Chapter 745: Warring Against Hongyue

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

During that period of time, the three denunciations and declaration of war caused the world's attention to be fixated on Shenfeng and Hongyue—but neither empire engaged in provocation of any sort.

The more this strange peace persisted, the more sinister things became. This was the calm before the storm. A frightening war was about to break out.

As the half-month period ended, the Divine Emperor officially announced the start of the war and sent its troops toward the three designated Immortal cities.

The first army was led by Yang Chuan. His army was composed of his own subordinates, bolstered by the forces of friends and relatives of the countless cultivators who had perished in the black coffin hidden realm. It headed for Danxian.

The second army was led by Zhao Yuanjiao, and was composed of Taiqing disciples and Xiao Nanfeng's subordinates. It headed for Bingxian.

The third army was led by Ye Sanshui, and was composed of Shenfeng's troops. It headed toward Dunxian.

The three armies traveled in force, moving rapidly toward the three Immortal cities of Hongyue.

The Divine Emperor remained in Shenfeng's capital, awaiting news from the frontlines. She glanced at one of her palace maidens in worry.

"Are you sure it'll be alright to just send out our troops like this?"

The palace maiden, through her avatar, relayed Xiao Nanfeng's words to her. "Relax. Everything will be alright. Hongyue has been shoring up the defenses of the three Immortal cities over the past two weeks. However, I expect them to try to strike elsewhere as well, so we'll need to be on our guard."

"I'll keep an eye out around here. There won't be an issue," the Divine Emperor said firmly.

In a hall in Bingxian, Saint Chi Hai sat on a jeweled throne. Tang Zhengqi, his loyal follower, stood before him, along with Tu Siniang. They were all eyeing Li Qianjun, who was seated cross-legged in meditation.

Black smoke surged around Li Qianjun's body. With a sudden boom, a frightening wave of energy shot out from him. It would have caused a ruckus if Saint Chi Hai hadn't waved a hand and suppressed it.

An incredible aura manifested around him as if he were a peerless sword ascending into the heavens.

Beside him, Tu Siniang's eyes widened in excitement. "Thank you for helping my husband break through to the Boundless Immortal realm, Saint!"

Li Qianjun slowly stood up. He too was exceptionally excited. He bowed gravely toward Saint Chi Hai. "My gratitude, Saint."

Saint Chi Hai nodded.

Even so, he was somewhat displeased by Li Qianjun's behavior. He had helped Li Qianjun get past his bottleneck and reach the Boundless Immortal realm, but all Li Qianjun did was bow. He didn't even bend his knee! Did he have no sense of courtesy?

"Saint, Shenfeng's army is about to arrive. I need to prepare for battle immediately. I apologize for cutting this meeting short."

"Go," Chi Hai said coldly.

Li Qianjun bowed again and retreated from the hall.

Tu Siniang gulped. She knew how much emphasis the saint placed on respect and propriety—and her husband had all but snubbed him after receiving his aid.

"Saint, I beg your forgiveness. My husband is eager to use his newfound strength to aid you and probe Xiao Nanfeng's strength."

"You leave too," Chi Hai commanded.

He was too incensed to care much about Tu Siniang at the moment.

Tu Siniang stiffened. She bowed deeply and retreated from the hall, leaving only the saint and Tang Zhengqi behind.

"Tang Zhengqi, do you think I've been too magnanimous with them?" Saint Chi Hai still seemed angry.

Tang immediately knelt on the floor. "Your Eminence, please calm down! Your grace demands gratitude in kind. If I were to have received your benevolence, I would have kowtowed thrice over. You are a hallowed saint, the chosen of the heavens! The world ought to revolve around you. I have never seen such ungrateful cultivators."

Saint Chi Hai nodded in satisfaction upon hearing Tang's shameless response. This was how people should behave upon seeing a saint, wasn't it? Li Qianjun was an ingrate!

"You're quite right. Some cultivators don't deserve my assistance," Saint Chi Hai said.

"Your Eminence, I've heard that Shenfeng's three armies are all particularly strong. Might I ask if you have any intention of interceding?"

"What are your thoughts?"

Tang's brows furrowed a little. "I believe that Shenfeng is far more dangerous than it appears at first glance. It would not befit your saintly body to participate in battle directly. I would advise observing from afar and examining what Xiao Nanfeng reveals of his strength. After all, Your Eminence, Xiao Nanfeng is your sole target. Why worry about the war between these two empires? They're beneath your concern."

Saint Chi Hai shook his head. "I am obliged to use this battle to probe Xiao Nanfeng's strength. He will hardly be able to deter the likes of me."

"I pray for your success, Your Eminence. But how will you know among which army Xiao Nanfeng is hiding?"

"Ha!" Saint Chi Hai chuckled.

Four figures flew out of his sleeves, the four zombie kings he had borrowed from Lou Yujing. The zombie kings stood immobile as they awaited Chi Hai's orders.

Chi Hai sent four drops of fresh blood flying out of his fingertip, then drew out a large quantity of special energy from the void and infused it into them. He made seals with his hands and impressed the drops of blood with countless blood-colored runes.

"Let this blood congeal into my avatars!" Saint Chi Hai intoned.

The four drops of flesh blood shot toward the zombie kings' mindscapes.

The four zombie kings suddenly howled in pain. Blood-colored light flared from their bodies as spiritual energy from the air was sucked in around them.

Within moments, their bodies shuddered as they fell still. Then, the blood-colored light emanating from them was absorbed entirely into their bodies. Their pupils contracted, then dilated. Their expressions had all changed. They twisted their heads and limbs independently.

"They're a little weak, but I suppose they're fine as far as avatars go." One of the zombie kings suddenly smirked.

Tang was astonished. He knelt down again, as was his custom by now. "Your Eminence, were you able to forge the four zombie kings into your avatars instantly? Your powers are truly incredible! I am sure the legends of the world would be nothing but fleas in comparison to your strength. I am grateful that you would be willing to demonstrate such a technique to me. I am truly blessed to be able to serve you!"

Tang's shamelessness knew no bounds. Even Saint Chi Hai was starting to feel a little embarrassed, but Tang's flattery was as effective as ever.

"You have a good eye indeed," Saint Chi Hai praised.

"I speak from my heart, Your Eminence," Tang declared.

"Very good. Allow me to demonstrate more of my strength on the battlefield, then," Saint Chi Hai said with satisfaction.

"Thank you, Your Eminence!"

At the same time, in a secluded hall of Dazheng, Tang's avatar told a spectral guard, "Report to His Majesty immediately. The saint has helped Li Qianjun become a Boundless Immortal, and he's forged four avatars from four zombie kings. They've all split up. I can only follow one of them."

The spectral guard nodded. "Very well. My main body is with His Majesty. I'll relay your report immediately.

By the outskirts of Dunxian, Ye Sanshui and his army stopped near a mountain peak.

The army was composed of Shenfeng's generals, including the brothers Xia Lan and Xia Hong. Many of the cultivators had been displeased by Ye Sanshui's sudden appearance and the fact that he had been granted command of Shenfeng's army—until they learned that he was a Boundless Immortal.

Not only did he far outstrip them in terms of cultivation, he would be able to protect them especially in dangerous circumstances.

Ye Sanshui stood on the peak of the mountain as he listened to Xiao Nanfeng's advice. As Xiao Nanfeng spoke, Ye Sanshui nodded and answered him respectfully.

"Second Brother, why do you think a Boundless Immortal like Ye Sanshui would obey Xiao Nanfeng? Isn't he crazy?" Xia Lan's envy was rising by the second.

"Isn't that a good thing? Or are you trying to find fault with Xiao Nanfeng again? If you dare make a fuss right before the war begins, I'm going to punish you." Xia Hong glared at Xia Lan.

"I was just curious!"

"The chain of command is paramount in the army. Wait until the war is over to be curious," Xia Hong hissed.

"Understood!" Xia Lan replied, sighing.

On the mountain peak, Ye Sanshui frowned. "Your Majesty, weren't you going to operate in the background? Why have you shown yourself?"

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "I expected the saint to use one or two avatars at most, but he's attacking with five bodies simultaneously."

"What? We have to handle five saints?" Ye Sanshui exclaimed.

"Four are in the zombie kings' bodies, but the saint will surely have infused them with power beyond what they're supposed to have. The saint's five bodies will have incredible destructive might. I showed myself to attract more of them to me."

"This battle will be rather dangerous, then." Ye Sanshui frowned.

"Worry not. Everything is still under control. We'll operate in accordance with our original plan. Now, let's siege the city!" Xiao Nanfeng instructed.

"Understood!" Ye Sanshui replied.

He waved a hand, summoning thick fog from the vicinity. The thick fog quickly dissipated, revealing Ye Sanshui once more. However, Xiao Nanfeng was nowhere to be seen.

Ye Sanshui turned to the army behind him. "We strike at Dunxian immediately!"

"Understood!" all the cultivators chorused.

Ye Sanshui charged forward with his army in tow as they fought their way toward Dunxian.