Chapter 2692: The Disgrace of the Tiandou Empire_1
```
Several days later, the reinforcements from the Tiandou Empire Palace finally barely arrived at their destination...
But the scene that met their eyes made them gasp in shock...
"According to the message, weren't these supposed to be crisscrossing mountain ranges? Why... Why has it become like this, nothing but ruins!"
"Look there, it seems these mountains have collapsed due to some reason. It's hard to imagine, had we arrived here a few days earlier, wouldn't we have been buried!"
"It's terrifying. I wonder how the troops stationed here fared!"
"Hmph, how could these mountains collapse out of nowhere? I bet it was done by someone with a grudge, probably the same individuals who attacked our Sky Dou Empire Soldiers!!"
"Everyone search around, maybe, there are still people in the vicinity!"
Indeed, after searching the area, they found those Tian Dou Empire Soldiers who had miraculously survived...
However, upon closer observation, one would notice that each of them had suffered injuries to some extent...
This must have also been why they couldn't return to the imperial palace...
One of the soldiers, clutching his severed arm, exclaimed excitedly, "You've finally come!"
Hearing this, the man leading the reinforcements turned his gaze to him and asked, "I recall His Majesty the Emperor had dispatched quite a few men to garrison this place? How come there are only so few of you left?"
The soldier's expression instantly turned desolate, and he clenched his fist, "The rest... including the captain have all fallen!"
Upon receiving this response, the man sympathized but still said, "You, tell me everything that happened here!"
The soldier nodded and began, "It went like this: our whole team was stationed between these mountain ranges when we were repeatedly attacked by soul beasts!"
"With the casualties mounting, we had no choice but to hide in the mountains..."
"But the soul beasts' sense of smell was too keen; they found us soon after and cut off all our escape routes! We were forced to fight them."
"Right then, the sky erupted with a huge bang, and the mountains began to collapse one after another. Most of the soldiers didn't manage to escape in time and fell into the abyss, only a few of us barely survived!"
After listening to this explanation, the man nodded thoughtfully, "I see..."
"So it seems, the mountain collapse was indeed someone's doing!!"
And the reason was the sudden roaring sound that had risen up...
He then ordered, "This matter concerns the face of the Tiandou Empire and must be reported to His Majesty the Emperor. Join our squad; we're returning together!!"
"Yes!!"
And like that, the reinforcements led the injured men back the way they had come...
They didn't choose to stay, for the mountains had already collapsed, and it was impossible to carry out His Majesty's orders...
Remaining in this place was just a waste of time!
Moreover, they might be attacked by soul beasts again!!
...
Tiandou Empire Palace Great Hall!
Xue Ye was discussing something with the ministers present...
Suddenly, the great doors were flung open, and a Tian Dou Empire Soldier hurriedly rushed in...
After reaching the front, he bowed and said, "Report... Reporting to His Majesty the Emperor, I have an urgent matter to report!"
Xue Ye, seated on the throne, showed displeasure and scolded, "Why such panic? Don't you know the rules of the imperial palace?"
The soldier swallowed hard and said, "Since the matter is urgent, I beg for Your Majesty's forgiveness!!"
Xue Ye harrumphed coldly, "Speak, what's the urgent matter!!"
The rest of the ministers were also confused, casting perplexed glances...
The former took a deep breath and began, "Your Majesty, it's regarding the Tian Dou Empire Soldiers you sent to guard those mountain ranges, almost all of them have been sacrificed!!"
```
Xue Ye's pupils suddenly contracted, "How could this be, didn't I send reinforcements? Just some soul beasts, it shouldn't have led to a situation like this!"
The other Daijins also expressed disbelief...
One after another, they demanded, "What exactly happened, speak clearly!!"
"That's right, we thought there would be minimal losses, but for things to develop to such an extent!"
"Hmph, it's probably because the mountains where the soul beasts dwell are simply teeming with them, leading to such great damage!"
The soldier shook his head and denied, "No... no, Your Majesty the Emperor, esteemed Daijins, these soldiers did not perish at the maws of soul beasts, but due to those mountains that suddenly collapsed!!"
"Going by the deductions from the lucky soldiers who survived, this incident appears to be someone's sabotage!!"
Enraged, Xue Ye violently punched the throne, "Damn it! Do they really think the Tiandou Empire can be bullied?"
First, a sudden attack, and now, the triggering of a mountain collapse...
This was tantamount to grinding the face of the Tian Dou Imperial Family, and his own as the emperor, into the ground...
In the face of his rage, the Daijins immediately bowed their heads and tried to soothe him, "Your Majesty, please calm your anger!!"
Xue Ye glared at them, "Calm my anger, how can I possibly calm down? When have I, Xue Ye, ever suffered such humiliation!!"
With those words, the entire Imperial Palace Great Hall fell into a strange silence…
No one wanted to become the target of his anger under such circumstances, so silence was the best choice!
It took several minutes for Xue Ye to gradually calm down...
"Issuing my command, let the entire Tiandou Empire be on full alert, every foreigner must be thoroughly investigated!!"
No matter how he thought about it, he felt this incident was very likely the work of another empire!
But without evidence, this was all he could do!
The other Daijins then breathed a sigh of relief, recovering from their intense suffocation...
The soldier gave a slight nod, "Yes, Your Majesty the Emperor!"
Just as he was preparing to leave to convey the order...
Xue Ye spoke again, "Right, make sure to summon the Crown Prince here, and if possible, that Xu Sheng by his side!"
"Yes!!"
As the soldiers left the Great Hall, the Daijins couldn't help but show a puzzled look...
Who was this Xu Sheng mentioned by His Majesty the Emperor? Why invite him to the Great Hall with such courteous language...
As if seeing through their thoughts, Xue Ye said coldly, "What? Are you curious about the identity of Xu Sheng?"
The Daijins exchanged glances and then all nodded in unison...
They really wanted to know, who exactly was Xu Sheng!
Xue Ye spoke again, "However, you may be disappointed, this Xu Sheng is just a child from an unknown village in Farnos Province."
With such an explanation, all the Daijins were even more confused...
Since Xu Sheng was just a poor kid from a small village, how could he have caught the favor of His Majesty the Emperor?
It made no sense from any perspective!!
But seeing that Xue Ye had no intention of continuing, they did not feel it was appropriate to inquire further...
...
...
...