CHAPTER 1045: CHAPTER 450: AN ENIGMATIC SITUATION, DEMONS DESCEND UPON THE WORLD

The influence of the Great Jin was immense, causing Hou Yucheng and the other three to have differing opinions on Hou Yuxiao’s decision to join forces with the Great Jin Dynasty to campaign against the New Moon Cult. Despite this, the four decided to wait for Hou Yuxiao to return before making any changes, adhering to the idea of further discussion.

After the meeting on the fifth day of December, the army under the Hou Clan remained inactive, continuing to garrison in Jianye Prefecture City. Regardless of their thoughts, they were somewhat worried that the Great Jin might come to discuss dealing with the New Moon Cult.

Fortunately, the Great Jin did not come.

Not only did the Great Jin not come to discuss dealing with the New Moon Cult, but ever since Jizhou changed hands, the Hou Clan’s allied forces withdrew from the capital of the Divine Dynasty, and the Great Jin dispatched its army to garrison the capital, all the states in the world suddenly became quiet.

Actually, the reaction from all the major Holy Lands can be understood.

The Hou Clan’s allied forces withdrew from the capital, and the Great Jin made no hindrance, seamlessly taking over the capital, which clearly proved that the Hou Clan intended to sever ties with the alliance and was preparing to lean towards the Great Jin.

On the alliance side, Wuwei King Hou Jing betrayed and killed the third Villa Master of Qinjian Villa, Qin Fan, and took Jidu. The other four major Holy Lands similarly did not make any resistance. Not only that, but the Great Jin army stationed at Dongyuan Path also did not intervene, which was quite bewildering.

Of course, looking at the fact that the Great Jin took over the Xiling Path, it was evident that Hou Jing had made deals with both the alliance and the Great Jin.

The alliance and Jizhou had mutual hidden animosity, letting Hou Jing seek revenge; the Great Jin took Xiling Path, effortlessly weakening Qinjian Villa’s power; and Hou Jing successfully took revenge on Qinjian Villa, so this was a deal that left all three parties satisfied.

The current issue is, with the alliance abandoning Qinjian Villa, would they just hand over Jizhou?

How long can Hou Jing hold onto Jizhou? Currently, Hou Jing’s army is still clearing up the remaining four paths of Jizhou. Although there are successive victories right now, once Zhao Yulong and Li Tingzong come out of the treasure vault, will the situation in Jizhou change? When it changes, will Jizhou stand with the alliance or the Great Jin?

Is the Hou Clan’s relinquishing of the capital a firm decision to submit to the Great Jin?

And the New Moon Cult, which has remained inactive, are they going to align with the alliance against Jin in the future?

...

The world has already become somewhat chaotic, with swift and puzzling changes in situations that are difficult for normal people to comprehend. In such unclear circumstances, staying inactive is undoubtedly the best strategy.

Almost all leaders of the Holy Lands are still inside the treasure vault, with only two exceptions outside, one being the former Emperor Yuwen Hongzhang of the Great Jin and the other being the sect hierarch Sikong Yue of the New Moon Cult. Yet, these two also made no moves, so the entire world can only remain calm, waiting for those inside the treasure vault to emerge.

Just like the Holy Lands, naturally, other major forces are even less inclined to act. Besides the leaders of the Holy Lands, over a hundred Sub-Saints of Martial Dao have also entered. Most of these Sub-Saints are ancestors or helm-bearers of Heaven-level or Earth-level forces. Without their return, these forces naturally won’t make any outrageous moves.

Regardless of other places, on the Hexi side, after the meeting, Hou Yucheng and the other three devoted themselves wholeheartedly to enhancing the strength of the allied forces.

The allied force of seventeen million included a three-million-strong Red Flame Army from the Hou Clan, a five-million Shuofeng Army of the Jiangbei Alliance, a three-million Hurricane Heavenly Army from the Lu Family, along with another six million heavenly army from six other Heaven-level forces, forming the complete structure of the current allied forces.

Though the allied forces entered the Five Elements Heaven on Wangchuan Road for cultivation together, they had never fought jointly, resulting in a low degree of integration among the forces; moreover, nearly all these soldiers had cultivation at the eighth or ninth layer of body-opening, with most at the full ten layers, meaning they could be seamlessly integrated into the Red Flame Army at any time.

Before entering the treasure vault, Hou Yuxiao had already instructed them to continuously expand the Red Flame Army, so Hou Yucheng was busy with this matter during the subsequent period.

After several major battles, Hou Yucheng and the others saw clearly that in front of the elite Sacred Army, ordinary armies only faced slaughter.

In this current era, whether intending to compete with the Holy Lands or vying for supremacy in the world in the future, elite Sacred Army forces form the most fundamental and solid capital.

The expansion of the Red Flame Army is essential.

How to expand is a significant issue. For the Jiangbei Alliance, the Lu Family, and the six major Heaven-level forces, expanding the Red Flame Army practically means dismantling and integrating their allegiances. To put it bluntly, it’s the Hou Clan’s attempt to assimilate them.

Although Chu Kuangren, Lu Kangping, and the six major leaders of the forces were absent, the commanders still weren’t foolish. Observing this trend from the Hou Clan, they all united to resist, showing outward compliance but insincere cooperation, even knowing it was for enhancing overall strength.

At this point, Hou Yujie and Hou Yuduan had to step in, playing the roles of good and bad cop. With various means of attraction and suppression employed effectively, the plans were indeed pushed through successfully.

In truth, this was naturally expected. Chu Kuangren, Lu Kangping, and those six major force leaders were absent, and the ones left behind had at most a Broken Realm cultivation, which was inadequate to contend with the four of Hou Clan, especially since there was Hou Yuduan, whose methods and strength far exceeded ordinary levels.

The number of Red Flame Army soldiers surged day by day, so Hou Yucheng began training formations and coordinated combat, trying every possible means to elevate the overall strength of the Red Flame Army.