At this moment, Li Xiao and his companions were racing toward Chang'an, the capital of the Tang State. Each step, each horse's gallop, carried urgency. He needed to summon Tang's soldiers immediately. Counterattack. Revenge. Retribution against the State of Chen. That was his plan. His resolve.
And he had absolute confidence in the ancient gods. The moment they had intervened, assisting in the destruction of the Chen country, Li Xiao knew, deep in his heart, that survival for Chen was impossible. There was no path, no loophole, no chance to cling to life.
Then, suddenly, a massive, mysterious voice resounded within the sea of consciousness shared by Li Xiao and his companions. Deep, vibrating, echoing through thought and mind alike:
"Your wish has been fulfilled. Chen Guo has been destroyed."
"What?!"
Li Xiao and the others froze, exchanging wide-eyed, disbelieving glances. Was this… real? Could it be?
"True or false? When… when exactly was Chen Guo destroyed?" One of the guards swallowed hard, voice shaking. His disbelief was palpable. After all, it had been barely half an hour since the ancient gods departed. Barely. And now… news of the destruction of an entire state? It seemed absurd. Ridiculous, even.
If it weren't for the voice of the gods themselves, none of them would have believed such an impossible thing.
Chen Guo's State was formidable—stronger than Tang Guo itself. It held more than a million soldiers, had its generals, strategists, world items… and now, in mere moments, it was gone?
"It must be true. A god has spoken. If it says Chen Guo is destroyed, then it is destroyed. Absolutely. No mistake," Li Xiao's voice was calm yet trembled, a mixture of awe and excitement. His body quivered, betraying the depths of emotion surging through him.
"That's right. How could gods deceive us mortals?" one guard whispered, voice barely audible, as though speaking too loudly might shatter reality.
"Is it… really true? We should return to Chang'an immediately. See with our own eyes. Verify the news," another added.
"Yes. There's no point in arguing endlessly. Let's go. Chang'an awaits," said yet another.
The group, hearts pounding like drums, could barely contain their eagerness. Every second that passed felt like an eternity. The thought of reaching the capital and witnessing the aftermath filled them with nervous anticipation.
...
A full day later, Li Xiao and his companions finally arrived at Chang'an. The city, usually bustling and alive, was quiet, yet tense. They were greeted by an extraordinary sight: soldiers of the Chen State, who had been stationed here, were kneeling, trembling, surrendering. Fear radiated from their postures, palpable in every line of their frozen stances. Their faces showed terror, a recognition that a catastrophe had befallen their command, their nation, and perhaps the world.
Meanwhile, Tang soldiers, loyal and resolute, had reclaimed control of Chang'an. The city, once overrun, now felt alive again, solid under the familiar banners of Tang.
"Your Royal Highness! You've returned!" Several Tang generals approached Li Xiao, expressions bright with relief and elation. The death of the previous Tang lord had left a vacuum; only Li Xiao, the prince of the Li family, could stabilize the nation, restore order, and command the loyalty of the troops.
"What… happened? Why have the Chen soldiers suddenly surrendered? How did Chang'an return to our control?" Li Xiao asked, his brow furrowed.
A general's eyes sparkled with excitement as he hurried forward. "I report to His Royal Highness, the Crown Prince! Chen Guo has suffered divine punishment. The Lord of the Chen State, many of his generals, and all important officials… all perished under the wrath of the gods!"
Li Xiao's heart skipped a beat. He nodded, urging the general to continue. Though he suspected something of this magnitude, he still wanted full clarity.
"It is said that yesterday, a colossal, ancient god appeared in Chen Guo," the general said solemnly. His voice trembled slightly, both with fear and awe. "Its toe—comparable in size to a mountain. Its hand… capable of lifting an entire city. Its eyes… as bright and massive as the sun and moon themselves."
"However," the general continued, "for reasons unknown, Lord Chen Guoguo and his cohorts angered the ancient god. The god's punishment was swift, merciless. They were obliterated in an instant."
Li Xiao's eyes widened. "Divine punishment? What… what kind of punishment is this?"
"Your Royal Highness," the general replied, his tone a mixture of fear and awe, "according to insiders… the ancient god drew forth an artifact. In an instant, a terrifying cold swept across thousands of miles. All the cities in Chen Guo were frozen, transformed into ice cities. The chill spread for hundreds of miles. None could resist."
The general paused, swallowing hard before continuing. "It is said that those who remained in these cities were frozen into ice sculptures. The speed of the divine punishment was so rapid, no one could escape. Only the Diamond Warriors—those with the greatest resilience—managed to survive. Yet even they, struck by the chilling poison that entered their bodies, could only live briefly. Few survived longer than a day."
A shiver ran down Li Xiao's spine. "Ten… ten million casualties?" he whispered, disbelief and horror mingling in his voice. "One-tenth of the population… gone?"
"Yes, Your Highness. This is no ordinary disaster. It is divine power, unparalleled and absolute. Life, death, destruction… all determined by the gods' will. Rivers of blood, entire populations… wiped out. The horror is beyond measure."
The terror of the ancient gods, which Li Xiao had already glimpsed, now manifested fully. The reality of divine power—so vast, so complete—was almost incomprehensible.
"Your Royal Highness," the general continued, "now is a rare opportunity. Chen Guo's demise has left their lands exposed. This is the chance to expand Tang territory. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. If we hesitate, it may never come again."
Li Xiao's eyes sharpened. Decision, clarity, and resolve coalesced in his gaze. "Order the troops immediately. Prepare horses and soldiers. We march to Chen Guo. We will occupy their lands."
"Yes, Your Royal Highness!" The generals saluted and rushed to prepare for mobilization, their determination matching Li Xiao's own.
Within hours, Tang's forces, numbering hundreds of thousands, were ready. Hooves struck the frozen earth in thunderous rhythm. Arrows, armor, and banners fluttered as they set off, racing through the night, through forests, rivers, and plains. For three days and three nights, the army pushed relentlessly forward.
Finally, the capital of the Chen State loomed on the horizon. Li Xiao and his companions, atop their mounts, could see it: ice, frost, devastation. The once-mighty city was now a frozen monument to divine wrath. Streets glimmered in crystalline cold, buildings encased in unyielding ice, the lingering chill sweeping across the landscape like a ghost.
The soldiers of Tang, though weary from the long journey, felt a surge of awe and fear. They had heard tales, now witnessed them. Chen Guo's strength, once formidable, had been obliterated. And Li Xiao—he, the prince, the inheritor of Tang—was poised to claim what remained.
The world had shifted. The old order shattered. Divine power had demonstrated its supremacy. And yet, amidst the frozen ruins, a new opportunity, a new destiny, awaited.
Li Xiao's heart burned with resolve. He would not waste this moment. He would take what was rightfully his, solidify Tang's dominance, and ensure that the sacrifices of countless souls—both mortal and divine—were not in vain.
Dozens of cities, frozen into ice, stood as stark testimony to the incomprehensible might of the ancient gods. Entire armies, civilizations, and histories—reduced to frozen monuments in a matter of hours. And in the shadow of this unparalleled power, Li Xiao's Tang State advanced, prepared to seize the moment, reshape the land, and carve a new era from the remnants of divine wrath.
The world itself, trembling under the weight of gods and men, seemed to hold its breath.
And Li Xiao, standing tall amidst the aftermath, knew one thing with certainty: the future would be forged not merely by soldiers or strategy—but by the delicate balance of human will against divine might.
He tightened his grip on the reins. The journey ahead promised blood, frost, fire, and conquest. And he would face it all.