The Siege of the City

The campfire blazed in the camp. Fang Yan, Elder Wu, Zhao Hu, and Li Gang sat together, discussing the plan to attack the city with grave expressions.

Elder Wu spoke first. "The Black Wind Formation has been broken, greatly weakening the foreign race's defenses, but that Martial King First Layer leader remains a thorn in our side. If we fight him head-on, our losses will be heavy."

Fang Yan nodded in agreement. "Master is right. We need a foolproof plan. I've observed the city's layout. The north gate is relatively weakly defended. Perhaps we can break through there."

Zhao Hu frowned. "But the north gate will definitely be heavily guarded. Even if its defenses are weak, it won't be easy to breach."

Li Gang pondered for a moment before suggesting, "We can make a feint in the east and attack in the west. First, send a contingent to launch a fierce assault on the east and west gates, drawing in the enemy's main force. Then we can concentrate our troops and ambush the north gate."

A trace of approval flashed through Elder Wu's eyes. "That's a good idea. I'll lead an elite unit in an assault on the north gate. The three of you will each lead troops in feigned attacks on the east, west, and south gates. You must keep the enemy's attention tied down."

"Yes!" the three men replied in unison.

At dawn the next day, the sky had just begun to brighten. The soldiers of the Vanguard Camp were already prepared for battle. According to plan, Zhao Hu, Li Gang, and another Deputy General each led their troops in a fierce assault on the east, west, and south gates.

"Kill!" the soldiers shouted as they pushed siege engines toward the city gates. The foreign race's soldiers on the walls immediately fought back, raining down arrows like a downpour.

At the east gate, Zhao Hu wielded a great saber and charged at the forefront. With one slash, he cleaved through the iron lock on the gate, then led the soldiers inside. But before long, large numbers of foreign soldiers surrounded them, and the two sides erupted into a bloody melee.

The situation at the west and south gates was much the same. Li Gang and the Deputy General led their soldiers in a desperate assault on the city, but both sides met with fierce resistance from the foreign race.

Standing atop the city wall, the foreign race's leader watched the battles at the east, west, and south gates, a cold smile spreading across his face. "Humans truly are foolish. Do you think this will let you breach my city? Send down my orders. Have the soldiers at the east gate hold their ground to the death, and send half the soldiers from the west and south gates to reinforce the east gate!"

Just as the foreign soldiers began redeploying, Elder Wu led an elite unit quietly to the north gate. As expected, the north gate was relatively weakly defended, with only several hundred foreign soldiers stationed there.

"Move!" Elder Wu barked, charging forward first. He struck out with one palm, and the city gate was instantly blasted open. The elite soldiers behind him immediately poured in, rushing toward the foreign soldiers atop the city wall.

The foreign soldiers on the wall panicked when they saw this. They had never expected the humans to launch a surprise attack from the north gate, and they hurriedly took up their weapons to resist. But how could they possibly stand against Elder Wu and his elite soldiers? They were wiped out in short order.

Elder Wu led the soldiers swiftly toward the center of the city. Their target was the foreign leader's palace. As long as they killed the foreign leader, the remaining foreign soldiers would collapse without a fight.

Before long, Elder Wu and his soldiers arrived before the palace. Several foreign generals at the Profound Connection Realm Late Stage stood at the entrance. When they saw Elder Wu and the others, they immediately advanced to meet them.

"Who are you? How dare you trespass into the leader's palace!" one of the foreign generals roared.

Elder Wu gave a cold laugh. "We're here to take your leader's worthless life!"

The moment he finished speaking, he charged at that foreign general. The two sides immediately clashed. Elder Wu's strength far surpassed that of these foreign generals, and before long, he had cut them down one after another.

After disposing of the guards at the entrance, Elder Wu led the soldiers into the palace. Inside, the foreign leader was seated on his throne. When he saw Elder Wu and the others storm in, his expression instantly darkened.

"Brazen humans! How dare you trespass into my palace!" the foreign leader roared as he rose from his throne. A powerful aura poured from his body, and the might of a Martial King First Layer instantly enveloped the entire palace.

Elder Wu was utterly fearless. He looked at the foreign leader. "Your time to die has come!"

The two charged at each other simultaneously. Elder Wu struck out with one palm, its fierce force carrying the momentum to destroy heaven and earth. The foreign leader was no weaker, punching out as dense black energy gathered around his fist.

Boom! Their attacks collided with a thunderous explosion. A powerful shock wave instantly swept through the entire palace, reducing the tables, chairs, and benches inside to splinters.

Both men were sent stumbling backward. Elder Wu steadied himself, a trace of astonishment flashing through his eyes. "I didn't expect your strength to be this great."

The foreign leader gave a cold laugh. "Old fool, do you think you can defeat me? Today, I'll make sure you die here!"

He charged at Elder Wu again, black energy billowing as his fists flew. Elder Wu didn't dare be careless either. He circulated the true qi throughout his body and met the attack head-on.

The two men traded blows back and forth, locked in a fierce struggle. The battle inside the palace grew more intense by the moment. Shock waves repeatedly battered the palace walls, leaving crack after crack across them.

Just then, a wave of shouting came from outside the palace. Fang Yan led the soldiers inside. As it turned out, when the foreign soldiers at the east, west, and south gates saw that the north gate had been breached and learned that their leader was under attack, their morale instantly collapsed. Zhao Hu and Li Gang had seized the opportunity to lead their soldiers through the gates and rush toward the palace.

When the foreign leader saw more and more human soldiers pouring in, panic seized his heart. He knew that he was likely doomed today.

"I'll fight you to the death!" the foreign leader roared. The true qi within his body surged wildly as he tried to unleash one final strike.

Elder Wu saw through his intent and immediately shouted, "Kid, now!"

Fang Yan had been ready for this. He circulated his power and unleashed Prison Heaven Sword Finger. A sharp sword-like beam shot forth, aimed straight at the foreign leader's heart.

The foreign leader tried to dodge, but it was already too late. With a wet squelch, the sword beam pierced his heart. The foreign leader let out a shrill, mournful scream. His body swayed, then crashed to the ground, completely bereft of life.

"The leader is dead! The leader is dead!" When the remaining foreign soldiers saw their leader slain, they instantly lost their will to fight. One after another, they dropped their weapons and surrendered.

"We won!" The soldiers of the Vanguard Camp cheered in unison, their voices shaking the heavens.

Fang Yan gazed at the scene before him, his heart brimming with joy. They had finally won this battle. He walked over to Elder Wu and said respectfully, "Master, we owe this to you. Without your help, we could never have breached this city so quickly."

Elder Wu smiled. "Silly child, this is all the result of your own hard work. You've grown to this level in such a short time. Your master is very proud of you."

Zhao Hu and Li Gang also came over, speaking excitedly. "Commander, Elder Wu, we did it! We breached Black Wind City!"

Fang Yan nodded. "That's right, we did it. But this is only the beginning. The threat of the foreign race has not been completely eliminated. We must reorganize our forces as quickly as possible and prepare for the next battle."

"Yes!" everyone replied in unison.

Afterward, Fang Yan ordered the soldiers to clear the battlefield, treat the wounded, and take control of Black Wind City. At the same time, he sent people to report the news of their victory to the Mystic Martial Pavilion.

The fall of Black Wind City gave the human army an enormous boost. But Fang Yan knew that even greater challenges awaited them. He stood atop the walls of Black Wind City, gazing at the distant sky, his eyes filled with resolve. He believed that as long as they worked together with one heart, they would surely defeat the foreign race and protect their homeland.