"Hengtian Immortal Dynasty, having pledged allegiance to the Hong family for tens of millions of years, has long grown strong enough to devour the Western Frontier. The Great Han Divine Dynasty went to great lengths to dismantle Hengtian, surely at immense cost. My lord, in my humble opinion, the Great Han Divine Dynasty must be depleted of its reserves. We might be able to seize the Western Frontier in one fell swoop, free our hands, and then advance eastward towards Dongyao or break out from Great Han and invade the Northern幽 land!"
Ge Lian's eyes were bloodshot as he lowered his head, not daring to meet the elder's gaze.
"What you say is not without merit. Currently, my Hun family, the Jiangzuo aristocratic family, the Hong family, and the Chu family are united against the Wang family's four clans. We have been locked in fierce battle for days in Undying City in Dongyao, sinking many Dao Provinces, and countless forces have been swept up in this great war!"
"However, regarding the battle of Undying City, my Hun family's four clans and the Wang family's four clans fought to a draw. But we also lost many of our clan's disciples, and several old ancestors who had reached the Plane perished in the void!"
"Now that the battle of Undying City has just subsided, the Wang family's four clans have attacked again, deploying forces on two fronts, arrayed at the border between the Jiangzuo aristocratic family and the Chu family. Bloodshed has erupted anew. The battle in the Central Plains will not be decided quickly. For now, we must rely on your Blackwater Immortal Dynasty, Fallen Immortal Dynasty, Azure Dragon Palace, and White Tiger Pavilion to sweep through Dongyao, Northern幽, and the Western Frontier!"
The elder opened his eyes, a rune slowly flowing within.
"My lord speaks wisely. The Wang family's four clans are, after all, Immortal Lord powers, equivalent to our strength. The battle in the Central Plains will likely not end soon. We must first start from the Western Frontier, Northern幽, and Dongyao, sweep through the planes, and then combine our forces to attack the Wang family's four clans in the Central Plains!"
Ge Lian said in a deep voice.
"Attack?"
The elder sneered and stood up, looking down at the kneeling Ge Lian with disdain. "Even though my Chu family's four clans and the Wang family's four clans have fought for tens of millions of years without a clear victor, and not an inch of land has been lost, you expect your Blackwater Immortal Dynasty and Fallen Immortal Dynasty to attack the Wang family's four clans?"
"In the Central Plains' war, even Great Celestial Beings are only fit to charge into battle. Without reaching the Supreme Profound Venerable realm, one might not even have the power to protect themselves. You are better off clearing out these ant-like forces for us four clans!"
"The Wang family's four clans have their own plans regarding 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 deferentially.
"It is not as simple as that. Lord Zhu's primordial spirit was suppressed and tempered by the Immortal Lord for an era. It is already extremely weak. Even with the combined efforts of our four clans to repair it, it will likely take a hundred years to recover its peak!"
The elder's face was filled with sorrow. "However, it is fortunate that the Wang family's four clans and we are evenly matched, neither able to overcome the other. We have held out for tens of millions of years, and a mere hundred years will not matter. Since you have inquired clearly, you may now lead your army to battle!"
"Yes, my lord, I will make arrangements immediately!"
Ge Lian rose and walked out of the great hall. Outside the hall, three deputy generals in the Great Celestial Being realm were waiting quietly.
"Go, relay my command! Muster three million troops and depart from Shuiyun City!"
"The three of you will accompany me to battle!"
"Yes!"
The three deputy generals saluted respectfully, then waved their banners. Within half an hour, three million troops were assembled and set off mightily towards the Nan Yun mountain range.
...
On the southern border of the Yun Clan Immortal Dynasty, in Dongyun City.
"Have you heard? Our Yun Clan's army commander has been replaced again. The day before yesterday, the Immortal Emperor issued an order, bestowing the title upon someone... it seems his name is Geng Yan, bestowing upon him the title of Grand Marshal, in command of the three armies. Even General Deng and General Zhang are only fit to be deputy generals, assisting Geng Yan!"
"Tsk tsk tsk!"
"It's truly terrifying. Who are General Deng and General Zhang? They are the supreme experts who slaughtered three old ancestors of the Yun Clan. Even an old Immortal Emperor with the blessing of national destiny could not defeat them. Tsk tsk tsk, they are incredibly powerful, invincible within the Great Celestial Being realm, and they are only fit to be deputy generals assisting this Geng Yan. I can't imagine what kind of person Geng Yan is!"
"Quick, quick! Stop talking, people are coming through the teleportation array!"
Several soldiers whispering amongst themselves hurriedly stood up. They saw two burly figures emerge from the teleportation array. One of them was the General Zhang Hao whom they were familiar with. The other naturally confirmed that it was the newly appointed Grand Marshal Geng Yan.
A short while later.
"Your subordinate Deng Qiang, leading the three armies, pays respects to the Grand Marshal!"
Deng Qiang knelt on one knee, holding the marshal's seal.
"Pay respects to the Grand Marshal!"
"Pay respects to the Grand Marshal!"
"Pay respects to the Grand Marshal!"
Countless soldiers and civilians in Dongyun City all paid homage.
"Rise!"
Geng Yan took the marshal's seal and headed towards the great hall. Deng Qiang quickly rose, looking at the burly figure. Standing before him was Geng Yan, the Great General of Jianwei who assisted Liu Xiu in establishing the Eastern Han Dynasty and conquering forty-six prefectures and over three hundred cities!
"Explain."
Inside the great hall, Geng Yan removed his armor, revealing the closely fitting Azure Dragon battle armor, and casually pointed at the map.
"General Geng Yan!"
Deng Qiang said, "This is the border defense fortress of the Azure Dragon Palace. The commander of the army is an elder of the Green Ghost Snake tribe, a top-tier Great Celestial Being. The army soldiers are estimated to be around three million strong!"
"The Azure Dragon Palace is a clan-based power, unlike a nation like the Blackwater Immortal Dynasty that can easily muster millions of troops. The current 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 soldiers of the White Tiger Pavilion and the Fallen Immortal Dynasty stationed in the Black Tortoise Hall over. Only three million, it's really not that significant!"
"Lure the soldiers of the White Tiger Pavilion and the Fallen Immortal Dynasty, who are occupying the Black Tortoise Hall, to come here. Once we defeat them, we can then openly march our army into the Black Tortoise Hall and take over some of the cities!"
Currently, the Great Han's expedition is only declaring war on the subordinate forces of the Hong family's four clans, not on the Hong family's four clans themselves. It is not advisable to make too many enemies, but there is no reason not to reap benefits.
"Does General Geng have any strategies?"
Zhang Hao asked, his brow furrowed.
"Currently, the White Tiger Pavilion and the Fallen Immortal Dynasty have a combined force of seven million soldiers sweeping through the Black Tortoise Hall. The Black Tortoise Hall cannot withstand them and has already lost fifty Dao Provinces in a single battle. The enemy's momentum is strong. The Human Realm and the Great Yin Immortal Dynasty have dispatched troops to assist the Black Tortoise Hall, and after a great battle in the Black Tortoise Hall's sect territory, they have repelled the enemy by ten Dao Provinces. Currently, the six million troops of the Fallen Immortal Dynasty and the White Tiger Pavilion are temporarily stationed in the heartland of the Black Tortoise Hall, Dongwu City."
"The Fallen Immortal Emperor and the White Tiger Pavilion Lord, to be safe, have dispatched an additional three million troops to advance into Dongwu City."
"Dongwu City is right here!"
Deng Qiang pointed at the map and explained the situation of the Black Tortoise Hall in a few words.
"What is this place called?"
Geng Yan pointed to a city in the center of the Dongyao region, which was also the junction of the four major powers of the Azure Dragon Palace, the Black Tortoise Hall, the White Tiger Pavilion, and Vermilion Bird City.