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"Commander?"

The deputy general, temporarily appointed, looked at Tian Heng hesitating to issue the signal for the siege. He cautiously asked.

They more or less understood the situation.

Though everyone knew that after taking the special medicine, their days were numbered, they at least hoped to earn some military merit before dying.

After all, the greater the merit, the more benefits they could secure for their families in the future.

But if the Gate Deity had betrayed them, claiming merit while staying alive would become the privilege of a few.

Given the array and the Gate Deity’s unique mechanisms, a direct assault would cost half the soldiers their lives just at the gates!

"Relay my orders, prepare for the siege..." Tian Heng said in a low voice.

"A siege..." His subordinates swallowed hard. Were they really going to engage in city warfare?

Moreover, city warfare meant confronting the City Defense Army.

The Western Sea Army, long accustomed to maritime escort missions, often interacted with local City Defense Armies during supply stops.

The people of Jiangnan had become warm and hospitable in recent years, and those who joined the army were typically bold and straightforward.

Many among them had shared Jiangnan guards’ wine and tasted their hometown specialties.

None had ever imagined that one day they would meet as enemies!

"Commander..." Several temporarily promoted deputy generals couldn’t help but ask, "I just took a closer look at the guards on the city gates; they’re still Jiangnan’s own defenders. If we assault the city..."

"On the battlefield, swords have no eyes..." Tian Heng gritted his teeth and said, "Third Master Shen has sent word. He assures us that he’ll coordinate from inside the city to minimize casualties!"

Brothers battling brothers—this crime was monumental. But at this point, there was no other choice.

Soon...

The assault-defense battle began.

Nanyang City’s numerous arrays activated, illuminating the sky over Nanyang with radiant, otherworldly hues.

Heaven’s Court and Demon Realm forces were keeping a close eye on this battle.

The Buddha Kingdom’s power, derived from seducing mortals, relied heavily on Jiangnan, where mortal population density was highest. If the Buddha Kingdom could be entirely driven out, it would mean eliminating nearly half of its influence.

Though most held dim prospects, this rare spectacle in hundreds of thousands of years was still worthy of observation.

"Jiangnan’s array techniques have truly advanced..." In Heaven’s Palace, numerous Divine Generals gathered, watching the battle through the Divine Mirror.

"Indeed... It has been less than a decade since Spiritual Energy began reviving, and yet this new force’s achievements in array techniques are already nearing those of the Dragon Palace. Truly astonishing progress!"

The Divine Guards behind them were surprised upon hearing this.

Though top-tier forces often looked down on the Dragon Palace, they could not deny that its expertise in array techniques was extremely high—nearly at the pinnacle of Second Era standards, and approaching many Ancient Forces’ Third Era mastery.

For a new mortal power, even with inherited knowledge from the Dragon Palace, achieving this level in just ten years was unprecedented.

"Truly worthy of Chen Qing," someone sighed softly.

The name stilled many. While newer Divine Guards were unfamiliar with it, anyone promoted to Divine General had undoubtedly lived through the First War Era. During the great power struggle, Chen Qing’s faction was a thorn in the side of every noble power.

Heaven’s Court and Demon Realm’s first major collaboration had locked them in deadlock with Chen Qing’s myriad demon forces for hundreds of thousands of years. That battle shook heaven and earth and darkened the sun and moon!

Compared to that war, subsequent Era conflicts seemed like mere child’s play.

During the Second and Third Eras, apart from the Buddha-supported Shenwu Guild’s rise creating minor turbulence, every other skirmish was carefully restrained, with virtually no Divine Generals falling in battle.

By the time one reached King Level, they received the Death Exemption Token, effectively joining the ranks of immortal nobility.

But back in those days? King Level? Half of all Venerable Ones fell in battle! Each side’s casualties were staggering—an era of unrelenting carnage etched deep into memory.

"This is only a clone..." Someone said faintly. "Yet even it has managed to rise this far. Old Liu really must be senile, raising a tiger that now turns against him, huh?"

"That’s not certain..." A female voice gently sounded, "Liu’s power has always been tied to the mortal world. The stronger the mortal forces, the stronger he becomes. If Chen Qing’s rebellion fails, everything of Chen Qing’s will become his nourishment.

Liu is a man of confidence; he would never believe himself inferior to Chen Qing.

After all... Chen Qing fell to him back then! "

"Backstabbing allies is a talent too, huh?" A booming voice sneered. "Does he really think betraying Chen Qing counts as victory?"

"Victory is victory, regardless of the methods..." The woman replied indifferently. "Win, and that’s all that matters—who cares about the means?"

"Such a petty perspective! True strength is tangible. Liu stabbed Chen Qing in the back—you think he can handle what Chen Qing carried back then? If he relies on cheap tricks to gain fleeting advantage, he won’t last long..."

"Chen Qing’s strength..." Some of the Divine Guards seemed puzzled. Was Chen Qing truly so powerful back then?

"In those days, he..." A black-armored Divine General laughed. "He was—"

"Silence!" A frosty voice suddenly came from the rear, instantly silencing the speaking Divine Generals.

Everyone recognized this voice.

It belonged to the Princess Royale of Heaven’s Court’s Long Family, her status often rivaling her father’s. She ruled over Ziwei Star and was second only to the Heavenly Emperor, commanding even Three-Eyed Divine Generals.

"Your Highness... Jiang... Jiangnan’s forces have clashed," the black-armored Divine General stammered nervously.

"I’m not blind!" The icy female voice, sharp as frost from beyond the heavens, made every Divine General in the hall subtly shiver.

"Something is happening in Jiangnan, and Chen Qing is absent?"

"Chen Qing has been blocked outside. He shouldn’t return anytime soon."

"I see. He fell to Liu back then, and now he may face defeat once more?" She gazed at the Heavenly Mirror with an untraceable sigh. "Chen Qing... don’t make me look down on you..."

No one dared respond.

After all, everyone knew... she and Chen Qing...

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"Sir, if we forcefully attack this Great Formation, we may lose over half the troops!"

After two initial attacks, even the inexperienced new deputy generals could see that taking Nanyang City would come at an immense cost.

"I know. Keep the pressure up!" Tian Heng replied coldly.

At this point, there could be no retreat, or all would be lost.

Third Master Shen had already sent word, urging him to hold on. Within an hour, he would find a way to let them in.

Truth be told, Tian Heng was not entirely convinced by Shen San. After all, Shen Er had seemed like a turncoat to him, and now doubt clouded his judgment. If left to fend for himself, success would have been impossible.

Shen San was the most reliable Shen Family member he had dealt with thus far. By all accounts, betrayal was unlikely. But currently...

As time ticked by, the city’s arrays showed no signs of weakening, and even the guards on the gate displayed unyielding fighting spirit. Tian Heng began to have second thoughts.

Because if Shen San had already fallen under Buddha’s Gate’s control, then the idea of a West Sea Army ambush orchestrated alongside the Gate Deity wasn’t out of the question. If the Western Sea Army were utterly wiped out, Buddha’s forces would likely achieve total control over Jiangnan.

Could that happen?

Tian Heng didn’t know, but... he had no way out!