"Chaos Demonic Ape, of the ancient eons, your formidable weapon's might remains undiminished!"
...
Ten days have passed since the Great Han declared war on the Four Great Hegemons. As all beings anticipated, the Four Great Hegemons accepted the declaration and vowed to await the Great Han's army in the Blood Pit, ready to send them to their deaths.
This day marks the departure of the Great Han's Qiongqi Legion. Within a thousand-mile radius of the legion's encampment, a festive atmosphere prevails. Though they cannot participate in this grand battle that will determine the future of the Immortal Realm's supremacy, nor witness it firsthand, they have gathered at the departure point of the Great Han's army, eager to catch a glimpse of the royal army that is about to embark on a campaign against the Four Great Hegemons!
It can be said that even if they cannot travel to the Blood Pit, to personally see off the Emperor's royal army is the pinnacle moment of their lives. Especially for those who yearn for power and strength, to witness the royal army's might and their incredibly powerful generals is a rare feast. Perhaps, a single glance might lead to enlightenment – no one can say for sure. These are potential sources of instability. The divine sun's light cast upon the encampment, the Qiongqi Legion's banner has been raised to the heavens, its brown fabric fluttering, signaling the imminent departure of the army.
Gazing at the brown banner, an elder Quasi-Emperor being exclaimed, "The might of the Four Great Hegemons in conquering the four directions of the Immortal Realm at the end of the previous era was perhaps no more than this. To witness our Emperor's royal army march forth today, what unparalleled glory!"
"Senior speaks wisely. This Qiongqi Legion's encampment was originally a restricted area. To be able to see them off from a thousand miles away requires opportunity. The space is limited, and one cannot tread upon the air. Every being present occupies an inch of land!" a young Immortal Emperor beside him also sighed in admiration. Military zones cannot be observed up close. Within a thousand miles, the area is already teeming with people, some even piled on top of each other, utterly crowded.
"I heard that the current commander of the Qiongqi Legion is a new general named Wang Jian. On his first day joining our dynasty, he was directly appointed as the commander of a legion by the Heavenly Emperor. It is indeed our Heavenly Emperor's magnanimity; as long as you have talent, even if you join the Great Han on the first day, you can be recognized by the Heavenly Emperor," a being spoke. This individual was extraordinary, having ascended from the Three Thousand Dao Provinces with the Great Han. He had personally witnessed the Great Han's gradual conquest of the Immortal Realm, culminating in this decisive battle for supremacy!
"Who could say otherwise!"
"Look at the astonishing records of every general favored by the Heavenly Emperor, the territories they've conquered inch by inch – that's no mere boast!" a woman by his side said proudly.
"Indeed! If the Hundred Refinements Heavenly Court of yesteryear had possessed such magnanimity and could attract beings from all directions, how could it have ended up like this!" a being sighed.
"Brother, this is the Great Han's era. If you continue to lament the past, you might be apprehended by the Embroidered Uniform Guard!" a being hastily patted the one who had sighed.
"Yes, yes! Thank you, brother, for the reminder!" The being immediately trembled, breaking out in a cold sweat, and glanced around nervously. Seeing that not many had heard his lament, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He had been momentarily lost in thought, feeling sorrow for the Hundred Refinements Heavenly Court, and almost forgot his loyalties. The Embroidered Uniform Guard is known for its decisive actions; they are the Heavenly Emperor's fangs, monitoring the entire realm! Especially in recent days, with the stripping of Immortal Emperor titles from the four corners of the Immortal Realm, the Embroidered Uniform Guard's brutal enforcement has cast a shadow over all directions. Countless beings have fallen under the blades of the Embroidered Uniform Guard; this decisive weapon has suppressed the dissent of all races.
"Hiss, hiss~~"
Suddenly, from within the encampment, the roars of a million warhorses echoed. Iron hooves thundered, kicking up dust, a rumble like a steel torrent shaking the encampment.
"What immense killing intent!"
A Quasi-Emperor shivered. In the instant the warhorses neighed, within a thousand-mile radius, the gathered beings, even in the deepest reaches, could sense the bloodlust and killing intent of the royal army, forged in countless bloody battlefields.
"The Qiongqi Legion!"
Outside the military stronghold of the Qiongqi Legion, Yuan Zu, Zhu Yan, and Wan Ju watched anxiously. Although they had not received orders to join the expedition, they still came to see the army off. As individuals with noble titles, they naturally did not have to crowd a thousand miles away, but stood within a hundred paces of the fortress. At this moment, Yuan Zu exclaimed in awe.
"Big Brother, this is merely one of our dynasty's eleven great legions!" Zhu Yan said softly beside him.
"Indeed!" Yuan Zu sighed deeply, "Even a single one surpasses my entire Celestial Demon Court. With such an army, why would the Great Han not unify the world? The tide of events is unstoppable. If not for Senior Vermillion Bird, we too would have been submerged by these iron hooves!"
"Big Brother, I heard that Senior Vermillion Bird successfully requested aid from the Heavenly Emperor and has already departed for the Ancient Star Road!" Wan Ju said.
"Did the Heavenly Emperor order that general to accompany Senior Vermillion Bird to the Ancient Star Road?" Yuan Zu turned back and asked.
"General Tian Bao, Yuwen Chengdu!"
"And another Human Race Immortal Emperor named Gao Chong!" Zhu Yan added.
"Gao Chong?"
"Boom..." A myriad of thoughts flashed through Yuan Zu's mind, but none yielded any information about Gao Chong.
"Big Brother, this Gao Chong has never appeared in the world; this is his first emergence. He has likely been by the Heavenly Emperor's side for many years. This time, being dispatched by the Heavenly Emperor to the Ancient Star Road, his destiny might be no less than that of Yuwen Chengdu!"
Boom..."
At this moment, within the military stronghold, resounding explosions continued to be heard. One after another, supreme treasure warships ascended into the void. The army of a million, comprising about a hundred supreme treasure warships, hung in the sky like a colossal steel beast. With a booming sound, a being emerged from the void and grasped the Qiongqi Legion's banner.
"That... that is General Meng Tian!"
Immediately, a being recognized Meng Tian and shouted excitedly.
Meng Tian!
This hero, who had risen alongside the Great Han step by step, was now named by Wang Jian as the flag-bearer.
Boom!
Meng Tian, holding the Qiongqi Legion's banner, waved it towards the void and shouted, "Marshal's order: Expedite!"
"Hoo!"
"Hoo!"
"Hoo!"
...
The million soldiers roared, their surging blood essence soaring to the heavens. As Meng Tian waved his banner, those supreme treasure warships began their void traversal.
"Great Han Heavenly Court's Yuan Zu!"
"Great Han Heavenly Court's Zhu Yan!"
"Great Han Heavenly Court's Wan Ju!"
"We respectfully bid farewell to our Great Han's royal army as it embarks on its journey!"
At this moment, the three, Yuan Zu, bowed slightly towards the direction of the army.
"Expedite!"
Meng Tian shouted again, and the hundred warships vanished into the horizon!