Even emperors have it tough, so don't be too picky about the entries.

"court death!"

They really are asking for trouble.

Helian Yunni's face turned ashen, and she pointed her silver spear forward.

"Attack the city!"

At a command, the bugle sounded mournfully.

The 50,000 iron cavalry of the Northern Barbarians obeyed orders without hesitation. In an instant, their movements were perfectly synchronized: they drew their swords, pulled on the reins, squeezed their legs against their horses' bellies, and charged!

Siege engines, ladders, and battering rams advanced with a thunderous roar under the cover of cavalry.

Having received Han Cao's assurance, the Empress even abandoned the traditional tactic of having cavalrymen fire three rounds of arrows first.

The city walls were eerily quiet.

There were no rolling logs or thunderstones, no molten gold, and even the garrison had been completely withdrawn.

The area behind the battlements was completely empty.

Chen Shao shouted towards Master Guo on the altar:

"Taoist Master, it's your turn to perform!"

The man surnamed Guo was probably enjoying the thrill of being the center of attention so much that upon hearing this, he simply nodded and began to perform the ritual.

Although Yu Qi'an believed that Chen Shao was not a reckless person, he was still sweating with anxiety at the sight of something so unprecedented.

Chen Shao whispered to Shen Qingci:

"Go and get me some teacups."

"What do you need this for?"

"I will lead the charge!"

"I don't believe you," Shen Qingci rolled her eyes.

But she can understand.

When people are nervous, their nerves become excited, saliva secretion decreases, and breathing through their mouths accelerates water evaporation.

You will feel a dry mouth and throat.

Chen Shao was scared.

At his age, facing such a ferocious Northern Mang army is probably not surprising.

Shen Qingci nodded, "Then I'll get you more, just don't wet your pants."

If only this woman didn't have a mouth, it would be so much better; at least it would be pleasing to the eye.

On a high building in the city, Han Cao stood with his hands behind his back, leaning on the railing and gazing northward.

After seeing Master Guo begin to wield the peach wood sword, a sinister smile slowly crept onto his lips.

Chen Shao, if you had obediently acknowledged me as your prime minister, you might have lived a few more days under my strategic guidance.

It's a pity you're young and impetuous, too eager to seize power and display your imperial authority; this will only harm you.

He sighed softly:

"Sigh, young people..."

The area around the city wall was crowded with onlookers.

With such a large army pressing in, the common people should have been hiding at home, trembling with fear.

But strangely enough, they stood on tiptoe, incredibly excited, to get a better look.

There's no way around it; when faced with excitement, everything else is trivial.

Moreover, the current emperor himself issued an edict ordering the Taoist priests to guard the city.

Do you think I'd fool everyone?

If I could see a deity descend to earth in my lifetime, it would be worth it!

"Why is there still no movement?"

"What's the rush? Doesn't a celestial master need time to prepare for his rituals? He still needs to smooth things over with the gods in heaven."

"I've heard that this Master Guo can cure all diseases with a single sip of his talisman water, and a single talisman stuck to the city wall makes it impervious to swords and spears. Those northern barbarians are nothing!"

"Nonsense, otherwise why would His Majesty have entrusted him with guarding the city? Master Guo can summon the Six Ding and Six Jia divine soldiers!"

The people were buzzing with excitement.

Some people even shouted at the top of their lungs into the room:

"Honey, come out and see the gods!"

It's no wonder they believed it so readily; after all, every founding emperor would fabricate a mythical story about himself.

For example, Emperor Gaozu of Han was a prime example.

She dreamt of meeting a god, with a dragon above her, and thus conceived.

The son of the White Emperor started a rebellion after slaying a white snake.

Zhao Kuangyin later gave himself the honorary title of "Fragrant Child" at birth.

The list goes on and on.

There are also many who saw through the truth long ago.

His expression was one of grief, lamenting the impending doom of his country, and wishing he could gouge out his own eyes.

How could such an absurd thing happen under the whole world?

Absurd! Absurd!

...

On the altar, Master Guo had already entered into a selfless performance.

He took the steps of Yu, circled the talisman three times, and chanted incantations.

"Dingchou prolongs my life, Dinghai restrains my soul, Dingyou controls my spirit, Dingwei averts my disaster, Dingsi saves me from danger, and Dingmao saves me from calamity..."

Chen Shao silently memorized his incantation.

It must be said that Master Guo is indeed quite skilled.

At least his calm and composed demeanor in the face of danger, and his shamelessness, are unmatched by anyone.

"Six Ding and Six Jia, divine soldiers descend upon the world! Laozi, hasten as the law commands!"

"The Six Ding and Six Jia, divine soldiers descend upon the world..."

Yu Qi'an couldn't help but angrily say:

"Hey Guo, are you even capable?"

"What's the rush? Immortals aren't impatient," Master Guo said dismissively.

Continue with the Six Ding and Six Jia.

...

Helian Yunni personally led the charge, while the rest rode black and red horses. She alone rode a white horse and wore silver armor, which made her look quite heroic.

She looked up at the old Taoist priest wielding a peach wood sword on the city wall.

A hint of mockery flashed in his eyes.

Han Cao was a man of his word; he said the city gate would fall without a fight, and it really did fall without a fight.

A Taoist priest guarding the city? Has he gone mad?

With such a foolish father and son, and such a treacherous first-rank official, how could the Great Yan Dynasty not perish?

While riding, she took out a feathered arrow from behind her back.

He turned his body to one side, pushed off the string with his foot, and drew the bow like a full moon.

The arrow was aimed at the old Taoist priest on the city wall.

The people of Beimang lived by animal husbandry, and everyone there was a skilled archer.

Helian Yunni was the best among them, hitting the bullseye every time.

Whoosh!

An arrow was shot, swift as lightning.

They went straight for Master Guo's face.

This arrow, with the combined skill of Helian Yunni for twenty years, was blocked by Master Guo with his head.

One arrow shatters a god's soul, Empress, I'm one of them...

The Taoist priest caught a glimpse of a cold light out of the corner of his eye, and his ethereal face instantly turned completely pale.

wake up.

What nonsense about appearing as a saint in front of others! All six Ding and six Jia were shot to the heavens by this arrow.

He let out a strange cry, and his legs went weak.

He collapsed face down on the altar.

Fortunately, the arrow grazed his scalp and pinned his Taoist hat to the city wall.

Master Guo lay prostrate on the altar, his whole body trembling violently.

Knowing he had been exposed, Master Guo, in a moment of quick thinking, shouted:

"The gods are not home today!"

Then he rolled his eyes, tilted his head to the side, and started playing dead.

Upon seeing this, the Northern Mang army outside the city was taken aback.

Then a deafening burst of maniacal laughter erupted.

"These are the immortals of the Great Yan Dynasty? Hahahaha!"

"Not to mention the gods of the Great Yan, even the gods in heaven would have to give way to my Northern Mang army."

"Such a way of defending the city is quite refreshing and unique."

Helian Yunni stood at the front of the formation, a smile playing on her lips.

He brandished his silver spear and shouted loudly:

"Whoever charges into battle first will be rewarded with a thousand pieces of gold! Whoever slays Chen Shao will be rewarded with ten thousand pieces of gold and granted ten thousand households!"

Upon hearing this, the Northern Barbarian soldiers' eyes practically spit fire.

Ladders were erected one after another on the city wall.

The people crowded at the foot of the city wall finally realized what was happening.

The people who had just been full of anticipation, kowtowing, burning incense, and calling for their wives to come out and see the gods were now completely dumbfounded.

The immortal was shot down by an arrow.

Where is the divine weapon?

What about the Six Ding and Six Jia?

The old Taoist priest disappeared without even demonstrating his invulnerability to swords and spears.

What the hell is this?!

After a brief silence, the crowd erupted in cheers.

They realized what was about to happen.

"Damn it! I burned incense for three days, and this is all I get?"

"What bastard came up with this plan? Isn't this just letting the city fall for nothing?"

As the cursing continued, someone suddenly cried out in a tearful voice:

"We're doomed! If the city gates fall, we're all dead! Run!"

Upon hearing this, the people immediately became agitated and fled for their lives.

It is said that wherever the Northern Barbarians went, not a single piece of armor was left.

If they were actually allowed into the city, no one dared to imagine the consequences...

Just then, someone else shouted at the top of their lungs:

"Holy crap! Look! His Majesty is performing the ritual himself!"