Chapter 479: Zhu Que Army Enters the City

As the morning light first broke, ten thousand rays of golden light poured down like molten gold, plating the majestic Lingguang Hall with a solemn and sacred brilliance.

In this quiet and grand halo, the entire palace complex seemed like an ancient giant beast that had just awakened, holding its breath and staring at the mountain gate square.

On the square, five thousand Zhu Que Army soldiers were arrayed like mountains.

They were clad in crimson armor, reflecting a suffocating iron-blooded luster under the morning light. Five thousand long spears pointed obliquely at the sky, the cold light of the spear tips connecting into a red ocean.

The solemn momentum and the biting aura of slaughter collided at this moment; the air seemed to freeze, and even the wind dared not pass through this steel forest.

At the very front of the formation, Song Weimin tried his best to suppress the surging excitement and that trace of uncontrollable nervousness in his heart.

He took a deep breath, scanned the five thousand determined faces behind him with eyes like torches, and then waved his arm, his voice exploding in everyone's ears: "Set off!"

The order was like a mountain; in an instant, five thousand soldiers simultaneously activated the spiritual energy in their bodies, and the next moment, five thousand crimson light pillars rose from the ground, rushing straight into the clouds!

The previously stationary phalanx instantly turned into a towering wave of fire; countless people flew into the air on swords, the flying swords under their feet emitting a uniform humming sound, like ten thousand dragon roars.

Song Weimin, under the protection of five Spirit Platform stage battalion commanders, flew in the front row. Five thousand soldiers followed closely behind, their steps in unison, turning into an unstoppable crimson torrent.

High in the sky, the thick clouds were torn apart, leaving only a red shadow that spanned the sky and lingered for a long time.

Looking from afar, the team was like a soaring fire dragon, like a meteor streaking across the sky, carrying an invincible momentum and solemnity, moving mightily toward the county seat of Nanxiang County.

"What happened?"

Such a massive movement instantly swept through the entire Nanxiang County and spread outward at a speed like a tsunami.

At this moment, within the jurisdiction of Nanxiang County, whether they were cultivators or ordinary people, everyone looked up at the sky at the first moment, watching the fire dragon fly across the sky.

"It's the Zhu Que Army!"

"Such a formation... such momentum..."

"It seems that today the Zhu Que Army is going to fully take over Nanxiang County!"

Some cultivators who were extremely sensitive to the situation looked at the Zhu Que Army formation that looked like heavenly soldiers descending, and their faces showed the expression of "what should come has finally come."

Some had rays of hope ignited in their eyes, while others lowered their heads to hide the panic in their eyes...

Wherever the Zhu Que Army passed, everything fell into an eerie silence, with only the sound of the red fire dragon flying through the sky hitting everyone's heart heavily.

At the same time, the county seat of Nanxiang County was still a scene of ordinary life. The marketplace was noisy, and the shouting of peddlers was incessant, until...

"Look!"

"What is that?!"

A cry of surprise and uncertainty abruptly pierced the noise of the street. Someone stopped abruptly, pointing at the sky in the southeast, their face horrified.

At first, it was just a very inconspicuous red light, but in just a few breaths, that red light actually expanded wildly like a prairie fire.

"The Zhu Que Army is here!"

The exclamation spread like a plague among the crowd; more and more people and cultivators stopped what they were doing, walked out of their homes, and looked up.

The previously noisy marketplace suddenly fell silent at this moment.

They saw that the originally weak red dot, under the gaze of the crowd, stretched and expanded rapidly, and in an instant, it turned into a majestic, fire-red long dragon spanning the sky!

The fire dragon carried rolling heat waves and a suffocating sense of oppression, crashing into the vision of everyone in the county seat with an unstoppable posture.

The originally clear sky was instantly dyed through by this solemn crimson.

"Is the Zhu Que Army coming to attack the county seat?"

Panicked whispers fermented rapidly in the crowd.

In the past, the Zhu Que Army had always passed by the county seat without entering, but today, the Zhu Que Army was clearly coming for the county seat.

"What attack?"

"Our Nanxiang County originally belonged to the Zhu Que Army."

A commotion began to appear in the county seat; ordinary people showed obvious panic on their faces, and even the cultivators had solemn expressions.

Inside the county government office, the atmosphere was suffocating.

Ji Huaice stood by the window, looking at the crimson torrent approaching in the sky, silent for a long time, finally turning into a heavy sigh: "This day has finally come."

The Zhu Que Army taking over the county seat of Nanxiang County, for the imperial family, what was lost was not just the governing power of a county; this was a breach in the dam—this meant the formal disintegration of imperial power.

It is imaginable that before long, other places will follow suit, and the Chu Dynasty will gradually step off the stage.

Ji Huaice looked at the cultivators in the county government office: "Let's go, let's go to the city gate together to welcome the Zhu Que Army into the city."

In a moment, Song Weimin led five thousand Zhu Que Army soldiers to hover outside the city gate of the county seat.

The dark army formation was like black clouds covering the sun, yet there was no noise at all. That majestic and solemn momentum surged into the city like a tangible tide, making the people feel both awe and an inexplicable sense of long-lost peace—that was the signal of the return of order.

"Look! It's Lord Song!"

In the crowd, I don't know who recognized that familiar figure first, and the joyful cry exploded instantly.

The panic and chaos that had previously permeated due to the army's arrival vanished in this short moment.

For the people of Nanxiang County, the name Song Weimin meant stability.

High in the sky, Song Weimin overlooked this familiar city, his gaze sweeping over the people looking up and cheering, his emotions surging.

After going around in circles, he was back again.

Song Weimin took a deep breath, forcibly suppressed the surging emotions in his chest, and waved his hand. The five battalion commanders behind him understood, and the five thousand Zhu Que Army soldiers began to land in an orderly manner.

No disturbance, no chaos, only suffocating discipline and iron-like majesty.

At this time, Ji Huaice had already led the cultivators of the county government office to the city gate in a hurry.

Ji Huaice knew Song Weimin.

Seeing the Zhu Que Army following Song Weimin's lead, Ji Huaice's heart shook violently—the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall really... knew how to choose and use people, actually finding Song Weimin to manage Nanxiang County!

"Lord Song, everything is well, I hope." Ji Huaice stepped forward, cupped his hands in salute, his tone carrying a bit of complexity.

Song Weimin nodded in return, then got straight to the point: "Lord Ji, by the order of the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall, starting from today, the Zhu Que Army officially takes over the county seat of Nanxiang County!"

The smile on Ji Huaice's face did not diminish, and he said unhurriedly: "Lord Song, as far as this official knows, Nanxiang City should be managed by the City Lord. Although Lingguang Hall has an transcendent status, logically it should also follow the orders of the City Lord's Mansion. Acting like this now, I'm afraid it's a bit... overstepping, isn't it?"

Song Weimin looked at him: "The City Lord's Mansion has not appeared, so Nanxiang County should be taken over by the Zhu Que Army. Besides, those things you mentioned are not for us to worry about."

Ji Huaice restrained his smile, his voice lowered, carrying a bit of probing and warning: "The City Lord's token of Nanxiang City is still missing. Has Lord Song ever thought that if this City Lord's token eventually falls into the hands of the imperial family, when the legitimate City Lord returns, how will you conduct yourself?"

Song Weimin's expression did not change: "This official only cares about the present. As for the future... let nature take its course." After speaking, he tilted his head slightly and gave a look to the five battalion commanders behind him.

In an instant, the Zhu Que Army moved like the wind, quickly and silently occupying all key points of the city gate.

Seeing this scene, Ji Huaice had no other reaction except silence.

The various forces hidden in the dark, witnessing the imperial family so easily allowing the Zhu Que Army to take over Nanxiang County, could not help but be greatly disappointed.

Many forces were counting on the imperial family and the Zhu Que Army to fight, so they could fish in troubled waters.

Who would have thought that the expected conflict did not appear, replaced by a near-perfect peaceful handover.

"The imperial family is quite forbearing this time."

Deep in the clouds, several Spirit Platform stage cultivators were discussing in low voices, their tone carrying obvious mockery.

"Even if they are powerless to stop the Zhu Que Army from entering the city, they should at least send some people to make trouble and create some movement. Why are they so cowardly?"

"How do you know they didn't send anyone? I'm afraid they sent them, but they didn't dare to make a move at all."

Someone sneered, raised their chin slightly, and pointed to the sky north of Nanxiang County.

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound, and saw a fire-red figure standing in the air where the sea of clouds surged.

That person was surrounded by crimson flames, like a scorching sun hanging in the sky—the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall!

Everyone who mocked the imperial family closed their mouths instantly. With the Hall Master of Lingguang Hall sitting in town, who would dare to move around?!