Betrayals and Defections  

Zhang Wen's tragic death did not dampen the fighting spirit of the Feathered Forest Guards and the remaining ministers.

However, they all understood that if any of them were carelessly drained by Dong Zhuo, it would place tremendous pressure on their own ranks.

The loyal ministers hesitated to advance.

"My lords, please retreat for now," the Han Emperor's mild voice carried over.

As his words fell, the twelve golden guardians took up positions in front of the ministers.

"Your Majesty!" The elderly ministers were deeply moved.

Even the stalwart Feathered Forest soldiers had tears welling in their eyes.

Of the twenty-six emperors since the Han dynasty's founding, Liu Xie could hardly be called an enlightened sage-ruler. But at the very least, he deserved to be described as 'benevolent'. Benevolence was the rarest quality in an emperor.

The twelve golden guardians sprang into action. With no thought of defense, they fought like madmen, inflicting wounds in exchange for wounds in a struggle to the death!

The Han ministers were stunned. In their hearts, their emperor was an exceptionally cultivated man of mild temperament.

Yet he had adopted such a frenzied battle strategy, reminiscent of the deceased brutal King of Chu next door?

But to the Han ministers' delight, the twelve golden guardians, who cared not for sustaining damage, were perfectly suited to such tactics.

"Little brat Liu Xie! This old man... will tear you into shreds!"

Having just 'recovered' from devouring Zhang Wen, Dong Zhuo had only a moment of satisfaction before being suppressed by the twelve golden guardians.

He usually took care to preserve his body. But in such a life-or-death struggle, the more he tried to preserve himself, the more beleaguered he became.

The twelve golden guardians had previously held their own against the combined might of Cao Cao, Liu Bei, and Sun Quan. Now, exchanging wounds for wounds, their battle prowess rose to even greater heights.

Soon, Dong Zhuo sustained several new injuries. The Devouring Demon Technique proved ineffective against the golden guardians, as they did not possess life essence or blood for Dong Zhuo to absorb.

"There's a chance for victory!" The Han ministers watched the battle with pounding hearts.

Could His Majesty really slay Dong Zhuo?

The revival of the great Han seemed possible!

As the ministers were marveling at this, they suddenly heard a series of violent coughs. The Han Emperor Liu Xie was actually coughing up blood.

"The burden... is so heavy?" Liu Xie lamented bitterly. Wielding the Imperial Sword of Qin to command the twelve golden guardians had exacted an immense toll.

When the guardians sustained damage in their wound-for-wound fighting to keep battling, the Imperial Sword would automatically draw spiritual energy from its wielder to repair them.

Liu Xie had his spiritual energy drained, just as Dong Zhuo had drained Zhang Wen.

"I must persevere! As long as Dong Zhuo lives, I cannot fall!"

As he steeled his resolve, he noticed Dong Zhuo retreating step-by-step, eventually turning to flee from Weiyang Palace!

"Congratulations Your Majesty, you've driven off the traitor Dong!" an elder minister cheered.

Liu Xie froze for a few seconds before his expression turned grave.

"Dong Zhuo still lives - how can there be cause for celebration? Two armies clash beyond the palace. Could Dong Zhuo be fleeing to further enhance his demonic cultivation?"

The ministers were aghast at his words. The two warring armies outside numbered tens of thousands of cultivators!

"Quickly, pursue the traitor Dong!"

At the Honglu Temple...

Fan Li remarked with a strange look, "Does Dong Zhuo's Devouring Demon Technique require devouring even Golden Core soldiers?"

Princess Changli shook her head. "An incomplete demonic art forced to devour indiscriminately - one in ten attempts might succeed at best. If Dong Zhuo hopes to enhance his power by devouring to overcome my father's twelve guardians, his best targets are the generals."

Fan Li gasped in realization. He could barely see the situation within Weiyang Palace. But outside, he could make out the powerful figures like Lü Bu, Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Sun Quan.

From afar, Fan Li witnessed a massive black shadow descending upon Cao, Liu and Sun. It was Dong Zhuo!

The three reacted swiftly, fleeing at the last possible moment before being engulfed by the black shadow.

"Too close!" The same thought ran through their minds simultaneously.

Dong Zhuo emerged from the black shadow, his expression turning ugly as he looked from the approaching Han Emperor's party to the wary Cao, Liu and Sun.

"You three hid yourselves well..." Like a lion hunting a rabbit, he had used his full power in that sneak attack.

Cao, Liu and Sun had narrowly evaded it, but they had still escaped.

"If I could devour just one of those three heaven-blessed by imperial destiny, I could instantly turn the tide," Dong Zhuo pondered. But the opportunity had slipped away.

"Lord Chancellor?" came Hua Xiong's voice from behind Dong Zhuo. "What should we do about the current situation?"

To Hua Xiong and the Xiliang troops, Dong Zhuo's retreat from Weiyang Palace signaled an unfavorable situation on the battlefield.

What to do?

A cold glint flickered in Dong Zhuo's eyes. "Lü Bu! Hua Xiong! Li Jue! Guo Si! All of you, come here. This old man has something to say."

At Dong Zhuo's command, Hua Xiong, Li Jue and Guo Si obediently approached. Only Lü Bu remained rooted in place, staring at Dong Zhuo in horror, as if he had guessed his intentions.

"Rebellious son Lü Bu, this old man will deal with you later," Dong Zhuo saw through Lü Bu's thoughts, knowing that no matter his orders, Lü Bu would not approach him.

"Chancellor, please instruct us on what to do now..." Hua Xiong asked again as he stepped forward. But before he could finish, it was as if the heavens darkened and he plunged into a bottomless abyss.

Li Jue and Guo Si had the same experience. Completely unprepared, the three were instantly devoured by the Devouring Demon Technique. Dong Zhuo's ferocious absorption left no trace of the three generals in this world.

"My unfilial son Lü Bu..." Feeling his surging power, Dong Zhuo's ambition to usurp the throne swelled again. "Your father commands you to lead the entire Xiliang army and hold off Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Quan and the Feathered Forest Guards. Your father must make one final stand against Liu Xie. To send him to the West..."

But as Dong Zhuo finished speaking, he heard commotion from the Xiliang troops behind him.

"He fled! He fled!"

"General Lü has fled!"

"Our lord killed three generals and even scared off General Lü. What are we to do?"

Fiendish demons have never been tolerated in this world. Dong Zhuo devoured his own trusted generals before the entire Xiliang army.

He knew the impact would be detrimental, but never imagined it would lead to Lü Bu deserting mid-battle and the complete collapse of army morale.

"Let's flee too!" Someone's shout started it.

The notoriously vicious Xiliang troops, known for their brutality, scattered like birds and beasts outside Weiyang Palace.

"Damn it! All who betray me shall die!"

Enraged, Dong Zhuo unleashed the full power of the Devouring Demon Technique on the fleeing Xiliang troops.

The scattered crowd seemed enveloped by a massive curtain, even the night itself pressing down upon them.

Without their commanders' leadership, the Xiliang troops offered no effective resistance as their own lord devoured them all.

"Hahaha! I should have done this sooner! Rather than lead you to conquer the realm, it's better for you to become part of my strength! At last, I've crossed the threshold of the third level of the Great Vehicle realm!"

And so the entire Xiliang army was annihilated. Except for one man. Technically, he was not considered part of the Xiliang troops, having only recently joined Dong Zhuo's side. Marquis Wen Lü Bu fled at full speed toward a certain direction.

"What is he trying to do?" Fan Li's face twitched as he watched Lü Bu fleeing towards the Honglu Temple.

With three thousand Golden Core palace guards under his command, plus Princess Chang Le by his side, he did not fear Lü Bu alone.

Lü Bu charged into the Honglu Temple, knocking aside a squad of guards trying to block him, yet not killing them. Before more guards could surround him, he dropped to his knees before Fan Li with a 'thud'.

"Why doesn't Marquis Wen flee the city instead of coming to me?" Fan Li asked in exasperation.

He regretted asking as soon as the words left his mouth. For Lü Bu choked out, "I've been drifting through life..."