Chapter 914: The Fighting Begins

Over a month later, the ordinary empires that had divided up Dayin's land were all but wiped out. These empires were defended by just one or two Golden Immortals—they could hardly withstand the assault of the leech-exterminating army.

As these empires fell, Dazheng's army quickly extended olive branches to them, allowing Dazheng to swiftly absorb Dayin's former territory and expand.

In just three short months, Dazheng had taken down a hundred Immortal cities, while the others had all been conquered by Dachi.

Without any third-party forces left, Dachi and Dazheng were now poised for direct confrontation. Though the two armies hadn't yet fought in earnest, a decisive clash was clearly imminent.

In the imperial study in Yongding, Xiao Nanfeng was carefully reviewing battle reports while Wen Zhong waited patiently nearby.

After finishing the reports, Xiao Nanfeng set them aside. "Dachi's leech-exterminating army has been quite helpful. We've had a much easier time taking over these cities than we otherwise would."

"Indeed. The two armies are finally on the verge of clashing head-on," Xiao Nanfeng replied.

"In battles between divine empires, the bulk of the army is supplementary. The true outcome will be decided by the strongest individuals on each side. Su Tianxin has recruited three top-tier experts," Wen Zhong said seriously.

"I anticipated that this day would come. Don't worry. It's all under my control," Xiao Nanfeng reassured him.

"That's good to hear," Wen Zhong replied, nodding.

"I've received intelligence that Su Tianxin will make a serious move in the coming few days. When that happens, the Dachi and Dazheng armies will engage in a full-scale confrontation. Prepare for all contingencies," Xiao Nanfeng instructed.

"Rest assured, Your Majesty. I've been laying the groundwork in the meantime. As long as we secure a victory, we'll be able to fully conquer their territories," Wen Zhong replied confidently.

"Good!" Xiao Nanfeng nodded.

At that moment, a spectral guard hastily entered the study and reported, "Your Majesty, Su Tianxin has made a move."

Xiao Nanfeng glanced at Wen Zhong, who immediately straightened up and said, "I'll make the necessary arrangements at once, Your Majesty."

As Wen Zhong left, Xiao Nanfeng turned to the spectral guard. "Notify all parties to prepare for immediate battle."

"Understood!"

Meanwhile, in Dazheng's army's main camp, Ye Sanshui sat in the commander's seat, surrounded by strategists and generals on all sides. A scout delivered a report to him.

"Commander, three Boundless Immortals from Dachi are leading assaults on three of our newly captured cities. The cities are ..." the scout reported.

The camp erupted in outrage.

"Boundless Immortals leading assaults on ordinary cities? Are they serious?"

"No city can withstand a Boundless Immortal's attack!"

"Commander, Dachi is too cowardly to face us in direct combat. They're resorting to such despicable tactics!"

Anger filled the camp, but Ye Sanshui remained silent. He seemed to have been expecting something of the sort.

Before long, another scout arrived with grim news. "Commander, the three cities have already fallen. The defending forces suffered heavy losses, and the city lords and military generals were captured. The Boundless Immortals are now heading toward three more cities."

"Commander, these tactics are disgusting! They can't fight us head-on, so they're stooping to such assaults!"

"Let's launch a counterattack!"

"Commander, I request permission to lead an assault!"

Though the generals made a fuss, Ye Sanshui remained quiet until a third scout entered the room and saluted. "Commander, His Majesty has granted permission to act."

Ye Sanshui's eyes gleamed as he stood and issued a command. "Generals, listen up!"

"Yes, Commander!" the generals chorused.

"Prepare for battle. We will launch an assault straight for the main camp of Dachi's leech-exterminating army!" Ye Sanshui shouted.

"Understood!"

With a thunderous roar, as Ye Sanshui and his generals emerged from their camp, the troops rose and followed Ye Sanshui into the skies.

In the main camp of Dachi's leech-exterminating army, outside a small pavilion, Tang and several others stood guard and waited respectfully as two cultivators conversed within. One was the crown princess of Dachi, Su Qingchan. The other was Tang's new master, Ling Tianyu.

"Senior Uncle Ling, please try this treasured Immortal tea. What do you think of its taste?" Su Qingchan smiled.

Ling Tianyu sipped tea. "Qingchan, are you certain that Ye Sanshui will come here?"

Su Qingchan nodded. "Rest assured, Senior Uncle. We've sent three Boundless Immortals to attack various cities. Ye Sanshui will have no choice but to attack our main camp to force them to retreat. He'll come. When he does, I'll have to trouble you."

"Dealing with Ye Sanshui hardly seems worth my time," Ling Tianyu replied with a frown.

"He's a mid-stage Boundless Immortal, one of the strongest cultivators in Dazheng. Even if Xiao Nanfeng invokes imperial might, he would only be able to match Ye Sanshui's strength. Ye Sanshui is the greatest threat," Su Qingchan asserted.

"Strength isn't determined by cultivation alone," Ling Tianyu warned.

"I understand, Senior Uncle. He might be a mid-stage Boundless Immortal in terms of his physical body, but he doesn't seem to have begun the cultivation of the heart. Senior Uncle, you can exploit this weakness. Besides, you've already set up a grand formation here. Victory is assured," Su Qingchan flattered.

"And what do I gain from this?" Ling Tianyu asked coldly.

"Worry not, Senior Uncle. My father has promised you a generous reward. He and two other elders are heading to Yongding as we speak. Whatever my father gains there will be yours," Su Qingchan assured him.

"Aren't you worried that Liu Miaoyin and the Divine Emperor will intervene?" Ling Tianyu asked.

"My father has made thorough preparations to counter them," Su Qingchan replied confidently.

"Don't forget about Xiao Nanfeng's Boundless Immortal cursed effigy," Ling Tianyu warned.

"Of course, Senior Uncle. That cursed effigy managed to kill four disciples by taking advantage of a special space, but the victims' avatars claim that it was only about a mid-stage Boundless Immortal at best. It won't be too difficult to deal with given sufficient preparations—and we are fully prepared," Su Qingchan replied.

"Very well. Let's proceed, then," Ling Tianyu said.

"Nothing will go wrong this time, Senior Uncle," Su Qingchan promised.

Just then, a guard rushed in and reported, "Your Highness, Dazheng's army has launched a full-scale assault. It's on its way."

Su Qingchan's eyes lit up. She turned to Ling Tianyu. "Senior Uncle Ling, please follow me!"

Ling Tianyu nodded, stood up, and addressed his disciples. "Follow me."

"Understood!" everyone replied.

The disciples finished up preparations for a formation alongside Ling Tianyu.

Before long, Ye Sanshui's forces arrived at the main camp of Dachi's leech-exterminating army. A massive Immortal city loomed ahead, surrounded by dense fog and fluttering banners.

"Commander, that's the enemy's main camp. Our scouts have been monitoring it," a soldier reported.

"Prepare the formation," Ye Sanshui commanded "Understood!"

The tens of thousands of cultivators that formed Ye Sanshui's army arranged themselves in a massive formation.

"Generals, once I breach the city's defenses, attack it immediately," Ye Sanshui declared.

"Understood!" the generals chorused.

Ye Sanshui and several of his subordinates flew toward the city. He unleashed a palm strike at the fog around the city.

The immense force generated a storm that dispersed the fog and struck the city's defensive formation with a boom. Cracks spread across the barrier.

A mid-stage Boundless Immortal's strength was overwhelming; ordinary formations could hardly withstand his attack.

"Ye Sanshui, how dare you!"

Su Qingchan shouted. She had appeared outside the formation out of nowhere, and instantly drew Ye Sanshui's attention.

"Su Qingchan, you dare block my path? You must really want to die. I won't let you escape!" Ye Sanshui roared, lunging at her with a palm strike.

Their attacks clashed. Su Qingchan, unable to withstand his strength, coughed up blood and was sent flying.

At that moment, the space around Ye Sanshui trembled, revealing countless runes embedded in the void.

"A trap? Su Qingchan, you lured me here deliberately!" Ye Sanshui bellowed.

Realizing the danger, he struck at the runes, which flashed and flickered and evaded his attacks. His palm struck nothing; then, he was pulled into a spatial formation that had been prepared ahead of time and vanished from sight.

"Break!" Ye Sanshui roared, attempting to force his way out of the trap.

The formation rumbled violently, as if Ye Sanshui was about to break out from brute force alone.

Just then, Ling Tianyu appeared with a bronze compass in hand. He reinforced the formation and stabilized the space within.

"Now that you've entered my formation, Ye Sanshui, you won't be able to escape. You were far too careless, haha!" Ling Tianyu laughed.

Meanwhile, Su Qingchan wiped the blood from her lips and smiled triumphantly. "Ye Sanshui has been trapped. Everyone, attack! Kill these leeches!"

"Attack!" the leech-exterminating army shouted, rushing out of the city.

Dazheng's army was caught off-guard by their sudden approach.

Su Qingchan had sustained mild injuries to trap Ye Sanshui, a trade that was more than worthwhile.

The next moment, however, something unexpected happened. One of Ye Sanshui's subordinates suddenly attacked Ling Tianyu.

"Die!" The void trembled from the force of his palm.

"What? Another Boundless Immortal?" Ling Tianyu defended himself with a palm as he narrowed his eyes.

A massive explosion formed where the two palms met. Ling Tianyu and Ye Sanshui's subordinate were both sent flying.

"Impossible—a mid-stage Boundless Immortal? Who are you?" Ling Tianyu demanded.

"Die!" Ye Sanshui's subordinate attacked with another palm technique.

Ling Tianyu frowned and activated his bronze compass, which surged toward Ye Sanshui's subordinate as blue light exploded from it.

Ye Sanshui's subordinate drew a folding fan and swung it wildly. White light struck the blue light in a tempest of energy.

"It's Yang Chuan!" someone cried out.

Another rumble came from elsewhere. No longer suppressed by the bronze compass, Ye Sanshui had managed to crack open the formation trapping him from within.

"Ye Sanshui's about to emerge!" someone cried out.

Yang Chuan's sudden appearance had turned the tides.

The leech-exterminating army, caught by surprise, hesitated. Meanwhile, the morale of Dazheng's army rose sharply.

"Our commander's safe! With Yang Chuan's assistance, we're bound to win! Kill them all!" a Dazheng general shouted.

"Kill them all!"

The two armies faced off against one another.

Within the city, Su Qingchan wiped at the blood trickling from her mouth. She was smirking coldly at the sight of Yang Chuan.