184: Chapter 184 The Demon Emperor's Deadly Trap! Troops Divide to Reinforce, Three Cities Simultaneously Under Attack!

" Southern Region. "

" Everyone, draw your blades. "

You finished speaking and turned to walk into the main hall of the Preparation Courtyard.

The thirteen people followed you in.

You repeated the contents of Lu Bingyun's transmission Jade Slip to everyone, word for word.

Thirteen out of the fifteen cities in the Southern Region have fallen.

Only Donglin City and Tianhuo City remain.

Lu Bingyun is currently on her way to retreat to Donglin City.

" The Yao Race crossed the sea to detour to the Southern Region; this must be a feint to attack elsewhere. "

You spread out a map on the long table.

Your finger pointed at the location of the Southern Region.

" Pressuring the Eastern Region from the Northern Territory is a clear move. Infiltrating the flank of the Southern Region is a hidden hand. "

" Demon Emperor Lietian wants to stretch the Human Race's battle lines so that they cannot attend to both ends. "

Chu Feng stared at the distance between the Southern Region and the Eastern Region on the map, his folding fan clutched in his hand without being opened.

" From Tianxuan Sect to Tianhuo City in the Southern Region, it takes three days for a flying boat at full speed. "

" This is a calculated plan to ensure we cannot make it in time. "

You did not respond to him.

You took out your transmission Jade Slip, injected spiritual power, and sent a reply to Lu Bingyun.

" Hold Donglin City for now. Once you arrive, do two things. First, determine the remaining military strength in the city. Second, identify the command chain of the Yao Race in the Southern Region. "

" Do not blindly take the lead; use your brain. What your Master taught you is not for you to throw your life away. "

" Staying alive is more important than anything else. "

After sending the message, you tucked the Jade Slip back into your waist.

Ling Qingmeng walked to the side of the map, her gaze sweeping from the Southern Region to the defensive line of the three cities in the Eastern Region.

" How do you plan to split the troops? "

" The entire Demon-Slaying Hall will head south. "

" What about the Eastern Region? " she asked.

" The Eastern Region is guarded by the Disciples of the four halls and the main forces of other Eastern Region Sects. Currently, the Yao Race in the Northern Territory is still probing; it has not reached the stage of full-scale war. "

You paused here.

Because the transmission Jade Slip at your waist vibrated again.

It was not Lu Bingyun.

It was Sect Leader Immortal Master Xuanyang.

You took out the Jade Slip.

After injecting spiritual power, a line of text appeared.

" The Xuantian Holy Sect in Central Province has dispatched elites to Tianhuo City. The defense of Tianhuo City will be taken over by Central Province. "

You finished reading the text and looked up.

The locations of the two remaining cities in the Southern Region on the map were clear at a glance.

Tianhuo City is to the west, close to the border of Central Province. It is reasonable for Central Province to send people there.

Donglin City is to the east, over a thousand miles away from Tianhuo City.

Central Province's reach cannot extend there.

You moved your finger on the map from Tianhuo City to Donglin City and tapped it.

" Central Province will manage Tianhuo City. We will manage Donglin City. "

You turned to face the thirteen people.

" The plan is adjusted. "

" All thirteen of you will head to Donglin City. "

You turned to Ling Qingmeng.

" Senior Sister, you will lead this mission. "

Ling Qingmeng did not decline, nor did she express an opinion; she just stared at you.

Waiting for you to finish.

" Second-in-command — — Disciple Nangong Yue. "

Huo Quji turned his head to look at Disciple Nangong Yue.

Chu Feng tapped his folding fan against his palm without saying a word.

You continued.

" There are three reasons. "

" First, Disciple Nangong Yue's large-scale fire-type techniques are the most effective way to clear the field in defensive warfare. "

" Her wind-fire coordination with Gao Lingfeng is already established. They can use it immediately upon arriving at Donglin City. "

You looked at Disciple Nangong Yue.

" Second, she is a direct descendant of the Nangong Family in the Southern Region. "

" No one here is more familiar with the terrain, defensive layouts, and connections in the Southern Region than she is. "

Disciple Nangong Yue stood at the end of the line, her spine straight.

You could see her hands at her sides tighten.

" Third, the garrison in Donglin City consists of remnant troops with low morale. "

" The Nangong Family has operated in the Southern Region for a hundred years. Her status there is more effective than any military order. "

You looked around at everyone.

" Does anyone have any objections? "

Chu Feng looked at Ling Qingmeng, then at Disciple Nangong Yue.

He did not speak.

Ling Qingmeng turned to face Disciple Nangong Yue.

" Can you handle it? "

" I can. " Disciple Nangong Yue replied with one word.

The volume was low, but steady.

Ling Qingmeng withdrew her gaze and nodded at you.

Lei Zheng, Gao Lingfeng, Qin Mobai, Chen Du, and Ma Chengen, not a single person spoke out in opposition.

Gu Yunxi said in a low voice: " Senior Sister Nangong is a local of the Southern Region. This arrangement is flawless. "

Han Qingshuang nodded in agreement.

Xu Yanlie scratched the back of his head and muttered, " Just fight when it's time to fight. "

Su Wantang stood beside Gu Yunxi, quietly straightening her cuffs without saying a word.

Disciple Nangong Yue took a step forward and cupped her hands.

" Hall Master, Junior Sister accepts the order. "

Her voice had a bit more strength than usual.

You could tell she wanted to say more, but she held it back.

The Demon-Slaying Hall does not keep idlers. She understood this rule.

This position was not a gift for her; it was a shackle. If she could bear it, it would be hers.

Huo Quji took half a step forward.

" Hall Master Shen. "

You looked at him.

" All thirteen people are going to the Southern Region. What about you? "

He asked straightforwardly.

You did not hesitate.

" I am not going. "

Huo Quji was stunned for a moment.

Chu Feng's folding fan stopped in mid-air.

Ling Qingmeng turned to look at you.

" I am staying in the Eastern Region. "

Your finger traced the three cities at the border between the Northern Territory and the Eastern Region on the map.

Ningbian City. Beishun City. Yunzhong City.

" The last time Demon Emperor Lietian attacked the Eastern Region. "

Your finger paused on Yunzhong City.

" I led the team to hold Yunzhong City. "

" As a result, he bypassed us and took Ningbian City and Beishun City. "

" Eight thousand people in two cities. "

You withdrew your finger from the map.

" As a lesson from the past, Demon Emperor Lietian is best at luring the tiger away from the mountain. "

" When something happens in the Southern Region, everyone's attention is drawn to the south. If he launches a full-scale attack into the Eastern Region from the Northern Territory at this time — — "

You paused.

" The Eastern Region won't even be able to spare a single Nascent Soul Cultivator. "

The hall was silent for three breaths.

Chu Feng closed his folding fan and tucked it back into his waist.

" You are really something. Sending thirteen people away and staying behind as a nail yourself. "

" Not a nail. An insurance policy. "

" If the defensive line of the three cities fails, the Eastern Region will collapse. No matter how well the Southern Region is fought, it will be in vain. "

Ling Qingmeng closed her eyes.

" You are guarding three cities alone? "

" Not alone. "

" You are staying. "

Huo Quji raised his eyebrows, then grinned.

" Understood. "

" Quji's explosive power is sufficient. If we really encounter Golden Core Late Stage or even Nascent Soul level Yao Beasts, he can withstand the first wave and free me up. "

" I will handle the rest. "

Ling Qingmeng looked at Huo Quji and said nothing more.

" Then it is settled. "

Pushing open the storage door, you took out a boat-shaped Magical Artifact from the array.

Cloud-Piercing Boat.

A third-grade flying boat. One of your trump cards exchanged in Central Province.

At top speed, it can cross the distance from the Southern Region to the Eastern Region in three days.

You handed the Cloud-Piercing Boat to Ling Qingmeng.

" The flying boat is yours. If the situation in the Southern Region is not right, your primary mission is to retreat. Do not get entangled in the fight. "

Ling Qingmeng took the Cloud-Piercing Boat.

Her fingers stroked the hull of the boat.

" You gave me all your assets. Are you going to ride a horse in the Eastern Region? "

" I have a sword. "

You patted the Qiankun Yin-Yang Sword at your waist.

Ling Qingmeng did not respond further. She put the Cloud-Piercing Boat into her Storage Pouch and turned to face the twelve people.

" Everyone, board the boat. "

Her voice was clear and cold, without any extra emotion.

The twelve people stepped forward one by one.

Chu Feng walked up to you and tapped your shoulder twice with his folding fan.

" Don't die. If you die, who will pay my salary? "

He strode towards the Cloud-Piercing Boat.

Gu Yunxi whispered " Take care " as she passed by you.

Disciple Nangong Yue walked to the end and stopped in front of you.

" Hall Master. "

Her chest heaved.

" The Nangong Family still has hidden agents in the Southern Region. I will contact them as soon as I arrive at Donglin City. "

" Go. "

She turned and strode onto the deck of the Cloud-Piercing Boat.

Ling Qingmeng stood at the bow of the boat.

The Cloud-Piercing Boat floated into the air, spiritual light surging.

The wind poured down from the mountain peak, blowing her long hair back flat.

She did not look back.

The Cloud-Piercing Boat wrapped in a stream of light and plunged toward the south.

Within a few breaths, it disappeared at the end of the night sky.

You stood in front of the Preparation Courtyard gate, watching the flying boat go far away.

Only Huo Quji remained beside you.

He crossed his arms over his chest and tilted his head to look at you.

" Is it just the two of us? "

" Just the two of us. "

" Understood. So, am I your blade or your shield? "

" It depends on the situation. "

You withdrew your gaze and turned to walk toward the main hall of the main peak.

" Let's go to the meeting first. The Sect Leader and the four Hall Masters are all there. "

" The plan to resist the Yao Race has not been discussed yet. "

Huo Quji followed, his voice lowered by half a degree.

" Are you confident? Those three cities in the north... will they really be in trouble? "

You did not reply.

It wasn't confidence. It was because in your past life, you saw those three cities flattened with your own eyes.

Demon Emperor Lietian never attacks only one route.

Every time he acts, he launches on three or even four routes simultaneously.

The Southern Region is the bait. The Northern Territory is the kill trap.

— — But you cannot say it out loud.

All you can do is place yourself in the place most likely to have trouble.

The main hall of the main peak.

Sect Leader Immortal Master Xuanyang sat in the main seat.

The four Hall Masters were in their respective positions.

You and Huo Quji walked into the hall.

Hall Master Chi Yang glanced behind you.

" You only brought one? "

" The other twelve have already taken the Cloud-Piercing Boat to Donglin City in the Southern Region. "

" Ling Qingmeng is leading the team, and Disciple Nangong Yue is the second-in-command. "

Hall Master Chi Yang leaned back into his chair without commenting.

He had worked with you for many years. He didn't need to ask for the reasons behind your deployment.

Sect Leader Immortal Master Xuanyang spoke.

" A reply has arrived from the Xuantian Holy Sect in Central Province. Daoist Xuantian personally selected three elite teams to rush to Tianhuo City. "

" Central Province will cover the western half of the Southern Region. "

" What about the eastern half? "

Daoist Qingxu asked.

Sect Leader Immortal Master Xuanyang turned to you.

" His people have already gone. "

Daoist Qingxu paused and looked at you.

You did not explain.

Sect Leader Immortal Master Xuanyang raised his hand, and the map spread out horizontally in the center of the hall.

" The current focus. "

His palm pressed over the defensive line of the three cities in the Eastern Region.

Ningbian City. Beishun City. Yunzhong City.

" The probes by the Yao Race in the Northern Territory are becoming more frequent. In the last ten days, the three cities have each reported no less than twenty small-scale Yao Beast incursions. "

" It has doubled compared to last month. "

Hall Master Lei Zhen added.

" The doubled frequency is the prelude. "

Everyone looked at you.

" The purpose of probing is not to attack the city. It is to figure out the rotation time of the garrison, the blind spots of the defensive Formation, and the intervals of patrol routes. "

" Once this intelligence is collected, the next step is a full-scale attack. "

Hall Master Chi Yang crossed his arms.

" This is exactly the same rhythm as before the battle of Qingfeng Ridge three years ago. "

" That is why I did not go to the Southern Region. "

The hall was silent for a moment.

Sect Leader Immortal Master Xuanyang spoke to break the silence.

" Then, do you have a plan for the defense of the three Northern Territory cities? "

" Yes. "

You walked to the map.

Your finger moved from Ningbian City to Beishun City, then to Yunzhong City, drawing an arc.

" The three cities will defend jointly, acting as horns for each other. If any city is attacked, the other two cities must send troops to assist within two hours. "

" Huo Quji and I will be stationed at the hub of the plank road in the middle of the three cities. Regardless of which city is in an emergency, we can arrive by sword in as fast as a quarter of an hour. "

You had just finished the last word.

The hall door was slammed open from the outside.

A guarding Disciple stumbled in, covered in dust, his left sleeve torn off halfway.

" Sect Leader — —! "

He slammed his knees onto the floor tiles.

He clutched three transmission Jade Slips in his hand; one was shattered, and the other two were covered in cracks.

" Ningbian City — — Beishun City — — Yunzhong City — — "

His voice was so hoarse it was about to break.

" All three cities are in an emergency simultaneously! A large-scale Yao Beast tide is pressing on the border! "

" The vanguard has already hit the defensive Formation — — there are tens of thousands of them! "

You gripped the hilt of your sword at your waist.

Huo Quji's palm was already on the hilt of his blade.