Beichen Settles, Southern Campaign Nears; A Second Sweep of Qi and Jing to Secure the Nine Enclosures

The next morning, around midmorning, the warm sun hung high, its golden radiance spilling across Pinggang City's walls and streets.

Yan patrols atop the city walls were making their customary rounds when a sharp, ear-piercing roar suddenly rolled in from afar.

The sound was immensely deep and colossal. It was like the roar of an ancient ferocious beast, heavy enough to shake one's heart and lungs, yet also like thunder crashing down from the ninth heaven, so shrill it seemed to pierce the sky. Everyone's hearts jolted, and they involuntarily turned toward its source.

"What is that...?"

Then they saw dense white mist, thick as ink, surging into the sky. Like a demonic cloud, it swept forward with an unstoppable force, rapidly closing in on Pinggang City.

"What is that thing?!"

"Enemy attack!"

A young Yan soldier staggered back several steps, terrified by the sight he had never encountered before. As he cried out, his right hand instantly drew the curved blade at his waist. The edge glinted coldly, but his body trembled uncontrollably.

"That huge thing is coming too fast—it's about to crash into us!"

The other officers and soldiers tensed at once as though facing a great enemy. They rushed to the battlements, gripping their weapons tightly, their faces filled with fear and vigilance.

Many unconsciously held their breath, scarcely daring to breathe, their eyes fixed on the direction from which the white mist came.

Qin Yue also tightened his grip on his longsword, his fingertips pressed against the icy blade. Forcing himself to calm down, he stared into the distance in the direction the soldier was pointing.

That single glance made his mind quake, as though all the blood in his body had frozen in an instant.

On the straight rails in the distance, a black steel