Chapter 278: No One Obeys the Command

Chapter 278: Chapter 278: No One Obeys the Command

Yi Xiaoyao was helping the Great Chu Dynasty to repay a debt of gratitude. The safety of the Great Shang Dynasty, however, was what he truly cared about.

Upon hearing this, the King of Chu said, "Yi, please rest assured. Although the Great Shang Dynasty’s situation is dire, it has not yet reached the brink of destruction like my Great Chu."

Yi Xiaoyao felt a sense of relief.

Just as the King of Chu was about to explain the details of what had happened to Great Chu and Great Shang, a scout rushed in from outside the hall with a report.

"Report! The armies of Great Yuan and Great Jin are at our borders! The Grand General was leading our forces when he was ambushed by several enemy Nascent Soul Realm experts. He has fallen in battle! The fortress of Hanliu City is on the verge of being lost!"

The King of Chu’s expression changed drastically. "What? The Grand General has already fallen?"

Immediately, the King of Chu thought of Yi Xiaoyao, who was standing beside him. He said, "Yi, I’ll explain the matter concerning the Great Shang Dynasty later. The situation on the battlefield is critical. I must ask you to lend us your aid!"

"I will follow your arrangements."

Yi Xiaoyao nodded. Since the Great Shang Dynasty was not in immediate danger, he would naturally have to deal with the Great Chu Dynasty’s crisis first.

The King of Chu immediately appointed Yi Xiaoyao as the new Grand General, tasking him with leading the army to the front lines.

...

On the border of the Great Chu Dynasty stood Hanliu City, a key fortress. If it were to be breached, the enemy army could march straight in and pour into the heart of the Great Chu Dynasty.

At this moment, a great, dark mass of an army had completely surrounded Hanliu City.

Inside Hanliu City, the retreated experts of Great Chu were working together to sustain a City Defense Array. Outside the Grand Array, a multitude of enemy Nascent Soul Realm experts hovered in the air, relentlessly launching terrifying attacks against it.

The disparity between the two sides was obvious. Outside the city, the forces of Great Yuan and Great Jin had nearly a hundred Nascent Soul Realm experts. Inside, Great Chu had only a few dozen. In terms of troop numbers, Great Chu was at an even greater disadvantage.

If not for the City Defense Array, Hanliu City would have fallen long ago.

Under the relentless bombardment, the City Defense Array was now shaking more and more violently. It began to flicker, threatening to give out at any moment. It was clear it wouldn’t hold for much longer.

"Haha! You cowards of the Great Chu Dynasty! The moment we break this Grand Array will be the day you die!"

The enemy experts outside taunted wildly as they continued their frenzied assault on the Grand Array.

Inside the Grand Array, everyone, from the common soldiers to the powerful experts, was ashen-faced. Despair was etched on every face.

But just then, a piece of news arrived that ignited a spark of hope in all the people of Great Chu.

"Reinforcements have arrived! It’s the new Grand General personally appointed by His Majesty King Chu!"

"A new Grand General? Although hope is still slim, at least we can hold on a little longer!"

Everyone began to speculate hopefully. Could this new Grand General be some reclusive master who had never before made an appearance?

After all, nearly every expert in Great Chu was already gathered here to defend Hanliu City. The only person who could possibly appear now with the title of Grand General would have to be a hidden master.

The next moment, a black-robed youth seated atop a colossal War Beast appeared in their sights. He was leading a large Great Chu army, pouring into the city through the rear gate.

"Who is that? Why is the one leading the army just some kid, eighteen or nineteen years old?"

"He’s so young. What kind of power could he possibly have?"

"Look at him. I doubt he’s ever even killed a man. And His Majesty King Chu appointed *him* Grand General?"

"Exactly! How could the position of Grand General be handed over to some nameless nobody!"

When the crowd saw Yi Xiaoyao, an uproar ensued. The spark of hope ignited by the news of reinforcements was instantly extinguished, replaced by an even deeper disappointment.

Everyone thought the King of Chu must have been driven mad to make such a decision.

The enemy experts outside the Grand Array noticed this as well, and their mocking laughter filled the air.

"What, has Great Chu run out of men? Sending a greenhorn like this to his death!"

"You fools, what are you even holding out for? Hurry up, drop your resistance, open the Grand Array, and put yourselves out of your misery!"

These smug taunts drove the people in the city to the height of fury, but they were powerless to fight back.

And so, they could only vent their frustrations on Yi Xiaoyao, who had just arrived.

"Kid! Hand over the Grand General’s Seal and get out of here!"

The one who spoke was an elder at the Ninth Layer of the Nascent Soul Realm. He was one of the Great Chu Dynasty’s hidden trump cards. But in this situation, even with all their trump cards on the table, it was not enough to change anything.

The others also began shouting angrily at Yi Xiaoyao. "What’s the use of His Majesty King Chu sending a useless brat like you? Did he send you here to humiliate us?!"

’In their eyes, a youth this young could have only just begun his Cultivation. It was impossible for him to possess any real power; his presence here was utterly useless.’

’For the King of Chu to send this boy to command them... what could it be but an insult?’

Yi Xiaoyao had only just entered the city when he was met with these furious, vented shouts. His brow furrowed slightly.

He couldn’t be bothered to argue with them, however. He simply issued a command to everyone in the city: "Take down the Grand Array!"

Hearing this command, everyone in the city paled.

’Take down the Grand Array? Is he telling us to give up and die?’

Instantly, the crowd’s enraged shouts toward Yi Xiaoyao grew even fiercer.

"He really is a clueless kid! If we take down the Grand Array, not only will we be sent to our deaths, but Hanliu City will be instantly overrun!"

"This kid isn’t just clueless, he’s an idiot! We don’t have to listen to his orders!"

"If I weren’t tied up supporting this Grand Array, I’d kill that brat myself just to quell my rage!"

Not a single person obeyed Yi Xiaoyao’s command.

The hundred or so Nascent Soul Realm experts outside the Grand Array roared with laughter. "Your Grand General ordered you to take down the array! Did you hear him? You’re all going to die sooner or later anyway. Might as well follow his orders and get it over with!"

Yi Xiaoyao was already annoyed that no one in the city was obeying him. Now, seeing the sneering faces of the enemy experts outside, he let out a heavy snort.

"I told them to take down the Grand Array not so they could die, but so I could kill *you*!"

His voice, laced with Spiritual Power, exploded in everyone’s ears. Those with weaker Cultivation were all sent reeling, spitting up blood from the shock.

The next moment, Yi Xiaoyao leaped into the air and shattered the City Defense Array with a single punch.

SWISH!

An unearthly, crimson sword light flashed into existence.

In the wake of that sword light, more than a dozen enemy experts were instantly decapitated.

The remaining Sword Qi swept on with undiminished momentum, slashing toward the other Nascent Soul Realm experts.

"What!"

"How is this possible!?"

"Who is he!"

The Nascent Soul Realm experts from the Great Yuan and Great Jin dynasties watched as more than ten of their comrades were slain by that single sword strike before they could even react. One by one, they cried out, their faces etched with horror.

...