In the western part of Yunwu Mountain, Wuzhou, of the Yan Yang Dynasty.
"Are there any movements from Shen Yu in the north?"
Within a residence of considerable stature in Wuzhou City, ten burly figures clad in armor sat cross-legged in the courtyard. A bloody aura permeated the air, and traces of blood still clung to their armor.
From the grand hall, a muffled voice echoed. A man in white, wearing a golden mask, walked out with steady steps.
"Young Master, according to our inside sources, that dog-headed strategist of Xiao Beilong is plotting a grand scheme to ensnare us all. And Shen Yu, Xiao Beilong's subordinate in Yunzhou City to the north, is secretly mobilizing troops. It is likely that he will march on our Wuzhou City soon!"
A hulking figure, nine feet tall with a ferocious face and a cultivation at the fifth level of the Divine Prefecture realm, bowed slightly.
"Hmph, Shen Yu takes the Yan Yang Dynasty's salary yet aids the wicked, openly supporting Xiao Beilong and plotting to destroy our Yan Yang ancestral temple. He deserves death!" The white-clothed masked man's voice was filled with extreme anger, his icy tone sending shivers down one's spine.
"Young Master, rest assured, with me, Bei Feng, here, if Shen Yu dares to come, he will surely meet his demise in Wuzhou City, and Xiao Beilong will lose an arm!" A middle-aged man, standing beside the masked man, unsheathed a seven-foot long saber. His Spirit Enlightenment third-level Yuan energy vibrated the very air.
"Young Master, this general swears to protect you with his life, to forge our Yan Yang bloodline!" A general beside Bei Feng stepped forward, declaring his loyalty.
"Very good. Shen Yu is known as one of the Five Tigers under Xiao Beilong. If we can slay him in this battle, it will bring great hope to our allies!" The masked man flicked his long robe and turned back into the grand hall.
"Young Master, rest assured, this general will not fail your trust!" The ten generals, led by Bei Feng, all knelt on one knee and cupped their fists in salute.
...
On the western frontier of Yunwu Mountain.
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
A scout swiftly moved through the sparse forest, disappearing into a valley in an instant.
"General, the situation ahead has been thoroughly investigated," the scout said, kneeling on one knee with his fists clasped.
"How is it?"
Beside a bonfire, Wang Baobao was eating a hind leg of an unknown beast. His Yuan energy cultivation had already reached the eighth level of the Divine Prefecture. Lu Junyi, sitting nearby, also cast a questioning glance.
"General, Grand General Xiao Beilong of the Yan Yang Dynasty has usurped control of the court, slaughtering numerous imperial bloodlines, which has ignited widespread anger and sparked internal strife, with heroes rising from all quarters."
"In Wuzhou, dozens of miles to our front, it is currently occupied by someone named Bei Feng, with a cultivation at the third level of the Spirit Enlightenment realm."
"To our northwest, in Yunzhou, Xiao Beilong's subordinate, the Five Tiger General Shen Yu, a Spirit Enlightenment fourth-level expert, is stationed!"
"General, Shen Yu is currently mobilizing troops on a large scale, indicating a potential attack on Wuzhou."
"Hmm, continue to track their movements and be wary of enemy scouts along the way!"
Wang Baobao said in a deep voice, then turned to Lu Junyi, a hint of fierceness in his eyes. "General Lu, destiny wills it. If we do not seize this opportunity, we would be wasting others' efforts!"
"Hahaha, General Wang, since that is the case, I, Lu, shall await the unfolding of a grand spectacle!" Lu Junyi was not the commander in this instance. In terms of experience, he was far inferior to the Wang Baobao before him, but he immediately grasped Wang Baobao's intention: the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.
...
In the Xuanzheng Hall of the Imperial Palace in Chang'an City, Han Dynasty.
Yang Hao, the Human King, reviewed the official documents, meticulously examining the proposed solutions from Changsun Wuji and others. For significant governmental matters, he, as the Human King, had to stay constantly informed about the local developments.
"Buzz~~"
Within his mind, three Yuan energy signatures, located a hundred miles off the eastern coast of Han, were instantly detected by him. Since the Nine Cauldrons of Fortune had reached level three, he could now constantly monitor the situation within the Han territory. The strongest of these three individuals had a cultivation at the peak of the Spiritual Sea realm.
"Wei Zhongxian!"
Yang Hao called out softly. It was already late at night, and Wei Zhongxian, to avoid disturbing Yang Hao's rest, was waiting outside the hall.
"Human King!"
Wei Zhongxian entered the hall and bowed.
"There is a ship on the eastern sea. There is no need to intercept it. If they enter Han territory and do not abide by Han laws, kill them!"
"If they wish to establish a sect, they must accept the governance of the Han court!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Wei Zhongxian received the order, rose, and left the Xuanzheng Hall, heading towards the Eastern Depot. The Eastern Depot's guards were spread throughout the four corners of Han, ensuring extremely rapid information transmission.
"Ding! Changsun Wuji, Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling, Meng Tian, Zhang Jiao, and Qi Jiguang have broken through the Guiyuan barrier and entered the Divine Prefecture!"
The peerless heroes were all extraordinarily gifted. After the Nine Cauldrons of Fortune of Han entered level three, the Yuan energy concentration in the Han territory was restored, even surpassing its peak from ten thousand years ago by three parts. In just a few days, a continuous stream of heroes had broken through their respective realms. Even Liao Hua, who had appeared first, had reached the fifth level of Guiyuan through his own efforts.
The battlefield remained the ultimate destination for martial generals. With the Han territory expanding twelvefold and its vastness, a period of stabilization was urgently needed. By then, these martial general heroes would return to the battlefield.
...
A three-story pavilion ship was rapidly sailing on the sea, a hundred miles off the eastern coast of Han.
"Buzz~~"
The long sword on Li Shang's back suddenly buzzed. Li Shang's expression became grave, and he stood up abruptly, staring in the direction of Han.
"Li Shang, what's wrong?" Ling Xuan asked, seeing Li Shang's tension. She also began to panic. Li Shang was at the peak of the Spiritual Sea realm, just a step away from the Spirit Sovereign realm. If he was so tense, it must be...
"It's nothing, Madam. It seems this Tian Yue is not simple. Just now, I had a feeling we were being spied upon, yet I couldn't detect anything!" Li Shang gripped his sword hilt with his single arm, staring into the distance, motionless.
"Li Shang, I'm telling you, don't make a fuss. If you scare Madam, you'll be in trouble!" Liang'er said, shaking her fist.
"Liang'er~~"
Ling Xuan looked at Liang'er, her voice extremely gentle.
"Yes!"
Just as Li Shang was about to smile wryly, he suddenly detected several Yuan energy fluctuations from beneath the deep sea. He instantly moved to the railing, staring down at the deep ocean.
"Who is there, skulking around!"
Li Shang roared, and with a sword strike, he cleaved the deep sea, creating a chasm tens of feet deep. The surging seawater poured in endlessly. His single strike had created a trench tens of feet deep in the seabed.
"Roar~~"
Several dragon roars echoed from the deep sea. Three dragon shadows crisscrossed within the depths and then shot out, hovering in the air, revealing the figures of Ao Qing, Ao Bing, and Ao Hai.
"Who is beneath us, and what business do you have with our Han?"
Ao Qing's muffled voice boomed across the sea. Despite facing a peak Spiritual Sea realm expert, he was not afraid. Behind him stood the Han, and Han feared no enemy!