On a vast square in the northwest corner of the capital of the Southern Barbarian Kingdom, a colossal statue of a mighty warrior wielding a great axe stood a thousand zhang tall, its head reaching into the heavens.
This statue was erected to commemorate the Barbarian Emperor's ascent to the peak of martial arts in the Cangyuan World, a feat that single-handedly established his dominion over it.
Beneath the statue, a strikingly incongruous thatched hut was situated a hundred zhang away.
"Servant Jian Chen, pays respects to my Lord!"
Before the thatched hut, an elder with a sword on his back, his hair a mix of gray and white, knelt on one knee with a solemn expression.
In front of the sword-bearing elder sat a middle-aged man in coarse linen. Due to the dim light, only his square face, heavily covered in beard, was discernible.
"Jian Chen!"
The coarse linen-clad man's voice was deep and powerful. Jian Chen was a loyal servant he had personally brought up. Jian Chen also held another identity: the Grand Elder of the Jian Clan, the true leader of the Sacred Sword Holy Land.
"What is the situation in the Eastern Barren Continent?"
"My Lord!"
"As per my Lord's command, your servant rallied a million sword cultivators. In a matter of months, we achieved victory after victory. The Southern Heaven Aristocratic Family and the Crimson Night Imperial Dynasty, the Western Ling Imperial Dynasty, their foundations are already depleted. Were it not to avoid arousing suspicion, we would have swept through the Eastern Barrens by now!"
Jian Chen's eyes glinted with sword light as he spoke in a hoarse, flat tone, as if devoid of emotion.
"There is no need to rush this matter. The Western Ling Imperial Dynasty is backed by Heavenly God Mountain. The strength of Heavenly God Mountain is far greater than just the Western Ling Imperial Dynasty and the Southern Heaven Aristocratic Family. Do not press too hard!"
"Currently, the precise timing of the million-year opportunity is still being calculated. The demons of the Western Regions are also covetous. Do not be too hasty in your conquest, lest you jeopardize the greater cause!"
"This matter needs to be brewed slowly. If your military might becomes too overwhelming, it will inevitably draw the attention of the demons of the Western Regions. The Western Ling Imperial Dynasty is backed by Heavenly God Mountain. If these two great powers were to enter the Eastern Barrens simultaneously, the current situation in the Eastern Barrens would likely collapse into complete chaos."
The man stood up, his gaze descending, revealing a pair of deep, profound eyes. This person was none other than the Barbarian Emperor of the Barbarian Race, a supreme entity in the Cangyuan World.
"Has the Great Han Dynasty been thoroughly investigated?"
Jian Chen frowned upon hearing this, "My Lord, your humble servant is incompetent. The information gathered is unremarkable."
"When your servant came to the Southern Barbarian Continent, the Great Han remained inactive."
"Inactive?"
The Barbarian Emperor looked at Jian Chen, a slight frown on his face. "The Great Han Dynasty has already dispatched troops. From the current intelligence, it is impossible to discern the true depth of the Great Han."
"You should return and oversee matters promptly. Fight if you can!"
"If you cannot fight, then cease the offensive!"
"This is not yet the final step!"
"Yes."
"Your humble servant takes his leave!"
...
"Grand Elder!"
"Grand Elder!"
"The Great Han Dynasty's Gluttonous Army is advancing northward. Numerous city garrisons have fled at the mere sight of them, their forces utterly unstoppable. They are now less than a hundred li from this location!"
Within the ancestral grounds of the Southern Heaven Aristocratic Family, a warrior in the Nirvana Realm had a pale face and appeared dazed.
The foundations of the Southern Heaven Aristocratic Family, which had been in a prolonged and bloody conflict with the Sacred Sword Holy Land for several months, were now completely exhausted.
To eke out a sliver of survival, Nan Tian Guan Yu mobilized a million troops from the entire realm and marched them into the West Sea Plain for a decisive battle.
His departure took with him the last assembled army of the human race in the Central Yuan Realm, leaving behind only the Grand Elder Nan Tian Cun and fifty thousand disciples of the Southern Heaven family to guard the rear.
With no troops stationed in the southern cities, Gao Ying of the Gluttonous Army, upon receiving strategic decisions from the White Tiger Army, acted decisively.
The army rapidly consolidated, abandoning the recently captured cities, and massed their forces. Like a sharp sword, they tore through the Central Yuan Realm, piercing directly towards the ancestral grounds of the Southern Heaven Aristocratic Family.
"The Great Han's Gluttonous Army?"
In the ancestral hall of the Southern Heaven Aristocratic Family, Nan Tian Cun's face was etched with worry. The past few months had been more terrifying than a million years of tumultuous waves or the long river of history.
Just as he was about to speak, an elder within the hall, the only one who had attained the Venerate realm, stood up, his expression filled with panic and unease.
"The Great Han Dynasty has sent troops?"
His sudden movement instantly escalated the tense atmosphere to its peak. In the hall, countless elders' palms were sweating, and their faces were pale.
"Are you afraid?"
Nan Tian Cun spoke in a gentle, calm voice, devoid of any anger.
"Grand Elder, the Patriarch has led the last of our Southern Heaven Aristocratic Family's strength to the West Sea Plain. The battle has yet to commence, and now the Great Han Dynasty has launched a surprise attack, entering the Central Yuan Realm."
"If the Great Han's elite forces can reach this location, then the Fire Cloud Cave's army is likely not far behind!"
"Grand Elder, let us retreat north!"
"Within our clan, there are only fifty thousand disciples. How can we withstand the baptism of hundreds of thousands of bloody waves?"
Nan Tian Cun's eyes flashed with a cold light. His previously frail and aged demeanor vanished instantly, replaced by an aura of immense killing intent that filled the hall, astonishing everyone. Their bodies tensed.
"Retreat?"
"Retreat to where?"
"Behind us is the West Sea Plain. Even if we reach there, we cannot avoid a bloody battle!"
"We are no match for the Great Han Dynasty, and even less so for the Sacred Sword Holy Land!"
"Retreating further and further, we are now left with only our ancestral grounds. Do you still wish to retreat?"
"Anyone who utters the word 'retreat' today will face the family's discipline!"
"Guards!"
"Dispatch scouts to continue investigating the movements of the Great Han Dynasty's Gluttonous Army!"
Nan Tian Cun's face was covered in a mist of blood. As he absorbed the surrounding Yuan energy into his body, he could not absorb much; most of it dispersed.
His primordial spirit had begun to dissipate a million years ago. His blood energy was also nearly depleted. If he had not sealed his primordial spirit and suppressed it within the ancestral grounds, he would have perished long ago.
"It seems this old man has no hope in this life!"
Nan Tian Cun let out a bitter laugh, his eyes filled with deep regret. The dissipation of his primordial spirit had almost caused him to fall from the peak Venerate realm. Even if he acted now, it would only be a final burst of energy.
Every time he mobilized Yuan energy, it would accelerate the dissipation of his primordial spirit.
"Go, conscript all able-bodied martial artists within a fifty-li radius. Bring them all here. The Southern Heaven Aristocratic Family is at the brink of survival. This battle cannot be lost!"
"Great Han Dynasty, even if my Southern Heaven Aristocratic Family is annihilated, we will still strip you of a layer of skin!"
"Yes!"
...
"Report, Commander. Ninety li to the north lies the ancestral grounds of the Southern Heaven Aristocratic Family!"
"Inform the army to continue advancing. This commander will spend this evening in the ancestral grounds of the Southern Heaven Aristocratic Family!"
Gao Ying, clad in black Gluttonous armor and holding a three-foot long sword, had a composed demeanor and a hint of joy in his eyes as he looked at the distant sky. After today, the Southern Heaven Aristocratic Family, a top power in the Eastern Barren Continent, would become history.
"Yes!"
Before him, a scout, steady and efficient, acknowledged the order, swiftly stood up, raised the military banner in his hand, and signaled the entire army.