Reincarnated as a Ginkgo Tree: I Create an Eternal Divine Kingdom - Chapter 134

“Elder Luo, Lady Su Yao is missing,” a panicked Great Xia cultivator reported.

Luo Jiannan sighed in relief.

There was no body of Su Yao here, which meant that she was likely still alive.

However, his expression quickly darkened again.

Su Yao’s disappearance was also a significant issue.

“Immediately, search for Su Yao,” Luo Jiannan commanded. “Also, inform Nanzhao Kingdom to mobilize all forces around Taihe City and seal off every area within a hundred miles. We must find the monsters from the Misty Forbidden Zone.”

When this news reached Meng Deyu and Bai Luodong, the two prominent figures were struck as if by lightning.

Their concerns differed greatly from Luo Jiannan’s.

They didn’t care much about Su Yao’s fate.

But the disappearance of the spirit wolf was undoubtedly a severe blow to them.

They had been willing to pay the price of offending the Misty Forbidden Zone to capture the spirit wolf in order to resurrect the Heavenly Wolf.

Now, with the spirit wolf missing, their plans had collapsed.

Without needing further instructions from Luo Jiannan, Meng Deyu had already gone mad: “At any cost, find the spirit wolf for me! Also, encircle and annihilate all the monsters from the Misty Forbidden Zone. Do not let them escape!”

He now harbored a deep grudge against the Misty Forbidden Zone.

The Misty Forbidden Zone had ruined his grand plans this time.

What made it even more unacceptable was that the enemy had managed to snatch the spirit wolf right on the outskirts of Taihe City.

In an instant, fifty thousand troops in and around Taihe City were mobilized.

These fifty thousand troops sealed off an area of a hundred miles.

At the same time, Su Yao and the other core members of the Misty Forbidden Zone sensed that trouble was brewing.

They had no way out.

Now, their only option was to hide and buy time.

Su Mu received a mental transmission from Su Yao and the others.

This immediately made him serious.

If the situation wasn’t handled well, his core members could suffer significant casualties.

Although his members were highly skilled, fifty thousand troops were not a trivial threat.

The Nanzhao Kingdom was almost using half of its national strength to deal with Su Yao and her companions.

“Nanzhao Kingdom, so it seems you truly don’t take the Misty Forbidden Zone seriously?” Su Mu was also angry.

Previously, he had no particular feelings toward Nanzhao Kingdom.

His goal was simply to recover the Silver Moon Wolf King and Su Qing.

But the Nanzhao Kingdom had repeatedly obstructed and provoked him, and now they intended to annihilate his core members.

If the Nanzhao Kingdom succeeded, it would not only undermine the authority of the Misty Forbidden Zone but also shake its very foundations.

“Very well.”

Su Mu no longer harbored any mercy.

He gave the order to the Mist Army at Beiding City: “Launch a full assault and breakthrough Taihe City!”

The Nanzhao Kingdom wanted to blockade the area around Taihe City and encircle Su Yao and the others.

So he would simply command his army to break through Taihe City directly.

Boom!

At Beiding City.

The Earthquake Bear, Ironback Ape, White Spirit Python, Snow Spirit Mink, Black Bull, Sea Monk, Huang Shuhua, Lin Che, and the Spirit Crows were all furious.

Nanzhao Kingdom dared to encircle and kill their companions?

Enraged, they immediately led their demon beast army toward Taihe City, brimming with thunderous fury.

A million-strong Mist Army surged forth like a flood.

No one could stand in their way.

Along the way, city after city either surrendered or was forcibly conquered.

This resulted in a battle that shook the entire world.

In just three days, the Mist Army had captured seven cities in Nanzhao Kingdom and reached a hundred miles outside Taihe City.

The fifty thousand troops around Taihe City were on edge.

The Mist Army did not engage in any psychological warfare.

Their army charged directly.

The demon beast army, like a raging torrent, surged toward Nanzhao Kingdom’s forces.

In this collision, the Nanzhao forces immediately felt the sheer terror.

It was important to note that ever since the second spiritual cycle, the beasts of the Misty Forbidden Zone had maintained a significant advantage.

Moreover, every time Su Mu advanced, he brought opportunities for spiritual rain to the Misty Forbidden Zone.

As a result, the beasts of the Misty Forbidden Zone had grown stronger much faster than any other beings outside.

The Nanzhao Kingdom, even among the nations of the world, was not considered particularly powerful.

Thus, Nanzhao’s forces stood no chance against the Mist Army.

In just half a day’s battle, the Nanzhao forces fell into disarray.

Inside the Nanzhao royal palace.

Meng Deyu had lost his previous composure, looking utterly defeated.

His face was deathly pale.

He could not comprehend how the Nanzhao Kingdom could not withstand the Misty Forbidden Zone.

For so long, he had considered Nanzhao to be a strong nation, one that could hold its own on the global stage.

Even if it couldn’t match a superpower like the Great Xia Empire, it was still a first-class nation.

So, at the beginning, he had never even considered the possibility that Nanzhao might be unable to resist the Misty Forbidden Zone.

But the reality was harsh.

In the face of the Misty Forbidden Zone’s attack, Nanzhao had been defeated.

The Mist Army advanced through Nanzhao, capturing cities as if there were no resistance.

Even Nanzhao’s strongest imperial army could not hold out for half a day against the Mist Army.

This was a devastating blow to Nanzhao.

Meng Deyu, as the ruler of Nanzhao, felt his spirit utterly shattered.

He then abruptly turned to Bai Luodong. “General Bai, all of Nanzhao’s troubles began because of your Ancient Tomb Empire. Your empire must take responsibility, right?”

Bai Luodong’s expression was dark. “King Meng, what do you want my Ancient Tomb Empire to do?”

“The Ancient Tomb Empire must immediately send troops to help Nanzhao drive away the beasts of the Misty Forbidden Zone,” Meng Deyu demanded.

“I’m sorry,” Bai Luodong shook his head, “My Ancient Tomb Empire is also facing a threat from beasts and cannot spare any troops. However, if you truly cannot resist the Misty Forbidden Zone, you may seek refuge in my Ancient Tomb Empire. We will ensure that you live in comfort for the rest of your days.”

With that, he turned and walked away.

Now that the Ancient Tomb Empire’s plan had failed, there was no point in staying.

Meng Deyu glared at Bai Luodong’s departing figure.

At that moment, he wished he could tear Bai Luodong to pieces.

If it hadn’t been for Bai Luodong’s instigation and the endless promises, he would never have dared to offend the Misty Forbidden Zone.

And now, with the failure of the plan, all the consequences had to be borne by him and Nanzhao.

Bai Luodong and the Ancient Tomb Empire were washing their hands of it.

But he still did not dare to act against Bai Luodong.

If he killed Bai Luodong, he would truly have provoked the Ancient Tomb Empire, cutting off his last hope.

Given the current state of the war, he might have to flee overseas eventually.

And perhaps, by then, he would need to seek refuge in the Ancient Tomb Empire.

Just then, there was a sound of hurried and orderly footsteps outside.

“What’s going on?” Meng Deyu’s expression darkened.

In this area, making such loud noises while walking was strictly forbidden.

“Your Majesty.”

Several palace guards suddenly stumbled in, looking disheveled.

Before Meng Deyu could react, he saw a dense formation of armored soldiers outside.

Then, a young man in a yellow robe walked in, flanked by several generals.

“Your son pays respect to the Emperor,” the young man in the yellow robe bowed to Meng Deyu.

The young man in the yellow robe was none other than Meng Xiuyuan, the Crown Prince of the Nanzhao Kingdom.

“What are you doing?” Meng Deyu demanded angrily.

“Father, the nation is on the brink of collapse. I am reluctant, but for the sake of the tens of millions of people of Nanzhao, I must ask you to abdicate,” Meng Xiuyuan replied.

“You traitor!” Meng Deyu roared in fury. “You unfilial son…”

Clang!

Before he could finish speaking, a chorus of swords being drawn filled the air.

Meng Deyu shivered.

He looked around and saw that all the soldiers behind Meng Xiuyuan were staring at him coldly.

Having ruled Nanzhao for so many years, he was no fool.

He instantly realized that if he did not voluntarily abdicate, he might “die of illness” today!

“Fine.”

Meng Deyu slumped, his spirit completely broken.

Deep down, he was overwhelmed with regret and remorse.

If given another chance, he would never have chosen to offend the Misty Forbidden Zone.

That same day.

Meng Deyu issued a decree abdicating the throne to Crown Prince Meng Xiuyuan.

Upon ascending to the throne, Meng Xiuyuan’s first act was to open the gates of Taihe City and surrender to the Misty Forbidden Zone.

The fifty thousand troops had already been defeated.

Even if Taihe City relied on its high and thick walls to hold off the Mist Army for a while, it would be meaningless.

Doing so would only further enrage the Mist Army.

If the Mist Army breached the city on its own, Meng Xiuyuan couldn’t imagine what horrors might ensue.

To avoid a cruel fate, he chose to surrender.

Of course, he had little choice in the matter.

Many great families within Taihe City had already united in favor of surrender.

These great families had connections in other cities and knew that the Misty Forbidden Zone was different from other forbidden zones in that it would not massacre cities.

Thus, they chose to surrender.

If Meng Xiuyuan refused, he believed that both he and his father might be killed.

In comparison, it was better to cooperate with the great families.

That very day, the Mist Army entered Taihe City.

Inside the Taihe City royal palace.

Numerous high-ranking officials of Nanzhao were kneeling on a white jade square.

The square was surrounded by demon beasts.

Caw!

A giant crow descended from the sky.

On the crow’s back stood a woman in a green robe.

The woman in green was Huang Shuling.

She spoke calmly, “Who is currently the ruler of Nanzhao?”

“This fairy, it is I,” Meng Xiuyuan stepped forward.

“And where is the former ruler of Nanzhao?” Huang Shuling asked.

Meng Xiuyuan hesitated for a moment.

Huang Shuling’s gaze grew colder.

Meng Xiuyuan shuddered, not daring to delay further. “Someone, bring the Supreme Emperor.”

Soon, Meng Deyu was “escorted” by a group of armored soldiers.

“You traitor! What are you doing?” Meng Deyu’s face flushed red with anger.

He was being held down by two armored soldiers, clearly not having been treated kindly in the process.

Meng Xiuyuan bowed his head, his face filled with visible guilt.

“Meng Deyu,” a woman’s icy voice sounded.

Meng Deyu immediately calmed down, turning to the woman on the crow. “Meng Deyu greets the envoy of the Misty Forbidden Zone.”

Huang Shuling coldly said, “Meng Deyu, the Misty Forbidden Zone never intended to target Nanzhao. If you had cooperated with us from the beginning to find the Silver Moon Wolf King and apprehend the culprit, Nanzhao would never have faced this calamity.”

Meng Deyu’s body trembled, and her words struck a heavy blow, deepening his regret.

All around, the officials and soldiers of Nanzhao who had felt some sympathy for Meng Deyu, seeing him so disgraced, were initially moved to fight for him.

But now, after hearing Huang Shuling’s words, their sympathy vanished, replaced by coldness and hatred.

Indeed.

All of this was Meng Deyu’s doing.

Originally, Nanzhao would not have had to endure this catastrophe.

And yet, because of Meng Deyu, the entire nation was dragged into the abyss.