Morning Song Royal Palace.
A deathly silence shrouded the solemn, imposing hall.
Di Xin's eyes were bloodshot as he stared fixedly at the messenger guard kneeling below. Rage blazed in his chest, and his voice carried boundless brutality. "What did you say? Repeat that to me!"
The guard trembled all over, his limbs weak and cold sweat streaming down his forehead. He dared not raise his head to face the king's wrath as he stammered, "Y-Your Majesty, Three Mountains Pass... has fallen. It was breached by Western Qi's army!"
"Utter nonsense!"
Di Xin roared in fury, berating him before the court.
Not long ago, he had issued an edict appointing Kong Xuan as Grand Marshal of the Realm, entrusting him with the full defense of Three Mountains Pass. The edict was still on the road and had not yet reached the pass.
Yet in the blink of an eye, news had arrived that Three Mountains Pass had fallen. Such a reversal was something Di Xin simply could not accept.
The guard below trembled violently. His back was already drenched in cold sweat as he pressed himself desperately against the floor, not even daring to breathe loudly.
The killing intent in the hall was chillingly sharp. One careless mistake, and his head could roll.
Di Xin clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. Overwhelming killing intent locked onto the guard as he demanded harshly, "Where is Kong Xuan?! I appointed him Grand Marshal. With him guarding that mighty pass, how could Three Mountains Pass have fallen so quickly?!"
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Commander Kong Xuan has vanished without a trace. The Phoenix Clan Great Beings who came with him to aid in battle have also all disappeared. With the top combatants gone, the defenders of Three Mountains Pass were left