Chapter 744: The Declaration of War

In Hongyue's court, Lou Yujing sat on his draconic throne in a red robe lined with golden draconic motifs. He watched on impassively as the envoy strode forward.

The entire court glared at the Shenfeng envoy, as if intending to devour him whole.

However, the Shenfeng envoy seemed completely unperturbed. She was clearly well trained and experienced in her station.

"I greet the Immortal Emperor of Hongyue in my capacity as an envoy of Shenfeng." The envoy bowed respectfully.

"For what have you come?" Yuan Wudi demanded. He was standing among the other officials at court.

The Shenfeng envoy took a deep breath. "I expect Hongyue's court is aware of Shenfeng's three denunciations. I am here today to officially declare war on Hongyue on behalf of the Shenfeng Empire."

"Insolence!" Yuan Wudi exclaimed.

The Shenfeng envoy ignored Yuan Wudi as she retrieved a scroll. "Shenfeng and Hongyue are contiguous by the domains of three Hongyue cities: Danxian, Bingxian, and Dunxian. This serves as a formal declaration of war. In half a month, Shenfeng will split its army three ways and attack the three named Immortal cities. We ask that Hongyue prepare itself."

"Insolence!" the officials of court thundered.

Shenfeng was being far too arrogant. Not only was it declaring war, it was going as far as to state the place and time of its attack. What right did an ordinary empire have to be so atrocious?

The officials of Hongyue's court were all exuding killing intent.

Though the Shenfeng envoy was more pressured than ever before and could barely speak from the pressure, she forged onward. "This declaration of war will be simultaneously announced to the world. Immortal Emperor of Hongyue, do you dare face Shenfeng in war?"

The officials grew even more displeased, but the woman before them was ultimately nothing more than an envoy, which enjoyed diplomatic immunity.

Furthermore, considering that the declaration of war was to be simultaneously announced to the world, they would be publicly humiliated if they killed the envoy out of anger.

An official stepped forward and delivered the declaration to Lou Yujing.

He stared at the Shenfeng envoy, smiling coldly. "I accept this challenge."

The officials of court were all taken aback, none having anticipated that the Immortal Emperor would accept so readily. Even so, now that he had done so, no one dared speak up to object.

"In that case, I bid you all farewell." The Shenfeng envoy bowed and retreated from the hall. Without Lou Yujing's command, no one dared to stop her.

The officials of Hongyue fretted. Once the envoy was out of earshot, they began to clamor.

"Your Majesty, this declaration of war is a joke. How can we accept such a restriction?"

"Your Majesty, offense is the best defense! We should strike preemptively."

"Are we really going to give them half a month to prepare, Your Majesty?"

The officials all made their case, but Lou Yujing ignored them. He said calmly, "Let's end this session of court here. I will be happy to entertain any suggestions in writing. Dismissed!"

Some of the officials clearly wanted to object, but had no choice but to relent. "We send off Your Majesty!"

By the time they turned to each other, perplexed by how the session of court had ended, Lou Yujing had already left.

Then, in another hall, he continued his session with Saint Chi Hai alongside the seniormost officials of Hongyue.

"Saint, what do you think about this declaration of war?" Lou Yujing handed the declaration to Chi Hai.

"Shenfeng is likely intending to take advantage of this war to bolster its reputation," Chi Hai summarized.

"Indeed," Lou Yujing said. "The fact that the Divine Emperor plans to attack three cities simultaneously, coupled with the three denunciations she publicized, suggests that the disciples of the Taiqing Immortal Sect and Yang Chuan's alliance will be participating as well. There are three groups of forces in all, one for each city. Xiao Nanfeng will likely represent the Taiqing disciples and participate in the fighting himself."

"In that case, I'll take advantage of this opportunity to test his strength."

"Understood! I await your good news, Saint. I'll send my troops to these three Immortal cities to await your command."

The saint nodded in satisfaction. "Very good."

A day later, in a secluded hall in Hongyue's capital, Saint Chi Hai sat on a bejeweled throne as a few figures knelt down before him. The two figures in the lead were the Hongyue Empress Tu Jiuniang, and her sister Tu Siniang.

Chi Hai glared balefully at them. "It looks as if your comfortable lives in Hongyue have caused you to forget your identities."

The figures blanched. Tu Jiuniang immediately began, "Please calm down, Saint. We would never forget your gratitude."

"If not for your assistance, we would still have been trapped in the green knoll hidden realm. We are ever indebted to you, Saint," Tu Siniang added.

"Truly? And what of the task I assigned to you? Or have you forgotten about it already?"

"We would never! We've been advancing higher up the divine empire of Hongyue and are spying on Lou Yujing on your behalf, Saint," Tu Siniang explained.

"Saint, my consort cares greatly about me. I am always by his side, and I've filled many important positions in Hongyue with my subordinates. We would never dare neglect your commands," Tu Jiuniang agreed.

"Indeed?"

"We remain loyal to you, Saint!" everyone chorused.

Saint Chi Hai nodded in satisfaction. "It's good that you know your place. I trust you know the consequences of going against me as well."

"Of course, Saint!"

"Has Lou Yujing exhibited any suspicious behavior lately?"

Everyone turned to Tu Jiuniang, who frowned and shook her head. "No, Saint. He doesn't know that we serve you. He has displayed no signs of unusual behavior."

"Good!" Chi Hai nodded.

Just then, Tu Siniang said, "Saint, my husband, Li Qianjun, obeys my every word. However, he made countless enemies given the situation with the Taiqing burial pagoda. His cultivation is somewhat lacking, and I beseech you to help him advance. I guarantee that he will be loyal to you."

"Li Qianjun? I'll consider it," the saint replied.

Meanwhile, in the imperial study in Hongyue's capital, Lou Yujing perused a stack of documents. He suddenly stopped and glanced in the direction of a wall. The wall was plain and unadorned; there was nothing in sight. If the wall weren't present, however, his gaze would have extended all the way to the secluded hall in which the saint was meeting with Tu Jiuniang, Tu Siniang, and the others.

Lou Yujing said nothing. Though he couldn't clearly see into the distance, it seemed that he knew what was going on.

He rapped his knuckles against the table as he pondered the situation. After a moment, he smiled coldly.

It took little time before news of Shenfeng's declaration of war against Hongyue spread across the world.

Perhaps because Xiao Nanfeng had deliberately spread the news, the people of both empires were all discussing the upcoming war.

Forces all over the world had learned of the impending war within moments, and the world's attention was on Shenfeng and Hongyue.

The Shenfeng Empire's rapid growth and development over the last few months reminded the world of Dazheng's miracle against Dayin.

The battlefield would unfold in the three Immortal cities of Hongyue that the Divine Emperor had pinpointed. This initial clash would determine the two empires' standing and invoke a chain reaction that brought more forces into the fray.

Half a month passed relatively peacefully like the calm before the storm.

At that moment, in the palatial valley of Shenfeng's capital, Xiao Nanfeng and the Divine Emperor were poring over some reports.

"Will this declaration of war be useful? Will Hongyue actually follow our stipulations?" the Divine Emperor asked.

"As a strategist, hardly. With the saint's involvement, however, things might be different."

"Oh? How so?"

"According to my intelligence, Lou Yujing is being excessively cautious. He invited the saint specifically to deal with me."

"What?!" the Divine Emperor exclaimed. She stood up in shock.

"Don't worry. The saint's a wily old fox, and he'll hardly let Lou Yujing take advantage of him. He thinks of himself as the chosen of the heavens, far beyond the likes of ordinary mortals. He would never submit to Lou Yujing."

"But won't you be in grave danger? You said that saints could manipulate even heavenly law! Why do you think the Spirit Emperor and I lost when we fought against the heavens? Heavenly law is one such factor."

"Oh?"

"Heavenly law is the basis of the heavens' power. Allegedly, the heavens sliced apart the heavenly law that bound the universe in order to seize it for itself. Saints, who possess a fraction of that power, will surely pose a considerable threat."

"I've contacted Yu Fuli about this. If I'm in grave danger, he'll intercede," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

The Divine Emperor frowned and pursed her lips.

"The saint will only be an observer for the time being. He wants to probe my strength, and our declaration of war serves as an opportunity to do so. I can't guarantee whether Lou Yujing has alternative plans in mind, but the battle at the three Immortal cities will surely take up the bulk of Hongyue's manpower," Xiao Nanfeng said.

The Divine Emperor suddenly asked, "If I give you all of Shenfeng's fortune, will you be able to advance your spiritual cultivation?"

𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

She wanted to help Xiao Nanfeng advance so that he would be better equipped to protect himself.

"It's insufficient, I'm afraid. My techniques draw on a vast number of articles of natural law, and I'll need more fortune to advance. I don't require Shenfeng's fortune at the moment."

"In that case, once Shenfeng advances into a divine empire, I'll help you break through."

Xiao Nanfeng nodded with a smile. "After this battle, Shenfeng should have the qualifications to do so."

"Very well!" The Divine Emperor nodded.