Not only was the Panlong Heavenly Emperor puzzled, but the garrison within Azure Dragon City was even more so. They knew very well that the Imperial Palace had never been breached.

There must be some unknown secret involved.

"Hmph, so what if the City Protection Array has been activated? Kill them for me! Kill them ruthlessly!"

"Our Azure Dragon Heavenly Kingdom commands millions of soldiers, even the most formidable defensive array is as fragile as paper."

The Panlong Heavenly Emperor struggled like a dying man whose throat was caught.

"Order Commander Pang to lead the Dragon Guard to attack the city immediately!"

...

A large temporary military camp was stationed outside Azure Dragon City, precisely where the Dragon Guard was based.

Inside the largest camp, Commander Pang sat, wrestling with his conscience. The Sword Slave sent by Chu Feng, Han Dong, had not left. At that moment, he stood beside Commander Pang.

"Hehe, does Commander Pang need more time to consider? The activation of the City Protection Array, what does it mean? Surely you understand better than I do."

"The Imperial Palace has been breached, and our Great Chu Empire is riding high. Meanwhile, your family, along with the families of three hundred thousand Dragon Guard soldiers, are almost all in Azure Dragon City. A wise man adapts to the times; whether for your future or for your family’s sake, you should immediately pledge allegiance to our Emperor!"

Han Dong wore a confident smile, using his eloquence to persuade the senior officers of the Dragon Guard.

Of course, the key decision-maker was Commander Pang.

As long as Commander Pang nodded in agreement, it would be hard for the other Dragon Guard officers to oppose.

Tiny beads of sweat sprouted on Commander Pang’s slightly tanned forehead. To betray the Azure Dragon Heavenly Kingdom and surrender to the weaker Chu Feng, he had to consider carefully.

The fall of the Imperial Palace became the weapon that shattered his final line of defense.

As the leader of the Dragon Guard, he was well aware of Azure Dragon City’s formidable defenses. However, with Chu Feng capturing the Azure Dragon City Palace, he now controlled the entire Azure Dragon City.

Capable of both attack and defense, he was now in an invincible position.

Surrendering to Chu Feng would protect his family from harm.

After careful consideration, Commander Pang made up his mind, gritting his teeth as he said, "Fine, I’ll take a chance! The Panlong Heavenly Emperor is brutal and foolish; it’s not necessarily a bad thing to switch allegiance to the light."

He said this to the assembled officers.

"Pang De, you have some nerve to utter such treasonous words... ah..." The voice abruptly stopped as a sharp sword pierced through this general’s chest.

"Out of step with the times, you can’t blame anyone! Pass down the order to follow me into the city through the side gate immediately," Commander Pang stood up, his authoritative gaze sweeping across the room.

Having served as the leader of the Dragon Guard for over ten thousand years, spanning three generations of Heavenly Emperors, Commander Pang commanded absolute authority within the Dragon Guard.

The general he had just killed was a supervisor placed beside him by the Panlong Heavenly Emperor.

Before he made his decision, he dared not act rashly.

Now that he had resolved to seek a new master, he would naturally not hold back.

To prevent leaks, he did not immediately inform the ordinary Dragon Guard soldiers of the truth. He planned to make the announcement after entering the city.

At this moment, an imperial decree from the Panlong Heavenly Emperor also arrived.

Ordering the Dragon Guard to attack immediately.

Commander Pang immediately led the three hundred thousand Dragon Guard soldiers, with Han Qing guiding them, towards a side gate of Azure Dragon City.

"Hmm, why is the Dragon Guard not attacking from the front but moving to the side?" The Panlong Heavenly Emperor noticed something unusual and immediately asked the generals nearby.

The same junior officer as before replied, bowing, "Reporting to Your Majesty, our army has been attacking head-on for many days without success. So this time, while experts from the Dragon Slayer Sect and Alchemy Sword Sect draw the enemy’s main forces, Commander Pang is attacking from the side gate with the Dragon Guard, which might allow us to breach the city in one stroke."

"Hmm, it’s a clever plan! Unfortunately, the City Protection Array has been activated, making it much harder to breach the city now." The Panlong Heavenly Emperor, after hearing the junior officer’s explanation, did not doubt further.

After all, Commander Pang had served under three Monarchs.

Han Qing arrived at the city wall and immediately called for the gate to be opened.

The general guarding this side gate was Yan Qing, under Chu Feng.

Seeing that Han Dong indeed brought the Dragon Guard, he was overjoyed. He immediately ordered his soldiers to open the side gate and let the Dragon Guard enter the city.

Commander Pang and several senior officers understood what was happening, but the ordinary Dragon Guard soldiers were puzzled.

What was going on?

Could it be that the commander had such powers and had bribed the garrison commander of the Great Chu Empire?

Three hundred thousand soldiers is a considerable number, all entering in an orderly manner.

It took just an hour to get all three hundred thousand soldiers into the city.

Once they were inside, the side gate was closed.

"Soldiers, listen well. I, your Commander, have decided to abandon darkness for light, surrendering to the new master, Chu Feng. If anyone is unwilling, I swear by our years of comradeship not to force you. I will find a way for you to leave the city."

"To speak frankly, for your families and for a brighter future, surrendering to the Great Chu Empire might be your wisest choice."

Commander Pang’s announcement was like throwing a bomb among a shoal of fish, causing an uproar.

The Dragon Guard was the Azure Dragon Heavenly Kingdom’s elite force. From the first day in the Dragon Tiger Camp, their loyalty had been instilled.

Now suddenly asked to betray the Azure Dragon Heavenly Kingdom, many found it hard to accept.

But it didn’t matter, aside from Commander Pang, the other senior officers also began persuading their soldiers. Layer by layer, the soldiers’ minds were rapidly changing.

Ultimately, only a very few disagreed with surrendering.

"To those who disagree, as I said before, I will not force you. You can leave the city now."

Entering the city was hard, but leaving was easy.

Because the City Protection Array has a unique feature: it defends against outside attacks, not internal ones.

Any external attack or enemy is repelled by the City Protection Array. But inside, arrows and sword light can easily pierce through and attack the enemy. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

This is the strength of the City Protection Array.

At this point, if the Panlong Heavenly Emperor still hadn’t realized the Dragon Guard’s betrayal, he would indeed be lacking in intelligence.

He noticed that the Dragon Guard had entered Azure Dragon City smoothly and then became silent. Even a fool would realize that his most elite Dragon Guard had likely betrayed him.

"A bunch of ingrates! We’ve raised you in the Azure Dragon Heavenly Kingdom for so many years. Even a dog knows how to wag its tail." The Panlong Heavenly Emperor was so furious he nearly spat blood.

He, along with several Divine Generals and the few remaining experts of the Azure Dragon Royal Family, went to inspect the side gate.

Just then, Chu Feng learned that Commander Pang and the Dragon Guard had surrendered and immediately rushed from the inner city.

Although he didn’t understand why the City Protection Array had suddenly been activated, the Dragon Guard’s surrender was a huge boon. Ever since he absorbed all the fortune from the Azure Dragon Heavenly Kingdom, good tidings had continuously arrived.

A nation’s fortune is truly significant.