For this Liu Province contingent, Liang Zhaohuang was the commander appointed by the Immortal Dynasty Ministry of War. Whether to advance or retreat had to be decided by him.
Of course, if his orders were recognized by the Nascent Soul True Lords of the various families, they would naturally be carried out without resistance. But if those Nascent Soul True Lords did not approve—if, for instance, he wished to sacrifice large numbers of cultivators from their families, or even the lives of Nascent Soul True Lords, to clear a path—then none of them would agree, and his orders would inevitably be difficult to enforce.
Although the Immortal Dynasty Ministry of War held considerable authority, the great clans and aristocratic houses of the Immortal Dynasty were not obligated to obey its every word or dare not defy it.
After all, the Ministry of War's authority was shared by the Immortal Dynasty's aristocratic houses and the imperial family.
Liang Zhaohuang naturally understood this. Thus, although everyone was looking at him and awaiting his command, he knew full well that he truly had only one order he could give.
He immediately said, "Withdraw first. We'll talk after leaving the Thousand Ape Wild Forest."
"Good!"
"Withdraw first!"
Sure enough, the moment Liang Zhaohuang gave the order, the Nascent Soul True Lords of the various families agreed without the slightest hesitation. They immediately reorganized their forces and began withdrawing from the Thousand Ape Wild Forest.
And this withdrawal meant that they had failed to complete the military order issued by the Immortal Dynasty Ministry of War: to capture the Thousand Ape Wild Forest and cut off the southern escape route of the Demon Race from the Demon Country's northern region.
Should the Immortal Dynasty pursue the matter afterward, Liang Zhaohuang would undoubtedly bear the largest