232: Chapter 232 Bad News from Goss

Lin Yin rose to accept the order, her moon-white figure flashing as she swept out of the meeting hall like a cool breeze. Her cold voice echoed through the estate as she departed, rapidly issuing specific instructions.

Soon, a dull tremor began to emanate from the earth, like the awakening of an ancient behemoth.

It was the sound of tens of millions of troops donning armor, assembling, and marching!

Inside and outside Lintian City, the world was instantly submerged in a torrent of steel.

In just over two hours, more than fifteen million soldiers had completed their formation on the vast plains outside the southern gate of Lintian City.

A murderous aura rose to the heavens, making even the morning breeze seem to carry the scent of rust.

Lin Tian left five million elites under the unified command of Commander Lin Yu and Lin Yan to guard Lintian City and surrounding key positions, ensuring the safety of their home base.

He himself mounted Chi Yan and rode to the front of the army.

Lin Kong stood in attendance by his side, once again manifesting the topographical map of the south in his hands.

"My Lord, the straight-line distance from Lintian City to the Minotaur Royal City exceeds ten thousand miles."

Lin Kong pointed at the map, analyzing calmly.

"If five million flying cavalry march at full speed, without considering harassment along the way or maintaining formation, it will take about sixteen hours. If ground infantry accompany them, it will take at least two days or more."

"Two days?"

Lin Tian frowned and shook his head, his tone carrying impatience and decisiveness.

"Too slow! Long delays lead to complications! If we walk there slowly, the opportunity will have passed! That is not my style!"

His gaze swept across the map, his finger tapping heavily on the location of the Royal City, then sliding over the markers representing other towns and fortresses.

"Split into two routes!"

Lin Tian made a decision instantly, his voice resonant and powerful. "Lin Yan, Lin Kong!"

"Present!"

Lin Yan, clad in dark gold heavy armor, and Lin Kong, shimmering with silver light, stepped forward simultaneously.

"I order you two to lead five million ground elites to form the Southern Sweeping Corps!"

"Your mission: follow the main army's axis of advance to purge, capture, and take over all major towns, passes, and resources within the Minotaur Kingdom!"

"Those who surrender shall be disarmed and guarded; those who resist shall be executed without exception!"

"Understood!"

The two responded in unison.

A steady Battle Intent ignited in Lin Yan's eyes, while Lin Kong began calculating the optimal marching routes and spatial node placements.

"The remaining ten million troops will be personally led by me, with Lin Feng as the vanguard and Lin Yin overseeing the central army!"

Lin Tian's gaze was like a torch as he looked south.

"The entire army will use the flying cavalry as the vanguard, with ground forces following at maximum speed to strike directly at the enemy's Royal City! Ignore sporadic harassment and small towns along the way; we have only one goal—the Minotaur Royal City!"

"I want to smash their royal court and take their King's head before they can react and assemble their remaining forces!"

"Yes!!" An earth-shaking roar responded to the Lord's will.

Chi Yan reared up on its hind legs, letting out a spirited neigh that could pierce metal and stone! Lin Tian drew his sword and pointed south, the blade reflecting a cold glint in the morning light:

"March! Use the blood of Minotaurs to dye my Lin Tian war flag red!"

"Victory! Victory! Victory!!!"

The roar of ten million soldiers was like a tsunami, sweeping across the fields and shaking the heavens and earth!

The torrent of steel began to move, rolling toward the south, toward the land that was about to be completely consumed by the flames of war.

Time returned to the Minotaur Royal Court, in the deepest part of the night.

Gos had returned.

It was not a triumph, nor even a simple retreat; he was more like an injured bull that had been bitten and torn by a predator, struggling to escape back to its nest.

The dark iron armor on his body was shattered, and his helmet had long since been lost on some battlefield, revealing a face that was originally fierce but now written with exhaustion and shock.

His steps were heavy and slightly stumbling as he walked, each step leaving a muddy print on the cold black stone floor in front of the palace.

He couldn't care less about his appearance, nor could he wait for an official announcement.

The terror of tens of millions of enemy troops pressing down, and that world-destroying strike from the red-gold giant, gripped his heart like a nightmare, making it hard to breathe.

He had to see the King immediately, now!

At the palace gate, the elite Minotaur guards on night duty were startled by this suddenly appearing Great General who looked like a madman.

They recognized Gos, but they could hardly believe that this battered, defeated soldier before them was the pillar of the kingdom who was always known for his bravery and majesty.

A heavy scent of blood and Evil Qi rushed toward them, making the guard captain shudder.

Snapping awake, he dared not be negligent. Leaving a quick "Please wait, General," he turned and rushed into the deep palace gates at his fastest speed.

Leo of the Minotaurs had only just fallen into an uneasy sleep two hours ago, burdened with anxiety and exhaustion.

In recent days, those 'Otherworld Lords' who had popped up from all directions like locusts...

...had disturbed the peace throughout the kingdom.

There were too many of them, spread too thin, and their actions followed no pattern—sometimes looting villages, sometimes ambushing squads. A few particularly troublesome ones had shown impressive strength, taking out several of his outposts.

A headache, it was truly a headache.

While ordering local garrisons to strengthen their vigilance and contract their defenses, he was also worried about the northern campaign against the Purple Moon Dynasty led by Gos with nearly half of the kingdom's elites.

That was an army of over five million; most of the kingdom's mobile forces were there. Victory or defeat concerned the fate of the nation.

In a daze, half-asleep and half-awake, he had seemingly just closed his eyes when a burst of hurried, terrified footsteps and a low but panic-stricken call rudely dragged him back to reality.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! Urgent military intelligence! General Gos has returned and is outside requesting an audience. His... his condition is very bad!"

Leo snapped his copper-bell-like bull eyes open, bloodshot and wide.

The irritability of interrupted sleep and the alarm of an ominous premonition surged in his heart simultaneously.

He growled, his voice carrying the raspiness of being startled awake and heavy displeasure:

"What is the cause for such panic? Gos is back? Send him in! To the council chamber!"

He threw back the heavy animal skin blankets and sat up, his massive frame looming.

Without calling for attendants, he personally donned his heavy war armor, the symbol of royal power, as quickly as possible.

The cold metal against his skin cleared his groggy mind slightly, but the shadow in his heart only grew thicker.

Gos... this was not the look of a triumphant return.

When Leo strode into the brightly lit yet strangely empty and cold council chamber, Gos was already standing there.

At just the first glance, Leo's heart sank violently, as if falling into an ice cellar.

It was too tragic.

Armor shattered, covered in wounds, aura withered—most importantly, those eyes that once burned with Battle Intent and ambition now held only the shock of a survivor and a bottomless...

Fear? And where were the others? Where was the elite army of five million?

"Gos!"

Leo took several large strides to the man, his thick arms pressing onto Gos's uninjured right shoulder, his voice cracking with tension.

"What on earth happened? Where is your army? How is the situation with the Purple Moon Dynasty? Speak!"