As soon as the Grand Chancellor spoke, the entire palace hall instantly fell silent. At the next instant, a solemn aura suddenly rose and streams of aura erupted from the ministers.
The 13 Heavenly Kings stood up, as did the Heavenly Marquises below them.
The northwest border held immense significance for the human race, as it bordered the Flame Moon Mystic Heaven Race. Facing such a powerful race, even a small spark could start a prairie fire.
As one of the three major subsidiary races of the Flame Moon Mystic Heaven, it was impossible for Si'e Race's actions not to have the permission of the higher-ups of the Flame Moon Race.
Hence, if this matter wasn't handled properly, the human race would face a huge calamity.
Furthermore… on the Black Sky Battlefield, the human army was originally singing triumphantly all the way, but now, with the addition of the Baize Race, they were clearly pinned down.
The human army was being held back there, making it difficult to advance or retreat.
As such, the current situation was extremely unfavorable for the human race, leaving them in a passive position.
All the human subjects in the hall, from the Heavenly Kings to the lower officials, looked at each other. Due to the diverse factions and numerous families within the human race, there was actually quite a bit of hidden infighting among them.
However… at this moment, as those officials looked into each other's eyes, they saw the determination reflected in them. There was no need for explicit words. Those who were present in the hall had the necessary breadth of vision.
All disputes over interests were set aside for the moment. All political opponents with differing ideologies were put on hold.
All personal grievances were also set aside.
Because the crisis at the border and on the Black Heaven Race Battlefield was greater than anything else, everyone understood that they had to come together at any cost.
Individual and familiar interests were not important right now.
If the human race was gone, what use would all those interests be?
Seeking refuge with the nonhuman race was something that the people in the court couldn't accept.
So, one after another, voices offering to fight erupted within the court.
"Your Majesty, I'm willing to head to the northwest border to help King Zhen Yan!"
"Your Majesty, I have 80,000 sacrificial soldiers in my family. I'm willing to personally lead them to the Black Heaven Race and fight for our human race!"
"Your Majesty, marching consumes a great deal of resources. We are willing to contribute our assets, everything… with the priority being on war!"
"The Lower Mystic Five Palaces will do their best to maintain the operation of the war."
"Although I don't like King Dong Ding and have many conflicts with him, I am willing to head to the Black Heaven Race and be his adjutant!"
The sounds of requests for battle and funding echoed in the hall.
When Xu Qing heard these words, waves rose in his heart and they grew larger and larger. This was because he could tell that these people's words weren't fake.
They really thought so and wanted to do the same.
This matter had exceeded Xu Qing's expectations. He originally thought that the imperial city was in chaos. Although the Human Emperor ruled over everything, the various factions were constantly fighting among themselves. It was a mess.
Hence, the scene in front of him moved him deeply.
'Is this the other side of the human race?'
Xu Qing mumbled inwardly.
'When there is no external crisis, everyone is competing for their own interests, seemingly harboring ulterior motives and hypocritically concealing their selfishness. But once an external crisis arises…'
'Everyone, every faction, can instantly set aside everything and come together as one…'
Xu Qing was moved.
However, these were just words. He didn't know if they would really act the same way. However, his senses told him that there was a high chance that they would do it.
Not only did the officials speak, but the princes in the crowd also stepped out one after another.
The Fifth Prince strode to the front of the hall and bowed to the Human Emperor.
"Father, please allow me to return to the northwest border immediately!"
"Father, I am willing to go to the Black Heaven Race, to share their fate, and to boost the morale of our human race with my identity as a prince!"
The Fourth Prince took a deep breath and bowed as well. At this moment, he truly felt the same way. As for the competition among the princes, although it still existed, it shifted direction with the onset of war.
It wasn't a contest of who was right or wrong, it was about… who had contributed!
The Third Prince, the Tenth Prince, as well as Princess Anhai and the other princes who were present, all spoke up one after another in the same manner.
Ning Yan, who was among them, also requested to fight.
"Your Majesty, I'm willing to head to the Black Heaven Race!"
The Human Emperor was not surprised by this scene; he naturally knew the state of the human race. This was also why he allowed internal strife and conflict—it was his way of ruling as a monarch.
He lifted his head and gazed in the direction of the Flame Moon Mystic Heaven Race, his eyes gradually revealing a profound expression.
A light sigh echoed in his mind.
'It came a bit too soon.'
This light sigh could only be heard by the Human Emperor himself. To outsiders, he always maintained a relatively unchanged expression. At his position, his expressions were scrutinized by everyone, and any change would trigger countless interpretations.
And when a person reached a high position, it was like this. Sometimes, expressions and demeanor were also part of the way of ruling as a monarch.
"I heard what you all said."
"Upper Mystic Five Palaces, heed the command."
The Human Emperor calmly spoke.
In an instant, the cultivators of the Upper Mystic Five Palaces walked out and cupped their hands.
At the same time, at the headquarters of the Upper Mystic Five Palace, five vast figures stood out and bowed at the same time.
"The five palaces will cooperate with the Grand Chancellor to establish military strategies according to the structure of the war against the Black Heaven Race. Arrange for three types of plans to deal with this battle. Hand them over to the palace within a day."
"As you command!"
The five figures in the Imperial City and the Grand Chancellor in the palace spoke at the same time.
"Lower Mystic Five Palaces, heed the command."
The Human Emperor continued.
In an instant, the officials of the Lower Mystic Five Palaces stepped out. Their auras were majestic and extraordinary.
"You all must assist in all preparations and follow-ups regarding this battle without the slightest slackening."
"All the territories of the human race, from this moment onward… enter a state of war."
As his voice rang out, the world resonated. The Imperial Capital's array formation trembled, pulling the entire Grand Imperial Capital Region into action. One array formation after another was activated, and countless arrays merged together, forming a restriction that erupted in full force.
The court wasn't over, and no one left either. They were all waiting.
They were waiting for the Grand Chancellor and the Upper Mystic Five Palaces to make arrangements for the overall battle situation.
The workload was immense, requiring coordination, calculation, deduction, and consideration of numerous factors.
Time slowly passed. Twelve hours later, the arrangements for this war were divided into three plans for the starting phase, mid phase, and late phase. They were handed over to the Human Emperor.
After two hours of discussion, a plan was approved by the Human Emperor.
Xu Qing saw the entire process. Although he didn't speak, this was the first time he had experienced this.
As the plan was approved, a series of imperial decrees were immediately spread in all directions.
Firstly, regarding the war with the Black Heaven Race, the Human Emperor issued five imperial decrees.
"Decree One: Four Heavenly Kings will lead the army to support King Dong Ding. Their task is to reverse the human race's situation, where they are being restrained by the Black Heaven Race, and instead restrain the Baize Race.
Both sides must be in a stalemate, with neither able to seize the initiative.
The Third Prince will accompany the army.
Decree Two: Mobilize the forces of Fenghai County and the Holy Wave Large Region to join the battlefield, with Fenghai County as the leader, becoming the main force in this battle against the Black Heaven Race. Their task is to swiftly conquer the Black Heaven Region while the Baize Race is restrained.
Decree Three: Five Heavenly Kings and the Twelfth Prince, Ning Yan, will lead troops to reinforce Fenghai County, carrying three Suns of Dawn.
Decree Four: King Yuelan will coordinate with the Special Command Palace to establish a special army and secretly advance to the ancestral land of the Baize Race. Since their entire race is mobilized, their task is to completely destroy their ancestral land. The Sixth Imperial Prince will participate in this matter.
Decree Five: Xu Qing is ordered to go to the Moon Offering Region and request the Crown Prince and others to lend a hand at a critical juncture. This is one of the safeguards for this war."
The five imperial decrees enveloped the war with the Black Heaven Race from different directions. It looked simple but almost everything had been considered.
As for the Si'e Race's invasion of the northwest border, six imperial decrees were issued.
"Decree One: The Fifth Prince, with a mighty army of ten million, is to swiftly return to the border.
Decree Two: Each of the four Heavenly Kings will lead a separate army to the northwest border, cooperating with the forces of King Zhen Yan, ensuring the defense of the territory.
Decree Three: The Fourth Prince is granted permission to join the troops in the northwest, and the State Preceptor is requested to build a Star-Picking Tower in the northwest and guard it. As long as the State Preceptor remains, the border will not fall!
Decree Four: Seven defensive lines are to be formed outside the capital, with each line guarded by a prince or princess. All forces are to provide necessary assistance, serving as safeguards and remaining on standby at all times to prevent surprise attacks by other races.
Decree Five: The Eldest Prince is to immediately head to the Flame Moon Mystic Heaven Race to investigate the cause of the war and to exert all efforts to resolve the conflict. If unable to do so, the Eldest Prince is to delay as much as possible.
Decree Six: All the businesses of the Flame Moon within the mortal territories will be sealed until the war is concluded."
With the issuance of these 11 imperial decrees, the entire mortal tribe moved like a huge war magic artifact. The Upper Mystic Five Palaces erupted in full force, while the Lower Mystic Five Palaces provided full cooperation.
The various forces indeed followed what they had claimed in the palace and put down all their disputes, cooperating with each other.
What was different from the war with the Black Heaven was that this time… almost all the imperial children participated. They formed the core, pulling along all supporting factions accordingly.
So, soon enough, the teleportation arrays in the Imperial Capital kept activating, and according to the decrees, everyone was being teleported to their respective destinations. Ning Yan also bid farewell to Xu Qing; he would represent Xu Qing and embark on the journey back.
Xu Qing was also leaving.
However, before he left, Xu Qing gazed at the city that was filled with an atmosphere of war and finally arrived at the Mortal World Forgetful Tower.
This building had now been sealed off and was in a desolate state.
Standing outside the building, Xu Qing gazed into the distance and heard a soft laugh.
"Stinky brother, your mortal tribe is busy now. Did you come to beg me to help you?"
Xu Qing fell silent. He understood gods and it was also because he understood them that he was very clear that gods had no emotions.
In the eyes of the gods, all living beings were ants. They were just a flash in the painting of the other party's long life.
He shook his head.
The clay fox laughed.
"That makes me like you even more."
"Actually, it's useless even if you ask me. If this is your private matter, then I can still help you for your yang essence. However, this is a conflict between the two races and there's a huge karma. Unless you can provide a better trade… I can't help you."
