In late November of the fifth year of the Great Han Dynasty, Jian Wen, the son of Jian Yong, the third elder of the Sword God Sacred Land, was ordered to patrol the border at night. That night, at the defense line separating the Sword God Sacred Land and the Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty, sword cries echoed and fires blazed across the sky.
The next day, the third elder Jian Yong claimed that his son Jian Wen, while patrolling the border, was attacked by the Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty's army. Both sides fought fiercely for an hour. Jian Wen's side was defeated, with a hundred sword cultivators perishing on the frontier. Only Jian Wen, with one arm remaining, broke through the encirclement from the battlefield.
Using this incident as a pretext, the Sword God Sacred Land dispatched an additional two hundred thousand sword cultivators to the border.
The Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty vehemently denied the accusation, deeming it baseless slander and intentional defamation by the Sword God Sacred Land.
On the third day after the incident, Jian Yong gathered over five hundred thousand sword cultivators at the border and launched a surprise attack overnight, with war on the brink of eruption.
Three hours after Jian Yong led his troops to attack the Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty's border, Jian Feiyu, the second elder of the Sword God Sacred Land's western defense line, led five hundred thousand sword cultivators and captured the eastern fortress of the Nantian Family.
Sword cultivators, masters of warfare and constantly honing their swords, possessed deep malevolent energy. Within four days, the eastern defense line of the Nantian Family collapsed. Jian Feiyu, leading five hundred thousand sword cultivators, swept through over three hundred eastern cities in the Central Yuan Realm.
In the southern war zone, Jian Yong's army launched a surprise attack on the Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty. The Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty suffered defensive failures and missed opportunities, leading to the collapse of their defense line. They were pushed back a hundred li in a single battle, losing over forty cities and more than four hundred thousand soldiers.
In early December of the fifth year of the Great Han Dynasty, the Scarlet Night Emperor dispatched the Imperial Preceptor, Chunyu Xing, to lead a five hundred thousand strong army north to clean up the mess and stabilize the situation.
In mid-December of the fifth year of the Great Han Dynasty, General Qian Yong of the Xiling Imperial Dynasty was ordered to lead an army of one million into the heartland of the Nantian Family. By the time Qian Yong's million-strong army reached the Nantian Family's front lines, only four hundred thousand remained. The other six hundred thousand, under the guise of assisting the Nantian Family in defending their territory, had occupied various strategic passes and cities.
One hundred and thirty-five cities on the northern border of the Nantian Family's Central Yuan Realm were now merely nominal.
Jian Feiyu, the second elder of the Sword God Sacred Land, leading thirty thousand sword cultivators, entered the northern border region of the Nantian Family. There, they encountered Qian Yong's army. The ensuing battle was a sea of blood and echoing sword cries. Jian Feiyu, a peer to Qian Yong, repelled him with a single sword strike, annihilating thirty thousand soldiers of the Xiling Imperial Dynasty.
Unable to defeat Jian Feiyu, Qian Yong retreated to the central region of the Nantian Family's northern border. Jian Feiyu pursued relentlessly, advancing deep into enemy territory, capturing dozens of cities and fortresses. The northern territories largely fell.
The Xiling Emperor, Qian Xingsheng, felt immense pressure. He had intended to disrupt the Eastern Wilderness's situation, but unexpectedly, the Great Han Imperial Dynasty possessed a top-tier Venerable, who, in a single battle, caused the Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty to lose an ultimate expert.
The balance between the two top powers was broken. The Sword God Sacred Land, assessing the situation, seized the opportunity and launched a decisive offensive, overwhelming the Nantian Family and the Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty, leaving them no room to breathe.
Currently, the Sword God Sacred Land's forces had penetrated deep into the northern heartland of the Nantian Family. Further advancement would push into their national borders. Emperor Qian Xingsheng of Xiling mobilized over a million elite troops from the western and northern regions of the Xiniu Realm, marching towards the Nantian Family.
In late December of the fifth year of the Great Han Dynasty, the Sword God Sacred Land pursued their victory. The elder Jian Xi, a top-tier Venerable, led fifty thousand sword cultivators and was stationed at Sanyuan Pass. Sanyuan Pass was originally a military fortress at the border between the Nantian Family and the Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty.
After it was occupied by Jian Yong's army, it was officially renamed Sanyuan Pass, signifying that the Sword God Sacred Land's territory had now spanned the three realms of the Eastern Wilderness Continent.
...
On January 1st of the sixth year of the Great Han Dynasty, in the Military Affairs Office of Chang'an City, Great Han.
"Your Majesty, the Sword God Sacred Land's forces are powerful. In the northern heartland of the Nantian Family, they shattered the million-strong army led by Nantian Feizhang, the second elder of the Nantian Family, and General Qian Yong of the Xiling Imperial Dynasty."
"This battle lasted for ten days. After suffering losses of seventy thousand troops from both sides, the two great powers were merely forced back dozens of li by the Sword God Sacred Land."
"A secret report from the Brocade-Clad Guard reveals that the Xiling Imperial Dynasty has dispatched over a million more troops. Nantian Guan Yu, the Patriarch of the Nantian Family, personally leads an army of over a million. They intend to join forces with Qian Yong and fight a decisive battle against the Sword God Sacred Land in the Yuanhai Plains!"
"Your Majesty, an urgent report from the Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty!"
"Read it!"
Yang Hao closed his eyes. The situation in the Eastern Wilderness Continent had been tumultuous these past few months. After the Sword God Sacred Land deployed its troops, they fought swiftly, seizing every opportunity and relentlessly pressing forward. Single-handedly, they had forced the Nantian Family, the Xiling Imperial Dynasty, and the Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty into disarray, suffering heavy losses.
Yang Hao had initially expected the Sword God Sacred Land's campaign against these major powers to result in a stalemate. However, the Sword God Sacred Land's current offensive had, in fact, shocked the entire Eastern Wilderness Continent.
With its own strength, it had suppressed three top powers and extended its territory by over ten thousand li.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, Jian Xi, the Grand Elder of the Sword God Sacred Land, and the Scarlet Night Emperor fought for ten days and ten nights without a victor, battling across three thousand li!"
"Elder Jian Yong, leading hundreds of thousands of sword cultivators, pursued the victory, capturing strategic passes and occupying over a hundred cities."
"As of today, the Sword God Sacred Land's forces continue to advance westward, less than ten thousand li from the Huoyun Cave's territory!"
"What?"
Li Si was greatly alarmed. He snatched the urgent report from the Brocade-Clad Guard and read it carefully, shaking his head. "They lost too quickly, so quickly it's unbelievable!"
"The Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty was once known as one of the two giants of the Eastern Wilderness Continent. Even after losing Yuwen Yongyan, they shouldn't have been defeated so rapidly!"
"Indeed, the Sword God Sacred Land possesses such formidable strength!"
Changsun Wuji took the battle report and exclaimed in admiration.
"Your Majesty, Ji Hongwen of Huoyun Cave requests an audience!"
"Summon him!"
Yang Hao said softly.
"Ji Hongwen of Huoyun Cave pays respects to the Great Han Human Emperor!"
Ji Hongwen, looking nervous, hurried into the hall and bowed deeply to Yang Hao.
"Your Majesty, the Sword God Sacred Land's forces are currently strong, suppressing the Nantian Family, Xiling Imperial Dynasty, and Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty. In the battle of Sanyuan Pass, Jian Xi, the Grand Elder of the Sword God Sacred Land, fought fiercely with the Scarlet Night Emperor, and the Sword God's forces have advanced ten thousand li westward!"
"Your Majesty, the Sword God Sacred Land's forces are already approaching our Huoyun Cave's border. We implore His Majesty to honor the previous promise!"
Ji Hongwen's face was pale. Now that Huoyun Cave was facing impending danger, it was already a great kindness that the Han Dynasty had not abandoned them.
The current Great Han Imperial Dynasty was no longer the Great Han Imperial Dynasty of the past!
"Rest assured, this Emperor will honor it!"
Yang Hao murmured softly, his eyes still closed.
"Thank you, Your Majesty. Ji Hongwen departs!"
"Farewell!"
"Your Majesty, the Sword God Sacred Land's army is less than ten thousand li from the Huoyun Cave's border. With this fighting style, the Sword God Sacred Land intends to unify the Eastern Wilderness as quickly as possible, striving for Cangyuan when the million-year opportunity arrives!"
"Your Majesty, it is the optimal time for our Great Han to deploy troops!"
Li Si said with a firm tone. "The Xiling Imperial Dynasty, Nantian Family, and Scarlet Night Imperial Dynasty have suffered several months of intense warfare, their foundations greatly diminished!"