This Glory Will Not Be Mine Alone

Taiyue Empire–Star Luo Empire Border

Wind and sand, sharp with grit, lashed against the yellow-stained tents with dull crackling sounds. Hundreds of tents stretched along the ridgeline like a line of slumbering beasts.

The canvas was pulled taut by the cold wind, yet held perfectly still by the steel supports.

Under the cover of night, the hundreds of tents stood in orderly rows, while the massive, terrifying muzzles of Soul Tool cannons spoke of this place's extraordinary nature.

Suddenly, hurried footsteps shattered the tranquility of the deep night. A soldier clad in black armor hurried past the tents, brushing against Soul Tools scattered along the way and producing a series of clattering noises.

When he arrived before a large tent, the soldier respectfully handed something to the guard on duty before leaving to rest.

The guard did not dare delay. He hastily lifted the tent flap and entered. A large sand table immediately came into view. Beyond it, a broad, upright figure stood beside an enormous map.

Apparently interrupted from his thoughts by the guard's footsteps, the man frowned and snapped, "Didn't I say not to disturb this Regiment Commander's rest at night?!"

This man was Wang Yiheng, commander of the Evil Lord Soul Mech Master Regiment, one of the Taiyue Empire's five great Soul Engineer Regiments.

"Reporting to the Regiment Commander, this is a letter from the new emperor of Mingdu. Your subordinate did not dare delay."

Irritably, Wang Yiheng casually accepted the letter. After dismissing the guard, his resentment toward Xu Xiao deepened further.

This Regiment Commander had faithfully guarded the Empire's border for so many years.

And now some brat of a new emperor who had only just taken the throne dared disturb this Regiment Commander like this!

He had always believed that Xu Xiao was about to ascend the throne and urgently needed to win over regiment commanders like them, who held military power in their hands.

Besides, he was a Level 9 Soul Tool Master. What was wrong with showing him a little respect?

With a trace of expectation, Wang Yiheng slowly opened the letter. He had long since decided that, when Xu Xiao ascended the throne, he would make things difficult for him and then threaten him into giving more benefits.

The Imperial Family had basically lost all its power now. This Regiment Commander only wanted the tiniest bit of benefit. Thinking this, he hummed a tune as he looked over the contents.

Before long, the smug look on Wang Yiheng's face turned into extreme fury!

"Xu Xiao, you little brat! You've gone too far!"

The contents of the letter were actually simple. Why would Xu Xiao maintain any semblance of fellowship between ruler and ministers with someone who was about to die? The entire letter mocked Wang Yiheng, saying that his backer, Xu Tianxiong, had already fallen.

It ordered him to immediately relinquish his post and rush to Mingdu overnight to beg forgiveness with a rod on his back. If Xu Xiao was in a good mood, he might spare his life.

"You ignorant brat! How hateful! How infuriating!"

The Soul Power within his body erupted in rage, and the letter in his hand was instantly blasted into scraps of paper.

"Xu Xiao, you little brat! Just wait! Your Xu family can sit on that throne, and so can this Regiment Commander!"

He recalled Xu Xiao's provocative words, calling him a useless man who relied on Xu Tianxiong and had only reached Level 9 Soul Tool Master after consuming so many resources.

"Once I catch you, I'll make you beg for death but be unable to die! Aaah!"

In his fury, Wang Yiheng punched the military map before him, shattering it and its supports into pieces!

"Instead of begging this Regiment Commander not to cause trouble, you dare toy with me like this?! Aaah! Even the Old Emperor never dared treat me this way!"

Driven mad with rage, Wang Yiheng smashed the objects inside the tent.

"This Regiment Commander will raise troops and kill you immediately! Wash your neck and wait for me!"

In the end, Wang Yiheng even kicked apart the sand table inside the tent!

"Guards! Convene an emergency meeting at once."

Three Level 8 Soul Tool Masters and seven Level 7 Soul Tool Masters were already seated.

Wang Yiheng looked with satisfaction at his trusted confidants. After so many years, these high-level combatants had long become his men.

When they had first entered the tent, they were all startled by the mess before them and thought someone had come to assassinate him.

One of the Level 8 Spirit Craftsmen asked respectfully, "Regiment Commander, have you summoned us in the middle of the night because there is new intelligence from the Star Luo Empire?"

Wang Yiheng casually waved the question aside.

"The mere Star Luo Empire is not enough to make this Regiment Commander so anxious.

"I called you here this time to have you prepare yourselves. Clean out those disobedient subordinates under your command.

"Once we have dealt with everyone who refuses to obey this Regiment Commander, follow me to Mingdu overnight."

Seeing that none of them reacted strongly, Wang Yiheng nodded in satisfaction and continued, "Xu Xiao is merely a twelve-year-old child. The moment he became the new emperor, he forgot all the good we have done for him."

After listing all of Xu Xiao's supposed misdeeds, Wang Yiheng rose to his feet and declared with great force:

"If we fail, it will be rebellion. If we succeed, it will be revolution!

"Anyone who wishes to back out may leave now. Those willing to stay must follow me, Wang Yiheng, to the very end!

"If we fail, I alone will bear the responsibility. But if we succeed, I will not keep this glory for myself!"

Hearing such stirring words, the Soul Engineers were already eager to devote everything to fight for a future. One after another, they declared that they were willing to follow their Regiment Commander!

He was very satisfied with their good sense. His years of vigorously cultivating loyalists and suppressing dissenters had not been wasted.

Just as he was thrilled and ready to give the order to purge the dissenters, a majestic voice suddenly rang out from nowhere.

"Do traitorous rebels like you deserve to speak of honor?"

Wang Yiheng was so frightened that he fell onto the ground. "Who is it?! Stop playing tricks and get out here!"

A bloodthirsty phantom of Mad Bull appeared, accompanied by nine standard Soul Rings!

The other subordinates also released their Martial Souls, surrounding Wang Yiheng in a protective formation as they stood ready for battle.

For this meeting, he had required everyone to leave behind Storage Rings and similar Soul Tools. Thus, all the high-grade Soul Tool weapons were outside, and he had naturally led by example.

He had not expected that this caution would lead to such an awkward situation.

"Without Soul Tools, Soul Tool Masters are not worth my time."

Xiang Yu had wanted to see whether these Soul Tool Masters were stronger or weaker than those Evil Soul Masters.

Yet these fools had held a meeting while leaving their most important Soul Tools outside. If Wang Yiheng knew what Xiang Yu was thinking, he would surely cry injustice.

He was planning a rebellion. If one of his subordinates dared oppose him while carrying a Soul Tool, dealing with them would create far too much commotion!

Unfortunately, there was no medicine for regret. Xiang Yu merely made a swift hand-chop, and everyone present, including Wang Yiheng, had their heads severed from their bodies without the slightest resistance, falling into eternal sleep here.

"Hmph. A bunch of traitorous rebels, yet your slogans were rather imposing."

Looking at the ranks on the military uniforms of the fallen Soul Tool Masters, Xiang Yu inwardly found it a pity. After all, they had all been high-level Soul Tool Masters.

The sight of Wang Yiheng's corpse angered Xiang Yu. A terrifying force field formed from Ultimate Power instantly enveloped Wang Yiheng's corpse and severed head.

Under the repeated crushing of the force field, even Wang Yiheng's remaining body was pulverized along with his blood into nothing.

With a casual reach, he grabbed Wang Yiheng's still wide-eyed head. His Spiritual Power began recklessly searching through the other man's memories.