Chapter 568 - 567: Who Said I’m a Coward?

Chapter 568: Chapter 567: Who Said I’m a Coward?

Wails of anguish filled the Celestial Dragon Imperial City as an aura of despair permeated its streets. Many Cultivators were gripped by panic, with some even packing their belongings to flee.

The situation was even more dire than before. When the Dragon Chancellor and his forces had attacked, the majority had chosen to stay. Now, however, they could no longer remain calm. Four Imperial Influences were on the attack. Not even the number one Empire would dare to face such a force head-on.

Of course, the four Imperial Influences wouldn’t dare to recklessly attack the First Empire, either. If they truly did, they would suffer catastrophic losses just to annex it.

It was clearly not a worthwhile trade. If they suffered heavy losses, they would likely be swallowed up by other Imperial Influences. For this reason, they never dared to rashly invade a truly great power. The Celestial Dragon Empire’s overall strength, however, was merely decent. Thus, combining the power of four empires to overthrow it would be no problem.

Meanwhile, in a city on the edge of the Celestial Dragon Continent, its defenders were desperately fending off an endless wave of invaders. Although a grand defensive array blocked the Cultivators’ attacks, holding them back was still incredibly difficult. The entire city was plunged into panic and despair.

"Slaughter them! Death to the invaders!"

Huiyun City’s City Lord, Moss, roared and led the charge, frantically cutting down invaders on the city walls. The other guards roared in unison, joining the slaughter.

But faced with a ceaseless tide of enemy Cultivators, their faces were pale. All they could do was grit their teeth and resist.

"City Lord Mo, I advise you to give up. Do you really think your Huiyun City can withstand the forces of our Celestial Net Empire?" The leader of the attack was a Void Spirit Stage expert, and he was flanked by many Pill Transformation Stage experts.

The group of Cultivators he led numbered in the hundreds. Among them were as many as five or six Pill Transformation Stage Cultivators, while Spirit Pill Stage experts were the most numerous, numbering several hundred!

This was just one contingent. Other forces were storming other cities as well; it was a full-scale assault. Attacking one city at a time would be a waste of time.

Huiyun City didn’t have many guards. The strongest was City Lord Mo, but his cultivation was only at the Eighth Level of the Pill Transformation Stage. Against the Void Spirit Stage expert before him, he was nothing but trash.

Most of the remaining guards were only at the Core Formation Stage. There were very few at the Spirit Pill Stage; otherwise, they wouldn’t be so desperate. With such low cultivation levels, they simply couldn’t withstand the enemy’s onslaught.

"Donglin, you’re full of shit! We will never surrender, even in death!" Moss snorted coldly, brandishing his weapon as he roared, "Once our reinforcements arrive, you’re all dead!"

"What reinforcements?" Donglin sneered. "Are you talking about the Celestial Dragon Imperial City? Or reinforcements from other cities? Or perhaps you’re waiting for the Celestial Cloud Mansion? I heard you have a capable Prince? Or is it the power of the Celestial Cloud Mansion? A mere third-grade faction like the Celestial Cloud Mansion dares to send aid? I’d say they can’t even protect themselves!"

"That’s right! Even if we die and Huiyun City falls, Emperor Ren and the Prince will avenge us!" Moss was fiercely loyal to the Celestial Dragon Empire. He would never choose to surrender or betray it for any reason.

"Hahaha..."

Donglin and his men burst into laughter as if they had just heard the funniest joke in the world, laughing so hard they nearly cried.

"Still counting on Emperor Ren and the Prince to save you? Let me tell you, outside the Celestial Dragon Imperial City, they’re nothing!" Donglin laughed heartily. "They’re just a bunch of trash hiding in the Imperial City, relying on the Celestial Dragon Treasure to protect themselves. Once they step outside, they can’t use the Celestial Dragon Treasure at all. Tell me, how is that any different from being trash?"

Moss and his men flushed red with anger and humiliation. What he said was true. The Celestial Dragon Imperial City relied on the Celestial Dragon Treasure to defend itself, but that was the extent of its power.

If the enemy simply ignored the Imperial City and razed all the surrounding cities, the defenders wouldn’t dare to come out. What was the point of coming out if they couldn’t use the Celestial Dragon Treasure?

They possessed a Divine Artifact, but they couldn’t take it with them. Their strength was drastically reduced without it.

"Forget your Huiyun City, even if I march my army to the gates of the Imperial City, they won’t dare to come out!" Donglin sneered. "Isn’t this the best proof? We’ve conquered so many cities already. Where are they? Where are your people? Where are your reinforcements? They’re just a bunch of trash hiding in the safest city, the Imperial City. Who cares if you live or die?"

Donglin’s words made their faces turn ugly. Every word was like a dagger to the heart, plunging them into the depths of despair. He wasn’t wrong; he was speaking the truth. Yet, a sliver of hope remained in their hearts—hope that the Celestial Dragon Imperial City would send someone to help.

So many cities had already fallen. It seemed Huiyun City wouldn’t be able to hold on for much longer either.

"Listen to my advice. What Celestial Dragon Empire? It’s a piece of shit, a power that abandons its people without a second thought. And you still choose to hole up in this city for them? As long as you surrender to us, I guarantee we’ll treat you a hundred times better than the Celestial Dragon Empire ever did!" Donglin continued his persuasion, in no hurry to launch the final assault.

Just as expected, his true intentions were revealed. The whole point of his speech was to sway Moss’s heart and make him give up on Huiyun City. If they continued to resist, conquering the city would be somewhat difficult and would result in casualties.

If he could take a city just by wagging his tongue, why wouldn’t he? And if he could incite them to attack the Celestial Dragon Imperial City alongside him, that would be even better.

"Stop your malicious lies!" Moss roared after hearing him. "The Celestial Dragon Empire has never treated us poorly! Even if we die, we will never surrender!"

Moss had not been swayed. His heart remained resolute, and he refused to compromise. The other guards exchanged glances, seeing the same determination in each other’s eyes.

"That’s right! Even without reinforcements, we will never surrender!" the guards roared, their eyes bloodshot. This was their last stand.

"A bunch of idiots. You’re at death’s door and still refuse to see the truth. The Celestial Dragon Empire isn’t sending anyone to save you, yet you’re still so blindly loyal!" Donglin sneered. "It’s a pity you won’t get to see that bunch of cowards hiding in their shells! That’s all they are—cowards who only know how to hide in the Imperial City! That worthless Emperor Ren, that worthless Prince... they’re all just turtles!"

"We won’t allow you to insult the Great Emperor!" Moss raged. "If you’re going to kill us, then do it! Come on!"

They were fearless, not worried in the slightest about their own deaths.

"Then you can all go die!" Donglin pointed forward, signaling all his subordinates to charge and take Huiyun City.

"Oh? Who was it that called me a turtle?"

Just then, a ghostly voice sounded from behind them. Everyone whipped their heads around to find a young man standing there. No one knew when he had appeared.

"P-Prince!?" Moss’s heart jolted. He had seen Yi Tianyun before, so he knew who had come!