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"The Emperor has always been domineering..."

Many noble families have gotten used to this over the decades, no matter what background they came from, His Majesty’s methods have always been extremely tyrannical.

It was just unexpected that, under the current situation, His Majesty would still dare to be so domineering...

Frankly speaking, when others have absolute control and can still provide such a good plan, even if there might be traps in the plan, it’s considered a good gesture, isn’t it? Isn’t His Majesty being a bit too pretentious?

Chen Qing cast a covert glance at him, a hint of inexplicable curiosity flashed in his eyes.

"Your Majesty is truly imposing..." the Elder chuckled, "But the old one doesn’t know, what’s your confidence? Is it your Ghost Tribe Army that has been destroyed by half outside?"

"Destroyed by half, I still have the other half," the Emperor said indifferently, "That’s more than enough to crush you insects!"

"The other half might be gone already..." the Old Celestial Master laughed.

"On what basis? On those shady maneuvers of yours?"

"As long as the conspiracy works, it doesn’t matter..." the Old Celestial Master looked towards Shenyue, "You are too greedy, not willing to leave any way out, ’going too far is as bad as not going far enough’ is a saying from your Human Race culture, yet you haven’t grasped its essence."

"Explain it to me..." the Emperor stood up with his tall figure looking extremely imposing, a stark contrast to the bent stature of the Old Celestial Master, exuding a powerful aura.

"I admit I underestimated you, I didn’t expect there to be someone in the Capital City who could resist King Chu Jiang, but... do you think... you can win?"

"Why can’t I?" the Emperor smiled, "My great army is already on its way here, and if you can’t kill me in a short time, then I will be the one to kill you!"

"Is his great army still around?" the Old Celestial Master turned to look at Shenyue.

Chen Qing looked over and furrowed his brow, could it be that Shenyue and the Ancient Demon Clan had colluded?

"Ah... don’t look at me like that," Shenyue covered her mouth and giggled softly, "Your Majesty is brave and ambitious, if we don’t seize this chance to uproot you, we have no hope in the Northern Territory."

"Oh?" the Emperor turned toward her, "I am aware that you have a feud of extermination with the Ancient Demon Clan, and yet you dare to cooperate with them?"

"What you said, Your Majesty, whether we cooperate or not, does having a feud impact that? Shouldn’t we cooperate when it’s necessary?" Shenyue gazed back quietly, "Compared to them, Your Majesty, you are the biggest threat right now."

"Really?" the Emperor nodded and then turned to Chen Qing, "What about His Highness the King of Qin? What does he say..."

What does it have to do with me?

Chen Qing inwardly curled his lip, and outwardly he bowed respectfully, "This servant... naturally follows in Your Majesty’s footsteps."

"Ha ha ha ha... Good!" the Emperor nodded, "I trust you, and I promise you, today... I will definitely not kill you!"

Chen Qing: "....."

With those words, whether it was the Old Celestial Master or Shenyue, including Chen Qing himself, all frowned secretly. The Emperor was not short on confidence; what other arrangements did he have?

Most importantly, what about his side, damn it, not sorted out yet?

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"Will Xuu Hu come out?"

Outside Lyuzhou City, several senior Ancient Demons with narrowed eyes blocked all roads, vigilantly observing the vital pathways at all hours.

"He won’t stay inside. The War God Army will definitely be annihilated. Given his personality in the intelligence, he will surely make a move."

"You think too highly of human nature," another woman singrily said, "People instinctively self-preserve. He knows very well what the outcome of going out alone would be... Do you think he would really risk his life for Chen Qing?"

"Let’s not argue about this..." A burly man with crossed arms coldly said, "Whether he comes out or not, the result is the same. On the contrary, the key issue lies with Tian Heng. What do you think... Can Tian Heng be trusted?"

At this suggestion, the others frowned.

Tian Heng had exceptional talents, predetermined as a vessel by the several royal families within the Ancient Demon Clan and, naturally, could not be immediately possessed by ordinary Ancient Demons. Yet, he was crucial in this military upheaval in Jiangnan!

"He had better know his place!" The woman coldly said, "His deputies, one and all, are our people. Even if he’s the leader, he can’t do much. His betrayal won’t matter, for the High Priest dared to let him go unpossessed for a reason, right?"

The others nodded slightly. There were five deputy generals around Tian Heng, all vessels at the Yaksha Level, coordinated by senior Ancient Demons. Their strength was now almost matching Ao Zhen’s; just two of them together could overpower Tian Heng, let alone five.

These five were all deputy generals of the Western Sea Army with great authority. Even if Tian Heng wanted to do something, he couldn’t. If he cooperated now, he is the leader of the Western Sea Army; if not... He is just a puppet that can’t influence the overall situation.

"We just need to keep a close watch here and make sure we keep tabs on Xuu Hu!"

The others, upon hearing this, nodded their agreement.

Xuu Hu was the only one in Lyuzhou capable of turning the tide.

The Western Sea Army was enormous, and in the entire Jiangnan, only Xuu Hu’s Warrior Army could contend with them.

As long as they kept an eye on Xuu Hu, taking over the whole of Jiangnan was as good as done!

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"Marshal Tian, we are about to arrive..."

"Hmm..." At the forefront of the army, Tian Heng, reminded by his subordinate, looked up, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

Tong Pass was the largest checkpoint between the north and south, but its size now was excessively grand.

Jiangnan Academy was continuously producing talents, especially the Mystic Academy of the Engineering Department, whose bold architectural designs were increasing.

Tong Pass, as a major defensive checkpoint of the Northern Territory, had been heavily fortified by Chen Qing ever since the Earth Python invasion. He dared not slacken his efforts here.

The massive Tong Pass had been entirely rebuilt; the city wall was about twenty zhang high, practically a heavenly barrier!

Moreover, Tian Heng was aware that this towering wall was not just imposing in appearance.

Countless arrays were embedded within, completely monopolizing the space above and below.

Whether flying or burrowing, you couldn’t get past this wall.

Coupled with the Great Tree Spirit, second only to Lyuzhou’s Gate Deity, the defenses were foolproof.

"Perk up, have we made contact with the other side?" Tian Heng asked a deputy general beside him.

Even without Xuu Hu, taking down the hundred thousand Warrior Army was not an easy task, especially with such a formidable checkpoint in place.

To capture Jiangnan’s premier army with minimal casualties, they had to rely on deception. If they couldn’t trick their way through the gates, even without Xuu Hu, it would be hard for them to break in.

"Don’t worry, Marshal Tian, the insiders have already signaled. Look, the big formation in the city wall is activated," the deputy general next to him said with a grin, pointing towards the city wall.

Tian Heng looked over and saw it was true. The vast city wall emitted a faint blue glow, with evident elemental fluctuations, clearly indicating that the arrays inside were activated.

Tong Pass, meant to protect this checkpoint of the Northern Territory, had been stacked with massive resources by Chen Qing. Even if the arrays were continuously activated, they could last for decades without extinguishing.

But that would be a huge consumption. Without foreign enemies, who would waste resources by activating the big formation so recklessly?

The array in the city wall was a collective effort from the Mystic Academy, ingeniously designed.

If a demon infiltrated alone, once detected by the Gate Deity, only a small portion of the array at the checkpoint would activate, isolating the area to cooperate with the gate guards in executing the intruder.

However, the current situation was obviously a full activation of the big formation, indicating that the Northern Territory had been successfully persuaded and was coordinating with them, playing a game of internal and external collusion.

"Call at the gate!" Tian Heng nodded and then gestured to the deputy general.

The deputy general, with a flash of blood-red excitement in his eyes, rode a Dragon Colt to the front of the checkpoint: "Where is the Guard Commander? The Western Sea Army has come to assist!!"