Tian Yifei used all his strength in his hands and feet, his face contorted as he tried to get up from the ground. However, Ye Longlin had his neck pinned, preventing him from rising, leaving him like a pathetic worm whose fate was being choked.
"You think I wouldn't dare?"
Ye Longlin looked down at him, a mocking glint in his eyes.
"Injuring innocents, trampling on the dignity of heroes, disrespecting the military – all your actions warrant a death without burial. You think I wouldn't dare kill you?"
He spoke slowly, the coldness in his eyes finally making Tian Yifei realize the grave mistake he had made.
From initial defiance to eyes filled with fear, only a few hours had passed.
"Ye Longlin, do you really dare to kill me? You are indeed the Great Xia King, but you must also protect your reputation. My Tian family is a royal clan, and the network of interests behind us is beyond your imagination!
I advise you to release me. Otherwise, if the important figures behind me get angry, even you won't be able to withstand it. You are part of this system, so you should understand these connections!"
Seeing that Ye Longlin was unmoved by either threats or pleas, he had no choice but to bring up the influential figure behind the Tian family. If even this failed to make Ye Longlin back down, then he could only die today!
But he absolutely did not want to die!
Ye Longlin let out a scoff, a playful expression on his lips. "Since that's the case, then I won't let you die. Stay here to atone for the sins of our ancestors."
As his voice fell, four helicopters flew in from a distance, carrying sculptures weighing thousands of pounds beneath them.
Yuan Gang and Xuan Niao directed the helicopters to place the sculptures at the four corners of the platform halfway up the mountain.
The four divine beast sculptures—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Black Tortoise, and Vermilion Bird—all faced the center.
Yuan Gang placed his hand on the chin of the Azure Dragon sculpture and pulled out a chain.
Ye Longlin released his foot and kicked Tian Yifei in the abdomen. With a crisp crack, his cultivation at the Half-step Martial Spirit realm was crippled by Ye Longlin!
"Ye Longlin, you..."
However, before he could finish speaking, the chain in Yuan Gang's hand was wrapped around Tian Yifei's waist.
Then, the mouths of the sculptures all spat out chains, which coiled around his neck and legs, forcing him to kneel in the center.
This was atonement.
"Our ancestors fought desperately to achieve today's Great Xia. If they hadn't bravely held back the enemy back then, do you think you would have the right to swagger around here? As the ancient saying goes, 'When drinking water, do not forget those who dug the well,' but you are a typical beast who bites the hand that feeds it. For beasts, this King has no mercy. Of course, you can resist, and you can call your family to save you.
But if no one comes to save you, I will tighten the chains by five centimeters until you are torn to pieces. Alternatively, you can kneel here. When the ground here returns to its original state, you may leave."
Ye Longlin showed no mercy. He never had any for people like him.
"I thought he was a strong person, but it turns out he's just like this. I got my hopes up for nothing. A mere Martial Spirit dares to make a move against us, I wonder who gave them the courage. It's boring, utterly boring."
Hearing this, Tian Yifei almost choked on his own breath.
"Boring" was his catchphrase, and now the other party was using it against him. He felt utterly stifled!
"And these other people, should we kill them directly?" Xuan Niao asked solemnly.
Ye Longlin waved his hand. Yuan Gang draped his cloak over Ye Longlin, and then he waved his hand again, "Handle them as you see fit."
After saying this, he began to ascend the mountain step by step.
This place was not a famous scenic spot, but it held great significance for the Southern Province. It was here that a natural barrier had once halted the enemy. Although it was not successfully defended in the end, all the defenders died here.
They might not have held the position, but they bought time.
After the 371st defending unit was wiped out, reinforcement troops arrived and repelled the enemy.
According to later statistics, during this period, only about a hundred people were harmed, minimizing casualties.
The reinforcement troops then arrived and engaged in battle here.
It is even said to this day, "Without Chuan, there is no army!"
When the three and a half million soldiers from Chuan'nan marched out, only over 130,000 returned.
Ye Longlin had always maintained respect and awe for the ancestors.
In an era where resources were scarce, and equipment was lacking, victory was achieved through countless lives. As soldiers of the new generation, they should cherish the hard-won peace even more.
Although there were still those who eyed the more than nine million square kilometers of land, his deterrence on the international stage kept many opportunistic elements from making a move. Moreover, Great Xia now had confidence.
Even with technological blockades and choking sanctions!
Our Great Xia has never yielded!
If you refuse to provide it, then I will build it myself.
If you say I'm bragging, then I will build it for you to see!
Even in military competitions a few years ago, a certain country shamelessly claimed to build a next-generation electromagnetic railgun, but in the end, it was just bluster.
Just when everyone had forgotten, one day, Great Xia announced to the world: We have built the electromagnetic railgun!
This was followed by global shock!
This is the backbone of our great nation today, and the source of our sense of security!
And all of this is built upon the victory of the past. Had they lost back then, there would be no Great Xia today.
Among the world's four ancient civilizations, only our Celestial Empire has endured to this day.
We can become a developed country in a few decades, and we can stand at the pinnacle of the world in a few decades!
The sleeping lion will eventually awaken, and when it does, everyone will have to show reverence!
"The Great Xia enjoys its current prosperity and countless lights in its homes because of the arduous struggles of our ancestors. This is the glory of Great Xia, and it is also the iron Great Wall forged with their blood and bodies!
Descendant soldier Ye Longlin greets the ancestors—do you see this prosperous era? This is the new Great Xia you envisioned, a new Great Xia that rose from ruins!
Today, we can ascend to the heavens and dive into the seas, we can take an enemy general's head from a thousand miles away, everyone has a car to drive, everyone has enough to eat, everyone has warm clothes—this is the Great Xia you imagined!"
"Descendant soldier Ye Longlin, leading the Dragon Pavilion warriors, salutes!"
"This prosperity is as you wished!"
"Swish swish swish—"
His voice echoed through the heavens and down to the foot of the mountain.
Countless soldiers looked up, tears in their eyes.
A ray of sunlight broke through the clouds, illuminating the sky and the earth.