The expansion of the Forbidden Heavenly Barrier was sometimes fast, sometimes slow. In just three days, the barrier had already enveloped and sealed off the entirety of Henghai Province. Only then did countless citizens of Hua Country understand that this was not a war, but a catastrophe.

...

Outside Henghai Provincial City.

「Hulao Mountain Base」

The Martial Combatants Coalition, led by Lin Xiyue, had already rendezvoused with Dou Dou, Yaya, and the Demon Army commanded by Kuang Pi the day before. On that same day, the Ghost Tiger Corps, personally led by Di Xuanji, also arrived at Hulao Mountain.

Dawn had just broken.

Di Xuanji descended from the sky, landing with a thunderous impact upon a makeshift high platform before the assembled armies. She was dressed in battle armor, her long hair tied back in a ponytail. She exuded a noble yet cold charm, both beautiful and formidable—like a revered sovereign, yet also like a fearless warrior.

"The situation is critical and there is no time to delay, so I will be brief," she said. Her voice was calm, neither hurried nor agitated, but every word was firm and powerful, resonating to every corner.

Below the platform, the soldiers of the allied forces gazed at Di Xuanji with solemn expressions. Each stood as straight as a javelin, with no fear in their eyes, only a burgeoning fighting spirit.

"On my way here, I familiarized myself with the battlefield situation in detail. Warriors, the enemy we face this time is not some heretic cult, but a force from the Upper Realm. According to our intelligence, they call themselves the Army of Slaughter. To put it simply... you can think of them as an extraterrestrial force.

"You may be shocked and find this hard to believe. Indeed, I was shocked as well. But there is no more time for shock.

"Among us here are compatriots from Hua Country, brothers and sisters from M Country, and comrades from T Country... I believe it is a shared conviction that has brought us together—once estranged, even at war with one another—to fight side by side at this moment!

"And that conviction... is to protect our homes and defend our country! To protect our loved ones, our friends, our lands, our people, and our descendants... Therefore, no matter where the enemy comes from, so long as they dare to invade, we shall annihilate them!"

Finishing her speech, Di Xuanji slowly turned to face the four majestic pillars of light in the distance. Her tone became slow and heavy. "For ten years, the beacons of war have burned in the south; this head of mine must be offered at our nation's gate. You who live on must fight ever harder; may the news of our victory be my funeral rites.

"I, Di Xuanji, will go with you, my warriors, to the front lines... to stain the vast expanse with our blood and shake the very heavens with our lives!"

At these words, the soldiers' blood boiled with fervor. They suddenly raised their arms and roared in unison.

"We will follow Your Majesty and stain the vast expanse with our blood!"

"We will follow Your Majesty and stain the vast expanse with our blood!"

...

"Ye Ningxue!" Di Xuanji called out suddenly.

Ye Ningxue stepped forward. "Present!"

"You will lead the Martial Combatants Coalition and the Demon Army. Conduct a frontal assault and retake the provincial city!"

"As you command!"

"Su Shanyue! Zhang Yi!"

The two women stepped out together. "Present!"

"Lin Xiyue! Qin Xiaodou!"

Dou Dou lowered her head, a look of grievance on her face as she slowly stepped forward. "Empress Sister, really," she muttered, "you shouldn't have said my real name in front of everyone."

Yaya put her hands on her hips. "So your name is Qin Xiaodou! What an awful name!"

Nearby, Xiao Luanzi broke into a cold sweat. I hope this Human Race Empress doesn't call out my royal name next, he thought.

...

In a very short time, Di Xuanji finished assigning tasks to everyone.

Ye Ningxue was to lead the Martial Combatants Coalition and the Demon Army, responsible for the frontal assault on the enemy.

Su Shanyue and Zhang Yi, along with several Sky List Strong Ones, were assigned to attack the eastern foundation of the Construct Wood Great Formation.

Lin Xiyue, Xu Qianqing, Mu Xueyan, and Yang Zhilu were to attack the southern foundation.

Dou Dou, her junior martial sister, and Yaya were responsible for the western foundation.

Kuang Pi, Xiao Luanzi, Yao Ritian, and Lei Luan, along with the other demons, would attack the northern foundation.

The White Skirt Medical Immortal, Lu Nianjiao, was to lead the San Fei and the Disciples of Heavenly Gull Sect to rescue the wounded and evacuate the civilians.

As for Di Xuanji herself, she and Lin Jianlong would lead the Ghost Tiger Corps directly to the Construct Wood.

...

At Di Xuanji's command, the great army surged forward.

First came a wave of long-range attacks. A relentless bombardment of artillery shells blanketed the area, followed by countless fighter jets carrying heavy ordnance, streaking through the sky to provide cover for the ground troops' frontal charge.

「Within the camp of the Army of Slaughter.」

A middle-aged man in dazzling battle armor stood atop a warship, watching the incoming barrage that rained down like a meteor shower. A look of disdain crossed his face. Hmph, ants from the Lower Realm... They've certainly put on quite a show, but this is the extent of their power.

The man's name was Luo Xiao, Emperor Hao's most trusted War General. He was the one leading the Army of Slaughter's descent into the Lower Realm.

"Pass the order: counterattack."

After uttering the command with indifference, Luo Xiao returned to the command room to sip his tea.

Following his order, hundreds of Heavenly Azure Warships hovering over the city immediately formed up and unleashed destructive beams of Spiritual Power.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

As thunderous explosions shook the sky dome, the long-range firepower of both sides collided. The sky above Henghai Provincial City was instantly engulfed in terrifying fire clouds. Burning warplanes plummeted from the inferno, resembling nothing so much as swatted insects falling from the sky.

Suddenly, a beam pierced through the fire clouds and struck the Hulao Mountain camp directly. The earth instantly ruptured and collapsed, mountains shattered, and casualties were widespread.

Lin Jianlong, who was leading the charge, glanced at Di Xuanji. "Their long-range weapons are on a completely different level. This is a one-sided slaughter."

"Then we have to engage them in close quarters!" Di Xuanji replied, her face a mask of determination. "Against an enemy like this, trading our lives for ground is the only choice we have! Order the entire army to accelerate the charge!"

...

As countless soldiers charged forward, undaunted by death, their sacrifice finally bought the main assault units an opportunity to close with the enemy.

The Valkyries reached the four foundation points—east, south, west, and north—at almost the same instant.

These ants from the Lower Realm... I've truly underestimated them, Luo Xiao mused, watching the heroic scenes unfold on the monitor in the command room. He couldn't help but be moved. In his eyes, these people from the Lower Realm were mere ants, fit only to be crushed unilaterally. Yet, the performance of these undaunted "ants" now inspired a sliver of respect in him.

"General Luo, the enemy has reached our front line!"

"Then I shall personally go and play with them."

Putting down his teacup, Luo Xiao rose and walked out of the command room.

A moment later, he descended to the front lines, his calm gaze falling upon Ye Ningxue. So young, yet already an Earth Immortal... Interesting.

Luo Xiao reached for the War Sword on his back. His body suddenly erupted with a powerful cultivation aura, causing The Void around him to twist. At the same time, a Dao Jade silently materialized in the air behind him.

"Luo Xiao. Dao Jade First Realm," he announced. "Although you are but an ant, I respect your spirit, so I will personally grant you a quick death. But you, little girl, should never have come here. And you certainly shouldn't be facing me."

Ye Ningxue's expression remained unchanged as she slowly drew her sword. "I came here with only one purpose," she replied, her gaze as sharp and cold as the sword in her hand. "Either I kill all of you, or you kill all of us."

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