Sneak Into Yumen Pass! Capture The Pass!

Offstage, Zhao Kuanying's excitement was palpable. Seeing Zhou Linglong's reaction, he felt his chance to gain favor with the empress had arrived.

"Haha!" Zhao Kuanying laughed inwardly. He was the only one who had stepped forward, relieving the empress from her predicament and showing his willingness to tackle the problem. Surely, this would earn him the empress's gratitude.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty! Zhao Kuanying will definitely eliminate the traitor Orion! I will uphold the law of the country!" Zhao Kuanying proclaimed with enthusiasm. As the youngest Half-Saint in the Great Zhou Dynasty, he was confident that capturing Orion would be straightforward.

He envisioned that success would not only secure the empress's trust but also pave the way for him to gain her favor, possibly leading to even greater rewards—perhaps even ruling alongside her or transforming the Zhou Dynasty into his family's domain.

However, Zhao Kuanying was too absorbed in his own aspirations to notice the disdainful looks from the other courtiers.

"Wu Guogong was highly respected, but how did he end up with such a foolish son…"

"It's fortunate he's only a semi-saint; he must have been obsessed with martial arts to the exclusion of common sense!"

"But let Zhao Kuanying go ahead and see for himself. Maybe he'll uncover the true nature of the Zhenbei King's forces!"

With a mix of pity and amusement, the courtiers watched as Zhao Kuanying led 200,000 Imperial Guards to support Yumen Pass.

At Yumen Pass, the Shadow Guards were unmatched in skill, with even the lowest-ranked members being Martial Emperors. Infiltrating the pass was a simple task for them.

"Ying Mo, you go first and scout the enemy commander's location. Meanwhile, seize the city gate and destroy the giant crossbows if possible," Yu Xiang instructed.

"Understood," Ying Mo replied coldly.

Yu Xiang transformed into a garrison officer and slipped into the pass, while Ying Mo and his team began their mission. His resolve was firm—this was his first task from the Lord, and he intended to execute it flawlessly.

"Ying Yi! You lead two teams to destroy the giant crossbows on the city walls. The rest will follow me to take the city gate. Success is our only option!" Ying Mo commanded.

The Shadow Guards dispersed into the shadows, their movements swift and silent.

At the city walls, the defenders were on high alert, focused on the threat outside the pass where Orion's massive army of 100,000 was positioned. Soldiers were nervously gripping their weapons, sweat pouring down their faces.

Unbeknownst to them, danger had already infiltrated their defenses.

The Shadow Guards struck with precision. They swiftly eliminated the soldiers operating the giant crossbows, rendering the weaponry useless. Their coordinated attacks dismantled the ballistas across the city.

When the defenders finally noticed the intruders, chaos ensued.

"Enemy attack!" a soldier shouted, and the city erupted into disarray. Cries of alarm and pain filled the air.

"Quickly! Attack the city gate hub!" Ying Mo urged, increasing his pace. The hub was crucial, guarded by elite soldiers and a formidable general.

General Wu Zong, a seasoned martial artist, confronted the intruders with bravado. "How dare you come here!" he declared, though his words faltered as he saw the cold flash of blades.

In moments, the general and his soldiers fell, their throats slit with a precise strike. Ying Mo, emerging from the shadows, wiped his blade and ordered, "Open the city gates and welcome the Lord."

Inside the pass, the defending forces were led by Li Shun, a powerful Wuzong.

"I never expected the so-called waste, Orion, to come this far," Li Shun admitted, fear creeping into his voice. The name of Orion, once dismissed as insignificant, now posed a significant threat.

His lieutenant attempted to reassure him. "General, we've requested imperial reinforcements. We just need to hold Yumen Pass. With 50,000 defenders and our fortifications, we can withstand Orion's 100,000 troops."

But as the deputy general spoke confidently, reality soon contradicted his assurances.

"The city gate has been breached!" a bloodied captain reported in terror.

"What did you say?" Li Shun demanded, disbelief evident in his voice.

The captain, struggling to catch his breath, confirmed the dire news. "Men in black infiltrated the pass. They were destroying the crossbows and have now opened the city gates for Orion's cavalry!"

Li Shun felt a wave of panic. The realization hit him hard: Orion's forces had breached the pass, a disastrous turn of events.

"General… should we withdraw?" the deputy general suggested, his voice trembling.

"Withdraw?!" Li Shun was overwhelmed. The defeat was crushing, and the scale of Orion's power was terrifying.

He finally understood why Li Weiming and his 100,000 troops had been defeated. Orion's forces were an unstoppable force.