Tyrant Sky Martial Soul
Chapter 1056: Breaking Through the Northern Desert Pass

Chapter 1056: Chapter 1056: Breaking Through the Northern Desert Pass

"Prince, you needn’t say more. Ever since I, Ling Xiao, escaped from the Heavenly Dragon Continent to the Phoenix God Empire, and found refuge within Qingxu College to live and learn, the Phoenix God Empire has treated me with great kindness; it is my second home. Asking me to abandon it is absolutely impossible!"

Ling Xiao didn’t wait for Jiumo Zhiyan to finish speaking before he decisively refused.

"Very well! Your unyielding loyalty impresses me, young prince, but you will regret it. Sooner or later, with internal strife and external threats, you will have to leave the Phoenix God Empire. Don’t believe it? Just wait and see."

Jiumo Zhiyan had no intention of wasting more words. Since Ling Xiao was being stubborn, he couldn’t afford to show mercy.

Otherwise, such a person living would definitely be a significant threat to the Black Crow Empire.

"Prince, you’re so concerned about me; perhaps you should worry about yourself first. From what I’ve heard, Her Majesty the Queen of your Black Crow Empire is quite the suspicious person, not very trusting towards you, even having killed several of your brothers already."

Ling Xiao of course didn’t have time to investigate these, but Ji Ning had been in the Northern Desert for many years, facing the Black Crow Empire as an enemy, hence he naturally understood the situation in the Black Crow Empire thoroughly – something for which Ji Ning deserves credit.

Jiumo Zhiyan’s mouth twitched twice.

He couldn’t refute, for Ling Xiao was indeed stating facts, which was also why they had no choice but to choose to wage war in winter.

Winter was absolutely unsuitable for warfare due to the significant logistical challenges even amassing food for such a large number of troops presented.

Even though Martial Artists could go many days without food, the energy depletion involved would absolutely lead to a significant decrease in combat capability.

Despite knowing this, Jiumo Zhiyan wouldn’t admit defeat verbally; he sneered, "Her Majesty trusts me immensely, or else she would not have dispatched me with a million troops to attack Northern Desert City. As for you, have you so quickly forgotten about last night’s events?"

"Of course I haven’t forgotten. You colluded with the treacherous Si Kong Zun, framed General Ji Ning, and then engineered the deaths of tens of thousands from the Phoenix God Empire – quite a ruthless move, and you are indeed formidable; I must admit that,"

Ling Xiao said coldly.

"Heh, it seems you’ve misunderstood something. How could Si Kong Zun possibly cooperate with our Black Crow Empire? He was merely foolish, not even aware that I had infiltrated people into the Northern Desert Pass,"

Jiumo Zhiyan chuckled.

"You needn’t cover for him. Over seventy thousand lives – that’s bloody evidence. Si Kong Zun can’t wash that clean!"

Ling Xiao interrupted Jiumo Zhiyan, "Remember this: we, the people of the Phoenix God Empire, are not ones you can simply kill without consequence. Soon, you will pay the price."

"Ha ha ha ha!"

Jiumo Zhiyan laughed maniacally, "Ling Xiao, it seems you still don’t understand the situation. Although we have trouble capturing Northern Desert City at the moment, the Northern Desert Pass has no such defensive formation. Do you really want to just watch as all those remaining people die by our swords?"

Ling Xiao fell silent.

Nearly ten thousand soldiers, among them Lu Chenlong and Feng Qingyan.

Should he really abandon those people?

"Think it over. My patience is limited. From now on, every shichen, I will kill a hundred of your people. Consider your options."

Jiumo Zhiyan scoffed, then raised his hand and commanded, "Attack the Northern Desert Pass!"

As his order echoed, the messenger relayed the commands.

Then the terrifying battle commenced once again.

In just a quarter of an hour, the Northern Desert Pass fell, Si Kong Zun fled, and Feng Qingyan and Lu Chenlong were captured alive by Timmerman Muto.

Over a thousand dead.

The rest were all captured.

This battle was so simple it was hard to believe.

"Did you see that, Ling Xiao? Did you see that, everyone from Northern Desert City? If you are willing to surrender, I can assure you that not a hair will be harmed. Northern Desert City can still stand atop the Northern Territory, but from now on, you will owe your allegiance to the Blackraven Empire."

It had to be said that Jiumo Zhiyan had a strong ability to beguile people.

"Rest assured, our Blackraven Empire will support Northern Desert City to the utmost, certainly not like the Phoenix God Empire, which would stab you in the back. How you choose is up to you."

"Hmph, that sounds good," but from what I know, wherever the Blackraven army has passed, they have left neither chicken nor dog alive. Trust you? Our brains are not damaged!"

Ling Xiao snorted.

"Hehe, is that so? Just wait and see. Pass down the order, the army will retreat, make camp, and every shichen, kill a hundred captives!"

Jiumo Zhiyan smiled. Even if Ling Xiao refused to surrender, he was certain that after hearing his words, there would definitely be those within Northern Desert City who would waver.

Since Northern Desert City was not easily accessible, he would adopt a strategy that attacked the heart first.

Once internal chaos ensued, the battle would be simple.

The discipline of the Blackraven Empire was indeed outstanding, famed as the strongest army on the Divine Phoenix Continent. If not for Phoenix God Empire’s generals of renown, they truly wouldn’t stand a chance against Blackraven Empire.

Seeing the departing Blackraven army, a look of urgency appeared in Ling Xiao’s eyes.

Yet, he could not let others notice.

He was now the commander and had to remain calm. If he panicked, those below would be even more clueless.

"Pass down the order, anyone daring to disturb the morale of the army, kill!"

Ling Xiao knew what might happen next. In wartime, he had to be ruthless, no matter who it was, anyone daring to disturb the morale should be shown no mercy.

"As you command!"

The messenger went down, and Qin Huo looked at Ling Xiao and sighed, "My commander, the situation is not good. Though our threats can temporarily ensure the safety within the city, as time passes, something big will inevitably happen."

"I know, we must resolve this battle quickly, otherwise, we are the ones who will suffer."

Ling Xiao’s face was somber as he looked into the distance, his mind racing.

Combining the newly acquired knowledge and analyses from Mountain and River Martial Soul, he needed to find a quick path to victory.

Without captives, he could simply defend the city without issue.

But now, that was not an option. Let alone standing by as the captives were killed, it was uncertain whether the military and civilians of Northern Desert City would riot.

To say nothing of his own feelings, he could not simply stand by while those people were being killed.

People are made of flesh, and after all, those being killed were comrades.

At that moment, a figure suddenly appeared beneath the city.

"Ling Xiao, open the gate quickly, let me in!"

The person was none other than Si Kong Zun—this guy had the audacity to show up at the foot of Northern Desert City!

"You colluded with the Blackraven Empire, plotted to entrap General Ji Ning, and caused tens of thousands of soldiers to die in vain, and now you still have the face to appear here! Shoot him dead!"

Ling Xiao roared, and instantly, arrows fell like rain from the fortress.

The military and civilians of Northern Desert City deeply despised Si Kong Zun because they knew it was he who caused their general to remain poisoned and unconscious to this day.

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