War

The Jia Ma Emperor Empire.

Black Mountain Fortress stood on the northeastern border of the Jia Ma Emperor Empire. The largest fortress within a thousand miles, it had stood unshaken for over a century since its construction. Now, however, it had become the battlefield where the many powerful fighters led by the Jia Ma Imperial Family and the Snake-People Tribe clashed with the Three Great Empires.

Those Three Great Empires were the Chu Yun Empire, the Luo Yan Empire, and the Mulan Empire, all neighbors of the Jia Ma Emperor Empire.

At that moment, three figures streaked through the sky toward Black Mountain Fortress.

On an endless Plain, two immense, majestic mountain ranges pierced the heavens. An enormous fortress guarded the gap between them.

Densely packed troops filled the ramparts, along with countless massive ballistae. Thick, refined-steel bolts gleamed coldly atop them.

At the center of the ramparts stood dozens of figures with powerful auras, gathered around four whose auras ran particularly deep. All of them gazed far beyond the fortress, where a dark mass of soldiers stretched out like black clouds, seemingly without end. Three enormous banners flew among them.

"What madness has gotten into these Three Great Empires? They joined forces to attack our Jia Ma Emperor Empire out of nowhere, yet they can't even beat us. What a joke!" Hai Bodong gazed at the three armies, his aged face full of mockery.

Everyone beside him nodded in agreement. Their Jia Ma Emperor Empire was no longer what it once had been. There were four Dou Zong experts present alone: the Imperial Family's guardian, Jia Xingtian; the former sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect, Yun Shan; and the Third Elder and Fourth Elder of the Snake-People Tribe. Even though the Three Great Empires had nearly three Dou Zong experts among them, and that witch from the Poison Sect possessed bizarrely formidable strength, they could still hold the upper hand!

"Once Elder Liu and the others arrive, the day these Three Great Empires meet their destruction won't be far off!" Jia Xingtian said coldly, a ruthless gleam flashing through his eyes. Then he quietly asked the Snake-People Tribe's Third Elder, "Third Elder, how much longer until Elder Liu and the others arrive?"

"I have informed the Grand Elder through our tribe's secret method. They should arrive soon," the Third Elder replied in a hoarse voice.

No sooner had he finished speaking than the space above the ramparts rippled, and three figures slowly emerged from the void.

Looking at the Purple-Robed Man standing in midair, Jia Xingtian was rather astonished. It had only been a little over two years, and Elder Liu had already become a Dou Zong?

It was not just Jia Xingtian. The dozens of renowned experts from the Jia Ma Emperor Empire all felt the same upon seeing Liu Yu. There was not a soul in the empire who did not know this Elder Liu. Even after his absence of more than two years, the legends about him remained on everyone's lips. Who would have thought that he would return as a Dou Zong!

The elders and leaders of the Snake-People Tribe were somewhat calmer. Hai Bodong, however, stared at Liu Yu with burning eyes. As a Guest Elder of the Snake-People Tribe, he had long held their "king" in the highest esteem. This was the man who had won over Queen Medusa!

He had joined the Snake-People Tribe and become their Guest Elder because that old rascal Mittel Tengshan had kept chattering in his ear.

When he first returned to the Mittel Family, he had been rather angry. His position as Grand Elder had actually become a thing of the past! Then that old rascal had constantly urged him to join the Snake-People Tribe, praising them so extravagantly that flowers might as well have rained from the heavens. In the end, he had been tempted. Most importantly, Queen Medusa was not with the tribe!

He had to admit that the treatment he received as a Guest Elder of the Snake-People Tribe was beyond reproach. Popping pills now and then and teaching a lesson to families that obstructed the tribe's development—life could hardly be sweeter.

By then, Liu Yu had brought Yun Yun and Zi Yan over to Jia Xingtian and the others.

Everyone instinctively glanced at the two stunning beauties beside Liu Yu. Filled with envy and admiration, they hastily withdrew their gazes.

Upon seeing Yun Yun after such a long separation, Yun Shan fussed over her and asked how she had been. He did not inquire much about the other woman beside Liu Yu. That was Yun Yun's own affair, and an old man like him would not meddle.

"Elder Jia, tell me about these Three Great Empires," Liu Yu asked softly.

While he was at the Feather Pavilion, the Grand Elder had found him and said that trouble had broken out in the Jia Ma Emperor Empire. He had then hurried over with Yun Yun and Zi Yan. The Grand Elder and Second Elder, meanwhile, were discussing the Feather Pavilion's expansion with Eagle Mountain Old Man.

After arriving in the Jia Ma Emperor Empire, he had also gathered some information through his soul power. The gist of it was that the Three Great Empires had joined forces to invade the Jia Ma Emperor Empire.

Liu Yu had originally thought that the joint invasion would only happen several years later, yet it had come early. In his memories, Xiao Yi Xian had spearheaded this war to obtain a way to overcome the woeful poison body from the Hall of Souls.

Back then, however, the Soul Hall Protector had approached Xiao Yi Xian because of Xiao Yan. This time, if the Hall of Souls had yet to discover Xiao Yan's identity, then it had probably instigated this war behind the scenes to collect souls. Still, to learn exactly what had happened, he would have to ask the person involved...

Hearing his question, Jia Xingtian immediately recounted the entire affair, from its causes to its consequences.

The Poison Sect's witch? Liu Yu thought. In just three years or so, the Poison Sect had wiped out every other sect in the Chu Yun Empire and risen to become its sole ruler. Even the Chu Yun Empire's Imperial Family was under its control. Afterward, it had contacted the Golden Goose Sect and Mulan Valley in the other two empires neighboring the Jia Ma Emperor Empire, forming a three-nation alliance led by the Poison Sect's sect master and launching a war against the Jia Ma Emperor Empire.

Liu Yu felt that the Hall of Souls was almost certainly lurking behind this. Xiao Yi Xian might also have received its support. Combined with the terrifying nature of the woeful poison body, that would explain how she had gone from a frail young woman who was not even a Dou Zhe to the Heavenly Poison Woman, whose very name struck terror into people's hearts, in such a short time.

"Since these Three Great Empires dared join forces to attack our Jia Ma Emperor Empire, there is no need for them to exist anymore."

As those cool words fell, space twisted, and Liu Yu vanished from the ramparts.

To Liu Yu, whether the Hall of Souls was involved no longer mattered. Even if it was, it could not possibly have dispatched an expert at the Venerable Elder level. Otherwise, why go to such trouble and launch a war? It could simply have swept everything aside.

As long as no Dou Zun-level existence was present, he alone could easily destroy all Three Great Empires!

Hearing Liu Yu's supremely domineering declaration, everyone felt their blood boil. A brilliant light also shone in Yun Yun's and Zi Yan's beautiful eyes.

"Everyone, today marks the beginning of the destruction of the Three Great Empires!" Jia Xingtian swept his gaze over the crowd, his voice ringing out as excitement shone irrepressibly in his eyes. The destruction of the Three Great Empires meant that the Jia Ma Emperor Empire would become the sole overlord of the surrounding region. The resources and territory it could claim would be unimaginable!

In an instant, streaks of light shot from the ramparts. Their combined auras surged like a primordial savage beast toward the boundless black mass beyond the fortress.

Above the vast Plain, opposite the dark tide of soldiers, figures bearing Dou Qi Wings appeared one after another. At the very front stood five figures in midair, surrounding a tall, straight-backed man at their center who gave off no aura whatsoever.

The man wore an exquisite, luxurious purple robe. His silvery hair flowed like a waterfall, loosely tied beside his shoulder. His ruby eyes resembled a brilliant starry sky stained with blood, bewitching yet tinged with indifference. With a high, straight nose and thin, gently closed lips, his face possessed an indescribable beauty that seemed beyond anything of this world.

As the vast allied army of the three nations gazed at that uncanny man, who clearly gave off no aura, their souls could not help trembling! For a moment, unrest stirred through the dark mass of troops.

"Haha! So your Jia Ma Emperor Empire finally knows fear and has brought in help? After all, a mere four Dou Zong can't withstand our Three Great Empires alliance! Hahaha!"

Just as the soldiers' morale began to waver, a powerful, brazenly arrogant laugh suddenly rang out. Then a dazzling beam of golden light burst from the army and shot into the sky.

Thanks to Where Can the Gentle Breeze of the Mortal World Be Found for the two monthly votes.

Thanks to Cthulhu Azathoth zyz for the monthly vote.