Fearing being killed for his overwhelming merits, the empress decided to marry him.

"Shen Lang, you piece of trash, go to hell!"

"It's all your fault that Young Master Mu can't be with the Empress forever!"

"I'll beat you to death, you traitor!"

"You think you can scare us away with just a few fire sticks? That's utterly ridiculous!"

The mob had no idea how terrifying those "fire sticks" aimed at them were.

Perhaps their violence has gone out of control these past two days, giving them a huge illusion that they can stand against the entire dynasty.

They thought the group of soldiers in front of them, who weren't even wearing armor, were nothing but a rabble, and that they could easily crush them with a single roar.

The mob instantly quickened their pace, frantically closing in on the Imperial Guard.

At this moment, the sand in the crystal hourglass is about to fall out.

Zeng Qian, mingling at the back of the crowd and protected by a group of martial artists, revealed a disdainful smile in his eyes.

"Shen Lang, you've come here to die. Let's see how you handle this situation!"

Zeng Qian couldn't wait to see Shen Lang torn to pieces by the mob.

"Kill Shen Lang!"

"Kill Shen Lang!"

"Kill Shen Lang!"

The mob continued their advance, chanting loud slogans and approaching the Imperial Guard formation with fearless expressions.

Just as they entered the seventy-step range, the hourglass failed.

Without saying a word, Shen Lang raised his right hand high.

All the new recruits who had raised their rifles held their breath at the sight.

It happened in an instant, accompanied by Shen Lang's arm gently swaying down.

Qu Yi was the first to shout, "Fire!"

bang bang bang-

Amidst the roar, the two front rows of soldiers instinctively pulled the triggers.

In just a moment, a puff of white smoke emerged from the muzzle of the gun.

The bullet, struck by the firing pin, slid rapidly out of the barrel along the rifling.

Puff puff puff——

Instantly, a cloud of blood mist rose from the crowd ahead.

What followed was an extremely painful wail.

"what happened?"

Zeng Qian was also stunned by the intense gunfire.

Before he could understand what was happening, another gunshot rang out.

The third and fourth rows of Imperial Guards soldiers also pulled the triggers with expressionless faces.

Crossfire erupted, instantly sending delicate blossoms of blood into the crowd, which then collided, creating a thick mist of blood.

The stench of blood finally brought the mob to their senses, and the crowd instantly erupted into chaos, scattering in all directions.

"Murder!"

"The government troops are killing people!"

"My God, that's terrifying! They actually dared to do it!"

When the terrified shouts of the mob rang out in the crowd, Zeng Qian was stunned.

Shen Lang, does he really dare to lay a hand on ordinary people?

Although he did indeed hope to see some blood and have a few people die to achieve his goal.

But when this scene actually happened, Zeng Qian finally realized what was happening.

Things got bigger.

"All troops, listen to my command! Anyone who carries weapons, poses a threat to the army, or dares to obstruct the march shall be executed on the spot without reporting back!"

"Yes!"

Shen Lang issued a stern order, and the Imperial Guards began to advance slowly in groups of one hundred, coordinating with each other.

bang bang bang-

Another burst of bullets rang out, and more than a dozen rioters wielding machetes were instantly knocked to the ground.

Lu Meng, who was in charge of the purge, remained expressionless as he led his troops forward toward Weiyang Palace.

The soldier behind him numbly pulled the bolt, ejected the spent cartridge, reloaded a new bullet, and picked up his gun to continue aiming forward.

"Dare to make a move? I'll fight you to the death!"

A martial artist at the peak of the Acquired Realm immediately activated all the internal energy in his body, and a ball of crimson flame appeared in each of his left and right palms.

"Behold my Five Thunder Transformation Technique... Ah..."

bang bang bang-

The next moment, more than a dozen rifles opened fire simultaneously, and the flying bullets mercilessly pierced through his body.

"Uh……"

For a moment, he stared ahead in disbelief, and the true energy he had gathered instantly vanished.

"Why, why is this happening? This is the Dao Venerable's legacy! Why...why..."

With an expression of utter disbelief, the martial artist collapsed straight into a pool of blood.

The last thing he saw before he closed his eyes was a series of leather shoes stepping over his face.

Perhaps he never imagined that the martial arts skills he had painstakingly practiced for decades would be so useless that he wouldn't even have a chance to fight before his life was ended by a series of "fire sticks".

"You son of a bitch, just die."

Another martial artist, also at the Acquired Realm, wielded a Guan Dao and leaped forward to charge at the martial artist.

"Let me show you the martial art left behind by Daoist Shen Zhao in the mortal world: Breaking Army - Demon Slayer!"

Looking at the martial artists performing in mid-air, Qu Yi's eyes instantly turned cold, and he immediately ordered, "Fire!"

Bang bang bang bang bang——

After a burst of gunfire, the martial artist who had been airborne fell vertically to the ground ten steps away from the new army.

"Why...why is this happening..."

Blood quickly soaked through his clothes, and even in death, the martial artist could not believe that the inconspicuous "fire poker" could so easily take his life.

Just then, a gun barrel was pointed at his head.

"The Daoist Master's legacy? Hmph..."

Qu Yi's cold and cruel face appeared, and his pupils shrank involuntarily.

"Times have changed."

boom!

A gunshot rang out, and the martial artist's brains splattered all over the ground.

"keep going!"

Qu Yi sheathed his gun and roared, as if he had done something insignificant.

"No, don't kill me, don't kill me, ah—"

"shooting--"

Bang bang bang bang bang bang——

Lu Meng's side encountered a mob of warriors blocking their way.

They originally intended to teach the new army a lesson, but when they saw their fellow martial artists falling one after another under the gunfire, they were terrified and began to beg for mercy.

However, even though they begged for mercy, they did not drop their weapons.

According to the regulations of the Imperial Guard, anyone carrying a weapon or staff is considered an enemy.

Therefore, Lü Meng showed no mercy and decisively ordered the rifles to fire.

The moment the gun fired, a cloud of blood filled the air, and more than a dozen martial artists were riddled with bullets.

"keep going!"

The Imperial Guard continued its slow advance, squeezing the space for the mob smaller and smaller.

Zeng Qian was trembling all over. He thought his plan was a sure thing, but it turned out to be as vulnerable as a clay chicken or a dog in front of the new army.

"Sir, let's go quickly! These soldiers are too strange. Their fire sticks can easily break through the defenses of martial artists."

"Okay, hurry up, hurry up..."

Zeng Qian panicked completely and, taking advantage of the chaos, squeezed through the crowd and escaped the scene under the protection of the martial artists.

"Quickly report to His Majesty!"

Upon seeing this, the commander of the Imperial Guards immediately ordered his subordinates to report it.

Seeing that vast expanse of blue ocean, for some reason, his heart was filled with excitement.

"Squat down! All of you, squat down!"

"Within three breaths, kneel down with your hands behind your back, or you will be executed by military law!"

Holding a Browning pistol, Shen Lang pierced the head of a martial artist who was trying to launch a sneak attack with a single shot, and then fired two more shots into the air.

Soon, the panicked mob became as docile as sheep, obediently squatting in place under the threat of firearms.

However, some birdmen did not listen and instead tried to escape.

Without hesitation, Shen Lang decisively ordered the firing.

After a burst of gunfire, the mob that had tried to escape also fell into pools of blood.

Some died on the spot, while others groaned in pain on the ground.

The Imperial Guard soldiers showed no mercy, immediately firing a shot at those who disobeyed orders, ending their suffering.

In just 45 minutes, the mob in front of Weiyang Palace was completely brought under control.

The corpses scattered everywhere and the chaotic scene all speak to this cruel reality.

Meanwhile, similar scenes were playing out on the streets of Nanjing.

"shooting--"

bang bang bang-

Inside a shop, a large mob defied military orders and, encouraged by the warriors, attempted to storm the Imperial Guard.

Zhang Dingbian decisively ordered the firing.

Amidst the smoke and fire, the thugs, along with their commanding martial arts retainers, perished on the spot.

"From this moment forward, the Imperial Guard will take control of all major thoroughfares in Nanjing. All respectable men are not to linger on the streets; return home immediately to await orders."

"Once the unrest subsides, orders will be delivered! If you disobey, those before you will suffer the same fate!"

Zhang Dingbian's voice was very loud, and under his iron-fisted approach, all the key roads in Jinling were successfully controlled.

The security situation in Nanjing is finally starting to improve...

Inside Weiyang Palace, the officials had already heard the huge commotion coming from outside the palace gates.

Just as everyone was expressing their doubts, a guard from the Imperial Guard came to report.

"Your Majesty, a group of soldiers calling themselves the Imperial Guards have appeared outside Weiyang Palace. Led by Commander Shen, they have brought the chaos outside the Imperial City under control."

These words sparked a flurry of discussion within the hall.

Ye Mo frowned and looked at Jiang Mengxuan in disbelief.

Could it be that the Empress had already made all the arrangements?

Is everything just a delaying tactic?

Jiang Mengxuan, sitting on the dragon throne, remained calm on the surface upon hearing the news, but her heart was in turmoil.

"How did he quell the palace riots so quickly? Was the new army too powerful, or were the rioters too weak? How did he manage to do it?"

After a moment, she tried to calm her turbulent emotions, took a deep breath, stood up and said to the officials, "My lords, follow me to the palace gate to welcome Commander Shen."