Chapter 29: First Level Sword Intent_1

Outside Yingdu, the capital city of the Great Chu Empire.

"They've finally come!"

Atop the towering city wall, the Chu Emperor gazed at the distant, faintly visible enemy forces. His expression was calm, showing no trace of panic. Five elderly men, exuding an imposing aura, stood beside him.

One of the elders, the Chu sovereign from thirty thousand years ago, said through gritted teeth, his face filled with remorse, "If I had known this day would come, I would have annihilated the Great Qin thirty thousand years ago! What a regret! At that time, a war to exterminate Qin erupted. However, for certain reasons, we didn't see it through. If we had been resolute in that war, without internal discord, the Qin Empire wouldn't exist today."

Alas, time cannot be turned back, and there is no medicine for regret.

"Prepare for battle!" another elder sighed, then took the initiative to fly out of Yingdu toward the distant Qin army.

In an instant, five powerful auras pierced the sky, coalescing into a terrifying pillar of light. This sight somewhat invigorated the demoralized Chu army, restoring some of their morale.

With the Ancestors taking action, we can definitely repel the Qin army! many Chu soldiers firmly believed. In their eyes, the Ancestors were heaven itself, the pillars of Chu, an invincible legend.

「A few miles away」

Qin Wudao, riding a white horse, sensed the five powerful auras approaching and a cold sneer touched his lips.

The army halted. Bai Qi, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them, a murderous glint flashing within. In the next instant, he vanished from his horse and reappeared over ten thousand feet in the sky.

"Kill!" The five Chu Ancestors flew forward. Without a word of nonsense, they unleashed five powerful attacks. The wind and clouds roiled in their wake, and space itself seemed to become fragile.

Bai Qi stood ramrod straight, like a divine spear propping up the heavens. His expression remained unchanged, as if the five oncoming attacks possessed no destructive power whatsoever.

"CLANG! CLANG!" Just as the five attacks were about to connect, a brilliant light erupted from Bai Qi's eyes. Two streams of blood-red Sword Qi shot out, potent enough to slaughter thousands, accompanied by clear, ringing sword cries.

BOOM! A pitch-black fissure tore through the Void as the two streams of Sword Qi collided with the five Chu Ancestors' attacks.

Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, the five attacks were instantly obliterated, pulverized into nothingness by the Sword Qi. The blood-red sword light flashed, appearing before the Chu Ancestors in the blink of an eye, and a rain of blood filled the sky.

"Ah—!" Five miserable screams echoed through the Void. Witnessing this, the Chu soldiers within Yingdu felt a chill pierce their hearts, and they trembled uncontrollably.

A mere gaze transformed into Sword Qi and slaughtered five Ancestors! This is utter madness!

We've lost... We've truly lost... The Chu Emperor showed no surprise. After ordering his generals to defend the city, he left the city wall and returned to the imperial palace alone.

"Refreshing!" Having dispatched his foes, Bai Qi reappeared on his horse. He stretched lazily, the corners of his mouth upturned, clearly in high spirits.

"General Bai, are you truly this pleased about killing five Heaven Realm Martial Artists, given your strength?" Qin Wudao asked, puzzled. For someone who has reached the Holy Realm to attack Heaven Realm Martial Artists is like an adult bullying an infant. What's so satisfying about that?

"You'll understand the sense of accomplishment that comes from killing prodigies of your own generation eventually!" Bai Qi said with a smile, then closed his eyes again.

He and the five Chu Ancestors had all been prodigies thirty thousand years ago. They had clashed numerous times in their youth. Now that he had reached the Holy Realm, he naturally wanted to show off a bit... and, incidentally, settle old scores.

"Is that so?" Qin Wudao mused, stroking his chin. Is killing other prodigies really that satisfying? No wonder the System issues tasks to defeat prodigies! I'll have to try it more often in the future.

"Relay my command: attack Yingdu!" But for now, it's best to deal with the problem at hand. Qin Wudao drew his battle sword and ordered in a deep voice.

A dense killing intent spread over the Qin army.

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

The Yan Yun Eighteen Cavaliers and the Great Qin Iron Cavalry were the first to charge. Within a few breaths, they reached the walls of Yingdu. Their chilling aura caused the surrounding temperature to plummet.

The remaining Qin legions followed, their mighty charge like a tiger devouring everything in its path.

Yingdu trembled! The Chu soldiers quaked!

"Fire!" a Chu general commanded, his voice trembling. But most of his soldiers were petrified with fear. Only a sparse few arrows arced weakly into the air, causing no harm to the Qin army.

BOOM! With a deafening crash, the city gate shattered. The entire city wall shuddered. The Yan Yun Eighteen Cavaliers transformed into streaks of black shadow as they stormed into Yingdu.

The soldiers stationed behind the gate had no time to react before they were cut down by scimitars, blood spraying everywhere.

The Great Qin Iron Cavalry followed, swarming onto the city walls and slaughtering numerous Chu soldiers.

Body after body of Chu soldiers rained down from the city walls, smashing onto the ground and becoming gory pulps.

「About six hours later」

The Qin army had completely occupied Yingdu. They tore down the banners of Chu and hoisted the flag of the Great Qin Empire, which billowed in the wind.

Meanwhile, in the Chu imperial palace, the Chu Emperor, knowing his doom was sealed, summoned all the imperial concubines, Princes, and Princesses to the Royal Garden.

"Your Majesty, has the crisis passed?" The Empress, noble and dignified in her phoenix gown, curtsied gracefully. A flicker of joy touched her beautiful, radiant face.

Her only reply, however, was an icy Imperial Sword piercing through her chest.

"Your... Your Majesty... why?" The Empress's body went rigid. Blood trickled from her crimson lips as she asked in disbelief.

"The state is about to fall! As royalty, none of you shall be defiled by the men of Qin!" The Chu Emperor's eyes were bloodshot, his face contorted savagely. He wrenched the Imperial Sword from the Empress's body. Blood gushed out, staining his golden dragon robe crimson.

Witnessing the Chu Emperor's act, the horrified imperial concubines, Princes, and Princesses turned to flee.

But how could their speed compare to the Chu Emperor's? Within moments, they were all cut down!

"If you must blame someone, blame your birth into this imperial house! To preserve the dignity of our lineage, I can only subject you to this!" At the edge of the Royal Garden, having slain the last Prince, the Chu Emperor, his eyes bloodshot, shed a single tear. Even a vicious tiger refrains from devouring its own cubs, let alone a man. The anguish in his heart at this moment must be like a knife twisting within. But what choice did he have? If he didn't do it himself, the Qin army would. Then, even death would become an unattainable luxury.

And so, more than fifty members of the imperial family met their end under the Chu Emperor's Imperial Sword. Fresh blood stained the Royal Garden crimson. A gentle breeze rustled by, carrying bloodied petals to the ground, painting a scene of utter desolation.

"Haha..." Standing in the garden, the Chu Emperor threw his head back and laughed, a wild, desolate sound. He then straightened his robes and ended his own life with his sword.

He and his family would rest here for eternity.

「Two hours later」

Qin Wudao arrived at the Royal Garden. He glanced at the Chu Emperor's cooling corpse, ordered it to be buried, and then departed.

「The capital had fallen! Their king was dead! With this, the Great Chu Empire was no more!」

"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for conquering the Great Chu Empire. You have been rewarded with: Level One Sword Intent!"

The System's notification echoed in Qin Wudao's mind as he left the Royal Garden. He paused, a flicker of excitement crossing his face.

Sword Intent! The reward for this conquest is actually Level One Sword Intent!