Chapter 2076: The Dynasty's Fall

These fleeing Leaders now all understand that the Eastern Dynasty has been completely defeated and there is no army left to resist the Death Legion.

When the Eastern Dynasty will fall depends on the Death Legion's marching speed; it will be when they reach the Royal City.

Thus many soldiers on the road simply fled. However, what they did not expect is that the Royal City at this moment is about to erupt into battle.

Ye Tiandao has already sent people to infiltrate the Royal City, to learn about the city's garrison and the remaining Martial Cultivator forces of the royal family, and to make targeted arrangements.

Many major forces within the Royal City, upon learning the next day that the royal family's last army had been annihilated, immediately began to flee the city.

Although the Death Legion is still a month's march from the Royal City, no one knows whether they will send a full army to charge straight ahead. So many people began to withdraw from the city one after another.

Even many members of the royal family began to flee one after another.

Ye Tiandao immediately decided to launch an attack amid the chaos. He sent scouts to enter the city, to provide support and open the gates.

However, the Royal City's garrison surprisingly surrendered without a fight.

Ye Tiandao could not spare any concern for them and led his troops straight to the Royal Palace.

The few remaining strong ones in the Royal Palace came out to meet the enemy, only to encounter those Martial Cultivator masters who had been marked with Slave Seals by Ye Liuyun.

After several rounds, both sides turned the Royal Palace into utter ruin.

The soldiers of the Sharp Blade Corps also seized the momentum and stormed into the Royal Palace.

The East Sea King still wanted to resist a bit longer, ordering his men to defend with all their might.

In the past two days he had just begun sending some of his offspring to the Central Region in batches; most important royal members had not yet left, resources had not been transferred, and he was unwilling to simply hand everything over to the Death Legion.

But the combat power of these people was nothing compared to the Sharp Blade Corps. The Sharp Blade Corps cut a swath from the main gate of the Royal Palace, turning the interior into a river of blood.

Ye Tiandao personally led a squad to the Treasure Vault, blocking the royal family members who were preparing to move the resources. Without a word, he opened fire and seized all the resources.

The battalion of Sharp Blade Corps soldiers, without Ye Tiandao's command, were utterly ruthless; regardless of surrender or not, they kept killing all the way to the Royal Palace's Grand Hall.

The East Sea King stood at the Grand Hall's entrance, originally hoping that some Martial Cultivators inside the Royal City would lend a hand.

But until the Sharp Blade Corps reached the Grand Hall, no one inside the Royal City had stepped forward to help.

The East Sea King also knew the Eastern Dynasty was completely finished. Not wanting to become a prisoner under the stairs, he led his companions and charged toward the Sharp Blade Corps.

He was also a Martial Cultivator of the Seventh Realm, but was struck by several other Seventh Realm Martial Cultivators in a combined attack; after two rounds he was pierced by a spear, and then a soldier beheaded him with a single slash.

When Ye Tiandao arrived, all the royal family members had already been slaughtered by the Sharp Blade Corps.

Ye Tiandao had no choice in this; after all, the East Sea King still wanted to resist a bit.

However, she did not occupy the Royal Palace; instead she ordered the soldiers to quickly clear the battlefield, and after looting the resources, she left a squad to guard the palace entrance, then immediately withdrew to the garrison outside the city, waiting for Ye Liuyun to bring a large army to take over the Royal City.

Just before leaving the city, she had someone plant the Death Legion's banner on the highest tower of the city wall.

These days the Royal Palace has remained vacant.

Many city dwellers have never entered the Royal Palace in their whole lives. Yet even out of curiosity, no one dares to scale the walls; no one knows whether the Death Legion left any guards inside.

Moreover, the Royal Palace is suffused with a chilling blood scent, eerily silent; anyone without any strength does not dare to enter.

Ye Liuyun ordered Xiao Yunfang to lead troops and rush ahead with him to the Royal City.

Yu Xiaofeng and He Lian Xiu each commanded a large army, advancing alternately according to the original plan, sweeping through each city one by one, and steadily pushing toward the Royal City.

Pei Yong led his troops at the rear, reorganizing the surrendered soldiers and handling the garrison issues across the regions.

Li Xingrou and several defeated Leaders rushed back to the Royal City overnight; upon seeing the Death Legion's garrison outside the city and the banner on the gate, they realized the Royal City had already been occupied.

"It's over! The Royal City is occupied, the dynasty has already been destroyed!"

Everyone was stunned.

"Don't know whether the Father King is dead or alive?" Li Xingrou also worried about the East Sea King's fate.

"Then what should we do? Keep fleeing forever, or surrender?" someone asked.

This is also the realistic problem they must face.

"The dynasty is gone, where can we escape to? Even the border regions belong to the Death Legion! I don't want to be a wanted person for life!" someone immediately said.

"If we surrender, will they just kill us outright?" another person asked anxiously.

"Probably not; the war is over, why would they kill a few of us?" someone reasoned.

They argued, while Li Xingrou gazed at the Royal City, pondering what to do next—return to the Profound Heaven Sect or go find Ye Liuyun?

For a moment, she couldn't decide.

Suddenly, she noticed that the people behind her were motionless.

She turned around, and those people were all looking at her.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

The several Leaders glanced at each other, all showing a troubled expression, and no one spoke.

"Do whatever you want, you don't have to worry about me! The dynasty is gone, you don't need to be blindly loyal. I understand your feelings!" Li Xingrou said openly.

"Sorry, Princess. The few of us need to surrender; we can't go empty‑handed. Perhaps you can still secure a sliver of hope for us!" one Leader said, since the others remained silent.

"You want to hand me over to the Death Legion? You..." Li Xingrou was so shocked she could not finish speaking.

It is said that people act not for themselves, but heaven punishes and earth destroys; yet these people's faces changed far too quickly!

Li Xingrou could only give a wry smile, feeling that, as a princess, she was actually no better than an ordinary person!

"Let's go! I will grant you freedom!"

Li Xingrou said, and headed straight toward Ye Tiandao's garrison.

The Leaders, though feeling remorseful, had to sacrifice the princess for the sake of their own lives.

They surrounded Li Xingrou and followed her, still fearing she might suddenly flee.

As soon as they reached the garrison entrance, they were immediately surrounded by Sharp Blade Corps soldiers.

Ye Tiandao received a report and promptly ordered them all to be temporarily bound, then reported to Ye Liuyun.

Upon hearing the news, Ye Liuyun could only laugh and cry, and said to Ye Tiandao:

"Li Xingrou was the one I deliberately released in Fengyuan City. I didn't expect that she would be sent back to me in this manner."

Alright! The mess I caused, in the end I still have to settle it myself. Treat Li Xingrou well, let her wait for me to come over. Those few Leaders who sold their master for glory—just kill them all!

"Yes!" Ye Tiandao replied, personally going to untie Li Xingrou.

"The master said to let you stay here temporarily, wait for him to come over!" Ye Tiandao said to Li Xingrou.

Li Xingrou also nodded. She now feels disheartened, thinking it's safer to stay with Ye Liuyun instead.

Ye Tiandao then waved his hand at his subordinates again: "Kill them!"