153: Chapter 153 Ling Shuang's Decision, All-Out Effort

Inside the Alliance Grand Hall of Black Stone City, Ling Shuang had not closed her eyes for three days and three nights.

On the star map in front of her, the location of the Eastern Front battlefield was marked with a huge blood-red dot, which was where the Void Emperor was located.

The Investigation Department continuously sent back the latest battle reports, and every single report made her heart sink another fraction.

Zhou Zhiting was heavily injured and unconscious, having yet to wake up.

Out of the fifty thousand Realm Guardian Army, less than ten thousand could still stand.

The defense line of the Meteor Minor Realm was crumbling and could collapse at any moment.

At the other end of the rift, the Void Clan was still continuously gathering.

Ling Shuang's fingers moved slowly across the star map; she was calculating military strength, calculating time, and calculating every possible outcome.

No matter how she calculated it, the result was the same.

The Eastern Front could not hold out much longer.

Song Xinghe hurriedly walked into the hall, holding a stack of the latest intelligence in his hands.

"Alliance Master, the Investigation Department has discovered that the Void Clan is gathering a second wave of a large army."

"The number is at least one hundred and fifty thousand, commanded by three Void Emperors."

"It is expected that a full-scale attack will be launched in three days."

Ling Shuang took the intelligence and quickly glanced through it.

Her expression remained calm, but the fingers gripping the intelligence turned slightly pale.

In three days, one hundred and fifty thousand of the Void Clan.

The existing forces on the Eastern Front were less than twenty thousand.

Zhou Zhiting was still unconscious.

How could this battle be fought?

Song Xinghe looked at her, hesitant to speak.

Ling Shuang raised her head: "If you have anything to say, speak your mind."

Song Xinghe took a deep breath: "Alliance Master, I suggest… abandoning the Eastern Front."

"Retract our forces and retreat to defend Black Stone City."

"Exchange space for time and wait for the Ancestor to return."

Ling Shuang stared at him, her gaze like a sword.

"Abandoning the Eastern Front means abandoning the three realms of Meteor, Cangwu, and Biluo."

"Combined, those three realms have over a million commoners."

"You want me to abandon them?"

Song Xinghe lowered his head, his voice bitter.

"I know this decision is very difficult."

"But if we do not abandon it, the twenty thousand soldiers on the Eastern Front, as well as those million commoners, will all die."

"Rather than losing everything, it is better to preserve our strength and wait for a turning point."

Ling Shuang was silent.

She knew that what Song Xinghe said was right.

Strategically speaking, abandoning the Eastern Front and contracting the defense line was the most rational choice.

But she could not do it.

She thought of the faces of those commoners.

She thought of the hope in their eyes every time they saw the Realm Guardian Army.

She thought of how they spontaneously delivered food and water to the soldiers, even though they themselves were starving.

She thought of the children, the elderly, people of flesh and blood just like her.

She could not bring herself to abandon them.

Song Xinghe looked at her expression and knew she could not be persuaded.

He sighed: "Alliance Master, then what do you want to do?"

Ling Shuang stood up and walked to the window.

Outside the window, on the streets of Black Stone City, the commoners were busy.

Some were setting up stalls, some were chatting casually, and children were chasing and playing.

A scene of peace and tranquility.

They did not know that a bloody battle was taking place on the Eastern Front.

They did not know that the God of Death was closing in.

They only knew that as long as the Realm Guardian Army was there, they were safe.

Ling Shuang closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

When she opened them again, her eyes were filled with absolute determination.

"Xinghe, pass down my order."

"All battle-capable troops of the Realm Guardian Army in Black Stone City are to assemble completely."

"All Disciples of the Artifact Hall, Pill Hall, and Investigation Department who can fight are to be conscripted."

"In three days, I will personally lead the army to reinforce the Eastern Front."

Song Xinghe's expression changed drastically: "Alliance Master! How can this be?"

"Black Stone City is the core of the alliance. If you take away all the troops, Black Stone City will be emptied!"

"In case the Void Clan bypasses the Eastern Front and directly attacks Black Stone City, the consequences would be unimaginable!"

Ling Shuang turned around and looked straight into his eyes.

"Therefore, you must stay behind."

"After I leave, you will temporarily act as the Alliance Master and hold down the fort in Black Stone City."

"If the unexpected happens, you shall take charge of the overall situation."

Song Xinghe was stunned.

"Me? Alliance Master, I have never…"

Ling Shuang interrupted him: "Never what? Never commanded a major battle?"

"Xinghe, how many years have you followed me?"

"The Investigation Department grew from nothing to something, and from small to large in your hands."

"The strategy to lure the enemy on the Eastern Front was proposed by you."

"The coordinates of the Void Clan's home planet were found by you."

"You know better than I do that fighting a war relies not on reckless bravery, but on brains."

"I can rest assured leaving Black Stone City to you."

Song Xinghe opened his mouth, but could not say a word.

Ling Shuang patted his shoulder.

"Say no more, go pass down the order."

"Time is tight, we only have three days."

Song Xinghe looked at her and finally nodded heavily.

"Alliance Master, rest assured. I will guard Black Stone City for you."

He turned around and strode away.

Ling Shuang looked at his back, a trace of reluctance flashing in her eyes.

But she quickly suppressed these emotions and began deployment.

Half an hour later, the alarm bell of Black Stone City suddenly rang.

The bell rang hurriedly, one sound after another, spreading throughout the city.

The commoners walked out of their homes one after another, looking at each other in dismay, not knowing what had happened.

The soldiers of the Realm Guardian Army rushed out from various camps and sprinted toward the assembly point.

The furnace fires of the Artifact Hall went out, and the Pill Furnaces of the Pill Hall stopped.

Everyone who could fight was assembling at the square in front of the Alliance Grand Hall.

An hour later, the square was already packed with people.

Fifty thousand Realm Guardian Army, ten thousand Artifact Hall Disciples, five thousand Pill Hall Disciples, and three thousand Investigation Department Disciples.

There were also Loose Cultivators who came spontaneously, numbering in the thousands.

Ling Shuang stood on the high platform, her gaze sweeping across the crowd below.

Some of these faces were young, and some were aged.

Some she knew, and some she had never seen before.

But they all shared a common identity—Guardians.

"Everyone, you must have already heard about the battle situation on the Eastern Front."

Ling Shuang's voice was not loud, but it clearly spread across the entire square.

"Although the Void Emperor is dead, the Void Clan still has an army of one hundred and fifty thousand and three Void Emperors."

"General Zhou Zhiting is heavily injured and unconscious, and the twenty thousand soldiers on the Eastern Front are defending to the death with their lives."

"In three days, the Void Clan will launch a full-scale attack."

"Once the Eastern Front falls, the next will be Black Stone City."

"It will be your homeland, your loved ones."

The square was dead silent.

Everyone's gaze was fixed on Ling Shuang, waiting for her to continue.

"Today, I have decided to go all out with our entire force to reinforce the Eastern Front."

"It is not because I am very brave, but because I cannot abandon those who are still fighting."

"I cannot abandon the commoners who trust us."

"I cannot abandon everything we swore to protect."

"Those willing to come with me, stay."

"Those who are unwilling can leave now."

"I, Ling Shuang, will never force anyone to march to their deaths."

The square fell into dead silence.

No one moved.

No one left.

A young Realm Guardian Army soldier stepped forward and knelt on one knee.

"Alliance Master, this subordinate is willing to die with you!"

Another soldier stepped forward.

"This subordinate is willing to go!"

One after another, everyone knelt down in unison.

"We are willing to die with the Alliance Master!"

"We are willing to guard the Eastern Front and fight to the death without retreating!"

The sound shook the heavens and earth, lingering for a long time.

Ling Shuang's eyes became moist.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the agitation in her heart.

"Good! With all of you here, why worry that the Eastern Front will not be defended!"

"Pass down the order, the entire army will rest for the night and set off tomorrow morning!"

"Xinghe, you will arrange the supplies."

Song Xinghe stepped forward and began deployment.

Healing pills, Qi-gathering pearls, and Guardian Spirit Treasures were counted one by one and distributed.

star skiffs were started one by one, their statuses checked, and their energy replenished.

Everything was proceeding methodically.

Ling Shuang walked down the high platform and passed through the crowd.

She was going to do one last thing.

The Hall of Heroes.

Before the Monument of Heroes, incense smoke curled upwards.

Ling Shuang knelt before the monument, looking at the densely packed names upon it.

Those names were all people she knew.

Some were personally recruited by her into the Realm Guardian Army, and some she had watched grow up.

Now, they had all become just a name on the monument.

She lit three sticks of incense and respectfully inserted them into the censer.

"Brothers, I am going to the Eastern Front."

"To continue fighting in your place."

"If I also cannot return, we will meet again right here."

She kowtowed three times and stood up to leave.

Walking out of the Hall of Heroes, the sky had already darkened.

On the streets of Black Stone City, the commoners spontaneously stood by the roadside.

In their hands, they held fresh flowers, food, and water.

No one spoke, only silently watching the passing soldiers.

An elderly man stepped forward and stuffed a bundle into Ling Shuang's hands.

Inside the bundle were steaming hot steamed buns.

"Alliance Master, this was just steamed by my old woman."

"Take them with you to eat on the road."

Ling Shuang took the bundle, wanting to say something, but choked up.

The elderly man smiled and patted her hand.

"Go on, child."

"We will wait for you all to return."

Ling Shuang nodded heavily and continued walking forward.

Along the way, commoners continuously brought things over.

Someone stuffed an amulet into her hand, saying it was prayed for at the temple.

Someone handed her a flask of water, saying it was drawn from their own well.

Someone pulled her hand, tears streaming down their face, but unable to speak.

Ling Shuang did not refuse, accepting them one by one.

These were all the heartfelt sentiments of the commoners.

It was their trust in her and the Realm Guardian Army.

She cannot fail this trust.

Even if it cost her Life, she cannot.

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking.

Outside Black Stone City, above the Star Port.

An army of seventy thousand was fully equipped and ready to set off.

Ling Shuang, in a suit of silver-white battle armor, stood at the very front.

Behind her were densely packed star skiffs and countless resolute faces.

Song Xinghe stepped forward and offered the Alliance Master's official seal back with both hands.

"Alliance Master, I return the official seal to you."

Ling Shuang took it and tucked it into her bosom.

"Xinghe, Black Stone City is entrusted to you."

Song Xinghe nodded solemnly.

"Alliance Master, rest assured. While I live, the city stands."

Ling Shuang turned around and boarded the star skiff.

The seventy thousand troops followed closely behind.

star skiffs rose one after another, sailing in the direction of the Eastern Front.

Song Xinghe stood on the Star Port, watching the departing fleet.

Not until the last star skiff disappeared from view did he turn around.

Behind him was the empty Black Stone City.

But he knew he was not alone.

The commoners who remained, the elderly, the weak, women, and children still in the city.

All needed him to protect them.

He took a deep breath and strode toward the Alliance Grand Hall.

The new battle had only just begun.

On the star skiff, Ling Shuang stood before the porthole, looking at Black Stone City growing further and further away.

That was the place she had guarded for thousands of years.

That was the place she had given everything to.

She did not know whether she would be able to return.

But she did not regret it.

Because on the Eastern Front, someone was still waiting for her.

Zhiting was still unconscious, and the soldiers were still defending to the death.

She had to go.

Even if this journey meant marching to her death.

The star skiff sped through the sea of stars, heading in the direction of the Eastern Front.

Three days later, the outline of the Meteor Minor Realm finally appeared in view.

And in the direction of the rift, one hundred and fifty thousand of the Void Clan had already finished gathering.

Three Void Emperors stood at the very front of the army, overflowing with Killing Intent.

A great battle was on the verge of breaking out.

Ling Shuang gripped the ice soul sword in her hand, her eyes filled with determination.

"Soldiers, prepare for battle!"

"Today, let the Void Clan witness what the wrath of a Guardian is!"

The seventy thousand troops shouted in unison, their voices shaking the sea of stars.

The two armies confronted each other, ready to erupt at any moment.

The decisive battle of the Eastern Front was about to begin.