Hulao Pass, majestically guarding the straits of mountains and rivers.
The city walls tower high, etched with battle scars, the city gates thick and colossal, standing imposingly, with the famed reputation of "One man guards the pass, ten thousand cannot open."
Atop the city tower, an elder dressed in a crimson official robe, hair and beard all white, frowned with a grave gaze towards the outside of the city.
On the plains outside the pass, only a few thousand Daoist soldiers were arrayed.
Their numbers were not many, yet their formation was solemn, their momentum solid and imposing, exuding an invincible pressure.
Inside the pass, sitting on ten thousand troops, armored soldiers like clouds, weapons like forests, supplies abundant.
Having the advantage of timing, geography, and unity, they should have been as stable as Mount Tai.
However, there was not even a half chance of victory in the elder’s heart.
Because he knew better than anyone — this troop of the Dao was not an ordinary army.
They possessed incredible supernatural abilities:
Each Daoist Soldier had immense strength, with the power to lift cauldrons.
Guardian Warriors were cloaked in radiant light, common swords and spears couldn’t harm them in the slightest, and they could even control thunder.
Most terrifying was the enemy’s commander capable of transforming into a thirty-foot giant Fire God.
Flames enveloped his body, burning the heavens, melting gold and stone wherever he went, worldly weapons were utterly helpless against him.
On one side were flesh and blood mortal bodies,
on the other were cultivators with divine techniques.
The two sides were on completely different levels, like ants facing a dragon.
Even if Hulao Pass had ten thousand troops and the city walls were unbreakable, before the divine techniques of the Dao, it was no more than a paper ornament, collapsing at a touch.
"Elder Grand Tutor!"
A hurried voice came, a personal guard, sweating all over, breathlessly rushed up the city tower, kneeling on one knee:
"Several Imperial Family Tributors are still nowhere to be found! I searched throughout the pass but didn’t find them!"
The Elder Grand Tutor’s body suddenly stiffened, then let out a heavy sigh, full of despair and sorrow.
He slowly closed his eyes, his heart as cold as ice.
The Imperial Family Tributors were the only force in Dali capable of countering the supernatural abilities of the Dao.
Now with the Tributors missing, leaderless.
How could the mere ten thousand mortal armored soldiers resist the iron hooves of the Dao?
"Keep looking!"
The Elder Grand Tutor suddenly opened his eyes, a last trace of stubbornness flashing in them, his voice hoarse yet indisputable:
"Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find those Tributors!"
The personal guard responded and hurriedly retreated.
Only the Elder Grand Tutor remained on the city tower once more.
He looked at that disciplined and murderous troop outside the city, his heart surging with unease like tidal waves.
At that moment.
The sky outside the pass suddenly turned a blistering red.
A figure, stepping on rolling Fire Clouds, carrying overwhelming heatwaves, came like a meteor breaking through the sky, steadily suspended in mid-air.
Fire Clouds spiraled, flames surged, dyeing the entire sky that fiery red.
That scorching breath, even when separated by several miles, made the defenders on the city wall unbearably hot, retreating one after another, faces filled with fear.
The Elder Grand Tutor’s pupils suddenly contracted, his heart abruptly seized.
His whole body’s blood seemed to freeze at that moment.
He recognized that figure—
It was indeed the commander of the Dao troops capable of transforming into the giant Fire God.
In previous encounters, they relied on the desperate resistance of the Imperial Family Tributors to barely hold their own.
Now with the Tributors missing, no one could stop them.
They stood no chance of winning!
Li Shi stood upon the Fire Clouds, wrapped in flames, his gaze as piercing as a torch, scanning the city pass.
His voice boomed like thunder, cutting through the sky, clearly echoing in every corner of Hulao:
"Defender General of Hulao, listen! Your Dali Imperial Family has surrendered the entire nation, obeying the Dao!"
"Today, I come to command you to lay down your weapons, open the city, and surrender! Those who surrender shall live!"
At that word, the entire Hulao Pass instantly exploded.
The armored soldiers on the city walls looked at each other, faces filled with shock and panic, discussions rising one after another, their hearts instantly collapsing.
"Has Your Majesty surrendered?"
"If even the Imperial Family has surrendered, what are we guarding?"
"The supernatural abilities of the Dao are too strong, we simply can’t resist..."
"Surrendering is good, it’s said that they even distribute land..."
Amidst the commotion, most already had intentions of surrendering.
The Elder Grand Tutor stood on the city tower, hit like struck by lightning, his face pale as paper, body tottering.
The Imperial Family has surrendered...
Dali, is truly finished.
All their defense had become an exercise in futility.
Li Shi’s gaze swept through the tumult inside the pass, his mouth slightly curling, speaking once again, with a voice as authoritative as thunder:
"Do not harbor delusions. Your Imperial Family Tributors have long fallen, no one can oppose the Dao anymore."
"Resistence leads only to death, surrender can save your families and lives, allowing you to live in peace!"
"Credentials are here, if you do not believe, you can verify."
It wasn’t long.
The Imperial Family’s credentials and surrender edict were brought up to the city walls.
The Elder Grand Tutor, trembling hands receiving them, carefully verified, the moment he confirmed it, all his strength seemed to be drained out of him.
He looked at the mighty pass he had guarded his whole life, at the ten thousand troops within, at these mountains and rivers, his heart churned with sorrow and reluctance.
"Transmit my order—"
The Elder Grand Tutor’s hoarse, trembling voice was exceptionally clear:
"Lay down your weapons, open the gates, exit the city and surrender!"
"The Imperial Family has surrendered, destiny is exhausted, we are powerless to turn the tide."
"Rather than letting tens of thousands of our sons die in vain, it’s better to surrender, preserving their lives."
"And I... having received the nation’s grace throughout my life, naturally should sacrifice myself for the country, Emperor Shizong, your old servant comes to see you!"
As his words fell, the Elder Grand Tutor suddenly drew his sword from his waist, bowed deeply three times in the direction of the Imperial Palace, then cut across his own throat.
Blood gushed out, staining his crimson official robe.
The Elder Grand Tutor fell to the ground, eyes wide open, his face retaining his fierce pride.
The armored soldiers on the city, upon seeing this, were all tearful, kneeling and bowing, their admiration and sorrow evident.
Li Shi stood in mid-air, looking at that lifeless body, a barely noticeable trace of respect flashed in his eyes.
Though his stance was different, such integrity deserved respect.
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