zhuang Gaoxian, denying him the chance to further grow. But Zhuang Gaoxian had always been cautious, revealing his Cave True strength only once on the Zhuang-Mo front before retreating into obscurity.

He hadn’t expected his second appearance to be on the Zhuang-Yong battlefield.

Nor had Han Yin imagined that Zhuang Gaoxian would be so unlike a nascent Cave True, his true strength utterly overwhelming. Despite his confidence, he had been unable to subdue him after a day and night of intense combat!

He believed he had cultivated the Nine Dragons Tyrant Codex to its peak, no less than his brother Han Zhou in his prime, and thought assassinating Zhuang Gaoxian would be effortless. Yet, despite dominating the entire fight, he could not kill him. The man’s resilience was terrifying, as if he could endure forever.

And looking across the entire battlefield, wasn’t the resilience of the Zhuang people embodied in their lord Zhuang Gaoxian?

Duan Li and Heba Dao fought until the Starlight Pagoda crumbled, yet they continued their battle.

Huangfu Duanming’s greatsword had shattered, a strip of his scalp had been shorn off, his appearance was disheveled, but he still wielded the broken blade, continuing to fight!

How many lives had the Zhuang army lost beneath the walls this day and night? Yet their assault remained as fierce as at the outset.

“The Zhuang people shall not die in vain!”

These words, written in blood by Chen Shikai, had become etched into the hearts of every Zhuang soldier.

Du Ruhui, who styled himself a River God capable of controlling the waters, had already lost an arm while manipulating the emotions of the soldiers and civilians. This was the price he paid for evading the entanglement of the Yong Kingdom’s Marquis Weining during a previous pursuit.

His supernatural seed had long taken root, blossomed, and borne fruit. Possessing the “咫尺天涯” (zhǐ chǐ tiān yá, “inch-foot horizon” – short distance long way) ability, it was no exaggeration to say he could traverse thousands of miles alone.

But this time, the Yong Kingdom had deployed four marquis to pursue and encircle him. Who among those who ascended to Spirit Descent was easily dealt with? Endless secret techniques and forbidden arts constantly compressed his escape.

Had he fled directly beyond the Yong border from the start, no one could have caught him. But he chose to tie down the Yong Kingdom’s top fighters within Yong territory, and in turn, was restrained himself.

The Yong Kingdom dispatching four Yong Marquis to pursue and encircle him was also perhaps because they believed that killing Du Ruhui was more important than a great victory before the Lock Dragon Gate.

The four Yong Marquis, while pursuing Du Ruhui and preventing him from wreaking havoc in the Yong Kingdom’s hinterland, were also expending great energy and tacitly sealing off his possible escape from Yong territory.

This was the main reason why Du Ruhui could persist until now.

He hadn’t had a chance to carry out any sabotage for a long time. Everywhere he went, he had to move on to the next place before he could even throw a punch.

It now seemed that being completely surrounded and killed was only a matter of time.

Everyone, including Du Ruhui himself and the four Yong Marquis pursuing him, knew very well that Du Ruhui’s defeat was only a matter of time.

But time itself was the biggest problem!

Each time it seemed that time had come, Du Ruhui could always wrest out a sliver of space and continue the entanglement!

“Marquis Fengge.” In a brief moment of intersection, the most senior of the four Yong Marquis, Weining Marquis, sent a mental message: “Du Ruhui can’t escape anymore, you go to the Lock Dragon Gate to participate in the city defense, and make sure to achieve a comprehensive victory and hurt them severely!”

Marquis Fengge said nothing, turned around and flew away. Among the four Yong Marquis participating in the siege and pursuit, he was the least good at encirclement, and was always known for his violent killing power.

But Du Ruhui’s state now no longer required him to participate in the siege. Du Ruhui would surely be killed if he was entangled again, it made no difference whether he was there or not.

And his top-level combat power invested in the Lock Dragon Gate battlefield could, to some extent, affect the direction of the war!

Sensing the departure of Marquis Fengge, Du Ruhui’s pressure was greatly reduced, but there was no ease in his heart.

This war against Yong was a war jointly led by him and Zhuang Gaoxian. After years of planning and preparing many backhands, he was very confident.

But Han Yin’s style was undiminished, he suddenly left the pass, ventured here alone, and firmly held the Lock Dragon Gate, this was one.

The death of Vice Minister Dong A, who was sitting in the rear, was the second.

Without knowing what was happening in the rear, they could only take risks and trigger the final battle in advance. The outcome of the war had since headed in an unknown direction.

Now that things had come to this, they could only fight hard.

But after holding back the four Spirit Descent experts for a day and night, he had done his best. Even if he risked his old life, he really couldn’t do more.

He knew very well what the departure of Marquis Fengge meant.

But he could only watch helplessly, completely powerless!

Even more so at this time, he couldn’t be impulsive, because he had always been walking on the edge of a cliff, and he would fall into the abyss if he was careless. If he died in battle now, there would be three more Spirit Descent Yong Marquis participating in the battle at Lock Dragon Gate… That would directly cut off any hope of victory.

So he had to be more cautious, and hold these three Yong Marquis back for a longer time, waiting… for the changes before the Lock Dragon Gate to happen.

Those who were struggling on the edge of despair were not limited to Du Ruhui.

Duan Li tore off the tattered armor hanging on his body, and only one iron mace remained in his hand. He was known for his strong physique and amazing defense, but under the attack of Spirit Descent expert Li Ying, he had long been crumbling.

Four Starlight Pagodas were smashed to pieces, and he had almost confirmed that he had no hope of reaching Spirit Descent.

Heba Dao, who was focused on attacking, was not in a better state. Only one White Tiger Pagoda echoing his martial arts remained, still guarding the distant starry sky, the other three had long been shattered into starlight and returned to the universe.

Everyone in Zhuang, from the lord downwards, was expecting victory, and everyone was fighting desperately.

But victory does not seem to be something that can be expected, nor can it be won by risking one’s life.

“Hah!”

Duan Li let out a heavy breath and gritted his teeth to fight on.

But seeing Li Ying, who was coming towards him, suddenly turn and grab Heba Dao’s surging blade light, grabbing his true body!

Heba Dao used the Exterior Pavilion to fight at the Spirit Descent level, and was already at the end of his rope. This happened suddenly, and he couldn’t avoid it in time.

And Li Ying twisted his hand and had already taken off this head!

Zhuang’s master of the Blade Dao, a top-level Exterior Pavilion expert, the commander of the White Feather Army guarding the capital, Heba Dao died in battle!

Duan Li roared in his throat and rammed straight over.

Burning all his remaining Dao Yuan, all his remaining blood and Qi.

His body was like a blood man.

He must be stopped. He must be stopped. There is still a chance… there is still a chance! He roared in his heart.

But Li Ying just glanced at him indifferently, rose from the ground, and went straight to the sky!

His target was Zhuang Gaoxian!

Heba Dao’s head rolled down, turned a few times on the battlefield, facing the direction of the Lock Dragon Gate.

In that angry, lifeless eyes.

A majestic figure rushed to the top of the city gate and planted the Zhuang banner on the city tower.

That was Du Yehou, the only Soaring Dragon Realm lieutenant general of the Nine Rivers Black Armor, who followed the path of ancient military strategists!

He saw him plant a broken flag on the city gate, and the flagpole shattered the city bricks under the infusion of Dao Yuan, firmly fixed.

The tattered flag fluttered, and he looked like a mad tiger, roaring to the sky: “A century of humiliation… will be repaid today!”

The Lock Dragon Gate was broken!