Translator: Silavin “Where are our reinforcements? Why haven’t they arrived yet?” “Where is General Li? Where did he go?!” Atop the fortress, doubts kept flashing through the soldiers’ minds as they still hoped for the Grand Empire’s Grand Marshal to lead troops to reinforce them. However, these hopeful thoughts were cruelly shattered by the surrender demands from the two opposing Grand Empires. “Soldiers of Ancient Mountain Pass, your Grand Marshal has already reached an agreement with us! Stop your pointless resistance and immediately open up the fortress! If you open the fortress now, considering your Grand Marshal Li’s face, we can spare your lives!” Outside Ancient Mountain Pass, the commanders from the Great Ease Grand Empire and Thousand Silk Grand Empire shouted aloud. These brief sentences caused an uproar on Ancient Mountain Pass, followed by dimness appearing in the eyes of the defending soldiers. No wonder the three border cities fell so quickly, and no wonder no reinforcements had arrived after so long! If the Grand Marshal had betrayed them, everything made perfect sense! “Has the Grand Marshal defected?” “Where is our fortress’s General Li? Why has he disappeared?” “Against a million troops, how can our fifty thousand soldiers defend this fortress!?” Voices of clamor kept rising on Ancient Mountain Pass fortress. After discovering the general had mysteriously vanished, the soldiers’ morale plummeted. “Fellow soldiers, General Li has disappeared…” “If so, perhaps we should open the fortress gates, maybe we can still secure a way to survive…” Amidst the discussions, someone finally began to consider surrendering. This thought spread like poison smoke throughout the fortress. At this point, no one had the heart to resist anymore. “Open the fortress, and your lives will be spared!” Sensing the change in morale among Ancient Mountain Pass’s soldiers, the two Grand Empires’ commanders approached the fortress and shouted loudly once more. Though the two were within reach, not a single arrow was fired to end them, showing that the people on the fortress had truly given up resistance. Then, the soldiers guarding the fortress gates, with bitter smiles, looked at each other and prepared to open the fortress. Whoosh! At this moment, a muscular black figure leaped down from the fortress that was dozens of meters high. Simultaneously, two huge black shadows carrying death’s shadow crashed onto the two shouting enemy commanders. Bang! Bang! With two loud crashes, everyone felt as if the Earth trembled. Looking closely, a strong figure wearing Great Prosperity Grand Empire military armour had landed before the fortress. What shocked them more was that where the two shouting enemy commanders had been, there were now only two huge hammers! Under the giant hammers, blood splattered. Clearly, these two strikes had smashed them into meat paste! “This madman! How could he kill them!? Doesn’t he fear incurring the wrath of the two Grand Empires?!” “We’re finished! They’ll think we refused to surrender. Madman has gotten us all killed!” Upon seeing this mighty muscular figure, several soldiers guarding the fortress gates wore bitter smiles. Above the fortress, a deathly silence fell. This figure was not unfamiliar to them. Though he had only joined the army a year ago, his immense strength and extremely open personality had already earned him the admiration of countless soldiers. “You bastard! What reckless brute dares to kill our envoys!? Kill yourself immediately, and perhaps we’ll leave your corpse intact!” At this moment, from the million-strong army, a vice commander rode forth on an armoured cavalry steed. Holding a long spear, he pointed at the figure before the fortress, angrily shouting. Originally, they could have resolved this without using force. But at this crucial moment, this brute had appeared and ruined everything! Bang! However, contrary to everyone’s expectations, the figure did not say a word. He simply lifted one huge hammer and smashed both horse and rider into another puddle of meat! “Siii… Damn it!” Seeing such a crude and violent scene, countless soldiers on the fortress could not help but draw in sharp breaths. At the same time, a hint of burning passion stirred in their hearts. How heavy must these giant hammers be to casually smash people into meat paste? “Whoever else wants to persuade me to surrender, come right up!” He casually lifted two giant hammers, blood continuously dripping from them. Yet, he seemed not to notice. His tiger-like eyes gazed at the million-strong army without a trace of fear. This sight made countless hearts tremble – was this guy even Human? Faced with his angry roar, the million-strong army suddenly tensed, and for a moment, no one dared to step forward. “I didn’t join the army because of some damned Grand Marshal. In my heart, there’s only one true Grand Marshal – the Carefree Prince! If you want to pass my Ancient Mountain Pass, you’ll have to step over my corpse!” He swung his hammer, pointing at the million-strong army, his gaze looking down upon them as his thunderous shout exploded outward! His presence was extremely intimidating! Hearing these words, countless people on the fortress felt their blood boiling. As for the million-strong army, when they heard the title ‘Carefree Prince’, traces of fear flashed through their eyes. “Exactly! I don’t know anyone named Grand Marshal Li either! I only know our Grand Marshall is the Carefree Prince!” “You want to pass Ancient Mountain Pass? Not unless we’re all dead!” At the Ancient Mountain Pass fortress, the soldiers’ blood surged with zeel. Indeed, how could someone who was given a title in peacetime, but ultimately betrayed the Grand Empire, be worthy of being called their Grand Marshal!? They did not wish to recognise such a shameless person! Only the Carefree Prince, who had led them in campaigns east and west to protect the Grand Empire, was their one and only true Grand Marshal! In the center of the opposing army, there stood a huge tent. Before the tent were two men around fifty years old. Though they looked somewhat aged, both emanated a terrifying presence. These two were the Grand Marshals of the Great Ease Grand Empire and Thousand Silk Grand Empire… Yi Qunlin and Qian Wengang! The million-strong army was under their command. “Grand Marshals, the surrender attempt failed. Should we launch a full scale attack?” At this moment, a commander ran back from the front of the army, respectfully saluted the two Grand Marshals. He asked for further instructions. Hearing this, Yi Qunlin and Qian Wengang exchanged glances, traces of helplessness flashing through their eyes. This Ancient Mountain Pass was a necessary route for attacking the Great Prosperity Grand Empire. However, they knew this place was extremely difficult to capture. If they had to take it by force, the losses would be unbearable. Outside the fortress, the corpses strewn everywhere and rivers of blood were left by their previous two attacks!