In the Southeastern Region of the Great Wilderness, the standoff between the Human Domain and the Heaven Palace was tense.

At the heart of the Heaven Palace's army, everything was peaceful and quiet. The Divine Guard camps were silent, and the beings of the Hundred Races forcibly gathered here made little noise.

The Human Domain, however, was different.

Inside the main tent of the Human Domain's army, the atmosphere was particularly… awkward.

Sitting in the main seat, Xiao Jian was exceedingly troubled. It was as if this Sword Cultivator, who had cultivated to the point of having small swords stuck beneath his buttocks, could neither sit nor stand comfortably.

He was a perfectly fine Sword Cultivator.

He had never forgotten his original intention for cultivating the Sword Dao—it was purely because he believed being stylish was a lifelong pursuit.

How had he been dragged out and forced into this position?

Especially since the seat still held the lingering warmth of his teacher. His teacher had smilingly taken a seat to the side, and that gaze seemed to say:

Oh, so your wings have hardened, little one?

Isn't this just roasting me, his disciple, over an open flame!

Xiao Jian looked up at Wu Wang, the instigator of all this, then sullenly retracted his gaze. He held the Human Emperor's Treasure Sword with both hands, his eyes fixed on his nose, his ears supposedly listening to his heart, affecting an air of deep concentration.

Wu Wang stood before a large screen, a map glittering with constantly shifting points of light.

By sending one's Immortal Consciousness into it, one could directly and swiftly observe the situation across nearly half the Southeastern Region without expending too much spiritual mind.

This 'screen' was a masterpiece, a product of combining the Human Domain's Path of Artifact Refining with the Path of Formation. Although it required a large contingent of personnel to continuously gather information from various locations, it greatly enhanced the efficiency of battlefield command.

Wu Wang, arms crossed, seemed oblivious to the surrounding gazes.

Soon, he withdrew his Immortal Consciousness, thinking to himself:

It's not much different from what I already knew.

Wu Wang calmly walked back to an empty wooden stool beside Liu Baiyi, then closed his eyes to concentrate, saying little.

It wasn't that he was intentionally putting on airs, nor was he deliberately trying to keep them in suspense or ignore everyone. He simply didn't want to speak rashly before gathering enough information, lest he adversely affect the war situation.

A single misdirected Jade Talisman from this command center could mean the deaths of tens of thousands of Cultivators on the front lines.

"Wuwang Palace Lord…" an old woman called out softly. Her voice was quite mild, almost gentle.

Wu Wang opened his eyes and smiled. "Senior, what is it?"

As far as he could see, most of the elderly men and women around him offered kind smiles and cast amiable gazes his way.

The old woman chose her words carefully, asking somewhat tentatively, "What are your thoughts on how we should respond to the current war situation?"

Wu Wang pondered for a moment, then said slowly, "I've only just arrived and haven't yet grasped the full picture of the war. I wouldn't dare speak recklessly. All of you have contended with the Heaven Palace for many years and are undoubtedly seasoned veterans.

"I am merely here as someone who has erred; you needn't pay too much mind to my opinions.

"However, on my way here, I heard that many of you are somewhat undecided about the current state of affairs?"

Suddenly, a few cold chuckles came from a corner.

"Wuwang Palace Lord is truly eloquent. You tell us not to mind your words, yet you immediately hit the nail on the head by addressing the current situation.

"It seems the Wuwang Palace Lord has covered all bases, making whatever you say sound perfectly reasonable."

Wu Wang smiled but said nothing.

See? What I feared most is exactly what's happening!

He knew that as soon as he returned to the center of power in the Human Domain, he would inevitably be subjected to 'sniping' from all sides. Even if he did nothing, someone would stand up to find fault.

The previous incident with the old grain stores in the Southeast Division had offended quite a few people. It had undoubtedly put some of the Human Emperor's ministers—those with questionable lifestyles—on alert.

This was the backlash one had to endure for striking a blow against the established order of the Human Domain.

Before Wu Wang could speak, Xiao Jian Daoist cleared his throat. He slowly raised the Longsword he was holding, and with a slight flick of his wrist, half an inch of the blade was revealed, reflecting his own upright and honest face.

The atmosphere in the large tent, supported by dozens of pillars, instantly grew colder.

Xiao Jian Daoist chuckled. "The sword His Majesty bestowed is truly a fine sword!"

His words seemed to carry a hidden meaning. The elder who had spoken earlier looked down to his side, his expression unreadable.

"His Majesty's sword is naturally no ordinary item," Liu Baiyi said calmly. "But don't just pull it out to show off for no reason. It makes you seem somewhat impetuous."

"Yes, Teacher, your instruction is correct." Xiao Jian replied with a smile. With a flick of his wrist, he sheathed the Longsword, continuing to hold it respectfully before him.

Liu Baiyi's gaze swept across everyone present. He chuckled and said, "We have a formidable enemy before us. The Heaven Palace has amassed a force the likes of which hasn't been seen in tens of thousands of years. We cannot afford to waste our energy on squabbling. Wu Wang, what was it you wanted to ask?"

"Pavilion Master," Wu Wang cupped his hands and smiled. "I wanted to ask, what was everyone arguing about just now?"

"Opinions were divided," Liu Baiyi stated.

Liu Baiyi continued in a measured tone, "Of those present, thirty percent feel we should retreat promptly, believing it unwise to deplete the Human Domain's strength in the Southeastern Region."

Several senior experts nodded repeatedly; a few looked as if they wanted to add something but hesitated.

This group of experts consisted mainly of older men.

Liu Baiyi went on, "Another thirty percent believe we should take the initiative and attack. The Heaven Palace has stationed troops and set up Formations here; they clearly have a scheme. We should pinpoint a weakness and strike with all our might, to turn their world upside down!"

Many of the elderly, their beards twitching and eyebrows raised in excitement, were predominantly older women.

Wu Wang nearly laughed out loud at this.

Setting aside serious matters for a moment, in the Human Domain, watching male Cultivators engage in Duels and warfare was mostly for amusement. When it came to true courage and fierceness, one had to look at these old grandmothers. How did every single one of them end up so aggressive?

"The remaining people feel there's no need to rush into an immediate decision. We have the strength and the foundation to engage in a war of attrition with the Heaven Palace."

Liu Baiyi paused his explanation, looked intently at Wu Wang, and said gravely, "Wu Wang, what are your thoughts?"

"Actually, it's not about what I think, but what His Majesty thinks," Wu Wang said. "Pavilion Master, when His Majesty previously ordered the advance into the Southeastern Region, did he give any specific instructions?"

Liu Baiyi replied, "Yes, there were. However, I previously felt it wasn't appropriate to share them with everyone, so I didn't elaborate on the matter."

Wu Wang smiled. "Pavilion Master, sometimes we, as His Majesty's subjects, should prioritize conveying His Majesty's intentions. The instructions His Majesty gave to you, Pavilion Master, are essentially instructions for all of us subjects."

Master Liu's eyes showed contemplation. He cupped his hands towards Wu Wang, a look of shame on his face.

"It is indeed thanks to your reminder, Wu Wang," Liu Baiyi sighed. "I keep forgetting that His Majesty has personally taken over the affairs of the Human Domain, and I inevitably act according to old habits. I misunderstood. I should convey His Majesty's instructions to me to everyone here."

With that, Liu Baiyi stood up and cupped his hands in the direction of the core Human Domain.

All eyes converged on him, and the various elders rose to their feet, staring at Liu Baiyi.

"Before coming to the Southeastern Region, His Majesty convened a meeting of all Pavilion Masters. At that time, this is what he said—"

Liu Baiyi took a breath and continued slowly, "His Majesty stated that the Southeastern Region holds great potential and is home to many members of the Human race who originated from the Human Domain. If this territory is lost, not only will the Heaven Palace be able to directly threaten the Human Domain's rear, but because our main defensive formations are concentrated in the north, it would pose an immense threat to the Human Domain.

"However, the Heaven Palace's intentions are currently unclear, and the Heavenly Emperor's plans are unknown. Perhaps this is merely a confrontation designed to deplete the Human Domain's strength.

"Therefore, we must make a decision now.

"If we commit troops, we must drive the Heaven Palace out of the Southeastern Region. If we do not deploy troops, then outside the Human Domain, we will completely lose the initiative.

"Whether or not we can keep the main theatre of war beyond our borders might be our chance to avoid a third dark period of turmoil."

As Liu Baiyi finished speaking, his gaze swept across the assembly.

At that moment, the vast majority of the high-level experts qualified to be present had their doubts dispelled and their hesitation erased. Only the will to fight remained in their eyes.

Wu Wang, observing this, nodded to himself in approval.

In truth, Liu Baiyi often hadn't yet adapted to the current internal changes within the Human Domain. He subconsciously treated the Human Emperor's words as directives specifically for the few Pavilion Masters—they would grasp the Human Emperor's meaning and then translate that understanding into action. But in a situation like this, direct transmission of the message was sufficient.

Vaguely, Wu Wang suddenly understood why Senior Shen Nong preferred to send him on errands rather than directly dispatching Pavilion Masters like Liu Baiyi or Pavilion Master Feng. It was simple: compared to them, he had fewer attachments, fewer entanglements, and hadn't developed the 'ailment of authority' that came from holding a high position for so long.

Then, he heard the crowd begin to shower Senior Shen Nong with praise.

One declared that His Majesty possessed true sagacity and foresight, standing at a height far beyond their reach.

Another proclaimed that this was the true grand perspective, and what they themselves perceived was still too limited.

In short, it was all very 'ruler and subject.'

Wu Wang listened for a while before proactively standing up and saying, "His Majesty's words were actually quite clear: the battle in the Southeastern Region is imperative.

"Furthermore, His Majesty also set a requirement: we must strive to keep casualties within a certain limit and completely expel the Heaven Palace's forces from the Southeastern Region.

"This is indeed somewhat difficult to achieve.

"I'm sure all of you have already realized that the Heaven Palace of today is completely different from the Heaven Palace when the Head Manager was in power.

"That Earth God is far too steady; his defenses are watertight."

The assembled elders nodded in agreement.

Another person chuckled. "Since Wuwang Palace Lord has spoken up like this, you must already have a well-formed plan. Why not lay out your strategy directly for us old bones, who only know about Cultivation, to hear?

"His Majesty holds Wuwang Palace Lord in such high regard that even after you resigned from your official post, he specially summoned you here to assist. This naturally means Wuwang Palace Lord possesses extraordinary skills in the arts of military deployment and Formation.

"I truly can't wait to witness them."

Wu Wang narrowed his eyes slightly, looking at the speaker.

The Vice Pavilion Master of the Fire God Pavilion. I've forgotten his Daoist title, but his strength is considerable. After all, the Fire God Pavilion isn't a governing body; it's specifically responsible for providing 'support' to the Human Domain's experts, and many of its top members are considered part of the Human Domain's foundational strength.

Right, those who want to target me are still at it. This isn't praise; it's setting me up on a pedestal only to look for a chance to knock me down hard.

Wu Wang's hands slowly fell to his sides, then clasped behind his back. The smile in his eyes gradually faded.

Ming Snake, who had been standing quietly, suddenly spoke. Her voice was clear and cold, her expression utterly frigid. The aura of an Evil God emanated from her, exuding an indescribable majesty.

She said, "What my master's military strategy and tactics are, what business is that of yours?

"The great Human Domain, with so many experts, so many practitioners of Cultivation, claiming to be close to the Dao and in harmony with heaven and earth, aiming to usurp the Heaven Palace and establish an order for all living beings.

"What, is this how you intend to build your order? By relying on a young member of the Human race for everything?

"My master is not yet a hundred years old, his cultivation merely at the True Immortal Realm. Although he possesses many methods that I deeply admire, it's ultimately not his place to speak or discuss too much before you all.

"The jealousy of the Human race is among the most intense of the Hundred Races.

"Truly laughable."

Everyone's expression changed instantly; many frowned as they stared at Ming Snake.

Wu Wang pondered briefly. He knew they would now attack Ming Snake based on her status as an Evil God. But her words… he actually quite enjoyed hearing them.

Sure enough, an old woman immediately spoke up, "Wuwang Palace Lord, having an Evil God here seems somewhat inappropriate."

Another added, "How does Wuwang Palace Lord know this Evil God isn't merely feigning surrender while actually harboring malicious intent?"

A third voice, sharp, said, "Wu Wangzi, if you are dissatisfied with us, you can say so directly. There's no need to let your mount spout such insolence here."

One accusation after another, sentence by sentence.

The elders' words were like blades, all aimed at Wu Wang.

Seeing this, Liu Baiyi couldn't help but step forward. He said in a placating tone, "Everyone, Wu Wangzi was chosen by His Majesty and has rendered illustrious service to the Human Domain. Aren't your words a bit too severe?"

Then, quite a few other elders stepped forward, positioning themselves to shield Wu Wang.

One of them declared, "Of everyone present here, count them one by one! Any of you who have repelled an Evil God or thwarted the Head Manager, step forward and let this old man see you!"

Another chimed in, "Your accomplishments don't even measure up to a child's, yet you have the audacity to stand here making insinuations and preaching lofty principles!

"Are you just asking for a scolding?"

A Vice Pavilion Master from the Benevolent Emperor Pavilion sneered. "Wasn't Wuwang Palace Lord's scolding of us at the Southeast Division enough for you? His Majesty is of such an advanced age, yet he must emerge from his mountain seclusion and cannot find even half a day's peace—isn't it all because of our incompetence?

"I don't care what you're thinking in your hearts, what strange notions you harbor, or what positions you're coveting.

"Right now, we must unite against the external threat and resist the Heaven Palace!

"Wu Wangzi has already resigned his post and returned to the mountains to cultivate. Are you truly still not satisfied? Must you completely isolate him from the Human Domain just to protect your own petty schemes and interests?

"And you call yourselves role models for the Human Domain?

"This is utterly shameless! Everyone!"

The elders fell silent. A few were visibly angered and looked ready to argue with this Vice Pavilion Master.

Ah, human nature, Wu Wang sighed inwardly. In that very brief moment, he symbolically reflected on his own inadequacies and analyzed the points of conflict between himself and the individuals here. When all was said and done, it boiled down to four words: the Human Emperor's throne.

Wu Wang had always understood a certain principle: engaging with the mortal world and transcending it were both exceedingly difficult. Trying to be the 'sole sober one in a crowd of drunkards' often just made one look like a contemptible buffoon. It was better to allow oneself to be a bit more worldly, to even feign a bit of intoxication; only then could one live comfortably.

But precisely in the Human Domain, especially here, there shouldn't be so many people feigning ignorance when they clearly understood. A formidable enemy was at their doorstep, yet they were still busy eliminating dissenters. With such a Human Domain, how could they possibly prevent the descent of dark turmoil? By using their bare heads? It was truly a case of 'the Heavenly Emperor has his Wolf Fang Club, and we have only our skulls to meet it.'

"I am indeed somewhat dissatisfied with all of you."

Wu Wang suddenly spoke. Hands clasped behind his back, he slowly took two steps forward, walking past a few of the elders who were inclined to support him. A warm smile touched his lips.

He said slowly, "Perhaps none of you are aware, but I came to the Southeastern Region together with His Majesty.

"I mention this not for any other reason, nor to imply that I can do as I please with you simply because I have His Majesty's backing."

Wu Wang paused, then smiled again. "Although, even without His Majesty's support, it's not as if I lack the capability to do as I please with you all."

Many elders frowned in unison, but from various spots, suppressed chuckles could also be heard.

Wu Wang smiled. "Why don't we be more frank? Let's clear the air today."

"Wu Wang," Liu Baiyi said slowly, "I know you feel aggrieved, and that others misunderstand you. But give it time, and your colleagues will naturally come to understand your character."

"Senior," Wu Wang said to Liu Baiyi, his tone indifferent, "I actually have no need to explain these things, nor do I need to prove them to anyone.

"I have walked paths that none of you have.

"I have also seen sights that perhaps none of you have witnessed, even throughout your long years of Cultivation.

"To those of you thinking of forcing me out of this grand drama of vying for the Human Emperor's throne, why don't you consider this: why is it that your own children and grandchildren fail to gain His Majesty's appreciation?

"Is it truly because they aren't outstanding enough, or is it because they have elders like you?"

Xiao Jian's sharp eyebrows twitched.

Those words went too far; they were truly too harsh. Many of the old fellows were already seething with rage.ŸŸŸ

"Hmph!" Wu Wang scoffed. He had already walked over to stand beside Xiao Jian Daoist.

He declared, "Those who understand me will say my heart is troubled; those who do not will ask what I am seeking.

"You don't need to utter threats, nor do you need to say anything more. If you find me so offensive, then strike me down with a palm right here and now. If you don't dare to make a move, then swallow your words.

"Daoist Brother, give me the sword."

His gaze swept over them. Several of the elders, their faces flushed with anger and their wrinkles trembling, averted their eyes, unwilling to meet his.

"Very well." Xiao Jian Daoist immediately stood up and declared loudly, "This sword, bestowed by His Majesty, was indeed one I, this humble Daoist, have been keeping on Wu Wangzi's behalf!"

With that, he presented the Longsword to Wu Wang with both hands. Wu Wang accepted it, also with both hands, and offered a word of thanks.

He then turned abruptly, gripped the hilt of the Longsword with one hand, and twirled it twice.

"No one's making a move?" Wu Wang said calmly. With one hand, he lifted the hem of his Daoist robe and lightly seated himself in the main chair.

"In that case, please direct your attention to the north.

"From this moment on, whoever proposes a sufficiently brilliant strategy, I will personally go before His Majesty to request commendation for you.

"However, if anyone brings up matters unrelated to this war again…

"They will be charged with the crime of treason through collusion with the Heaven Palace, executed on the spot, their corpse incinerated, and their name erased from all records!"

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