Just as the Qin army was about to launch its attack, the temple plaza within Loulan city was bustling with people, appearing very lively.
Summoned by the temple, ordinary Loulan residents left their homes and headed to the plaza beneath the goddess statue, awaiting the grand sacrificial ceremony to be presided over personally by the High Priestess of Loulan.
"It's been a long time since such a grand ceremony was held."
"Indeed, what major event has occurred?"
"I heard from my older brother, who serves as a temple guard, that they captured invaders who entered Loulan."
The uninformed Loulan populace discussed animatedly. Those with good connections began boasting about the inside information they had obtained. They only quieted down when the High Priestess appeared on the palm of the goddess statue with Tianming and the others.
"People of Loulan! Loulan is a city built in the desert. For thousands of years, it has endured various trials and disasters. The loss of the Dragon Soul years ago brought unprecedented catastrophe upon Loulan. We could only watch helplessly as the desert advanced, devouring our towns, powerless to stop it."
The High Priestess's emotionally charged speech resonated deeply with the citizens below. The disasters Loulan had faced over the years felt vivid and unforgettable.
Once the people's emotions had settled slightly, the High Priestess pointed her staff at Xiao Li, Tianming, and the others, declaring passionately,
"This time, the wisdom bestowed by our ancestors protected us once more, allowing us to see through the enemy's sinister plot and capture the invader from the Chi You clan and her three accomplices!"
"Despicable Chi You clan!"
"Kill them!"
"Yes, execute the evil ones from the Chi You clan!"
The Chi You clan were the sworn enemies of the Loulan people. Influenced by hatred, the citizens clamored for the High Priestess to deliver the most severe punishment.
The High Priestess signaled for quiet and continued,
"While thwarting the enemy's plot, the long-lost Dragon Soul has also returned to Loulan."
Taking the mythical beast, the small Pixiu, which contained the Dragon Soul's power, from a guard, the High Priestess recited the incantation passed down through generations.
"Stars fall, mountains and rivers dim,
The Goddess's Tear transforms into a dragon in the sky.
Draw power from the flames, the sword points at the evil king,
Join forces together to save our nation."
As the High Priestess finished the incantation, the slumbering Pixiu flew high and embedded itself into the forehead of the giant goddess statue.
Activated by the Dragon Soul's power, the goddess statue began to function. Countless clear rivers of water surged out from beneath the temple behind the statue, flowing into the Crescent Moon Lake within Loulan city.
The Loulan people rejoiced at the statue's restoration. Meanwhile, outside the city walls, the Qin army, led by Wei Zhuang, launched their assault on Loulan.
The Qin state's ability to conquer the six warring states and unify the realm was largely due to its loyal and courageous soldiers.
Although their individual strength paled compared to martial artists, when formed into large-scale Qin military formations, even the current Uchiha Kazuhiko wouldn't dare underestimate their power.
The Loulan soldiers, living in their secluded paradise, were almost instantly crushed by the fierce black-armored Qin troops, offering little resistance.
With little effort, the outer and inner cities fell successively. Only the crowded temple plaza, still unaware of the Qin army's arrival, remained in the hands of the Loulan people.
"I will retrieve the Dragon Soul. Handle the rest,"
Wei Zhuang said upon seeing the Dragon Soul and Gai Nie atop the statue.
After borrowing a slight push from the wall, he leaped towards the goddess statue.
"Hehehe, Lord Wei Zhuang is so impatient. All troops, hear my command! Surround the entire plaza and eliminate all enemies. One squad, follow me into the temple to meet Loulan's ruler."
After Wei Zhuang left, Gongshu Chou took command. After assigning tasks to the Qin army, he entered the massive temple above under the protection of Uchiha Kazuhiko and the others.
"Who goes there?!"
Only after the group entered the temple did the slow-to-react temple guards notice the intruders. However, facing the powerful Qin army, they met the same fate as their comrades in the outer and inner cities, contributing significantly to the Qin soldiers' promotions in rank.
After dealing with all the temple guards, the group arrived on the palm of the goddess statue and encountered the High Priestess and the bound Tianming and his group.
"Hehehe, we meet again."
Gongshu Chou sneered at Tianming and the others, then ordered the Qin soldiers behind him,
"Capture the High Priestess alive; she still has value to us. As for the others, kill them all. Leave none alive."
A small squad of Qin soldiers advanced but were quickly eliminated by Tianming and the others. Just as Gongshu Chou was about to ask Uchiha Kazuhiko and the others to intervene, Wei Zhuang, who had acted earlier, reached the statue's forehead.
Wei Zhuang retrieved the Dragon Soul from the statue and tossed it to Da Siming below for control. He then jumped onto the statue's head and forcefully thrust his sword into its top.
With a 'boom', the tremendous force directly shattered the statue's head, sending debris crashing down towards the palm where everyone stood.
Seeing this, Gai Nie immediately leaped towards the statue's summit to battle his junior brother, Wei Zhuang.
Uchiha Kazuhiko paid no heed to the love-hate relationship of the Guigu disciples.
He moved swiftly, grabbing the distant Loulan High Priestess and Xiao Li, then followed Gongshu Chou and the others back to the safety of the temple interior.
Seeing Tianming and the others were in danger, Gai Nie exchanged a blow with Wei Zhuang before taking the two and jumping into the Crescent Moon Lake, escaping underwater.
Their escape had little impact on the mission, so Gongshu Chou didn't order pursuit. Instead, he interrogated the temple personnel, obtaining information on the Chi You Sword and the War God.
Da Siming used Yin-Yang arts to extract the Dragon Soul from the small Pixiu's body and handed it to Gongshu Chou, who was responsible for activating the War God.
Led by Gongshu Chou, the group arrived at the sealing grounds deep in the mountains outside Loulan city. There, they saw the Chi You Sword, sealed by countless black iron chains and ancient runes.
Wei Zhuang gazed mesmerized at the Chi You Sword, emanating a thick bloody aura.
"Is this the legendary Chi You Sword, said to have severed thousands of heads and hailed as the master of all weapons?" he murmured.
"Correct. This is the Chi You Sword of our clan," Uchiha Kazuhiko stated, moving to block Wei Zhuang's view. Using his system-assigned identity, he declared ownership of this divine weapon.
"This sword does not belong solely to the Chi You clan. It belongs to the strong who can wield it," Wei Zhuang retorted, clearly having taken a liking to the sword and unwilling to yield it.
"Wield it? Hehehe. Then let's see if you can indeed control it."
Remembering how Wei Zhuang was corrupted by the Chi You Sword's control in the plot, Uchiha Kazuhiko laughed coldly and stepped aside, clearing the path to the sword.
Wei Zhuang approached the Chi You Sword, swung his Shark-Toothed Sword to sever the chains binding it, and released the sword from its seal.
Freed from its seal, the Chi You Sword emitted a low, beast-like roar of excitement. It transformed into a streak of bloody light, slaughtering the Qin soldiers in the hall, thirstily drinking their blood.
After its bloody feast, the sword flew up again, thrusting towards Wei Zhuang, who gripped its blade tightly.
After a brief struggle, the Chi You Sword allowed Wei Zhuang to grasp its hilt. The bloody aura crept along the hilt, eroding Wei Zhuang. It granted him power while simultaneously enslaving him to the sword.
Demonic patterns of the Chi You clan appeared on Wei Zhuang's body, appearing exceptionally sinister and bizarre. Unaware he was now controlled by the sword, Wei Zhuang reveled in the powerful energy within him.
After Wei Zhuang left with the Chi You Sword to find Gai Nie, Gongshu Chou used the Dragon Soul's power to awaken the War God. The ultimate war weapon of ancient times once again appeared before the world.