Douro Continent

Chapter 643 The Great Battle Begins: The Heavenly Dou Army

The appearance of Emperor Xue Beng of the Heaven Dou Empire immediately attracted everyone's attention. Just as all the Soul Masters bowed to him, he removed his golden helmet and bowed deeply to Tang San, respectfully calling him "Teacher."

It should be noted that this was a million-strong army. The shock generated by Xue Beng, an emperor, bowing to Tang San in front of so many people was astonishing. Soul Masters, whether they knew Tang San or not, couldn't help but look at this young man who had suddenly arrived with new respect.

As Xue Beng bowed, Tang San also bowed, but not to Xue Beng, but to the master who was standing beside him. He also addressed him as "Teacher."

The scene looked rather strange, and only those who knew Tang San well understood what was going on.

"Your Majesty, there's no need for such formalities." After bowing to the master, Tang San turned to the side, accepting half of Xue Beng's bow, and then went to help him up.

Tang San could clearly see excitement in Xue Beng's eyes.

"A teacher for a day is a father for life. Teacher, this is what I should do." Xue Beng held Tang San's hand tightly and said respectfully.

Tang San smiled slightly and said, "Your Majesty is now the ruler of a country and the commander of this million-strong army. You must not do this again."

Xue Beng laughed and said, "Teacher, I really didn't expect you to arrive in time. It seems that even the heavens are helping me fight against the heavens."

Tang San said, "I don't know anything about leading troops into battle, but I will do my best to help Your Majesty."

Xue Beng nodded to Tang San, then turned his gaze to the crowd around him and suddenly shouted, "All of Heaven Dou Empire, heed my command!"

"Long live Your Majesty!" Instantly, a thunderous response erupted, and everyone—Soul Masters, soldiers, and generals—knelt on one knee. The only ones who did not kneel were Tang San and Grandmaster, who had been granted permission by the Emperor not to kneel.

Xue Beng's eyes shone with a commanding presence, exuding an aura of regal authority. "Today, my teacher, Tang San, the Sect Master of the Tang Clan, Lan Hao Wang, has returned. From this day forward, my teacher's orders are my commands, and wherever my teacher goes, it will be as if I were personally present."

"Yes. Long live Your Majesty! Long live King Lan Hao!"

Hearing the shouts of that million-strong army, even a person as composed as Tang San couldn't help but feel his blood boil. His impassioned voice resounded through the sky, "Heaven-fighting will surely win!"

This shout was filled with incomparably powerful spiritual force. At the same time, Tang San raised the Trident of the Sea God in his hand. With the infusion of the light of the Sea God, a bright golden light shot into the sky. Even in the daytime, every warrior could clearly see the sacred golden pillar of light.

"Heaven—fight—will—victory—!" The roar resounded throughout every corner of the army, its sound carrying for dozens of miles without ceasing, instantly raising the army's morale to an unprecedented height.

Xue Beng stared in astonishment at the golden trident in Tang San's hand, a trident that inspired even his own submission. He was filled with admiration. His respect for Tang San stemmed not only from gratitude but also from the importance of the Tang Sect to the entire Heaven Dou Empire. He knew Tang San was a genius, but ultimately, a young genius, not yet a true powerhouse in his mind. Yet, Tang San's shout had roused a million-strong army to its feet, and the aura he had momentarily revealed startled Xue Beng, who had witnessed many powerful figures. He vaguely sensed that Tang San's strength was in no way inferior to those older generation Soul Masters.

"Thank you, teacher," Avalanche said sincerely.

Tang San smiled and said, "Your Majesty can thank me after I help you wipe out the Spirit Empire." He was no longer the Tang San of the past; with his powerful strength as a backing, Tang San spoke with great confidence.

Avalanche laughed and said, "Teacher, how about you be my deputy commander?"

Tang San shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, I really don't understand large-scale military operations. I think it would be better if I helped you defend against the enemy's stronger Soul Masters. I will help you command the Tang Family Army. When we encounter the Soul Master Legion of the Spirit Empire, my teacher and I will deal with them. We will try our best to prevent them from interfering with the main battlefield."

"Little San..." Grandmaster frowned slightly, looking at Tang San. The Spirit Empire's Soul Master army was incredibly powerful. Although Tang San was the Imperial Tutor, his promise made Grandmaster uneasy. After all, if he couldn't keep the promise, it would be a significant loss for the entire army. That was a responsibility no one could bear.

Xue Beng glanced at Grandmaster, then looked at Tang San, and said in a deep voice, "Teacher, I have personally led this army here with the mindset of 'better to die than live in dishonor.' When facing the Spirit Hall's Soul Master Legion, we will fight if we can, and if we cannot, we still have our army as our backup."

Tang San said, "Your Majesty, on the way here, I've been calculating the strength of the Spirit Empire. Based on past indications, the total number of Spirit Masters in the Spirit Empire should be between 60,000 and 70,000. That's ten times our strength. However, at most, they can only deploy 50,000 to the battlefield. After all, Spirit Masters below level 30 are practically useless on the battlefield. It's already quite remarkable that the Spirit Hall can field 50,000 Spirit Masters above level 30. They must leave at least 5,000 Spirit Masters as reserves, and 5,000 to guard the major cities, with Spirit City as the main force. The number of Spirit Masters truly deployed to fight against us and the Star Luo Empire's army should be around 40,000. Your Majesty's deployment of the entire nation's strength this time must have been pre-arranged with the Star Luo Empire. The Star Luo Empire's overall strength is no less than ours, and they will definitely launch a pincer attack on the Spirit Hall from the south. In this way, the Spirit Empire's Spirit Master army will undoubtedly be halved again, and we will face about 20,000 enemies. Of course, even so, in terms of Spirit Masters, our opponents will still have three to four times our strength, which is still an overwhelming advantage."

Listening to Tang San's analysis, Xue Beng nodded repeatedly in agreement.

Tang San continued, "Currently, of our six thousand Soul Masters, Master leads about four thousand, and there are two thousand three hundred Soul Masters from my Tang Clan. Add to that the Tang Clan's army equipped with Tang Clan hidden weapons. I am confident that, even facing the Spirit Hall's twenty thousand Soul Masters head-on, we can at least withstand their attack."

The master said, "Little San, I've also calculated the relative strengths of both sides. You're right, if their 20,000 Soul Masters were all ordinary Soul Masters, we could indeed hold them off. But don't forget, the Spirit Hall has many powerful figures, and Bibi Dong is unfathomable. There's also a peerless Douluo at level 99 who could very well appear on the battlefield. You should understand the terrifying destructive power such a heaven-defying expert can unleash in war. Moreover, the Spirit Empire probably has close to twenty Title Douluos, while we currently only have Poison Douluo, Sword Douluo, and Bone Douluo. Even with the Spirit Fusion Technique used by me, Flander, and Erlong, it's only equivalent to four Title Douluos. We're facing at least ten Title Douluos, and possibly a peerless Douluo. Once these top experts break into our Soul Master ranks, the situation will change immediately. At the same time, the Spirit Hall has been preparing for many years, and their number of Soul Douluos and Soul Saints is more than ten times ours. Have you considered this?"

This was a war of life and death. Although the Grandmaster had not seen Tang San for five years and missed him terribly, he was overjoyed to see him again. However, upon hearing Tang San's seemingly rash promise, he still spoke his mind.

Tang San pondered for a moment, then a faint blue light enveloped him, Grandmaster, and Xue Beng, isolating them from outside sounds. He then uttered only one sentence, which instantly dispelled the doubt on Grandmaster's face, and Xue Beng showed a look of sudden realization.

Xue Beng returned to the central army surrounded by guards, but Grandmaster stayed behind. He didn't follow Xue Beng all the time; he spent most of his time commanding the Soul Master army.

No one came to disturb them. The master whispered, "Little San, are you really sure you can handle this?"

Tang San said, "As long as Bibi Dong and that peerless Douluo Qian Daoliu don't come to the battlefield together, I'm confident I can hold off 20,000 Spirit Empire Soul Masters. There's something else I haven't had a chance to tell you yet. I came from the Clear Sky Sect. The Clear Sky Sect has decided to return to the continent and naturally joins the Heaven Dou Empire. To be honest, with the Empire going all out this time, our rear is a bit vulnerable. I wrote a letter to the Clear Sky Sect through a disciple of the Min Hall, telling my uncle to leave five Title Douluos to lead most of the sect's disciples to guard Heaven Dou City. Then, I'll send two Title Douluos with a hundred elite sect members to provide support. My father is probably one of those two. With this force joining, it will undoubtedly ease the gap between us Soul Saints and above and the Spirit Empire. I didn't tell Xue Beng this earlier, consider it a trump card I kept. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been so certain."

The master said with relief, "That's good. However, what you just said has greatly boosted Avalanche's confidence. In fact, he was forced to send troops into battle because of the circumstances."

Tang San nodded and said, "That's why I have to boost his confidence. As the ruler of a country and the commander of an army, if even he doesn't have the belief in victory, how can we possibly win this war? Besides, I'm not exaggerating. We, the Shrek Seven Devils, are indeed equivalent to seven Title Douluo."

This is what Tang San said to Grandmaster and Xue Beng earlier. The Shrek Seven Devils are equivalent to seven Title Douluos on the battlefield.

In this way, the Heaven Dou Empire would have more than ten Title Douluo-level powerhouses.

The master sighed softly and said, "Little San, you must remember, compared to destroying the Spirit Empire, I would rather you be in any danger. Yes, Rongrong's spirit power has reached level eighty, making her the strongest support-type spirit master in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and arguably the number one support-type spirit master in the world. With her around, you can indeed reach the Title Douluo realm, but supporting all six of you alone cannot last long. Compared to seven true Title Douluos, there is still a gap. You must remember this very well. The battlefield is not a competition arena; one wrong move and your lives are in danger. Your lives are the most important thing."

"Teacher, I..." Just as Tang San was about to tell the Grandmaster that he had truly become a Title Douluo, he was interrupted.

"Little monster, you're back! Hahahaha!" With a hearty laugh, Poison Douluo Dugu Bo appeared out of nowhere, standing before Grandmaster and Tang San. He promptly interrupted Tang San's words.

Dugu Bo still looked as energetic as ever; five years hadn't left any marks on him. Ignoring the fact that Grandmaster was still beside him, he immediately gave Tang San a big hug.

"Old monster, you're still the same as ever! Gently, gently..." Feeling Dugu Bo's unrestrained emotions, Tang San couldn't help but feel a warmth rise in his heart. He hugged him back tightly twice.

Upon seeing Dugu Bo arrive, the four hall masters of the Tang Sect and the Shrek Six Devils also gathered around, inquiring about Tang San's experiences over the past five years. Regarding their trip to Seagod Island, Dai Mubai and the other four who returned first didn't say much, only mentioning that five years of arduous training had greatly increased their strength. This was something Tang San had instructed them to do. After all, it was best not to spread too much about the mysterious Seagod Island.

Surrounded by the crowd, Tang San briefly recounted his trip to Seagod Island, focusing more on his understanding of Sea Soul Masters and the terrifying events at sea. He didn't elaborate on Xiao Wu's resurrection, as it involved a secret between him and Xiao Wu. Although he trusted everyone present, Tang San refrained from revealing anything to avoid touching on Xiao Wu's painful past. However, he didn't hide anything about the Clear Sky Sect and spoke of it. He also comforted the four elders, repeating his words to Tai Nuo.

Titan sighed and said, "More than twenty years have passed. Although we sacrificed a lot for the Clear Sky Sect back then, we also gained a lot of benefits from it. Let bygones be bygones. As long as the sect leader doesn't allow us to merge with the Clear Sky Sect, fighting side by side is nothing."

Tang San looked at Yang Wudi, who had the deepest grudge against the Clear Sky Sect, but little did he know that Yang Wudi's gaze remained fixed on Tang San's Trident of the Sea God, seemingly unconcerned about the Clear Sky Sect's affairs.

Bai He chuckled and said, "Sect Master, you don't need to worry about Old Goat. He's been overjoyed that we've all been able to live together again these past five years. The past is the past. Although he still harbors some resentment, Old Gorilla is right. As long as we're not allowed to return to the Clear Sky Sect, the past is the past. Dealing with the Spirit Hall is the priority. We old folks can still tell what's important and what's urgent."

Tang San chuckled and said, "Thank you for your generosity, four elders. It's been five years since I've returned. Elder Titan, how is our Tang Clan doing now? And how is the Tang Family Army doing? I'd appreciate it if you could tell me."

Before Titan could speak, Yang Wudi suddenly spoke up, "Sect Master, where did you get this trident? Why do I feel a sense of dread whenever I see it? Even my soul power has become unstable. The Soul-Breaking Spear even seems reluctant to be released by me."

"That's normal. My Seven Kill Sword is also being suppressed by this trident and can't breathe." Sword Douluo Chen Xin disappeared after Tang San arrived at the army, but he has now returned. Bone Douluo Gu Rong and Ning Fengzhi, the sect master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, also returned with him.

Ning Fengzhi looked noticeably older, with graying temples, clearly indicating that the past five years had not been easy for him.

"Uncle Ning." Tang San hurriedly stepped forward to greet him. Although he was now the leader of a sect, he had never forgotten Ning Fengzhi's help to him.

Ning Fengzhi smiled slightly and immediately returned the greeting, saying, "Sect Leader Tang, you mustn't do that. To be honest, the speed at which you young people are growing up is truly astonishing. However, as you grow up, we are all getting old. From now on, the Douluo Continent will belong to you young people."

Tang San smiled and said, "Uncle Ning is in his prime, how could he be old?"

Ning Fengzhi laughed and said, "Alright, let's not talk about that. I just heard Uncle Chenxin say that you have a weapon that even his Seven Kill Sword can't compare to, and I'm quite interested in it too. Won't you introduce it to everyone?"

Looking around at everyone, Tang San realized that those standing here were all trustworthy partners or elders. He no longer intended to hide anything, and planted the Trident of the Sea God in the ground, saying, "The Trident of the Sea God weighs 108,000 jin."

A simple sentence, yet it gave everyone a shocking feeling. 108,000 jin, what kind of concept is that?

Sword Douluo's eyes revealed a thoughtful expression. "No wonder, no wonder. Congratulations, Sect Master Tang. With this divine artifact, we will have an absolute advantage in our fight against the Spirit Hall."

Ning Fengzhi nodded to Tang San and said, "Sect Leader Tang, after this great battle is over, I'll be asking you for people. You can take Xiao Ao, but you have to return Rongrong to me. I want her to take my place."

"Father!" Ning Rongrong exclaimed, rushing to her father's side. "You're still in the prime of your life, why are you passing the throne to me?"

Ning Fengzhi patted his daughter's head, a hint of pride in his eyes, and chuckled, "Because only when you succeed your father can our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School be officially renamed the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile School! The position of sect leader belongs to the most capable, and you have already surpassed your father. I believe that under your leadership, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School will surely regain its former glory."

Tang San nodded and said, "Uncle Ning, of course. Rongrong will always be a member of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School."

Ning Fengzhi said, "The army is about to continue its march, and I have to go back. Little San, the key to this great battle lies with your Tang Clan. Uncle believes you will bring the Spirit Empire a great surprise."

Ning Fengzhi left with two Title Douluos, and the others returned to their posts. When the army set off again, Tang San led the Shrek Seven Devils and followed the four hall masters of the Tang Sect to the position of the Tang family army among the million soldiers.

The Tang Family Army, positioned to the left of the Avalanche Central Army, formed its own distinct force, equipped differently from the other legions. Even Tang San, upon seeing the attire of the Tang Family Army's ordinary soldiers, couldn't help but marvel at the Heaven Dou Empire's ruthless investment in this special army.

The soldiers of the Tang family army did not wear metal armor, but leather armor. This leather armor was not the kind of light armor that only protected vital parts of the body; it was rhinoceros hide armor that protected the entire body. Its value even surpassed that of metal armor. Not only was it highly protective, but it was also very lightweight, so it wouldn't hinder movement.

All the soldiers in the Tang Clan's army were young warriors between the ages of twenty and thirty. Each of them carried a large Zhuge Divine Crossbow, two feet long and one foot wide, on their backs. Tang San immediately recognized that the crossbow was made of refined steel, not iron. His previous doubts were instantly resolved. He had been wondering how the Tang Clan could produce ten thousand Zhuge Divine Crossbows in just five years; now the answer was clear. By increasing the size and weight, they had lowered the material requirements for the crossbow.

Besides the large crossbow, each Tang family soldier was also equipped with a four-foot-long fine steel sword, and their leather armor contained at least 120 crossbow bolts, each about six inches long, stored in specially designed leather pouches throughout their bodies. While not all of these bolts were made of refined iron, the arrowheads were. Tang San quickly calculated that the power of this large Zhuge Divine Crossbow hadn't been significantly reduced. It was perfectly suited for equipping the army.

Every soldier in the Tang family army was equipped with a tall, powerful horse, and the value of their gear far exceeded that of heavy cavalry. This is without even considering the Zhuge Divine Crossbow. It's clear that the Heavenly Dou Empire's royal family had high hopes for this special army.

The four hall masters approached Tang San. Titan said, "This Tang family army was established three years ago after His Majesty Xue Beng ascended the throne. It was composed of young elites selected from various armies. After three years of intensive training, their combat capabilities are already very strong, sufficient for use on the battlefield. Their training is conducted separately in a secret location, absolutely confidential to the outside world. Each person carries the Zhuge Divine Crossbow and 160 crossbow bolts. In addition to the 40 bolts loaded in the crossbow mechanism, the remaining 120 bolts are carried with them. The Zhuge Divine Crossbows they are currently equipped with have been designed and improved by me. The sect leader should have noticed that I sacrificed size and weight, reducing the difficulty of casting and the material requirements. The power is not diminished. It is perfectly suitable for use in the army."

Tang San nodded and asked, "Besides these ten thousand people, who else is equipped with our Tang Clan's hidden weapons?"

Titan said, "When we first started forging, we supplied the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School first. Of course, we supplied them with the best hidden weapons, and complete sets. Only the direct disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School were equipped with them. Then came our Tang Sect. This time, our Tang Sect sent a total of 2,300 Soul Masters. Among them, the Min Hall, Medicine Hall, and Imperial Hall each had 200 people, and the rest were young Soul Masters who joined the sect later. The Power Hall disciples stayed in the sect to continue forging hidden weapons for supplies. There were also about 500 elderly and young people who stayed in the sect. Now the total number of people in the sect has reached about 3,000. Our sect disciples who went into battle this time were all equipped with complete sets of hidden weapons, just like the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School. At the same time, we also had 300 Zhuge Divine Crossbows equipped with special crossbow bolts. These mainly consisted of armor-piercing arrows and thunderbolt arrows. Their attack power was at least 50% higher than that of ordinary Zhuge Divine Crossbows."

Tang San asked, "What's the average level of the Soul Masters on our side?"

Titan said, "They're around level 40 on average. After all, most of them are still young. But they're all trained by masters, so their combat skills are very strong. As for our three hall disciples, they're even stronger. Among them, the Min Hall disciples are equipped with the most hidden weapons."

After Titan's brief introduction, Tang San had a general understanding of the current situation of the Tang Family Army. At this moment, the army set off again, and the Tang Family Army soldiers mounted their horses one after another, their movements neat and efficient. Although there was no intimidating killing intent, their sharpness was evident.

Over the past five years, the Tang Clan has developed rapidly, not only in terms of manpower but also in terms of the large number of blacksmiths they have acquired with the direct support of the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family. A large number of blacksmiths were brought in to assist the Tang Clan in manufacturing hidden weapons. Of course, the crucial parts were still made by the Tang Clan disciples themselves, with some components distributed to these external blacksmiths, significantly increasing the overall production of hidden weapons. Otherwise, it would have been impossible to equip such a large army.

All resources were centrally allocated by the Heaven Dou Empire's royal family, costing the Tang Sect a single penny. Furthermore, they received additional financial subsidies for each set they forged. After these five years, the Tang Sect's accumulated wealth was now terrifying, even comparable to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School of yesteryear. However, before the Shrek Seven Devils returned, the Tang Sect's overall Soul Master strength was insufficient, especially lacking powerful individuals. Otherwise, the Tang Sect's overall strength would have been no less than that of the three upper sects in their prime.

Although Tang San knew that the Heaven Dou Empire's all-out support was to deal with the Spirit Hall, he still secretly admired Xue Beng and the deceased Xue Ye Emperor.

The army set off, only stopping to rest briefly every hour. In a single day, the million-strong army covered more than two hundred li (approximately 100 kilometers). At this marching speed, they would reach the border between the Heaven Dou Empire and the Martial Soul Empire in another five or six days.

As night fell, the army set up camp. Unlike during the march, the troops were arranged in an orderly fashion, with infantry on the outer perimeter, cavalry on the inner perimeter, and the imperial guards in the center. Supply wagons were also placed around the center. A steady stream of wagons carrying provisions continuously entered and exited the camp, creating a bustling scene throughout.

After a day of marching, they were finally able to rest. The cooks lit a fire to prepare food, while the ordinary soldiers quickly set up their tents and rested.

The Tang family army didn't need to set up their own camps; supply troops came to set them up for them. Their location was in the center of the million-strong army, right next to the central command tent guarded by the Imperial Guards.

Just as the camp was set up, a messenger came from the central command tent, saying, "His Majesty requests His Highness Prince Lan Hao to hold a meeting in the central command tent."

"Okay, I'll go now."

This was Tang San's first time attending a military conference. He didn't bring anyone with him and followed the messenger alone to the nearby central army.

The central command tent was not luxurious; the tent, made of tanned cowhide, looked heavy and sturdy, surrounded by a steel forest of swords and spears, guarded by the Imperial Guards. After Tang San followed the messenger into the tent, he discovered that there were already over a hundred people inside.

Avalanche sat at the head of the table, with an empty seat to his left and a master seated to his right. Further down, a dozen or so dignified generals had seats. The other generals stood below.

Upon seeing Tang San arrive, Xue Beng quickly stood up to personally greet him. The officers looked at Tang San, the young imperial tutor, with a mixture of curiosity and admiration. They were especially amazed that Xue Beng showed no displeasure despite Tang San entering the tent with a trident in hand.

"Teacher, you've arrived. Please take a seat." Xue Beng led Tang San to the inner side and let him sit down to his left. You should know that Tang San's current position can be said to be second only to one person and above tens of thousands of people.

Tang San said in a low voice, "Your Majesty, I don't know anything about military operations. Please don't worry about me. The important matter is more important."

Xue Beng nodded, sat back in his commanding seat with an air of authority, and swept his gaze over the generals below. The tent immediately fell silent, and the more than one hundred generals stood respectfully.

"Our army is organized into legions of ten thousand men each, and you are all legion commanders. Currently, our army has advanced to within five days' journey of the Martial Soul Empire. A great battle is imminent. I have summoned you generals here today to discuss specific tactical arrangements. I will not elaborate on the importance of this battle to the Empire. I hope that you generals can work together with one heart and one mind. If we win this battle, I will certainly reward those who have made meritorious contributions upon our return. I will bestow titles and honors upon those who have rendered outstanding service."

"Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"

"Your Majesty, our army's progress is proceeding normally. According to scouts, the Spirit Empire has already reacted and is gathering a large army at Jialing Pass." A general in his fifties, sitting to Tang San's left, stood up and reported. As he spoke, he glanced at Tang San, his eyes carrying a hint of indifference. Clearly, he didn't care much for this young man who sat so high above him.

Xue Beng said to Tang San, "This is Marshal Ge Long, a pillar of the empire, also known as the Nine-Lives Divine Dragon. He is also the number one person in the empire and the commander-in-chief of the three armies. Marshal Ge Long, please give a brief analysis of the current military strength configuration of the Spirit Empire."

After hearing Xue Beng's introduction, Tang San suddenly understood. No wonder this old marshal wasn't too fond of him; it turned out he was the most powerful figure in the Heaven Dou Empire's military. Although in terms of rank, he and his teacher were above him, in terms of actual power, he was probably second only to Xue Beng in the Heaven Dou Empire. The way Xue Beng looked at him revealed that the new emperor relied heavily on Marshal Ge Long. It was no wonder he felt resentful about being seated below him. Judging from his aura, he was probably at the Soul Douluo level.

Wearing a full set of Heavenly Domination Silver Armor and carrying the Sky-Supporting Trident Helmet, Golong was in his fifties, which is the prime of life for a Soul Master. To reach the Soul Douluo level at this age was clearly extraordinary. After all, how many geniuses like Tang San and the others are there?

"Your Majesty, according to our analysis and calculations regarding those who have betrayed us, although the Spirit Empire has gathered more than ten kingdoms and duchies, the total number of soldiers they can actually deploy on the battlefield is no more than 600,000. This should be the limit of what they can use in the war. Currently, our army and the Star Luo Empire's army are attacking us from the north and south, and they can only have about 300,000 troops to meet us, less than a third of our army. The terrain in front of Jialing Pass is flat. Although the Spirit Empire has recently seized this plain, they will definitely not fight our army on the plain in the face of our army's advance. They will definitely retreat to Jialing Pass and defend it with its natural defenses. As long as we can mobilize their spirit master legions to participate in the battle, even though we have a million soldiers, it will be extremely difficult for us to break through the enemy's defensive lines."

"Jialing Pass is located in the center of the Tianling Mountains, a strategically important location that is highly contested by military strategists. It is a place where one man can hold off ten thousand. If we want to achieve anything in this war, we must break through this pass."

Avalanche thought for a moment and said, "What if we bypass the Tianling Mountains and attack from another direction?"

Marshal Goron frowned and said, "I have also considered this issue, but its feasibility is very low. Firstly, the army would need to march for many days before we could possibly bypass the Tianling Mountains. Secondly, if we wanted to bypass these mountains, we would have to enter the heart of the Martial Soul Empire, a region mostly composed of hills, valleys, and basins. This is extremely unfavorable for our army's operations and would actually make things more dangerous. Furthermore, there is the possibility of our retreat being cut off by the enemy. Beyond Jialing Pass, however, lies a long, narrow plain, allowing us to penetrate directly into the former territory of the Barak Kingdom. We could even strike at the heart of the enemy. Therefore, I believe that breaking through Jialing Pass is imperative. Only by advancing from here can we gain the greatest benefit. It allows us to attack or defend as needed. This is the best strategy."

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(End of this chapter)