Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor

Xuanyue Empire Northern Territory, Moon Cool City!

This is a military-administered town in the north of the Xuanyue Empire. The army stationed in Moon Cool City is called the Jing Feather Army, which is a loyal iron army directly under the new ruler Xuan Jing of Xuanyue Country. Its combat power has likely surpassed that controlled by the previous ruler, Xuan Jiuding.

However, even though Moon Cool City is a military town, due to the previous ruler Xuan Haoran's efforts in strengthening the nation, Xuanyue's national power has risen, and not many dare to provoke it lightly.

Therefore, for dozens to hundreds of years, the northern states have not dared to challenge the dignity of the Xuanyue Empire, causing the Jing Feather Army stationed in Moon Cool City to become somewhat lax.

Above the North City Gate of Moon Cool City, a figure strides with the prowess of a dragon and tiger. When he approaches a soldier who appears to be half-asleep and nodding off, he suddenly becomes furiously enraged.

Slap!

A loud slap lands across the face, instantly waking the drowsy soldier. When the soldier realizes who it is, he nearly collapses in fright.

"Commander Lin Hao, this subordinate admits his guilt!"

This Jing Feather Army soldier knows well who stands before him—this is the man who stood by the current ruler during his trials and troubles, the one who heroically stormed into Xuanyue Palace and expelled the former ruler Xuan Jiuding. Naturally, he dares not neglect him.

It turns out this man patrolling atop the city walls is none other than Lin Hao, who once met Yun Xiao while passing through Moon Cool City, but who now holds the post of army commander.

Though Moon Cool City is a military stronghold, the highest commanding officer stationed here is not Lin Hao, but a higher-ranking general rumored to belong to the side branch of the Royal Family, carrying the royal bloodline of Xuanyue.

The Jing Feather Army is the closest iron army to the current ruler Xuan Jing. Just as this city guard thought, under the internal and external cooperation of Yun Xiao, it was with the undying loyalty of the Jing Feather Army that Xuan Jing was able to regain the initiative and ascend as the current ruler.

It's worth mentioning that Lin Hao, who was initially at the Early Stage of Spirit Vein Realm, has through this period of cultivation impressively advanced to the Middle Stage of Spirit Vein Realm. To become a commander of the Jing Feather Army at this level, one mustn't overlook his contributions from that significant past deed.

"If I see this again, I will definitely twist off your head!"

After slapping the soldier, Lin Hao did not punish him further, seemingly aware that these soldiers have grown numb over the years with no battles in the North.

"Huh?"

However, just as Lin Hao turned his head, he suddenly noticed a huge gust of sand rising from the far distance beyond the North Gate of Moon Cool City, and this was not a natural wind, but something that seemed to envelop the sky and earth.

"Whoo-whoo-whoo..."

Just when Lin Hao thought of a possibility, a sudden blast of horns came from a nearby platform, followed by a plume of smoke shooting into the sky, startling him.

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

Simultaneously, voices echoed above the North Gate of Moon Cool City. By this time, Lin Hao was certain that the decades of tranquility in the northern border of the Empire were about to be disrupted.

Swoosh!

Just as Lin Hao was about to turn around and report to the general, a whooshing sound suddenly came from beside him, causing him to immediately bow down as he saw the person's face.

"I have seen the general, sir!"

The newcomer was none other than General Xuan Shouye, the commander of the important northern stronghold, Moon Cool City. His father was the close uncle of the former ruler Xuan Haoran, so even the current ruler Xuan Jing must address him as uncle!

Xuan Shouye's strength and status far exceed Lin Hao's, and he had already reached the Peak of Spirit Vein Realm. In this moment, he did not pay much attention to Lin Hao but instead stared with a worried expression at the vast foreign army approaching from the north.

"Could this direction be from Lingtian Empire?"

A glint of light flashed in Xuan Shouye's eyes as he considered the possibilities. Although the northern states were numerous and complex, likely only the equally powerful Lingtian Empire would dare to provoke the Xuanyue Empire.

But for many years, Xuanyue Empire and Lingtian Empire had kept to their own domains, even forming marital ties, and there had never been battles between the two empires.

"Marital ties? Damn, how could I have forgotten about that?"

However, thinking of the marital ties between the two nations, Xuan Shouye couldn't help but curse inwardly. Previously, with mutual lookout due to marital relations, a major war was naturally impossible, but the current situation was different.

The current ruler of the Lingtian Empire, His Excellency, has a younger sister who was once the Empress of the Xuanyue Empire and later promoted to Empress Dowager, Nie Yi. However, the current ruler of the Xuanyue Empire is Xuan Jing, born from another concubine. As for Nie Yi and her son Xuan Jiuding, they have been missing since the royal upheaval months ago, leading Xuan Shouye to believe they must have escaped the Xuanyue Empire through some channels and returned to the Lingtian Empire.

Thus, everything can be explained. Nie Yi must have tearfully complained to her brother, the Emperor of Lingtian, whose affection for his sister could indeed prompt him to deploy troops.

"Lin Hao, the Lingtian Empire is attacking our Moon Cool City, order the generals and soldiers to prepare for battle!"

After understanding these matters, Xuan Shouye could faintly envision the fluttering banners with "Lingtian" written on them, and he immediately called out without any doubt.

"Yes!"

Lin Hao responded with a salute. With his shrewdness, he certainly deduced something from Xuan Shouye's words, but what puzzled him was how Nie Yi and Xuan Jiuding managed to escape the city under such tight surveillance at the northern border.

But all of that was no longer important. Now with the Lingtian Empire's massive attack, it was evident they came prepared, and whether Moon Cool City could hold its ground was uncertain; they had no choice but to fight to the death.

"Wuu wuu wuu..."

In an instant, the sound of horns rose loudly throughout Moon Cool City. Whether it was the soldiers of the Jingyu Army or the cultivators passing through Moon Cool City, all understood that something major had happened, showing signs of panic on their faces.

As all the soldiers of Moon Cool City gathered at the North City Gate, the massive army of the Lingtian Empire had already reached the city walls, led by the ruler of the Lingtian Empire, Nie Wencang, riding a tall horse in full military attire.

Beside him were two young men, who if Yun Xiao were present, would recognize as not unknown to him. They were Nie Qianqiu, the Crown Prince of Lingtian he once suppressed, and Xuan Haoran's eldest son, Xuan Jiuding.

As for the former Xuanyue Empress Nie Yi, she naturally would not miss such a grand occasion, clad in armor and riding among the generals at the forefront, occasionally revealing a cold smirk of pleasure while gazing at the towering walls of Moon Cool City.

"Xuan Haoran, since you are so unappreciative, I will just annihilate the entire Xuanyue Empire and see if you can still remain so aloof!"

This was the genuine thought in Nie Yi's mind. Being such a person, she never sought reasons within herself, considering only that Xuan Haoran had wronged her and her son, and this vengeance must be exacted.

"Emperor of Lingtian, our Xuanyue and Lingtian have always kept to our own affairs. Do you understand the consequences of coming here with great pomp and circumstance today?"

By this time, Xuan Shouye had clearly recognized the faces below. Even though he knew his oratory skills were futile, he still hoped to avoid the impending extensive warfare and spared people from the horrors of war.

"Ha ha, consequences?"

Before the Lingtian Emperor Nie Wencang could speak, Nie Yi already laughed out loud, her voice piercingly sharp: "Xuan Shouye, when you and your brother drove me and my son out of the Xuanyue Royal Family, did you ever think this day would come?"

Nie Yi, of course, recognized her cousin Xuan Haoran, and during that royal turmoil, it was indeed Xuan Shouye who led the Jingyu Army and helped Yun Xiao of the Jade Pot Sect and others, causing their plans to fail miserably.

Later, the Jingyu Army continued to hunt throughout the Empire, almost preventing Nie Yi and her son from escaping the Xuanyue Empire. Thus, Nie Yi's hatred towards Xuan Shouye was probably not any less than towards Xuan Haoran and his son Xuan Jing.

"Hmph, a woman of the harem, a treasonous official, dares to talk about righteousness?"

Xuan Shouye first sneered, then seemingly suppressed his anger and said solemnly: "Nie Yi, after all, you and the emperor have been husband and wife for a hundred years, don't you have any regard for the affection between spouses?"

"Husband and wife affection? Xuan Shouye, let me tell you, it was that old man Xuan Haoran who disregarded our spousal affection first. What does that have to do with me, Nie Yi? I just want to show him the consequences of offending me, Nie Yi!"

Hearing Xuan Shouye mentioning spousal affection, Nie Yi instantly turned fierce like a wild cat whose tail was stepped on, her voice sharpening as it echoed in the sky above the North City Gate, looking quite fierce.

With those words, Xuan Shouye realized that appealing to this woman's sense of propriety was futile, and just at this moment, the silent Lingtian Emperor finally spoke up for the first time.

"Why waste so much unnecessary talk? Take down Moon Cool City, and see if Xuan Shouye can remain so composed!"

This Lingtian Emperor was not one to beat around the bush. Hearing his deep voice fall, he then waved his hand, and the armored soldiers behind him swarmed out, commencing the attack on the city.

In an instant, soldiers of the Lingtian army launched arrows and scaled the walls with fierce momentum, while Moon Cool City was not unprepared, deploying giant stones and boiling oil to halt the Lingtian soldiers from scaling the walls.

War drums pounded, horns sounded, a dire battle ensued—it was a war between empires, built with blood and bones, and for the lives of these lower-ranking soldiers, figures like the Lingtian Emperor Nie Wencang could not possibly care less.

The battle to capture the city was bound to be filled with corpses, but for someone at Nie Wencang's level, he was likely just waiting for an opportunity, a perfect chance to strike and take over.