Chapter 101: The Battle of the Besieged City

A massive army besieged the city, its dark presence stretching to the horizon, creating a heavy sense of oppression.

However, what truly created the most pressure wasn't the army itself, but the seven seemingly slender figures standing before it. Within these seven figures, a formidable Genesis Qi slowly surged, their combined might appearing to rival a thousand soldiers.

“Zhou Qing, half a day has passed. Are you ready to open the gates and surrender?” Qi Yuan glanced at the sky, then gazed playfully at the city wall as his powerful voice resounded.

On the city wall, Zhou Qing appeared, his face expressionless, scarlet Genesis Qi swirling around him. He stated indifferently, “Qi Yuan, don’t dream of this king surrendering to rebels.”

“If you wish to attack the city, then bring it on. This king wants to see if your teeth are strong enough to devour my Great Zhou!”

By the end of his speech, Zhou Qing's voice was filled with intense killing intent.

Qi Yuan heard this but was not surprised. He merely sneered, “Zhou Qing, Zhou Qing, you are truly stubborn. Do you not consider the citizens of this city?”

“You are bound to lose this battle, so why resist futilely and suffer needless casualties?”

His voice spread throughout Great Zhou City, causing some unrest, clearly an attempt to sow discord.

As Qi Yuan spoke, the seven experts of the Alpha Origin stage immediately unleashed their Genesis Qi, which surged and swirled, filling the sky and creating a powerful, unsettling sense of pressure.

Zhou Qing naturally understood Qi Yuan's malicious intent. His eyes immediately narrowed, and his body tensed.

Boom!

Scarlet Genesis Qi roared forth, reaching approximately a hundred zhang, with faint flashes of lightning within it.

Wei Canglan also made his move, golden Genesis Qi surging and hovering above his head. Seeing this, the Black Poison King sighed helplessly, his body swayed, and dark Genesis Qi gushed out like a black cloud.

The three Alpha Origin experts, upon taking action, did manage to boost morale considerably. However, against the opponent's seven Alpha Origin experts, their combined might still appeared somewhat weak.

“Roar!”

Just then, a deafening beast roar suddenly echoed, and everyone saw a colossal beast emerge from the city wall amidst surging red light.

The beast exuded an astonishing and heart-palpitating ferocity.

This beast, of course, was Tun Tun.

Yao Yao stood beside Tun Tun. With a grasp of her jade-like hand, a scroll appeared. As the scroll tore open, beams of light immediately burst forth, forming a thundercloud above her, with lightning snakes leaping within it, releasing astonishing fluctuations.

“That’s an Alpha Origin-level Spirit Beast!”

“And a Fourth Grade Spirit Rune!”

The appearance of Tun Tun and Yao Yao immediately caused numerous exclamations of surprise on the city wall. The defending soldiers’ expressions turned excited and joyful, and their previously low morale instantly lifted.

With Yao Yao and Tun Tun joining, Great Zhou’s Alpha Origin-level combat power reached five. Although there was still a gap compared to the enemy, it had been significantly reduced.

Qi Yuan's gaze narrowed as he stared at Tun Tun and Yao Yao, a grim expression appearing on his face.

“It seems Great Zhou had some preparations after all,” the Alpha Origin expert named Zhao Tianlun remarked with a faint smile beside Qi Yuan.

“Merely a futile struggle,” Qi Yuan said indifferently. Even if the enemy had five Alpha Origin experts, their two additional Alpha Origin experts were enough to tear open the city gates and lead the army into Great Zhou City.

The Alpha Origin expert named Wang Chaotian also smiled grimly, saying, “It’s truly a pity about their old king. If he were in his prime, I doubt even all of us together could gain an advantage.”

Another Alpha Origin expert chuckled strangely, “Back then, King Wu severed one of his arms, and his strength plummeted directly from the eighth heaven of the Alpha Origin stage to the third. He hasn't shown much improvement since and likely cannot break free from the shadow left by King Wu.”

Qi Yuan stated, “King Wu is the true monarch. For Zhou Qing to resist him is like a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot – utterly overestimating his own abilities.”

After speaking, he stared coldly at Zhou Qing on the city wall and said, “Since you refuse the path of survival I offered, then don't blame me for showing no mercy!”

He raised his hand and sharply brought it down, his killing intent palpable: “All forces, heed my command: besiege the city, attack!”

Thump! Thump!

Loud war drums resounded. Outside the city, the seemingly endless army surged forward, then began to spread out, clearly preparing for an encirclement and assault.

“Gentlemen, Great Zhou City has seven gates. Each of us will lead our forces to attack one. Once a gate is breached, Great Zhou’s army morale will surely collapse,” Qi Yuan said gravely to the other Alpha Origin experts.

“Understood.”

Zhao Tianlun and the others nodded upon hearing this.

The six agreed, their Genesis Qi whistling as they rose into the sky, transforming into six streaks of light, heading directly towards the other six city gates.

Upon seeing King Qi’s army attack the city, Zhou Qing immediately gave orders. Figures surged along the entire city wall, entering a state of high alert.

“Qi Yuan’s seven Alpha Origin experts are attacking separate gates. We absolutely cannot let them breach them,” Zhou Qing said solemnly. While it was not easy for the army to break through the gates, Alpha Origin experts could cause immense destruction if they attacked recklessly.

“Therefore, I must trouble the four of you.”

Wei Canglan and Yao Yao both nodded without further words, turning directly towards the other city gates. After Yao Yao patted Tun Tun’s head, it also flew towards a distant section of the city wall.

“Black Poison King, the southwest gate is counting on you,” Zhou Yuan said with a smile, looking at the Black Poison King.

“If that gate falls, today, you might have to die for the nation with us.”

The Black Poison King stiffly forced a smile and said, “Your Highness, rest assured, I will do my utmost to stop them!”

With that, he stepped onto black Genesis Qi and scuttled away.

Watching the three figures and one beast depart, Zhou Qing’s expression grew even graver. He said to Zhou Yuan, “I will guard this main city gate, but two other gates are exposed to the threat of their two Alpha Origin experts.”

“Father King, there’s no need to worry. I will guard one gate, and for the last one, we’ve temporarily deployed several experts of the Heavenly Pass stage. We just need to hold them off,” Zhou Yuan reassured him with a smile.

Zhou Qing looked at Zhou Yuan, his eyes filled with unconcealed worry, as he didn't know what method Zhou Yuan would use to block an Alpha Origin expert with only his Qi Cultivation stage strength.

“Yuan’er, if things become impossible, don’t push yourself too hard. You are no longer the infant we constantly had to protect. Even without Great Zhou now, you still have the ability to protect yourself. As long as you are alive, there will be a chance to restore the kingdom,” Zhou Qing said slowly.

Clearly, he was advising Zhou Yuan to prioritize his own safety if the situation collapsed, without dwelling on other concerns.

Zhou Yuan looked at Zhou Qing’s gaze, a warmth rising in his heart. He then gently patted the latter's hand, a brilliant smile appearing on his face.

“Father King, rest assured… Great Zhou City will not fall!”

With his words, he said no more, turning and quickly moving to the northern city gate. He gazed coldly forward at the vast army surging like a tide.

Above that army, an Alpha Origin expert, standing on Genesis Qi with his arms crossed, looked over with a disdainful and mocking gaze.

Zhou Yuan lowered his head and slowly opened his palm. In its center lay a silver ring, shimmering with a faint light.

He took a deep breath, closed his eyes briefly, and when he reopened them, killing intent surged forth from within.

“If you wish to breach my Great Zhou City, then let’s see how many lives you are prepared to sacrifice!”