The issuance of Emperor Zhen's official decree was like a giant mace striking the calm water's surface. Within mere days after the golden bell rang in the palace, military war drums began to beat across every major city of the Eastern Empire. The heavy armored troops that usually guarded the core fortresses, the bronze war chariot battalions, and thousands of imperial vanguard soldiers began to march out of their barracks. They advanced in orderly rows, unfurling the blazing golden dragon banner beneath the grey dawn sky. With this massive-scale official involvement of the imperial military, the previously hesitant power balance of the Eastern Empire's martial world shifted drastically and unexpectedly.Inside an old inn on the capital's outskirts, several masters from independent sects gathered with tense faces. They stood near the windows, watching the imperial army columns with gleaming long spears passing endlessly on the main roads."This is absolutely insane! The empire is deplo

The horizon at the edge of the Eastern Empire had transformed into a horrifying expanse of brick red. The barren land known as the Red Plains now stood as a silent witness to the gathering of a sea of soldiers from two colossal forces ready to crush each other. On one side, the golden dragon banner of the Eastern Empire flew proudly alongside the white and blue flags of the Sacred Earth Alliance, including the cloud emblem of the Cloud Sword Sect. Opposite them, thick, foul-smelling black mist rolled, shrouding millions of Ghost Crow faction soldiers standing with weapons in hand, their eyes gleaming with mad ambition."Look ahead, soldiers of the earth!" General Long, the empire's vanguard commander, leaped onto his bronze war chariot, drawing his golden sword high into the air. "Before us stand the dark tyrants who want to chain our bloodline! Do not let a single one of those rotting crows return alive to their nests!""Slaughter the dark faction! Cleanse the earth's stain!" hundred

The roar on the Red Plains had reached its most terrifying boiling point. On the vanguard sector, billowing black smoke mixed with thick blood vapor. The silver general, Zhang Hao, continued his rampage, swinging his blue spear in all directions to split the Ghost Crow's infantry lines. However, his overly aggressive and brutal tactics had separated him from the Eastern Empire's heavy armored troops. He had advanced too deep into enemy territory.Seeing this gap, the surrounding darkness mist suddenly swirled violently. Three old shadows shot out from within the ground, locking down all of Zhang Hao's escape routes. They were three peak elders of the Ghost Crow faction who had been observing his movements all along."Hahaha! Foolish general! You have stepped too far into our nest!" roared Elder Ku, one of the three elders, as he raised his demon bone staff channeling soul curses."This silver-armored general's head will be a beautiful gift for our headquarters!" added the second elder

The light of spiritual torches glowed dimly along the rows of medical tents in the large Eastern Empire encampment set up at the edge of the Red Plains. From a distance, the sound of drums and victory cheers from thousands of soldiers and orthodox sect disciples still echoed, splitting the night sky. They celebrated the retreat of the Ghost Crow forces. However, if one stepped deeper into the logistics area and treatment tents, the scene was reversed.The stench of blood, the pungent smell of herbal medicines, and the painful groans of cultivators with damaged meridians filled the air. Beneath the surface euphoria, the internal condition of the Eastern Empire coalition was actually very dire. Hundreds of thousands of corpses still piled up awaiting cremation ceremonies, and the supply of healing medicines was dwindling to a critical point.Inside a hidden cave located several miles from the military encampment, space suddenly trembled faintly. Lin Feng appeared hovering, one inch abov

The oil lamps in the command room of the Eastern Empire's military headquarters flickered stiffly. Although the victory at the Red Plains had been celebrated just weeks ago, the atmosphere inside this main meeting room showed no trace of remaining joy. General Long stood before the giant strategy table, his scarred face tense under the light of spiritual candles. Around him, several liaison officers were busy channeling their Qi into the spatial communication formation array embedded in the stone walls.BUZZT... BUZZT...A strange humming sound suddenly emerged from the center of the communication jade formation. The golden light that usually shone steadily now flickered irregularly, emitting a thick blood-red color."General! Red emergency signal!" a liaison officer shouted, his voice piercing the room's silence. "It is coming from the beacon tower outpost at the northern border!""Northern border?!" General Long's eyes widened, slamming the strategy table until it cracked. "Open the