Daqin Zhentiansi

The setting sun is like blood.

Everything within sight was tinged with a heavy, tragic, and irreversible apocalyptic hue.

On the charred city wall, the last tattered Wei banner swayed weakly a few times in the evening wind before being completely covered and replaced by the Great Qin Red Dragon Banner that had been climbed atop the wall.

Standing atop the ruins of the towering city wall, which had been cleaved in two by Yang Jiye, Duke Han Qi of Ningguo slowly ran his aged hand over the rough wall, which was covered with countless dark red scabs of blood belonging to both the Wei and Qin armies.

In the distance, the veteran guards who survived the bloody battle of Linghe presented him with a leather bag filled with strong liquor.

Han Qi took it without saying a word, but simply raised the heavy wine bag high and slowly poured it towards the setting sun in the west.

The mellow liquor, like scalding tears of heroes, spilled onto the scorched earth, which had drunk its fill of blood, and a solemn white mist rose up.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away, the Nine Tripod Bells, symbolizing the unification of the world, resounded with nine continuous, piercing sounds in the sky from the Qin Imperial City!

Profound and grand, it proclaims an end while also ushering in a new era.

On the map of the empire, the dark patch symbolizing the last struggle of the Eastern Wei Dynasty silently melted away with the sound of the bell, completely merging into the vast and boundless map of Yongtian Continent, where the red dragon once roamed!
The Qin army's advance severed the last remaining strong link within Yongtian Continent.

With the world unified, there will be no more enemies of any significant size.

The world is at peace and prosperous, and a time of stability and tranquility is just around the corner.

……

Northern Yan.

Gubeicheng.

Under the blood-red setting sun, the city walls of Gubei City were already dilapidated, with thick smoke billowing from the huge gaps, as if they had been devoured by a giant beast.

The Qin army's tide was surging along this fatal wound into the last Yan fortress.

Amidst this hellish scene, Murong Zhao, dressed in a blue robe and holding a long sword, stood atop the highest point of the city wall, laughing wildly and shouting hoarsely, "Emperor Murong Zhao of the Great Yan is here! Who among the Qin dogs dares to kill me?"

He was at his wit's end, his voice a mixture of despair and madness.

Before the words were finished, a dark figure leaped up like lightning; it was none other than Marquis Ouyang Shucai of Zhenxi!

Ouyang Shucai held a long sword, its blade gleaming coldly in the setting sun. Even before he arrived, his murderous aura was already palpable.

Ouyang Shucai was once the most trusted Marquis of Zhenxi under Murong Zhao, but due to Murong Zhao's suspicion and the interference of the Heavenly Demon Palace, he ended up with his family destroyed and his life ruined.

"when--"

In the blink of an eye, swords clashed, sparks flew.

Ouyang Shucai cleaved Murong Zhao's longsword in two with a single strike. The powerful aura caused Murong Zhao to stagger back several steps, falling against the city wall. His face was ashen, and his eyes were filled with panic and disbelief.

The once invincible emperor now delivers a defeated speech.

"As a subject of the sovereign, let Ouyang Shucai send His Majesty on his way!" Ouyang Shucai's voice was icy cold, like metal clashing against stone, each word carrying the weight of a deep-seated blood feud.

He showed no mercy, his blade flashing again, forcing Murong Zhao into a series of retreats.

The Qin army's iron hooves broke through the last line of defense like thunder, and the Xuanjia Army was the first to storm the city walls.

The city wall was instantly submerged by the black torrent of the Qin Dynasty, and the remaining Northern Yan palace guards fell like straw.

With Ouyang Shucai's announcement, Gubei City fell completely in bloodshed, thus ending the three-hundred-year reign of the Northern Yan Dynasty.

On the city wall, the Xuanqing Yan Banner, symbolizing Murong Zhao's rule, hung limply. It was violently torn down by a fierce soldier from the Northwest Army who rushed up the wall, and thrown down the burning palace gate along with half of the flagpole.

The flag fell to the ground, and before the dust it kicked up could settle, it was trampled into the mud by the surging hooves of the passing iron hooves.

In the square in front of the palace, the last remaining Yan Palace guards who resisted had been slaughtered, their corpses piled up everywhere.

The fifth prince of Qin, Ying Li, expressionlessly reined in his horse, and his guards silently parted behind him to make way.

The seal of the commander of Gubei City was already in the bag beside his saddle.

With the thunderous sound of hooves, Marquis Ouyang Shucai of Zhenxi led his troops in a galloping procession, their black armor stained with blood, like a heavy sword just drawn from its sheath.

Just then, the massive doors of the main hall slowly opened from the inside!
A figure dressed as a prince consort, with his hands raised, staggered out, followed by several equally panicked eunuchs supporting a young woman in a phoenix coronet and wedding robes, her face as pale as paper.

"Father! Father! It's me, Ming'er!"

Ouyang Ming forced a fawning smile onto his face, his voice distorted with excitement and fear.

"I surrender the city! I surrender Princess Murong Lingxi! I abandon darkness for light! The Yan Kingdom is fallen, and I am willing to surrender to the Great Qin and return to my father's command! Father—"

He shouted as he shoved the woman behind him, eager to send Murong Zhao's daughter and wife to the front lines as a pledge of allegiance.

Ouyang Shucai reined in his warhorse.

His eyes, hidden beneath his helmet, were fixed on his son running towards him. Those eyes, once filled with filial affection, were now filled only with fawning for survival and cold calculation.

There was no anger, no sadness, only indifference, as if watching a strange clown who would do anything to survive.

Ouyang Ming was less than twenty paces from the army formation. Just as hope began to rise in his eyes, he saw his father raise his hand.

It was a cold, resolute, and unquestionable gesture.

"put!"

Marquis Ouyang Shucai's voice was hoarse and deep, yet it instantly pierced through the clamor.

Behind him, in his personal guard, rows of crossbowmen, as if responding to a command, pulled the triggers without hesitation!
"Om-!"

The strings were like thunderclaps!

Thousands of crossbow bolts, gleaming with a cold light, converged into a dense cloud of death, accompanied by a shrill whistling sound that tore through the air, instantly engulfing Ouyang Ming, Princess Murong Lingxi in front of him, and the eunuchs!
"No—! Father! You're going to kill me?! You—"

Ouyang Ming's howling stopped abruptly.

Pierced by a thousand arrows!

He and the princess he presented were like rag dolls torn apart by a gale, carried away by powerful kinetic energy and slammed hard against the cold palace wall behind them, becoming two bloody, mangled hedgehogs.

That desperate and unbelievable roar became his last words in this world, mingling with the muffled sound of metal piercing flesh, making it particularly shrill and piercing.

Blood instantly splattered across the palace walls, creating grotesque patterns. Princess Murong Lingxi's phoenix crown fell askew to the ground, bouncing slightly in the pool of blood. Her magnificent wedding dress was instantly soaked in crimson.

Ouyang Shucai's fists clenched so tightly on the reins of his warhorse that his knuckles turned white, but he didn't look in that direction again. He simply waved his hand sharply: "Enter the palace and capture Murong Zhao!"

The fierce fighting on the ruins of the city wall on the side of the palace gate had subsided.

Princess Ying Ruolan of Fengming, carrying a longsword that was still dripping blood, her light armor of the Crimson Scale Army covered in battle dust, her gaze pierced like an ice blade towards a solitary figure on the city wall not far away.

The city was in ruins, and the crimson light of the setting sun outlined a tall silhouette shrouded in an eerie, dark aura.

It was Ouyang Xu, the eldest son of Ouyang Shucai.

Behind him, several elite Heavenly Demon Palace warriors with deep auras watched Princess Fengming and the murderous Qin soldiers beside her warily.

Their gazes met in mid-air, without a word. The air seemed to freeze, leaving only the crackling of the flames and the distant shouts and wails of battle.

The feelings and engagements of the past have long been distorted beyond recognition by national hatred, family feuds, and the demonic influence of the Heavenly Demon Palace.

One represents the crimson edge of the Qin Dynasty, the other is a dark child deeply entangled in evil.

Ying Ruolan gripped the sword even tighter.

Just then, a gray-robed figure, almost blending into the shadows and exuding a chilling aura, appeared silently beside Ouyang Xu like a ghost.

Wang Qinian.

Wang Qinian's deep and clear voice reached Ouyang Xu's ears: "The Marquis has ordered: 'Take down the Heavenly Demon Palace and ignite the flames of war across Xuzhou.' This is an immense feat!"

"With Xu Zhou's return, Young Master Ouyang, you will be able to rejoin the Zhen Tian Si ranks with dignity—" Wang Qinian paused slightly, lowered his voice, and added a touch of seduction, "At that time, the Marquis will personally propose marriage to Princess Fengming on your behalf!"

This promise, like a final blow, precisely pierced the only soft spot in Ouyang Xu's heart that had not been completely devoured by demonic energy.

A barely perceptible struggle and fluctuation suddenly flashed deep within his scarlet, demonic eyes.

To propose marriage... to return openly and honestly... to be back by her side...

He took one last, deep look at the ruins of the once-proud princess who now only had eyes for her mortal enemy.

That one glance contained too many complex emotions that could not be expressed.

Finally, he abruptly withdrew his gaze, as if severing all hesitation.

"go!"

Ouyang Xu gave a low shout, then turned around without looking at Wang Qinian again. He led a few trusted guards and quickly retreated into the entrance of a relatively intact altar behind him, which was covered with strange runes.

A flash of light, and the figure vanished, leaving behind an empty city and a promise that still echoes.

Ying Ruolan looked in the direction where Ouyang Xu had disappeared and sighed softly.

Not far away, Prince Ying Liang of King Zhao gently shook his head.

Half a day later.

The black and blue dragon flag, symbolizing the Murong clan of Northern Yan, was eventually consumed by fire atop the highest hall of Gubei Palace.

The last resistance force was wiped out by Ouyang Shucai and Ying Li.

The Fifth Prince, Ying Li, stood on his horse in the center of the square in front of the now-ruins palace gate.

Beneath his boots lay congealed blood, and his nostrils were filled with the smell of gunpowder and death.

He looked around at the once impregnable city, now reduced to ruins, and gazed at the military flags fluttering atop the walls, belonging to his own troops. He then swept his gaze over the soldiers who saluted him, weary yet excited.

In the distance, Prince Zhao, Ying Liang, and Princess Fengming, Ying Ruolan, were counting the prisoners and tallying the battle results.

Marquis Ouyang Shucai stood silently on the steps of the palace gate, his shadow stretching long in the setting sun, carrying a hint of indescribable loneliness.

A voice whispered in Ying Li's heart, carrying a hint of barely perceptible pride and longing: "'The merit of destroying a country'... This time, I am no less than Ying Rong and Zhang Qingyang, am I?"

His gaze turned westward, as if he could see through mountains and rivers to the figure who laid the foundation for unparalleled achievements.

Zhang Qingyang... After this battle, I, the King, should be able to stand tall in your presence!

He firmly believed that this achievement of personally ending an empire was enough to make him stand out among all the princes.

The Northern Yan dynasty ultimately fell to the iron hooves of the Qin dynasty.

At this moment, Yongtian Continent has no other national name besides Great Qin!

----------------

The sky above Yongtian Continent seemed to have been dyed ochre red by the crimson dragon flag of the Great Qin Dynasty.

Outside the imperial city, several official roads leading to Chengtian Gate transformed into a torrent of iron and blood, carrying the final glory of the bloody battles across the four borders of the Great Qin Dynasty, surging towards the Nine Tripods that symbolized the imperial authority.

The East China Sea presents a gift, with colossal beasts as large as mountains.

The most eye-catching item was the "living gift" escorted by the East China Sea Garrison Army.

Instead of gold, silver, and jewels, they were dozens of ancient demonic beasts imprisoned by a massive array of runes and fine gold chains!

Its imposing presence drew the solemn gazes of cultivators along the way, and the calculating eyes of countless merchants.

"Wow! What a magnificent abyssal crocodile!" A green-robed cultivator carrying a long sword gasped, his gaze fixed on the colossal beast.

The dragon crocodile was over a hundred feet long, covered with thick, dark blue scales that seemed to be formed from black iron from the seabed. Its back was rugged like a mountain range, and its thick limbs caused the ground to tremble slightly with each step.

"This beast is rumored to dwell in the 'Eye of the Dead Tide,' a depth of a thousand feet, with terrifying ferocity, capable of capsizing a ten-foot-long ship with ease! How could the Zhenhai Guard of the East Sea actually venture into such a perilous place and capture this fiend alive?!"

His old friend whispered in response, "It's more than just being captured alive! Look at its replaced crystal eyeball, and this demon-suppressing talisman... The Ministry of Works' talisman array techniques combined with the East Sea Navy's fierce fighting skills have reached a state of perfection."

"Even ordinary grotto-heaven patriarchs would find it difficult to withstand a single sweep of its tail, yet now they are bound here... The might of the Qin army is truly astonishing."

The Qin army swept across immortals and demons, suppressing all directions.

The legend from back then, I now know, is true.

Whether in the martial world or the cultivation world, the might of the Great Qin Dynasty grows ever more imposing.

Not far away, several well-dressed men, clearly wealthy merchants, were excitedly pointing and discussing.

"It was worth it! This investment in the East China Sea fleet was worthwhile!" A fat man in a brocade robe was so excited that he danced around. "Look at this dragon crocodile scale armor, it's more than half a foot thick, and it contains the power of mysterious water. It won't melt even after being forged a hundred times! If it were cut and tanned into armor, it would definitely be a top-grade defensive spiritual material."

"Yu Yuan Trading Company just purchased a batch of dragon crocodile scales from the Eastern Navy last month, and they fetched an astronomical price at the Yongjing Auction House! This complete giant crocodile, wow..."

A tall, thin shopkeeper chimed in, "It's not just the armor, Fatty Peng, look at its eye! 'Deep Sea Evil Eye,' that's a top-tier material for crafting magic weapons that can see through illusions!"

"I heard that the great alchemy sect in the north, 'Xuanyang Valley,' has already offered a reward... The manager of the Nine Rivers Alliance is over there, probably assessing the value."

Merchants are profit-driven, and the more valuable the item, the greater the profit margin.

Following closely behind the Dragon Crocodile is the Lava Rock Turtle.

The enormous tortoise shell resembled a small, moving volcano, with lava-like crimson patterns flowing between the crevices of its dark red shell. The scorching heat made the faces of the audience in the front row feel hot.

"Was it captured in the 'Heavenly Fire Lava Cave'?" A white-haired, experienced old fire cultivator squinted and whispered to his disciple beside him, "It is said that this turtle lives deep in the volcano of the earth's lungs, feeds on molten metal, and its shell contains a trace of the earth's fire origin, making it indestructible and containing the Great Dao of Fire."

"To capture it, we must first activate the icy veins of the seabed to force it out of the core of the lava lake. While it is slowed by the cold air entering its body, we must set up a grand array with at least three hundred talisman shields inscribed with the 'Ice Seal Suppressing Talisman' to temporarily imprison it! Look at that talisman armor..."

He pointed to the hundreds of soldiers from the Ministry of Works' Divine Machine Battalion who were pulling the giant tortoise—

They wore specially made heat-insulating armor, the plates of which were as smooth as mirrors and swirled with a pale blue chill, resisting the scorching heat.

The soldiers used ice crystal talismans several meters in size to precisely guide the power of ice and forcefully suppress the violent fire elemental power within the giant tortoise.

The edges of the tortoise shell were as sharp as knives, upon which lay the charred remains of several enormous sea beasts, silently testifying to the beast's past ferocity. (End of Chapter)