184: Chapter 184 High-Level Meeting of the Minotaur

Lin Tian turned around, his gaze sweeping over the generals standing at attention below the stage before finally resting on Lin Yan.

"Lin Yan!"

"I am here!"

"Lead a force of three hundred thousand mixed troops to stay and guard the city! Fortify the four gates, activate all defense towers, and raise the alert to the highest level!"

"You have only one task, and that is to guard our home! No matter how the battle in the south goes, without my command, not even a fly is allowed into the inner city!"

"Understood! As long as I live, the city shall stand!" Lin Yan cupped his fists, his voice like muffled thunder.

Lin Tian nodded, then looked at Lin Yin, Lin Feng, and the other army commanders. His voice suddenly rose, ringing through the entire army like a drawn sword:

"Lin Yin, Lin Feng, and all army commanders, hear my orders!"

"Here!"

"Attack with me!"

"Our target is the main Minotaur Kingdom legion, five hundred miles to the south!"

"In this battle, we must completely annihilate the incoming enemy and demonstrate the might of our Lintian Army!"

"Roar! Roar! Roar!"

The earth-shaking war cries erupted from the million-strong army like a tsunami, piercing the clouds!

With the order given, the massive war machine roared into motion.

"Rumble, rumble..."

Heavy footsteps, the sound of horse hooves striking the ground, the clashing of armor, the rolling of wheels... all blended into a terrifying wave of sound that crushed everything.

Led by the five hundred thousand flying cavalry under Lin Tian, Lin Yin, and Lin Feng, the rear army followed steadily...

The army was like a world-ending torrent of steel and will, bursting through a dam. With an overwhelming Aura that crushed all obstacles, they marched grandly out of the majestic south gate of Lintian City.

Facing the blazing midday sun, they charged toward the southern horizon, heading straight for the approaching army of five hundred thousand Minotaurs!

Dust billowed, banners fluttered, and where the army's edge pointed, the clouds dispersed!

Time traced back to the moment Chief's transmission stone sent the message back to the royal capital.

"Report!!! Urgent border report! Eight-hundred-mile express news!!!"

Piercing shouts accompanied by heavy, stumbling footsteps tore through the relative silence of the royal capital's morning.

The scroll containing the message was passed up through the ranks at top speed, through the corridors of the majestic palace, and past the solemn-faced guards.

Finally, carrying the accumulated chill and ill omen, it was placed with a "thud" respectfully and heavily upon Leo's massive royal desk, carved from a single piece of Thunder Obsidian.

The elderly Leo stood over four meters tall. Although he showed signs of age with his gray hair and beard, the majesty of his long reign and the overwhelming Aura of a Diamond 9-star made him resemble a resting lion.

He reached out a large hand covered in calluses and war scars, slowly unfurling the scroll.

As he read, the light in his deep bovine eyes, which seemed to contain thunder, gradually sharpened, eventually turning into a suppressed, icy storm.

"Sound the 'War Drum Bell'! Emergency court assembly!"

Leo's voice wasn't loud, yet it rolled through the palace like muffled thunder, carrying an unquestionable decisiveness.

"Dong—! Dong—! Dong—!"

The low, deep, and powerful sound of the bell, which seemed capable of awakening the souls of the mountains, rumbled over the Thunder Bluff Royal Capital.

All nobles, generals, and ministers of sufficient rank to attend the court assembly changed expression upon hearing the sound. No matter where they were, they dropped their tasks and rushed toward the palace hall at top speed.

Half an hour later, inside the solemn and chilling palace hall.

"...The above is the final message sent back by Chief of the Split-Hoof Tribe."

A minister in charge of military intelligence recounted the contents of the scroll in a heavy voice to the gathered high-level officials of the kingdom.

"A Human Race army of unknown size, but possessing flying mounts, has raided the Split-Hoof Tribe. Chief judges them to be... the vanguard of the Purple Moon Dynasty."

"The tribe... likely faces a grim fate. He requests the kingdom to immediately dispatch troops for rescue and to be alert along the entire eastern border."

"The Purple Moon Dynasty?"

"How dare they!"

"This is too much! Do they really think the axes of the Minotaur Kingdom's ten million warriors are no longer sharp?"

After a brief, dead silence, the hall erupted like a boiling pot!

Roars, bellows, and the clashing of weapons and armor were heard incessantly.

Almost every Minotaur noble and general's face was filled with the rage of being offended and an unbelievable frenzy.

"Silence!"

Leo slammed the base of his scepter heavily onto the ground. The dull impact instantly silenced the hall.

He looked around at the pairs of eyes bloodshot with rage and spoke slowly, his voice carrying the steadiness of one who had weathered many storms, yet also containing an icy killing intent:

"The Purple Moon Dynasty... the old scores from years ago haven't been settled yet, and now they dare to break the unspoken agreement and strike first."

"It seems these years of peace have made them forget the wrath of the Minotaurs."

"Your Majesty!"

A veteran general, his face covered in hideous scars, stepped forward, his voice like a great bell.

"The Human Race is cunning, but they are by no means invincible! In the bloody battles of the past, they didn't gain the slightest advantage from us! Now their country is also plagued by 'Otherworldly Pollution' and those 'Otherworld Lords,' so their forces must be scattered!

"The forces for this attack will definitely not be too many! This old servant requests to lead my 'Rock-Crusher' Legion. I will surely crush this arrogant vanguard, along with their delusions, into powder! Let those in the Purple Moon Dynasty know that my Minotaur Kingdom is not made of clay!"

"Yes! Fight back!"

"Give them a lesson they will never forget!"

"Let their blood flow like a river!"

Emotions ran high, and the cries for battle shook the heavens.

There was almost no voice of opposition; the war faction held the absolute upper hand.

Past hatred combined with the current border violation completely ignited the fury of this martial race.

The assembly lasted for about half an hour, mainly debating the scale of the troop deployment, the choice of commander, and how to guard against potential multi-point attacks from the Purple Moon Dynasty.

Finally, under Leo's absolute authority, the plan was quickly finalized.

"Gru."

Leo's gaze passed over the many eager veteran generals and landed on a figure standing near the front of the military officers' line.

A relatively young figure, yet with an Aura as steady as a mountain and eyes as sharp as lightning.

"Your servant is here!"

Gru stepped forward and knelt on one knee.

He wasn't as burly as some of the veteran generals, but every inch of his muscle seemed to contain explosive power, and lightning seemed to faintly flow under his dark gold skin.

He was indeed the most dazzling rising star of the kingdom in recent years. At less than fifty years old, he had successfully promoted to the rank of Diamond-level Genius!

Currently a Diamond 1-star, he served as the deputy commander of the "Hammer of Thunder" Legion.

"I appoint you as the Grand General of the Expedition, with full authority over this eastern border war."

Leo's voice echoed through the hall.

"Immediately draw five hundred thousand elite warriors from the royal capital garrison and nearby provinces to form the expeditionary army!"

"Your task is to defeat and even annihilate the so-called 'Purple Moon Vanguard,' reclaim the lost territory of the Split-Hoof Tribe, and ascertain the true intentions and troop deployment of the Purple Moon Dynasty!"