In the neutral territories, the situation was enshrouded in mystery and intrigue. The schemers were all agitated, as if pumped with adrenaline, eager to make their moves during this last period of calm. Though any action they took would be like a pebble thrown against a boulder, having no impact on the larger scheme of things, their innate desire for chaos drove them to stir up trouble wherever they could.
The White Devil of the Moonlight was a prime target for these schemers. However, much to their dismay, the White Devil seemed to have no intention of getting involved in the turmoil. Its leader remained conspicuously absent, and no one knew where he had gone.
As more and more troops gathered in Nanqing City, the day of battle drew near.
On that snowy day, a clear, tinkling sound resonated in Qian Ye’s ears. Slowly, he opened his eyes, awakening from the endless virtual battles. The chime was not real, yet Qian Ye heard it. It was Song Zining summoning him; the war had begun.
Qian Ye rose to his feet, shaking off the thick layer of snow that covered him. He leaped down from the icy peak, vanishing into the blinding storm.
No one knew what he had gained or lost during those days.
Nanqing City had transformed into a massive military camp. Troops were amassing, and the floating airships’ landing area was filled with warships brimming with killing intent. Inside the city, various squares were converted into training grounds, where thousands of mercenaries were changing into new uniforms, accepting new assignments, and officially joining the imperial war ranks.
The factories that had been built earlier were operating day and night, producing a plethora of weapons, armor, and an enormous amount of ammunition. Major merchant guilds had invested heavily, seeking ways to boost production to arm every mercenary to the teeth.
This was a dangerous gamble. If they failed, they would lose everything. Even if they won, they would still face the challenges posed by the Dark Night reinforcements. However, Song Zining had cleverly used the promise of long-term benefits as bait, luring the major guilds to back him. By the time they realized they were actually betting on the imperial side, it was too late. The factories had already been built, the raw materials stocked, and even skilled workers from other branches were relocated to Nanqing City.
If Song Zining lost, all their efforts in Nanqing City would be in vain. Such losses would be unacceptable, even for the largest guilds. The possibility of the empire’s defeat was too distant to consider, but the immediate losses were very real and close at hand.
In the face of potential future pain and imminent loss, most merchants chose to avoid the tangible risks, thus binding themselves to the imperial war wagon.
In the minds of these merchants, once they had made the decision, they would see it through to the end. They supported Song Zining’s military preparations fervently, even offering to supply equipment first and collect payment after the war. The prize of Tingchao City was large enough that, as long as they won the war, any division of the spoils would be profitable.
Upon returning to Nanqing, Qian Ye headed straight to the Darkfire headquarters to meet Song Zining.
As soon as Qian Ye arrived, Song Zining summoned all the key figures for a meeting. This was the final pre-battle conference to decide the final deployment for the attack on Tingchao City.
All the leaders were now housed in the Darkfire headquarters, so it took less than half an hour for everyone to gather, filling the sizable command center.
Song Zining first displayed a military map, detailing the routes, assembly points, and main assault directions for each unit. Over ten thousand troops would be divided into four columns, converging on Tingchao City in a coordinated assault.
The battle plan was meticulously laid out, with reasonable task distribution. At first glance, it seemed ordinary, but those in the know could see the skill in the details. At least in terms of strategic planning, Song Zining had reached a high level. Therefore, everyone nodded in approval without objection.
Next, Song Zining listed the strongest individuals from each faction and assigned them tasks. Most of the elite fighters would accompany their respective units, serving as central support, while a smaller group would be formed into a mobile force. This arrangement was standard, with the highlights in the details, so no one opposed it, and it was quickly approved.
Finally, the most critical part: restraining Luo Bingfeng. With a gesture from Song Zining, the non-essential personnel left, leaving only a handful of people in the command room.
Following Song Zining’s signal, two elderly men from the imperial family stood up. Both had fair, round faces, exuding a kind demeanor. They looked almost identical, their smooth chins and luxurious attire indicating their status within the palace.
“These are Yun Tian and Yun Hai, the two stewards. They will work with Qian Ye to contain Luo Bingfeng. This battle is crucial, led by the imperial family, with Qian Ye as the auxiliary, and Elder Li providing support when necessary. I will also monitor the situation and offer assistance.”
Yun Tian, Yun Hai, and Qian Ye rose to acknowledge their names.
Song Zining continued, “The two stewards are twin brothers, loyal to the empire since childhood, and thus granted the Dragon Flight Technique. This technique allows them to support each other, share damage, and recover, making them adept at prolonged defensive battles. Therefore, the responsibility of containing Luo Bingfeng will be entrusted to them.”
Yun Tian and Yun Hai spoke in unison, “Serving the empire is our duty, and we will do our utmost.”
Song Zining bowed to Yun Tian and Yun Hai, then said, “I’m sure everyone is familiar with Qian Ye, so I won’t introduce him further. Although he has temporarily left the empire for various reasons, he will be our most reliable comrade in this battle. Moreover, Qian Ye’s ultimate move is extremely powerful, capable of wounding even Luo Bingfeng. So, as long as he is on the field, he will be a significant threat to Luo Bingfeng.”
Everyone nodded, many appearing thoughtful, as if gaining a new understanding of Qian Ye. Only Yan Ding’s face was ashen, his gaze averted. It seemed that, at least on the surface, neither the imperial family nor the Li family was concerned about Qian Ye’s bloodline. Only the military, represented by Yan Ding, cared about such matters.
Seeing the imperial family and the Li family’s attitude, Yan Ding felt a surge of resentment, perhaps even more intense than Qian Ye’s. But the imperial family did not rebuke him, and the Li family had a current empress. Such behemoths were beyond his reach.
Now, Yan Ding was a powerless commander, fully aware that if it weren’t for his sixteen-level combat strength, he might have been quietly eliminated by Song Zining. Those who played with fate’s machinations were never to be trusted.
With the introductions complete, Song Zining did not elaborate further, clearly not intending to reveal the nature of Qian Ye’s ultimate move. Yun Tian and Yun Hai first stood up, addressing Qian Ye, “On the battlefield, we will rely on General Qian Ye’s support.”
Qian Ye bowed, “It is my duty.”
The meeting concluded, and everyone went to prepare. Qian Ye noticed that Ji Tianqing and Li Kuanglan were not present. Given their status and power, their absence was unusual.
As Qian Ye left the meeting room, Song Zining hurriedly caught up, pulling him aside. “Follow me, I have something for you.”
“What is it?” Qian Ye asked, bewildered.
“You’ll see.”
Qian Ye was led to a small warehouse, guarded by two Darkfire mercenaries. After entering, there was another door, and this time Song Zining was more cautious, deactivating three layers of origin arrays before finally opening the iron door.
Qian Ye broke into a cold sweat. He had only recognized one of the three origin arrays and wouldn’t have been able to bypass them. Had he tried to enter, he would have had to force his way through the array’s attacks.
The warehouse was small and sparsely furnished, roughly the size of a single room, with an armor stand and two boxes on the floor. A common room like this, secured by three layers of expensive, one-time-use origin arrays?
On the armor stand hung a set of light, thin inner armor. It looked gray and old, nothing special, but Song Zining had placed it here, signifying its extraordinary nature.
Indeed, Song Zining pointed to the armor, “Try it on and see if it fits. I’ve had the craftsmen adjust the size, but you need to try it yourself. If there’s any discomfort, we can still make adjustments tonight.”
Qian Ye removed his outer robe and prepared to put on the inner armor. As soon as he picked up the top, he felt its weight. He was startled; the top alone weighed several hundred kilograms, made of some unknown material.
Prepared for the weight, a few hundred kilograms was manageable for Qian Ye. He donned the top, followed by the pants and boots, and finally a pair of fingerless gloves. The complete set of inner armor weighed over a ton.
The armor fit perfectly, showing that Song Zining remembered Qian Ye’s dimensions precisely. The glove’s fingertips were cut off, allowing Qian Ye to use his life drain technique more effectively. After evolving to the rank of Marquis, his control over the technique had improved, allowing him to unleash deadly blood threads from his fingertips.
Qian Ye grabbed the hem of the armor and pulled with all his might, but the armor didn’t budge. His pull was strong enough to snap steel wires, yet it couldn’t tear the armor. Curious about the material, Qian Ye also wondered about its origin.
Song Zining circled Qian Ye, satisfied. “Good, it fits well. During the battle, you can wear another layer of armor over it. This level of defense should surprise even Luo Bingfeng. Additionally, the inner layer of the armor is lined with the hide of a void beast, effective against mental assaults like Luo Bingfeng’s death gaze. The most important thing is that, due to the void beast’s power, most divinations are ineffective against it. No one will be able to track your movements. Of course, Lin Shuai himself would be a different matter.”
If Song Zining’s words were true, this armor was priceless. The question was, how did Song Zining obtain such a treasure?
Casually, Qian Ye lifted his sleeve, spotting a mark that hadn’t been removed. It was the emblem of the imperial family.
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