In the sixth year of Emperor Han, on the fourth day of the third month, the Great Han Dynasty peacefully annexed the Fire Cloud Cave of the Myriad Beast Realm. The Fire Cloud Cave retained its foundational sect, holding a status equivalent to the Pill Hall and the Daoist Sect. They were free to recruit disciples but were still subject to the jurisdiction of the Great Han court.
From this day forward, excluding the Savage Realm, the Three Realms of Xi Niu, Myriad Beast, and Zhong Yuan, the Eastern Desolation Continent was entirely incorporated into the Great Han's territory. The might of the Great Han Dynasty was, for a time, unparalleled.
...
The night of the fifth day of the third month in the sixth year of Emperor Han.
"How goes it?"
Within the Red Earth Pass of Feng Yuan Dao, in the Crimson Night Imperial Dynasty, Emperor Crimson Night stood atop the city walls under the pitch-black sky.
"Your Majesty, the Jian Xi army has amassed fifty miles out. The Great Han Dynasty's Vermillion Bird Legion's three armies have converged, their blades pointed directly at Red Earth Pass."
Beside Emperor Crimson Night, Prime Minister Chunyu Xing's face was pale, etched with a weariness and a touch of cold indifference, a stark contrast to his former noble pride.
"How is the army withdrawal progressing?"
Emperor Crimson Night turned to Chunyu Xing. Red Earth Pass was once a secondary capital of the Crimson Night Imperial Dynasty. However, for various reasons, Emperor Crimson Night had decommissioned its official title, secretly transforming it into a massive military fortress and relocating all its citizens.
This military fortress was merely a display of borrowed power. Heavy defensive weaponry was rarely seen within the city, nor were there any battle-hardened soldiers. Instead, arrays of cold, gleaming teleportation formations dotted the landscape.
Red Earth Pass was the place where the Sky Demon tribe rose to prominence, and it was also one of their final trump cards.
The Demon race had dominated one side, while the Southern Barbarians had risen forcefully. Cang Yuan was a stage where two dragons clashed in the sky. Emperor Crimson Night, having planned for contingencies, had linked Red Earth Pass to the imperial capital, constructing hundreds of teleportation formations to prevent any upheaval in the capital.
These formations, accumulated over tens of thousands of years, had consumed vast cultivation resources of the Crimson Night Imperial Dynasty to be painstakingly built.
While the teleportation formations within Red Earth Pass might not possess the sheer terror of mega-formations, their strength lay in their sheer numbers.
"Your Majesty, fifty thousand soldiers at the Heavenly Martial realm have completed their transfer. There are still fifty thousand warriors at the Spirit Venerable realm remaining. Your Majesty..."
"There is no need!"
Emperor Crimson Night flatly refused. "The Spirit Venerable army cannot exert much force in this bloodbath. This current war is a test of Heavenly Martial foundation and a battle of martial arts pinnacles!"
"Chunyu Xing, in the face of life and death, one must learn to make choices and cut losses promptly!"
"With the remaining army stationed at Red Earth Pass, this game can still be played."
"Chunyu Xing, you may leave now. One hour from now, whether or not I appear in the imperial capital, you will shatter all these teleportation formations. Under no circumstances can we invite a wolf into our house and ruin the foundation of our Sky Demon tribe!"
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, this minister shall remain. You must leave first!"
"Your Majesty is of noble birth. The Crimson Night Imperial Dynasty still needs you..."
"What?"
"Do you dare defy even my imperial decree?"
"Your Majesty!"
...
"Emperor Crimson Night, I did not expect you to dare stand alone outside my camp tonight."
"You are still the same Crimson Night, unchanged."
Outside the Jian Xi army, Emperor Crimson Night, clad in imperial robes, stood in the void, his face serene, his dragon's roar resonating.
"Jian Xi, your Jian clan grows increasingly arrogant. Do you truly believe I cannot annihilate you?"
"How dare you raise an army and attack my Sky Demon tribe?"
"Hahahaha!"
"Crimson Night, do you truly believe the Eastern Desolation is still yours to command? Have you asked the sword in my hand if it agrees?"
"You are insolent!"
Emperor Crimson Night's expression shifted. His imperial might stirred the very essence of heaven and earth. With those three words, it was like divine thunder.
"Ching!"
A golden longsword materialized before Emperor Crimson Night. A golden dragon coiled around its body, its imperial might surging relentlessly.
As the Emperor's Sword was drawn, the heavens and earth were bathed in golden light, like a ladder of ascent descending from the nine heavens, reaching straight to the firmament. Nine dragons roared and surged in the nine heavens, as if deities were descending, commanding all to bow.
"Crimson Night, how dare you draw your sword before me!"
Jian Xi's face contorted with anger. He drew his sword, and a resonant hum filled the air. From its hilt, several sword lights interwove, and white sword energy clashed in the void, suppressing all directions.
The two longswords met in the void, their terrifying sword qi razor-sharp, sweeping across the sky, one gold, one white, illuminating the heavens.
"You..."
Jian Xi's right hand, gripping his longsword, began to crack. Fine golden sword qi seeped in, devouring the vital energy within his body.
How could Jian Xi withstand the might of an Emperor, empowered by the fate of an entire nation!
"Break!"
"Weng~~"
From within the sword's core, four sword energies erupted. White sword light traversed the void, like a divine sword descending upon the world.
As the sword struck down, Emperor Crimson Night's face turned pale, and a trickle of blood escaped his lips!
"Boom!"
Heaven and earth roared. The white sword light shattered the golden radiance filling the sky, and a figure was sent flying a hundred zhang.
"Where do you think you're going!"
Jian Xi gripped his longsword, watching the battered Emperor Crimson Night flee. He was overjoyed. This was the first time he had gained the upper hand. Emperor Crimson Night was injured, a rare opportunity.
He rapidly shot into the void. "Jian clan, follow me! Let us crush Red Earth Pass and capture Emperor Crimson Night alive!"
...
"Commander, another ten miles and we reach Red Earth Pass."
Ten miles west of Red Earth Pass, Zhang Liao, leading hundreds of thousands of the Vermillion Bird Legion, pressed forward relentlessly.
Since the Vermillion Bird Legion had entered the Crimson Night Imperial Dynasty via Micang Path, the three armies had advanced in unison, capturing over a hundred western cities of the Crimson Night Imperial Dynasty. The three armies had successfully rendezvoused and were poised to march on the Crimson Night Imperial Dynasty's capital.
"Red Earth Pass?"
Chen Gong narrowed his eyes. "This Red Earth Pass was originally the place where the Sky Demon tribe of the Crimson Night Imperial Dynasty rose to power. Later, it served as a secondary capital. Now it's abandoned, the various races have moved out, and it has become a military fortress."
"Now, Emperor Crimson Night is withdrawing his troops, not taking the usual routes, but instead retreating through Feng Yuan Dao to this Red Earth Pass. It's truly difficult to fathom."
"What does the strategist mean?"
Zhang Liao gazed into the dark void in the distance, where faint fluctuations of vital energy could be perceived, indicating something unusual.
"I cannot say for sure. Currently, it seems illogical. Commander, it would be wise to proceed with caution and a more deliberate approach if we are to attack the city tonight."
Chen Gong's expression was solemn as he reiterated his advice.
"Understood!"
Zhang Liao glanced at the dark night. "Let's move out!"
In less than half an hour, the army advanced slowly, finally arriving a hundred zhang in front of Red Earth Pass.
"Weng~~"
At this moment, in the eastern sky, a golden light streaked across the void, pursued by a white longsword, locked onto the golden light like a divine sword from the heavens.
"Hmph, Great Han Dynasty, Sword God Holy Land!"
Emperor Crimson Night looked at the Vermillion Bird army before Red Earth Pass and let out a cold laugh. His previously weakened body suddenly reached its peak.
Under Jian Xi's gaze, he explosively shot forward, disappearing before Red Earth Pass. Accompanied by roaring sounds, Red Earth Pass collapsed violently, dust soaring into the sky, suffused with golden light.
"Form ranks!"
The sudden turn of events made Zhang Liao's expression tighten. Before he could even get a clear look at the distant void, he saw Red Earth Pass crumbling inch by inch, vanishing into nothingness.