The assembly hall, Martial Heaven City, Wu Imperial Dynasty:
The officials had left. While Long Shenwu rested with his eyes closed, his nape quivered, and a blue light rushed over.
Long Shenwu was in a trance before his expression suddenly changed. “Sanqian? It’s you? What are you doing?”
He sprang to his feet.
“Hah! You unfilial son, you want to change bodies with us? How audacious!” Long Shenwu yelled.
Buzz!
A blue light came out of Long Shenwu’s body and vanished.
Long Shenwu collapsed on the throne, covered in sweat, as he gulped large mouthfuls of air.
“Hah! Hahahaha! Gu Hai! Gu Hai, you ruined my grand plan!” Long Shenwu snarled.
“I initially wanted to take control of the Han Imperial Dynasty before using the Han Imperial Dynasty to destroy the Ying Imperial Dynasty. Then I would have the Han Imperial Dynasty submit to the Wu Imperial Dynasty, allowing the Wu Imperial Dynasty to advance to a heavenly dynasty before snatching this body. Hah! Hahaha! Gu Hai! Gu Hai!” Long Shenwu roared ferociously.
Long Sanqian had already snatched Long Shenwu’s body. All his plans and efforts came to naught. How could he not be angry?
“Your Reverence, what is your command?” An attendant outside came in after hearing Long Shenwu’s voice.
“Go call Six Fingers in!” Long Shenwu ordered with a furious and hateful expression.
“Yes!”
Soaring Palace Hall, Borderless Heavenly Capital:
Gu Hai wore black imperial robes with golden embroidery, with a crown on his head and seven-starred cloud-silk shoes on his feet, as he sat on the throne and looked down at the assembly hall.
The officials of the imperial court stood in two columns of the hall.
Gu Qin, Gao Xianzhi, Chen Tianshan, Mo Yike, Kong Xuan, the Mosquito Daoist, Shangguan Hen, Ao Shun, and Meng Tai stood respectfully, heading the two columns of officials.
Gu Hai gently tapped the throne’s armrest as he sat on the throne. The hall turned quiet.
“Chen Tianshan, announce it!” Gu Hai said.
“Yes!”
Chen Tianshan stepped out of the column, took out a decree, and read it.
“Carrying the mandate of heaven, the emperor speaks! The Han Imperial Dynasty was prospering, and the citizens lived peacefully. The nation was at peace. However, the Wu Nation came attacking, killing the citizens at the borders and plundering our cities, performing all sorts of evil. They captured five cities at the border and injured or killed three million of our citizens and soldiers. Every single one of the Han Nation citizens is our citizen, a member of our Han Nation. Now that an evil nation has come attacking, the Han Nation will no longer remain silent. Although those that kill our Han Nation citizens are millions of kilometers away, we will kill them. The Wu Nation shall suffer a painful strike for invading our border. His Reverence commands us to level the Wu Nation, to avenge our citizens and reclaim peace! From this moment forth, the Wu Nation’s sovereign is declared the enemy of the Han Imperial Dynasty. The Han Imperial Dynasty will regard all who dare assist him as enemies, never relenting, no matter how far they go!” Chen Tianshan called out.
“Never relenting, no matter how far they go!” the officials echoed respectfully.
This was an official declaration of a crusade against the Wu Imperial Dynasty, a murderous declaration. The Han Imperial Dynasty would march on the Wu Imperial Dynasty in full force. The Han Nation would treat anyone who dared help the Wu Imperial Dynasty as enemies, relentlessly pursuing them to the end.
“Announce this declaration to the world!” Gu Hai instructed.
“Yes!” Chen Tianshan answered.
“For killing our citizens at our border, the Wu Imperial Dynasty deserves to be killed. If we do not establish our nation’s prestige, evildoers will do as they please. From now on, we establish the Han Vengeance Army to take revenge for the border citizens, to right the wrongs of my Han Imperial Dynasty!” Gu Hai said solemnly.
“Yes!” the officials answered.
“Mo Yike!” Gu Hai called out.
“Present!” Mo Yike stepped out from his column.
“We assign Mo Yike as the Han Vengeance Supreme Commander, responsible for commanding the army in marching on the Wu Imperial Dynasty and everything that involves.” Gu Hai took out a military authority token.
“Yes!” Mo Yike respectfully received the proffered military authority token.
“Gao Xianzhi, step forward!”
“Present!”
“Gao Xianzhi is to lead the First Corps and join the Han Vengeance Army. We assign Gao Xianzhi as the Han Vengeance Army’s Left Vanguard Deputy Supreme Commander. Mo Yike will mobilize you and the First Corps in attacking the Wu Imperial Dynasty.” Gu Hai took out another military authority token.
“Yes!” Gao Xianzhi answered.
“Kong Xuan, step forward!”
“Present!”
“Kong Xuan is to lead the Fifth Corps and join the Han Vengeance Army. We assign Kong Xuan as the Han Vengeance Army’s Right Vanguard Deputy Supreme Commander. Mo Yike will mobilize you and the Fifth Corps in attacking the Wu Imperial Dynasty.” Gu Hai took out another military authority token.
“Yes!” Kong Xuan received the military authority token.
“Shangguan Hen!”
“Present!”
“We assign Shangguan Hen to gather all the black tortoises in the world and form a black tortoise army. You are to assist Mo Yike in attacking the Wu Imperial Dynasty!” Gu Hai commanded.
“Yes!”
“Ao Shun!”
“Present!”
“We assign Ao Shun to rescue the Northern Sea Dragon Palace’s dragons and form an army. Assist Mo Yike in attacking the Wu Imperial Dynasty!” Gu Hai commanded.
“Yes!” Ao Shun answered.
“Chen Tianshan!”
“This official is present!” Chen Tianshan responded respectfully.
“Chen Tianshan, make arrangements for the reserve officials of the Han Nation. When the Han Vengeance Army captures cities, coordinate with the Han Vengeance Army to quickly take control of the captured cities with the reserve officials. You are not to lose the citizens’ confidence or bully the citizens!” Gu Hai instructed.
“This official obeys!” Chen Tianshan answered.
“Bring four hundred thousand of the five hundred thousand Divine Demon Army soldiers and cooperate with Mo Yike’s assignment. Destroy the Wu Imperial Dynasty and capture five hundred cities at the fastest speed and the least loss,” Gu Hai commanded.
“Yes!” Chen Tianshan answered.
Four hundred thousand Divine Demon Army soldiers, all Heavenly Palace Realm experts. Using these people to break cities and destroy the enemies was simply overkill.
Now, the officials saw Gu Hai’s determination. He would display the Han Imperial Dynasty’s strength in this battle; he wanted to sweep through the place easily, maintaining high morale all the way. He wanted the world to know the consequences of challenging the Han Imperial Dynasty.
The former Qian Heavenly Dynasty had had one thousand five hundred cities, most of which the Ying Imperial Dynasty and the Wu Imperial Dynasty had eventually split between them. After the Qian Heavenly Dynasty got destroyed, only a few of its cities, lying between the two imperial dynasties, remained independent and untouched.
If the Han Imperial Dynasty could destroy the Wu Imperial Dynasty, the Han Nation would grow to an incredible size.
“Gu Qin!” Gu Hai said.
“This son and official is present!” Gu Qin stepped forward.
“Chen Tianshan’s remaining one hundred thousand will be handed to you to manage. You will move Borderless Heavenly Capital to the Divine Continent’s north position, where Heavenly Court City was. That will proclaim the name of the Han Nation to the world!” Gu Hai declared.
The officials immediately broke out in a commotion.
The previous location of Heavenly Court City? The north position of the Divine Continent?
No one would dare to get involved casually with the Divine Continent’s north position unless they were people of great virtue and power. Even the Wu Imperial Dynasty and the Ying Imperial Dynasty did not dare move their capital to that place.
Of the four cardinal directions of the Divine Continent, the Yan Heavenly Dynasty previously occupied the east, the Myriad Age Daoist Sect occupied the south, the Spirit Mountain Holy Land occupied the west, and the Qian Heavenly Dynasty previously occupied the north. Those who occupied the cardinal directions reigned supreme in the world. This was not some legend, nor were there benefits to it. However, it felt different psychologically.
That difference was more of a matter of status, a status that came with justification.
While it did not seem useful, it represented an ambition to look down proudly on the world—the Han Imperial Dynasty’s desire to become a heavenly dynasty. It even indicated a willingness to receive the envy of the various sects and dynasties.
His Reverence wants to advance the Han Nation to a heavenly dynasty?
The commotion lasted for quite a while before the officials quieted. Everyone looked at Gu Hai excitedly, their breathing clearly audible.
“This son and official obeys!” Gu Qin answered.
Moving the capital to the cardinal north position of the Divine Continent would face all sorts of obstructions. Gu Qin could eliminate all the hidden dangers on his journey with one hundred thousand Divine Demon Army soldiers.
“We will give everyone five days! The Han Vengeance Army will march out of Borderless Heavenly Capital five days later,” Guy Hai instructed.
“We obey!” The officials saluted respectfully.
From now on, the Han Nation and the Wu Nation were officially at war.
Although Mo Yike was the supreme commander, he did not leave Borderless Heavenly Capital. He used zither puppets to send messages, quickly giving commands to the various locations.
Kong Xuan’s army was not large, so Mo Yike assigned many Divine Demon Army soldiers and a portion of the soldiers from the Han Imperial Dynasty’s various cities to him. Many flying ships headed to the borders.
Gao Xianzhi led a large army and did not need Mo Yike to command him. Taking a number of Divine Demon Army soldiers, he quickly marched out of Borderless Heavenly Capital.
Chen Tianshan had prepared many officials for this day. They just waited to be commanded to head to the front lines. Once the Han Nation’s forces had captured cities, these officials would quickly take control and manage them.
The Han Vengeance Army was ready to depart within three days.
Gu Hai summoned Mo Yike to his study.
“Mister Mo, does the Han Vengeance Army need anything?” Gu Hai asked.
“My Han Nation is flourishing, and the Wu Nation cannot compare to us. Your Reverence has already chased Sect Master Heavenly Access away, making our campaign even easier. Now, only two problems remain. The first is Sima Changkong. This person is wise and intelligent. This official will be extremely careful. The second is the stubborn clans of the Qian Nation officials. These clans are deeply rooted, holding the citizens’ support. These people who received Long Zhanguo’s favor remember Long Zhanguo’s death. To them, it was Your Reverence who killed Long Zhanguo. They swore to fight our Han Imperial Dynasty to the end. Defeating the enemy is easy, but capturing the territory is extremely difficult. Their network spreads throughout the former Qian Nation’s territory. Even if we capture the cities, gaining the citizens’ confidence will be…,” Mo Yike said worriedly.
“Sima Changkong? There’s no need to worry. We will send someone to deal with Sima Changkong. Just go with the flow when the time comes,” Gu Hai said seriously.
“Yes!”
“As for the second, the stubborn clans loyal to the Qian Nation? There’s no need to worry about them, either. Use these letters well.” Gu Hai took out a box and handed it to Mo Yike.
This contained the letters Long Zhanguo wrote for Gu Hai while they were on Earth.
“Oh? Yes!” Although Mo Yike did not understand, he nodded gravely.
“When Borderless Heavenly Capital moves to the Divine Continent’s north position, we will pass Martial Heaven City. We hope the battle will be over by the time Borderless Heavenly Capital reaches Martial Heaven City.”
“Half a year to capture all of the Wu Imperial Dynasty’s cities?” Mo Yike’s expression changed.
That quickly?
“Is there a problem?” Gu Hai asked.
“There’s none. Your Reverence, rest assured. The Han Vengeance Army will capture the Wu Imperial Dynasty at the fastest speed, doing it all in one spurt!” Mo Yike declared seriously.
“Excellent!” Gu Hai nodded.
After Long Sanqian left Borderless Heavenly Capital, he headed north.
My unfilial son snatched my body? How ridiculous!
Now, I truly have nothing left. Return? Returning to Martial Heaven City is useless. I turned my officials into zombie progenies. They will listen to only that unfilial son!
“Unfilial son, how dare you snatch our things?! We will get everything back!” Long Sanqian snarled.
Then Long Sanqian turned around, not returning to the Wu Imperial Dynasty but heading towards the northwest of the Divine Continent.
One month later, the emperor’s study, Ying Divine City, Ying Imperial Dynasty’s capital:
Long Shenying sat behind a desk, looking coldly at Long Sanqian before him.
“You are truly Long Shenwu?” Long Shenying said with narrowed eyes.
“Humph! Since you understand why I am here, I will not explain further. I only have one question. Will you help or not?” Long Sanqian asked coldly.
