The Chu Mountain City, which had existed for an age, was vanishing bit by bit at a speed visible to the naked eye.
At this moment, there was no trace of clouds in the sky above Chu Mountain City.
The scorching heat and vast amounts of thermal energy had burned the sky a fiery red.
At times, one could clearly see wisps of black toxic smoke drifting from the sky and spreading everywhere.
Countless plants, trees, cattle, sheep, and even sturdy buildings were gradually melting under the scorching heat of the earth fire.
Innumerable living beings let out pained cries under the burning flames.
This unbelievable scene stunned everyone inside and outside Chu Mountain City.
As soon as this giant fire vein, which had erupted in rebellion, breached the surface, it spewed out endless flames and magma, burning everything flammable in its vicinity.
...
In the face of this heavenly might, the vast Chu Mountain City was like an ant encountering a flood, utterly powerless.
Although Chu Mountain City was filled with abundant spiritual energy and a considerable number of cultivators, including six Nascent Soul stage powerhouses at this time, they were helpless against the seemingly endless earth fire and magma.
They could only watch as Chu Mountain City was burned away piece by piece.
"Pfft..."
As the person in charge of Chu Mountain City at this moment, Chu Le, witnessing this scene of hellfire, was so infuriated that he suffered a backlash of qi and blood, spitting out a mouthful of blood that dyed his chest crimson.
"What a villain, what poisonous methods."
"What are the lives of tens of millions worth in your eyes?"
Chu Le's old face was terribly contorted, his hair disheveled, as if he had gone completely mad.
Several hours later, the giant gaping hole that had emerged from the ground continued to spew out fiercely burning, endless earth fire and magma, as if it would never stop.
Most of the things in Chu Mountain City had been utterly destroyed.
Under such a catastrophic, heaven-sent disaster, even the Chu family, with their profound foundation, could not hold on for much longer.
At this moment, the only things not yet consumed by the earth fire were the city walls surrounding Chu Mountain City.
The Chu family cultivators standing on the city walls, although not yet engulfed by the flames, showed an unmistakable expression of despair in their eyes, from the highest echelons to the lowest.
Even the six Nascent Soul stage powerhouses were no exception.
The raging earth fire had become "irreversible," and the destruction of Chu Mountain City was a foregone conclusion.
Originally, as a first-class noble family, the Chu family, with their many years of accumulated strength, could have escaped.
However, outside Chu Mountain City, there was a fully prepared army of tens of thousands of cultivators led by Wu Tao.
...
Even if the Chu family members were to charge out of Chu Mountain City, they would not be able to escape the fierce assault of tens of thousands of enemy soldiers.
In fact, no matter what, the members of the Chu family could not escape the fate of death.
However, they still had the choice of how they wanted to die.
In the face of death, all beings, no matter how powerful, were equally insignificant.
Therefore, even the two to three thousand Chu family cultivators standing on the city walls, who still possessed the strength to fight and make a final stand against the enemy outside the city, had no heart for it anymore.
The Chu family had descended into chaos, even falling apart, with everyone harboring their own selfish thoughts.
Some individuals not of the Chu family bloodline had even begun to flee secretly.
...
Meanwhile, on the other side.
Thanks to the victory without a fight, Wu Tao's faction was in a stable, solid position, to put it simply.
With such stability, how could their morale not be soaring?
It could be said that the morale of Wu Tao's tens of thousands of cultivators was reaching an unprecedented peak.
A significant portion of the tens of thousands of cultivators conscripted by Wu Tao this time were not his true subordinates.
Instead, Wu Tao, in his capacity as a feudal lord, had assembled a joint army composed of disciples from various noble families and some of his own men.
...
They did not hold much loyalty towards Wu Tao.
In fact, originally, these individuals were full of ulterior motives, all planning to stay put and avoid battle when the city was attacked, showing no courage.
Even if Wu Tao personally gave the order, they would have repeatedly evaded, outwardly obeying but inwardly defying.
Of course, Wu Tao had never expected to break through Chu Mountain City with their help.
...
However, the situation had now changed, and their attitudes had shifted accordingly.
Now, seeing Chu Mountain City collapse without a fight and the battlefield situation looking so favorable, they were all eager to step forward!
Seeing that they could gain benefits without risking their lives, these people were now wholeheartedly trying to curry favor with Wu Tao.
Consequently, many of them eagerly flocked to Wu Tao, showering him with their solicitous attention.
Facing this situation, Wu Tao had yet to show any reaction, but Ji Mo, standing beside him, could no longer contain himself.
Ji Mo snorted coldly and said, "Back then, when we wanted these people to attack the city, they all shied away, slacked off, and refused to go."
"And now, seeing Chu Mountain City fall without a fight, and seeing the benefits, they've become so active."
"The Sect Master had already made preparations, and now that Chu Mountain City has fallen on its own, what use are these people here?"
Zhong Shan, standing beside him, replied with an unchanged expression and a smile, "It's not a bad thing that these people have become active. At least it will reduce some of our pressure..."
"After all, even facing the sudden calamity of the earth eruption, the Chu family's foundation would allow some people to escape."
"Against Chu clan cultivators who intend to perish together, these people can serve as both helpers and cannon fodder."
"Why not take such a suitable deal?"
...
Ji Mo snorted upon hearing these words but did not retort.
Clearly, he agreed with what Zhong Shan had said but was too proud to admit it openly.
...
Previously, Wu Tao and the other high-ranking members of the Ascending Immortal Sect had exhausted their minds and hearts, racking their brains to boost morale and inspire the troops.
However, in the face of death, all their methods seemed ineffective.
Therefore, most people remained indifferent, or even acted as they pleased.
But now, witnessing Chu Mountain City collapse on its own and the interests of the Chu Domain about to be redivided and reshuffled...
Seeing this clearly, they were like flies sensing blood, all eager to get a share.
Wu Tao naturally felt disgust towards these people, but he was also helpless.
Because these people constituted the vast majority, even Wu Tao could not afford to offend all of them.
As the saying goes, "harmony with the dust and light, rain and dew are evenly distributed, a decorated sedan chair is carried by everyone."
And this decorated sedan chair actually represented all the interests within the entire Chu Domain.
When this sedan chair had not yet taken shape, or when the possibility of its formation was slim, everyone avoided it.
But when they saw that this sedan chair had taken shape and had become magnificent and beautiful, everyone scrambled to carry it.
At this point, if Wu Tao accepted the goodwill these people were extending, the decorated sedan chair would naturally be lifted higher and higher.
But if he rejected their goodwill, he would likely encounter many people secretly tripping him, leading to unforeseen losses.
On the other side.
At this moment, Chu Xiong's emotions were at a point where they could explode at any moment!
Chu Xiong's nature was that of a beast that would never admit defeat, even when facing despair.
Now that he had regained his senses, he was like a furious beast.
In this situation filled with despair, the Chu family cultivators on the city walls dared not even meet his gaze.
Chu Xiong stood before Chu Le, staring intently at the somewhat dejected Chu Le.
If the current fragmented state of the Chu family cultivators was something the Chu family's higher-ups had to take responsibility for,
then Chu Le, who was currently in charge of the Flying Bear Army, bore the most responsibility.
His command lacked aggression, his strategy lacked flexibility, and his defensive arrangements were, to say the least, like a sieve.
Wu Tao's ability to infiltrate Chu Mountain City so easily was one of the best proofs of this.
...
Although his head was bowed, as a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, how could Chu Le not know that he was being stared at intently by his cousin Chu Xiong?
If it were in the past, he would have directly retorted under such a gaze; he also had his dignity.
Even if you are my cousin, what do you mean by staring at me like this!
But now, he had no spirit to respond, lacking the courage to fight back or to beg for mercy.
As the saying goes, when the heart dies, the lamp extinguishes, and all becomes empty.
Chu Le felt that he had lost everything and was powerless to struggle further.
He felt as if all of this was an incredibly terrifying nightmare.
He also knew that his current mindset was problematic. As a cultivator who had lived for hundreds of years, how could he not be aware of his current psychological issues?
But what could he do now?
With the earth fire raging behind and strong enemies blocking the path ahead.
Seeing Chu Le, who now seemed like a useless person, Chu Xiong also felt a pang of sadness.
After all, he remembered how wise and heroic Chu Le once was, even managing to subdue...
And now, he had been struck down to this state.
...
Thinking of this, Chu Xiong, who had been staring intently at Chu Le, finally made a move towards him.
(New book updates, seeking collection, recommendation tickets, shares, subscriptions. Support genuine works, come to Zongheng Chinese Network and help out, give more. Thank you, friends. Your support is my motivation!)