Urban Undying Lord
Chapter 371 - 371 370

371: 370 371: 370 Political Hall, the Kingdom of Xiao Sheng.

Zhao Lin sat high on the imperial throne, with court officials standing on both sides, yet the atmosphere in the entire Political Hall was extremely heavy, a silent fear slowly spreading within.

“Report!”

A palace eunuch hurried into the Political Hall, clutching a bloodstained letter in both hands, and kneeled directly at Zhao Lin’s feet.

“The war report from the front line; the Kingdom of Aolai’s million-strong army is breaking through like bamboo.

They have already taken half of the cities of our Kingdom of Xiao Sheng.

Our three hundred thousand troops on the front lines are all dead.

Our country no longer has any soldiers to use.

In less than three days, the Aolai million-strong army will enter the Capital City; Your Majesty must make a decision quickly.”

Bang!

Zhao Lin suddenly slapped the imperial desk, his face twisting in emotion as he quickly took the war report, his expression grim as he examined it.

After what seemed like dozens of breaths, Zhao Lin’s body trembled, the war report falling to the ground, his entire being slumped over on the throne.

“Damn it, damn it all, how dare Aolai…

how dare they?” Zhao Lin roared with rage, but his eyes revealed a trace of despair.

It was no wonder Zhao Lin was so agitated.

He had only just ascended the throne, and his wonderful imperial life had just begun, yet he was utterly helpless against the million-strong army of Aolai bearing down on him.

Once, when Zhao Gou was alive, he battled across the Ten Countries Battlefield, earning the title of Iron-blooded Great Emperor, known as a tyrant whose path left no grass in its wake.

Through war sustained war, the world’s loyalty returned.

Under Zhao Gou’s leadership, the Kingdom of Xiao Sheng’s military was formidable; even Aolai did not dare to act recklessly.

But after the death of Zhao Gou, the Kingdom of Xiao Sheng plunged into great turmoil, military leaders acted autonomously, and the contest for the throne among the princes brought about even greater upheaval.

Now was the time when everything needed to be restored.

With the loss of three hundred thousand troops on the front line, Zhao Lin no longer had any soldiers to call upon; he was likely to become the last Monarch of Xiao Sheng—a Monarch of a perishing nation.

“Your Majesty, the million-strong army of Aolai is pressing down on us.

Our only option now is to abandon the Capital City; let’s flee quickly,” a court official said with a shaking voice.

“Your Majesty, one can’t make firewood from a dead tree.

We must give up the Capital City to have a chance of rising from the ashes,” another official advised, trembling.

Everyone fears death, let alone these court officials of the Kingdom of Xiao Sheng?

All knew well that Xiao Sheng’s days were numbered.

When the million-strong army arrived, the so-called Kingdom of Xiao Sheng would exist no more in this world.

Like a stone causing a thousand ripples, various voices advising Zhao Lin emerged, making the entire Political Hall as noisy as a marketplace.

“I am not dead yet; all of you, shut your mouths!”

Suddenly, Zhao Lin let out an angry roar, his face an extreme shade of iron blue, silencing all the court officials.

However, each face was pale, the fear of national extinction clearly present in their hearts.

“Remember this, I, Zhao Lin, am the ruler of a nation.

Even in death, I will not flee the Capital City.

If you are all afraid, then get out!

Even if I die, I will defend this last inch of our land.” Zhao Lin’s face was fierce and terrifying, his eyes reddening.

Looking at Zhao Lin’s ferocious demeanor, a court official tried to advise with a quivering voice, “Your Majesty, if you wish to make a comeback…”

“A comeback?”

Zhao Lin growled fiercely, cutting off the official’s words, “How do you expect me to make a comeback?”

“A million-strong army, that is a million-strong army; even my father, when he was alive, would not dare say he could quell this war of national extinction.

Even if I take my family and flee the Capital City, in the future, we can only wander from place to place.

Where is the chance for a comeback?”

Zhao Lin had already descended into a kind of madness, as he loudly berated the court officials.

He was very clear in his mind; he now had no hope whatsoever.

One must know that with the Kingdom of Aolai launching this war of annihilation, they could spare the lives of anyone, but they would never spare the Zhao lineage, for they were the Imperial Family, representing the entirety of the Minor Saint Kingdom.

If Zhao Lin were not killed, would the Kingdom of Aolai ever rest in peace?

In looking back through history at wars that annihilated kingdoms, it was an ironclad rule that the Monarch would surely die without question, a rule that had never changed.

Even if he were to flee the Capital City with the Zhao family line, they would only end up in an endless pursuit, and the outcome would still be nothing but death.

“I, the Emperor, have made up my mind.

Even as a Sovereign of a fallen kingdom, I must share the fate of the Minor Saint Kingdom.”

“Everyone, leave.”

With a wide sweep of his arm, Zhao Lin caused the complexions of his court officials to change slightly, but they were unable to say anything further and all withdrew from the Political Hall.

However, once some of the court officials returned to their mansions, they had already packed up their family’s gold and valuables, preparing carriages to flee the Capital City.

Clearly, when faced with a life or death decision, these court officials could only abandon what was called loyalty; they certainly did not wish to die alongside Zhao Lin.

Inside the Imperial Palace!

Zhao Lin slumped in his throne, with Empress Li at his side for company, and many of his offspring knelt by Zhao Lin’s side, each one’s face stained with tears.

“What are you weeping for?”

“You are all my Zhao progeny.

The Minor Saint Kingdom is the foundation of our Zhao family line.

Even in death, our Zhao line must protect this last scrap of land, and we must not let outsiders scorn our Zhao legacy.”

Zhao Lin’s authoritative rebuke caused his many offspring to hold back their tears, not daring to show any weakness in front of him.

“Your Majesty, I am not afraid of death, but they are all your children.

Faced with the catastrophe of national annihilation, I beg Your Majesty to preserve the last bloodline of our Zhao family,” Empress Li pleaded sorrowfully.

“Annihilation of the kingdom?

Zhao family bloodline?”

Suddenly, Zhao Lin murmured, his breath stagnant at the moment, because Empress Li’s words had abruptly reminded him of the last words of his father, Zhao Gou.

“If my Zhao descendants do not face the calamity of annihilation, they must never enter the forbidden land!”

Zhao Lin murmured to himself, a flush of red spreading across his face, his body trembling intensely.

In Empress Li’s shocked gaze, he suddenly got up from the throne and ran like a madman towards the location of the Imperial Garden.

“Quick, follow His Majesty,” Empress Li exclaimed in panic.

At the end of the Imperial Garden.

A blood-red stele, rooted there.

The eight dripping blood-red characters were strikingly conspicuous.

When Empress Li and the others arrived, they saw Zhao Lin kneeling before the blood-red stele, frantically kowtowing toward the forbidden land.

“The junior Zhao Lin, the current Monarch of the Minor Saint Kingdom, the Kingdom of Aolai’s million-strong army is pressing at our borders, and my Minor Saint Kingdom faces a great disaster of annihilation.

If there truly is a foundation for my Zhao lineage within this forbidden land…”

Zhao Lin seemed to be lost in madness, continually articulating something toward the forbidden land and repeatedly kowtowing, yet he never received any response.

“Your Majesty!”

Seeing Zhao Lin’s bloody forehead, Empress Li showed a look of distress, rushed to Zhao Lin’s side, and said, “Your Majesty, please get up.

If there truly is a foundation for the Minor Saint Kingdom within this forbidden land, Father Emperor would certainly have informed his descendants before his death.”