"General Liu, what's going on? We've finally conquered such vast territory, why is Commander Yue suddenly ordering us to retreat?" Xue Wuhen asked, puzzled, as he instructed his adjutant to issue the Snow Clan's recall order.
"I don't know what charms that demoness Yao Die used, but she's actually gotten the three sects and three halls of the hidden powers to protect her. Now, they've deployed five hundred million troops and a hundred thousand soldiers at the Extreme Realm, and they're heading this way," Liu Lang said, standing by the domain gate, a cold smile on his face, his tone filled with disdain and mockery for Yao Die.
"A hundred thousand Extreme Realm cultivators? We don't need to retreat entirely, do we?" Xue Wuhen was confused. While they had only a few dozen breakthrough cultivators at the Extreme Realm within their two army groups, they had six Quasi-Emperor powerhouses. Facing a hundred thousand Extreme Realm powerhouses would be difficult, but not to the point of needing to retreat.
"What if the enemy also has twenty Quasi-Emperor powerhouses leading them?" Liu Lang glanced at Xue Wuhen casually. Seeing his astonished expression, he couldn't help but laugh.
"The three sects and three halls have all emerged. Do you think Quasi-Emperors are still as rare as before?"
"Twenty Quasi-Emperors? Damn it, aren't these old fellows afraid of attracting the Heavenly Tribulation for ascension?" Xue Wuhen finally managed to process Liu Lang's information, feeling his heart pounding much faster.
"Yao Die has embarked on the Emperor's Path. Those who protect her will naturally be shielded by the Emperor's Path. Otherwise, do you think we could do as we pleased on the battlefield?" Liu Lang explained.
The Emperor's Path is the path of the Heavenly Dao. Once a cultivator embarks on the Emperor's Path, all cultivators around them will be protected. This protection can conceal at least twenty percent of the aura of these peak powerhouses, preventing the Heavenly Tribulation for ascension from descending.
The world of cultivators is inherently driven by self-interest. For the sake of improving their strength and extending their lifespan, they will stop at nothing. The Emperor's Path is such a beneficial opportunity.
"The conquest of the Emperor's Path is itself a gamble. The victor not only gains immense strength but also bestows great benefits upon their followers," Xue Wuhen nodded.
The fact that the three sects and three halls are protecting her indicates that Yao Die possesses an unparalleled, ancient talent. Unfortunately…
"Brother Wuhen, there's no need to worry. Commander Yue is already on her way with over twenty Quasi-Emperors. We just need to consolidate our troops and set up formations at this domain gate," Liu Lang said with a smile, looking at Xue Wuhen's resolute face.
Thirty-three Quasi-Emperors are enough to intercept Yao Die's first wave of forces and even kill a considerable number of their soldiers.
Whether they can kill the enemy's Quasi-Emperors, neither Liu Lang nor Yue Xia has such an idea. Once a cultivator reaches the Quasi-Emperor realm, unless there's a difference of several times in strength, it's difficult to kill each other at the same level.
"Alright, I'll go make arrangements."
After more than half a year of consolidation, the Snow Clan's expeditionary force had reached over a hundred million. Liu Lang, in addition to his thirty million Monarch troops, also commanded seventy million troops from mixed races.
The two army groups combined totaled a massive two hundred million soldiers.
However, their strength was ultimately lacking. Apart from the thirty million Monarchs, the rest were mostly at the Great Saint and Divine Lord realms, even inferior to the Youming Group Army of Jiuyou.
Fortunately, with the thirty million Monarch troops and the support of military formations, they could at least hold their ground against a hundred thousand Extreme Realm powerhouses.
All arrangements were proceeding in an orderly fashion. According to the progress of the Futian Empire's army, it would take at least two months to travel from the first universe to the fifth universe, as large armies move at a slower pace.
Meanwhile, Yue Xia and her twenty-seven Quasi-Emperors took only a little over ten days to travel from the tenth universe to the Snow Region. Following that, they immediately began setting up their defenses and dispatched Extreme Realm perfected cultivators who had comprehended the laws of space to gather intelligence.
"Your Majesty, you've finally emerged from seclusion." Ye Yun, upon entering the imperial court, which he hadn't visited in half a year, heard Xia Xingchao's voice.
In a period of one and a half months, Ye Yun had gone into seclusion twice. The first time, he comprehended the perfected Law of Earth to the Dao. The second time, he consumed two Dao Fruits and spent a full month to comprehend the Law of Life to the Dao.
With this, Ye Yun had finally comprehended the Laws of Space, True Fire, Sword Body, Weak Water, Earth, and Life to the Dao. Only the Law of Time remained at the introductory stage.
Especially after comprehending the Law of Life to the Dao, Ye Yun's lifespan surged to ten Emperor Yuan! His entire being was filled with boundless vitality and life force.
"Elder Xia, is there something so urgent?" Ye Yun had merely intended to make a perfunctory appearance before rushing to the imperial harem to play with his daughter, but unexpectedly, there was indeed a matter.
"The Futian Empire has now gained the support of hidden powers, and its overall strength has surged. A month and a half ago, Commander Yue received news that the Futian Empire had assembled a hundred thousand soldiers at the Extreme Realm, led by twenty Quasi-Emperors, and they are heading our way," Xia Xingchao relayed the information he knew to Ye Yun.
"How many hidden powers have appeared so far?" Ye Yun asked, sitting on the imperial throne.
"Currently, five have appeared. The remaining one, the leading Heavenly Dao Sect, has no news yet," Xia Xingchao replied quickly.
"The Heavenly Dao Sect has already been destroyed by me, but it seems one Grand Elder managed to escape. I've left this matter entirely to Yue Xia and the others to handle. It will serve as a test for them," Ye Yun said calmly.
One hundred thousand Extreme Realm powerhouses are formidable, but war is never a direct confrontation. Strategy and tactics play a significant role. This surprise attack is a good example of a consumption strategy.
"Understood. I'll go get busy then."
Watching Xia Xingchao's receding back, Ye Yun's consciousness sank into his dantian. Through the river of stars hanging in the sky of his dantian, his divine sense swept out, instantly locating Yue Xia and the others. He was quite satisfied with their deployment.
Meanwhile, on the other side, the Futian army officially crossed the gate of the fifth universe and entered it. Ye Yun, seated on the imperial throne, watched silently.
Although he had delegated the handling of the situation to Yue Xia and the others, Ye Yun still wanted to observe their progress. After all, they were facing Quasi-Emperors from hidden powers who had cultivated for countless years. Their accumulated strength and combat experience far surpassed that of Yue Xia and her companions.
However, as there was still some time before the two sides would confront each other, Ye Yun's divine sense directly moved towards the First Star Region. More than two months had passed, and the First Star Region was now a desolate land. Besides the endless malevolent aura lingering in the air, the once picturesque mountains and rivers had turned into barren wasteland.