Embers of Sword

Chapter 731: Move
"The demon kingdom was already planning to move south—"

"While the outbreak of this demonic tide is certainly related to the Paper Doll Path, no matter how much Lu Yuzhen stirs things up, it can never be the key factor influencing this decision."

"Some things can only be effective if intervention is made at key 'historical junctures'..."

Chen Jingxuan chuckled softly, “The Zen Master is right. We are all like cicadas in the long river of destiny. The higher we fly, the more we should know our own insignificance. In the torrent of history, even if we cultivate to the highest level and become the strongest, we are still insignificant… Who can control destiny? Lu Yuzhen went to great lengths to orchestrate so many 'cause and effect' events in the long river of destiny, wasn’t it precisely because he knew his own insignificance?”

An individual's strength is limited.

Even someone as powerful as Zhao Chunyang could not change the course of this North-South war.

now.

Even if Zhao Chunyang comes out of seclusion, what can he do?

He could easily defend the most important fortress on the Wall in the North by his own strength.

Even if tens or hundreds of thousands of beast hordes besiege the city, as long as he is there, he will not fear any attack!

He could also storm the Demon Kingdom and, without any home advantage, fight against opponents of the same caliber as the Grand Palace Master of the Heavenly Phoenix Palace or the Holy Emperor of the Great Ape Mountain. At worst, he could exchange his life for the enemy's!

But what can you do about it?

"So... all Lu Yuzhen can do is 'leverage' the situation."

Chen Jingxuan paused for a moment, then said with certainty, "The southward advance of the Demon Kingdom is the great momentum they need to leverage. Before the true tide arrives, the Paper Doll Path can only do so much...."

By spreading news of the Fountain of Immortality, they were able to push the demon tide southward to some extent.

This is probably the best Lu Yuzhen can do right now.

Even if he were to relinquish his position as Dao Master and be willing to personally join the Heavenly Phoenix Palace, Great Ape Mountain... would likely be "politely refused." Unlike a Daoist Grand Master like Ling Chenzi, Lu Yuzhen was already infamous in Da Chu, hated by everyone, and half the blame for the Holy Empress's death would be placed on him.

"The 'Paper Doll Path' can be basically ruled out as the mastermind behind these demonic tides."

Chen Jingxuan traced the map with his fingers along the gold-threaded outline.

Inch by inch.

On the eastern and western fronts, there were numerous border fortresses.

"What exactly is this guy trying to do by launching a surprise attack on 'Jiayong Pass'?"

Chen Jingxuan frowned.

A massive surge of demons coalesced and surged towards the western border... which could only lead to one outcome.

Yuwen Bo is now injured in Shifang City.

To fend off the next wave of demons, Da Chu must dispatch Yang Shen from the inland to oversee the western front. In any case, Chen Jingxuan will not allow the scene of breaking through the barrier sixty years ago to repeat itself. This "unreasonable move" caught Da Chu off guard, but it is something they cannot afford to ignore.

"Found in the east and attack in the west."

Xie Xuanyi suddenly spoke.

He stared at the golden map and said in a low voice, "Do you remember what I told you... In the 'petal' world that Shenyou went to, the Paper Doll Path lured the Great Ape Mountain to attack Junfeng City."

It must be said that Chen Jingxuan's deduction was correct.

The Paper Doll Path can only rely on external forces!

But... Lu Yuzhen holds the power of cause and effect and knows the future. The immense influence he gains under these circumstances is truly something to be wary of!
If I don't appear in that dream world.

After Junfeng City was captured, a great war broke out between the north and south. It is likely that the demon kingdom advanced southwards and swept through the enemy forces.

North County will fall completely.

"Junfeng City..."

Chen Jingxuan's finger stopped at a small point on the eastern front, a rather inconspicuous little town. This town wasn't a crucial stronghold; although located in the "golden zone" of the demon kingdom's southward expansion, it was easy to defend and difficult to attack, and would almost certainly not be a primary target for the demon tide. (In the divine journey along the causal lines.)

Paper Man Dao manipulated King Yanle, which led to the fall of "Junfeng".

In fact, with the help of the Banquet King... with a little planning, the Demon Kingdom could break through any fortress on the eastern front!
The reason it was Junfeng City was simply because Xie Xuanyi's arrival disrupted Lu Yuzhen's plans.

Chi Wu fled north to escape, forced by circumstances, and chose this particular moment to accelerate the demon tide and borrow this "great momentum"!
"Only by feinting to the east while attacking in the west can we use our strength to defeat the weak."

Xie Xuanyi calmly said, "I was chasing Chi Wu, and she had to use the power of the demon tide to suppress me... So the demon kingdom chose Junfeng City as the breakthrough point. This was the weakest point that King Yanle could mobilize on the entire western front at that time. Before the white ape broke through the city wall, all the iron cavalry were transferred away, just to cooperate with the Holy Prince in attacking the city."

"You mean...this scene will happen?"

Chen Jingxuan frowned, staring intently at that point on the map.

No.

wrong.

The unease in his heart did not lessen, but the fog shrouding the golden map was slightly cleared up thanks to Xie Xuanyi's reminder.

"Yes, but it might not be Junfeng City."

Xie Xuanyi looked at the golden-threaded map, his gaze slowly moving until it finally moved beyond the map.

This is a map of Dachu.

The map is huge, spanning eight thousand miles from east to west... This is the entirety of Da Chu.

But this is not the whole story.

Further east of the Eastern Front, there exists another kingdom.

"Leave the country."

Chen Jingxuan's eyes lit up. He suddenly understood the true purpose of the continuous surge of demonic forces... This was a "unreasonable move." The player who made this move was not aiming for the vital point on the chessboard, but outside of it.

Like the Great Chu Dynasty, the Great Li Dynasty also experienced the devastating Battle of Poisoning.

However... there are differences even among the tragic events.

As the main battlefield for the attack by the Great Venerable Mo Zhen, Da Chu suffered 70% of the demon tide's attack, and due to the first fall of "Jia Yong Pass", it directly lost Bei Jun.

In contrast.

The situation in Liguo was much better. Although it also suffered from the invasion of the demon tide, it at least managed to hold the border defense line.

In that great battle back then, the Li Kingdom defended its borders to the death. Because the Jiayong Pass was opened, the Mozhen gradually reduced its demon tide deployments against the Li Kingdom... But now the situation is different. The Jiayong Pass has been closed again, and those old guys in the demon kingdom only want to take a piece of the flesh. They have never cared whether this piece of flesh comes from Da Chu or Da Li.

"Buzzing—"

Chen Jingxuan raised his sleeve, and countless golden lights rushed out, spreading out a vast map on the easternmost side of the Da Chu territory.

The Dali Dynasty was located in the southeast, and to some extent, it was suppressed by the Da Chu Dynasty and suffered losses for hundreds of years.

But precisely because of this, the Great Li Dynasty naturally has an extra layer of protection when facing the demon tide in the far north.

The roar of the [Hun Yuan Yi] echoed through the silent library.

Cities and fortresses, bathed in golden light, fall like chess pieces into this magnificent painting.

These are the placement points of each piece.

It is a key defensive city located on the northern border of the country.

(End of this chapter)