Arraying the Troops

Silver City. The northernmost city of the Heavenly Star Dynasty. Originally, few people took notice of this small border city of a million residents, and even fewer knew much about it. Yet with the rise of one Silver City expert after another, and with the secrets of the Eight Great Families spreading across the land, Silver City quickly became the focus of countless eyes. Ying Hongyue of the Three Great Organizations, Li Hao who commanded the Heavenly Star Governor-General's Office, Yuan Shuo who had taught here for decades, Liu Long who led the Demon Hunt Army… All of these figures hailed from the small town of Silver City. A minor city of barely a million souls. A bitter, frozen expanse on the far northern border. Yet today, Silver City once again became the nexus where the world converged—the focal point of the realm. Because… Li Hao had arrived. And not only Li Hao; Dali, across Mount Cang, had come as well. …… As the old saying went, one grew anxious as one neared home. As the warship drew closer and closer to Silver City, Li Hao stood upon the deck and looked into the distance. Bleak, cold, and desolate—such were the defining traits of Silver City. A small town he had once thought lively, when compared to the bustling grandeur of the Central Region… Silver City was truly barren. In the entire sprawling city, there was not a single tall building. Vehicles were scarce on the streets; most people still traveled on foot or by bicycle. Silver City stood alone and isolated at the foot of Mount Cang. Yet this place had supposedly been the core of heaven and earth a hundred thousand years ago. In antiquity, Sword City had reportedly stood right here, though modern Silver City was not Sword City itself, but merely a city rebuilt upon its ancient ruins. By now, quite a few figures stood beside Li Hao. Director Wang was on the deck as well. Looking into the distance at the hazy outline of Silver City, he sighed with deep nostalgia. "Sword City… really is gone, isn't it?" Once the foremost of the eight cities, the very center of heaven and earth. Now… only a solitary, desolate little town remained. Li Hao did not reply. Instead, he raised his gaze to the sky. Having returned to the domain of Silver City, he could see that Eight Trigrams diagram once more, even clearer than before. This time, he required no stimulation from the power of the red shadow to perceive it directly. A sharp light gleamed in his eyes. It was a colossal Eight Trigrams diagram, blanketing all of Silver City. Eight lines! One of them, reasonably thick, was connected to Li Hao, while several others trailed off toward another direction… Li Hao frowned slightly. A few of those lines appeared rather faint and frail, likely due to the destruction of their corresponding divine weapons. Yet… the direction of the lines was wrong. Li Hao remained silent, his brow furrowed. The red lines pointed toward the other side of Mount Cang. Was Ying Hongyue… not in Silver Moon or the Three Northern Provinces? Was he across Mount Cang, in Dali? Or was he moving in concert with Dali? Thoughts raced through his mind. At present, the Eight Trigrams diagram was not entirely distinct because he was still outside Silver City proper, but Li Hao could still discern its shape. Looking closer, he could see neither the phantom of his ancestor nor that gateway deep within the starry expanse due to the vast distance. He knew what it was: the Star Gate. Supposedly, that was the passageway out of this world, the corridor leading to the main world. Back then, near the Star Gate, he had caught sight of what seemed to be a figure or creature sitting cross-legged in meditation. At this moment, Li Hao could not help wondering: what in the world was that? And what, truly, was this Eight Trigrams diagram over the Star Gate? Li Hao spoke in a soft voice, "Director Wang, I once mentioned the Eight Trigrams diagram above the Star Gate to you, but you never told me what it actually is…" Director Wang hesitated for a moment before replying, "I'm not entirely sure myself. The Star Gate is just the Star Gate… But that Eight Trigrams diagram you speak of might be the Qiankun Eight Trigrams Sky-Suppressing Formation of the Silver Moon land! It was an array formed by the eight cities, only it was broken back in antiquity, severing contact among the eight main cities… As for why it appears here… it might be due to Sword City, or perhaps it's an auxiliary array." The Qiankun Eight Trigrams Sky-Suppressing Formation! Li Hao knew of this. Back then, the eight main cities had constructed this formation. It was also an array forged to suppress heaven and earth after the Blood Sovereign severed the Silver Moon land with a single blade strike, dividing it into eight portions. Its purpose was to prevent heaven and earth from developing an independent consciousness, lest this realm break away from the main world. Yet now, this Eight Trigrams diagram hovered in the sky above Silver City. The implications were manifold. Silver City held no shortage of treasures, including the stone doors reputed to be the inheritance grounds of the Eight Great Families. Li Hao had discovered one such stone door in the past. And the energy within the stone door—the blended power of the Eight Great Families—now seemed likely to be the power of that array, specifically effective against the power of the red shadows. And the red shadow power had been cultivated by Ying Hongyue. As Yuan Shuo had once remarked, the red shadow was a kind of puppet power. The power of the Eight Great Families was tailored to counter it. Back in Silver City, Li Hao had even triggered an explosion using it, thinking that whenever he encountered Ying Hongyue, he could blow him to pieces with the power of the Eight Great Families… only to discover later that Ying Hongyue himself actually bore very little red shadow energy upon his person. Returning to the region of Silver City stirred a whirlwind of thoughts within Li Hao. He looked toward the city. Beside him, several others were gazing upon it as well. Many of them had long been curious about Silver City, yet had never had the chance to see it in person. Now that they laid eyes upon it, it was utterly different from what they had imagined. There was no vast, majestic grandeur, nor any aura of timeless antiquity. There was only… squalor and neglect. Was this truly Silver City? The warship glided toward Silver City. Behind it, an army of millions moved like a swarm of locusts. The rhythmic, thudding march caused the earth to sink beneath their feet as they rapidly converged upon the city. The ground shook and the mountains trembled! …… Silver City. At the dilapidated city gates, Director Zhao stood waiting. Beside him were Golden Gun and several other martial masters, their faces pale as they looked into the distance. Next to Golden Gun, an old man spoke with an odd expression, "That is Yuan Shuo's disciple?" A solitary figure stood upon the warship's deck. Even from such a distance, the golden radiance enveloping him was plainly visible. These veterans had left for Dali years ago, and Yuan Shuo had known about it, of course. Yet none of them had anticipated that in such a brief span of time, Yuan Shuo's student would have built such an immense enterprise. That sea of troops… regardless of their individual combat prowess, the spectacle alone was intimidating. Rows of armored soldiers also stood upon the colossal warship. Old friends from back then were now reduced to serving under this young man… It had to be said that the jianghu the Silver Moon martial masters knew was vastly different from the one in Li Hao's eyes. They had never imagined that a martial artist could ever reach such heights. Golden Gun's eyes flickered with complex emotions. He nodded. "It's him. Demon Sword Li Hao. Three years ago… or rather, four years ago, he was accepted as Yuan Shuo's final disciple. He started out only studying literature… but eventually, he took up the martial path." The other old martial masters were aware of some of his deeds as well; over the past two days, all of Silver City had been discussing Li Hao. Yet it all felt somewhat surreal. Half a year ago, Li Hao had been nothing more than a minor inspector in Silver City. Half a year later, he had returned at the head of an army of millions to face the might of Dali. It was utterly mind-boggling. As they spoke, a figure took to the air from the warship. The void seemed to tremble slightly, and Li Hao's figure appeared before them, a warm smile gracing his face. "Director Zhao, Senior Golden Gun, esteemed seniors… Li Hao pays his respects!" Director Zhao was filled with emotion. He looked at Li Hao, gave a soft cough, and smiled. "Having not seen you for only a brief while, Governor-General, you appear even more valiant and formidable than before." "Director Zhao flatters me." Director Zhao kept his smile intact. "I speak the truth. However, now is not the time for pleasantries. The Governor-General has rallied the northern lands to assemble at Silver City and repel Dali. I, Zhao Shuguang of the Silver Moon Administrative Department, have also arrived upon your summons. We await your orders, Governor-General!" Li Hao raised his eyebrows slightly. He looked at this seasoned official who had governed Silver Moon for nearly forty years. One had to admit that his ability to change his tune was astonishingly swift. It was not meant as an insult. Rather, he felt that Director Zhao was a truly remarkable figure when it mattered most. In the land of Silver Moon, Zhao Shuguang had always been the supreme authority. He had operated here for decades, constantly preparing. Yet the moment Li Hao arrived, Zhao Shuguang addressed him as Governor-General and declared his willingness to follow orders… Li Hao had harbored a few concerns beforehand, but now, the man had cleared the road ahead entirely. "Director Zhao jokes!" Li Hao chuckled. "Silver Moon owes everything to the painstaking effort you have poured into it over the years. Across the northern territories, frozen corpses litter the roads, yet in Silver Moon alone, every person can at least eat their fill and dress warmly. Your merits are undeniable, Director Zhao." "Everyone has contributed their part." Director Zhao smiled and glanced at the figures descending one after another, abandoning further formalities. "Governor-General, you have traveled far, and protocol dictates we should host a welcoming banquet… But the situation is dire. Perhaps we should convene a meeting first?" "Agreed!" Li Hao gave a slight nod. As he finished speaking, he glanced at the sky. At this moment, the heavens seemed poised to drizzle. Inside Li Hao, his bloodline stirred slightly, fluctuating with unrest. The next instant, Li Hao's formidable aura vanished without a trace, as if disappearing into thin air. Above Silver City, the Eight Trigrams diagram seemed to shudder slightly, as though baffled by his sudden disappearance. Li Hao looked up at the sky once more. Others turned their eyes upward as well. Dark clouds were gathering, stirring the skies over Silver City. Was it going to rain? The rainy season had only just ended. Right then, Li Hao suddenly exhaled a flash of golden light, and a wisp of sword intent billowed from his person. Under the shocked gazes of countless onlookers, a beam of sword light pierced through heaven and earth! *Boom!* The dark clouds collapsed instantly, seeking to condense into rain and fall to the ground. Yet in the blink of an eye, a divine character flashed and vanished, sweeping away every cloud and raindrop into nothingness. The sight shocked Golden Gun and the other martial masters to their core! Even Director Zhao's expression shifted slightly. This… was too powerful! Just how far had Li Hao progressed? With a single sword strike, the heavens cleared and the air turned crisp. Silver City, which had been on the verge of rain, was now completely stripped of clouds and mist. Li Hao looked up at the sky once more. The dark clouds seemed to want to gather again. Li Hao's brow furrowed. Golden light flashed in his eyes as he peered into the heavens. In the haze, he seemed to catch sight of a gateway, though it was not very distinct. He refrained from extending along the bloodline thread, for extending it was fraught with peril every single time. The others looked upward along with him, yet saw nothing. Director Zhao, however, vaguely felt his bloodline churning. He glanced at Li Hao and said slowly, "Earlier, I encountered Ying Hongyue here once. He mentioned that an array exists in this place capable of drawing upon the bloodline power of the Eight Great Families while simultaneously weakening it… He said it will eventually be unsealed." A seal. Li Hao pondered this thoughtfully. Beside him, Director Wang spoke up, "The Star Gate should be somewhere nearby… But now that the Star Gate is sealed and its aura has dissipated, we can no longer see or sense it." He added, "Back in the Neo-Martial era, the Star Gate was crafted by the greatest weapon-smith of the age, the Cast-God Sovereign!" In the past, they had not dared to utter a Sovereign's title carelessly. Now, however, such scruples had faded. They thought to themselves that if the Sovereigns could truly sense them and return, it would actually be a blessing. Of course, there had been respect involved in the past. Now… it no longer mattered. Their arrival would be ideal. The Cast-God Sovereign… Li Hao had heard this title before. It was said that many formidable weapons had been forged by him, including the Starry Sky Sword, which had supposedly been co-forged by the Human King and the Cast-God Sovereign. Director Wang continued, "The Star Gate serves as the entrance to this world. Worlds are inherently whole and complete, without any gaps or tears. But in order to connect the two realms, the Star Gate was constructed." He added, "It sits in the region where the moon hangs in the sky… Of course, the sky of the Silver Moon world has its limits. One cannot fly beyond it. The Star Gate cannot be reached directly, either; it is a gateway suspended at the very edge of the world." "Why is it impossible to fly out?" Li Hao was somewhat puzzled. He had tried before, but upon reaching a certain altitude, he found it impossible to fly any higher, as if running headlong into a wall. Director Wang explained, "The boundary of a small world is akin to a crevice… The Star Gate rests within that crevice. We are beneath it, and the universe lies outside it… Therefore, once you reach a certain height, you encounter the world boundary, which is unbreakable! Of course, if you possess the power of a Sovereign, you might stand a chance of breaking through. Then again, pretend I didn't say that." A world boundary! At this moment, Li Hao understood. The Star Gate was lodged within the world boundary, piercing through Silver Moon to link with the boundless starry cosmos outside. No wonder the Star Gate he had seen appeared to stand amidst the endless void. He cast another glance upward, saying no more. Turning back to the others, he smiled and nodded. "Let us forgo catching up for now. We will convene a military council to address the invasion from Dali." With that, he turned to look behind him, where vast columns of troops were flooding toward the area. Boundless numbers! The barren plains outside Silver City could scarcely contain them all. The heavy panting of the marching ranks resonated across the land. Li Hao's voice carried far and wide: "Set up camp where you stand! Without my command, remain stationed and do not move recklessly!" "Acknowledged!" In the distance, the Battle Heaven Army and Demon Hunt Army answered in unison with thunderous roars. The ordinary provincial armies, on the other hand, appeared somewhat bewildered before offering a loose, scattered response, creating a noisy commotion. Seeing this, Director Zhao's face scrunched up into a grimace. This… rabble! They were truly an undisciplined mob. While an army of two million looked terrifying on paper, the vast majority were ordinary people, completely disorganized. Once battle commenced, such troops… even using them as cannon fodder would only cause them to get in the way. Bringing these people here served virtually no purpose. The sole benefit was likely that they would not be left scattered across the north to plunge the entire region into chaos. More critically, the logistics of an army of millions—feeding, housing, and supplying them—was a massive burden. Now that they had been brought here, they could hardly be left to starve, could they? If pushed to starvation, there was no telling what atrocities they might commit. Li Hao said nothing more on the matter, issuing orders for the commanders of each division to assemble at the Inspectorate for the council. Indeed, the Inspectorate. It was the place Li Hao knew best, where he had worked for over a year. …… Outside the Inspectorate gates. That plump figure, Mu Sen, was still there. Seeing Li Hao and the others arrive, he broke into a brilliant smile. Even his elder brother, Mu Lin, watching from afar, looked upon his sibling with mild disgust. Grinning so broadly—anyone unaware would think some joyful celebration was taking place. Didn't he see that Dali was about to march across Mount Cang? Besides Mu Sen, several supernaturals were present as well. They were individuals dispatched by the Silver Moon Night Patrollers headquarters after Li Hao and his companions had departed, sent to oversee the city. Li Hao recognized a few of them, including Old Huang, who was serving as the acting chief of Silver City. Back then, the man's Solar Luminary strength had seemed towering and unreachable. Now, even though Huang Yun had stepped into Three Suns and unblocked several apertures, in the eyes of the current assembly, he was barely worth mentioning. "Governor-General!" Mu Sen maintained his radiant smile. "Welcome home!" Li Hao smiled in return. "Chief Mu, long time no see!" After leaving Silver City, although Li Hao had returned once, he had departed in haste without speaking with them. Seeing these familiar faces now brought a touch of warmth to his heart. Mu Sen hurriedly gestured, "Governor-General, please!" Li Hao said no more, following Mu Sen toward the Inspectorate building. Around them, numerous Silver City inspectors stood watching. Many were old acquaintances of Li Hao, all secretly marveling. In their memories, Li Hao was still that shy young boy. Honest, diligent, and hardworking. Who could have imagined that in a mere six months, he would soar to the heavens in such an unbelievable fashion? When Li Hao had departed Silver City, none had ever imagined he would return in such a manner. …… Li Hao's heart was stirred with conflicting emotions. Silver City was his hometown. Buried here were countless secrets. Yet this return was not for uncovering secrets, but to confront a formidable foe. Dali's strength was not to be underestimated. They entered the grand conference hall. Soon, expert after expert arrived. Of the Four Silver Moon Protectors, except for Kong Jie who remained to guard Heavenly Star City, the other three were present. Figures from the Roster of Heroes assembled one by one. Beyond these Silver Moon natives, more figures arrived: Qian Wuliang, fresh from earning military merit; the Ninth Division Commander and Director Wang of Battle Heaven City; Liu Long, a Silver City native; the commanders of the other two Silver Moon armies; and Hu Dingfang, whom Li Hao had not seen in quite some time. There were also several individuals Li Hao did not recognize who had entered alongside Director Zhao, their cultivation formidable, ranging from young to old. Additionally, there was Chen Zhongtian from Heavenly Star City, the elderly Chief Mu Qingsong of the Internal Affairs Department, and Chief Yao Si of the Night Patrollers… At this moment, Li Hao's faction was a gathering of formidable experts. Earth-Overturning Sword and Yuan Shuo were still in the Central Region, but both had received orders and were hurrying here. Director Zhou and Lin Hongyu had to remain behind to safeguard the Central Region, assisted by Chen Yao and others to maintain stability there for the time being. As the crowd entered the conference room, they looked around in wonder. Sensing one another's powerful auras, they were deeply moved. Golden Gun and his peers felt particularly conflicted. They had assumed their cultivation would still count among the peak here. Yet when they actually met and sensed the others… damn it, they were at the very bottom of the barrel. Li Hao wasted no time. He got straight to the point: "Take your seats! We can exchange pleasantries later. Let us address official business. Director Zhao, brief us on the situation." Director Zhao spoke briskly: "Three days ago, Dali began mobilizing troops from across Mount Cang. Their numbers are around one million, though the exact figure remains unclear for now, and I don't have detailed intelligence yet." He continued, "Dali is divided into two distinct systems: the temple system and the royal dynasty system. They believe in the divine right of kings, which means Dali effectively possesses two supreme leaders: the King of Dali and the Temple Chief Priest." "The Dali Dynasty cultivates the Early Martial path…" Director Wang raised a hand. Li Hao looked at him, and Director Wang added, "We cannot call it a pure Early Martial system. In truth, the original Early Martial path disappeared in the later era. Early Martial meant one path per person, with myriad paths cultivated simultaneously! The current descendants of Early Martial actually share a similar cultivation framework to our Neo-Martial path, with one key difference… they do not cultivate the origin path! Instead, they pursue the paths of the elements and the physical body." He added, "It is actually very similar to modern martial masters! Strictly speaking, by the Governor-General's definition, this era is also Silver Moon's Early Martial era… Hence, the two share many similarities." Li Hao nodded in understanding. He turned his gaze back to Director Zhao, who continued, "Dali is organized along tribal lines, developing in a manner different from ours. However, they are exceedingly fierce and warlike. Because their lands are filled with mountains and demon beasts, and their tribes constantly war with one another, their combat experience—at least among ordinary soldiers—is arguably richer than ours." "Earlier, I reached an agreement with experts from several ancient cities, summoning nearly a hundred of them to venture forth. They severed portions of their origin avatars to fight. While lacking the strength of seven elements, most possessed the power of five or six elements—equivalent to the fifth or sixth tier of the Mountain Sea Realm!" "Yet… not a single one managed to return." He spoke grimly: "This matter is far from simple. I conferred with some of the ancient city experts, and they reported that the origin avatars of certain individuals were annihilated in an instant. Furthermore, they were unlikely to have been clustered together… Meaning the ones who destroyed their avatars were not a single person, but many!" At this moment, an elderly martial master whom Li Hao did not recognize suddenly chimed in. Unlike the others, he did not raise his hand first, speaking up directly: "I know a bit about the situation…" Li Hao offered a polite smile. "Senior, please share." Seeing everyone's eyes fixated on him, the old martial master felt somewhat uncomfortable, grumbling inwardly: *What are you all looking at me for? Do I really have to raise my hand?* Accustomed to a life of untamed freedom, he found such formalities hard to stomach. Brushing it aside, he spoke immediately: "Just as that Zhao fellow said, Dali is organized into tribes. For this mobilization, Dali has deployed an army of a million, virtually all of whom are martial masters! It is likely a joint force drawn from all the tribes… However, the Dali tribes do not naturally harmonize; only the King of Dali can command them… along with the Temple Chief Priest, of course." "Dali places immense value on strength—even more so than we do. A Dali centurion possesses the strength of a Hundred-Breaker, and a chiliarch commands the combat prowess of a Thousand-Fighter!" He added, "Of course, I hear there is a new cultivation system now, so it is difficult for me to make direct comparisons… But under the old supernatural classifications, a Dali chiliarch—though they don't call them that—is roughly equivalent to the span between Solar Luminary and Three Suns. A myriad-commander possesses the power of Rising Light without question." Li Hao raised his eyebrows slightly. "So their strength is fairly ordinary?" "Not quite." The old man explained, "The peak experts among their standard ranks aren't overly numerous… However, their temple priests and the royal Divine Guards are top-tier combatants! The strongest figures from every tribe are inducted into either the temple or the Divine Guards." "These people are the true elite. By Golden Gun's reckoning, every one of them wields the might of a divine ability!" "And the temple priests number at least a hundred, while the Divine Guards… are even more numerous!" The old man spoke with grave seriousness: "This is where Dali's top-tier combat strength lies, and they are terrifyingly powerful! For us to attain the realm of divine abilities, we must temper our five viscera, but they require no such thing. The constitution of the Dali people differs from ours; they likely inherited the physical resilience of the Neo-Martial era…" Temple priests, Divine Guards… Li Hao nodded slightly. Their exact numbers remained unknown. Nor was it clear just how formidable several hundred divine ability combatants truly were. The old man continued, "Furthermore, the martial masters of Dali do not rely solely on hand-to-hand combat. Many of their experts excel at spiritual attacks, and some can even summon wind, thunder, rain, and lightning. It resembles supernatural powers, but is vastly stronger, and their physical bodies are substantially tougher." Li Hao nodded once more. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Aside from Dali's native experts, there are likely foreign powerhouses involved. Those traitors of the Neo-Martial era have undoubtedly intervened!" "Even if they only deploy origin avatars, they likely possess the combat strength of seven elements. We previously slew fourteen of them… yet how many more remain on their side is entirely unknown. These individuals will prove exceptionally troublesome!" At these words, many in the room paled. Seven elements—the seventh tier of the Mountain Sea Realm. To reach that level, one had to open seven dao meridians and unblock over two hundred apertures. Currently, very few individuals truly possessed the combat strength of the seventh tier of the Mountain Sea Realm. If the two factions joined forces, the threat would multiply dramatically. Li Hao continued, "The King of Dali and the Temple Chief Priest…" He paused in thought before saying, "Their strength is likely immense. I can faintly sense it. The King of Dali… as ruler of a dynasty, carries a portion of the heaven's general momentum. Only by clashing directly with him will I know who is stronger." "As for the Temple Chief Priest, they are likely an expert of the same caliber…" Li Hao surveyed the room and stated, "To contend with the Temple Chief Priest, we will require at least an expert of the seventh tier of the Mountain Sea Realm, or perhaps the eighth or ninth tier, to stand a chance…" A collective headache rippled through the gathering. At that moment, Li Hao's gaze settled upon Director Zhao. "Director Zhao, can you handle them?" Director Zhao froze. "Me?" Li Hao nodded. Director Zhao showed a helpless expression. "This…" "Is it beyond you?" Director Zhao shook his head. "If it is as you say, and the opponent possesses the strength of the eighth or ninth tier of the Mountain Sea Realm, or perhaps even greater… tackling them alone would indeed be problematic." Li Hao's brow furrowed slightly. Director Zhao considered his words and added, "Furthermore, I am a civil official…" He wanted to emphasize that he did not rely on raw martial prowess for his standing. Li Hao said, "Director Zhao, foreign enemies are invading our borders. There is no need for false modesty. How about this: Director Wang will assist you… With the two of you joining forces, I refuse to believe you cannot subdue a single Temple Chief Priest!" He continued, "In addition, the Silver Moon martial masters will be tasked with dealing with the temple priests!" "As for the Divine Guards… leave them to the students of Yuanping Martial Arts University!" At this point, Yao Si could not help interjecting, "Then… what if a large number of ancient city experts enter the fray? Their avatars are exceedingly powerful…" Not all the students from Yuanping Martial Arts University had arrived; only a portion were present. Having them take on those divine ability experts was certainly a foolproof plan! Yet what about the avatars of the ancient experts? In Yao Si's view, confronting those ancient avatars should have been entrusted to the university students. Li Hao smiled. "Those ancient avatars are rich in origin energy. In that case, we will meet origin with origin! I have already instructed my master to bring along a large host of demon plant origin avatars to participate in the battle!" He had subdued numerous demon plants, and this time… their origin avatars would counter the enemy's avatars. Under the constraints of heaven and earth, everyone was subject to the same limitations. Even if disparities existed, the battle would not be decided in an instant. "Furthermore, I have mobilized one hundred thousand supernaturals from the Central Region, ten thousand from the Battle Heaven Army, and ten thousand from the Demon Hunt Army. Coupled with the supernaturals arriving from across the north, our supernatural forces should exceed one hundred and fifty thousand, perhaps even surpassing two hundred thousand!" "The core of the Demon Hunt Army will be commanded by Liu Long." "The Battle Heaven Army core will be commanded by the Ninth Division Commander." "The Central Region supernatural army will be overseen by Yao Si, while Marshal Huang Yu will be responsible for integrating the armies arriving from across the north." "As for the supreme commander of all four divisions…" Everyone paused in surprise. The supreme commander was neither the Ninth Division Commander nor Huang Yu? Was there truly anyone more suited than them? Even Huang Yu and a few others looked puzzled. In Huang Yu's eyes, being tasked with organizing that disorganized mob was already a sign of great trust, and no easy feat. Yet… who was the supreme commander? If the Ninth Division Commander of the Battle Heaven Army took the post, no one would object—his strength was undeniable, his combat power immense, and he had commanded troops for ages. But other than them, who else could possibly take the mantle? "Hong Yitang!" Everyone was stunned. Hong Yitang was not even present. More importantly… he was merely a martial master with zero experience leading armies. For Li Hao to play favorites at a critical juncture like this… was hardly wise. Even Sky Sword, who was on decent terms with Hong Yitang, could not resist speaking up: "Why him? Governor-General, at this moment… an army of hundreds of thousands of supernatural combatants is at stake. We cannot… act recklessly!" Whether it was Huang Yu or the Ninth Division Commander, or even Yao Si and Chen Zhongtian if need be, any of them could step up! Even weaker figures like Hu Dingfang had far more experience commanding troops than Hong Yitang. Hong Yitang was not here, but even if he were, Sky Sword would have said the same. That man was far better suited to taking on Divine Guards or temple priests. Making him the supreme commander of the army bordered on a joke. Helplessness washed over the assembly. Yet Li Hao pressed on: "Qian Wuliang will serve as military advisor." To this, no one had any objections. However, regarding Hong Yitang, they still wished to voice their reservations. Seeing everyone looking at him, Li Hao explained, "All divisions will focus primarily on defense! However, when the time comes to break through, we must breach the enemy lines in an instant… I need Uncle Hong's Earth-Overturning Formation to solidify our defense! Stationing him at the center of the four divisions will allow for timely adjustments…" Huang Yu pondered this and remarked, "Yet he is only one man… Facing an army of a million is not a private duel!" Li Hao nodded. "I am aware. That is why… Uncle Hong will have to exert every ounce of his strength this time. I will assist him in making the necessary preparations. Once he arrives, I will coordinate the deployment with him." Lingering worry remained among the crowd. Earth-Overturning Sword serving as supreme commander was something none of them had anticipated. In all likelihood, Hong Yitang himself had not anticipated it either. Yet Li Hao remained firm. He had his own rationale, which was unnecessary to explain in full detail right now. Earth-Overturning Sword… was capable of myriad transformations, and his dao meridians were unique. Furthermore, his defensive capabilities were truly formidable. Granted, the defensive strength of a single man was of limited utility on a grand scale. Yet… what if he was paired with a divine clone? An earth-element deity! As for confronting the King of Dali, Li Hao had no intention of using it. He wanted to see for himself just how powerful that man was outside the ancient ruins! With Earth-Overturning Sword coordinating with a divine clone, their defense would undoubtedly be peerless. And when the critical moment came to strike and break through, their offensive power would be devastating. On their own side, excluding the rabble, they had roughly two hundred thousand supernaturals—barely a fifth of the enemy's force. Charging in recklessly… would guarantee catastrophic casualties, which was the last thing Li Hao wished to see. They had to establish a firm defense first and grind down the enemy. Li Hao continued, "The Battle Heaven Army and Demon Hunt Army will serve as the vanguard, while the one hundred thousand supernaturals from the Central Region will hold the rear. The northern supernaturals will be deployed on the flanks… to prevent their ranks from being broken and throwing the entire formation into chaos!" "As for the specific details, I leave them to the generals to discuss. I have no experience commanding armies, and neither does Uncle Hong… While he holds the title of supreme commander, he will not interfere in the granular tactical maneuvering. However, should an order come from him at a critical juncture, all divisions must obey without question." At these words, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They understood the gist of it now. Earth-Overturning Sword was not a supreme commander in the conventional sense. Rather, his decisive power was needed at pivotal moments, requiring the coordination of all divisions, which was why he was granted the formal authority of supreme commander. Having assigned the duties, Li Hao added, "I will not meddle in the operational execution, nor do I claim to understand it… Dispatch scouts immediately to ascertain the enemy's exact situation… Between Silver City and Mount Cang lies an expanse of open plains… The battle should ideally be fought there, rather than spilling into Silver City!" "If we can intercept them at the foot of Mount Cang, all the better…" The Ninth Division Commander shook his head slightly. "Ill-advised. If they descend from the mountain, they will hold the high ground, which makes things perilous. For supreme experts, terrain matters little, but for ordinary soldiers, blocking an enemy at the foot of a mountain is far inferior to engaging them on open plains. Moreover, they excel at mountain warfare… while we are unaccustomed to it." Li Hao nodded. "Then I defer to your judgment!" He was merely offering a suggestion; in practical warfare, these veterans possessed vastly more experience than he did. Li Hao smiled. "My task is singular: slay the King of Dali, shatter their morale, and sever their military spirit!" The crowd felt a chill of solemnity. That was no simple task. For the King of Dali to unify his realm and lead an army of a million to invade their borders, could he possibly lack immense personal power? At this moment, Director Zhao hesitated before speaking in a low voice, "Then… what of… the ancient city experts within our borders…?" Precautions had to be taken on that front. Li Hao drew a deep breath. This was precisely one of his chief concerns. Behind them stood at least seven of the eight ancient cities. Leaving Battle Heaven City aside, the remaining six might have fallen under enemy influence—such as the Zheng Family City. Should dozens or hundreds of origin avatars suddenly materialize to strike them from behind in the midst of a grueling battle, the danger would be catastrophic. This was the fundamental reason why the situation in Silver Moon was so precarious. "I have my plans!" Li Hao did not elaborate. Director Zhao hesitated for a moment and pressed no further. As for how Li Hao planned to handle it… Director Zhao felt somewhat helpless. If worse came to worst, he could only tour the ancient cities once more to persuade a few more experts to dispatch avatars to aid their cause. Li Hao spoke no further on the matter. "We will proceed according to these arrangements. Prepare immediately; the enemy will arrive shortly… We do not have much time!" "Understood!" Commands were accepted, and the meeting dispersed swiftly. Huang Yu stepped forward and asked in a low voice, "What should be done with the ordinary armies?" Their numbers were immense; coupled with the recruits arriving from across the north, they would likely exceed three million. Were they to be left abandoned here? If chaos erupted once the battle began, what if they routed and fled? Li Hao fell silent for a moment, looking at Huang Yu. After a long pause, he said, "They can be stationed behind the main army. They are incapable of fighting an uphill battle, but in a rout in our favor… with three million men, even if it takes a hundred of them to kill one enemy, they can still inflict casualties… However, they can only be used when we hold the upper hand! Should the tide turn against us…" Li Hao paused, sending a sound transmission: "If the tide turns and a retreat becomes necessary, let these men hold the rear… Use them as cannon fodder to obstruct the enemy!" Huang Yu's heart tightened. He nodded without another word. In a winning battle, these men could still serve a purpose; in a losing battle… better not rely on them. It would be fortunate enough if they didn't stampede and shatter their own battle lines. "Furthermore, bring up all supernatural cannons and heavy artillery… Bombard them relentlessly!" "We will handle that." "Good." Li Hao nodded and said no more, turning to depart. Manager Jade moved to follow, but Li Hao waved a hand to dismiss him. Paying no heed to the others, Li Hao strode out of the Inspectorate and quickly vanished from sight. Even Director Zhao, who had hurried after him hoping for a further discussion, failed to catch so much as a glimpse of him. Feeling somewhat exasperated, Zhao wondered where Li Hao could possibly be running off to at a time like this. He wouldn't be heading to Mount Cang alone, would he? That was far too dangerous! …… Yet Li Hao did not tarry. With a ripple of the void, he had already vanished from Silver City. Against Dali, he felt no fear! His sole concern was not the invaders, but those ancient city experts—whether they would deliver a vicious strike from behind at the critical hour. Therefore, he had to devise a countermeasure against such a crisis. And to counter those figures, only ancient experts would suffice. Yet among the ancient experts, those truly worthy of trust and capable of shouldering such grave responsibility were exceedingly few. And those powerful enough to handle such a crisis were fewer still. Pondering back and forth… the only viable candidate was likely that Director of Academic Affairs. His strength was immense, and Li Hao could not teleport Zhang An over vast distances. Thus, Li Hao could only hope to persuade him to temporarily relinquish control over that physical body. As for whether Zhang An would agree… even if he refused, it did not matter. Li Hao had prepared an alternative: if Zhang An declined, he would settle for the next best option and bring back Di Wei's true body. A genuine expert at the pinnacle of the Peak Realm marching into battle in the flesh, combined with the projection of the Imperial Palace, might just resolve the looming crisis. Traveling through the void, Li Hao moved with blistering speed. He needed to accomplish this without anyone's knowledge, lest his movements be detected by prying eyes. As things stood, the Eight Great Cities could hardly inspire complete confidence in Li Hao. While Battle Heaven City was decent and communication had remained steady, General Huai and Old Turtle clearly harbored no intention of intervening directly. Otherwise, when Li Hao had passed through Battle Heaven City earlier, the two would have made a decisive move. Instead, they had claimed they would stand on the side of righteousness. Who defined what was righteous? Perhaps they possessed their own standard of judgment. Li Hao disliked putting others in a difficult position. The two likely had their own hardships and considerations, and he would not force the issue. Thus, at this juncture, Li Hao would rather travel the extra distance to invite Zhang An or Di Wei to join the fray. By now, the sky had turned pitch-black. On the other side of Mount Cang, an army of a million had already reached the final mountain ridge—the former lair of the four great demons. War was imminent!