"What?! The Wu Clan forces at the Azure Cloud region border... retreated?!!"
At the border, as news arrived that Lei Dong was leading the six divisions in another 30-mile retreat, Lin Yuanshan received the report. His expression changed drastically. "The Azure Cloud Region Army isn't there!" he raged. "Vast numbers of Azure Cloud region experts have gone to reinforce Starfall Region! Why would they possibly retreat?!!"
Lin Yuanshan grabbed the messenger by the collar, his face contorted with fury.
After he had passed intelligence to the Wu Clan, their side had solemnly sworn that as soon as the Azure Cloud Region's strongest force, the Azure Cloud Region Army, departed, Lei Dong would immediately lead the Wu Clan soldiers to invade. Thinking back, that's exactly what should have happened!
He had already clearly envisioned the border city being breached! According to his plan, right now, their three families should be storming into the Azure Cloud region, heading straight for the Li residence to plunder the Primal Blood Tree, spirit treasures, and other valuables! He should already be standing before the Li family members as a conqueror!
"'The Wu... the Wu Clan didn't dare!'" The messenger cultivator stammered in terror, "The border city is packed with cultivators! At the Li family's command, all the adult men in the Azure Cloud region are rushing to the border – many of them aren't even cultivators!"
This cultivator's terror stemmed not only from Lin Yuanshan's fury but also from everything he had witnessed in the Azure Cloud region.
The people of the Azure Cloud region, regardless of their strength, dared to take up arms and head for the border. This completely surpassed his understanding. If Eternal Sun Prefecture mobilized its forces? Those mortals would likely have packed their bags and fled long ago; even most cultivators would probably seek other options.
The people in this godforsaken place simply weren't afraid to die!
"Lin Yuanshan."
Xu Dingsheng, who had been waiting quietly, his expression now grim, possessing the most impatient temperament of the group, spoke up. "You guaranteed it!" he accused Lin Yuanshan. "That the Azure Cloud region border would be breached today! But all I see are the six divisions retreating! Did you have me come all this way for nothing?! I, Xu Dingsheng, never return empty-handed!"
"This..." Lin Yuanshan's expression faltered; he hadn't expected events to unfold like this.
"Please rest assured, Seniors."
From behind Lin Yuanshan, Lin Hanhai – the one who had escorted Lin Yuanshan back to Qilin Mountain years ago – stepped forward.
(Five years had passed, and Lin Yuanshan, having fulfilled his promise, had enabled Lin Hanhai's status within the Lin family to rise steadily higher.)
Bowing, Lin Hanhai addressed the group: "The Eighth Elder is wise and plans far ahead. Right now, the Azure Cloud Region Army has entered the Starfall Region; I expect they have already engaged the Wu Clan in close combat. As long as the Azure Cloud Region Army and the experts from Starfall Region fall into the trap..."
He gave a cold laugh. "At that time," he continued, "with the Azure Cloud region having suffered disastrous losses, what reason would the Wu Clan forces at the Azure Cloud region border have not to advance?"
"'It had better be so.'"
Hearing Lin Hanhai's explanation, Xu Dingsheng suppressed his urge to leave and sat back down. Although the members of the Xu family were essentially murderous brutes, they were also, without exception, extremely shrewd – otherwise, they could never have survived their family's trials. If Lin Yuanshan hadn't appeared so assured of victory for this venture, they likely wouldn't have wanted to participate at all.
Only those who have waded through mountains of corpses and seas of blood could truly comprehend the terrifying nature of a clan like the Li family.
"Yes," Lin Yuanshan breathed a sigh of relief, nodding gratefully at Lin Hanhai. "Esteemed colleagues, you need only wait. Everything will be ours." He truly had panicked just moments before. If he hadn't managed to placate Xu Dingsheng, he would certainly have incurred the man's enmity. Perhaps the scene from that day in Merit City, when he had been completely looted, would have repeated itself.
These three individuals, along with the experts from their respective families, waited there, and another five days passed.
Lin Yuanshan grew increasingly anxious, his face ashen. "Something's wrong," he muttered. "So many days have passed. Azure Cloud region's move should have been a swift assault; there's no reason we shouldn't have heard news of the Li family's defeat by now!"
Scarcely had his voice faded when the expressions of all the experts present changed as one. Gazing towards the distant horizon, they could discern something high in the eastern sky: a black shadow was materializing!
The black shadow resembled a long, dark ribbon, stretching across the sky at an indeterminable distance. But there was no doubt: it signified either some colossal entity or a massive convergence of cultivators and Spirit Boats!
"What... what is that?!!"
Lin Yuanshan stared, his expression bewildered, as a terrible premonition took root in his heart.
....
The three border regions of Eternal Sun Prefecture: Starfall Region, Azure Cloud Region, and Qi Region.
Of these three regions, the Azure Cloud region was situated in the center. It shared a full border with Starfall Region but was separated from Qi Region by rivers and high mountains. Qi was also a prosperous land; it was estimated that even if the Wu Clan invaded, it would take them several centuries to fully occupy it and seize its resources. Consequently, the Li family had never felt the need to defend against threats from the direction of the Qi Region.
And now, in the sky high above the border between Eternal Sun Prefecture and Qi Region: fleet after fleet of Spirit Boats, cultivator after cultivator!
The Spirit Boat leading the formation radiated the aura of a supreme-grade spirit artifact. Astonishingly, it was... the very Spirit Boat the Li family had acquired from Lin Yuanshan! However, five years had passed; after undergoing thorough modifications, it was no longer the flashy but impractical vessel it once was.
And standing prominently at the prow of this Spirit Boat was none other than Li Kuangren!
Many years had passed. Li Kuangren, Azure Cloud region's 'Region Prince' who operated hidden in the shadows, now stood clad in black robes, appearing somewhat more seasoned. His long hair streamed back in the wind. "Senior Jiang," he said, "welcome to Azure Cloud region."
Beside Li Kuangren stood a figure appearing as a young man dressed in magnificent robes, though in reality, this person was well over a thousand years old. This was none other than 'The Region Prince Of Qi Region', Jiang Chenghuan!
Hearing Li Kuangren's words, Jiang Chenghuan's expression grew complicated. He, a dignified Region Prince, hailed from the Jiang family, whose name was once counted among the Eight Great Cultivation Clans of Eternal Sun Prefecture. Within the territory of the Qi Region, the Jiang family had reigned virtually supreme, and he himself commanded immense power and influence.
Yet now, hearing Li Kuangren's clear implication that Qi Region, like Starfall Region before it, was expected to merge into Azure Cloud region, Jiang Chenghuan—astonishingly—still assented without the slightest hesitation.
"Very well!"
He took a deep breath. "As long as we can reclaim our homeland, what does it matter if Qi Region changes its name?"
As his voice fell, the Spirit Qi of Heaven and Earth erupted around him. He gazed down from the Spirit Boat at the familiar land below, sensing the Wu Clan forces gathering, beginning to move forward to mount a defense.
His voice rang out:
"Today, we, the people of Qi Region, return home!"
"Years ago, the people of the Azure Cloud region swore to defend their home to the death! Today, we must emulate their example! This battle—"
"Shall not end until victory is absolute!"
"From this day forth, the people of Qi Region will never again yield a single inch of land!!!"
As his voice fell, he leaped into the air.
The spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth coalesced into a raging tide around him. Behind, from the fleets of Spirit Boats, cultivator after cultivator of Qi Region emerged, flying out on their swords and charging towards their former homeland!
....
Note:To provide a better reading experience for this scene, three chapters will be published today instead of the usual one. Enjoy the story!
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