The Battle on Long Street (Part One)

The City Lord froze, then fell silent for a long while.

Only after a moment did he let out a quiet sigh. "That does make sense. But no one can overcome Heaven. Who would go around trying to divine Heaven's will for no reason?"

As he spoke, he gently stroked the branches of the ancient tree before him, as though afraid that one careless touch might make it topple and die right before his eyes.

After all, this tree had witnessed the two of them being as close as brothers.

But the stars had shifted and time had turned. Now they were neither lord and subject nor brothers; they were hardly any different from strangers.

"That is because the people of this world are incapable."

The Great General lowered his eyes and said bluntly, "Otherwise, if someone could understand Heaven's heart and act in its name, uniting the Demon Realm, Heaven might yet grant us ten thousand years of prosperity."

At those words, the City Lord's expression darkened.

He had never expected this man before him to lay bare his intentions in a single sentence. The Great General plainly meant to lead Dragon City's troops on campaigns across the land.

This was no longer the Great General's ambition. He was already putting himself in the City Lord's place.

Thinking of how his two daughters had nearly died in Lotus Town, the City Lord—no matter how great his cultivation—could hardly suppress the anger in his heart.

He couldn't help sighing inwardly. There were no saints in this world. Even after ascending to the seat of Great General, years later this man before him still harbored some unresolved resentment.

Was this what people were like?

Those words stabbed into the City Lord's chest like knives.

They had been as close as brothers,