Expedition

Tianhe Fortress.

Gu Jinlai listened attentively to everyone's reports in the conference room.

At this moment, in this conference room that already has the "video conferencing" of later generations, more than a dozen thousand-mile light and shadow mirrors have been placed, each of which is linked to a person holding an important position in the Lingxiao City forces.

Gu Chaoyang and Cheng Lixue, who were stationed in Huangzhou, Qi Renwang, Gu Changfeng, and Gu Yunxin, who were stationed in Star Province, as well as Xin Tianqi, Cheng Wanli, Jing Yunshan, Gu Xiliu, and others who had gathered in Jiangzhou.

After Cheng Wanli finished recounting, Gu Jinlai said, "So, since we have remained indifferent for more than half a month since the ultimatum was issued, the Lizhou side thinks that our Lingxiao City is powerless to launch an attack against them in the East Sea, and they are thinking of taking advantage of us?"

"The governor's summary is very accurate."

Cheng Wanli said, "This is how the major overseas forces have always acted. They fear power but do not appreciate virtue. If we give them leeway, they will only take us for being weak and easy to bully. As long as there is something to gain, they will swarm like sharks that have smelled blood. If they encounter a tough nut to crack, they will scatter and even beg for mercy without any backbone."

"I understand that point clearly as well."

Xin Tianqi said, "This time, the Lizhou fleet gathered because they wanted Jiangzhou to open the port of Yulong City to trade with them. But if we show the slightest weakness, they will immediately demand that Yulong City be transferred to them. Of course, at first it will be leased, but later they will completely occupy Yulong City, just like when Longque Mountain Villa ruled Jiangzhou. And even after occupying Yulong City, they will not be satisfied and will inevitably make further demands for more cities from us."

At this point, the star lord's eyes showed a hint of disgust. "Each of their factions embodies the word 'insatiable greed' to the fullest extent."

"Lizhou has never been able to compare with our Lingxiao City, even if they join forces with the Twelve Islands of the East Sea."

The voices from Gu Jinlai echoed in everyone's ears through the Thousand-Mile Mirror of Light and Shadow: "We originally agreed on a three-month ultimatum. Once the time was up, we would take action against Lizhou. However, due to the rift in the Heavenly River Demon Realm, things were delayed for more than twenty days. As a result, Lizhou thought that our Lingxiao City was bluffing and was afraid of them..."

Gu Jinlai, I read a document obtained from Lizhou.

Lizhou actually attaches great importance to Lingxiao City.

Not only did all six major forces mobilize, but they also joined forces with the other nine islands of the Twelve Islands of the East China Sea, forming a coalition of fifteen forces to come to Lingxiao City for "negotiations".

Moreover, fourteen of these fifteen forces were composed of Nascent Primordial Spirit True Lord.

Yes!

Fourteen in total!

Although the Primordial Spirit True Lord in the East Sea are mostly ordinary True Lord due to limitations in Cultivation Method, Spirit Artifact, resources, and other aspects, there are still two high-level True Lord: Long Ao, the island lord of Panlong Island, and Hei Jing, the island lord of Black Shark Island.

If this lineup can truly unite as one, even the Dragon Sparrow Manor at its peak would not be able to withstand them.

Right now, they're using the guise of "negotiations" to discuss business matters with Jiangzhou...

In their view, Lingxiao City is outwardly strong but inwardly weak and surrounded by powerful enemies, would agree no matter what.

And once you agree...

Just as Xin Tianqi said.

They will probe step by step, pressing closer and closer, until they establish themselves as kings in Jiangzhou, or even seize Jiangzhou.

After all, with fifteen forces united, more than a dozen fleets mobilized, and tens of thousands of elite troops deployed, no one would believe that they were really there to negotiate with Lingxiao City.

"Then there's nothing more to say."

Gu Jinlai calmly said, "Notify the Supreme Elders of the Purgatory Sect, the Cold Moon Sect, and the Yellow Springs Sect to invite them to watch a show."

"Yes."

Gu Chaoyang nodded.

"Should we transfer the Demon God's personal guards from Star Province and Huangzhou?"

Gu Changfeng inquired.

Xin Tianqi added, "We have studied the relative strengths of our two sides. Although we do not have many fleets, we possess a large number of heavy artillery pieces. After several months of production, we can deploy more than four hundred heavy artillery pieces! This is our greatest strength. As long as we position these four hundred heavy artillery pieces around Yulong City and fire them all at once, the fleets from Lizhou will not be able to get even a fraction of a way close to our Jiangzhou ports!"

"Near Jiangzhou Port?"

Gu Jinlai smiled and said, "For those true masters, they only need to be near the coastline and can land without needing a port. However, Jiangzhou's coastline is over a thousand miles long. If Jiangzhou doesn't want chaos to spread everywhere, the best way is to launch an attack when their fleet has just left Lizhou's port and is located in the center of the two states. At that time, their ships will be destroyed. Even if they are as strong as Spirit Refining or Spirit Transformation, they may not be able to return to Lizhou alive when they are hundreds of miles away from the coast."

The dangers lurking in the ocean are far more complex than just the waves.

There are also sea monsters and Demonic Beasts.

Although the East China Sea is a coastal sea, it is home to many sea monsters and Demonic Beasts.

Therefore, the saying that those who fall into the water and undergo spiritual Spirit Refining or Spirit Transformation cannot return to Lizhou alive is not an empty statement, Gu Jinlai.

"Alright, leave the rest to me."

This Gu Jinlai.

Hearing Gu Jinlai's confident words, Xin Tianqi seemed to have guessed something and exclaimed with some surprise, "The Black Bird Fighter..."

Gu Jinlai nodded slightly.

Xin Tianqi immediately felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders.

Others who also received the news showed delight on their faces.

"Lord Xin, the fleet you prepared can be responsible for capturing prisoners."

Gu Jinlai waved his hand. "Go, after this battle, south of the Milky Way, there will only be one voice."

"Yes."

Everyone agreed in unison.

After the meeting ended, Gu Jinlai stood up and went to the open space outside the fortress.

Here, a convoy is ready.

Beside the convoy stood eight newly modified Xuan Niao fighter jets, gleaming with metallic luster.

"Elder..."

Zhang Lihuo and the others quickly came forward to greet them.

"Let's go back to Star Province."

Gu Jinlai said, "But before returning to Star Province, let's visit Jiangzhou and see how the Xuan Bird fighter jet is actually used."

Once Zhang Lihuo and the others have mastered the True Spirit Possession technique, he plans to hand over the Xuan Bird fighter jet to them.

Although this world is one where great power is concentrated in one person, the power of the collective should not be underestimated.

He was looking forward to the scene of hundreds of Azure Phoenix motherships carrying tens of thousands of Black Bird fighters sweeping across the sky like a dark blot out the sun.

To achieve this goal, it is clearly not enough for him to do it alone.

Therefore, he consciously cultivated Heavenly Lords and Celestial Masters such as Zhang Lihuo, Zhang Yukun, and Si Tianyan.

From Gu Jinlai, they have led their people to Jiangzhou.

Meanwhile, the Nascent Primordial Spirit True Lord of the Purgatory Sect, Yellow Springs Sect, and Cold Moon Sect, who had been waiting for almost a month, finally received news from Lingxiao City.

For a moment, everyone felt both relieved and somewhat awkward.

The relief came from finally seeing Lingxiao City reveal its true colors.

And awkward...

Since Lingxiao City dared to extend an invitation for them to come and watch the battle, it is clear that they have the confidence to confront Lizhou and the Nine Islands of the East Sea.

They're even quite confident.

This means that Lingxiao City actually possesses more power than they anticipated.

After a brief discussion, considering that almost all the top forces south of Tianhe have ceased hostilities due to the threat of Lingxiao City, there is no need for the Supreme Elder to be stationed at the central command to deal with the changing situation at all times.

At that moment, two Supreme Elders of the Purgatory Sect, Lu Zhanxian and Liu Jingtao, set off simultaneously.

The Yellow Springs Sect even dispatched three Primordial Spirit: Youquan, Wuyou, and True Lord.

Because they were wary of the Demonic Beasts from Muzhou moving north, the Cold Moon Sect did not dare to make any big moves, but they did send the two True Lords, Fang Linghai and Leng Ningshuang, to Jiangzhou.

In an instant, the situation in Jiangzhou was tense, filled with the urgent atmosphere of an impending great battle.

The movements in Jiangzhou, or rather Lingxiao City, were immediately known to Lizhou.

However, after carefully examining the size of Jiangzhou's fleet, everyone had more confidence in their own side's strength.

The only difference is that the six forces in Lizhou, who were originally eager to take the initiative, have weighed their options and decided to wait for the fleets of the nine islands to arrive before acting together.

And...

Lei Jie, who originally planned to join Ouyang Yue and the others in the attack, also found an excuse.

Although he did not withdraw from the operation, he no longer went there in person.

In this way, the fourteen Primordial Spirit True Lord became thirteen.

This behavior naturally drew the ire of the Three Great Families and two major gangs, and even the island lords of the two nine islands had their complaints.

However, Lei Jie readily relinquished a large amount of benefits that originally belonged to him. In addition, since he was a top-tier True Lord, it didn't matter much that the others were dissatisfied, and they could only accept this fact in the end.

Time flows on.

Both sides have completed their assemblies, and the atmosphere of impending battle is growing increasingly intense.

Only...

What puzzled the local forces in Jiangzhou, as well as the newly arrived members of the Purgatory Sect, Yellow Springs Sect, and Cold Moon Sect, was that although there was an impending storm in Jiangzhou, Lingxiao City itself seemed quite calm.

Although Xin Tianqi assembled a fleet, the fleet was small in size, and the number of Demon God Guards was not large either.

The total number is only two thousand.

Although there is still a special forces legion of two thousand experts at the Qi Refining, Core Forming Gang Condensing, and Core Formation stages, compared to the total number of 18,000 Demon God Guards of Lingxiao City, two thousand people...

It's practically a joke.

It seems that they are not going to deal with Lizhou and the Nine Islands of the East China Sea, which were so powerful that they had rendered Jiangzhou and the coastal forces helpless, but rather an ordinary sect that is just a small fry.

Fish Dragon City Port.

Xin Tianqi, on behalf of Gu Jinlai, entertained the spectators from the Cold Moon Sect, Huangquan Sect, Purgatory Sect.

"I have long admired the names of True Lord Lu, True Lord Liu, True Lord Fang, True Lord Leng, and the three True Lords of the Yellow Springs Sect."

Xin Tianqi gestured with his hand, "Please board the ship, everyone. We are about to head towards Lizhou."

Fang Linghai glanced at the size of the Jiangzhou fleet.

Although I knew it was somewhat presumptuous to ask, I couldn't help but ask, "Is this all the force Jiangzhou has mobilized? Where is the Lord of Gu Prefecture?"

"Right."

Xin Tianqi said, "The governor will not personally go to the battlefield."

"Will Gu Tai participate?"

Liu Jingtao glanced at the fleet at the port, which he could tell at a glance was made up of ragtag warships, "Is this all Jiangzhou is relying on..."

"The governor isn't refusing to participate; he simply won't go in person."

Xin Tianqi smiled as he spoke, "Please board the ship, everyone. If we don't set off soon, by the time we reach the battlefield, the combined fleet of the fifteen forces in Lizhou will probably have been completely defeated."