"Hu Lifu, coupled with this Flame Python Commander, will be sent by General Dugu Xin to the Archaic Mang Niu lineage. With both might and favor, they will surely grant us passage northwards through the northwest!"
"I fear the Archaic Mang Niu lineage will not so easily allow us passage through the northwest!"
Meng Tian shook his head.
"That is naturally so, for they too wish to reap the benefits. When our army and the Serpent Tail Great Serpent are locked in a life-or-death struggle, they will surely raise their own army and utterly destroy both our human race and the Serpent Tail Great Serpent."
"However, the Serpent Tail Great Serpent Demon Ancestor is currently in the far north. Without a top-tier Fortune Realm expert to guard them, the Serpent Tail Great Serpent will be easily dealt with!"
"Our army must move with the greatest speed to swiftly destroy the Serpent Tail Great Serpent. This will greatly weaken the Flame Python clan as well. We can then turn around and destroy the Archaic Mang Niu lineage!"
"Thus, even if the matters in the far north are resolved, if the Heavenly Sword Desolate Lord is still alive, he will likely have no energy to concern himself with these affairs. The Nine Revolutions Nirvana Golden Body alone will be enough to trouble him."
"So it shall be!"
Meng Tian rose with a thunderous sound, his gaze resolute as he looked at the generals before him, his voice steady, "The entire army, hear my command!"
"Your subordinate awaits!"
"Order the three armies of the Qiong Qi Legion to encircle and annihilate the Archaic Mang Niu army in one decisive battle. Order General Dugu Xin to capture Hu Lifu alive!"
"After the Archaic Mang Niu army has been utterly annihilated, the three armies will immediately march north and, with the utmost speed, occupy the Blood Python clan's stronghold and capture the Flame Python army commander alive!"
"Your subordinate obeys!"
Hua Mulan and the others bowed respectfully.
...
"Further ahead, is it not the border of the Great Han human territory?"
On a desolate Gobi expanse at the westernmost edge of the Blood Spring Desolate Domain, Yu Xin, looking weary, had been leading his troops at a hurried pace. The closer they got to the westernmost edge of the Blood Spring Desolate Domain, the more significantly their Yuan energy weakened.
"What rotten luck, Commander Yu, to have this old man lead troops to such a barren land!"
"Second Elder speaks the truth. For such a barren land, any Creation Realm martial artist would suffice. Young Master is truly cautious. It was merely the death of one Fang Yu, and yet you were personally dispatched."
"Hmph, speak no more!"
Yu Xin's gaze suddenly turned cold. Who was Xue Lingyu? He was the current patriarch's son, the future patriarch of the Blood Feather Crane clan.
"Yes, yes, I misspoke. However, Elder, up ahead there is a mountain range, about a hundred li away, and then we will reach human territory."
"Humans, hmph!"
"If it weren't for humans, how could I have come to this godforsaken place."
Yu Xin's voice was filled with immense anger. The further west they went, the more harsh the environment became.
"Elder, according to scouts, the Archaic Mang Niu lineage is much like us. They are currently pressing into the northern territories of the Great Han."
"Archaic Mang Niu?"
"Do they really think they can get ahead of me? Such foolish delusion. Notify the entire army to proceed at full speed. This place is truly cursed. If we destroy the humans early, we can return to the Blood Feather Palace sooner."
Yu Xin said coldly.
"Yes, Elder!"
"However, Elder, I heard that the clan is about to open a secret treasure. I wonder if I can..."
"What, you wish to enter and nurture your bloodline?"
Yu Xin's eyes held a hint of disdain. That secret treasure was the resting place of the ancient Blood Feather Demon Ancestors. Within it, there was a blood spring filled with the vital essence of generations of demon ancestors. To enter this spring would undoubtedly greatly increase his chances of ancestral reversion, and even allow his cultivation realm to advance by leaps and bounds.
However, the blood spring had no specific opening time. Only when the successor of the current patriarch entered the secret treasure would the blood spring open.
"Heh heh, Elder, this secret treasure opens only once every thousand years. It is said that this time, Young Master Xue Lingyu will surely enter the secret treasure. Elder, you see, if the Young Master enters, the blood spring will definitely open. Such an opportunity is truly rare, once in ten thousand years. I, I..."
"So you wish to enter that secret treasure, and even to bask in the Young Master's grace and enter the blood spring?"
Yu Xin narrowed his eyes, his tone icy, "Hmph, you dare to dream. There are only four spots to even touch the edge of the blood spring. Each elder has one recommendation. Such a precious opportunity, why should I give it to you?"
The general of the peak Tongtian Realm had his pupils flicker slightly. He then knelt on both knees, bowing deeply to Yu Xin, "If Elder can provide assistance, this subordinate will repay your kindness with utmost loyalty, and from now on, my branch lineage will merge into Elder's branch lineage, following you through life and death!"
"Hmph?"
Yu Xin raised an eyebrow. His own lineage was almost withered. The Great Elder Min Wu had Zhan Song, but his branch lineage...
"I can consider this matter. However, during this battle, you must fight bravely at the front, and achieve many merits. Then, I will be able to speak on your behalf within the clan!"
"Thank you, Elder!"
...
"General, another hundred li ahead is the Gobi expanse of the Blood Spring Desolate Domain. Judging by the marching speed of the Blood Feather Crane army, they should have already reached the Gobi expanse."
"Judging by?"
"I want precise information. Go and have the scouts report back to me!"
Han Shizhong looked at the map in his hand, raising his head slightly, and reprimanded.
"Yes, General!"
"Shizhong, look here!"
Liang Hongyu stared at the map and suddenly shouted. Han Shizhong quickly turned his head, following the direction Liang Hongyu pointed.
They saw that about ten li ahead of the defensive line they were responsible for, there was a long river. The location of this long river was extremely strategic, stretching across the center of the mountain range, like a long serpent coiled within the mountains.
The peaks on both sides stood tall and straight, making passage extremely difficult. If an army of five hundred thousand were to cross here, they would have to cross this great river.
Martial artists of the Guiyuan Realm could only briefly step on air, not traverse long distances. This river was extremely wide, a full ten li across, flowing rapidly between towering peaks.
"Reporting, General!"
At this moment, a scout entered the great tent, kneeling on one knee, "General, the fifty thousand strong Blood Feather Crane army is less than a hundred li away from this location. They have crossed the Gobi expanse and are advancing towards the defensive route of you two generals."
"Investigate further!"
Han Shizhong's eyes flashed with a cold glint. Looking at the long river on the map, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Huang Tian Dang!"
"Indeed!"
Liang Hongyu also looked up suddenly, gazing at Han Shizhong. In their previous lives, the couple had managed to occupy the strategic position of Zhenjiang ahead of Jin Wushu. Relying on eight thousand soldiers and over a hundred warships, they had trapped Jin Wushu's ten thousand strong army on the great river for over a month, thus earning widespread fame! Su Dan Novel Network.
"Look, this long river is like a heavenly moat, cleaving this place apart. The mountain peaks on both sides are like divine swords piercing the sky. The surrounding mountains are steep and incredibly smooth, making it impossible to advance. For the fifty thousand strong Blood Feather Crane army to enter our Great Han, this great river is their unavoidable passage!"