Ch. 1573 - Ancient Dragon God-Empire Arrives, War Begins

Before the dragon ships even arrived, the roar of dragons was already echoing across the land.

Just the sheer force and pressure of their presence alone made it clear that before a single blow was exchanged, the Ancient Dragon God-Empire held the advantage.

As countless dragon ships emerged from the void, a booming blast followed. The sky shattered completely, and the massive fleet burst through the torn space. The oppressive might pressing down on the True Martial Sacred Ground left everyone trembling like cicadas in winter.

Wang Hengzhi and the elders looked up at the sky. One by one, they fell silent.

“The Thirty-Three Million Dragon Ships of the Ancient Dragon God-Empire… The entire Red Dragon Army is here.”

“This Ocean Dragon Prince really thinks highly of us. He actually brought all of that. He truly intends to leave the True Martial Sacred Ground with no path to survival.”

“Sect Master, what do we do?” someone asked, panic showing on their face.

The Red Dragon Army was the strongest military force of the Ancient Dragon God-Empire. Rumor had it that wherever they marched, lands fell and no enemy could stand in their way. Their reputation spread fear across the entire empire.

And that wasn’t all. Every soldier of the Red Dragon Army cultivated a combined battle technique. Each soldier could transform into a single dragon scale, and together they could merge, becoming a living, breathing true dragon, capable of sweeping across armies.

On the foremost of the thirty-three dragon ships stood Ocean Dragon Prince, wearing a robe of imperial python gold. His eyes were sharp and fierce.

Beside him were two elders, one dressed in black, one in white. These were the Black-White Twin Fiends, two famed God Meridian cultivators of the Ancient Dragon God-Empire.

The True Martial Sacred Ground’s strongest remaining ancestor was merely a withered God Meridian cultivator nearing the end of his life. How could he possibly fight the Twin Fiends, whose blood and vitality were still at their peak?

With the Red Dragon Army descending, they truly left no path of survival.

…

Ocean Dragon Prince stepped into the air, hovering above the True Martial Sacred Ground. He looked down on them with arrogance and pride.

“People of the True Martial Sacred Ground, have that Yan Pingfan come out to see me.”

Hearing his words, Wang Hengzhi finally reacted.

“Right, where is Young Master Yan?” he asked quickly.

“Father, you only remember him now?” Deng Linyu stood beside him. Her eyes were red, as if she had cried. “When I woke up this morning, he was already gone. We must have disappointed him… He must have left.”

“He left…” Wang Hengzhi murmured, stunned.

“You always sided with the ancestor, but now that the army is at our gates, where is your ancestor?!” Deng Linyu asked resentfully.

“Mind your manners,” Wang Hengzhi snapped.

He turned to the Grand Elder. “Go bring Willow Ancestor out of seclusion.”

“The old ancestor has been sealed in slumber… I don’t know how long he can still endure,” the Grand Elder sighed.

He glanced up at the Black-White Twin Fiends. In his heart, he knew, even if Willow Ancestor emerged, he would be giving up the last of his life for nothing. It would not solve their crisis.

Wang Hengzhi sighed heavily.

“I’ll go find the ancestor,” he said.

He wasn’t referring to Willow Ancestor. He meant Xu Zimo.

There was no other choice now. In a moment like this, strength was strength, if you had it, you had it. If you didn’t, no trick could replace it.

…

On the mountainside where Xiao An'an lived, she slowly opened her eyes. She had just broken through to the God Meridian Realm.

Her entire body radiated like a sword aimed at the heavens, sharp and unstoppable. In the distance, a mountain peak a hundred meters away was sliced clean in half by her sword intent and collapsed.

Xiao An'an was overjoyed. She hadn’t expected her restored True Martial Sword Physique to allow her to advance at such incredible speed. In only a few days, she had reached the God Meridian Realm.

But she also felt that the higher she climbed, the more resistance she encountered. Progress was no longer smooth; it grew harder and required more time.

She understood she had been pushing too fast. She would need to stabilize her God Meridian before she attempted to charge toward the Grand Emperor Realm, a realm that even in the Ancient Dragon God-Empire was reserved for elites.

She flew down toward the lower mountainside, eager to share the good news with Xu Zimo.

But at that moment, Xu Zimo was sitting in his wheelchair, eyes closed. His breath fluctuated, sometimes strong, sometimes faint, and a soft glow pulsed around him, brightening and dimming like a heartbeat. It was a strange, unfathomable state.

Xiao An'an stayed quietly beside him, not daring to disturb him. She simply watched.

“Ancestor looks so young…” she smiled. “People say those who look young are actually ancient monsters who’ve lived millions of years. I wonder if that’s true.”

“Hm? What are you mumbling about?” Xu Zimo’s voice suddenly sounded.

Xiao An'an nearly jumped out of her skin.

She quickly stepped back and then forced a smile. “N-Nothing. Imperial Ancestor, I… I broke through to the God Meridian Realm.”

“That’s normal,” Xu Zimo said. “Breaking into the God Meridian wasn’t your own merit, it’s the power of the Sword Physique. If you can break into the Saint Sovereign Realm, then you’ll be proving yourself.”

“I… I understand. I’ll work hard,” Xiao An'an said immediately.

Xu Zimo nodded slightly, eyes lifting toward the sky.

“What are you looking at, Young Master?” she asked.

“Your sect master. He should be arriving soon,” Xu Zimo said. “Come, push me to the sect gates.”

Xiao An'an nodded. As a God Meridian cultivator now, she could clearly sense the powerful aura gathering at the entrance of the sect.

Wang Hengzhi’s figure was rapidly approaching through the air.

She pushed Xu Zimo down the mountain. As they reached the foot, Wang Hengzhi rushed over.

“Ancestor, where are you going?” he asked.

“What do you think?” Xu Zimo replied.

Wang Hengzhi immediately understood. He dropped to his knees.

“Imperial Ancestor, please save the True Martial Sacred Ground. We descendants are incompetent. Our strength is insufficient, and our failures have brought disaster upon the sect.”

“This disaster isn’t your fault,” Xu Zimo said. “The True Martial Sacred Ground was destined to be destroyed. In contrast, you and your master rebuilt the sect in its darkest hour. That shows your sincerity.”

“Ancestor sees clearly,” Wang Hengzhi said.

“Come. Let’s go wipe out this Ancient Dragon God-Empire,” Xu Zimo smiled.

They walked forward. Xu Zimo’s pace was unhurried, though Wang Hengzhi was almost frantic, terrified the sect wouldn’t hold out.

Xu Zimo waved a hand and smiled. “Sect Master Wang, don’t rush. The sky won’t fall.”

“Yes… but I can’t help worrying. It’s in my nature,” Wang Hengzhi said bitterly.

At last, the group arrived slowly at the sect gates.

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