CHAPTER 270: CHAPTER 267: SMOKE SIGNAL MILES AWAY_1

The news of Lin City’s fall quickly traveled through various channels and reached the court, causing a huge uproar. Numerous court officials hurried to Qin Wudao’s Imperial Study to seek an audience.

I never expected the Ancient Court of the Ocean to dispatch troops! Qin Wudao did not meet with the court officials; instead, he read the intelligence report in his hands with a slight frown. To resist the Ancient Court of the Ocean’s attack, a Quasi-Emperor martial artist must be deployed. It seems the only one he could send was Huo Qubing.

But Huo Qubing is currently striving to break through to the Great Emperor Realm. If he is abruptly awakened, the hard-won opportunity for enlightenment will be wasted. Who knows when the next chance for a breakthrough will come?

No, Huo Qubing absolutely cannot be awakened. We can only engage in a war of attrition! Qin Wudao put down the intelligence report, his resolve firm.

The value of a Great Emperor Martial Artist far surpasses that of one hundred Quasi-Emperor Martial Artists. As long as Huo Qubing breaks through, the threat from the Ancient Court of the Ocean will collapse on its own.

And let’s not forget, the Qin Divine Court’s true enemy is the Kylin Holy Land! Without a Great Emperor to hold the line, how can they possibly resist?

"Relay my order! The forty-three local legions are to immediately proceed to the Western battlefield! They must delay the enemy!" Qin Wudao’s commanding voice emerged from his Imperial Study, reaching the ears of all the ministers. They were all stunned, even doubting if they had heard correctly.

Deploying only local legions? Isn’t this just sending them to their deaths?

"Your Majesty, this plan is absolutely unacceptable! The Ancient Court of the Ocean is too powerful; the local legions are no match for them! Please, Your Majesty, awaken the generals from their seclusion to protect our homes and defend our nation!" an old minister knelt on the ground, crying out in grief.

The rest of the officials did not leave. They also disapproved of this plan because too many people would die.

CREAK...

Qin Wudao pushed open the doors, holding the imperial sword, and said firmly, "My loyal ministers, Zhao Yun and the others have reached a critical juncture. Once they break through, the strength of the Qin Dynasty will be enough to crush all ancient-grade powers!

"For the future of the Qin Dynasty, we must hold out! Even if it means filling the breach with our lives, we must delay until Zhao Yun and the others emerge from their seclusion! Only by doing this can the Qin Dynasty break free from its cocoon and transform into a butterfly!

"I, Zhen, hereby guarantee that if more than half of the 43 local legions are sacrificed, I will personally take to the field and share the fate of our nation, whether we live or die!"

Upon hearing this, the ministers fell silent. Trading today’s sacrifice for future prosperity was not a simple matter of right or wrong; it was more about the agonizing choice they had to make.

"When Your Majesty personally enters the battle, I will accompany you!" a minister called out.

"And I as well!" another minister declared.

"Count me in! Even if it means death, I will fight to delay until Their Excellencies emerge from seclusion!" a third chimed in.

"That’s right! We believe Your Majesty will succeed and achieve ultimate victory!" The ministers all spoke up, their fighting spirit ignited.

Qin Wudao nodded in gratification, but the thought of the 43 legions suffering heavy sacrifices weighed down his heart again.

The rise of a power inevitably faces many difficulties and obstacles as it goes against the tide during crises. Whether it is the Ancient Court of the Ocean or the Kylin Holy Land, they are all stumbling blocks in the path of the Qin Dynasty.

To remove these stumbling blocks, struggle is unavoidable!

And struggle is inseparable from bloodshed and sacrifice!

That day, 43 deployment orders were dispatched with utmost speed to the commanders of the various local legions. A tense atmosphere spread across the skies of the Qin Dynasty.

"This general obeys the order!"

「In the Residual Flower Domain.」

A general knelt on one knee, his expression solemn as he received the imperial edict.

"GALE! GALE! GALE!"

"Valiant men of Old Qin, together we face this national crisis!"

"FIGHT! FIGHT! FIGHT! KILL! KILL! KILL!"

Each legion mobilized, carrying soaring morale as they marched towards the Western Front.

The entire Qin Dynasty was set in motion. A ceaseless flow of resources was transported to the front lines. Batch after batch of Magic Crystal Cannons were deployed to defend the cities, and countless Array Masters worked to reinforce the cities’ defensive formations.

「On the other side.」

After resting for half a day, the Sea Prince ordered his army to advance. They shot like a sharp arrow towards the heartland of the Qin Divine Court. In just one day, they conquered 13 cities and destroyed four strategic passes.

「In the following three days.」

The army of the Ancient Court of the Ocean had penetrated 30,000 miles deep. Billowing beacon smoke stained the skies of the Great Radiance Domain black.

「On the fourth day.」

Six local legions, numbering over 1.5 million soldiers in total, intercepted the advance of the Ancient Court of the Ocean before a major pass.

Both sides once again engaged in fierce battle, the sounds of fighting echoing for hundreds of miles!

On the first day of the battle, the Qin Divine Court held the pass, at the cost of 130,000 lives!

On the second day, the Ancient Court of the Ocean deployed their Saint King experts. The Qin Divine Court lost 490,000 soldiers, and one-tenth of the pass was destroyed!

On the third day, the Sea Prince personally took action and destroyed the defensive formation. The six local legions suffered over 700,000 casualties, leaving them with fewer than 300,000 soldiers!

On the fourth day, the pass was completely destroyed. The Ancient Court of the Ocean advanced to the next location, treading over fields of corpses.

"HAHAHA! It seems the Qin Divine Court is not as formidable as legends claim!" Sniffing the scent of blood, the Sea Prince laughed heartily, finally venting the frustration in his heart.

However, Han Yuquan, who accompanied him, furrowed his brows. These legions are clearly being sent to their deaths. What on earth is the Qin Divine Court plotting? Why aren’t they dispatching their powerful experts?

He remembered very clearly that during the ’East Border Grand Ceremony,’ the Qin Divine Court had at least six Saint Kings and one Quasi-Emperor Martial Artist!

Could it be that they are no longer within the Qin Divine Court?

The army of the Ancient Court of the Ocean continued its advance.

「In the following half month,」 they successively annihilated 18 local legions of the Qin Divine Court and arrived at the entrance to the Divine Gate.

Further ahead lay the Nine Great Domains, already very close to the Imperial Capital.

"Within one month, we will annihilate the Qin Dynasty!" Standing outside the Divine Gate, the Sea Prince, full of vigor, made this bold declaration.

「Meanwhile,」 in the Imperial Palace within the Imperial Capital, Qin Wudao summoned the civil and military officials to the Emperor’s Hall. This time, he was not garbed in imperial robes but was clad in battle armor.

"The front line is in crisis, and morale is unstable! I, Zhen, intend to personally lead the expedition to the Divine Gate and oversee the battle!" His majestic, imperial voice echoed in the ministers’ ears.

"This subject is willing to accompany Your Majesty!" All the officials bowed in salute. They unanimously removed their court robes, retrieved armor from their personal storage spaces, and donned it with precision, expressing their determination to live or die with the nation and share the fate of their sovereign.

"With all of you, my dear ministers, I, Zhen, am like a fish in water! With such loyal subjects, the nation is truly fortunate!" Looking at his ministers, Qin Wudao was deeply grateful. He hesitated no longer and commanded in a clear voice, "Set out!"

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The 24 battalions of the Imperial Capital boarded Spirit Boats one after another, heading towards the Divine Gate. Each battalion maintained a distance of 50 li from the next, forming a marching column that stretched for 1,200 li.

Qin Wudao, leading his court officials, was in the fifth battalion!

After their departure, within the Immortal Realm fragments, Xiao He’s eyelids twitched slightly, and an immeasurably vast aura surged up to the Nine Heavens.

The Quasi-Emperor Realm—broken!

It was as if a chain reaction had been triggered. From the other secret chambers, powerful auras erupted one after another. Figures such as Zhao Yun, Xiang Yu, Guan Yu, and Ma Chao all broke through to the Ninth Turn Saint King realm!

Meanwhile, civil officials like Zhuge Liang, Jia Xu, and Wang Yangming all broke through to the Sixth Turn Saint King realm!

They only needed to consolidate their cultivation realms, and then they could emerge from their seclusion!

The only one who showed no change was Huo Qubing, in the easternmost secret chamber. From it, wisps of profound and mysterious Power of Laws emanated, utterly enigmatic.