Chapter 243: Killing Through the Army and the Empress Dowager

Gu Mo and Ye Jinglan both ran out of Ghost City with all their might, as fast as they could. As he ran, Gu Mo opened his system to check his gains from the trip.

He had already claimed the Ambidexterity technique, acquired from killing Sun Suliang at Honglu Temple, before descending into Ghost City. During his recent fight with Yan Busheng, he repeatedly used Ambidexterity, wielding the Eight Heavenly Saber Techniques with one hand and Yi Sword Art with the other, gaining the upper hand. Later, he used the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms and White Rainbow Palm Force to inexplicably kill Mad Sword.

Next, he obtained the Flying Immortals Beyond the Heavens after killing the Old Scholar, which he also claimed immediately. It was an exquisitely beautiful and perfect sword art.

Then, killing the Crying Ghost yielded the Yuanhong Sword.

Following that, he acquired the Heavenly Water Divine Art from killing the Old Ancestor of the Cold Pond. This martial art excels in softness and femininity, forming its own unique system. Unlike other martial arts in the world, it blends hardness and softness, with power as adaptable as water—capable of both flexibility and rigidity, and infinitely variable. Those who master it gain numerous enhancements, including profound internal energy and powerful palm force.

However, for Gu Mo, the greatest advantage of the Heavenly Water Divine Art was that it compensated for his weakness in aquatic combat. This art allows manipulation of water currents, enables skin respiration, theoretically allowing long-term underwater stay, and can be used for sonic interference and mental suppression through water control. It is a top-tier martial art for water battles. The emergence of this martial art greatly compensated for Gu Mo's current weaknesses.

Subsequently, Gu Mo killed Old Zheng Dao and acquired the Sorrowful Palms of Dismay. This martial art originates purely from emotion, and its power was limited for Gu Mo because it required sadness. However, Gu Mo primarily wanted to use the characteristics of the Sorrowful Palms to enhance his fighting will. He had no time now and could only study it thoroughly after the day's events concluded.

The last of the Ten Evils, Mad Sword, was a master, a formidable combatant anywhere, truly of Grandmaster caliber. His sword was fast and ruthless, but unfortunately, it couldn't penetrate Gu Mo's defense. Against the Innate Qi Shield, Mad Sword's blade was no different from a mere fire poker, leading to a swift and rather inglorious defeat. Nevertheless, he provided Gu Mo with a second Qi cultivation technique: the Myriad Leaf Flying Flower Stream.

The Myriad Leaf Flying Flower Stream is a top-tier arcane art from the Wood Division of the Yin-Yang School in "The Legend of Qin." This martial arts system is rooted in the power of nature, perfectly integrating the Taoist philosophy of "unity of heaven and man" with the Five Elements control of Yin-Yang arts. It possesses three main techniques: Myriad Leaves Unleashed, Vine Whip Dragon Binding, and Life-Death Transformation. Myriad Leaves Unleashed allows the user to channel true qi into surrounding plants, turning leaves and petals into sharp projectiles that fly out with extreme speed and immense power. Vine Whip Dragon Binding enables remote manipulation of vines for restraint, making them incredibly tough and unbreakable by ordinary means. Life-Death Transformation, through Yin-Yang arts, reverses plant life cycles, capable of making withered wood instantly blossom and release poison gas, or causing flourishing flowers to wither into corrosive acid, making it unpredictable. This is a wood-attribute Qi cultivation technique, and if used in a forest, its power can be maximized, providing a significant home-field advantage.

However, overall, the biggest gain today was the Heavenly Mandate Four Symbols Art, acquired by slaying the Human-Faced Demonic Beast. This martial art is comparable to the Innate Qi Shield; however, while the Innate Qi Shield focuses primarily on defense, the Heavenly Mandate Four Symbols Art excels in offensive power. This martial art centers on the four natural forces of wind, fire, thunder, and lightning, pushing them to their extremes. Strictly speaking, it's a Qi cultivation technique, yet it doesn't deviate from the true essence of martial arts. Especially the final move, Four Symbols Unification, directly integrates Qi cultivation methods with the true essence of martial arts. This martial art and the Innate Qi Shield represent two extremes: one is the ultimate in defense, the other in offense. All four forms of the Heavenly Mandate Four Symbols Art—Wind, Fire, Thunder, and Lightning—possess immense destructive power. Beyond their offensive capabilities, they also have unique effects: Wind God's Fury grants control over wind abilities, Fire God's Fury over fire, and the two lightning forms manipulate lightning power.

Before rushing out of Ghost City, Gu Mo claimed all his gains from the Ghost City trip, except for the Yuanhong Sword. The two returned the way they came, emerging from Honglu Temple. As Gu Mo and Ye Jinglan flew out of the now-drained artificial lake at Honglu Temple, several clerks from the temple rushed over, both surprised and panicked.

"Lord Ye, Grandmaster Gu, you two are finally out! Something terrible has happened, a great disaster!" a young servant quickly said, "The Imperial City has been sealed off!"

Ye Jinglan quickly asked, "Who sealed it?"

The servant hastily replied, "It's Prince Ji. We heard there are rebels in the Imperial City, and His Highness Prince Ji is leading troops to rescue the Emperor by imperial decree. We don't know the exact situation."

"How long has it been?"

"Two hours. This happened shortly after you entered Ghost City!"

Ye Jinglan quickly said to Gu Mo, "Brother Gu, don't be impulsive. The situation isn't clear yet..."

Before Ye Jinglan could finish, he suddenly felt a gust of wind sweeping up dust. As he waved the dust away, he realized Gu Mo had already flown far away, his posture as ethereal as an immortal riding the wind, heading towards the Imperial City, vanishing from sight in the blink of an eye.

Imperial City, Xingqing Palace.

Unlike the turbulent fighting at Jiucheng Palace, Xingqing Palace, where Empress Dowager Yan resided, was eerily quiet, as if in another world. Inside a grand hall, Empress Dowager Yan stood before a high platform, where a memorial tablet was enshrined: the spirit tablet of her beloved son, Li Chengyu.

Li Chengyu was the son of Empress Dowager Yan and the late Emperor. He was later granted the title of Prince Duan. After the current Emperor ascended the throne, he voluntarily resigned and went to his fiefdom, Hejian Commandery, strictly adhering to propriety. He had neither a good nor bad reputation among the populace; in fact, he was largely unknown, with most people unaware of his existence. He typically kept a low profile, only visiting the capital during the Lunar New Year to see Empress Dowager Yan and Emperor Qian, staying for merely a day or two before leaving. He never privately met with ministers and showed no ambition for the throne, often even arguing with Empress Dowager Yan in defense of Emperor Qian.

At this moment, Empress Dowager Yan gazed at the spirit tablet, as if truly seeing Prince Duan, and whispered, "My son, don't blame your mother for being ruthless. It's truly because you were too disobedient. Although Li family blood flows in your veins, does my blood not also flow within you? You always opposed me under the pretext of preserving the stability of the Li dynasty. Do you know, you truly disappointed your mother, truly disappointed!"

Empress Dowager Yan pondered for a moment, then said, "But it doesn't matter anymore. Since my son is disobedient and unambitious, I will seize it myself. What I desire, I must obtain. You, on the other hand, have strengthened my resolve—I will become an empress for the ages! No woman has ever been Emperor in this world, so I shall be the first, setting a precedent for eternity. Rest assured, you have contributed to your mother's everlasting grand endeavor, and I will not forget you. Once that fool Prince Ji ascends the throne, in three years at most, I will completely strip him of power. By then, the imperial court will be entirely in my hands, and I will become an empress for all generations, an empress for the ages! At that time, I will posthumously elevate you to Emperor."

Empress Dowager Yan watched the spirit tablet for a long time, then slowly turned, walked to the doorway, looked up at the sky, and asked, "What time is it?"

Just then, an old eunuch emerged from the side; it was Eunuch Wei, the chief eunuch of Xingqing Palace. He walked to Empress Dowager Yan's side, bowed, and said, "Reporting to Your Majesty, it is already Wèi hour (1-3 PM)!"

Empress Dowager Yan said gravely, "Then, they should have already breached Jiucheng Palace, shouldn't they?"

Eunuch Wei replied, "A report just arrived. His Highness Prince Ji and General Yan Run have breached the gates of Jiucheng Palace. However, over seven hundred Imperial Guards and Imperial City Bureau soldiers are fiercely defending the palace entrance. All military officials in the court have also stepped out of the palace gates, preparing for a fight to the death. His Majesty is already donning his armor."

"Emperor Qian cannot be killed; everyone else can!" Empress Dowager Yan frowned and asked, "What's the situation with Su Ziyou's side now?"

Eunuch Wei reported, "Su Ziyou and Prince Jin have mobilized the Southern City Garrison and are leading six thousand elite soldiers. They will reach the Imperial City in half an hour at most, and Jiucheng Palace within an hour!"

Empress Dowager Yan asked, puzzled, "Without a military tally, how could Prince Jin mobilize the garrison?"

"This old servant does not know."

Empress Dowager Yan said gravely, "Inform Yan Run. Tell him he must control Jiucheng Palace within half an hour, then completely seal off the Imperial City. Once the Emperor is captured and military command seized, Su Ziyou and Prince Jin will be branded as rebels, and we can then mobilize all garrisons and the West Mountain White Tiger Battalion to encircle and suppress them!"

Imperial City, the square in front of Jiucheng Palace had become a true battlefield.

Black-armored troops surged like a tide over the white marble balustrades. In the vanguard, hundreds of heavy cavalry pounded the blue bricks to dust with their iron hooves, and the crimson tassels on their lances swept away the last embers of palace lanterns. The Mingguang armor of the Imperial City Bureau lay shattered in fragments amidst piles of corpses. Hundreds of Imperial Guards and Imperial City Bureau soldiers formed a human wall, back-to-back, their long spears crisscrossing. Blood stained the ground everywhere, and the inner garments beneath their armor were already soaked through.

The second wave of heavy cavalry shattered the chevaux de frise. The leading knight's saber cleaved half of an Imperial City Bureau battle flag. A fallen commandant propped himself up with a broken arrow, his right cheek, torn by an arrow, revealing bone, yet he still clutched a blood-stained waist token. Bronze crane incense burners at the four corners of the square lay toppled, incense ash mingling with brains snaking across the blue bricks. Behind a wall of three hundred stacked corpses, the whimpers of palace maids seeped from the palace gate's cracks. Hundreds of heavily armored cavalry pressed forward, followed by a dense, continuous stream of soldiers, a dark, overwhelming mass. Compared to the mere few hundred Imperial City Bureau soldiers and Imperial Guards at the gates of Jiucheng Palace, it was an absolute rout.

At this moment, at the front of the black-armored army, the current Fifth Prince, Prince Ji Li Zhongde, rode on horseback with a crazed expression, his face covered in blood. As Jiucheng Palace drew closer, he seemed to see the imperial throne beckoning him. Beside Li Zhongde was Yan Run, the current Grand General Zhenjun and the contemporary head of the Yan family, Empress Dowager Yan's maternal clan.

Yan Run glanced at Prince Ji, a flicker of disdain unconsciously passing through his eyes. He said, "Your Highness Prince Ji, in Jiucheng Palace, you must not wantonly kill the innocent. If you truly go on a rampage, the imperial court will be paralyzed. Especially, two people absolutely cannot be killed. No matter what happens later, those two can only be captured, not killed!"

Prince Ji said nothing, but his neck began to twist unnervingly, and a ferocious expression appeared on his face, clearly a sign of impending madness. His eyes were filled with ferocity. Yan Run was startled. He immediately took a pill from his person and discreetly handed it to Prince Ji, saying with displeasure, "Your Highness Prince Ji, did you eat Yunlu Sandalwood again last night? I've told you many times, you must consume that stuff in moderation!"

After Prince Ji took the pill, his emotions immediately came under control. He glanced at Yan Run and said, "What does it matter? I can control it anytime, why are you afraid? Hmm, you just said two people cannot be killed? My Imperial Father cannot be killed, who else cannot be killed?"

"Sima Kong, the Seventh Prince of Southern Jin."

Yan Run explained, "This Sima Kong is nominally the Seventh Prince of Southern Jin, but in reality, his surname is Su, as in Su Qianqiu, the Second Under Heaven. To curry favor with Su Qianqiu, the Southern Jin imperial family made the Su family the foremost clan in Southern Jin. To ensure friendly relations with the Su family, every generation of emperors would choose a descendant from the Su family to be conferred as a prince. This was actually to grant the Su family a royal title without violating ancestral precepts, as Southern Jin ancestral precepts forbid kings of different surnames. This Sima Kong is the one from the Su family in this generation who was conferred as a prince, and he is to be made a king in the future. He represents not just the Southern Jin imperial family, but also Su Qianqiu—indeed, he is Su Qianqiu's direct lineal great-grandson. If he dies, the trouble will be immense."

Prince Ji waved his hand and said, "I understand."

Just then, the gates of Jiucheng Palace opened, and Emperor Qian emerged, wielding a long sword and clad in heavy armor. He circulated his internal energy and spoke gravely, "Li Zhongde, step out and speak!"

Prince Ji saw Emperor Qian. He ordered his army to halt their advance and shouted towards Emperor Qian, "Imperial Father, your son has come to rescue you and purge the wicked from your side! Imperial Father, there are treacherous ministers around you: Chancellor Wang Weili, Vice Minister of Rites Pei Buqi, and others... they have incited the Son of Heaven, obscured imperial judgment, arrogantly controlled all affairs, and conspired to destabilize the military. Your son has specifically come to cleanse these evils from your side. May heaven and earth bear witness to your son's heart."

As soon as Prince Ji spoke, the faces of the many officials beside Emperor Qian turned grim, because all the so-called "treacherous ministers" Prince Ji had just named were leading figures of the Daoist faction in the imperial court. At that moment, Emperor Qian basically understood why the Imperial Clan Court had remained unresponsive: they must have tacitly approved of this matter.

"Li Zhongde, you are plotting with a tiger for its skin," Emperor Qian no longer held back and said directly, "You colluded with the Yan family. Even if you succeed in forcing your way into the palace today, do you think you can sit firmly on the throne? How can you be so foolish!"

Prince Ji declared loudly, "Imperial Father, I am here to cleanse your side and rescue you! Wang Weili and others intend to assassinate you, Imperial Father! The imperial court is now controlled by these treacherous ministers; you have been misled by them! You don't know that Wang Weili and others are forming factions for their own gain, ruthlessly eliminating dissenters, even... even Imperial Uncle Duan was harmed to death by them, and his two royal brothers were also harmed! Yet Wang Weili and others control the government, and you, Imperial Father, didn't even know about such a huge matter!"

Emperor Qian's expression subtly changed. Everything became clear. No wonder the Imperial Clan Court trusted Empress Dowager Yan, no wonder Prince Ji trusted Empress Dowager Yan. Empress Dowager Yan had gone to such lengths that even Emperor Qian himself had almost believed she was truly selfless.

"Protect the Emperor! Purge the wicked!"

At Prince Ji's command, the army surged forward. The vanguard of iron cavalry, like a black torrent, shattered bluestones with their hooves, raising clouds of dust. Gleaming lances, like a forest, shimmered with cold killing intent under the setting sun, rushing like a fierce wind towards the defenses of the Imperial City Bureau and the Imperial Guards. Imperial City Bureau soldiers fired crossbows rapidly, but the arrows bounced off the heavy iron armor of the cavalry. Warhorses roared, crashing into the crowd, trampling the front-row Imperial Guards into pulp. Blood mist splattered where halberds hacked. The iron cavalry charged left and right, their defenses collapsing wherever they went. Screams and the clang of weapons echoed across the sky. The battle formation formed by the Imperial City Bureau army and the Imperial Guards was easily torn apart like thin paper under the charge of the iron cavalry.

Emperor Qian was being dragged forcibly into the main hall by a group of ministers, but he burst forth with powerful internal energy, shaking them off. Gripping his heavy sword, he loudly declared, "My brave soldiers, reinforcements are coming! Hold your ground! I, your Emperor, am with you!" Instantly, morale soared. Many civil and military officials also had no choice but to stand with the Emperor.

At this moment, inside the palace, many female attendants huddled together, weeping. A small number of martial arts-proficient female attendants had also picked up weapons, but they were trembling with fear. The most composed person present was Gu Chuxia, who held the Gouchen Demonic Blade with an impassive expression. To her left and right were Yunxiu and Li Li, both holding weapons.

Yunxiu was relatively calm, but Li Li was terrified, clinging tightly to Gu Chuxia and whispering, "Chuxia... aren't you afraid?"

Gu Chuxia slowly replied, "I was afraid just now, but I'm not anymore!"

Li Li asked, puzzled, "Why?"

"Because my brother is here!"

"Huh?" Li Li exclaimed in surprise, "Where?"

"He'll be here soon."

"But it's useless if he comes alone. There are tens of thousands of rebel troops outside. What good can your brother do alone? Can he fight against tens of thousands of soldiers?" Li Li asked.

"I don't know," Gu Chuxia said calmly, "But if my brother comes, I'm definitely not afraid!"

Just then, a zither sound suddenly resonated between heaven and earth. "Zheng!" Everyone was astonished because this single zither note actually suppressed the sounds of battle in front of Jiucheng Palace. Many instinctively looked towards the sound, only to see a black-clad youth standing on the left palace wall, holding a zither, his eyes covered by a black cloth. On the sun-drenched palace wall, his slender figure was enveloped in a halo of light, his robes fluttering in the wind, and the seven-stringed zither in his arms gleamed with a cold, jade-like luster.

"Gu Mo!" Yan Run, amidst the army, changed his expression slightly and muttered, "He shouldn't be here!"

When Prince Ji heard the name "Gu Mo," a surge of anger immediately erupted, and he furiously asked, "He is Gu Mo?"

Yan Run nodded.

"Damn it!" Prince Ji roared, "I haven't even settled scores with him yet, and he's actively seeking death!"

Yan Run quickly warned, "Be careful, this person's martial arts are unfathomable..."

Prince Ji coldly retorted, "No matter how strong his martial arts, can he alone cut through my tens of thousands of elite soldiers? This prince will surround him and kill him today!"

At this moment, Gu Mo's robes billowed like ink clouds. He lightly tapped the eaves with his toes, drawing a dark meteor across the setting sun, soaring directly towards the main hall of Jiucheng Palace.

Prince Ji's pupils constricted. He violently swung his sword and roared, "Shoot!" Dozens of bows and crossbows vibrated simultaneously. Arrows, dense as a sudden downpour, tore through the air, but upon reaching three feet in front of Gu Mo, they struck a transparent barrier shimmering with a faint blue light. The Qi Shield rippled outwards. The clattering arrowheads actually exploded upon the invisible barrier. The sharp arrows, now reversing course and imbued with the Qi Shield's power, reflected back towards the army formation at several times their original speed. Screams rose one after another as the front-row soldiers, along with their shields, were pinned to the ground. Splashing blood beads condensed into a crimson rain curtain in mid-air.

Gu Mo calmly drifted down to the entrance of Jiucheng Palace.

Prince Ji's face darkened. He looked at Yan Run and asked, "Can we form a battle formation?"

Yan Run nodded, "Yes, but within the Imperial City, space is limited, so the effect won't be optimal."

Prince Ji said, "We just need to restrict his movement technique, prevent him from flying too fast or too high. Bring the God-Slaying Crossbows. I refuse to believe he can still fly. As long as he can't fly, we'll surround him and kill him. Don't let him escape!"

Yan Run nodded, "That can be done. If he flies again, we can also use the Fish Dragon Formation to pull him down!" Having said that, Yan Run immediately waved his command flag. Numerous soldiers began to array themselves, and the charging cavalry also halted, beginning to cooperate in forming ranks.

At this moment, Gu Mo landed at the palace entrance.

"Brother!" Gu Chuxia cried out excitedly, quickly ran out, and threw herself into Gu Mo's arms, saying, "Brother, let me tell you, I was so amazing today! I killed two of the twelve Night Division commanders, one named Embroiderer and one named Matchmaker... And Sister Yunxiu was there too..." Gu Chuxia prattled on, sharing her experiences with Gu Mo.

Gu Mo smiled and patted Gu Chuxia's head, saying, "As long as you're safe. Brother will take you out soon!"

Gu Chuxia sniffled and said, "Brother, I miss my little turtle a bit!"

"Alright, we'll go back to see your little turtle tomorrow." Gu Mo immediately agreed. He could clearly sense that Gu Chuxia had likely been frightened today; she was merely pretending to be calm and not wanting to show weakness.

"Brother, I'll be waiting for you!"

"Mm." Gu Mo nodded slightly. Gu Chuxia slowly retreated.

At this moment, at the entrance of Jiucheng Palace, the deep rumble of bronze war drums tore through the silence. The air in Jiucheng Palace Square suddenly became thick as glue. The black-armored army formed a formation like an iron cast city wall, long spears piercing the twilight like a forest. In the creaking of leather and metal, even the wind ceased to flow. The iron armor of five hundred heavy cavalry gleamed with a cold, eerie blue light, and layered shield formations pressed forward like dark clouds, crushing the last ray of sunset at the array's corner. At the very front of the square formation, a crimson battle flag fluttered as if by itself, without wind, and kicked-up grit made faint crisp sounds against the soldiers' faceplates. The entire square felt gripped by an invisible giant hand; even the bronze bells on the distant palace eaves forgot to sway. Only heavy breathing rumbled in throats, congealing into a palpable suppression that suddenly darkened the sky by a third as battle energy raged.

Yan Run, holding a long spear, walked to the forefront, pointing the spear tip at Gu Mo. He said, "Gu Mo, I know your martial arts are unparalleled, but I have here five hundred heavy cavalry, two thousand light infantry, three thousand archers, and eight thousand spearmen, all elite troops. Moreover, among my forces are more than ten Grandmasters from the Night Division and Grandmaster-level body cultivators. Even Su Qianqiu would surely die here! I have no intention of being your enemy. You can leave now with your sister, and I will absolutely not stop you, nor will I ever mention any conflict from today again."

As soon as Yan Run spoke, Emperor Qian and the many civil and military officials felt a surge of joy. Although Yan Run's words were meant to display his army's might, they actually indirectly indicated his apprehension towards Gu Mo. Although Emperor Qian and the others didn't quite understand why Yan Run, with over ten thousand elite soldiers and heavy cavalry, would be apprehensive of Gu Mo, it genuinely gave them hope. If Gu Mo was willing to help, it was very possible they could truly hold out until reinforcements arrived.

"Grandmaster Gu!" Emperor Qian quickly cupped his hands towards Gu Mo and said, "I, your Emperor, implore your assistance. I will never forget your kindness. Reinforcements will arrive in less than an hour..."

Gu Mo, however, gently waved his hand, interrupting Emperor Qian, and said, "Your Majesty, there's no need to say more. I have no immediate plans to leave!"

Emperor Qian and the others rejoiced. Yan Run's expression, however, turned grim. He knew of Empress Dowager Yan's elaborate plans, including the arrangements made in Ghost City to stall Gu Mo and Ye Jinglan. He couldn't understand why Gu Mo was here, though he could guess a major battle must have occurred in Ghost City. For Gu Mo to emerge unscathed meant his strength was far greater than they had imagined. Although he had great confidence in his army, he genuinely did not want any complications.

The Yan family had meticulously planned this military coup for a very long time, calculating every possible master who could influence the battle. Those who could be lured away were, and those who couldn't were assigned masters to restrain them. For example, within the Imperial City at this moment, the Grandmasters of the Imperial Secret Guard, the Imperial Astronomy Bureau, and Imperial Preceptor Zhang Daoyi were all tied up by various arrangements. As for those who couldn't be lured or restrained, they were currently around Emperor Qian. But these individuals were also part of the plan: what they specialized in, how to counter them. Masters who could counter them were assigned, and if no counter was possible, they would be crushed by the army. Everything was pre-arranged. Only Gu Mo's appearance now was outside their plans.

However, with over ten thousand elite troops present, Yan Run wasn't afraid of Gu Mo. He simply wished to avoid further complications, so he reiterated, "Gu Mo, do you truly believe you alone can withstand an army of thousands? Gu Mo, do you really want to be our enemy?"

Gu Mo said calmly, "It's not that I want to be an enemy of your Yan family; it's your Yan family that has become my enemy. The moment you seized my sister, this grudge was forged. I've long stated that I have no interest in court disputes. Reaching this point today is entirely your own doing."

Yan Run quickly said, "Gu Mo, what we did was wrong, I admit it. Afterwards, we will definitely compensate and apologize to you, how about it?"

"It's useless!" Gu Mo slowly walked forward, holding his zither, and said, "If harming my sister today is settled with an apology, and harming her again tomorrow is also settled with an apology, then won't anyone in the world be able to step on me, Gu Mo, in the future? Today, I will use your Yan family to warn everyone in the world: don't provoke me without reason, especially don't provoke my sister. If you do, even if it's the King of Heaven... you will die!"

"Arrogant!" Knowing that negotiations were futile, Yan Run directly swung his long spear and shouted, "All troops, listen to my command: Kill!"

Instantly, battle qi surged, roiling in the void like ocean waves. The army pressed forward, hundreds of heavy cavalry charging at the vanguard, a vast and mighty force. The remaining two or three hundred Imperial City Bureau soldiers and Imperial Guards collectively prepared to meet the charge, but Gu Mo shouted at that moment, "Everyone, step back!" To everyone's astonishment, Gu Mo, alone, holding a zither, walked down the stone steps from the elevated platform in front of the palace gates.

"What's he doing? He's not going to fight alone, is he?"

"Grandmaster Gu!"

"He's mad! Fighting an army of ten thousand by himself?"

At that moment, everyone was stunned, and an uproar erupted, because everyone understood Gu Mo's intention: he was going to face this army of ten thousand alone!

Dark clouds, like ink blocks churned by an invisible giant hand, swirled into a vortex across the sky. Gu Mo's robes fluttered wildly as he stood alone on the stone steps. Below the steps, the army advanced. The foremost five hundred heavy cavalry crushed dust with their thunderous hooves. Their dark iron heavy armor reflected a cold light, and the bronze beast masks covering their horses' faces bared fangs. The gravel kicked up by their iron hooves actually disintegrated into powder in mid-air, as if a black tide was approaching.

Gu Mo held the Demonic Zither vertically, pressing it with one hand while plucking its strings with the other. The moment his knuckles touched the strings, a blue light erupted around Gu Mo, swirling about him, outlining his figure more sharply. As his hair flew, faint dragon roars subtly accompanied the scene. The blue bricks paving the hundred-zhang-wide square emitted grating friction sounds under the pull of the sound waves. Immediately, countless blue bricks rose into the air like living things. They spun rapidly in mid-air, their sharp edges polished to a cold gleam by the sound waves, and in a flash, they condensed into a sky-obscuring rain of blades. These blue bricks, imbued with a devastating momentum, whistled and poured down upon the heavy cavalry formation. Wherever they passed, the air emitted sharp tearing sounds, as if even space itself was being rent by this terrifying assault, causing the foremost heavy cavalry to fall one after another.

The trembling of the Demonic Zither intensified, and crimson thunder exploded in the clouds. The warhorses in the front row suddenly reared up, blood seeping from the seams of their iron armor, their leather-wrapped bodies surprisingly shredded into minced meat by invisible blades. The dark armor of the subsequent heavy cavalry was like being struck by giant hammers; the metallic fragments that burst forth were swifter than arrows, pinning the rear cavalry to their saddles. Dark patterns formed by sound waves spread across the ground. Wherever they passed, the bluestone-paved square cracked like a spiderweb, and heavy cavalry, both men and horses, plunged into abysses. The crisp sounds of shattering bones and dying wails echoed in the air. Amidst the crimson mist, blood already seeped from Gu Mo's fingertips, yet he plucked the zither strings faster and faster. The piercing shriek of the Demonic Zither pierced the clouds, and the entire world seemed to become an execution ground of doom. The screams of the heavy cavalry intertwined with the zither's notes, forming an elegy for a living hell.

In an instant, the square was piled high with corpses and severed limbs. In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, over half of the heavy cavalry were dead, all intercepted at the foot of the stone steps.

Yan Run's face was pale, his heart trembling. He roared, "God-Slaying Crossbows, fire!" Yan Run's furious roar made the iron plumes on his helmet shake wildly. Instantly, a thousand powerful crossbows unleashed their bolts simultaneously. Dark, densely packed arrowheads swarmed, gleaming with cold light under the sun, instantly weaving an impenetrable net of death. The arrow rain, like a surging swarm of locusts, obscured half the sky, whistling and tearing through the air. Piercing sounds of rushing wind rose and fell, bearing down on Gu Mo at the stone steps. Wherever it passed, even sunlight was completely devoured, leaving only a suffocating shadow.

The civil and military officials in front of Jiucheng Palace retreated in unison, and the Imperial Guards quickly raised their shields. Gu Mo, however, remained alone in place, expressionless. Solidified silver Qi Shield erupted around him, and within ten zhang, the air suddenly twisted. The flying arrows instantly froze upon touching the Qi Shield, as if hitting an invisible copper wall. The next moment, the Innate Qi Shield violently reversed, and thousands of arrows, imbued with the force of thunder, flew back. The tearing sound through the air was sharp as a ghost's wail. The front-row shield soldiers, along with their shields, were riddled like hedgehogs. Blood mist splattered onto the faces of the soldiers behind, eliciting continuous screams. On the square, a large number of soldiers fell.

"This is impossible!" Yan Run staggered back half a step, his legs trembling uncontrollably beneath his armor. He roared, waving his command flag, "Shield formation! Form ranks! Heavy cavalry, outflank from both wings!" Immediately, the army changed formation and moved out.

Gu Mo snorted coldly, picked up the Demonic Zither, and soared into the air, charging towards the army. His toes lightly touched the stone steps as he launched himself forward, Qi Shield flowing around him. Wherever he passed, flying arrows suddenly froze in mid-air, then violently exploded into fine dust; remaining hidden weapons in the air were crushed into stardust by an invisible wave of energy before even touching his clothes, transforming into a swirling vortex of silver light around him.

"Zheng! Zheng! Zheng! Zheng!..." The Demonic Zither in his hands transformed into a blood-red harbinger of doom. As its strings vibrated, the air within a ten-zhang radius seemed to be stirred by an invisible giant hand, twisting and churning, gradually coalescing into a crimson vortex. Fine cracks appeared at its edges, as if space itself was being torn apart. At the center of the vortex, sound waves solidified into tangible blood-blades, relentlessly shredding everything they touched. Floor tiles shattered inch by inch, and fragments of stone, still attached to the ground, were swept into the vortex and ground into dust. Under the terrifying pressure, approaching soldiers were instantly torn apart, their screams swallowed by the distorted space. Only the increasingly fervent killing notes of the Demonic Zither echoed within the crimson vortex.

Wherever he passed, blood turned to mist! The square in front of Jiucheng Palace instantly became a living hell.

At that moment, at the entrance of Jiucheng Palace, the Emperor and the civil and military officials of the Qian Kingdom witnessed a scene they would never forget for the rest of their lives. One person, one zither, slaughtered an army of ten thousand. It was a massacre, an overwhelming massacre!

"Is this... is this still human?" a minister stammered, his teeth chattering.

Emperor Qian looked at the scene in the square, his heart trembling. He had thought that perhaps Gu Mo could truly withstand an army of thousands, but he never imagined it would be through such a murderous, overwhelming manner!

"Can human power... truly reach such a level?"

"Gu Mo is only ranked fifth in Qian Kingdom?"

"That ranking list is clearly flawed!"

Inside Jiucheng Palace, everyone was terrified. On the square, wails filled the air, and blood flowed like rivers. Every time Gu Mo plucked a string, dozens of sonic blades tore through the air, cleaving many soldiers in half at the waist. Severed limbs, shield fragments, and organs splattered everywhere. The heavy cavalry's lances shattered into dust from the sound waves before even touching his Qi Shield. Warhorses reared, their iron hooves twisted into scrap metal in mid-air, and riders, still in their armor, were ripped into bloody, mangled fragments by an unseen force. The stench of blood was suffocating. The Demonic Zither no longer played music, but an elegy of death. Crimson mist swirled around Gu Mo. Wherever he went, mountains of corpses and seas of blood remained. The wails of soldiers and the zither's notes intertwined into a chilling symphony. Sticky rivers of blood flowed through the cracks in the blue bricks. Shattered armor, dismembered limbs, and organs littered the square. The air was thick with a nauseating stench of decay.

"Retreat! Retreat quickly!" Yan Run was terrified, his heart and guts tearing, only to find his escape route blocked by mountains of corpses.

Gu Mo approached step by step like the grim reaper, each stride leaving footprints burning with blue light on the ground. The Demonic Zither's final roar shattered everyone's eardrums. Yan Run felt his vision go black, and in the next instant, his head was sliced off by a sonic blade, tracing a crimson arc in mid-air.

They retreated, forced back by slaughter. An elite army of ten thousand soldiers, complete with heavy cavalry, archers, spearmen, and shieldbearers, was massacred by a single person, nearly three thousand killed. The enemy general's head was taken amidst the army of ten thousand. Even the most elite troops would rout under such circumstances. At this moment, the black-armored army completely disintegrated.

Prince Ji Li Zhongde galloped away in a frantic escape, but suddenly heard a zither note whistle past his ear. In the next instant, he bizarrely saw his own body on horseback in front of him—a headless corpse. Then, he lost consciousness. A head fell to the ground, trampled by the fleeing black-armored soldiers behind, and soon became a bloody mess.

At this time, at the entrance of Jiucheng Palace, Emperor Qian, the civil and military officials, and the many female family members of ministers were still in a state of shock. Everyone felt as if they were in a dream. That slightly slender figure still stood amidst the scattered corpses, treading on mountains of bodies, yet not a single drop of blood stained him.

Gu Mo put away his zither, slowly slinging it onto his back. Then, with a light tap of his foot, he soared into the air and flew away. Emperor Qian thought Gu Mo was leaving after his task was done and was about to shout for him to stay, but Chancellor Wang Weili next to him suddenly changed his expression and whispered, "Your Majesty... Grandmaster Gu... is heading towards... Xingqing Palace!"

Emperor Qian's expression also subtly changed. Although Prince Ji's rebellion was orchestrated by Empress Dowager Yan, she had not physically appeared, making her absolutely untouchable. For the sake of court stability and imperial face, she could only be placed under house arrest and stripped of power.

"Quick, quick, stop him..." Emperor Qian instinctively blurted out, but then suddenly stopped, looking at the mountains of corpses and seas of blood in the square. He sighed and said, "Immediately send people to seize a few of Prince Ji's black-armored soldiers and send them to Xingqing Palace... Afterwards, say that Prince Ji instigated the rebellion, and the rampaging rebels killed Empress Dowager Yan!"

Wang Weili said, "Your Majesty, many civil and military officials are watching, and quite a few of them are Empress Dowager Yan's loyalists. This matter cannot be concealed. If the Empress Dowager dies, the court will surely be in turmoil!"

Emperor Qian helplessly said, "Do I not know that? But what can I do now? Who can stop Gu Mo now? Since the court is destined for turmoil, I can only try to save some imperial face!"

"This humble subject understands!"

Xingqing Palace, inside the grand hall.

Empress Dowager Yan was being attended by numerous palace maids, preparing to dress splendidly for her triumphant appearance. Standing in the hall, she could barely contain her joy. After today, she would begin to hold absolute power over the court. Three years from now, she would become an empress for the ages, the first female emperor in history, setting a precedent for eternity, and her name would be enshrined in history.

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty..." Just then, Eunuch Wei, disheveled and covered in blood, stumbled into the hall, directly collapsing to the ground, spitting blood from his mouth. He cried out, "Your Majesty, flee quickly! Gu Mo... Gu Mo alone repelled the black-armored army and is heading this way for you! This old servant exchanged blows with him and was severely wounded in three moves. Please go quickly; if you don't leave now, it will be too late..."

Empress Dowager Yan trembled all over, saying in disbelief, "One person? Repelled the black-armored army? That's impossible! What nonsense are you spouting? You must be lying to me!"

"Go quickly... Your Majesty, go quickly... Gu Mo... he's not human..." Blood continuously gushed from Eunuch Wei's mouth. He slumped to the ground, stammering, "The Grand General is dead, Prince Ji is dead... Your Majesty, go quickly. As long as one lives, there should be... hope..." Eunuch Wei's mouth gushed blood twice, and his body twitched twice, then fell still.

Empress Dowager Yan took a deep breath. Although she still didn't believe the black-armored army could be repelled by one person, seeing Eunuch Wei die in front of her made her uneasy. She immediately rose and walked towards the back door.

However, in that very instant, a "clang" sound came from the rooftop, and a figure descended from the sky. Empress Dowager Yan recognized Gu Mo at a glance, having seen his portrait. She was so frightened that she stumbled back two steps, nearly falling. Taking a deep breath, she said, "Gu Mo, I am the Empress Dowager of the Qian Kingdom. If you kill me, the court will be in turmoil, the common people will suffer immensely, and it could even lead to national civil strife, weakening of the country's power, and enemy invasion. You cannot kill me, please don't kill me. This empress is willing to return imperial power and stay in the deep palace from now on..."

"You shouldn't have touched my sister!" Gu Mo reached out and gripped Empress Dowager Yan's neck.

Empress Dowager Yan, panicked, frantically cried out, "I didn't intend to harm your sist..."

A crisp "crack" sound echoed, and Empress Dowager Yan's neck snapped. Gu Mo threw Empress Dowager Yan's corpse to the ground and muttered, "Some things cannot set a precedent. As for the world... the