A Proposal to Take the Offensive

Meanwhile, the Tianyuan Dao Realm was still immersed in the joy of its great victory.

Every state was celebrating, and markets and neighborhoods were decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, as if the catastrophe had already passed.

Only a few top figures remain clear-headed.

Heaven-Soaring City, Immortal Alliance Headquarters.

Zhang Jianchen stood on the star-gazing platform, gazing into the void, his brows furrowed.

"I'm getting too excited," he muttered to himself.

It was just a minor victory, yet the whole world rejoiced.

The real storm is still brewing.

"Alliance Leader, Sect Leader Li requests an audience." A steward's voice came from behind.

Zhang Jianchen turned around. "Please come in quickly."

Soon, Li Yunjing came up.

"Sect Leader Li, what brings you here?" Zhang Jianchen asked with a smile.

"I'd like to discuss something with the Alliance Leader." Li Yunjing stepped forward, standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhang Jianchen, gazing into the void. "I plan to take the initiative."

Zhang Jianchen suddenly turned his head and looked at Li Yunjing.

His eyes were filled with surprise.

Zhang Jianchen repeated, his tone tinged with disbelief. "Taking the initiative? Sect Leader Li, do you know how dangerous the void is?"

Li Yunjing nodded. "Of course I know, but passive defense will only make us more and more passive."

"Qingxu is not in a hurry to attack because he wants to accumulate strength and wait until he is fully prepared. We can take advantage of his unpreparedness and launch a surprise attack."

"Firstly, we can destroy his forward outposts to weaken his strength; secondly, we can probe his strength to see how many troops he actually has; and thirdly, we can disrupt his rhythm and keep him guessing about our capabilities."

Zhang Jianchen fell silent.

He was weighing his options.

Taking the initiative has many benefits.

But the risks are also high.

The fleet has just been formed and has not been tested in actual combat. If it ventures deep into enemy territory and is lost, all our resources will be lost.

Zhang Jianchen said in a deep voice, "Let me think about it. This matter is of great importance and cannot be decided by the two of us alone."

"We will convene a general meeting tomorrow, with all parties participating, to hear everyone's opinions."

"Okay." Li Yunjing nodded.

He also knew that such an important matter required a unified understanding.

The next day, the Ten Thousand Immortals Hall held another meeting.

The heads of various states and leaders from all sides gathered together.

When Zhang Jianchen mentioned Li Yunjing's suggestion, the hall erupted in chaos.

"Taking the initiative?!"

"Are you crazy? Wouldn't it be better to just hold the line?"

"The void is fraught with danger; if anything were to happen to the fleet, who could bear the responsibility?"

"..."

Opposition voices rose and fell.

Those who opposed it were mostly conservative old leaders and leaders of smaller factions.

They felt that it was good enough to just stay within their own small area; there was no need to go out and take risks.

"Please calm down, everyone. Can we really hold on by playing a passive defense?" Li Yunjing stood up and scanned the entire room.

"We don't know how many troops Qingxu has. He has conquered several Dao Realm and is still expanding. Once he has accumulated enough strength, he will launch a full-scale attack. Can we hold out for a while, or can we hold out forever?"

"Today he sends 20,000 vanguard troops, tomorrow it will be 50,000, or even 100,000. If this drags on, we'll be the first to collapse."

"Taking the initiative may seem risky, but it's actually to buy time. Destroying his forward outposts will force him to regroup for a while. With this buffer period, we can build more warships and train more elite soldiers."

"The choice is yours: to sit and wait for death, or to take the initiative."

His words were powerful and resounding.

The hall fell silent for a moment.

"I agree with Sect Leader Li!"

Dao Lord Hanzun was the first to stand up, his voice booming like a bell. "What kind of coward are you! If you want to fight, then fight! I'll be the first to go!"

Dao Lord Xuanyuan slowly spoke, "I agree. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated. How can you talk about defense if you don't even know the enemy's strength?"

"I'll go to this battle too."

"Our Medicine King Valley also supports this! We will send one hundred Alchemist to accompany the army and provide medical treatment!"

"The Artifact and Talisman Sect is willing to send fifty craftsmen to accompany the army in repairing warships!"

Support gradually gained traction.

Most of them were pro-war factions, as well as forces that were close to the Luozhen Sect.

Those who opposed it remained opposed, and the two sides were deadlocked.

Ultimately, Zhang Jianchen made the decision:

Let's vote by raising our hands.

"Raise your hand if you agree with taking the initiative."

brush.

Most of the people raised their hands.

The minority submits to the majority.

The proposal was passed.

Zhang Jianchen said in a deep voice, "Alright, since it's approved, then proceed according to plan."

"Sect Leader Li, you will be in charge of the overall command of this expedition."

"Yes, sir." Li Yunjing cupped his hands in greeting.

"Next, I voluntarily sign up to join the army," Zhang Jianchen announced loudly. "Let me make it clear beforehand: the void is dangerous, and you are responsible for your own life and death."

The words had barely left his mouth.

"I'll go!" Dao Lord Hanzun was the first to respond.

"I'll go too." Dao Lord Xuanyuan smiled slightly.

"Elder Du of Medicine King Valley, I am willing to go!"

"Elder Qi of the Artifact and Talisman Sect, I am willing to go!"

"The Rogue Cultivator cultivator, Daoist Guyue, is willing to go!"

One voice after another rang out, from sect elders and powerful Rogue Cultivator, all of whom possessed Void Refinement Peak Stage or the Tribulation Transcendence Stage.

Li Yunjing's gaze swept over the crowd, and he nodded slightly in his heart.

They are all elites.

"Alright," Zhang Jianchen said, "Too many people are useless; the fleet has limited capacity."

"Sect Leader Li, you choose the person."

Li Yunjing did not refuse and directly appointed the general:

"Dao Lord Hanzun and Dao Lord Xuanyuan, please accompany me."

"Elder Du and Elder Qi, you two are proficient in alchemy and repair, please come along."

"Rogue Cultivator Daoist Guyue, you are proficient in the Spatial Dao Law, you shall also come along."

"Select another fifty spirit cannon operators, thirty formation disciples, and two hundred elite warriors."

"The rest of you, remain in the Dao Realm and strengthen defenses."

Those who were chosen all beamed with joy, and those who weren't selected weren't discouraged either, nodding in agreement.

Zhang Jianchen said, "It's settled then. After you return, make your preparations. We'll gather at Heavenly Craft Valley in three days."

"Yes, sir!"

The crowd responded in unison.

After the meeting, Li Yunjing stayed behind.

"Alliance Leader, I have something else to say," Li Yunjing said. "For this expedition, I plan to bring two capital ships and twenty escort ships."

"We will need to trouble the Alliance Leader to take care of the rear defenses. Also, we would like to ask the Alliance Leader to personally oversee the two Loose Immortal Ancestors in Luozhen Province."

Zhang Jianchen nodded. "Don't worry, I'm here behind you, along with the two patriarchs. Nothing will go wrong. Go ahead and fight well; that will be a Major Merit."

Li Yunjing bowed slightly, then turned and left.

Upon returning to Luozhen Province, he immediately began preparations for the expedition.

Ammunition, pills, repair materials... everything had to be carefully inventoried.

Li Yunjing left the deities Wangshu, Primordial Lord Bi Shui, and others in the sect.

The gods are too conspicuous in the void, making them easily detectable by Qingxu.

Moreover, with two Loose Immortal elders overseeing the situation, along with the gods, the rear was secure.

Chu Han, Zhou Xuan, and other disciples, as well as Li Yunjing, all stayed behind.

This expedition is to test the waters, not to risk our lives.

Bringing too many people is just a burden.

Three days later, at the port of Heavenly Craft Valley.

Twenty Mystic Crane Class corvettes were lined up on both sides.

Two flagship ships of the Luozhen Province Class, the Mystic Yellow and Azure Nether, were anchored in the middle.

The monks, ready for battle, lined up and boarded the ship.

Dao Lord Hanzun, Dao Lord Xuanyuan, and others boarded the Mystic Yellow flagship one after another.

Li Yunjing finally walked onto the bridge, looked down at the crowd seeing him off, and waved.

"Set sail."

He gave the order in a soft voice.

Buzz.

The warship slowly rose.

They drove towards the crack in the sky.

Everyone felt a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

This was the first time they had voluntarily stepped outside the boundary.