A few days later, Xue Beng acted. He issued his first edict: to resist the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, all regional garrisons were to be abandoned, and the entire army concentrated in Binghai City.
Some accepted the decision—it was the only possible response. Others scoffed. Just days ago, he was swearing never to give up an inch of land; now, he surrendered so much territory.
Meng Shenji and the other three deans remained loyal, volunteering to escort the troops and resettle the civilians. Xue Beng denied their request, entrusting the task to Marshal Ge Long, knowing that Meng Shenji's compassion would ruin his plan. Only Marshal Ge Long, a diehard loyalist, would execute the order perfectly.
Yu Tianheng's army had already taken five cities. Today, they were resting in a small city called Cangmang City.
Yu Feng marveled at how easy the war had been—Heaven Dou Empire was helpless. Only sixteen cities remained before they reached Binghai City. It seemed they would finish their mission faster than Gu Ran, who was attacking Star Luo.
Yu Tianheng was cautious, sending scouts from the Speed Clan ahead to investigate.
"Know yourself and your enemy, and you'll never lose," Tianlin had said.
Bai Chenxiang, beautiful and graceful, led several Speed Clan disciples out to scout the next target city.
"Tianheng's next target is Ross City, a prosperous and beautiful place. I hope we can take it without bloodshed," Bai Chenxiang thought, but she felt uneasy.
Suddenly, she smelled a strong stench of blood. The blue sky turned crimson; flames raged ahead.
"This is... a city set ablaze by heavenly fire?" Bai Chenxiang gasped, speeding toward the city.
Inside, Marshal Ge Long stood on a rooftop, watching the fleeing residents. His heart was heavy, but he coldly ordered: "Kill. Spare only the old, weak, women, and children. Leave no resources—burn everything."
With his military acumen, he knew full well Xue Beng's intentions. If they killed everyone, the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's fury would be directed solely at Heaven Dou. But by killing only the able-bodied and leaving the weak, the enemy would gain no new soldiers, and would be forced to divert forces to care for survivors. This would increase Heaven Dou's chances.
Though Ge Long felt this would only delay their destruction, as long as he was marshal, he would obey the emperor's orders. Xue Beng had convinced him that time bought this way had a deeper purpose, and that Heaven Dou would one day prevail.
To the innocent civilians, Ge Long could only silently apologize—he was just following orders.
Bai Chenxiang entered the city, seeing terrified people and Heaven Dou soldiers killing wildly. Her eyes turned red with rage.
"Bastards! The Heaven Dou Empire is slaughtering its own people—are they mad?" she shouted, then heard a child's cry from a small wooden hut.
"Mommy, wuwu…"
A little girl's father had been killed; her mother lay dead, half-dressed, on the table, a soldier pulling up his pants, clearly just finished.
The woman had died with her eyes open, staring at her child. For a mother, what could be more important than her child?
The soldier glanced at the girl. "Stop crying, brat. Marshal said not to kill the weak. Blame your mother for being so weak—I only wanted to have some fun, but she died. If you keep crying, I'll kill you too."
"Mommy!" The girl, terrified, cried even harder.
Annoyed, the soldier raised his blade. "Didn't I tell you to shut up?"
He swung down, but Bai Chenxiang burst in, slicing his throat with her sword. "Animal!"
Her action drew Ge Long's attention. With all the city's soul masters gone, where did this soul emperor come from? He struck at the hut, smashing it to pieces, but Bai Chenxiang soared into the sky, clutching the girl, blood at her lips.
Had she not protected the child, she wouldn't have been injured.
"Oh, someone from the Speed Clan—here to scout, I suppose?" Ge Long said.
"Ge Long, are you insane? As marshal, not only do you not protect your people, you butcher them!" Bai Chenxiang accused.
Ge Long replied coldly, "You should blame the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect. You invaded our land. To resist, we must concentrate our forces. Even if we give up our land and people, we won't let you have them."
Bai Chenxiang was furious. "Shameless. When your empire was founded, you swallowed countless small countries. Did you ever commit such atrocities back then?"
"A small country can't compare to a great empire. 'Better to die with honor than live in disgrace'—that is the dignity of a great nation. Our people can die, even by our hands, but I will never let them become your people." Ge Long was domineering; he saw the lives of his people as assets of the nation.
Bai Chenxiang calmed, her eyes cold and murderous. She realized it was useless to talk to a fanatic.
"Fine, Ge Long. I can't save these people or kill you today, but I have a husband, brothers, master, and grandfather—you just wait to be torn to pieces."
She vanished, flying away with the child.
Ge Long didn't chase her. As a defense-type soul master, he couldn't catch an agility-type like Bai Chenxiang.