Soul Severed at Dragon-Ending Ridge

Though they were surrounded from all sides by an army of thousands, how could a mere remnant force possibly contend?

A brutal battle began in an instant.

To protect Wenzhong as he broke through, Deng Zhong desperately stood in front and faced Nezha. Outnumbered in the end, he was pierced through by Nezha's Red Lotus Spear. His blood stained the mountain cliffs as he died gloriously for his country.

Li Jing fought fiercely against his two sons, Jin Zha and Mu Zha. Defeated and exhausted, he was captured after a misstep.

In the blink of an eye, Wenzhong's trusted followers were either dead or captured. Of the vast expeditionary army, only he remained, standing alone beneath Dragon-Ending Ridge—solitary, covered in wounds from battle.

Seeing this, the Western Qi soldiers stopped advancing and gradually closed in around him. No one rashly attacked again.

All of them cherished talent and still hoped that this loyal and valiant Grand Tutor would come to his senses and surrender to Great Zhou.

Heaven and earth fell silent, and the slaughter briefly ceased.

Wenzhong looked around at the layers of armored troops and banners filling the sky. He knew there was no road left to retreat down, no way to break this deadlock.

Slowly lowering his weapon, he faced the direction of Morning Song and dropped to both knees. With every word ringing like iron and every cry steeped in blood, he kowtowed in worship.

"Your servant Wenzhong is lacking in talent and weak in ability. I have failed the ancestors of Yin Shang!

"I have received Great Shang's profound grace through generations. With this loyal heart, even nine deaths could never repay my sovereign and my country!

"I have devoted my life to saving our collapsing ancestral temple and supporting the state in its hour