Chapter 460: Tang San's Powerlessness
The Heaven Dou Imperial City lay cloaked in silence, shrouded in near-total darkness. Only the sound of armored patrols echoed through the streets, their heavy footsteps and clinking metal punctuating the stillness. Inside the imperial palace, all was grim. Palace maids had been replaced by armored soldiers, a sign of the tense atmosphere.
A soldier holding an official insignia dashed quickly toward the Regent's manor, his agility marking him as a speed-type spirit master. The guards at the palace gates, recognizing the insignia, hastily opened the gates. Without encountering any obstacles, the soldier passed through several gates until he reached the Regent's manor.
"Report!" the soldier's heavy breaths broke the stillness of the manor.
Inside the manor, Prince Regent Tang San, Prince Xuexing, several titled Douluo from the Clear Sky Clan, Yu Xiaogang, and other Shrek Academy teachers sat, fatigue etched onto each of their faces. The precarious situation on the battlefield had left them with little time to rest.
Tang San, seated at the head, pulled his weary eyes away from the map before him. His bloodshot gaze focused intently on the soldier as he commanded in a cold voice, "Speak!"
"Your Highness, Sir Lan Hao, Xilu City… has rebelled!" reported the soldier.
The news jolted Tang San to full alertness, a chill running down his spine. His expression changed as he moved to examine the map, scrutinizing Xilu City's strategic location.
Yu Xiaogang's expression was grim. "Xilu City borders the ocean; it's a crucial defensive point with no natural barriers at its rear. With Xilu City's defection, the Wuhun Empire will be able to drive straight through, flanking our main forces retreating from Jialing Pass."
"If our forces withdraw even slightly slower than planned, they could be entirely wiped out," he warned.
The Clear Sky Clan's titled Douluo members paled at Yu Xiaogang's analysis. Tang Xiao's frown deepened as he continued arranging markers on the military map to signify both allied and enemy forces. Finally, he spoke heavily, "The defeat at Jialing Pass has crippled the morale of our 300,000 troops, and now Xilu City has fallen, giving the Wuhun Empire an open path. A fifth of our Empire's territory, the entire southern plain, will soon fall into the Wuhun Empire's hands. Can we… still win this?"
Silence fell over the room, oppressive and unbroken.
The situation had turned dire. They shared Heaven Dou's fate; if the Empire fell, they too faced ruin. After a long pause, Tang San finally positioned the Heaven Dou military's flag over a critical point on the map, his voice filled with conviction.
"There's no point defending the south. Pull all forces northward and prepare a scorched-earth defense to prevent the Wuhun Empire from sustaining itself off our lands. We'll force them to stretch their supply lines," he instructed, pointing to a location on the map.
"We will hold them here."
The others looked where he indicated—Zhen Nan Pass. As the last southern stronghold, Zhen Nan Pass, surrounded by dense mountains and forests, was almost impenetrable. To breach it, the enemy would require at least ten times their current forces. "We can mobilize up to a million troops to defend Zhen Nan Pass. Though our forces are weakened, we have the people's support. If we unite, we can keep the Wuhun Empire contained there," Tang San affirmed.
Yu Xiaogang understood Zhen Nan Pass's defensive advantages. Still, he sighed. "Prince Lan Hao, we may be able to contain the Wuhun Empire there, but we won't be able to go on the offensive either. Unless we can deal a decisive blow to their main forces, we're only delaying defeat…"
Tang San tightened his fists, the weight of helplessness pressing down on him as he scanned the dejected, weary faces around him. He understood the grim reality of their situation all too well. Taking a deep breath, he continued, "True, we can't eliminate their main forces now, but by drawing them into a prolonged battle at Zhen Nan Pass, we'll stretch their supply lines and force them to spread out to hold our territory. Then, we'll wait for the right opportunity to strike."
The others gradually understood his intentions. All they could do was stall for time and wait for a turn of fate. If that turn came, they could counterattack; if not, they'd face a slow, inevitable end. Only time would tell if they'd survive.
Just then, a knock echoed from outside, and several palace maids entered, one carrying a steaming bowl of Eight Treasures Soup. The head maid carefully approached Tang San, her voice respectful. "Your Highness, Her Majesty the Empress personally prepared this soup for you. She asks that you please take a moment to rest and have some…"
Tang San's face was expressionless as he replied, his tone icy, "No need. I have no time for this. Tell her not to trouble herself again."
The maid hesitated, clearly distressed, and began to protest, "But, Your Highness—"
Tang San's bloodshot eyes flashed with cold anger. "Do not make me repeat myself."
The maid's hands shook, almost dropping the soup in fright. She quickly bowed and retreated, murmuring, "Yes, Your Highness," before hastily exiting.
Yu Xiaogang sighed inwardly. Tang San's attitude toward Empress Xue Ke was well known among them, yet they had tried several times to intercede with no success. Given that it was a personal matter, they eventually stopped trying to intervene.
City of Hell, Hell's Road
In the endless sea of blood, waves began to churn violently. The King of Hell folded his bat wings, sitting solemnly on Hell's Road as he gazed into the fiery depths below, sighing after a long silence.
The clarity in his eyes bore none of his former bloodthirsty madness. Instead, they reflected calm, rational thought. Tang Chen had regained consciousness, finally free of the Crimson Nine-Headed Bat King's control. But now, he was forever trapped in the City of Hell, with no escape.
Beyond Hell's Road lay the path he had pursued for so many years, yet his weakened body was no longer able to follow it.
"Bo Saixi… I'm sorry. I won't even be able to see you one last time. I'm bound here, as you are, bound to serve forever as the High Priest…"
Tang Chen's quiet murmur was filled with boundless sorrow.
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