It’s truly amazing how fate works out in the most unexpected ways. What was originally an unintentional act has now become the crucial turning point that reversed the battle. When Yang Hao was summoned into the palace by the Empress Ming and secretly entered Princess Danzhen’s quarters, Wang Tao, wanting to ensure absolute success, sent two swordsmen to the Dandingchun pharmacy to capture Yang Hao’s subordinates. Perhaps because he thought Yang Hao was away, Wang Tao arrogantly dispatched only two swordsmen with merely second-tier combat abilities.
Although they were only second-tier swordsmen, after Yang Hao left, the main base was left with only children making pills, Shinian Ai, robot XII, and Zhuge Jian, a useless business genius. By any calculation, Wang Tao believed these two swordsmen would be more than enough to subdue them.
Unfortunately, no matter how thoroughly Wang Tao planned, he overlooked one crucial detail: Yang Hao had adopted five hundred orphans, all of whom had now cultivated the Five Fundamental Techniques. Some of the more gifted among them, due to their long-term involvement in crafting Longhu Dahuandan pills, had absorbed some of the pills’ power, accumulating considerable internal energy. At least fifty of these children had nearly reached first-tier combat strength.
When the two swordsmen stormed into the pharmacy, the orphans rose up together to attack them. With the help of Shinian Ai and robot XII’s electric defenses, they managed to subdue the two swordsmen without any injuries. After ensuring their safety, the group discussed their next move and felt that Yang Hao might be in danger inside the palace. Thus, Shinian Ai led two hundred children with basic combat abilities and rushed into the palace, where they joined forces with General Long’s imperial guards. With this reinforcement, their momentum surged, and they swiftly recaptured one palace after another from the swordsmen’s faction. By evening, the remaining royal swordsmen were driven into their final stronghold—the Zhenghuang Palace.
The Zhenghuang Palace was arguably the most important structure in the imperial city. It served as Princess Danzhen’s main hall, where she held court and conducted imperial ceremonies. Even the night Yang Hao was captured, he had been interrogated there.
In short, once Yang Hao and his allies captured the Zhenghuang Palace, the swordsmen’s defeat would be sealed. Yet for the same reason, the remaining fifty or so swordsmen had barricaded themselves inside this vast and expansive building, locking the gates tightly, making it impossible for anyone to break through.
“This is it,” General Long panted, turning around with a bitter smile toward Yang Hao. “But this place is also our biggest headache.”
“What do you mean?” Yang Hao asked, puzzled. “These people are just fish in a barrel now. What’s so difficult about that?”
“This palace isn’t easy to take,” General Long replied, his face sharply defined, his rough hands rubbing against his skin like sandpaper. “Even though there aren’t many of them left, the terrain inside is complicated, and we’d be at a disadvantage if we charged in blindly.”
“Complicated terrain?” Yang Hao was even more confused. Up until now, General Long had always seemed fearless, like a killing machine, yet now he hesitated before the Zhenghuang Palace.
“The Zhenghuang Palace is thirty meters tall, made entirely of gold, its weight immeasurable, supported solely by five hundred golden pillars inside,” explained General Long. “Each pillar bears a specific load, and none can be missing. If we charge in and start fighting recklessly, we might damage these pillars. If even one breaks, the entire palace will collapse.”
Yang Hao slapped his head in frustration. “Who builds a place like this? Even if you love gold, there’s no need to go this far…” He stopped halfway through, suddenly remembering that Danzhen, their former Empress, had just died. Speaking ill of her like this felt somewhat disrespectful.
“The Zhenghuang Palace is the most sacred structure in the entire Raymon Star system. It symbolizes the honor of the royal family. We would rather not capture the rebels than damage it even slightly,” General Long said solemnly.
“Are we really going to let live people be stopped by a toilet!” Yang Hao wasn’t as loyal to those golden pillars as Long was. “Danzhen is already dead. Are you really going to let her go unavenged just to protect a building?”
“Of course we must avenge her, but the palace must remain unharmed,” Long insisted firmly, leaving no room for compromise. As soon as he finished speaking, he turned to his soldiers to arrange a perimeter, clearly planning to starve the enemy out.
But everyone knew that every imperial soldier carried emergency survival capsules—taking one would sustain them for a week without food. At this rate, it would take at least half a year to succeed.
Yang Hao was nearly driven mad by these stubborn minds. He turned to his own people—Shinian Ai stood beside him, eyes full of concern, while many of the orphans were already injured or exhausted from overexertion. There was no way they could fight again.
Yang Hao closed his eyes to rest. His internal energy was nearly depleted, and he didn’t know how much longer he could last. Just as he felt all hope slipping away, a sudden flash of light flickered before his tightly shut eyes.
The light was strange—white, yet refracting into a rainbow of colors like a shining diamond. Opening his eyes, Yang Hao saw exactly that: a diamond pendant around Shinian Ai’s neck, refracting sunlight in dazzling beams. The light not only shone on Yang Hao’s face but also scattered slightly onto those nearby.
Suddenly, a brilliant and daring idea struck Yang Hao. Though risky, it seemed to be the only viable solution left.
He immediately called for General Long and whispered, “Can you open those palace gates?”
The gates Yang Hao referred to were the main entrance of the Zhenghuang Palace. They, too, appeared to be made entirely of gold, standing ten meters tall, intricately carved with elaborate patterns, and seemingly incredibly heavy—requiring at least ten men to push open. Though Yang Hao had an idea for defeating the enemy, he was at a complete loss regarding this gate.
It wasn’t just Yang Hao who couldn’t open it. Even if the strongest beings in the universe, the Renxiong race known for their immense strength, were here, they wouldn’t be able to open it alone. And inside the palace, the royal swordsmen were already lying in ambush.
Without getting through the gate, no matter how brilliant Yang Hao’s plan was, it would be useless.
General Long narrowed his eyes, studying the gate for a moment. “Do you even know how heavy this thing is?”
Of course Yang Hao didn’t know—it wasn’t like he built the place. Naturally, he looked completely clueless.
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