Horton looked at Xiao Xun, "Him? A despicable and shameless clown who only resorts to cheap tricks, why should someone as weak as him, who can't even use magic, lead my Phoenix Army."
Xiao Xun walked up to Horton and said to the two guards beside him, "Let him go."
The guards were all close guards of Celerpes, and they would not obey anyone's orders except the Empress, just like Xiao Xun's Twelve Star Envoys.
Seeing that the guards were not listening to him, Xiao Xun didn't say much and looked at Horton, "You're not convinced, why don't we have a duel? If you win, I'll tell Her Majesty and let you go back to be your Duke, and this matter will be dropped. If I win, I want you to personally acknowledge my ducal status to the soldiers below, and then go to your prison."
Horton sneered and pointed at Celerpes, "You? If you lose, what if she doesn't admit it?"
Xiao Xun spread his hands, "Then there's nothing else. You can kill me to vent your anger! I'll die in vain."
Horton roared, "Good! Whether she agrees or not, as long as you let me go, I will definitely kill you."
Xiao Xun turned to Celerpes with great confidence, bowed, and said, "Please, Your Majesty, grant permission."
Celerpes blinked twice and said to her guards, "Release Horton!"
The two guards released Horton. Horton raised his hand, revealing the magical restraint shackles on his wrist.
"If this isn't removed? Then there's no point in competing. You can just let him kill me."
Xiao Xun turned to the Twelve Star Envoys and said, "You few, you are not allowed to help."
The twelve simultaneously crossed their arms over their chests, "Yes!"
Xiao Xun went over, removed Horton's shackles, and threw them back. Aries caught them.
"Is that alright now?"
Horton lowered his head, rubbing his wrists.
Suddenly, he looked up sharply, and his hands erupted with transcendent flames, "Go to hell!"
Everyone present cursed Horton for being shameless and launching a sneak attack.
Horton roared, "To deal with a clown like this, you have to use the same methods."
The immense flames instantly evaporated the surrounding rainwater into scalding steam. A vast amount of gas permeated the air, making it impossible for anyone to see the figures of the two men.
A smile curved Xiao Xun's lips, "Come on! I want to defeat you honorably and show everyone who the real clown is."
Facing Horton's scorching Phoenix Fire, Xiao Xun raised his hands, emitting white light, and received all the flames.
Like a toilet flush, a small vortex directly drew all of Horton's flames into his hands.
Horton sucked in air with difficulty. The flames just now were his ultimate move. If nothing went wrong, not only Xiao Xun, but everyone behind him would have been affected. Rainwater? Even from the depths of the ocean, it could still be released.
At this moment, someone patted Horton on the shoulder. Horton was startled, turned his head, and saw.
With a "slap," a slap sent him tumbling to the ground. He looked at Xiao Xun, who had hit him, as if he were a monster.
Pointing at him, he roared, "You, you dodged?"
Xiao Xun shook his head, took the restraint shackles from Aries, and held them in his hand. "No, I saw you standing there stupidly, so I called out to you. You lost, you can put these on and leave."
Horton retreated a few steps, nearly falling off the city wall. He leaned against the wall bricks and pointed at Xiao Xun, "Why? I'm not convinced."
Xiao Xun expressionlessly threw the shackles in his hand in front of Horton, "Are you sure you're not convinced?"
Horton said decisively, "Yes, that's right. You must have used some special magical artifacts and spiritual weapons."
Xiao Xun raised his left hand, palm up, "Then watch carefully."
The surging flame waves instantly evaporated all the clouds in the sky. The vast mist instantly enveloped the entire capital of Saintromania, reducing visibility to less than two meters.
Horton quickly crouched down, picked up the shackles, and put them on himself. He knew in his heart that with his talent, even if he practiced until he died, he wouldn't be able to achieve that effect with fire magic.
The fact that the other party didn't blast that flame at him was already sparing his life.
The flame wave just now was seen by almost all the citizens, but only those closest could see who unleashed such a destructive flame.
Prince Mestor of Wanyin Kingdom and Prince Bixu of Liukao Island, who were preparing to participate in the third match, felt a chill of fear. Fortunately, the competition was postponed, otherwise, they might never have returned to their homeland alive.
From this moment on, they also gave up any hope of participating in the third match.
The rebellion was perfectly resolved, and Xiao Xun successfully ascended as the new commander of the Phoenix Army and one of the six new dukes of Saintromania. However, the territory that originally belonged to Horton was brought under the direct jurisdiction of Celerpes.
And those two dragons were also recovered.
Xiao Xun looked at Horton, who was being escorted away, and asked Celerpes beside him, "Why didn't you just kill him?"
Celerpes looked at where Horton was leaving, "Since the planet's recorded history, it has been the same in all countries; those with noble titles do not face the death penalty."
Celerpes had not yet officially announced the new commander of the Phoenix Army, so she had the captain of the guards summon all officers of the Phoenix Army at the rank of Legion Commander and above.
Looking at these Legion Commanders, all of whom were injured, Celerpes knew that her subordinates had not spared them.
"I know you are all Horton's confidantes, but you are also citizens of Saintromania and subject to the rule of my Guangyan family. Now you have two choices: First, demote yourselves by one rank and continue to serve in the Phoenix Army; Second, take off your armor, and I will let you return to your homeland and become commoners again."
All the Legion Commanders seemed to have agreed beforehand. They knelt on one knee and saluted Celerpes, "Your Majesty, we are willing to continue serving in the Phoenix Army, for Your Majesty and Lord Sven."
Behind Celerpes stood heavily armored guards. If even one Legion Commander had chosen to take off their armor, they would have met their doom.
Celerpes ordered the respective Legion Commanders to lead their troops to a corner within the city, near the city walls, for encampment. She also ordered the close guards to keep watch, and if there was any unrest, the guards above would immediately provide fire coverage.
This situation continued until they found a new commander, after which they were granted their freedom.
During this period, these soldiers also endured considerable physical and mental torment. Physically, they ate only one meal a day, just enough to fill their stomachs, which was considered good, as they didn't have to work, only remain there.
The most tormenting was the mental anguish. After all, battles inevitably led to deaths. The families of the deceased would curse the soldiers of the Phoenix Army loudly every day through the fences.
They dared not retort. Some soldiers with strong pride could not bear the curses and hanged themselves.
The city guards adopted a policy of turning a blind eye, as they could not arbitrarily harm the Phoenix Army personnel. After all, this unit had now become the close guards of their most admired peerless strategist, Sven. However, they would not prevent ordinary citizens from cursing them.
For a time, the soldiers of the Phoenix Army hid in makeshift tents, covering their ears, not daring to go out. Especially the fences, which were initially to prevent the Phoenix Army from escaping, now ironically became their "defensive line" for protection.
After this battle, it was already late at night when they returned to the main bedroom of the castle.
Mu Jiahe and Xiao Xun did not speak first. They had become the most familiar strangers.
Xiao Xun rubbed his drowsy head and prepared to get dressed and get out of bed. Unexpectedly, Mu Jiahe reached out and grabbed his arm.
"Are you still angry with me?"
Xiao Xun did not turn his head, "You're right, you were born in this world, grew up in this world, and you are the ruler of this world. They are all your subjects, and I am nothing, just a clown living off your money."
"I never said the latter part, don't wrong me."
Xiao Xun lowered his head and still did not turn around, "Yes, you didn't say those words, but everyone thinks that way."
Mu Jiahe gently pulled Xiao Xun's hand back, "Then you will have to work hard to change your image in the hearts of those people."
Xiao Xun desperately wanted to shake off Mu Jiahe's hand, but those hands were as soft as boneless, cool and pleasant, holding him felt incredibly comfortable, as if possessing a magical power that kept him from moving.
"Oh dear! I know you've been wronged, how about this, I'll give you a reward."
Hearing Mu Jiahe's words, there was a hint of coaxing.
Xiao Xun's ears immediately turned red, "I, I don't care for your reward."
"Is that so?"