Chapter 144 - General Lexus Arrives!

After three days, at the entrance of Border City, hundreds of soldiers emitting sharp auras can be seen with emotional expressions.

Despite the look on their faces, they were like sharp swords on their sheathes ready to slaughter anyone that blocks their way.

The gate guards of Border City looked respectfully at the soldiers.

Who within the Celestial Sword Empire does not know General Lexus' Dual Sword Army? Even the young kids inside the empire know a thing or two about them.

The gate guards looked curiously at the Dual Sword Army who had varying wounds all over their bodies. Not one of them was unharmed. Just what had they gone through? And who was capable of making this renowned army suffer like this?

Nevertheless, the gate guards dared not block their entry and just silently held back their curiosity.

General Lexus gaze was complicated as he stared at Border City. Just a few weeks ago he was unsure about his life and death, but now he was actually able to survive after going inside one of Shura's forbidden regions, the Cave of Endless Grievance.

Although they did not go deep inside the cave and merely went towards the Heavenly Winged Guardians' lair, the level of danger was still high. He even lost several hundred soldiers inside the cave. It was truly lamentable.

But they will do anything for the sake of the empire.

General Lexus frowned after sensing a commotion from the city's entrance.

"Isn't that man the garrison commander of Border City? Why does he look so anxious?" General Lexus felt a bad premonition in his heart after seeing the expression of the man.

The garrison commander of Border City saluted General Lexus, but everyone can still see the anxiety in his eyes.

"Lord General Lexus, I have grave news from the capital." 

The moment these words left the garrison commander's mouth, General Lexus heart beat wildly. 

He did not wait for the garrison commander to speak and hurriedly grabbed Cale who was eavesdropping in the sidelines before flying inside the city.

His flight left a cloud of dust on where he previously stood, leaving the stunned garrison commander who still had his mouth opened wide. 

'I hope it's not too late yet...' 

Seira stopped the two deputy commanders of the Dual Sword Army from following their general. Her gaze was serious as she looked at the wounded soldiers behind them.

"General Lexus left right away because he trusts both of you will be able to lead these men to safety. Don't let the general down and lead these soldiers to somewhere they can safely recuperate."

The two deputies gritted their teeth and sighed before ordering their soldiers to come inside Border City.

Seira nodded her head at the two deputies before gracefully tapping her foot on the ground. She then flew towards the direction of Sword City, the capital of the empire.

Meanwhile, inside Fragrance Inn, several silhouettes dr_a_p_ed in long black robes felt a stir in their hearts. 

One of them jumped out of the inn's window and hovered above the sky as if searching for something. The other four silhouettes followed behind him.

"This is the spiritual link between us and his lordship! He is finally here, but why is he going to the direction of the empire's capital city?" He mumbled to himself, but he did not follow.

He still remembered the mission given to him by Cale which was to protect the empire's princess silently.

"Let's go back, his lordship should have his reasons for going there. We just have to wait for him to return and continue with our current mission." The five silhouettes then went back inside the Fragrance Inn.

* * *

"Hey old man, release me this instant! I know how to fly!" An exasperated voice can be heard above the sky.

General Lexus ignored Cale who was struggling from his hold. He increased his flight speed, his gaze one of extreme solemnity.

'At this speed, we will arrive within the capital by less than an hour. I hope it's not too late yet, or else... even if I have to sacrifice these old bones of mine, then I won't rest until the instigator dies a cruel death!'

A cold and piercing killing intent flashed from the old general's murky eyes. Even Cale who was struggling from a few moments ago did not dare move. He just sighed with a defeated expression on his face.

'This old man, If I breakthrough to the Immortal-Class level, let's see if you can still be this arrogant in front of me?! Hmph!'

Nonetheless, Cale knew that something bad happened within the capital for someone as steadfast as General Lexus to lose his calm. So he was just grumbling and would not really do anything towards the old general.

"Asteria, are you sure that the Holy Nourishing Crystal is worth that much? As for that wine, can it really save the emperor?" To not be bored along the away, Cale decided to tease Asteria.

"You... Are you doubting the words of a Universal Law Fragment?" Asteria's cute loli-like face pouted after hearing the doubt in Cale's words and she angrily spoke inside Cale's mind.

"No no no... How could I doubt the cute and beautiful Asteria? I'm merely asking to make sure that..." 

The journey towards the empire's capital was bound to be a loud one, Cale regretted provoking Asteria...

* * *

Three days had gone by, but the battle between the crown prince and the second prince was not yet over. 

The crown used the city's defensive array to block the ferocious army of the second prince, but even the array was almost on its breaking point.

The moment the city's defensive array is broken, the second prince's army would surely wreak havoc inside the capital. 

"Your highness, the array won't last for long. In thirty minutes or so, the second prince's army would be able to destroy the gates." A general with wounds all over his body reported in a worried tone.  

The crown prince frowned and continued looking at the two old men who were attacking their defensive array. 

Both of them were the hall master of the Rising Sun Supreme Hall and the holy lord of the Blue Jade Holy Land. 

Just a day ago, the combined efforts of the four old men were able to injure Duke Shutra severely, forcing him to retreat inside the city to recuperate his wounds. But they had also paid a heavy price. The two other old men were also grievously wounded by the duke, making them unable to fight. Thus only the two old men above the sky were the only ones left that are still capable of fighting.

"How are the duke's injuries?" The crown prince glanced at the general with a weak voice, but he still maintained the calmness in his face.

"Your highness, the duke is still recuperating. He told me that he needs at least half a day to recuperate..." The general shook his head with a heavy sigh. 

The city's defensive array would be destroyed in thirty minutes, and they didn't have the strength to hold the enemies back for half a day. And besides, could the seriously injured Duke Shutra be able to defeat the two old fogies above? 

The crown prince shook his head with a weary smile, but then his eyes suddenly regained its vigor.

"The situation might be bleak, but how could we falter against them?! We must not allow those imbeciles to run rampant inside our empire!" The air around the crown prince changed and the aura of a ruler surged out of him, stunning the general senseless.

"This... Am I seeing his majesty's younger days?" The general muttered to himself after sensing the aura from the crown prince which was almost identical to the emperor's aura in his younger years. 

The aura of a ruler!

"Tell our men to regroup! We must not allow those outsiders to taint the reputation of our Celestial Sword Empire!  Even if we die, we must hold them back at all costs!" The crown prince's face was calm, but the general subconsciously nodded his head. 

'In the end, the emperor's foresight is still unfathomable. It is indeed only the crown prince who is worthy to follow his legacy.' 

As both of them were deep in their thoughts, an angry roar reverberated above the sky, causing everyone to stop in their tracks.

"Who dares lay their hands on our Celestial Sword Empire!?"

The crown prince heart jolted in surprise after hearing the familiar voice of an old man. 

"Isn't that...." He then glanced upwards to search for the origin of the voice. 

Just several kilometers away from them, a majestic silhouette can be seen, his old face was full of anger. In his hands was a... a young man?

The crown prince rubbed his eyes and gawked speechlessly in the direction of the newcomer.

It was General Lexus, but why was he holding a young man? 

The serious scene became comical all of a sudden.