CHAPTER 296: CHAPTER 293: DIAMOND BATTLE (PART 5)_1

"Wansheng! Wansheng! Wansheng..."

On the bloody battlefield, millions of Qin Dynasty soldiers roared, celebrating their victory in this great war and their own survival.

"Relay my command! All main combat corps, press your advantage and pursue the enemy! The remaining regional corps will clean up the battlefield!"

Zhao Yun flew out from the Beacon Tower. Mounted on a white steed and wielding a battle spear, he landed among the Azure Dragon Legion’s ranks and led the army in continued pursuit.

The thunder of hooves echoed beyond the Great Wall as several million soldiers spurred their mounts, forging deep into the Diamond Dao Domain. Before long, they arrived outside Wanchang City.

At that very moment, Liu Jimin was gathering classified documents to prevent the Qin Dynasty Divine Court from obtaining them and discovering the Alliance’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

Meanwhile, the soldiers of the nine legions were busy moving valuables.

"Great General, the Qin Dynasty army is in pursuit!" a Deputy General reported, approaching with a solemn expression.

"Is everything packed?" Liu Jimin asked in a low voice, his brow furrowed slightly.

"Not yet. It will take at least four hours!" the Deputy General replied, shaking his head. "Wanchang City is the Alliance’s frontline base and has stockpiled a vast amount of provisions and valuables. Even with spatial storage rings, it’s impossible to load everything in such a short time. After all, to ensure the frontline soldiers were well-fed, the Azure Sea Ancient Court organized large-scale food transports to Wanchang City every month."

"That’s too long," Liu Jimin said coldly after a moment of contemplation. "Order the Ninth Legion to completely destroy Wanchang City. We absolutely cannot allow any secrets to be exposed, nor can we let those valuables fall into the hands of the Qin Dynasty!"

"As you command!" The Deputy General cupped his fists respectfully and departed to relay the order, a chilling killing intent glinting in his eyes.

Once the order was given, the First through Eighth Legions withdrew in an orderly fashion. Meanwhile, the soldiers of the Ninth Legion began large-scale destruction of the city. All buildings were demolished. Even the commoners living in the Diamond Kingdom were cruelly poisoned.

A quarter of an hour later, the soldiers of the Ninth Legion spread flammable oil over the city, now reduced to ruins, before hastily departing.

BOOM!

A conflagration blazed, illuminating the heavens in a crimson glow, and the air filled with the sickeningly sweet scent of roasting flesh.

"So they still got away!"

Watching Wanchang City turn into a sea of flames, Zhao Yun sighed. He then took out a map and began studying it on the spot.

After a few minutes, he ordered in a deep voice, "Relay my command! Attack Jinyang City!"

Jinyang City was the second-largest city in the Diamond Kingdom, situated in the eastern part of the Diamond Dao Domain. Capturing it meant controlling half of the Diamond Kingdom’s territory.

"Acknowledged!"

Lv Bu, Yue Fei, and the others nodded in agreement. They all supported Zhao Yun’s plan. After defeating the Alliance’s main legions, they also needed to select a city to serve as a frontline command post to gradually encroach upon the Azure Sea Alliance’s territory.

And Jinyang City was, without a doubt, the best choice!

* * *

News of the Diamond Battle quickly spread throughout the entire Azure Sea Alliance, causing a tremendous shock. It instilled fear in many of those in power, making them even more terrified of the Qin Dynasty Divine Court.

Is it really right to follow the Azure Sea Ancient Court?

The Huangdao Kingdom was the strongest among the thirteen king-level powers within the Azure Sea Alliance, presided over by a Ninth Revolution Saint King. However, precisely because of its strength, it had long harbored rebellious ambitions against the Azure Sea Ancient Court. It only refrained from showing these ambitions openly because it lacked a Semi-Emperor Martial Artist.

「In the Imperial Study」

The Huangdao Divine Emperor gazed at the intelligence report in his hand, his expression exceedingly grave.

Beside him sat an elderly man, his hair as white as snow, yet his eyes held a sharp, discerning glint, as if capable of seeing through a person’s heart.

For the Huangdao Kingdom, which had long desired to break free from the Azure Sea Ancient Court’s shackles, this was an excellent opportunity. Faced with the Qin Dynasty Divine Court’s invasion, the Azure Sea Ancient Court would certainly not trouble them. But what then? Whether the Qin Dynasty Divine Court won or the Azure Sea Ancient Court prevailed, both would eventually turn their armies against the Huangdao Kingdom. Death still seemed inevitable!

"Old Ancestor, what do you think I should do?" the Huangdao Divine Emperor asked the elder beside him after a long period of deep thought. It was a habit he had developed: whenever he faced an intractable problem, he would consult the Old Ancestor.

No matter the issue, the Old Ancestor could always find a solution in the shortest possible time.

This time, however, the Huangdao Old Ancestor remained silent. He sat quietly in his chair, as motionless as a statue.

The Huangdao Divine Emperor dared not rush him and waited patiently.

"Let’s take a gamble!" the Huangdao Old Ancestor finally said in a solemn tone after a quarter of an hour of silence. He was old now. If he couldn’t break through to the Quasi-emperor Realm, he only had a mere hundred thousand years of lifespan remaining.

Some time ago, he had visited the Azure Sea Ancient Court, seeking a method to break through to the Quasi-emperor Realm. However, the Azure Sea Ancient Court had been extremely wary of him and refused to impart the method.

He understood that the Azure Sea Ancient Court did not want him to become a Semi-Emperor Martial Artist.

The emergence of a Semi-Emperor Martial Artist in a vassal force was not in the Azure Sea Ancient Court’s interests.

Continuing to follow the Azure Sea Ancient Court, I have no hope of breaking through to become a Semi-Emperor. Perhaps following the Qin Dynasty Divine Court offers a sliver of hope, though the risk is considerably greater.

"I understand!" The Huangdao Divine Emperor was stunned for a moment, then grasped the Huangdao Old Ancestor’s meaning. After some thought, he said, "After Liu Jimin is defeated and retreats, he will undoubtedly head to the ghost-infested Ghost Immortal Ridge and use its natural strategic advantages to establish a secondary line of defense!"

"When I was young, I went to Ghost Immortal Ridge for training. Once, while being pursued by a Ghost King, I stumbled into a hidden tunnel in my panic and managed to pass through the entire Ghost Immortal Ridge!"

As he spoke, the Huangdao Divine Emperor retrieved a map from his personal storage space and handed it to the Huangdao Old Ancestor. "Throughout history, joining a new power has always required a pledge of fealty. Old Ancestor, please take this map as our pledge!"

Hearing this, the Huangdao Old Ancestor’s eyes lit up. He eagerly took the map, glanced at it, and nodded with delight.

If Liu Jimin truly sets up defenses at Ghost Immortal Ridge, then this map is a divine blade suspended directly above his head. Once it falls, his death will be certain!

* * *

「Azure Sea Ancient Court!」

「In the Majestic Imperial Hall!」

"I never expected the Qin Dynasty Divine Court to be so formidable! Fortunately, General Liu made the painful decision to cut losses and preserve the Nine Great Legions; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable!"

"Indeed! As long as the Nine Great Legions remain, the foundations of the Azure Sea Ancient Court cannot be shaken!"

"But with the Qin Dynasty Divine Court invading, what should we do?"

The civil and military officials were all gathered, their faces etched with worry, yet tinged with a sliver of relief. They generally approved of Liu Jimin’s decision to abandon the allied soldiers.

The Nine Great Legions were the Azure Sea Ancient Court’s most powerful military force. If anything were to happen to them, the Azure Sea Ancient Court would have no troops left to mobilize, let alone defend its vast domain.

"Prime Minister, has there been any response from the Sacred Land?" the Azure Sea Divine Emperor asked expectantly from his throne.

"Your Majesty," Prime Minister Huang Zongyuan replied, stepping into the center of the hall and cupping his fists in salute, "when the Qin Dynasty Divine Court first dispatched its troops, this humble servant contacted the Kylin Sacred Land. They indicated that if the Qin Dynasty attacks the Azure Sea Ancient Court’s heartland, they will dispatch an Emperor Realm expert to suppress them!"

"Good!" A smile touched the Azure Sea Divine Emperor’s lips. He then rose to his feet and commanded sternly, "Order all Alliance members to dispatch their most elite troops to assemble at Ghost Immortal Ridge!"

His icy voice reverberated throughout the grand hall.

On his desk lay a memorial from Liu Jimin, advising that defenses be established at Ghost Immortal Ridge.