Chapter 257 - 181: Terror

Chapter 257: Chapter 181: Terror

In the grand hall of the Imperial Court.

Hong Zai’s voice faded.

Among all the civil and military officials, not a single one responded.

Evidently, none of them had much confidence in winning this undeclared war against the Saint Demon Sect.

The Saint Demon Sect was too powerful. Its current Saint Master was unrivaled.

Finally, it was the commander of the Black Dragon Army, Situ Yanbei, who broke the silence. "Your Majesty."

"The Saint Demon Sect’s army began marching last night. It will take them at least eight more days to reach the Southern Gate of the Capital."

"In these eight days, we must mobilize the Martial Arts powers within the Capital Region for a fight to the death against the Saint Demon Sect."

Hong Zai looked at Situ Yanbei with gratification. Only the Black Dragon Army commander, whom he had personally supported, would stand up for him at such a critical moment.

"General Situ, please continue," Hong Zai said.

Situ Yanbei sighed inwardly. ’In truth, I also feel that the Imperial Court’s crisis will be difficult to resolve.’

’Unless the Martial Arts Families of the Capital Region can truly unite and assist the Imperial Court in resisting the Saint Demon Sect.’

’However, that’s impossible.’

’In times of peace, these Martial Arts Families do everything they can to leech off the Imperial Court. Once the nation is on the brink of collapse, they’ll be the first to flee.’

’Stay behind and fight to the death with the common folk? In their dreams!’

However, Situ Yanbei was not without ways to deal with them.

"There are nearly a hundred Martial Arts Families in the Capital Region. If they are willing to obey orders, the Saint Demon Sect crisis can be averted."

"However, the disciples of these families are all turncoats who flee at the first sign of battle. They cannot be relied upon."

"To deal with them, we must resort to extreme measures."

"I am willing to personally form an enforcement squad for Your Majesty. When the Saint Demon Sect’s army arrives, if any of these cowards dare to abstain from the fight, we will kill them all."

"Let’s see if they fear the Saint Demon Sect’s butcher knives more, or my, Situ Yanbei’s, broadsword," Situ Yanbei said with a cold expression.

His words shocked the entire court.

The Martial Arts World of the Capital Region was inextricably linked to the officials in the court. Situ Yanbei’s proposal was equivalent to holding a knife directly to their own throats.

Although Hong Zai remained expressionless, he was inwardly shaken. He hadn’t expected Situ Yanbei to offer such a radical suggestion.

"Your Majesty, do not hesitate. If we don’t resort to extreme measures now, the Capital City is in peril," Situ Yanbei urged forcefully.

Hong Zai himself was a Martial Arts expert of the Rebirth Realm who had risen to power through ruthlessness after biding his time for a long while.

His personality was quite decisive. Gritting his teeth, he waved his hand to silence the clamor from the court officials.

"I hereby declare Situ Yanbei the First Enforcement Officer and order him to form an enforcement squad immediately!

"The duty of the enforcement squad will be to register every Martial Artist at the Bone Refining Realm and above within the Capital Region."

"All Martial Artists in the Capital Region at the Bone Refining Realm and above must join the battle!"

"Those who refuse to fight, the Enforcement Officer may execute on the spot! No report is necessary!"

With only eight days at most, Hong Zai knew he had to prescribe a strong medicine.

Situ Yanbei dropped to one knee. "Thank you for your trust, Your Majesty! This subordinate will go and organize the enforcement squad at once!"

"Go!" Hong Zai waved his hand.

Situ Yanbei strode away.

Watching Situ Yanbei’s departing figure, the civil and military officials knew that a storm of blood was about to sweep through the Capital City starting today.

’His Majesty is forcing the Capital City’s Martial Arts powers to make a choice ahead of time: either fight, or die!’

So, would the Martial Arts powers of the Capital City submit to Hong Zai’s forceful coercion?

The officials had initially thought this would cause a major incident. Several elder statesmen even desperately tried to persuade Hong Zai to retract his order.

But Hong Zai paid them no heed whatsoever.

With the Black Dragon War Generals as its core, Situ Yanbei quickly organized the enforcement squad and began to move against the Martial Arts powers in the Capital City.

At first, some Martial Arts powers did indeed refuse to cooperate with Situ Yanbei.

Armed with the Emperor’s direct decree, Situ Yanbei decisively began a slaughter.

When a True Spirit Body Realm expert like Situ Yanbei went on a rampage, those in the Capital Region who could stop him could be counted on one hand.

After he killed two Rebirth Realm experts in a row, the enforcement squad’s registration and conscription work proceeded much more smoothly.

And so it went.

「Seven days later.」

The Saint Demon Sect’s army was now only a day’s journey from the Southern Gate of the Capital.

Under Situ Yanbei’s decisive measures, the Capital City had finally assembled a terrifying ’Capital Guard Army’ in a short period of time!

When Hong Zai saw this army with his own eyes, he couldn’t help but sigh with emotion. ’Just how long have these parasites in the Capital City been hiding their strength!’

Fifty-three Rebirth Realm Martial Artists! That was double the number of Rebirth Realm experts deployed during the decisive battle between Jiangnan Prefecture and Daliang!

One Martial Arts Family had even hidden away a genius with a Heroic Root Bone, who was now also dragged out to serve as a "mobile charging station."

There were over six hundred Bone Refining Realm Martial Artists, with nearly a hundred of them at the Bone Refining Fifth Layer!

Even the ’Capital Guard Army’ that Situ Yanbei had assembled was startled by the sheer power they had gathered.

After being forcibly united, they had produced such terrifying combined strength.

’Perhaps when the Saint Demon Sect’s army sees the strength of the Capital Guard Army, they’ll be scared out of their wits.’

Thus, the forcibly assembled Capital Guard Army unexpectedly developed a special kind of cohesion.

It was clear that strength was the true force that united all.

Scouts from the front lines continuously sent intelligence back to the Imperial Palace.

When the Saint Demon Sect’s army was only half a day’s journey from the Southern Gate of the Capital.

Accompanied by Lingkong, Grandmaster Ming, and Situ Yanbei, Hong Zai personally led the Capital Guard Army to the top of the newly repaired southern gate’s city wall.

"This time, we absolutely cannot allow the Saint Demon Sect to break through the southern wall!" Hong Zai declared, his confidence surging as he looked at the large group of Rebirth Realm experts behind him.