"Zhan Deli, capture Tian Lan City for this general! Those who do not surrender shall be killed without mercy!" Cao Wei said coldly, looking at Tian Lan City defended by a single Saint Lord realm being. It was clear that the entire White Tiger Legion was not needed for this assault.
"Zhan Deli obeys!!"
On the walls of Tian Lan City, a hammer strike shattered Nalan Xun's blade intent. The hammer intent that burst forth swept away several副将 (fùjiāng - vice-generals). The city walls, without the protection of a great formation, directly collapsed and flew apart. The tens of thousands of soldiers on the walls were all annihilated by Zhan Deli's single hammer strike.
"White Tiger Legion First Army, where are you!!"
Han Shizhong rode out on his horse, followed closely by the First Army's vice-generals Liang Hongyu, Yan Chengfang, and Hu Yan Zan.
Zhan Deli was a vice-general of the First Army. Since Cao Wei had ordered Zhan Deli to capture Tian Lan City, the First Army was certainly involved.
"Kill!"
Nearly six hundred thousand soldiers of the First Army immediately roared in unison. Their killing intent mingled in the void. A thousand-zhang White Tiger emerged from the void, its eyes burning with blood-red light, its presence stretching for several li!
Where the White Tiger walked, the void shattered. Its claws, like sharp blades, cut through layers of space. As the White Tiger moved, it stomped its forefoot, unleashing four brilliant white rays that dimmed the heavens. Countless palaces in Tian Lan City were directly pulverized!
The White Tiger's advance sent killing intent surging through Tian Lan. The expressions of countless soldiers changed drastically. With Zhan Deli's hammer suppressing Tian Lan from above and the White Tiger emerging from the void before them, unleashing the full might of six hundred thousand troops, despair filled the eyes of countless soldiers. One by one, soldiers shattered like wheat stalks beneath a scythe. Rivers of blood soaked Tian Lan City!
"Great Han Divine Dynasty!"
"I never imagined you could cross dozens of Dao Provinces in the Crouching Dragon Abyss. I am very curious how you managed to evade the sight of the three overlords and arrive before my Tian Lan City!"
Nalan Xun emerged from the depths of the city, his long saber deeply embedded in the void. Where it passed, cracks appeared everywhere.
"You are too weak. You are no match for this general!"
In the void above, Zhan Deli gripped his Heavenly Hammer and looked at the approaching Nalan Xun, shaking his head in disappointment.
From their initial exchange, Zhan Deli had already gauged Nalan Xun's strength. Although Zhan Deli was a fierce general, he could clearly see that by having Nalan Xun defend the national gate alone, the Tian Yuan Divine Dynasty was digging its own grave!
Tian Lan City was already in utter chaos. After Zhan Deli's hammer strike and the full force of six hundred thousand troops, Tian Lan City was shattered and broken. More than half the city was reduced to ruins!
Countless soldiers, without a general to lead them, scattered like frightened rats, darting into any available crevice, fleeing blindly, crashing into everything without regard.
Led by Han Shizhong, the six hundred thousand strong army charged into Tian Lan City. Instantly, streaks of light shot from the edges of the ruins towards the depths, their rumbling impact dealing devastating blows to the already broken structures.
"Is that so?"
"You are far too arrogant!!"
"This general has also walked through seas of blood and reached the Saint Lord realm!!"
Nalan Xun remained remarkably calm. He gripped his long saber tightly, staring at Zhan Deli. At this moment, they seemed less like mortal enemies and more like a hunter and its prey.
Nalan Xun let out a slight cold laugh, completely ignoring the collapsing army beneath his feet!
This left Zhan Deli puzzled, but he didn't dwell on it. He looked at Nalan Xun, whose strength was lacking but whose aura was formidable.
"Take this hammer strike!"
Zhan Deli roared.
Boom!
Raising his right hand, he brought down the Heavenly Hammer. Instantly, Nalan Xun felt an immense pressure, heavier than carrying ten thousand jun. His armor couldn't withstand it and shattered. Dense death qi surged out from the void!
In a mere instant, the sky beneath Nalan Xun collapsed. The void energy that poured down was not dispersed but pressed downwards by the immense force!
"Come on!!!"
Nalan Xun, undeterred, raised his long saber and wildly slashed towards Zhan Deli. There was no technique, no form. In Zhan Deli's eyes, Nalan Xun looked like a mad dog, attacking without any regard for the danger or whether he could withstand it, simply unleashing a saber strike towards Zhan Deli.
"I have had enough!!"
"Tian Yuan Divine Dynasty, the emperor is not an emperor! The ministers are not ministers!"
"With strong enemies at our gates, they still mourn for a corrupt official's funeral. What use is such a nation!!"
As Nalan Xun shouted, his expression grew more frenzied. He, Nalan Xun, was the patriarch of the Nalan family. The Nalan family had long received the favor of Tian Yuan. Even as the imperial lineage declined and corrupt officials held sway, he still protected this nation he deemed tragically beyond saving.
To abandon his post would be to betray his family's ancestral teachings!
To wield military authority and guard the national gate, only to be suppressed by Tuoba Zhang for a million years. Suicide, treason – in Nalan Xun's eyes, these were acts of cowards.
Today, seeing the Great Han White Tiger Legion, he saw hope. He saw the hope of dying for his country and leaving behind a loyal name!
Thus, the scene before them unfolded. He knew he was no match for Zhan Deli, yet he stepped forward, unafraid of the powerful enemy!
"Kill!!"
*Hiss!*
Without the slightest surprise, the hammer fell. Nalan Xun spat out a mouthful of blood. His armor completely disintegrated, his body was covered in wounds, and even his primordial spirit, under the furious strike of the Heavenly Hammer, flickered and faded. He felt as if he were drunk, his limbs limp!
"Ah..."
"Kill me!!"
Lying in the giant pit, Nalan Xun let out a furious roar. He looked at the swaying sky, spitting mouthfuls of blood, and continued to shout: "Kill me!"
At this moment, Cao Wei rode his horse to the edge of the deep pit. Zhan Deli also stepped down, following behind Cao Wei.
Meanwhile, Tian Lan City was already a sea of blood. Heads flew, flesh and mud carpeted the ground, and streams of blood flowed continuously, washing over the earth.
Boom!
"Nalan Xun!"
Cao Wei looked at Nalan Xun, who lay in the deep pit and roared madly, and said softly, "Nalan Xun, the eighth-generation descendant of Nalan Yin, the King of Zhongwei of the Tian Yuan Divine Dynasty, who has enjoyed the favor of Tian Yuan for generations."
"Who are you??"
"How dare you investigate this king!!"
Nalan Xun suddenly looked up, staring at the calm-faced Cao Wei.
"You do not need to know who this general is. What I want to say is, your Nalan family has done enough for the Tian Yuan Divine Dynasty, and you have tried your best!"
"The Tuoba family is powerful, their influence in the court is immense, and the imperial lineage is in decline. The demise of Tian Yuan is already a foregone conclusion. Why linger here in despair?"
"The fall of Tian Yuan is inevitable. My Great Han's million-strong army has descended upon this land, and you know the reasons why!"
"From beginning to end, it was the Tuoba family that controlled Tian Yuan. Does the speed of its demise matter?"
"For a divine dynasty that is no longer Tian Yuan, why must you sacrifice the Nalan family and the million soldiers before you!"