The Battle Begins

Having obtained the Sect Breakthrough Pill, Yun Shan gave Yun Leng a few instructions before heading to the rear mountain to enter seclusion and attempt a breakthrough to Dou Zong.

After a month of seclusion, Yun Shan, who had remained at the nine-star Dou Emperor realm for many years, finally broke through to Dou Zong with the help of the Sect Breakthrough Pill.

The news of Yun Shan's breakthrough to Dou Zong was not kept secret, and it quickly spread throughout the Jia Ma Empire.

When Yao Ye learned that Yun Shan had truly broken through to Dou Zong, she was indeed quite shocked.

She had never imagined that Yun Shan, who had remained at the nine-star Dou Emperor realm for years just like her great-grandfather, would break through to Dou Zong only a month after her great-grandfather's death!

Her feelings were extremely complicated. She did not know whether she should be happy or unhappy.

She was happy because Yun Shan's breakthrough to Dou Zong had made their alliance far stronger. They could win the battle against the Snake-People Tribe more quickly and greatly reduce the soldiers' casualties.

She was unhappy because Yun Shan had broken through to Dou Zong, while Jia Ma Royal Family's guardian, Jia Xingtian, had died. Once this war was over, the Misty Cloud Sect would pose an even greater threat to the Jia Ma Royal Family.

From beginning to end, Yao Ye believed that even without the Misty Cloud Sect's involvement, they would certainly emerge victorious in their war against the Snake-People Tribe.

Now that Yun Shan had broken through to Dou Zong, there was naturally no reason to delay any longer.

Yun Shan swiftly gathered the Misty Cloud Sect's elders and disciples, preparing to wage war against the Snake-People Tribe.

Three days later, under Yun Shan and Yao Ye's command, the vast army arrived at the Tagor Desert and set up camp twenty li outside the Snake-People Tribe's walls.

The Snake-People Tribe had long begun preparing for this war. The tribal chiefs and experts of the Snake-People Tribe had already gathered within the city.

Atop the tall, towering city walls, the Snake-People Tribe's elders, the Eight Tribe Chiefs, and other experts above the Dou Wang realm stood watching the allied forces of the Misty Cloud Sect and the royal family.

One of the tribal chiefs looked at the encamped forces beyond the walls with some concern. "Great Elder, will the Queen Consort truly take action?"

If the Queen were here, they might not have been worried.

Although Jiang Xing had said he would marry the Queen and become their future Queen Consort, he was still an outsider. The chief could not help but feel uneasy.

What was more, Jiang Xing had yet to appear.

"Yes. The Queen Consort already promised me some time ago. He certainly will not go back on his word."

The Great Elder had interacted with Jiang Xing quite often and knew that Jiang Xing was not someone who casually broke his promises.

Moreover, the Great Elder knew about Lin Shan, the expert who had only recently appeared at Jiang Xing's side.

Ji Feng had originally been the one protecting Jiang Xing, but ever since this man arrived, he had taken over that role. Combined with Ji Feng's attitude toward him, the Great Elder was certain that this man was stronger than Ji Feng.

With two Dou Zuns protecting him and such a powerful background, Jiang Xing had no need to deceive them.

That was right. The Great Elder had already concluded that Lin Shan was a Dou Zun even stronger than Ji Feng. In his eyes, Dou Zuns already stood at the peak of the Dou Qi Continent's pyramid. He had never considered realms above Dou Zun—or rather, he did not dare to.

Hearing the Great Elder's assured reply, the tribal chiefs also breathed a sigh of relief. They naturally knew that this Queen Consort had a Dou Zun by his side. As long as the Queen Consort agreed to act, they had nothing to worry about.

The next day, amidst the boundless desert and raging yellow sands, the Alliance Army, which had camped outside the city for a day, moved out after hearing a loud, urgent blast of horns.

Normally, negotiations should have taken place before the two armies clashed. If an agreement could be reached, there would be no need for bloodshed.

If the Snake-People Tribe had merely killed a few ordinary Dou Wangs, perhaps the matter could have been resolved through negotiation.

But this time, the Snake-People Tribe had killed the other side's sect leader and royal guardian. There was simply nothing to discuss.

Without any negotiations, the two armies confronted each other directly in the Tagor Desert.

The Snake-People Tribe's Dou Wang and Dou Emperor experts formed wings from Dou Qi and hovered above the city walls.

On closer inspection, there were actually as many as fifteen people flying in the sky.

The Snake-People Tribe had survived in the Tagor Desert for so long without being wiped out by the Jia Ma Royal Family, so their strength was naturally not to be underestimated.

The Eight Tribe Chiefs were all Dou Wangs. Together with Hua She'er of the Divine Hall, a hidden Snake-People Dou Wang expert, and the Snake-People Tribe's four Dou Emperor elders—

Although the three elders other than the Great Elder could not fight due to their nearing lifespans, they still had to show themselves to raise morale.

The last person did not have Dou Qi wings. Instead, he stood on empty air, suspended in the sky.

That was right. This person was Ji Feng.

Jiang Xing had promised the Great Elder that he would have Ji Feng take action, but after going so long without fighting, he suddenly felt his hands itching and wanted to join in for a bit.

When the Snake-People atop the walls saw Jiang Xing standing on empty air, their morale immediately soared.

The Snake-People experts gripped their spears and stood ready atop the walls, waiting for the Alliance Army to approach. Once they received the order, they would launch their attack.

On the Alliance Army's side, nineteen experts and a flood dragon flew before the army.

Among them were eighteen Dou Wang experts and one Dou Zong expert.

That flood dragon was the Jia Ma Empire royal family's guardian beast—the Nethersea Serpent-Beast.

The Nethersea Serpent-Beast was the Jia Ma Empire royal family's guardian beast. It came from the Nethersea and was a flood dragon that had lived for several hundred years. The Nethersea Serpent-Beast possessed the cultivation of a seven-star Dou Emperor. The Jia Ma Empire royal family had endured for so many years not only because of Jia Xingtian, but also because of its presence.

The Nethersea Serpent-Beast had followed Jia Xingtian into battle since its youth, rendering great service to the Jia Ma Empire. Yet it had also sustained severe hidden injuries during those campaigns. Yao Ye had originally not intended to bring it along, but the Nethersea Serpent-Beast insisted on coming, saying that it wanted to avenge Jia Xingtian.

At that moment, the Great Elder in the sky saw the Alliance Army approaching and immediately issued an order.

"By my command, spear throwers, prepare! Throw!"

Following the Great Elder's command, the Snake-People atop the walls swiftly hurled their poisoned throwing spears with all their might toward the approaching Alliance Army.

Thousands of throwing spears shot forth in a volley, raining down upon the Alliance Army below.

Although the experts flying before the Alliance Army used Dou Techniques to block the spears, some still pierced through their defenses and killed nearly a hundred Alliance soldiers behind them.

As the defenders, the Snake-People Tribe held a tremendous advantage. They did not leave the city to engage the enemy, instead remaining atop the walls and hurling spears, firing arrows, or using long-range Dou Techniques against the approaching Alliance Army.

After several volleys of spears, arrows, and Dou Techniques, the Alliance Army had lost more than a thousand soldiers before even reaching the foot of the walls.

Seeing their companions fall beside them, countless soldiers roared and charged forward desperately.

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