Blood Night at the Royal Court

The leader died, and the totem scattered.

The remaining eight Wolf God Guards were like men whose spines had been ripped out. The savage, violent aura they had gathered collapsed in an instant, replaced by the pain of their own power rebounding on them and a fear that seeped into their very bones. As they looked at the figure in the sky, like a demon god descending upon the world with Killing Intent soaring to the heavens, not a shred of fighting spirit remained.

"Run!"

No one knew who had screamed it, but the eight men fled desperately toward the depths of the Burial Wolf Mountain Range like startled rabbits, wishing their parents had given them two extra legs.

"You want to leave now? Too late."

Chen Qing's icy voice sounded behind them like a death-seeking Buddhist chant.

He did not pursue them personally. He merely slowly raised his right hand. The eighty-foot Fierce Tiger Domain expanded with it, and its newly born "Devour" trait was driven to its utmost limit! Within the domain, it was as though the air had turned into an invisible swamp, producing a tremendous pulling force!

The eight Wolf God Guards felt the air around them freeze solid. An irresistible force came from behind, dragging at their bodies. Their speed plummeted, and even the qi, blood, and true essence within them began to drain away uncontrollably!

"No!"

They turned back in terror and saw Chen Qing standing still, without moving an inch. Yet that invisible domain was like the gaping maw of some primordial beast, ready to swallow them whole!

Chen Qing closed his eyes, sensing the eight streams of pure Killing Intent, containing the power of the Wolf God bloodline, being continuously drawn into the Fierce Tiger Domain. Refined by the domain, they flowed into his body. This plundering form of advancement was far more rapid than arduous cultivation!

[Devoured Wolf God Guard (Meridian Condensing Realm peak), Fierce Tiger Iron Body proficiency +800...]

[Devoured... proficiency +850...]

The system notifications rang out without end.

Amid despairing howls, the eight Wolf God Guards' bodies shriveled and withered at a speed visible to the naked eye. In the end, they became eight dried corpses that fell from the sky and shattered upon impact. The essence of their lifelong cultivation had all become nourishment for Chen Qing's growth.

When the final trace of energy had been devoured, Chen Qing slowly opened his eyes. The vortex of dark crimson and deep blue within his pupils gradually settled, but his aura had become even deeper and vaster than before. He had completely stabilized at the middle stage of the Aperture Opening Realm, even taking a small step toward the later stage.

He looked down below.

The Northern Expeditionary Army's cheers rose like a tsunami. Every soldier looked up at him as though gazing upon a god. Old Niu, Sun Quezi, and the others trembled with excitement. Their general's strength had already reached a level beyond their comprehension!

"The general's divine might!"

"Northern expedition! Northern expedition!"

Chen Qing raised a hand, suppressing the earth-shaking cheers. His voice carried across the wilderness. "Rest for one hour. When the hour is up, level Burial Wolf Mountain and march upon the Golden Tent Royal Court!"

"Level Burial Wolf Mountain! March upon the Royal Court!"

Morale soared to its peak!

One hour later, the Northern Expeditionary Army set out once more. This time, they no longer advanced cautiously, step by step. Instead, like fierce tigers unleashed from their cages, they charged directly toward the "Wolf's Throat" pass, heavily defended by Wuwei's forces, with an air that could crush all before it!

Above the pass, Wuwei's face was drained of color. He had personally witnessed the destruction of the Wolf God Guards, and the last thread of hope in his heart had shattered with them. When he saw the Northern Expeditionary Army surging forward like a black tide, especially the figure at the front of their formation with Killing Intent shooting into the sky, he completely lost the courage to resist.

"Retreat... retreat to the Royal Court! Quickly!"

His voice trembling, he issued the command. Without even bothering to organize an effective rearguard, he fled Wolf's Throat in panic beneath the protection of his personal guards.

With their commander fleeing, the defenders, whose morale had already been low, collapsed instantly. Throwing aside their helmets and armor, they scattered in all directions. The Northern Expeditionary Army broke through the Northern Mang Royal Court's final barrier almost without shedding a drop of blood, their iron hooves setting foot upon the Golden Tent Grassland, the symbol of Northern Mang's core of power!

The Royal Court was close at hand!

Northern Mang Royal Court, Golden Wolf Great Tent.

The Northern Mang Great Khan, an elderly man whose eyes remained as sharp as an eagle's, listened to the disastrous reports brought by the routed soldiers. Looking at the faint black flood on the distant horizon and the Killing Intent soaring into the heavens, the hand gripping his golden saber trembled slightly.

"The Wolf God Guards... have fallen too..." His voice was hoarse, filled with endless exhaustion and despair. "Is heaven determined to destroy Northern Mang?"

Inside the tent, the princes and nobles were ashen-faced and trembling. Some called for a fight to the death, while others proposed fleeing north into the frozen wastelands. Their arguments went on without end.

"Enough!"

An aged yet imposing voice rang out, drowning out all the clamor. The Northern Mang National Preceptor, the old shaman whose face was covered in paint, slowly entered the great tent, leaning on a white bone staff. He looked even older than before, and his aura was somewhat disordered. Clearly, the destruction of the Wolf God Guards had inflicted considerable backlash upon him.

"Great Khan, matters have reached this point. We can only activate the final 'Blood Sacrifice' and awaken the slumbering 'Spirit of the Wolf Ancestor.' There may yet be a thread of life." The National Preceptor's voice carried a crazed resolve.

"Blood Sacrifice?" The Great Khan's pupils contracted. "How many are needed?"

"All of them." The National Preceptor's gaze swept across everyone in the tent, cold and merciless. "The royal bloodline, shaman priests, and... one hundred thousand slaves."

The tent fell deathly silent, before even greater cries of terror and opposition erupted.

"No! That is the final foundation left behind by our ancestors, tied to the fate of our tribe! Once used, even if we can repel the enemy, Northern Mang will suffer grievous losses and be unable to recover for a hundred years!" An old prince objected sternly.

"If we do not, today will be the day our tribe is annihilated!" The National Preceptor's tone was chilling. "Will we preserve our foundation and slowly perish, or risk everything for a chance at survival? Great Khan, it is time to make your decision!"

Everyone's gaze focused upon the Northern Mang Great Khan.

The Great Khan's expression shifted constantly. At last, seeing the cries of battle drawing closer outside the tent and that heart-palpitating Killing Intent, a trace of ruthlessness and despair flashed through his eyes.

"Granted! Do as the National Preceptor says. Activate the Blood Sacrifice!"

The moment the command was issued, the Royal Court plunged into even greater chaos and bloodshed. The shaman priests began frantically seizing slaves and drawing the altar. Piercing cries and desperate curses echoed through the night sky.

At this moment, the vanguard of the Northern Expeditionary Army led by Chen Qing had already seen the distant rows of golden-topped tents, as well as the most magnificent tent at their center—the Golden Wolf Great Tent, symbol of Northern Mang's supreme authority!

Beneath the blood-red setting sun, the outline of the Royal Court resembled a giant wolf struggling in its death throes.

Chen Qing could clearly sense an incomparably evil and immense aura, carrying ancient resentment, frantically gathering and awakening in the depths of the Royal Court.

"A final struggle before death..."

A cold curve lifted at the corner of his lips. Not only did he make no move to stop it, but intense interest appeared in his eyes.

"Good. I'll settle it all at once."

He waved his hand and gave the order:

"All troops, hear my command. Surround the Royal Court. Without my order, no one is to attack on their own."

He wanted to see just how great a storm Northern Mang's final trump card could stir up. It was also the perfect chance to sweep up every force of resistance on this grassland in one net, eliminating all future trouble!

Like an iron bucket of black steel, the Northern Expeditionary Army sealed off the entire Northern Mang Royal Court so tightly that not even water could pass through.

Night gradually enveloped the grassland that would soon be dyed red with blood.

The Royal Court's blood night was about to begin.