Formation Destroyed, Storm Clouds Gather

Formation Destroyed, Storm Clouds Gather

Wu Yi knew Shen Xishan.

He was the commander of Chu Lord's personal guards, and an Innate Realm martial artist.

Earlier, under Xiong Tuo's orders, he had attacked their own country's envoy, providing Chu, Zhao, and Han Three Countries with a pretext for their campaign against Wei.

The two of them had also taken part in that interception and assassination.

With their professional killing skills, they swiftly ended the battle before Wei's Daliang Imperial Guard could arrive, leaving no loose ends behind.

This time in Great Liang City, they had divided the work and cooperated with Shen Xishan.

Wu Yi did not reveal himself at once. After waiting for a while and confirming there was no ambush, he emerged from the shadows.

His face dark, he demanded, "What does Commander Shen mean by this?"

Shen Xishan replied without so much as a blush, "Zhang Biao coming after you was entirely his own doing. I rushed over the moment I learned of it. Fortunately, he knows where to draw the line and would not strike to kill."

Wu Yi did not believe a single word of his nonsense.

Only their two sides knew of this meeting place. For this Zhang Biao to arrive so precisely at this time and place, Shen Xishan must have secretly instructed him. Otherwise, how could he have found them with such flawless accuracy?

Still, Wu Yi did not expose him.

They were allies, after all. There were still matters requiring cooperation, and it was not yet time for them to turn their weapons upon one another.

Keeping a wary eye on Shen Xishan and Zhang Biao, Wu Yi cautiously walked to Ji Yang's side and carefully helped him up.

Though Ji Yang had just taken medicine, his face was still deathly pale, warm blood continuing to flow from his nose.

Zhang Biao's palm strike just now had clearly contained hidden force. It was far from as simple as it had appeared.

He would likely need to recuperate for some time before recovering.

"Commander Shen did not summon us here merely to laugh at the two of us, did he?" Wu Yi asked coldly, narrowing his eyes.

Shen Xishan nodded. "Chu Lord has sent word. He hopes you will wait until their first battle before making your move. This has already been arranged with your Han King and your sect. You may verify it with them."

Wu Yi did not understand the Art of War very well, but he could vaguely guess at Chu Lord Xiong Tuo's intentions.

Martial artists were indeed stronger than ordinary people, but martial artists made up only one or two in ten of the armies of the various countries. The overwhelming majority were still common men clad in straw armor.

Such men could only fight a battle with the wind at their backs. At the slightest stir of wind and grass, they would begin to waver.

Thus, when two armies clashed, morale was the most important thing.

Chu Lord Xiong Tuo wanted them to throw the rear into chaos during the first clash, shaking Wei's morale.

Then, together with Red River Palace's actions, they could expand the gains.

Wu Yi said expressionlessly, "I will verify this with my sect. When exactly will this first battle be? We need a specific time."

"From the information I received, it should be seven days from now."

Wu Yi pondered for a while. "Seven days is enough time for us to prepare. If everything checks out, we will act seven days from now."

"Good. Then I will leave it to you. Once you make your move, we will also act when the opportunity arises and give the Wei King a surprise." Shen Xishan laughed heartily. "May everything go smoothly for you both. Farewell."

With that, Shen Xishan turned and left.

Zhao Biao, who followed behind him, gave the two of them a meaningful look before following Shen Xishan away.

"Ji Yang, are you all right?"

"I'm fine. Over the next few days, I'll gather more intelligence. As long as we obtain the layout of the Seven Stars Heaven Severing Formation's formation eyes, this operation will be more than half complete. Then destroying the protective formation around the Daliang Imperial Palace will be as easy as turning over one's hand."

"Did those Assassins from the Netherworld and the human realm fail to uncover any intelligence in their previous attempts?"

"They're all idiots. Every last one of them wants to make a name for himself, wants to pull off some grand affair, while the truly important intelligence work is handled in a complete mess. Don't place any hopes on them."

"There is still time. Let's return to Great Liang City and recover for a few days first. We can discuss what comes next slowly."

Ji Yang got to his feet, spat out a mouthful of bloody phlegm, and said unwillingly, "Damn it, this world is just that realistic. Chu Country is powerful and prosperous, while Han Country has little land and few people. Red River Palace alone is far stronger than all of Han Country's Martial Arts Forces combined. Even an Innate Martial Artist can be this overbearing. Whether Han Country and us Heavenly People can continue to exist in the future is still hard to say."

After hearing this, even Wu Yi, who had always been optimistic, could not help falling silent.

Ji Yang's words reminded him.

Not long ago, he had bought a residence in Yangdi, Han Country's capital.

If Han Country fell, it would probably become worthless as well.

If I return safely, I should sell that Yangdi residence and buy one in Yingdu, Chu Country instead.

That should be a more secure choice.

Qianqing Palace.

Jian'an Emperor Zhao Yongxu and many of the court's highest-ranking ministers had gathered together, closely following the Three Kingdoms Campaign Against Wei.

Frontline intelligence reports fluttered in one after another like snowflakes, read by the many ministers and Jian'an Emperor.

The ministers who practiced Martial Arts were still fairly energetic.

Those who had not cultivated Martial Arts, mere ordinary men, were all listless and dispirited. Clearly, they had not rested well these past few days.

"Han Country has mobilized three hundred thousand troops from various regions, and they are currently nearing the border. Han Country's Martial Courage Ninth Grade martial artist seems not to have accompanied the army due to his lifespan nearing its end. The Han Army's supreme commander is Ling Jianshui, who possesses Martial Courage Second Grade cultivation."

"Chu Country has deployed seven hundred thousand troops this time. They have arrived at the border between the two countries and set up camp. They are expected to begin attacking the cities before long. There has been no sign of the Red River Palace Master for now."

"Zhao Country has sent four hundred thousand troops. Li Mu and Pang She, both Martial Courage Third Grade, are leading them."

Jian'an Emperor Zhao Yongxu asked, "What of Qi Country? Have they made any moves?"

"Qi Country's great general Sun Ji has begun secretly gathering troops, but he is acting rather discreetly. Zhao Country has yet to discover Qi Country's movements."

Minister of War Yu Hezheng said, "Your Majesty, Qi Country will not move its troops immediately. They will certainly act only after Zhao Country's army comes into contact with ours. Before then, Feng Yi, General Feng, will need to hold out for a while. Our focus should be on Chu Country."

"Correct." Zhao Yongxu clearly agreed with Yu Hezheng's words.

Qi Country would not help them out of the goodness of its heart. It certainly had interests of its own to pursue.

"As Beloved Minister Yu says, General Cen must hold back Chu Country's first wave of attacks no matter what. Once the eastern front eases, General Feng can support him, and he will be able to catch his breath as well."

"Yes, Your Majesty is wise."

Boom!

At that moment, tremendous explosions erupted from several corners of the Imperial Palace.

"What happened?" Zhao Yongxu abruptly rose to his feet and demanded of Feng Dabao.

Feng Dabao did not panic. He said calmly, "This servant will go and take a look at once."

With that, Feng Dabao hurried out.

Not long afterward, he rushed back in a fluster, dropped to his knees, and urgently said, "Your Majesty, this servant is guilty. The formation eye of the Daliang Imperial Palace's protective formation has been destroyed!"

The many ministers in the court looked at one another, their faces filled with shock.

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