Galenor looked at Lucio.

"I am an old man nearing the grave, what have I not seen? Don't try to put on a show in front of me, just speak plainly!"

Lucio and Philip exchanged glances, not daring to be careless.

"The Emperor plans to exterminate the Shadow Clan, and also to take control of the Savage Lands and seize the Purification Divine Spring there. We intend to send troops into the wilderness," Lucio said.

"At that time, we would like to request your assistance, along with a few other Guardians, to help in the Savage Lands."

"Do you know what this means?" Galenor's expression grew serious.

Philip responded,

"This means that the Shadow Clan will take the opportunity to attack the Godfall Gorge."

"Since you know this, who gave you the courage to say such things?!"

Galenor's tone turned cold.

The safety of the Ancient Rift was at stake, and he would never allow anyone to jeopardize it.

Lucio continued,

"We want to give the Shadow Clan this opportunity to attack the Gorge. Only then can we draw out all their forces and eradicate this threat once and for all."

"Your idea may not be bad, but I fear that Lady Luck may not be on your side when the time comes," Galenor sneered.

Lucio spoke solemnly,

"The Emperor will deploy seventy thousand God Fire Rank warriors in the Gorge, and if any Divine Cleric Rank exists, we will have someone handle it."

Galenor's smile froze, and he suddenly looked up at Lucio.

"How many God Fire Ranks?"

"Seventy thousand."

"Are you serious?"

Galenor stared at him intently.

Lucio nodded.

"Has Aurek brainwashed you all?!"

Galenor was in disbelief, yet his heart was shaken.

"There are indeed seventy thousand God Fire Ranks. If you wish to verify it, just send someone to check."

Galenor's mind power instantly extended outward and quickly returned.

He silently glanced at both men and fell into thought.

Lucio and Philip exchanged a knowing smile, aware that Galenor was shocked.

"This is merely the tip of the iceberg of the Empire's strength."

"The Emperor said it himself; the Shadow Clan is nothing in his eyes. The Empire's blade is our greatest assurance!"

Galenor's heart surged with turmoil.

They had been entangled with the Shadow Clan for countless years, yet Aurek dared to belittle them so?

He couldn't help but think of Aurek, who had ventured into the Abyssal Demon Realm to find a way out for the continent.

If Aurek knew that his descendants possessed such terrifying power, capable of easily solving the Shadow Clan issue, how would he feel?

"You two better act cautiously."

"You should know that the Rift must not be opened; otherwise, it will be a disaster that sweeps the continent."

Galenor eventually agreed to the plan but sternly warned them.

He only agreed because he hoped to finally eradicate the Shadow Clan.

"Rest assured, Lord!"

The two men bowed in assurance.

With seventy thousand God Fire Ranks deployed, what was there to worry about?

The only concern was the Divine Cleric Rank, but the Emperor had already made preparations.

With Galenor's approval, they began to make arrangements.

They ordered Harry and Tina to lead five hundred God Fire Ranks, tens of thousands of Divine Envoy Ranks, and hundreds of thousands of Sage Ranks in a grand march toward the Highland Royalty in the Savage Lands.

These were the forces already exposed to the public.

The seventy thousand God Fire Ranks would be secretly stationed deep within the Godfall Gorge.

Afterwards, Philip stayed behind to command in the Gorge, while Lucio entered the Savage Lands with the army.

...

Savage Lands, Highland Royalty.

The Highland Royalty, long the rulers of the Savage Lands, occupied the strategic Highland Peaks in the southern region of the wilderness, where the earth's energy gathered.

Relying on the Purification Divine Spring, the Highland Royalty had flourished for generations.

Among the known forces, there were ninety-seven God Fire Ranks, several hundred Divine Envoy Ranks, and many Sage Rank, Stellar Rank, and Grandmaster Rank warriors.

These were just the visible forces—undoubtedly, their hidden power was even deeper.

The Savage Lands had long been home to the Shadow Clan's lurking presence. If the Highland Royalty could thrive under such a threat, their hidden strength must be impressive.

It was highly likely that there existed powers above God Fire Rank, even reaching Divine Cleric Rank.

Highland Royalty Throne Room.

Alru sat on a throne made of giant beast skulls, his gaze fierce and sharp.

He was a tall and imposing figure, wearing crude beast-skin armor, his thick black hair wild and unruly.

He was the current King of the Highlands, and the only king in his line to ascend to God Fire Rank. He held unmatched prestige in his tribe and across the wilderness.

Looking at his clansmen, Alru's voice boomed,

"The Shadow Clan is planning to retreat from the wilderness into the Eastern Domain. As soon as their main forces leave, we will destroy their old stronghold!"

The clansmen began to murmur among themselves.

The Shadow Clan had always been a significant threat to the Highland Royalty, constantly trying to shake the royal family's grip on the wilderness.

If they could drive them out of the wilderness, the region would be entirely under the rule of the Highland Royalty.

However, one of the clansmen voiced a concern,

"I've heard that the Crossbridge Empire suddenly rose to power in the Eastern Domain, sweeping through the various forces there at an astonishing speed, and now they're expanding toward the wilderness and Central Domain."

"If the Shadow Clan enters the Eastern Domain, they will inevitably clash with them. If war breaks out, the Gorge Guardians may also get involved. If the Shadow Clan is defeated, they may retreat back into the wilderness, and the fight for territory will once again be a costly battle."

"This time is different!"

Alru stood up, his gaze fierce.

"The Shadow Clan has long desired to open the Ancient Rift in the Godfall Gorge and summon the Demon Race army into the Eura continent."

"Now, with the upheaval in the Eastern Domain, White Wing Abbey, Skyborne Church, and other major powers have been wiped out. The Eastern Domain's elite forces have been decimated, leaving only the Crossbridge Empire standing, and they are still in disarray."

"The Shadow Clan sees this as an opportunity."

"They plan to take advantage of the chaos to force open the Rift!"

Royal Steward Zane's expression grew serious.

"If the Rift opens, it will be a disaster not just for the Eastern Domain, but for the entire continent."

The tragic history of the great war from tens of thousands of years ago had been passed down through generations.

Had it not been for the return of those who had entered the God Realm, and the fierce battle fought in the Gorge to stop the Demon Realm's invasion, the Eura continent would have already fallen.

If the Rift were to open again and the Divine Gate remained closed, who would be able to save the continent?

"Since this concerns the safety of the entire Eura continent, it's no longer just the Highland Royalty's problem."

Alru sneered.

"At the very least, we'll wait until the Eastern Domain and the Gorge deal with the Shadow Clan and weaken each other. Then we will intervene."

"Besides, the Shadow Clan's old monsters are mostly gone. Let them fight it out. If they destroy each other, even better."

The clansmen frowned and fell into deep thought.

These words made sense.

Let the Gorge Guardians and the new Crossbridge Empire fight the Shadow Clan.

First, if they could destroy the Shadow Clan's Divine Cleric Rank and God Fire Rank main forces, the Highland Royalty would no longer have to worry about them returning to threaten their rule in the wilderness, ensuring the royal family's interests.

Second, if they could simultaneously weaken the Gorge Guardians and the newly emergent Crossbridge Empire, the Highland Royalty would face fewer surrounding threats and would be able to develop peacefully, growing even stronger in the future.

"So, when the Shadow Clan's main forces enter the Eastern Domain, we will cut off their retreat, forcing them to settle in the Eastern Domain and fight the Gorge Guardians and the Crossbridge Empire."

"If they truly want to return, we'll make it difficult for them to do so, leaving them stuck in a dilemma."

"The Shadow Clan fears exhaustion. Otherwise, they wouldn't have hidden for all these years. Their ultimate goal has always been the Rift in the Gorge."

Alru reminded them.

The clansmen nodded in agreement.

"I've heard that the Crossbridge Empire has ambitious plans and seems to want to get involved in the wilderness."

"The Shadow Clan's entry into the Eastern Domain is just right. It will be a good opportunity to teach this over-ambitious neighbor a lesson."

Royal Steward Zane's eyes glinted with wisdom.

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