"Hengtian Immortal Dynasty, having pledged allegiance to the Hong family for ten million years, had long since grown powerful enough to swallow the Western Frontier. This Great Han Divine Dynasty painstakingly dismantled Hengtian, surely at immense cost. My lord, in my opinion, the Great Han Divine Dynasty must be depleted of its reserves. We might just be able to seize the Western Frontier in one fell swoop, then turn our attention eastward to East Yao, or perhaps strike out from Great Han into the Northern幽之地!"
Ge Lian's eyes were bloodshot, his head bowed, daring not to meet the old man's gaze.
"What you say is not without merit. Currently, my Hun family, along with the Jiang Zuo families, the Hong family, and the Chu family, are jointly confronting the Wang family's four clans. We have been locked in fierce battle for days in Undying City, East Yao, sinking many Dao Provinces. Countless forces have been swept up in this great war!"
"Even in the battle of Undying City, though our Hun family's four clans and the Wang family's four clans fought to a draw, we still lost many of our disciples. Several ancestors who had reached the realm of planes perished within the void!"
"Now, the battle of Undying City has just subsided, and the Wang family's four clans have once again launched an attack, advancing along two routes, arrayed at the borders of the Jiang Zuo families and the Chu family. Bloodshed has erupted anew. A victory cannot be determined in the Central Plains battlefield. For now, it hinges on whether your Blackwater Immortal Dynasty, Fallen Immortal Dynasty, Azure Dragon Palace, and White Tiger Pavilion can sweep through East Yao, Northern You, and the Western Frontier!"
The old man opened his eyes, a rune slowly swirling within them.
"My lord speaks wisely. The Wang family's four clans are, after all, Immortal Lord powers, our strength is comparable. The battle in the Central Plains may not cease in a short time. We must first focus on the Western Frontier, Northern You, and East Yao, sweep through these planes, and then jointly encircle and attack the Wang family's four clans in the Central Plains!"
Ge Lian said in a deep voice.
"Encircle and attack?"
The old man sneered, stood up, and looked at the kneeling Ge Lian with disdain, "Even our Chu family's four clans and the Wang family's four clans have fought for ten million years without a clear victor, not losing an inch of territory. And you, with your Blackwater Immortal Dynasty and Fallen Immortal Dynasty? You think you can encircle the Wang family's four clans?"
"In the battle of the Central Plains, even beings of the Great Celestial Venerable realm are merely cannon fodder. Without reaching the Supreme Profound Venerable realm, you will not even have the power to protect yourselves. You are better off clearing out these ant-like forces for us four clans!"
"The Wang family's four clans have their own plans orchestrated by Lord Zhu!"
"Yes, yes, yes! My lord is correct! My lord, I am curious, Lord Zhu's primordial spirit has already been unsealed. Why has he not appeared in the battle of the Central Plains? If Lord Zhu were to act, the Wang family's four clans would surely collapse swiftly!"
Startled, Ge Lian broke out in a cold sweat and quickly bowed subserviently.
"It is not that simple. Lord Zhu's primordial spirit was suppressed and refined by the Immortal Lord for an era. It is already extremely weakened. Even if our four clans combine forces to repair it, it will likely take a hundred years to recover to its peak!"
The old man's face was filled with sorrow, "However, it is fortunate that the Wang family's four clans and we are evenly matched and cannot defeat each other. We have persisted for ten million years, and a hundred years more will not matter. Since you have gathered the necessary information, you may now lead your troops into battle!"
"Yes, my lord. I shall make the arrangements immediately!"
Ge Lian rose and walked out of the great hall. Outside the hall, three deputy generals, all at the Great Celestial Venerable realm, waited quietly.
"Go forth and relay my order: mobilize three million troops from Water Cloud City!"
"You three will accompany me into battle!"
"Yes!"
The three deputy generals respectfully saluted and then, waving their banners, mobilized three million troops within half an hour. They set off in a mighty procession towards the Southern Cloud Mountain Range.
...
On the southern border of the Yun Clan Immortal Dynasty, at East Cloud City.
"Have you heard? Our Yun Clan's army commander has changed again! The day before yesterday, the Immortal Emperor issued an order, enfeoffing someone... it seems his name is Geng Yan, enfeoffing him as the Grand Marshal of the Army, in command of the three armies. Even General Deng and General Zhang are only assigned as deputy generals, to assist Geng Yan!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk!"
"It's truly terrifying. Who are General Deng and General Zhang? They are the supreme powerhouses who slaughtered three ancestors of the Yun Clan lineage! Even the old Immortal Emperor, empowered by the nation's destiny, could not defeat them. Tsk, tsk, tsk, they are impossibly powerful! Those invincible within the Great Celestial Venerable realm are only worthy of being deputy generals to assist, I can't imagine who this Geng Yan is!"
"Quick, quick, quick! Stop talking, people are coming through the teleportation array!"
Several soldiers, murmuring discreetly, hurriedly stood up. They saw two burly figures emerge from the teleportation array. One of them was General Zhang Hao, whom they were familiar with. The other, naturally, was the newly enfeoffed Grand Marshal of the Army, Geng Yan.
A short while later.
"Your subordinate Deng Qiang, leading the three armies, pays respects to the Grand Marshal of the Army!"
Deng Qiang knelt on one knee, holding the marshal's seal.
"Paying respects to the Grand Marshal!"
"Paying respects to the Grand Marshal!"
"Paying respects to the Grand Marshal!"
Innumerable soldiers and civilians in East Cloud City bowed in unison.
"Rise!"
Geng Yan took the marshal's seal and headed towards the great hall. Deng Qiang quickly rose, looking at the burly figure. Before him stood Geng Yan, the Great General of Jianwei, who had assisted Liu Xiu in establishing the Eastern Han and conquering forty-six commanderies and over three hundred cities!
"Speak."
Inside the great hall, Geng Yan removed his armor, revealing the close-fitting Azure Dragon battle armor. He pointed casually at the map and said.
"General Geng Yan!"
Deng Qiang said, "This is the border defense stronghold of the Azure Dragon Palace. The commander of the army is an elder of the Green Ghost Snake clan, at the peak of the Great Celestial Venerable realm. The estimated strength of the army is about three million troops!"
"The Azure Dragon Palace is a clan-based force, unlike a nation like the Blackwater Immortal Dynasty, which can easily muster millions of troops. These three million soldiers are approximately two-thirds of the forces the Azure Dragon Palace can mobilize!"
"Only three million?"
Geng Yan looked at the map and said, "Then lure the troops of the White Tiger Pavilion and the Fallen Immortal Dynasty stationed in the Xuanwu Hall here. Only three million, it's truly not that significant!"
"Lure the troops of the White Tiger Pavilion and the Fallen Immortal Dynasty, who are currently occupying the Xuanwu Hall, to come here. Once we have them, we can openly march our army into the Xuanwu Hall and take over some of their cities!"
Currently, Great Han's expedition was only declaring war on the affiliated forces of the Hong family's four clans, not on the Hong family's four clans themselves. It was not advisable to make too many enemies, but there was no reason not to reap benefits.
"What strategy does General Geng have?"
Zhang Hao asked, his brow furrowed.
"Currently, the White Tiger Pavilion and the Fallen Immortal Dynasty have a combined force of seven million troops sweeping through the Xuanwu Hall. Xuanwu Hall is unable to resist and has lost fifty Dao Provinces in one battle. The enemy's momentum is strong. The Human Realm and the Great Yin Immortal Dynasty have dispatched troops to assist Xuanwu Hall. They fought a great battle in the Xuanwu Hall's sect territory, repelling the enemy ten Dao Provinces. Currently, the six million troops of the Fallen Immortal Dynasty and the White Tiger Pavilion are temporarily stationed in Dongwu City, the heartland of Xuanwu Hall."
"The Emperor of the Fallen Immortal Dynasty and the Pavilion Master of the White Tiger Pavilion, to be cautious, have further dispatched three million troops to advance towards Dongwu City."
"Dongwu City is right here!"
Deng Qiang pointed at the map and explained the situation of Xuanwu Hall in a few words.
"What is this place called?"
Geng Yan pointed to a city in the very center of East Yao, which was also the junction of the four major powers: the Azure Dragon Palace, Xuanwu Hall, White Tiger Pavilion, and Vermilion Bird City.