NOVEL WEB Chapter 50 - Forceful City Breakthrough
Chapter 50: Forceful City Breakthrough
A deafening roar echoed as yet another furious impact erupted, sending slabs of green stone flying in all directions. The ground beneath shook violently, as though a monstrous beast hidden in the depths had just turned over. Overhead, the relentless downpour of arrows continued like a torrential storm, yet none could pierce through the radiant shield of energy surrounding Yang Yi. In the dim light of the underground palace, the golden glow of his defensive aura appeared almost like the first light of dawn, shimmering faintly amidst the gloom. This, combined with the torrential barrage of arrows, made him appear not like a man but like a being of divine fury—untouchable, terrifying, and dignified.
Yang Yi advanced like an unstoppable force, sweeping away every trap and mechanism in his path. Every step he took echoed like thunder, as the triggered traps and arrows failed to halt his stride. The ancient courtyard, filled with countless killing devices and death traps, had been reduced to rubble under his feet. The distance between him and the towering city wall was rapidly closing, and soon he stood before it, his eyes gazing steadily at the looming fortress before him.
At this moment, he could clearly see the defenders on the city wall. Each face was grim, every pair of eyes cold and sharp, filled with vigilance and tension. Their postures were rigid, hands gripping weapons tightly as though facing a monstrous calamity. Yang Yi also sensed a multitude with killing intent, locked onto him from the top of the wall. Alongside the mechanical crossbows embedded into the structure, there were also five massive ballistae set neatly in a row. Each ballista had five enormous spears already loaded, cold light glinting off their sharp tips, ready to unleash death at any moment.
A hoarse yet powerful voice pierced the air. “The imperial tomb is a forbidden ground. No living soul may approach!” It was the old man at the forefront who spoke, his voice filled with authority. Despite his advanced age, he exuded a potent vitality. His gaze was like a blade, unwaveringly fixed upon Yang Yi.
Before Yang Yi could respond, Ying, who stood beside him, stepped forward slightly and spoke in a low voice, her tone tinged with caution. “That old man is Ying Hua, a member of the royal Ying clan of Qin. He once led the Black Ice Platform and is now the chief guardian of the imperial tomb. His strength is at the peak of Hua Jin realm, but it’s rumoured that he has already broken through to the Gang Qi realm.”
Yang Yi narrowed his eyes slightly at this information. “A member of the Ying clan? That makes him an uncle to Qin Shi Huang, doesn’t it?” His tone carried a tinge of mockery. “The Qin Empire truly spares no expense—assigning a Gang Qi realm expert to guard the emperor’s tomb.”
The old man, Ying Hua, once again raised his voice. “You still refuse to retreat?” His tone grew colder, his body radiating dangerous energy. Yang Yi’s lips curled into a faint, mocking smile. “Retreat?” he repeated softly. “Why should I retreat? I was living well enough, yet you forced me down here. And now you want me to retreat? You want me to walk away after everything?” His voice was calm, but the killing intent in his eyes had grown sharp as a blade. Without another word, Ying Hua gave the order. “Kill him!”
In an instant, twenty-five ballistae bolts thundered forth, tearing through the air with a shrill, terrifying howl. They resembled steel dragons descending from the sky, each one possessing enough force to shatter stone and cleave through iron. Yang Yi’s eyes narrowed slightly, his mind already calculating. He had long anticipated this assault and, without hesitation, he summoned all the true energy within his Dantian. The Gang Qi surrounding him surged violently, forming a luminous golden sphere of light.
The ballista bolts slammed into his defensive shield with thunderous force, accompanied by the agonising sound of steel grinding against solid energy. For a brief moment, Yang Yi could feel the intense pressure, the overwhelming force attempting to shatter his Gang Qi. Yet, in the end, the bolts failed to pierce his shield. Their terrifying momentum diminished rapidly until only broken shafts remained, protruding harmlessly from the outside of the light barrier.
Seeing this, Yang Yi burst into hearty laughter. “You think this can hurt me?” His voice was cold yet filled with arrogance, reverberating throughout the courtyard. Across the wall, Ying Hua’s face darkened further. “Prepare the ballistae again!” he commanded sharply. “Activate the mechanical crossbows! Break his damn shield!”
The sound of grinding gears and loaded crossbows echoed around them as the mechanisms were rapidly rearmed. The defenders atop the wall worked feverishly, knowing that failure was not an option. At the same time, from countless concealed holes in the wall, mechanical crossbows emerged, locking onto Yang Yi’s position like a swarm of venomous snakes poised to strike.
Yang Yi remained unmoved. He turned back slightly and ordered the three women, “Fall back along the path we came. I’m going to break into the city.”
Meng Jiangnu’s heart tightened at his words, but she did not hesitate. She grabbed Qing Lian and Ying, quickly retreating toward the safer zone of the courtyard. Without his protection, they dared not remain under the rain of arrows and bolts.
When the three women retreated to a safe distance, Yang Yi slowly advanced toward the towering wall, every step steady and purposeful. He bent slightly, pressing his palm to the ground. “Break!” he whispered fiercely.
The earth trembled violently as a hidden force surged from Yang Yi’s palm, causing the green stone slabs to ripple like waves. The shockwave travelled beneath the ground, heading straight for the city wall. Under his control, the very earth itself rose and fell as if a mighty dragon were tunnelling beneath it. Cracks began to spread across the courtyard floor, every hidden trap and killing device rendered useless.
Finally, the shockwave slammed heavily against the base of the city wall. Dust and debris fell like rain as the massive structure quivered under the impact. The defenders atop the wall froze in terror; they had never seen such power, not even in tales of gods and demons.
Ying Hua’s face turned pale as he shouted, “All troops, prepare to engage in formation at the base of the wall!” His instincts screamed at him that the collapse of the wall was imminent. At this moment, Yang Yi had already dashed to the foot of the wall, moving like a gust of wind. His figure was swift and imposing, leaving afterimages in the air as he raced across the devastated courtyard. Without breaking stride, he bit his fingertip, drawing a line of blood along the wall’s surface.
“With blood as sacrifice, with my bones as the medium, by the boundless power of heaven and earth—lend me your strength to tear this mountain apart!” As he recited the incantation, his hands swiftly formed seals. The surrounding earth and stone responded to his call, trembling as if awakening to a primal force. His voice, low and powerful, echoed ominously in the air:
“Break!”