In Zichen Hall in Chang'an, an enormous sand table of the West Blue occupied the center, displaying every detail of its mountains, rivers, island nations, and city-states. Around it, Hua Country's leading civil and military officials stood solemnly, their gazes all fixed on the figure seated on the Nine-Dragon Throne.
Chen Yu lightly tapped the armrest with his fingertips. Arceus's primordial power of creation and order flowed silently around him, making him seem to resonate on some deeper level with the vast expanse of the West Blue beneath his feet. He could "hear" the clamor and disorder of the nations across these waters, and "feel" the immense auras within his own ranks, held in check like divine weapons about to leave their sheaths-Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Huang Zhong, and Lü Bu! Tempered in the inferno of gravity and tested by the Military Examination, they were like five active volcanoes poised to erupt.
"The time has come." Chen Yu's voice was calm, yet it echoed clearly into every corner of the hall, carrying unquestionable resolve. "For hundreds of years, the West Blue has been mired in turmoil. Nations hold divided territories, pirates run rampant, and the people can barely survive. In the few years since Hua Country's founding, we have cultivated civil governance at home and honed our military strength abroad-not to remain content in a secluded corner, but to sweep the world clean and establish order anew. Today marks the beginning of our Black Bird Flag's flight west and our campaign to pacify the West Blue!"
His gaze flashed like lightning as it swept over the assembled heroes under his command:
"Fengxiao! Kongming!"
"Your servants are here!" Zhuge Liang, gently waving his feather fan, and Guo Jia, toying with a wine cup, stepped forward together. The wisdom of