As the last brick was laid on the city wall, the Qianfeng Pass was officially completed. Looking at the massive city wall, 30 meters thick and 28 meters high, like a natural chasm spanning the four-kilometer-long canyon of Qianfeng Pass, all the NPCs of the Eastern Kingdom were overjoyed.
The walls of the front pass were more than twice as high as those of the central pass, so even if the skeleton army attacked again, defending the city wouldn't be too difficult. Add to that the dozen or so giant crossbows mounted on the cliffs on either side, hundreds of meters above the ground, and the front pass was practically impregnable. The soldiers no longer had to fight to the death to defend the city, and they all grinned with joy.
Especially for Nok, the commander of the Qiongfeng Pass Legion, and Zhen Nantian, the senior commander of the Zhenyuan Legion, the heavy weight in their hearts finally lifted, as if in a dream.
"Report! Lord City, Commander Jiang, the front pass has been completed. Commander Nok has sent us to summon you back, saying that the rewards are about to begin."
A group of guards came up behind Jiang Hao and the city lord of Jinling City and said excitedly.
So fast?
It was already dawn, and only about 20 hours had passed since the city wall was started. Looking at the vast, white northern ice plains ahead, both Jiang Hao and the city lord were somewhat surprised.
Upon re-ascending the city walls of the Vanguard Pass, the view was far more expansive than that of the Central Pass. Jiang Hao saw that hundreds of massive cannons and crossbows had already been erected on the new walls. Hundreds of archer and mage platforms had also been completed. It was essentially an enlarged version of the Central Pass walls.
Inside the city walls, over 200,000 players stood in the plaza, awaiting their rewards upon completing the quest. The moment Jiang Hao and an NPC with a swollen face arrived on the city walls, a noisy commotion erupted in the plaza.
"Haha, that NPC's design is so unique! Did it get hit in the face by a bulldozer?"
"Oh my god, isn't that the Lord of Hell? What's he doing here?"
"It's the Lord of Hell! He can still log on! He can still log on! I knew it! I knew it! How could a curse that breaks blood possibly force him offline?"
"Didn't he log off? How come he's standing on the city wall? Did he just log back in and get this reward?"
"Wow, he's not coming to move bricks on the city wall, but he's very enthusiastic about collecting the reward!"
"Stop kidding! Do you think these NPCs are idiots? They've kept records. You expect a reward without lifting a finger? Dream on!"
The city lord of Jinling City stood next to Jiang Hao, looking at him while surveying the newly repaired front pass. He grinned from ear to ear, as if he had forgotten the pain on his right cheek.
"The capture of Hei at Qiqi Pass was a great achievement, thanks in no small part to Captain Jiang Jun."
It must have been difficult for the City Lord of Jinling; at least he managed to make things clear with those last four words.
"Shut up. You have a lisp and you still talk so much. Don't you care whether others can stand it or not?"
Jiang Hao had long been fed up with the Jinling City Lord's lisp, and quickly stopped him from continuing. Looking at Nok, who was slumped on the stretcher like a dead dog, Jiang Hao pointed at Zhen Nantian and said, "You take over."
Zhen Nantian gave Jiang Hao a crisp military salute and loudly replied, "Yes, sir!"
So he leaped up and jumped onto the high platform.
All the players in the square were completely dumbfounded!
Although the players couldn't hear their conversation atop the city wall, they could clearly see Zhen Nantian saluting Jiang Hao.
Wow, the Lord of Hell is so powerful! Even the great general among the NPCs has to salute him.
You should know that for some time now, even the ordinary soldiers guarding the city walls have been bossing the players around and never giving them a kind look.
But what about the Lord of Hell?
He had only just logged in and happened to be standing on the city wall. What merit did he have to deserve the salute of the highest-ranking general?
After Zhen Nantian climbed onto the high platform, he bent down and took out a silver-grade energy crystal from his pocket, placing it into a small hole on the general's platform.
"Ladies and gentlemen, on behalf of the city lord of Jinling City, I would like to express my gratitude to all the adventurers who have come to participate in the city's construction."
It was as if that energy crystal had activated some kind of magic array. Zhen Nantian's words, amplified in some way, became exceptionally loud, and all the players in the entire square could hear them clearly.
"Three months ago, the Skeleton Legion began its attack on the Northern Ice Plains. Two months ago, Jubei City fell. Four days ago, the Skeleton Legion had already occupied the entire Northern Ice Plains and began its attack on Qianfeng Pass. Two days ago, Qianfeng Pass fell, the entire pass was razed to the ground, and 200,000 warriors of the Eastern Kingdoms fell forever where we stand now."
Although Zhen Nantian spoke in a rather somber tone, players who had not experienced that war could not possibly imagine its brutality.
"Yesterday, countless Iron and Bronze level skeleton monsters began their attack on the Central Peak Pass. Commander Jiang single-handedly resisted the entire skeleton army's attack and pushed them back to the northern ice plains. This bought us enough space and time to rebuild the Front Peak Pass."
Zhen Nantian's voice echoed through the Qiongfeng Pass. The square, which had been somewhat agitated, was now completely silent.
The skeleton army that had swept across the northern ice plains in three months was actually stopped by a single player?
If this is true, then how terrifying must Commander Jiang's strength be?
Even the Lord of Hell would probably find it difficult to do.
Thinking of this, all 240,000 players felt their scalps tingle and the hairs on their bodies stand on end.
"Commander Jiang is mighty!"
Zhen Nantian, atop the high platform, raised his arms and shouted. Simultaneously, all the soldiers at the Qiongfeng Pass drew their weapons with a snap, raising them high to the sky. Sunlight shone on the gleaming weapons, sending chills down one's spine.
"Commander Jiang is mighty!"
"Commander Jiang is mighty!"
"Commander Jiang is mighty!"
This was the unified shout of 100,000 soldiers. Although there was no magic array to enhance it, the sound still soared to the heavens, causing small stones on the cliff to tumble down.
The players finally understood just how important Commander Jiang, whose presence had been constantly whispered in their ears since they arrived, truly was to these NPCs. At the same time, they all became curious: why hadn't Commander Jiang appeared yet?
Players began to look around. But no matter how they looked, apart from the Lord of Hell standing on the city wall with the NPC commanders, there wasn't a single other player in sight.
Some outlandish speculations began to appear in the minds of some players.
Could it be that the Lord of Hell standing on the city wall is none other than Commander Jiang, who single-handedly held off the Skeleton Legion?
Impossible, absolutely impossible!
How could a level 18 player possibly have such strength?
"Therefore, all the soldiers of my Eastern Kingdom once again thank our Commander Jiang."
After saying this, the 240,000 players standing in the square saw Zhen Nantian, who was standing on the General's Platform, actually kneel down towards the Lord of Hell on the city wall.
"Commander Xie Jiang!"
Zhen Nantian's loud voice echoed throughout the entire Qiongfeng Pass.
At the same time, throughout the entire Qiongfeng Pass, whether it was the soldiers standing on the city wall, the NPC commander standing with the Lord of Hell, or the soldiers standing in the square with the players, they all knelt down in the direction where the Lord of Hell was standing.
"Commander Xie Jiang!"
The shouts of 100,000 soldiers resounded through the heavens, deafeningly loud!
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