Chapter 622: Chapter 378: The Empire of Battle
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The Saints sat together, chatting. Their faces were overflowing with smiles, their eyes glowing with excitement. These Saints had never experienced anything like this before. They never gathered their guards into an army, nor had they crossed such lands on their way to the Empire they were destined to fight.
Seeing all the Saints sitting together around a small flame brought a smile to Yan Xiaobao’s face; however, he didn’t approach them. After all, he wasn’t the Forest King, and while he was the Great Marshall, he didn’t truly belong to them. Instead, he lit his own fire and sat down with the guide.
The two spoke little. Yan Xiaobao took out some tools from his storage stone, placed a large pot over the fire, and began preparing a stew. The stew consisted of various meats he had long collected and marinated, along with diced vegetables. The aroma of the stew quickly spread throughout the army, and every beast’s stomach began to grumble. Those dining on their pre-prepared food wrinkled their noses as they stared longingly at their dry provisions, unable to resist inhaling the heavenly fragrance of the cooking stew.
The regular soldiers weren’t the only ones who noticed its enticing smell. Many of the Saints noticed it as well—unlike the soldiers, they found it much harder to suppress their impulses. Conversations came to a halt as everyone turned their gaze toward Yan Xiaobao and the guide, who were seated by their hearth. Salivating, an unfamiliar pang of hunger spread through them all.
Although King-level experts, whether beasts or humans, could survive for months without eating, the entire army suddenly erupted with activity. Fires were lit everywhere, and the sound of pots clattering, kettles hissing, and knives chopping filled the air. Soon, an array of delightful aromas accompanied the original scent of stew as soldiers began preparing their own meals. Everyone, even those who had been subsisting on dried provisions, were now feasting heartily.
The Saints were in a bit of a quandary. They weren’t sure if cooking their own food was beneath their dignity or if they should opt for the rations they had prepared in advance. Those rations included fruits and berries, which were considered delicacies, but consuming them on the first day felt anything but respectable.
Watching the Saints, Yan Xiaobao flashed a smile and added extra meat and vegetables to his stew. He located several pots and increased the quantity of food he was cooking. About an hour later, the young man served each of the Saints a portion. These peerless experts were overwhelmingly grateful; none could recall the last time they’d eaten a proper cooked meal.
Some of the beasts hadn’t eaten in a very long time. They rarely felt the need for food; as mystical beasts, they usually consumed whatever prey they captured. Survival often meant devouring whatever they could hunt.
After finishing their meals, the Saints all approached Yan Xiaobao, as the Lords began discussing their planned course of action for the night.
The next morning, Yan Xiaobao and the rest of the army packed up their tents, and after several hours of marching, they were once again advancing toward the Tibetan Empire. Their pace remained as swift as it had been the previous day, and soon enough, another day vanished in a blur. When night fell, the entire army set up camp once again. As they drew closer to their destination, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. Days fell into a routine, each passing like the last, and seven days elapsed in this manner. The longer the journey took, the heavier the tension became. Everyone keenly understood that they were entering unfamiliar territory. No beast, unless it reached the Holy Level, could hope to survive after leaving the Divine Domain.
Looking at the army, Yan Xiaobao felt his heartbeat quicken as he surveyed the surroundings. A while ago, the entire army had stopped in their tracks at what was the only path leading through the mountains. Beyond these mountains lay the Siban Empire. Heading directly into the Siban Empire was impossible; there were no direct routes leaving the Divine Domain. This meant the army would need to traverse the mountain range—one final obstacle on their journey.
Yan Xiaobao felt a trace of concern. If the army wasn’t composed of beasts, he would never dare attempt crossing the mountains; however, beasts were far more agile than humans. Some could fly, while others could assist those who struggled. Gazing at the mountain ahead, Yan Xiaobao’s eyes gleamed with determination.
"We’ll set up camp here for now. Tonight, when the moon rises, we’ll begin crossing the peaks!" His voice rang clear, audible to everyone in the army, and it was greeted with roars and cheers.
The army settled down quickly. Soldiers and commanders enjoyed the last rays of the setting sun, but this time, no tents were erected, no fires lit for cooking. Everyone gathered in small groups, speaking in hushed tones, their eyes constantly scanning their surroundings. Each person was fully alert, bracing themselves for what lay ahead once they left the Divine Domain and directly confronted their enemy.
The route they were taking was one Li Meilin shouldn’t be aware of. Though it was a major passage, nobody was supposed to have mentioned it to her. Beyond that, her return to her kingdom had been swift and quiet, with no falcons sighting this path. Still, while the enemy might be unaware of the exact route they were following, nobody could be sure whether their forces were lying in wait. This uncertainty was another reason for traveling through the night.