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Chapter 0: The Decision of the Wind Spirit
In the Tang Dynasty, Liangjing.
All the generals knelt in unison and saluted, "We pay our respects to Your Majesty, the Demon Lord. Long live, long live, long live!"
The Demon Lord had always firmly believed that they were the true royal bloodline. Thus, he was referred to as Your Majesty among the demon clan.
"Skip the formalities. What is the status of the battle? We just received news that we have breached Chang'an City. It won't be long before we capture it. Looking at your battered bodies, have you already taken Chang'an?" the Demon Lord demanded with authority.
The First Demon General, Heishan, had suffered severe injuries, with his body rotting in multiple places. If it weren't for his powerful cultivation and numerous magical artifacts to defend himself, he would not have escaped.
Heishan replied softly, "Reporting to Your Majesty, we indeed managed to breach Chang'an City."
"Oh? What do you mean by 'managed'?"
"But later we suffered a counterattack from the Tang army and ultimately could not hold our position."
"Once inside the city, it became close combat. Our demon clan's physical strength surpasses that of humans by several times; how could they possibly be our opponents? What exactly happened?" the Demon Lord asked angrily.
"Your Majesty, our army suffered a disastrous defeat," Heishan finally admitted.
The Demon Lord was shocked upon hearing this. "What? Where are my second-in-command and Third Brother? Why haven't they come to see me?"
"They... sacrificed themselves for the great cause of our demon clan."
"Even the generals have fallen in battle? Then tell me, how many troops do we have left?" the Demon Lord said coldly, an overwhelming aura of murderous intent surrounding him.
"This general has failed in leadership; please punish me for my crimes," Heishan said as he knelt under the pressure of the Demon Lord's wrath.
"Can a single word of innocence bring back the dead Soldiers?"
The Demon Lord was furious, but after a moment, he regained his composure and said, "Tell me about the Battle in detail."
Upon hearing Heishan's account, the Demon Lord was astonished. Even Jiang Wannian, who stood nearby, expressed his surprise, saying, "Is Tang Jiner insane? To win a war, she would destroy the entire Chang'an and obliterate thousands of years of history. Only a madman could do something like this."
"To exhaust the foundation of the Tang Dynasty and destroy the palaces of Chang'an is to perish together with my demon race."
The Demon Lord gazed toward the city of Chang'an and muttered to himself, "Such a method of slaughter. Even I did not anticipate it. Anyone who could conceive such a plan must truly be mad."
After finishing his thoughts, the Demon Lord closed his eyes and fell into contemplation.
Everyone watched him, not daring to breathe.
After a long while, the Demon Lord finally opened his eyes and said, "A weak woman can possess such great courage; we cannot underestimate humanity. When I think of my royal family, there are very few who can compare to her bravery."
Suddenly, the Demon Lord remembered Xiao Mi. She was undoubtedly someone who could be compared to Tang Jiner and was even superior to the current Princess Jian'an. Unfortunately, she had gone against her own will to prevent him from invading the Tang Dynasty.
Reflecting on the state of his demon army, which had suffered heavy casualties in the Battle thus far, only he and a single Demon General remained alive, with very few Cultists left.
"At this point, there is no retreat. It is either advance or die."
"Why haven't those from the Fire Departure Sect come to reinforce us yet?"
The Demon Lord looked out over the land that once belonged to his royal family—a land that had become unviewable for centuries. To leave it like this was utterly unacceptable.
He intended to become the master of this land.
Within Chang'an City, as the demon race and a few Barbarians retreated, the Tang army quickly repaired the city gates.
Tang Jiner walked through the city, her heart heavy as she gazed upon the many ancient palaces that had vanished. Tears streamed silently down her cheeks. Uncle Emperor followed closely behind her, his expression equally somber and silent.
"I have destroyed Chang'an; I have become a timeless sinner of the Tang dynasty," Tang Jiner said with a desolate smile.
Mo Mo, who was never good at offering comfort, couldn't help but speak up as she saw Tang Jiner's sorrow. "Princess, you had no other choice."
"The Imperial Aura has faded. The palaces are gone; can this great Tang still endure?"
Lin Feng led the Northern Frontier Army at a swift pace. At last, he spotted the figures of the demon clan and the Barbarians. With Armored Soldiers at the forefront, Lin Feng successfully captured the town, which had weak defenses.
"Where did you come from? How does the Tang army still have troops?" the Barbarian General exclaimed in surprise.
The answer came in the form of sharp feathers that severed his head from his body.
Lin Feng surveyed the town, observing the land of the Tang dynasty that had been ruthlessly trampled by the iron hooves of demons and Barbarians. The collapsed walls and houses, the pitch-black soil, blood splattered on the walls, and unburied corpses painted a grim picture.
Lin Feng had passed through this town on his way to the Northern Frontier, but now it was unrecognizable. War was merciless; it had destroyed everything.
"My lord, many of our Tang people are imprisoned here," Chen Guang shouted.
Lin Feng quickly strode over and kicked open the locked door. He looked into their fearful eyes, and a surge of anger welled up within him.
"Do not be afraid! We are soldiers of the Tang dynasty. You are saved; we will soon drive the demons from our land."
Once everyone was freed, they gradually calmed down from their panic. However, upon seeing their ruined homes, they were left bewildered and lost, unsure of where to go next or what direction their lives should take.
"The army will rest for an hour; make sure to take advantage of this time."
The Northern Frontier Army had traveled a long distance without rest, pushing forward day and night. They were already exhausted but sustained by sheer willpower until now.
With a command from Lin Feng, a chorus of snores filled the air. All the Soldiers collapsed to the ground, falling asleep without a care for their surroundings. One unfortunate brother even ended up next to a latrine. Lin Feng had to shift him slightly; otherwise, one roll could send him tumbling into the pit.
"My lord, you should take the opportunity to rest as well. I'll keep watch," Chen Guang suggested.
"My stamina exceeds that of ordinary people; I can endure. You should rest while you can."
"But my lord..."
"This is an order. Execute it."
"Yes."
Lin Feng unfolded the map. Their next target was Jishan County, a crucial grain-producing area likely guarded by heavy forces from both the demon race and the Barbarians.
An hour later, Lin Feng woke all the Soldiers and ordered them to set off immediately. The people of the Great Tang bid them farewell.
With an army of fifty thousand, they split into several groups and launched surprise attacks on the stationed troops within Jishan County. Among these forces were those focused on distraction, engaging in hit-and-run tactics—retreating when the enemy advanced and advancing when the enemy retreated. There were also key assault units led by Lin Feng and Chen Guang, delivering heavy blows to both the demon race and the Barbarians.
Most of the main forces of the demon race and Barbarians had been mobilized towards Chang'an, leaving only five thousand elite troops to guard Jishan County. If those five thousand soldiers gathered together, they would still pose a significant threat. However, under Lin Feng's command, once those five thousand Guardians were dispersed, they stood no chance against the Northern Frontier Army.
The Northern Frontier Army captured Jishan County with minimal losses, gaining control over the grain supplies.
Upon learning of the great victory at Chang'an, Lin Feng did not celebrate like other Soldiers; instead, he appeared even more solemn. The most formidable tactics from Chang'an had already been employed—what would they rely on next? Chang'an was in grave danger.
To buy time, Lin Feng personally selected some skilled individuals to form a Suicide Squad for rapid advancement, while Chen Guang remained behind to lead the main force in pursuit.
In the Wind Nation's grand hall.
"The demon race and Barbarians are truly ferocious. They have forced the Great Tang to exhaust its Imperial Aura; our situation is dire."
"The princess of the Tang Dynasty is quite ruthless, choosing to perish alongside the Barbarian army in such a manner."
"Everyone," the Wind Spirit interrupted their conversation. "I have called this meeting not to discuss the rights and wrongs of the battle between the Tang and the Barbarian. With the Barbarian forces about to conquer Chang'an, what do you think we, the Wind Nation, should do?"
The hall fell silent. The people of the Wind Nation had just emerged from internal strife and had recently battled against the Tang's Northern Frontier Army. Should they really go help their former enemies? It would be enough to stab them in the back.
A Divine General spoke up, "Your Highness, I believe the Barbarian forces are advancing rapidly. We need to strengthen our defenses now. As the old saying goes, it's better to be prepared than to suffer."
Another Divine General added, "Your Highness, whether the Barbarian is ruthless or not has nothing to do with us. Besides, the Tang isn't exactly innocent either. Let them both suffer losses; we just need to protect our own territory."
Mulan let out a few cold laughs. "I didn't expect such shortsightedness from both of you generals."
"We have always maintained good relations with the Tang. Even in battle, it does not harm the citizens of our nations because we are all human. The Barbarians are different; they are not of our kind. Wherever they go, they slaughter everything in their path. They even use countless innocent lives to forge a ruthless formation. This very formation is now being used to besiege Chang'an. Surely you have heard of it?"
"Our relationship with the Tang is like lips and teeth; if such a vile race is not eliminated and if the Barbarians replace the Tang, once they restore their Vital Energy, our Wind Nation will be their next target."
"Everyone understands this logic, but what if we mobilize our army against the Barbarians and take advantage of this opportunity for Da Zhou to burn us from behind? I've heard that this time, the death of the Wind Emperor was part of Da Zhou's conspiracy. Would Da Zhou really let such a good opportunity slip by?"
"Exactly! If death is inevitable on both sides, it’s better to live a little longer."
"Enough."
The Wind Spirit's words cut through the discussion like a knife. Everyone turned to her, awaiting her final decision.
The Wind Spirit's gaze was sharp as she surveyed everyone. "The Tang Dynasty is humanity's shield against the Barbarians and demons. If the Tang falls, our Wind Nation will face both the Barbarians and demons with Da Zhou lurking behind like a wolf. At that point, we will be utterly defenseless. If we do not save the Tang now, when we face destruction ourselves, there will be no one left to save our Wind Nation."
"I have decided to send troops to aid the Tang Dynasty and hope that all of you generals will lend me your support."
All the generals, whether they had previously agreed or disagreed, stood up at this moment and resolutely declared, "We are willing to follow Your Highness, regardless of life or death."
This was the Wind Spirit, the soul of the Wind Nation. At this moment, the Imperial Aura of the Wind Nation coalesced around her, significantly enhancing the Wind Spirit's cultivation.
"Good. Generals, return and prepare your troops. Time is of the essence; we will march in three hours."
"Understood."
The generals left one after another to make their preparations.
The Wind Spirit gazed in the direction of Tang Chang'an, murmuring to herself, "Lin Feng, you must wait for me..."
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