The Unrivaled Emperor

Chapter 47: Huangfu Yun (Seeking Recommendation Tickets~)

The person clad in black armor walked to the front of the assembled warriors and stopped, removing his helmet with a face mask.

Beneath the mask was a robust man in his early thirties, with dark skin and a tall, straight build. His hair was slightly disheveled, and his eyes were deep and unfathomable.

A scar, like a claw mark, ran across his forehead, adding a fierce aura to his appearance.

The man swept his gaze over the warriors. Those he looked at felt as if their very souls were being seen through.

After surveying everyone, the man grinned. "Not bad, acceptable. My name is Huangfu Yun. I am a Centurion under the Demon Suppression Army. From today, you eighteen will be assigned to my command. If you have any questions, you may ask now."

The warriors exchanged glances, their gazes shifting to Shi Lan, Yan Shan, and the most powerful man in the black robe.

"Centurion, sir, this subordinate wishes to know if the beastly calamity has already threatened Shuangyue City?" The black-robed man quickly got into character, stepping forward and asking.

Huangfu Yun nodded. "That's right, demonic beasts have indeed begun appearing in the vicinity. What is your name?"

"This subordinate is Jiang Li."

"Any other questions?"

Jiang Li was silent for a moment, then stared at Huangfu Yun and asked, word by word, "Will Shuangyue City be lost?"

Huangfu Yun nodded nonchalantly. "If nothing unexpected happens, it's eighty percent likely it will be lost."

Upon hearing this, the warriors' expressions changed drastically, especially those from Shuangyue City. Even Shi Lan, who had a premonition, felt her heart sink.

"If the city falls, what will become of us? What will become of the hundreds of thousands of civilians in Shuangyue City?"

Huangfu Yun grinned. "The city may stand, but people may not. If the city falls, people will surely perish!"

The warriors were momentarily stunned. Huangfu Yun's words clearly indicated a resolve to defend Shuangyue City to the death.

Shi Lan's heart suddenly felt a chill. The sudden city lockdown order, and Nie Yangze's earlier words, all indicated that the Demon Suppression Army had tied the hundreds of thousands of civilians in Shuangyue City to the city itself.

Prosperity together, ruin together.

"Those are hundreds of thousands of lives!" Jiang Li raised his voice, his eyes tinged with bloodshot.

The smile on Huangfu Yun's face faded as he stared at Jiang Li. "So what? What do you think should be done?"

"The city lockdown order should be revoked, and the civilians escorted to safety! Defending against demonic beasts and protecting the people – isn't that the duty of the Demon Suppression Army?!"

"Escorting the civilians to safety?" Huangfu Yun scoffed, his eyes filled with coldness as he looked at Jiang Li.

"Do you know what a migration of hundreds of thousands of mortals looks like? How many demonic beasts would the collective blood qi of hundreds of thousands of mortals attract? Without martial arts, without the protection of city walls, what difference is there between mortals and sheep waiting to be slaughtered before demonic beasts?"

Jiang Li's face turned red. "Better to fight to the death than wait for death. With the Demon Suppression Army's protection, some lives can surely be saved!"

"In Shuangyue City, including myself, there are three hundred and twenty-seven Demon Suppression Army soldiers. Even with the addition of you eighteen, that's less than three hundred and fifty people. Relying on this small number to escort hundreds of thousands of mortals – do you think this is a fight to the death, or sending them as food for the beasts?"

A hint of self-mockery flashed in Huangfu Yun's eyes. "Do you think everyone in our Demon Suppression Army is a peerless powerhouse capable of slaughtering ten thousand demons with one hand?"

Jiang Li took a step back, his expression dejected.

"Your idea is not one that hasn't been considered, and some have even acted on it. Do you want to know the result?" Huangfu Yun stepped forward and said.

Jiang Li's expression froze, and he mumbled a negative.

"My command originally had one hundred and four people. Now, including myself, there are thirteen left. Of the hundreds of thousands of civilians who were evacuated, fewer than one in ten thousand survived."

Huangfu Yun's tone was devoid of emotion, but everyone felt a sense of heaviness.

"Even so, there's no need to conceal the news and lock down the city. Can't the civilians be allowed to flee on their own?"

Huangfu Yun shook his head. "The news of the beastly invasion has not yet spread in this area. If the news leaks and these civilians are allowed to roam outside the city, the surrounding cities will be affected, causing widespread chaos!"

He paused slightly before continuing, "At that time, people from all around will flee desperately, and the panic will grow. Later, cities might even be left undefended, becoming empty shells. The demon race will advance unimpeded, once again swallowing a large portion of our Human Race's territory."

"Moreover, these civilians entering the wilderness will only die meaninglessly at the mouths of demonic beasts, merely increasing casualties."

A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Huangfu Yun's eyes. "Since we've come this far, let me be blunt. The hundreds of thousands of people in the city must perish with Shuangyue City. Relying on the city walls, we must do our utmost to block the demonic beasts!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Shi Lan's ear also received a system notification.

[Side quest complete. Reward: One beginner's lucky draw.]

The quest was complete, but Shi Lan felt no joy.

Huangfu Yun looked at Jiang Li. "Any other questions?"

Jiang Li shook his head weakly and retreated among the warriors.

"The rest?"

"Earlier, the Demon Suppression Army was in the city, searching for information on registered children and adolescents. What was that for?" Shi Lan stepped forward and asked.

"In two days, a Cloudsoar Battleship will pass by Shuangyue City. It will take all the children with good talent from the city, as well as your relatives and loved ones, and safely deliver them within the protection range of the Holy Martial Immortal Sect," Huangfu Yun replied calmly.

"What does the light on that stone slab represent?"

Huangfu Yun did not hide anything. "The light represents the strength of one's roots and aptitude. White signifies mediocrity, green means two or three out of a hundred, black is one in a thousand, red is one in ten thousand, exceptionally talented. As for anything higher, there should be no such prodigies in Shuangyue City."

"Centurion, sir, what kind of aptitude is required to board the Cloudsoar Battleship?" A warrior from Shuangyue City asked, a glimmer of hope appearing in his previously sorrowful expression.

"Black aptitude can board the ship alone. Red aptitude can bring one relative or loved one."

The martial artist who had asked the question let out a sigh of relief, his expression visibly relaxing.

Huangfu Yun scanned the crowd. "The spots available on the Cloudsoar Battleship are extremely precious. The two spots you've been granted are already a tremendous reward. I hope everyone understands."

"Are there any other questions? You can raise them now."

No one responded. Silence fell.

Seeing this, Huangfu Yun grinned, the scar on his forehead bulging, making him look somewhat ferocious. "If that's the case, then please be prepared to leave your lives here!"

Thanks to Duoba, Chu Heng, and Meng Ji Wang Sheng for their rewards. Thanks to An Yuexin, Tu Shan Yaqing, Paigu Men Luobo, Feng Liu Youhuo, and other book friends for their recommendation tickets. Thank you all very much! Hehe, requesting another wave of recommendation tickets...