Rizhao's escape light vanished at the far end of the sea and sky, and the Buddhist pressure over the East Sea dispersed with it. The boulder weighing on everyone's hearts suddenly fell away.
King Pingling had relied on Rizhao of Buddhism to back him. Now that his patron was gone, his face turned ashen. The army's morale completely collapsed, and his soldiers trembled in fear, their legs going weak, all fighting spirit gone.
A cold gleam flashed in Wen Zhong's bell-like eyes. How could he possibly let such an opportunity slip by?
He suddenly swept out his hand. The whip's shadow tore through the air, his voice shaking the three armies. "Kill!"
As the command flag fell, the Shang Army's morale surged instantly. Weapons gleamed like a forest, hooves pounded across the waves, and the cold light of armor illuminated the sea as they swept forward like a tidal wave.
King Pingling's remaining soldiers were already like startled birds. How could they withstand such a thunderous blow?
After only a brief slaughter, all his troops were wiped out, their blood staining the blue waves.
King Pingling resisted stubbornly, but one man could not hold up a collapsing building. Wen Zhong's soldiers joined forces to subdue him, binding him in iron chains and capturing him in utter disgrace.
The rebellion that had stirred up such turmoil in the East Sea was completely crushed in an instant.
As the smoke of war gradually faded, the sea returned to calm.
Wen Zhong put away his Golden Whip, turned to Ao Guang, and gave a slight cupped-hand salute. His tone was steady and courteous.
"Today, I thank the Dragon Kings of the Four Seas for lending your aid and resolving the East Sea's crisis. On behalf of Great Shang, Wen Zhong offers his thanks,