Defeat Zhou Linglong!

After assigning all the tactical orders, Yuan Zuozong took a deep breath, his eyes gleaming with fierce determination.

"Dragoons, heed my command!" he shouted.

"Yes, General!" came the thunderous response from his troops, their voices filled with iron resolve.

"Follow me to the city wall! We will annihilate every last one of them!" he roared, raising his Desert Silver Spear high. The polished blade glinted like a predator's eye, ready to strike.

"Charge! Kill them all!" he bellowed, leading the cavalry charge. The dragoons, mounted on powerful steeds, thundered after him in a unified wave, their cries echoing off the city walls like the howl of an approaching storm.

The soldiers of Da Zhou, still manning the walls of Chang'an, paled at the sight of Yuan Zuozong's advancing cavalry. Panic set in as they scrambled to load their siege weapons.

"Fire! Fire at will!" a desperate officer screamed, his voice barely cutting through the chaos.

Siege crossbows, aura cannons, and explosive spells were unleashed, a deadly barrage aimed at stopping Yuan Zuozong's onslaught. The sky filled with blazing arrows and searing energy.

But Yuan Zuozong was unfazed.

"Hmph, child's play!" He spun his spear in a wide arc, summoning a mighty gust of wind and sand. The spiritual force behind his weapon swelled into a massive spear of pure energy, hurtling through the air like a raging tempest.

Boom!

The clash of energy shattered the incoming attacks, sending shockwaves across the battlefield. The powerful barrage was obliterated, clearing the path for Yuan Zuozong and his men.

"Kill them!" the dragoons shouted in unison, their voices laced with deadly intent. They stormed the city walls, their blades gleaming, as they tore through the Zhou soldiers like a whirlwind. The broad expanse of Chang'an's walls—wide enough to race carriages—became a bloody battlefield. The thunder of hooves and the clash of steel drowned out the dying cries of the Zhou troops.

The Zhou soldiers, elite and hardened warriors, fought valiantly. They had survived the chaos outside the city, retreating only to make a final stand. Desperation lit their eyes as they realized escape was no longer an option. If they were going to die, they would take as many of the enemy with them as possible.

"Kill! For the Great Zhou! Long live the Emperor!" they roared, charging forward with wild abandon.

But no matter their valor, they could not match the sheer might of the Dragoon Army. The dragoons trampled their enemies beneath iron hooves, cutting them down without mercy. Those who didn't fall to the blade were crushed or thrown from the high walls.

The scene was one of utter carnage.

Meanwhile, above the city, the very fabric of the void trembled. A rift tore open, as if the heavens themselves were splitting apart. Moments later, figures emerged from the breach—Xu Chu and Emperor Qingyun, among others, materializing like specters from a nightmare.

Orion, observing the arrival of his most trusted warriors, grinned.

They carried trophies of their victory: the battered bodies of Zhou Linglong and the man in black robes. Emperor Qingyun held the limp figure of the black-robed man like a rag doll, while Xu Chu tossed Zhou Linglong to the ground as though she were nothing more than a broken toy.

"My lord, the mission was a success," Xu Chu declared, dropping to one knee before Orion. "Both enemy champions have been subdued."

Orion's grin widened. "Excellent work, Xu Chu! You've done well!" He turned to survey the fallen enemies, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. "These two put up a fight, but in the end, strength prevailed."

Xu Chu explained the fierce battle they had endured. Zhou Linglong, after awakening the Holy Emperor's body, had managed to hold her ground for longer than expected. But with the combined might of Xu Chu and Emperor Qingyun, her defeat was inevitable.

"Hah! Zhou Linglong was strong, but even she couldn't escape her fate," Orion remarked, amusement dancing in his eyes. "Well done, all of you."

Emperor Qingyun stepped forward, producing several glowing treasures from the man in black robes. "My lord, these are the spoils of war—immortal-grade weapons from the enemy's reserves."

Orion's eyes lit up. Immortal weapons—far superior to the imperial armaments he had encountered before. He greedily examined the treasures.

[Ding! Immortal-grade intermediate Daoist treasure: Jikun Pearl.]

[Ding! Immortal-grade intermediate Daoist treasure: Purgatory Blade.]

A flood of excitement washed over Orion as he reviewed the list. These immortal weapons were leagues above the imperial soldiers' gear.

"Bring them to me!" he commanded, his voice dripping with anticipation.

As he took hold of the weapons, a devious smile crept across his face. He turned to the black-robed man, now lying motionless on the ground.

"Oho! Look at this. Our dear benefactor is in bad shape, isn't he?" Orion's voice dripped with mock sympathy as he leaned down to inspect the man. "Bring me some top-grade healing pills—let's make sure our 'guest' is well taken care of," he said with a chuckle, the dark humor unmistakable.

The man in black robes flinched but remained silent, his once defiant spirit broken.

Orion's false kindness hid a much darker intention. The man could feel it, though his body was too weak to resist any further. His fate, like that of Chang'an and the Zhou Dynasty, was sealed.