Chapter 99: Seven Primordial

The beating of war drums echoed, reverberating across the land. An endless army poured from the horizon, finally halting a few miles outside Great Zhou City. Their dense formation looked incredibly oppressive.

A palpable aura of violence permeated the air. Countless people watched the scene with trepidation, especially some of the elders in Great Zhou City, who were reminded of what had happened over a decade ago.

That day, much like today, an army had laid siege to the city, plunging the entire populace into despair and panic at the prospect of impending destruction.

On the city wall, Zhou Qing gazed at the overwhelming army. Though his expression remained calm, the hand resting on the wall had crushed the bricks, leaving cracks. Clearly, the scene before him also brought back memories of the humiliating event from over a decade ago.

It was from that moment on that the once ambitious King of Great Zhou was completely defeated by cruel reality. Since then, he had been confined to his current territory, like a tiger trapped in a cage.

Standing beside Zhou Qing, Zhou Yuan also stared at the massive army several miles away, a cold glint in his eyes.

Zhou Qing took a deep breath, looked at Zhou Yuan, and pointed outside the city. "Yuan'er, a similar scene unfolded back then. You were born inside the city, blessed with the Saint Dragon's Fortune. Outside the city, the King Wu's child was born, possessing the 'Python Sparrow' aura."

At this point, a flicker of pain crossed Zhou Qing's eyes. He murmured, "But it's all my fault for being incompetent and unable to protect you. Otherwise, your achievements today would far surpass what they are now. You were meant to soar, to look down upon the world, and to dominate the proud talents of all nations. Instead, because of me, your wings were clipped, forcing you to struggle in a quagmire, and you nearly perished."

Looking at Zhou Qing, whose eyes were filled with self-reproach, Zhou Yuan reached out and gently patted his father's arm, saying softly, "Father, you don't need to blame yourself. Experiencing hardship isn't necessarily a bad thing. A smooth journey, soaring straight to the sky, might not always be a good thing either."

Zhou Yuan smiled, but his smile held a sharpness like a sword's edge. "And... if the Saint Dragon's Fortune truly belongs to me, then I will eventually be able to reclaim it."

Zhou Qing looked at the young man before him. Despite a hint of youthfulness on his face, there was a resolute determination uncommon for his age. This sight somewhat alleviated Zhou Qing's self-reproach. Perhaps, just as Zhou Yuan had said, enduring difficulties was indeed a form of tempering.

"However, Yuan'er, I will not allow myself to experience what happened back then a second time. Years ago, I endured humiliation so that you could grow. Now that you have matured, I will make no further concessions to protect this nation, even if it means dying for it."

Zhou Qing's gaze gradually sharpened, fixed on the endless army in the distance. *Boom!*

Another war drum sounded. Within the King Qi's army, a figure on a black horse slowly advanced. Clad in armor, with a stern expression, it was none other than King Qi Yuan. Countless eyes, both inside and outside the city, converged upon him.

"Qi Yuan, you traitor, how dare you show your face before me?!" Zhou Qing's grim gaze locked onto Qi Yuan as he spoke in a cold voice.

Hearing this, Qi Yuan scoffed. "Zhou Qing, you incompetent fool, you are the culprit responsible for Great Zhou's current state. I advise you to open the gates and surrender today. I can still preserve the last shred of dignity for your Great Zhou royal family. Otherwise, once the city falls, I will surely exterminate your royal lineage and burn your imperial tombs!"

By the end of his speech, Qi Yuan's voice was filled with viciousness, clearly brimming with hatred. Zhou Qing's face turned ashen, and he replied in an icy tone, "After this rebellion is quelled, your Qi clan will be utterly annihilated!"

Qi Yuan sneered. "I'm afraid you, a homeless dog, lack the ability to do so!" "Qi Yuan, you rebel, if you remain stubborn, today will be your day of reckoning!" Wei Canglan roared, his voice like thunder, echoing across the heavens.

Zhou Yuan glanced at King Heidu, who sighed helplessly and stepped forward, saying ominously, "Do you, a mere Genesis Realm expert, dare to bring your army to Great Zhou City? You might not even realize how you died!" He added, "My Black Poison City forces are already poised to cut off your retreat at any moment."

The appearance of Wei Canglan and King Heidu undoubtedly caused a stir in King Qi's ranks. After all, experts of the Genesis Realm possessed immense destructive power, sometimes enough to sway the outcome of a battle. On Great Zhou's side, three Genesis Realm experts were present, while King Qi's side had only one.

The top-tier combat strength on both sides was clearly disproportionate. However, Qi Yuan remained unfazed by the commotion behind him. Staring at the figures of Zhou Qing and the other two on the city wall, a sneer formed on his lips. "Three Genesis Realm experts, quite the display. Since that's the case, today, I'll show you my true backing!"

The sneer on Qi Yuan's lips intensified. "Gentlemen, come out and meet some old friends."

As soon as Qi Yuan's voice faded, the army formation suddenly parted. Then, six figures slowly emerged. The moment these six figures appeared, powerful Genesis Qi surged from their heads, filling the air and radiating an astonishing pressure. All six figures were undeniably Genesis Realm experts!

A tremendous uproar instantly erupted from Great Zhou City. Countless people watched the scene with horrified expressions. No one had expected King Qi's side to have six Genesis Realm experts! Zhou Yuan's pupils constricted slightly. Was this the support the Great Wu Dynasty had provided Qi Yuan?

Beside him, Zhou Qing stared intently at the six approaching figures, his face contorted into a monstrous grimace. His hand directly crushed the bricks on the city wall. He looked as if he had just seen his old enemies.

"Heh heh, Your Majesty, long time no see. We trust you've been well." Facing Zhou Qing's almost cannibalistic gaze, the six figures raised their heads and smiled faintly in his direction. "Zhao Tianlun..." "Lin Nian..." "Wang Chaotian..." One name after another slowly broke through Zhou Qing's clenched teeth, filled with deep hatred.

"It's these six traitors!" Wei Canglan glared at the six figures, gritting his teeth, and said in a grim tone. He turned to the slightly puzzled Zhou Yuan and explained in a low voice, "These six were all subjects of our Great Zhou over a decade ago. Later, when King Wu rebelled, they turned against us, launching a surprise attack on Great Zhou. This caused our army to be attacked from within, forcing them to flee." He added, "Now, they have all been granted territories by the Great Wu Dynasty, each establishing themselves as kings. We never expected Qi Yuan to invite all of them here this time."

At this point, Wei Canglan's expression became solemn, as the appearance of these six figures instantly shattered the advantage Great Zhou had held. Including Qi Yuan, the number of Genesis Realm experts on their side had now reached a formidable seven!

Zhou Yuan's brows also furrowed. No wonder Qi Yuan dared to issue a challenge; he had clearly received immense support. It seemed the Great Wu Dynasty intended to completely eradicate Great Zhou.

"It seems Great Wu is making its move, then?" Zhou Qing said grimly. One of the six Genesis Realm experts smiled faintly. "King Wu is a man of his word. Since he swore an ancestral oath that Great Wu would not set foot in Great Zhou for a hundred years, he will certainly uphold that promise. As for the six of us," he continued, a playful smirk on his lips, "a few days ago, we announced our departure from the Great Wu Dynasty and our allegiance to Great Qi. Therefore... we are not Great Wu's people, and King Wu has naturally not broken his word."

*Crunch!* Zhou Qing's fists clenched, knuckles cracking, clearly seething with rage.

Qi Yuan wore a playful smile. He stared at Zhou Qing, then his voice, amplified by powerful Genesis Qi, reached the ears of everyone in Great Zhou City. "Zhou Qing, I give you half a day to consider. After half a day, I will attack the city. At that time... all who resist will be killed without mercy!"

The chilling voice filled with killing intent sent shivers down countless spines, and fear welled up in their hearts. Would the scene from over a decade ago truly be re-enacted in Great Zhou City today?