Just a month ago, Ge Long, full of ambition, led an 800,000-strong army southward, unstoppable and awe-inspiring.
Who could have imagined that a single defeat would completely annihilate the 800,000-strong army?
Less than 200,000 soldiers managed to escape back to the Heavenly Dou Empire. The rest were either dead or scattered, with no hope of regrouping.
In the Heavenly Dou court!
When the news arrived, the civil and military officials fell into a deathly silence. Xue Ye's eyes were vacant. His army had been wiped out, and his foundation had been destroyed in an instant.
With a thud, he collapsed to the ground, wailing.
"Yu Xiaogang has misled me! Yu Xiaogang has misled me! If it weren't for his relentless urging, I would never have sent the army south. If I hadn't sent the army south, my 800,000-strong army wouldn't have met such a tragic end!"
As he shouted, a cold glint flashed in Xue Ye's eyes. He was the emperor, and he couldn't be wrong. Therefore, the fault must lie with someone else.
"I will kill him! I will use his blood to avenge my 800,000-strong army!"
As soon as he spoke, a seasoned minister stepped forward and said.
"Your Majesty, you must not do this. Master Yu is still at Jialing Pass. It is only thanks to his use of the Martial Soul Fusion Skill that we temporarily repelled Bibi Dong, who has already become a god. The hundreds of thousands of troops under her command, though a ragtag force, are fanatical and fearless under the leadership of a god."
"If we want to protect the Heavenly Dou Empire, we must rely on Master Yu's wisdom. At this time, not only should we not kill him, but we should also reward him heavily—grant him high positions, generous salaries, noble titles, and fiefdoms. We must bind Master Yu tightly to the Heavenly Dou Empire."
Xue Ye shuddered as if doused with cold water. He instantly calmed down. Yes, that was right. At this moment, protecting the Heavenly Dou Empire was the most important thing.
Trembling, he stood up and nodded repeatedly.
"You speak wisely. Master Yu is a pillar of the state. Now, the survival of the Heavenly Dou Empire depends on him. I have decided to confer upon Master Yu the title of Imperial Preceptor of the Heavenly Dou Empire, with an annual salary of one million gold soul coins. He shall also be granted the title of Duke of Blue Lightning, with the Thunder Valley once belonging to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the surrounding hundred miles of land as his fief."
Xue Ye had originally intended to pin the blame for the loss of the 800,000-strong army entirely on Yu Xiaogang. But now that he needed Yu Xiaogang's help, he naturally couldn't make him the scapegoat. However, he couldn't take the blame himself either.
His eyes darted back and forth before he finally said with a pained expression.
"This defeat was due to Sect Master Ning's failure to dissuade me. However, Sect Master Ning has also contributed greatly to the Heavenly Dou Empire. I cannot bring myself to blame him harshly. Let it be so."
The civil and military officials below exchanged glances, but in the end, they all tacitly accepted this. After all, someone had to take the blame. They bowed and said in unison.
"Your Majesty is wise!"
…
Jialing Pass!
Xue Ye's rewards and titles for Yu Xiaogang were delivered to him as quickly as possible. Not only was he lavishly praised, but he was also given command of the front lines.
Yu Xiaogang laughed heartily three times on the spot. He was deeply insecure, and all his pride was a mask for his inferiority complex. That was why he was so desperate to prove himself.
Even though he called himself the number one master of theoretical knowledge, it couldn't hide the fact that he was, in essence, a failure.
Now, as the Imperial Preceptor of the Heavenly Dou Empire, with an annual salary of one million gold soul coins, the title of Duke of Blue Lightning, and the entire Thunder Valley and its surrounding hundred miles of land as his fief, Yu Xiaogang felt like he had finally regained his dignity.
His disdain for the nobility had only been because he wasn't part of it. But now, he was more than willing to embrace it.
Yu Xiaogang swore in his heart that he would protect the Heavenly Dou Empire from Bibi Dong's clutches. Otherwise, everything he had gained would vanish like a bubble.
"Your Majesty, I am deeply honored by your trust. With my unparalleled wisdom, I, Yu Xiaogang, will protect the Heavenly Dou Empire from Bibi Dong's grasp."
Yu Xiaogang looked in the direction of Heavenly Dou City and said loudly.
"Brother Flender, Sister Erlong, my glory is not mine alone. It belongs to all three of us. I believe that the Golden Iron Triangle will achieve everything we desire in the Heavenly Dou Empire."
"Let's go. We must regroup the scattered troops and establish a new defensive line centered around Jialing Pass. Bibi Dong's greatest weakness is her soft heart. Since she has given us time to prepare, we must give her a surprise in return."
"When she destroys the Star Luo Empire and leads her army north again, she will face an iron-clad Jialing Pass. I will drain the Spirit Empire's last drop of blood here."
Flender and Liu Erlong, both high-level soul masters, knew how terrifying Bibi Dong, now a god, was. Seeing Yu Xiaogang like this, they could only force a bitter smile.
After exchanging glances, they felt a sense of shared misfortune. However, out of their remaining friendship, they decided to help Yu Xiaogang one last time. When Jialing Pass fell, as long as they survived, they would retire to the mountains and live in seclusion.
…
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan!
The news of Ge Long's 800,000-strong army being defeated had spread, and Xue Ye had pinned all the blame on Ning Fengzhi.
As a result, many people pointed fingers at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and Ning Fengzhi. Although they didn't dare to openly insult him, they secretly mocked him relentlessly.
Ning Fengzhi had just returned, still dusty from the journey. Now, his face was dark with anger. While he had indeed intended to use the Heavenly Dou Empire for his own purposes, he had never meant to harm it. Now, he was shouldering such a heavy burden of blame, and his heart had turned completely cold.
Gu Rong, with his fiery temper, spoke up.
"Clan Leader, let us accompany you to Heavenly Dou City. We'll have a good talk with Xue Ye. How dare he pin the entire blame for the defeat on you!"
After taking several deep breaths, Ning Fengzhi's expression calmed slightly, but his voice was icy.
"Uncle Gu, Uncle Jian and I have just returned with the clan's disciples. This is not the time to make a big scene. We must keep a low profile to better protect ourselves."
"I never expected that the Spirit Empire's greatest trump card was Bibi Dong becoming a god. The power of a god is not something mortals can easily contend with."
"Hmph, the Heavenly Dou Empire and Xue Ye won't remain proud for long. It seems highly likely that the Spirit Empire will unify the continent."
"Take advantage of this time. Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu, immediately send people to contact our clan members scattered across the land. Have them return to the clan with resources. We must seal the mountain and defend ourselves."
"As long as we remain low-key, once Chen Yuan returns as a god, even if we can't destroy the Spirit Empire, at least they won't dare to push the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan too far."
"Haha, while no one expected Bibi Dong of Spirit Hall to become a god, who could have guessed that our clan's Chen Yuan has also inherited a god's legacy?"
Chen Xin and Gu Rong also smiled and nodded.
"We obey!"
…
Spirit Empire!
Bibi Dong left Hu Lie Na behind to handle the aftermath of the Heavenly Dou Empire's hundreds of thousands of troops. The bodies were to be gathered and buried, and the scattered deserters were to be rounded up.
As for herself, she led her army to the Star Luo Empire, launching wave after wave of attacks like a tidal force.
(End of Chapter)
Word Count : 1,422
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