192: Chapter 192 Half a year has passed in the blink of an eye! The situation is tense.

"What did you say?"

"Yan Luotian has fallen!?"

Mu Lan Empire, Mulan Valley.

The Three Elders of Mu Lan, who were just preparing to find Yan Luotian to discuss cooperation, were shocked after hearing the report from their subordinate elder.

The three brothers each had their own personalities, but at this moment, the expressions on their faces were identical.

"Yes, Elders. I have verified this through multiple sources and confirmed the information is accurate," reported Tian Qingzi, the elder in charge of intelligence gathering for Mulan Valley, with a serious expression. "This isn't just a rumor; it has already spread throughout the Jia Ma Empire, and countless people witnessed it with their own eyes at the Cloud Mist Sect."

"Yan Luotian took the Golden Goose Sect's Grand Elder, Yan Tiange, and Yan Tianxing of the Luo Yan Empire's imperial family to the Cloud Mist Sect. Ostensibly, it was to offer congratulations, but in reality, they wanted to use coercion and enticement to demand a marriage with Yun Yun."

"But before he could even speak, Yan Tiange was provoked into a duel by the Cloud Mist Sect's Grand Elder, Gu Han. In front of countless people, Gu Han killed Yan Tiange in a head-on clash."

"Gu Han has already broken through to become a Two-Star Dou Wang, yet he possesses the strength to kill a Seven-Star Dou Huang in a direct confrontation."

"..."

Listening to Tian Qingzi's detailed account, the Three Elders of Mu Lan felt extremely conflicted. They felt regret and relief, but more than anything, envy.

The regret came from the fact that they had also intended to go to the Cloud Mist Sect to observe the ceremony, taking the chance to test the sect's attitude toward the Mu Lan Empire and see if peace could be sought. Had they gone, they could have witnessed everything personally.

The relief was that it was a good thing they hadn't gone; otherwise, they might have followed in Yan Luotian's footsteps and died atop the Cloud Mist Sect.

Most of all, they were envious. Why did the Cloud Mist Sect have such a fine disciple like Gu Han?

With such outstanding natural talent, reaching the Dou Wang level at such a young age and being able to kill high-level Dou Huangs across ranks, growing into a Dou Zong was only a matter of time.

He had even recruited top-tier combatants like the Ice Emperor Hai Bodong and the two Queen Medusas for the Cloud Mist Sect.

"At the end of the Dou Zong Grand Ceremony, Gu Han publicly declared war on our Mulan Valley and the Mu Lan Empire," Tian Qingzi said, reaching the final key point. "The three elders are requested to go and consult with the Valley Master and the Imperial Supreme Elder to discuss a countermeasure."

The Three Elders of Mu Lan: !

This is bad; they're coming for us.

Yun Ling died at the hands of Mulan Valley, so the Cloud Mist Sect has a legitimate reason to act.

The Snake-People Clan would certainly be happy to lead the charge. Everyone knows they loathe the desert environment and want to escape the Tagor Desert.

"Let's go!"

The Three Elders of Mu Lan acted immediately, meeting with Valley Master Mu Lan Qing and heading to the imperial palace together to discuss with Supreme Elder Mulan Tian how to resist the Jia Ma Empire.

"We absolutely cannot fight this war." Mulan Tian's slightly clouded eyes were full of worry.

Mulan Tian was a Peak Dou Huang expert. In his prime, he had once fought Jia Xingtian, only losing slightly because his attribute was countered.

Now, his lifespan was nearing its end, and the imperial family's second strongest expert had only just broken through to Dou Huang. Their prestige was not yet enough to rule the empire.

If they went to war with the Jia Ma Empire, even if he didn't fall on the battlefield, he would die from exhausting his remaining lifespan.

Therefore, it would be best if this war never started!

"This war isn't something we can just decide not to fight," Mu Lan Qing said with a heavy tone. "The Jia Ma Empire has publicly declared war."

The top-tier combatants the Jia Ma Empire had on the surface included three Dou Zongs—Yun Shan, Colorful Glass, and Cai Die—two Peak Dou Huangs in Jia Xingtian and Yun Yun, and two who could kill high-level Dou Huangs in Hai Bodong and Gu Han. This didn't even count the four Dou Huang-level elders of the Snake-People Clan.

In a head-on clash, the Mu Lan Empire had zero chance of winning.

But it was also impossible to just surrender directly.

"I don't think this matter is necessarily without room for maneuvering." Lion spoke up, drawing everyone's attention, a look of cunning in his eyes. "Although the Cloud Mist Sect has declared war on our Mu Lan Empire, we aren't their only opponents."

"The Izumo Empire and the Jia Ma Empire are mortal enemies. Seeing the Cloud Mist Sect and the Jia Ma Empire grow strong, they are probably more anxious than we are and won't just stand by and watch."

"The Luo Yan Empire just lost three top combatants; they surely hate the Cloud Mist Sect to the bone and won't let matters rest."

The four of them nodded in unison. Mulan Tian asked, "Does Elder Lion mean to unite with the other two great empires to deal with the Jia Ma Empire?"

"No!" Lion shook his head with a strange expression. "When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits."

"If our three great empires clash with the Jia Ma Empire, I'm afraid the surrounding empires won't just sit idly by."

"My suggestion is to abandon the Mulan Plain, let the Snake-People Clan occupy them, and establish an effective defense in the Mulan Mountains."

"At the same time, we send troops to unexpectedly seize the area of the Magical Beast Mountain Range that connects the Luo Yan Empire with our northern border."

In short, it was a base-swapping tactic.

However, it was using the Luo Yan Empire's home to trade for the Mu Lan Empire's home to give to the Snake-People Clan.

"The southern region of the Luo Yan Empire has far more resources than the Mulan Plain. We've fought many wars with the Luo Yan Empire over this over the years. Now that their top combatants have withered away and everyone expects us to resist the Cloud Mist Sect, a surprise attack will surely succeed in one stroke."

"Once the Snake-People Clan gets the Mulan Plain, they'll need a long time to digest them, and they certainly won't join the Cloud Mist Sect in dealing with the Mu Lan Empire anymore."

"The Izumo Empire will definitely send troops, and when the Jia Ma Empire sees us moving against the Luo Yan Empire, they won't be able to resist taking a bite themselves."

"By then, the Mu Lan Empire's crisis will be resolved, and we can even take the opportunity to develop."

"The urgent priority is for a Dou Zong to be born in our Mu Lan Empire!"

Lion's plan successfully persuaded the other three, and they began to discuss the details.

Meanwhile, in a valley shrouded in poisonous mist within the Izumo Empire, eerie air currents drifted in and out.

In front of a massive cliff wall, a mass of purple mist flew out. An aged hand reached out from it, grabbing the neck of a woman wearing purple lipstick.

"The information you bring had better be truly important; otherwise, you die today," an aged voice rang out.

The woman's face turned red, and she suppressed the feeling of suffocation to quickly report: "Yun Shan has broken through to Dou Zong. Queen Medusa is actually twins, and both have broken through to Dou Zong. The Cloud Mist Sect and the Snake-People Clan have formed an alliance."

"When Yan Luotian went to the Cloud Mist Sect to congratulate Yun Shan on his breakthrough, he was killed by the cooperation of Yun Shan and the two Queen Medusas."

Thud.

The woman's body fell to the ground.

The purple mist began to condense, finally receding into the body of a hunched old man.

"Tell me everything in detail."

---

Time flew by like a white stallion passing a crevice; in the blink of an eye, nearly half a year had passed.

Looking at the entire Fighting Qi Continent, these six months were quite ordinary, with no major events attracting attention.

But if one focused on the southwestern corner of the Northwest Continent, it could be described as extremely lively.

The Cloud Mist Sect and the Snake-People Clan, originally third-rate forces on the continent, had now joined the ranks of the second-rate.

These two major powers collaborated with the Jia Ma Empire to launch a war against the Mu Lan Empire, which bordered their eastern frontier.

As a result, the Mu Lan Empire did not resist. They directly ceded the Mulan Plain, which occupied one-fifth of their territory, and built a new defensive line around natural barriers. Meanwhile, the evacuated civilians and army all headed north to attack and occupy numerous mountain ranges and towns in the southern Luo Yan Empire.

At the same time, the Supreme Elder of the Myriad Scorpion Gate, Xie Bi Yan, emerged from seclusion and directed the Izumo Empire to also launch a war against the Luo Yan Empire.

Seeing this situation, the Jia Ma Empire urgently adjusted its strategy, sending troops from the Northeast Province to invade the Luo Yan Empire from the southwest.

For a time, the Luo Yan Empire showed a strong trend of being carved up by the three forces.

In this war, Yun Shan, Colorful Glass, and Cai Die killed countless enemies, slaying or subduing many Dou Huang and Dou Wang Experts of the Luo Yan Empire.

In addition, the most dazzling rising star was the Poison Doctor Fairy, Xiao Yi Xian, who delayed the Izumo Empire's military advance at the northern border.

What was somewhat surprising was that since the day the great war began...

Sect Master of Yunlan Sect Yun Yun and Grand Elder Gu Han...

...had not shown any trace of themselves on the battlefield.

Around the Golden Goose Valley.

On a mountain peak located at the southwest corner.

Experts belonging to the Jia Ma Empire's side were currently in discussion.

"The next battle is the most crucial one. We must ensure that nothing goes wrong."