"Relay my orders!"
Li Yunjing's voice was calm and clear as it reached the Messenger waiting beside him.
"First, order the garrisons in the Mystic Ice Realm and Storm Realm to exploit the terrain and adopt a flexible defense, focusing on delaying and harassing the enemy. Avoid a head-on decisive battle with the Devil Race's main force. If necessary, retreat in stages toward the Ancient Immortal Burial Realm."
"Second, mobilize the Star Shuttle fleet!"
"Order the Hidden Edge Legion to assemble immediately under Grand Elder Zhao Xinghai's command. Bring the Illusion Sea Mist Bead and all Explosive Flame Talismans, and take the emergency teleportation array to the preset coordinates outside the Chiyan Realm to await orders!"
"Third, transmit this encrypted order to Sword Venerable Xuangang: proceed according to plan as the battle develops. The Star Shuttles are ready, and Hidden Edge is approaching. Act when the opportunity presents itself. Preserving the main force takes priority!"
"The Flame God and the natives... can buy them time."
The orders were swiftly dispatched.
The Hidden Edge Legion was a special unit within the Tianlan Alliance that excelled at concealment, surprise attacks, and sowing chaos. Its members were proficient in illusions, escape arts, and various powerful, single-use magical artifacts.
Elder Zhao Xinghai was an expert at the sixth heaven of Spirit Transformation from the Thirty-Six Grotto-Heavens. Seasoned and steady, he was especially skilled at rear-guard actions and holding off pursuers.
As for "proceed according to plan," it referred to the worst-case retreat contingency that Li Yunjing, Sword Venerable Xuangang, and the other core leaders had discussed long ago.
A crucial part of that plan was to exploit the Chiyan Realm's native forces and their determination to defend their homeland to the death, turning them into a natural shield that drew the Devil Race's attacks