"Remove these monsters!"
The little girl said with an innocent and naive expression.
"Good heavens, you call it Xī, I'll call it Nián!"
Zhang Chen teased with a half-joking tone.
He remembered the legend of Xi from before, which stated that wherever the monster Xi went, the ground would be littered with corpses.
Finally, someone descended from heaven named Nián and eliminated Xi.
This is why it's called Chūxī, and also Guònián.
The little girl led Zhang Chen to the city wall.
At this time, it was already heavily guarded.
These soldiers were all clad in ancient armor, holding long spears, their bodies strong and imposing, appearing to be an elite force.
Torches blazed along the city wall, and archers stood ready.
It seemed a great battle was about to commence.
"It seems we're not too late!"
Zhang Chen said with a smile.
"Xi is about to attack the city, why are you out here instead of hiding at home? This area is off-limits!"
Seeing a man and a little girl suddenly appear on the deserted street, several soldiers immediately surrounded them aggressively and said.
"He's a celestial being, he can defeat Xi, and we'll be safe!"
The little girl said with childish innocence.
"Go on, don't make trouble. Are you his guardian? Can't you control him?"
In the mere fraction of a second that the soldiers' attention shifted from Zhang Chen to the little girl, and then back again.
The living person had vanished into thin air!!
Soldiers: "??? Where did this person go?"
The girl looked around, then pointed a small, dirty hand towards the city wall.
"The celestial being is over there!"
"Huh?" The soldiers quickly turned their heads and indeed found Zhang Chen appearing on the city ramparts, fifty meters high, without anyone noticing.
"How... how did he get there?"
The soldiers exchanged glances, all looking as if they had seen a ghost!
On the ramparts, the Empress, clad in military attire, held a sharp blade. The blood-red brocade cloak on her back billowed like a raging fire in the wind.
On both sides stood battle-hardened generals, as well as powerful experts invited from various sects.
The Imperial Capital was not only the core of the entire dynasty but also the gateway to dozens of cities in the plains behind it.
If it were to fall, the entire dynasty and millions of its citizens would be plunged into an abyss of eternal damnation.
"What's the situation now?"
Suddenly, a voice sounded beside the Empress.
The Empress, whose attention was fixed on the dark, dense horizon, replied instinctively:
"They are already here, outnumbering us ten to one!"
"What's most terrifying isn't just their numbers; these monsters are immortal and endless. If we can't find a way to break them, it's all in vain!"
"I suspect they, like humans, have a king. The reason I've gathered all the experts is to force this king to reveal itself!"
At this moment, dense patches of irregularly twisting gray mist appeared on the horizon. They seemed to rotate spirally, moving forward as they spun, at a rapid pace.
Below the city wall stood formations of cavalry, and shield-bearers behind prepared defensive positions. The drawbridge of the city gate was raised high.
The moat emitted a pungent smell of coal tar.
Zhang Chen nodded and said:
"I understand. I've seen similar monsters. They breed endlessly; once the queen dies, the race is wiped out!"
"Your analysis has some merit!"
"Mm!" The Empress nodded, then turned to look at Zhang Chen, who coincidentally looked towards her. Their eyes met...
"Who are you?"
The Empress exclaimed in surprise.
At this moment, the surrounding generals also realized that a stranger had appeared beside them.
The main reason was that Zhang Chen had appeared so silently, and everyone's attention had been fully drawn by the sudden appearance of the Xi beast army.
Now, with the Empress's words, they realized someone else was on the ramparts!
This person could appear in an environment where all the world's experts were gathered, and no one had noticed him!
Terrifying indeed!
Were there such powerful individuals in the world, and they were completely unaware?
However, it seemed this young man harbored no ill intentions. Otherwise, if he had seized the opportunity while everyone was distracted to launch a killing blow, several experts on the wall might have already fallen.
"Don't be nervous. I'm here to help you eliminate the Xi beasts. I only have one request... immediately have the imperial kitchen prepare the finest delicacies! As much as they can make!"
"And prepare any song and dance performances. My time is limited; after the battle, we'll have a simple New Year's Eve celebration, and then I must leave!"
Zhang Chen said calmly.
It was as if eliminating the Xi beasts, which posed a grave threat to all the experts in the world, was a matter of course.
The Empress, seeing Zhang Chen's confidence, despite her reservations, lowered her head and instructed a guard beside her.
At a time of life and death, it was better to believe than not. Even if this man was boasting, and if the city fell, they wouldn't have a chance to enjoy the food anyway. But what if this man was truly capable?!
They absolutely could not neglect a distinguished guest!
"Hmph! Ignorant pup!"
An elder with white hair, dressed in a white long gown, beside the Empress, snorted coldly.
Then he suddenly leaped into the air!
At this moment, the Xi beast army was getting closer and closer. Archers began to launch flaming arrows in waves.
The Xi beasts, hit by the flames, let out painful roars, but their speed did not decrease at all.
They were indeed afraid of fire, but without sufficient damage, they weren't easily killed.
At this moment, Zhang Chen also got a clear look at the true form of the Xi beasts. Their massive heads had a single horn, and sharp fangs protruded outside their mouths.
It was similar to the depiction of Xi in his memory, but strangely, it had no feet.
Their bodies were hidden behind the gray mist, and this mist, regardless of how the Xi beasts moved, always stayed with them and did not dissipate.
After a wave of arrows, the Xi beasts' assault showed no signs of weakening.
Then came the cavalry charge.
Ten thousand elite cavalry charged into the darkness, and soon, screams and the neighing of warhorses could be heard.
Occasionally, bloodied warhorses ran back in a frenzy, or only half a cavalryman's lower leg remained on a warhorse.
Such a scene was enough to make one's heart tremble.
The elder who had taken flight had been performing various gestures and circulating his qi since the beginning.
Seeing that the Xi beasts had already charged to the front of the defensive works.
The elder finally exhaled a breath and shouted sternly:
"Slash!"
Immediately after, hundreds of flying swords formed by gathered energy shot out, fiercely piercing into the ranks of the Nián beasts.
"Good, magnificent!"
"As expected of Sword God's mastery of qi to control swords! Today has been truly eye-opening!"
"With Sword God here, we have nothing to fear!"
Witnessing the Xi beasts dissolve into nothingness under the sword energy, the crowd couldn't help but cheer.
"Gya ha ha ha..."
A deafening roar echoed through the sky.
Suddenly, a colossal Xi beast, as tall as the city wall—it actually had four legs—slowly raised one leg.
All the sharp sword energy was instantly shattered.
The Sword God was also sent flying far back by the shockwave, spitting blood from his mouth!
[The Xi beast matriarch has appeared. Killing the Xi beast matriarch will cause all Xi beasts to self-destruct!]
Zhang Chen nodded and said:
"It's time to feast!"
(My health has been poor these past few days, and I'm barely managing to update. I'm unable to reply to comments or give likes. I want to thank everyone for your concern here!)