Fan Ning, a towering figure, appeared as an iron tower from a distance. In his hand was a divine artifact, the Sky-Shattering Hammer, which possessed tremendous destructive power!
The power of the divine artifact transformed into a storm, overwhelming the eastern city gate in an instant. The solid city gate trembled violently under the might of the artifact, leaving behind massive indentations from the hammer strikes.
Besides the hammer, there was an indestructible city-breaking spike.
"Blood Dragon Steel, Submerged Dragon Wood, this city-breaking spike is from Daqian!"
Zhang Cheng's eyebrows knitted tightly.
The city gates of the Imperial City were forged from Wanlian Steel, over ten zhang thick.
The divine siege cannon left only a small mark on it, but the damage caused by the Sky-Shattering Hammer was far more terrifying.
The crucial point now was that he only had a million in the Forbidden Army, and even with the other troops, the number wouldn't exceed two million. They simply could not go out to fight, they could only watch the attack unfold.
"Man! Man! Bring the armor-piercing crossbows to shoot!"
The divine siege cannon couldn't hit Fan Ning beneath the city wall, only the armor-piercing crossbow could. However, while the armor-piercing crossbow could pose a threat to those with divine abilities, Fan Ning was a half-step god, his mana was incredible.
Tons of crossbow arrows flew out, but a thick layer of mana shield condensed on Fan Ning's body, bouncing off any arrows that hit it.
"Your Highness, aid me!"
He had to wield the Sky-Shattering Hammer and fend off crossbow arrows, draining his mana rapidly.
"Sky-Shattering Palm Seal!"
King Wei Wu was indeed a formidable half-step god. He gathered his momentum and condensed it into a palm seal that blew away the incoming arrows, reflecting them back towards the wall.
The Forbidden Army suffered heavy losses in that instant.
Zhang Cheng's face darkened.
The most terrifying part was that they didn't have a half-step god on their side who could fight against King Wei Wu and Fan Ning. They could only watch helplessly as the city gate was being destroyed.
The key issue was that Chu Yuan was not presiding over the central command, he was only the commander of the Qinglong Camp, unable to mobilize the troops of the other seven camps.
"Damn it, with the emperor absent, we can't activate the city's defense formation. If we had that, using it as the foundation, we could use every sort of heavenly thunder and earthly fire formation, they wouldn't have been so arrogant!"
Zhang Cheng's eyes remained fixed on Fan Ning, who was wrecking the city gate.
The city defense array was a grand formation that protected the Imperial City. The previous emperor started its construction when the kingdom was founded. It was capable of defending against inferior divine artifacts.
However, once the defense array was activated, the consumed energy was enormous. The control was entirely in the hands of the emperor. This was why King Wei Wu chose this time to siege the city.
"Being passively attacked , we're at a disadvantage, and our men can only watch as they bombard the city wall."
Hong Yun expressed his worries.
"I understand your point. Order the Ministry of Works to reinforce the city gate. Ha! As for the tough defense of the Imperial City, it was planned and constructed by the previous emperor and me. Even if they have divine artifacts or city-breaking spikes, they'll never break through within dozens of days. Especially the city gate, it contains plenty of Meteorite Fine Gold."
Zhang Cheng remained calm, "But there's one thing I'm worried about."
"You're worried that when the emperor comes back with his troops, he'll be trapped outside. By then, with the beasts of the Wan Beast Mountain Range attacking from inside and outside, we're done for!"
Hong Yun shuddered, finally grasping King Wei Wu's cruel plan.
So, he intended to cut off the emperor's retreat, and sieging the city was just part of his plan.
"Commander Hong, that's exactly what I worry about. However, all we can do now is to hold the city."
As Zhang Cheng watched the battle below, he reasoned, "With my million-strong Forbidden Army, the city will not fall. The emperor will return soon. King Wei Wu, you and the other rebellious lords, prepare your necks for the confiscation of property and extermination of your families!"
"Confiscate my property and exterminate my family?" King Wei Wu became furious upon hearing Zhang Cheng's shout, "After Dawu's demise, don't kill Zhang Cheng. I will deal with him myself, to let him see who will be the last one to have their property confiscated and family exterminated!"
"Kill! Reward the brave!"
"Death to those who retreat a step!"
"After the city falls, loot as you wish!"
King Wei Wu issued the order across the battlefield.
Immediately, the tidal wave-like army again launched a fierce attack.
"Loot and execute clans? If that's the case, King Wei Wu, I shall fulfill your wish and show you."
At this moment, it was as if coming from the depths of the void, a terrifying dragon power swept across, within the infinite thunder, a colossal dragon appeared.
"Purple Scale Thunder Dragon!"
Upon seeing the Purple Scale Thunder Dragon, King Wei Wu was initially shocked, then laughed: "As the sovereign within the Mountain Range of Beasts, you have also come. Seeing me laying siege, do you wish to partake of this feast as well? I can cooperate with you. After the matter is done, you can freely choose from the royal treasury."
Upon seeing the Purple Scale Thunder Dragon, he became reassured.
"Who do you think you are? I am now King Dawu of Dragon Might!" the Purple Scale Thunder Dragon disdainfully stated.
"King Dawu of Dragon Might!" King Wei Wu almost instantaneously, saw an imposing figure atop the Purple Scale Thunder Dragon's head, incredulously saying: "Chu Yuan, how could it be you? You're actually back!"
"Correct, I have returned." Chu Yuan indifferently stated.
At this moment, his appearance seemed to freeze time, and the great battle at the east city gate actually halted momentarily.
"Long live the Emperor, His Majesty has returned!"
Zhang Cheng and Hong Yun looked at Chu Yuan standing atop the Purple Scale Thunder Dragon's head, as if regarding a divine emperor. Especially his boundless presence, which made the two of them feel incomparably small.
"The Forbidden Army has worked hard, the two commanders have done meritorious service in defending the city, and there are also millions of soldiers. After I quell the chaos, I will reward each according to their merits."
Chu Yuan slowly stated.
"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
The million soldiers defending the city cheered excitedly.
"Purple Scale Thunder Dragon, what exactly is going on? The king of the fierce beasts, you unexpectedly pledged allegiance to Chu Yuan?"
King Wei Wu's eyes were locked onto the Purple Scale Thunder Dragon and Chu Yuan, completely bewildered.
"The strength of His Majesty is unimaginable to you all. As the saying goes, good birds choose good trees to nest. I, King of Dragon Might, serving His Majesty is in accordance with the Heavenly Dao."
The Purple Scale Thunder Dragon stated.
"Although I don't know what's going on, even if you've become the King Dawu of Dragon Might, it still won't change the outcome!"
King Wei Wu suddenly flew into the sky, confronting Chu Yuan, his great presence recklessly unleashed, he roared: "The battles today must result in a resolution, my greatest advantage is the absolute suppression of peak experts!"
Indeed, his side has more pre-God-invading experts, while Chu Yuan has none.
"King Wei Wu, enough talk. Just kill this Dawu emperor and exterminate Dawu!"
The sky shook, vast flaming clouds surged out, and instantly a figure appeared, who was also pre-God-invading expert.
"King Da Qian of Blazing Fury." Chu Yuan stated.
As expected, King Wei Wu colluded with the strong of Da Qian.
"First kill the Purple Scale Thunder Dragon, then behead the little emperor!"
Shangguan Qingyun and Li Yun also flew out, shouting loudly: "Originally if you stayed put you would have a little more time to live, but since you're being stubborn, today is the day your nation will fall!"
Just in the blink of an eye, five formidable pre-God-invading experts dominated Chu Yuan with an overwhelming presence, and also hundreds of other Divine Abilities experts also flew into the high sky.
"Hear me, assist His Majesty!"
With a roar from Zhang Cheng, the million-strong Forbidden Army prepared to march out of the city, providing direct support to Chu Yuan.
"Depending on sheer number?"
The Purple Scale Thunder Dragon snorted a breath of dragon, sneered contemptuously.
"Convey my order, King Wei Wu privately conspires, General Shangguan Qingyun, Prime Minister Li Yun betrayed the country and sided with the enemy, eighteen provincial lords besieged the Imperial City, these are all capital crimes!"
Chu Yuan's sovereign voice echoed through the void.
He waved his hand, and a hundred thousand soldiers of divine martial arts power suddenly appeared on the battlefield, mixed with numerous faction experts, he hastily ordered: "Death to all!"