Chapter 465: Chapter 386: Water and Fire City

「One month ago.」

「Within the Zhao Kingdom.」

Xiao Shi and Bai Qi had already conquered two major provinces of the Zhao Kingdom.

But in Xiao Shi and Bai Qi’s eyes, the progress was far too slow.

Furthermore, the deeper they pushed, the more the Zhao Kingdom’s army showed astonishing resilience, even faintly hinting at a trend of pushing them back.

This made both Xiao Shi and Bai Qi feel the pressure of time.

Although Xiahou Nan was doing his utmost to hold back the Qi Kingdom, there was a limit to what his army of five hundred thousand could do against the might of Qi.

Besides, not all cities in the Chu Region were so easily defended and difficult to assault.

The longer things dragged on, the more difficult Xiahou Nan’s situation would become.

Meanwhile, the advantage on their own front was simply not significant enough.

Therefore, after some discussion, Xiao Shi and Bai Qi decided that the main army would attack through Hangu Road. Bai Qi would lead his forces to defend Water and Fire City, while Xiao Shi would advance alone with his army to continue the assault on other cities.

As long as Bai Qi could hold Water and Fire City and protect the rear of Xiao Shi’s army, Xiao Shi would be able to exert enough pressure on the Zhao Kingdom!

Bai Qi accepted the order and, with extreme confidence, made a military pledge, vowing that he would hold Water and Fire City no matter what.

Upon learning of Xiao Shi’s intentions, the Zhao Kingdom appointed Li Mu as the commanding general to lead an army against Bai Qi.

Although Li Mu was young, his command of troops was formidable. He was evenly matched against Bai Qi, never once falling into a disadvantage. In fact, the ferocity of his sieges was something Bai Qi had rarely witnessed in his life.

Bai Qi had not slept well for days.

He often paced in the middle of the night, contemplating his strategy.

In Bai Qi’s view, he couldn’t just defend the city gates; he had to shift from defense to offense!

Then one day, a Guest Minister under Bai Qi’s command presented him with a plan.

This Guest Minister was the Sect Leader of the White Demon Sect. He had previously been betrayed by his disciples, forced to flee his Sect with grave injuries. He sought refuge with Bai Qi, who sheltered him and helped him reclaim control of the White Demon Sect.

This Sect Leader proposed a terrifying solution.

So terrifying, in fact, that even Bai Qi hesitated.

Water and Fire City, where Bai Qi was currently stationed, was no ordinary city.

Legend had it that in Ancient Times, Water and Fire City was an earthly entrance to the Netherworld.

However, after the end of the Ancient Divine War, the God of the Netherworld who ruled it perished. The Laws of the Netherworld fell into chaos, and a substance known as Ghostly Abyssal Fire began to seep out from it.

Periodically, when the Ghostly Abyssal Fire accumulated to a certain point, it would scorch the ground of the city, causing it to crack open and the fire to rise from below.

But just as every cause has an effect, the Laws of Heaven and Earth operate within such a balance.

Thus, as the legends told, beneath the city lay a body of water called the Mystic Soul Lake.

As the Ghostly Abyssal Fire gathered, the water of the Mystic Soul Lake would constantly evaporate. Influenced by the unique local Laws of Water and Fire City, this vapor would then gather in the sky above, refusing to disperse.

Just as the Ghostly Abyssal Fire was about to run rampant, the Mystic Soul Water would fall as rain, both extinguishing the flames and nourishing the land.

This was why Water and Fire City had no four seasons—only a "summer" formed when the Ghostly Abyssal Fire was about to erupt, and a "winter" that followed the fall of the Mystic Soul Rain.

The two maintained an extremely delicate balance.

Currently in Water and Fire City, although the Ghostly Abyssal Fire was gathering and the temperature was gradually rising, the Mystic Soul Rain was still at least three months away.

But the Sect Leader of the White Demon Sect claimed that his Sect possessed an Array passed down from Ancient Times that could trigger the Ghostly Abyssal Fire prematurely!

At the same time, this Array would temporarily affect the local Laws of Water and Fire City, causing the Mystic Soul Rain to fall only seven days after the Ghostly Abyssal Fire had begun its rampage.

However, this Array required a blood sacrifice: all seven hundred thousand citizens of Water and Fire City!

This made Bai Qi hesitate.

After all, these seven hundred thousand common people were innocent.

But in the end...

For the sake of the Qin Kingdom’s hegemony...

...and to not betray the trust of the Frost King and Your Majesty, Bai Qi decided to go through with it!

Several hundred thousand soldiers of the Qin Kingdom’s army worked together to set up the Array.

The Qin army did not know the purpose of this Array; they only knew to follow their orders.

Once the Array was in place, Bai Qi led his army out of the city to engage the enemy. Then, the Sect Leader of the White Demon Sect led his disciples to perform the blood sacrifice on the entire city’s population.

The wails from within the city were silenced by the Array.

Seven hundred thousand citizens were turned into rivers of blood that flowed through the city, coalescing within the great Array’s inscriptions before vanishing.

On the battlefield, Bai Qi knew what was happening behind him in Water and Fire City, but his expression remained unchanged.

’This is all for the Qin Kingdom’s hegemony!’

After the Array was complete, Bai Qi’s army of five hundred thousand returned to the city. The soldiers discovered that everyone was gone; the entire city had become a ghost town.

The soldiers had no idea what had transpired within the city.

In the days that followed, Bai Qi continued to defend the city. He even led his troops to charge against Li Mu.

But each time, Bai Qi would feign defeat and retreat back to the city.

Gradually, it began to look as if Water and Fire City could hold out no longer.

One morning, a Scout brought back news: there wasn’t a single person on the walls of Water and Fire City!

Li Mu quickly led his troops to the foot of Water and Fire City’s walls.

Aside from the tightly shut gates, the city walls were empty. It looked as if Bai Qi had abandoned the city and fled.

"General... should we enter the city?" a Vice General asked Li Mu.

Li Mu frowned, hesitating. "This is too strange. I fear there’s a trap in the city!"

"You may be overthinking it, General," Chen Shengze said with a smile. "Water and Fire City’s Defense Array was weak to begin with, and after our relentless attacks these past few days, the array is on the verge of shattering. Not to mention, Bai Qi’s army is exhausted. Even if he hadn’t left, I was confident I could take the city within five days. Given the circumstances, it makes more sense for him to retreat and consolidate his defensive line."

"Indeed, General. We should retake Water and Fire City as quickly as possible and press our advantage. Xiao Shi is putting too much pressure on us at Hangu Road," another Vice General chimed in.

After a long moment of contemplation, Li Mu made his decision. "All troops, on high alert! We enter in a Long Snake Formation. If anything seems amiss, retreat immediately."

"Yes, General!"

The generals responded in unison.

Li Mu led his army to ram open the city gates and entered Water and Fire City.

Seeing the desolation all around, Li Mu’s brow furrowed.

’Where are the people of Water and Fire City?’

’Why isn’t there a single person here?’

’Could Bai Qi have evacuated them all?’

’But why would Bai Qi take the civilians with him? He didn’t even spare the old and the young... This defies all logic.’

"General, what’s going on with this city? Where are all the people...?" a Vice General named Wen Qian asked in confusion.

"I don’t know what happened, but one thing is certain: Bai Qi has indeed left."

Li Mu shook his head.

"There doesn’t seem to be a major problem with Water and Fire City. Order the entire army to rest for a day. We march tomorrow!"

"Yes, General!"

The order was passed down by a messenger. Soon, Li Mu’s entire army had entered Water and Fire City.

And just as the Zhao Kingdom’s army was about to make camp...

The city gates suddenly SLAMMED shut, and a blood-red Grand Array enveloped all of Water and Fire City.

In the next instant, the temperature in Water and Fire City began to rise rapidly!

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