Reincarnation Territory South, inside Heaven's Gift Manor.
"What? Say that again!" The Third Prince rose from his throne and glared angrily.
"Great Zheng's territory has marched south. In the first battle, four cities lost their nerve before the fighting even began and surrendered to Great Zheng in full!" an official said with a bitter look.
"Impossible!" the Third Prince barked.
"Your Highness, it's true. The four city lords of the northern frontier surrendered almost simultaneously. They surrendered at once, without the slightest warning, as though they had arranged it beforehand—or as though they had been bribed by the Great Zheng Sacred Court. The four border cities were lost in an instant, and Great Zheng's army is continuing south!" The official's face was full of bitter misery.
"Impossible. I personally selected the four city lords of the northern frontier. They are absolutely loyal to me. They could never betray the No Phase Sacred Court!" the Third Prince said in disbelief.
"This is the battle report from the front lines. Please read it yourself, Third Prince!" The official handed over a Jade Slip.
His divine sense swept across it, and the Third Prince's face turned livid.
"Smack!"
The Third Prince smashed the Jade Slip to pieces in fury.
"Those four are still city lords even now? So they were spies planted by Great Zheng all along. So it was Zhong Shan! How dare he—how dare he!" the Third Prince roared.
"Third Prince, the Great Zheng Sacred Court clearly plotted this long ago!" an official said worriedly.
"Cease hostilities in the southern part of the Reincarnation Territory. Concentrate our forces and stop Great Zheng's army from marching south. Then send word to every Heavenly Dynasty surrounding Great Zheng and have them attack Great Zheng together." The Third Prince spoke through clenched teeth.
"Yes!"