CHAPTER 173: CHAPTER 171: THE TURNING BATTLE_1

While the Qunxian Sect and Sea Clan leaders conferred, Zhao Yun, Yue Fei, and other generals gathered within Covering Sea City to discuss the current situation.

"The frequency of enemy attacks has decreased these days. I worry they are secretly scheming!" Zhao Yun, clad in silver armor, said bluntly, his expression slightly grim. This was the intuition of a top-tier general. It was this very intuition that had helped him dodge one crisis after another and defeat countless formidable foes.

"I have the same feeling. Unfortunately, our intelligence network is weak and can’t penetrate their inner circle," Yue Fei said, frowning slightly, his voice deep.

Generals like Lv Bu, Bai Qi, and Wang Jian also wore somewhat troubled expressions, lost in thought. From a logical standpoint, if the Qunxian Sect and the Sea Clan were not fools, they would surely choose other targets after realizing Covering Sea City could not be conquered. But the crucial question now was: where would the enemy strike, and which city would they attack?

"General Zhao, where do you think the Qunxian Sect and the Sea Clan will attack next?" Yue Fei asked in a deep voice, looking at the sand table.

"I don’t know," Zhao Yun shook his head. I’m no god; I can’t read minds to guess what the enemy is thinking.

"This is difficult," Bai Qi sighed. "The Qin Empire’s coastline stretches for over six thousand miles, with more than a dozen cities built along it. Even if we wanted to defend them all, we wouldn’t know where to begin."

"If I were the enemy, I would definitely try my best to make us divide our forces!" Lv Bu analyzed. His analysis gained the approval of all the generals present, prompting intense discussion. However, their discussion proved fruitless. Without any intelligence, it was fundamentally impossible to predict the Qunxian Sect and Sea Clan’s next move. After all, this was a cultivation world; enemies could launch an attack anytime and anywhere.

"Haha, everyone is here!" Just when they were all at a loss, a bold voice echoed in the main hall. Zhao Yun and Yue Fei stood up, their faces filled with joy. Ripples appeared in the Void, and the figure of Yuan Tiangang emerged from a crack. He wore a Daoist robe and held a horsetail whisk, exuding the air of a transcendent sage.

"Generals, I am here by His Majesty’s command to help you with your urgent problem," Yuan Tiangang said with a smile, cupping his hands.

"Do you know the enemy’s next move?" Zhao Yun’s eyes brightened as he promptly inquired. If I know their target, I can arrange defenses in advance, deal them a heavy blow, or even annihilate them entirely!

he thought.

Yuan Tiangang didn’t reply but merely pointed to Blue Sea City and Dream Sea City on the map. All the generals followed his gaze, their pupils constricting sharply. The enemy’s targets were, surprisingly, the two cities nearest to Covering Sea City.

"Truly, the skilled are bold!" Zhao Yun’s gaze turned icy, emanating a chilling killing intent. He turned to Yue Fei and asked, "You pick first?"

"Then I’ll take Blue Sea City," Yue Fei replied with a shrug, nonchalantly choosing one.

"Then I will defend Dream Sea City!" Zhao Yun declared. He turned to face the generals, his piercing eyes revealing an overwhelming will to fight, and commanded sharply, "The upcoming battle may be the turning point of this war. We must strike the Qunxian Sect and the Sea Clan hard and annihilate as many of them as possible!"

"Yes, General!" all the generals answered loudly, releasing a terrifying Evil Qi. A blood-red radiance billowed from them, as if they were ready to annihilate all their enemies.

「That very night!」

A bright moon hung in the sky. Under its light, the sea’s surface glowed like a white jade disk, morphing into various shapes with the flowing waves. Killing intent spread over the sea. A great war was about to begin.

Under the cover of night, Qunxian Sect disciples and Sea Clan soldiers divided into two groups. They flew towards Blue Sea City and Dream Sea City, concealing their auras and alerting no one, moving as elusively as phantoms. As they neared the cities, a smile touched everyone’s lips. Although these two cities were strategically less vital than Covering Sea City, their capture could dismantle the Qin Dynasty’s defensive line, making their strategic impact immense.

But they didn’t know that the footsteps of death were quietly approaching.

"Charge!" With Blue Sea City within reach, Wanli Hai excitedly drew his weapon and ordered the attack. Blue Sword Qi flared, dazzling the heavens and turning the night into a roiling sea of blue light, sword gleams rising and falling like waves.

Two hundred thousand elite Qunxian Sect disciples simultaneously unleashed powerful auras. They raised their sharp weapons high, their killing intent palpable, ready to slaughter every living being in the city.

"Enemies are invading! Run!" the city dwellers shrieked, sensing the Qunxian Sect’s invasion, and fled in panic. Many Martial Artists directly soared into the sky to escape.

Just as I suspected, the city is unguarded! Wanli Hai thought, excitement flashing across his face. If we capture this city, we’ll press deeper, take more cities, and force Covering Sea City’s defenders to reveal a weakness. Then, the Nine Dao Domains will be ours for the taking!

He failed to notice Yue Fei watching him intently from the dark Void, battle spear in hand. Behind Yue Fei, ten thousand Bei Wei Army soldiers stood silently, like wooden sculptures, devoid of any sign of life.

As the Qunxian Sect disciples arrived below Blue Sea City, Yue Fei raised his spear high, forming a towering shaft of Spear Qi. A vast, pale light erupted from it, illuminating the disciples’ faces and turning them deathly white.

"It’s Yue Fei! Everyone, be careful! It’s an ambush!" Wanli Hai exclaimed, recognizing Yue Fei’s aura from the Spear Qi. His heart sank. That damn lingering specter! He’s everywhere!

"Defend!" Wanli Hai commanded through clenched teeth. The moment Yue Fei revealed his aura, Wanli Hai knew their plan to assault Blue Sea City was ruined.

"Archers, fire!" Yue Fei commanded, his expression icy.

WHOOSH! WHOOSH! WHOOSH!

Ten thousand arrows, glowing red, tore through the air and rained down like a storm. Qunxian Sect disciples fell in droves.

"Charge!" After several volleys of arrows, Yue Fei led the charge himself. Like a sharp dagger, he plunged into the ranks of Qunxian Sect disciples, leaving a trail of blood and bodies in his wake.

「A similar scene unfolded a thousand miles away at Dream Sea City!」

As the Sea Clan’s main army approached the city, the hidden Four Divine Beasts Army suddenly emerged from the shadows and launched a thunderous attack, catching the Sea Clan completely off guard.

"Flames of the Vermilion Bird!" This time, the attack was launched not by Zhao Yun but by Bai Qi. Empowered by the Vermilion Bird Army Soul, he unleashed a terrifyingly high temperature, causing the temperature in the Void to rise rapidly. The Vermilion Bird Army Soul hovered overhead, flapping its wings. The blazing flames it carried produced a light as brilliant as the sun.

"Void Imprisonment!" The Sea Emperor’s face turned grim. His golden trident pulsed with a special power, sealing off the surrounding Void.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The flames raged, and in mere moments, they burned a hole through the sealed Void, continuing their assault.

"Shield of the Sea God!" The Sea Emperor’s heart pounded. He channeled his Spiritual Energy to form a protective barrier before him and yelled to his Sea Clan soldiers, "Retreat to the sea! Quickly! We’re no match for them on land!"

The Sea Clan thrived in water; their combat power was inherently weaker on land. Facing enemies empowered by the Vermilion Bird formation would put them at an even greater disadvantage!