"Captain, Frost Flower City is just below us. Should we begin the bombing?"
A soldier inside the bomber asked the air force captain over the communications system.
"Bomb them!"
The air force captain answered without hesitation.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Three thousand bombers dropped bombs on Frost Flower City below.
Boom! Boom!
"Argh!"
The Flame Army soldiers slaughtering Ice Clan civilians were killed and wounded in large numbers by the bombs. The Ice Clan civilians didn't escape unharmed either.
"These are bombers? Damn Ice Clan! They can't beat us head-on, so they're using bombers instead. Cowards! Find somewhere to take cover!"
A Flame Clan general said.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
The Ice Clan bombers overhead continued dropping bombs on Frost Flower City below.
"Your Majesty, this is bad! The Ice Clan bombers have blasted several breaches in the walls on all four sides of the city!"
A Flame Clan general ran into the underground Flame Army command center and reported to Huo Yi.
"Damn it! Come with me and destroy those Ice Clan bombers!"
Huo Yi said to the soldiers beside him.
After speaking, Huo Yi led dozens of powerful Flame Clan soldiers out of the underground command center and into the sky.
Rat-tat-tat!
The Flame Army soldiers led by Huo Yi engaged the Ice Clan air force in a fierce battle in the sky.
Chain Fireball!
Huo Yi shouted.
He fired more than a dozen energy projectiles from his hands, destroying many Ice Clan aircraft.
"18th Battalion, 23rd Battalion, keep him occupied. 12th Battalion, 16th Battalion, come with me and wipe out the Flame Clan soldiers in the sky!"
The air force captain shouted.
"Yes, sir!"
The battalion commanders replied.
Rat-tat-tat!
"Argh! Argh!"
The 18th and 23rd Battalions successfully kept Huo Yi occupied, while the air force captain and the 12th and 16th Battalions succeeded in wiping out the dozens of Flame Clan soldiers led by Huo Yi.
"You can all die! Blazing Prairie Fire!"
Seeing the Flame Clan soldiers fall one by one to the Ice Clan aircraft, Huo Yi roared furiously.
He fired an energy wave at the Ice Clan aircraft, destroying hundreds of them.
"Scatter and retreat! Regroup at Snow Well Mountain Airport!"
The air force captain shouted to the soldiers in each battalion over the communications system.
After receiving the order, the Ice Clan air force scattered and retreated.
"Damn it!"
Huo Yi roared furiously.
He wanted to chase down the Ice Clan air force and destroy them, but they had scattered. At most, he could destroy some of them, not all of them. He could only wait for another chance to wipe them out.
"Company Commander, the Flame Clan pursuers are less than ten kilometers away!"
A soldier ran up to Xue Xing, who was resting, and reported.
"Damn it! Those accursed Flame Clan! We'll fight them to the death! Prepare for battle!"
Xue Xing said.
Ten minutes later.
"Fire!"
Xue Xing shouted.
Rat-tat-tat!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The Ice Clan soldiers engaged the Flame Clan troops pursuing them.
Five minutes later.
"Company Commander Xue Xing, take your men and retreat. The Ninth Platoon and I will cover you."
Xue Hua said to Xue Xing.
"Brother, if we're going to die, we'll die together. I've avenged our big brother. I can go and see him now."
Xue Xing said.
"Company Commander Xue Xing, give me a chance to repay you. I'm begging you, hurry and retreat! General Xuegao's family must not die out!"
Xue Hua said.
"Brother, thank you. In our next lives, we'll be brothers again. Retreat!"
Xue Xing said, his eyes brimming with tears.
As soon as he finished speaking, the soldiers pulled Xue Xing away as they retreated.
"Order the mortar company to fire! Wipe out the remnants of the Ice Army!"
Huo Shi said to the adjutant beside him.
"Yes, sir."
The adjutant replied.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Boom! Boom!
"Argh!"
Xue Hua and his men came under a fierce barrage. They gave their lives to buy Xue Xing and the others five minutes.
"Send a message to Father. Your son, Huo Shi, has fulfilled his duty. The Ice Clan remnants in Frost Flower City have been completely wiped out."
Huo Shi said to the adjutant.
"Yes, sir."
The adjutant replied.
An hour later, at Xueling Mountain.
"Which unit are you with? Who's your commanding officer?"
As soon as Xue Xing and the others reached Xueling Mountain, they encountered a three-thousand-man unit. One of its soldiers asked them the question.
"I'm Xue Xing, company commander of the Fifth Company, Third Battalion, 27th Regiment, Second Brigade, Third Division, 15th Army, the Frost Flower City garrison. Which unit are you with? Who's your commanding officer?"
Xue Xing asked.
"So you're friendly forces. I'm Leige, a duke newly appointed by the new king, Xue Li. Company Commander Xue Xing, did you break out of Frost Flower City?"
Leige said.
Leige had led three thousand soldiers on a forced march for hundreds of miles. They had reached Xueling Mountain, two hundred miles from Frost Flower City.
"Why should I believe you're a duke appointed by Xue Li?"
Xue Xing asked, watching Leige.
"Because of this!"
Leige said.
With that, Leige took out the token Xue Li had given him.
"This subordinate pays his respects to Your Grace. Reporting to you, sir: I led the brothers of the 15th Army in fighting our way out of the Flame Army's encirclement. There are now only a little over a hundred of us left."
Seeing Leige display his token, Xue Xing hurriedly knelt halfway and saluted.
"At ease."
Leige said.
"Thank you, sir."
Xue Xing replied.
"Who else among you is from the 15th Army?"
Leige asked the soldiers behind Xue Xing.
"Reporting to you, sir. I'm Xue Ren, deputy platoon leader of the Second Platoon, First Company, Third Battalion, Eighth Regiment, Third Brigade, First Division, 15th Army."
An officer in a deputy platoon leader's uniform stepped up beside Xue Xing and answered Leige.
"Sir, I'm a deputy squad leader in the Second Division. There's only one squad left in the entire Second Division."
Another officer in a deputy squad leader's uniform came over to Xue Xing.
"Brothers of the 15th Army, you've worked hard. We're the vanguard sent by His Majesty to recapture Frost Flower City. The 300,000-strong army personally led by His Majesty is right behind us. Brothers of the 15th Army, are you willing to join us in taking Frost Flower City back from the Flame Army?"
Leige said to Xue Xing and the others.
"Reporting to you, sir. I'm willing."
Xue Xing answered, taking the lead.
Xue Li was right behind them. Wasn't this the perfect chance to prove himself? Xue Li had only just ascended the throne and didn't yet have many capable people at his disposal. If Xue Li saw how bravely he fought, perhaps he would take him as a trusted aide. If he then pledged his loyalty to Xue Li, luck might even earn him the title of earl.
"Yes!"
Xue Xing and the others replied.
At 14:00, Frost Flower City.
"What happened here?"
Seeing the devastated city, Huo Shi asked the garrison soldiers as he returned with his men.
"Reporting to Your Highness, at 13:00 we were attacked by Ice Clan bombers. Nearly fifty thousand brothers were killed, and more than sixty thousand were wounded, both lightly and seriously. Fortunately, His Majesty drove off the Ice Clan air force. He's now discussing matters with the generals in the underground command center."
A general answered Huo Shi.
"Damn Ice Clan! This time, our clan must wipe them out completely."
Huo Shi said.
After speaking, Huo Shi headed straight for the underground command center.
Underground command center.
"Your Majesty, I recommend that our army immediately launch an attack on Ice City."
A Flame Clan general said.
"Your Majesty, I agree."
Another Flame Clan general added.
"Your Majesty, I believe our army has marched a long way to attack the Ice Clan, and our supply lines have already stretched too far. Besides, Ice City is the Ice Clan's royal capital. It was built over several generations of Ice Kings and is as solid as a rock. If we besiege it for too long without taking it, we may not have enough provisions and pay to sustain the army. We should fortify Border City and Frost Flower City first, then attack Ice City once we've gathered enough provisions and funds."
A Flame Clan general said.
Ice King Xue An was dead. There was no one left among the Ice Clan who could match him. Even if Ice City was as solid as a rock, he could easily breach it. "Pass down my order: the army will set out at 18:00 to attack Ice City. We will wipe out the Ice Clan in this battle!"
Huo Yi said.
In his view, Xue An, the only Ice Clan member who could stand against him, was dead. Now, no one in the entire Ice Clan—or rather, on the entire Ice Flame Planet—could match him. Once the Ice Clan was wiped out, the Flame Clan would be the planet's only race, and he, Huo Yi, would be its sole king.
At 18:00, Xueling Mountain.
"Move out!"
Leige shouted to the assembled Ice Clan soldiers.
Frost Flower City.
"Soldiers, once we wipe out the Ice Clan, the entire army will get two months' leave. You'll continue to receive your pay during those two months. Wipe out the Ice Clan! Long live the Flame Clan!"
Huo Yi shouted to the more than four hundred thousand Flame Clan soldiers gathered before him.
"Long live the Flame Clan! Long live His Majesty!"
"Long live the Flame Clan! Long live His Majesty!"
The Flame Clan soldiers shouted.
"Move out!"
Huo Yi shouted.
After giving the order, Huo Yi led more than four hundred thousand Flame Army soldiers straight toward Ice City.
20:00.
"Sir, scouts have spotted a large number of Flame Clan soldiers heading toward Ice City. They'll pass through Snow Condense Valley in thirty minutes."
A signalman came over to Leige and reported.
"It looks like the Flame Clan is planning to take Ice City directly. Relay the order: bring the rear to the front. The entire army will head to Snow Condense Valley and lie in ambush."
Leige said.
Thirty minutes later, Snow Condense Valley.
"Sir, the Flame Clan's vanguard has entered the valley. Should we attack?"
Xue Xing asked Leige, watching the Flame Army vanguard enter the valley.
"Tell our brothers to let the Flame Army vanguard pass. We'll attack their main force."
Leige said to Xue Xing.
"Yes, sir."
Xue Xing replied.
Fifteen minutes later.
"Attack!"
Leige shouted.
Rat-tat-tat!
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Ice Clan soldiers rained rifle and machine-gun fire down on the Flame Army's central ranks.
"Father, we've walked into an ambush. What do we do?"
Huo Shi said to Huo Yi.
"Warriors of the Flame Clan, follow me and fight our way out!"
Huo Yi said.
After shouting, Huo Yi led the soldiers toward the valley entrance through a hail of bullets.
"Xue Ni, the Flame Army is heading for the valley entrance. Order the mortar company to fire. The heavy machine-gun company must spare no ammunition—fire with everything you've got."
Leige said to Xue Ni over the radio.
"Yes."
Xue Ni's voice came through the radio.
"Xue Xing, come with me."
Leige said to Xue Xing.
After speaking, Leige flew swiftly toward the valley entrance where Xue Ni was stationed.
"My lord, wait for me!"
Xue Xing said.
After speaking, Xue Xing also flew toward the valley entrance with all his might.
"Company Commander Xue Ge, order the mortar company to fire!"
Xue Ni said to Xue Ge, the mortar company commander, over the radio.
Boom, boom, boom!
Dozens of mortars launched their shells.
Boom! Boom!
Aagh!
The Flame Army troops heading for the valley entrance were blown to pieces by the shells, suffering countless casualties.
"Warriors of the Flame Clan, don't be afraid! Follow the king—we'll fight our way out!"
Huo Shi shouted.
After shouting, Huo Shi led the charge toward the valley entrance, and the Flame Army soldiers pressed on through the shellfire.
"Order the heavy machine-gun company to open fire. Don't stop without my command."
Xue Ni said to the officer beside him, watching through binoculars as the Flame Army soldiers charged toward the valley entrance five hundred meters away.
Rat-tat-tat!
Splut!
Hundreds of Flame Army soldiers five hundred meters away were shot dead or wounded in an instant.
"Quick, find cover!"
Huo Yi shouted.
"Father, there are Ice Clan heavy machine gunners up ahead. We can't break through!"
Huo Shi said to Huo Yi.
"Damn it! You wretched Ice Clan—die! Chain Fireball!"
Huo Yi roared.
Huo Yi fired several fireballs toward the Ice Clan heavy machine gunners.
Boom!
Rumble!
The fireballs exploded just before reaching the heavy machine gunners.
"Warriors of the Flame Clan, charge through and wipe out the Ice Clan!"
Huo Yi shouted.
Seeing the fireballs explode, he assumed the Ice Clan heavy machine gunners had been killed.
Rat-tat-tat!
Splut!
The Flame Clan soldiers had only charged two hundred meters before the Ice Clan heavy machine gunners shot hundreds of them dead or wounded again.
"Damn it! Blazing Prairie Fire!"
Huo Yi roared.
Huo Yi fired a wave of energy at the Ice Clan heavy machine gunners.
"Fla-me Im-pact Wave!"
A red energy wave slammed directly into Huo Yi's Blazing Prairie Fire and pushed it back.
"Who are you?"
Huo Yi asked, looking at a child three hundred meters away.
"I'm Frieza's adopted son, Leige."
Leige said.
"You're Frieza's adopted son?"
Huo Yi asked.
"That's right, I'm the prince. Scared? If you are, then get lost!"
Leige said.
"The most I'll have to do is pay Frieza a few tens of thousands of taels of gold and hundreds of thousands of energy stones after I kill you. Whoever takes Leige's head gets a hundred taels of gold. Attack!"
Huo Yi said.
"Whoever takes this Flame Clan member's head gets ten taels of gold. Attack!"
Leige shouted.
"Bastard! I'll kill you myself!"
Huo Yi roared.
He had offered a hundred taels of gold for Leige's head, and Leige had offered just ten for his. It was an insult—a tremendous insult. If he could stomach that, he wouldn't be Huo Yi.
"You son of a bitch! Let's see who kills whom!"
Leige roared back.
Bang!
Leige and Huo Yi rushed at each other, their fists colliding.
The soldiers of the Ice and Flame Clans also clashed.
Bang!
Huo Yi punched Leige in the face.
Smack!
Leige sent Huo Yi flying with a swipe of his tail.
"Chain Fireball!"
Huo Yi fired five fireballs at Leige.
Boom!
The five fireballs struck Leige head-on and exploded.
"Try not to be so arrogant in your next life."
Huo Yi said.
Whoosh!
Aagh!
An energy beam pierced Huo Yi's left arm.
"How can you be completely unharmed?"
Huo Yi asked, staring at Leige.
"Don't you know the saying, 'Where there's smoke, there's no damage'?"
Leige said with a smile.
Bang!
After speaking, Leige rushed up to Huo Yi and punched him, sending him flying more than a hundred meters.
"Damn it! Xue An is dead. I'm the strongest king on Ice Flame Planet! Why? Why can't I beat a child?!"
Huo Yi roared.
Huo Yi charged at Leige again. He had to kill him.
"Today, I'll teach you that there's always someone stronger."
Leige said.
Bang!
Their fists collided again.
"Blazing Prairie Fire!"
Huo Yi shouted.
Huo Yi fired a powerful wave of energy at Leige.
"I'm done playing. Go meet Yama! Fla-me Impact Wave!"
Leige said.
Leige also fired a red energy wave at Huo Yi.
Boom!
The two energy waves collided. In the end, Leige's Flame Impact Wave overwhelmed Huo Yi's Blazing Prairie Fire and forced it back.
Boom!
Aagh!
Huo Yi was swallowed by Leige's Flame Impact Wave, leaving not even a trace of him behind.
"Father!"
"Leige, I'll kill you!"
Huo Shi shouted at Leige, watching Huo Yi disappear into the Flame Impact Wave.
After shouting, Huo Shi charged toward Leige.
"Crown Prince, you're in danger! Don't go!"
A Flame Clan general shouted urgently as he watched Huo Shi charge at Leige.
Bang!
Leige punched Huo Shi away.
"Rav-age-ous Blast!"
Leige fired dozens of energy blasts at Huo Shi, and the blasts swallowed him whole.
"Crown Prince!"
The Flame Clan general shouted, watching Huo Shi disappear into the energy blasts.
"Surrender and live. Resist to the bitter end and die!"
Leige shouted from the air.
Bang!
Before you continue