“Heh, as expected of the Peacock Phoenix. Even with Mount Tai collapsing right in front of him, his expression doesn’t change. Unlike me, panicking over the slightest thing.”
Sha Tongtian sat back down, gave an embarrassed laugh, and felt he had lost a bit too much composure.
Everyone else present looked at Kong He with silent admiration.
A Phoenix from a great empire was truly impressive. Hearing that a huge army had surrounded the city, he could still remain perfectly calm and even talk about using the enemy’s heads as drinking snacks.
Truly domineering, arrogant, and formidable!
This, perhaps, was what real strength looked like. Ordinary people would never dare speak such words.
“Pass my order. Bring those thieves’ heads here to serve with the wine.”
Sha Tongtian instructed a deputy general at his side.
“Yes, sir!”
The deputy turned and left.
The eunuch who had been trembling in place hesitated, wanting to speak, but a glare from Jiao Batian instantly silenced him.
Jiao Batian was, of course, under Ling Xiao’s control and had to act in Ling Xiao’s interest.
“Get out of here. Don’t stand there being an eyesore. From now on, unless someone storms the palace, do not come in and disturb us, or this Phoenix will take your worthless life!”
Kong He shot the eunuch a cold glare and cursed.
“You may leave.”
Jiao Batian waved his hand, signalling the eunuch to withdraw.
“Alright, Peacock Phoenix, no need to be angry. Everyone, do not panic. Let us continue eating and drinking here while we await good news from outside.”
Jiao Batian smiled, raised his cup, and drank with the crowd.
Yet as they drank, no one noticed the ruthless glint that flashed across the corner of his eye.
Virtually half of the True Demon Empire’s key ministers and generals were gathered here. If Ling Xiao managed to wipe them all out in one go, the empire would truly be finished.
The banquet continued merrily. Kong He kept sidling up to Bai Qianjiao and boasted confidently, “You two needn’t worry. In the Divine Phoenix Empire, I might not dare make bold claims, but in this mere Demon Capital, with me, Kong He, present, no one would dare act arrogantly.
Even if someone were stronger than me, their background could never compare to mine, unless they intend to become mortal enemies with the Peacock Clan of the Divine Phoenix Empire!”
Kong He relied on two things.
One was his own strength.
The other was his family background.
After all, he was a legitimate member of the Peacock Clan of the Divine Phoenix Empire.
…
When Sha Tongtian’s deputy general reached the city gates, Ling Xiao’s army had already entered and officially taken control of the defences.
Seeing the situation was hopeless, the deputy turned to flee, only to be snared and reeled in by Xie Li’s tail.
The deputy trembled uncontrollably.
In his heart, he cursed Kong He. Petty thieves?
If these were petty thieves, then Kong He himself was less than a fart.
“Chosen of Heaven, I was forced into this!”
the deputy shouted.
“What did you come here for?”
Ling Xiao asked calmly.
The deputy hesitated, unsure whether repeating Kong He’s exact words would get him killed on the spot.
“Speak!”
An icy voice pierced his eardrums and seeped into his body. Instantly he felt as though his limbs and bones had frozen solid. That terrifying, suffocating sensation nearly broke him.
“I’ll talk, I’ll talk! The First Demon General and the Peacock Phoenix told me to fetch your head to use as a drinking snack!”
Once the words left his mouth, the deputy’s heart sank to the bottom.
He did not know what fate awaited him.
But he had no choice. If he stayed silent, death was certain.
“Very good. At least you’re obedient.”
A cold smile curved Ling Xiao’s lips.
Kong He really thought highly of himself, wanting Ling Xiao’s head as a drinking snack. Interesting.
He casually tossed the deputy backwards to Meng Tong, then waved a hand. “Qin Huo, give me a thousand men. Take the rest and secure the Demon Capital quickly. Try not to cause unnecessary destruction. After all, this city may become our future capital.”
“Yes, sir.”
Qin Huo immediately detached a thousand iron riders to follow Ling Xiao, Leng Mei, and Ji Mingkong towards the palace, while he, along with Zhuge Ming, Zhang Yufei, Li Ruguang, and others, began suppressing resistance throughout the city.
Now that they were inside, the Sea Clan’s meagre forces posed no real threat.
Over ten thousand puppet troops had already switched sides on the battlefield, and most of the remainder were cowards who had scattered early.
Only a tiny fraction remained stubbornly loyal to the Sea Clan, but they were no match at all.
With Xie Li’s assistance, Qin Huo could handle the situation with ease.
As for Yue Nu, she remained hidden. Simply keeping the Yin-Yang Demon King in check was already a tremendous help to Ling Xiao.
Although the Yin-Yang Demon King had not yet appeared, no one knew where he was lurking or when he might strike.
Staying concealed, Yue Nu was best positioned to respond.
“Let’s go, Leng Mei, Mingkong. Since the Peacock Phoenix wants my head as a drinking snack, I’ll deliver it personally, free of charge!”
Ling Xiao gave a cold laugh. Beneath him, his demonic wolf let out a low, rumbling growl, as if sensing the fury within its master.
The thousand iron riders were all mounted on massive, pure-black demonic wolves with glossy fur, utterly ferocious and majestic.
Though many citizens hid inside their homes, they could not resist peeking through windows and cracks.
“What a terrifying army. Is that the legendary Chosen of Heaven?”
“So young!”
“I heard he’s only sixteen this year!”
“Truly a young hero. I thought he was long dead. Now it seems his achievements may surpass even Bai Qianjiao and Hong Li, perhaps even the Peacock Phoenix himself.”
“Exactly. Just look at that commanding presence. It sets the blood on fire. One order, and the entire army obeys. This is what a true king looks like.”
The citizens whispered among themselves, all realising the Sea Clan could no longer hold the Demon Capital. Someone had breached the city this easily. Compared to the True Demon Empire of tens of thousands of years ago, the current one was simply too far beneath it.
Yet inside the imperial palace, singing and dancing continued, the atmosphere still relaxed and joyful.
Only as the thousand iron riders drew nearer and the ground shook harder did the people at the banquet finally frown.
Moments later, faint sounds of shouting and killing drifted in from outside, turning many faces pale.
“Something’s wrong!”
“General Sha, quickly contact your deputy and find out what’s happening.”
“Yes, I’m afraid this isn’t some band of thieves. This is a real army at our gates.”
Many at the banquet stood up, clearly worried.
If a genuine army had truly stormed the Demon Capital, none of their lives would be safe.
