The Empire Settled

The imperial capital stood as imposing as iron.

On walls dozens of yards high, armored soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder—all of them Great Abyss Dynasty imperial guards!

The Mandate Army had swept through thirty-six cities on its march, crushing all resistance like dry weeds. It had looked invincible.

But anyone with eyes could see that it had yet to encounter a true master.

Now things were different.

Every top martial artist still loyal to the Great Abyss Dynasty had retreated into the capital.

And Chu Long, the new emperor seated on the dragon throne, was himself a genuine Heavenly Extremity Realm grandmaster!

This would be a hard bone to crack!

Inside the Mandate Army's central command tent, the mood was heavy.

The generals all knew that ordinary siege engines and waves of soldiers could never bridge the gulf created by a Heavenly Extremity Realm expert.

Only one man could break the deadlock.

At the head of the tent,

Ye Chen sat quietly in an embroidered white robe, his expression calm.

"Go. Set an hourglass before the battle lines. Send word to the new emperor inside."

"Twelve hours."

"When the sand runs out, if he hasn't opened the gates and surrendered"—Ye Chen lifted his eyes, his voice cold—"then when the city falls, everyone who resisted will be killed!"

A chill ran through the generals.

What murderous intent!

"Yes!" Feng Wuji and the others answered with a roar, then strode out to ready their troops.

Alone in the tent, Ye Chen slowly closed his eyes.

The imperial capital...

Ancient Star's rules were tyrannical. True Intent and laws were utterly sealed here; he could not wield even a trace of them.

But this created avatar perfectly inherited the foundations of my true body...

He had not been idle while commanding the army.

The