"We have reports, Blood Wolf Tribe, Jiao Dragon Tribe, and Byron Tribe are all showing signs of massive troop mobilization." Silver Ke, an attendant of the Pigeon Group, looked grim. "The Blood Wolf Knights of the Blood Wolf Tribe are advancing south along the Wanluo Mountain Range toward Man City. On the other flank, the Byron Tribe's main force is pushing west. The Jiao Dragon Tribe is also gathering along the southern coast, seemingly intending to capture the coastal seaports and the nearby islands."
"It seems the Black Flag Legion is indeed being orchestrated by the Strategic Planning Department of Beiqi," Gonggong Zhenqin observed.
"That's a certainty," Moluo Yinfeng stated. "Jian Xing would never pass up this rare opportunity. Otherwise, he wouldn't have sent out that old fox Jian Wu. Furthermore, given the close ties between the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man and the Beiqi Royal Family, their collaboration is perfectly natural."
"The Nine Luminaries Divine True Man was a disciple of Dragon Shadow Manor when he was on the Beiqi Continent," Mo Ling added. "And the Demon Devouring Body originates from a mutated bloodline of the Beiqi Royal Family, so the Beiqi Royal Family's full support is understandable. However, Cangyue has dispatched Prince Wei, Cangyue Qianyu, and Cangyue Zhenxian. Both are considered Prince Wei’s confidants. It appears Prince Wei has designs on the Black Flag Legion."
"None of that matters much," Moluo Yinfeng dismissed. "Cangyue Zhenxian, though a confidant of Prince Wei, is old and shrewd and still keeps the bigger picture in mind. As for Cangyue Qianyu, he is spiteful and constantly engaged in petty machinations, which are unavoidable. But for him to think he can wrest control of the Black Flag Legion from the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man is sheer fantasy. So, don't count on exploiting internal conflicts within the Black Flag Legion. Remember, the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man has old foxes like Jidu and Jian Wu at his side, backed by the Demon Dragon Royal Family and the Beiqi Royal Family offering counsel. Prince Wei's little tricks won't escape their notice, not to mention that the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man himself is not easily fooled."
"It seems unless we engage them head-on, there's no clever alternative," Man Cang Qin Feng grumbled.
"You kid only thinks about shortcuts day in and day out," Yin Nu Qulei snapped impatiently.
"Heh heh, if you can take a shortcut, take it. A head-on collision is the method of last resort," Man Cang Qin Feng forced a dry laugh.
"When facing Beiqi's Strategic Planning Department, I suggest you shelve that idea immediately!" Jibo Yuanfeng cautioned.
"..." Man Cang Qin Feng was momentarily stunned. Indeed, with the meticulous calculation capabilities of the Beiqi Strategic Planning Department, finding any exploitable flaw would be extremely difficult.
"Judging by the movements of the three major tribes, the Black Flag Legion's operational plan is not far from our initial analysis: segmenting and deploying their three main corps based on their distinct troop types and preferred combat environments, allowing them to fight independently, yet coordinating and echoing each other within the grand strategy. It's truly formidable," Yin Ke said. "The Jiao Dragon Corps..."
"Let's put aside the Blood Wolf Corps and the Jiao Dragon Corps for now," Chi Yue Qin Shuang pointed at Man City, the fortress located where the Wanluo and Yinfeng Mountain Ranges meet on the sand table. "If the Black Flag Legion intends to fully open the theater of war, the Byron Corps is absolutely the most crucial main force. To get the Byron Corps into the fight, they must break through Man City first before they can advance westward. Therefore, the battle for Man City will be the most critical point in this war; we absolutely cannot let them breach it."
"Correct. As long as Man City holds, they cannot unfold their strategy," Moluo Yinfeng asserted seriously. "The most important mission for us, the Blazing Flame Legion, is to defend Man City. As for the Blood Wolf Corps and the Jiao Dragon Corps, the Iron Blood Legion and the Merman Tribe will handle them."
Inside the Jingxin Hall of the Demon Dragon Empire Imperial Palace!
"A message arrived via Sky-Reaching Transmission from the Black Flag Legion," the Pigeon Group attendant reported. "His Highness Divine True Man, General Jidu, Jian Wu, Jian Qu, Cangyue Zhenxian, Cangyue Qianyu, and four other heavy armored generals of the Black Flag Legion have rushed to rendezvous with the main cavalry unit of the Byron Tribe."
"It has finally come to this," Jiuyue Chongyang rejoiced greatly.
"So the black banner spoken of by the Divine Matriarch refers to the Black Flag Legion," Yue Yao could barely contain his excitement. Since learning that the legion formed by the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man was named the Black Flag Legion, Yue Yao, Luohou, and Jiuyue Chongyang were all convinced that victory belonged inevitably to the Black Flag Legion.
'The black banner shall be planted in every corner.'
Everyone remembered this line from the prophecy vividly.
"Divine True Man will succeed," Jiuyue Chongyang gazed out the window. "But we cannot lag behind. What is the progress on conscription in the Ranger World?"
"Thanks to the active cooperation of the Yun family, we have already conscripted over two million regular troops," Yue Yao reported. "I believe three months will be sufficient to integrate and train an expeditionary force capable of transoceanic warfare."
"Excellent," Jiuyue Chongyang smiled faintly. "The rest depends on when the Jiao Dragon Corps gains control of the sea routes. Then, we can formally invade the Demon-Sealing Continent."
Cangyue Prince Wei's Estate!
"The Black Flag Legion has begun deploying its forces. Everything is proceeding according to plan," the Pigeon Group attendant reported respectfully with the latest returned intelligence.
"Mmm!" Cangyue Zhenwu nodded slightly, setting down the charcoal pencil he was holding, and instinctively looked toward the two paintings hanging on the wall! At first glance, they appeared to depict the same person.
This was because the two figures in the portraits were astonishingly similar in appearance and build. Both possessed long black hair and dark eyes.
However, the one on the left wore the Celestial Demon Battle Armor, holding a pure azure longsword, standing erect against the wind with an imposing air that spoke of inherent majesty, appearing exceptionally powerful.
The one on the right was clad in purple silk robes, possessing the beauty of an immortal maiden! A young girl!
Similar features, yet possessing vastly different auras! It created an unsettling sense of contradiction and shock!
Indeed, the portraits were of the twin siblings who were currently the subject of much public uproar: the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man and the Nine Luminaries Divine Yin.
"I never imagined the one who gave Liu Feng and the others such a beating back then was this boy," Cangyue Zhenwu had already suspected the double was the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man once his identity was revealed. What he hadn't anticipated was that the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man was the eldest imperial son of the Demon Dragon Royal Family.
Especially upon realizing that the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man and the Nine Luminaries Divine Yin possessed that near-perfectly fused bloodline, Cangyue Zhenwu felt an urge to vomit blood from frustration! Such an opportunity had slipped away completely!
If he had known earlier, he would have used force to keep Jiuyue Shenyin in Cangyue. Then, his own child could have forced the issue, consummating the match. Even if Jiuyue Chongyang was unwilling, he would have had no choice but to accept. But now, thinking of it was far too late!
However, Cangyue Zhenwu couldn't help but admire Jiuyue Chongyang's daring and radical actions. Who would have thought Jiuyue Chongyang would allow his child to struggle and scramble in the Ranger World from such a young age, facing danger repeatedly? Yet, it was precisely this unconventional method of education that ultimately forged the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man into the youngest Celestial Demon Warrior and the youngest Commander in the continent's history, even securing him a spot among the Ten Great Celestial Demons!
In comparison, his own child, Cangyue Qianyu, seemed pale and diminished!
Facing such an opponent, could his child, Cangyue Qianyu, possibly win? Would there even be an opportunity for Cangyue Qianyu to display his talents on the future battlefields that would determine dominion over the world?
Thinking of this, Cangyue Zhenwu felt a sense of helpless exhaustion and emptiness.
Though he was reluctant to admit it, judging by the current trajectory, the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man was undeniably the most promising heir among the four successor figures on the Mafa Continent.
His capabilities were beyond question! Perhaps only Moluo Yinfeng, known as the 'Demon of Wisdom,' among the young elite of the entire Mafa Continent could challenge him!
But watching the Demon Dragon Empire grow stronger and expand at such an alarming pace in such a short time filled Cangyue Zhenwu with a profound sense of crisis!
Historically, the Cangyue Empire and the Demon Dragon Empire were mortal enemies, locked in unending conflict until five hundred years ago when the Demon Dragon Royal Family's power sharply declined due to the Heaven Execution Rebellion! Simultaneously, the Moluo Church rose rapidly and suddenly launched a full-scale war, forcing the Beiqi, Cangyue, and Demon Dragon Empires to reluctantly unite against the powerful Demon-Sealing Empire.
It was certain that once the threat of the Demon-Sealing Empire was gone, a fierce war between the Cangyue and Demon Dragon Empires would be inevitable!
This was the fundamental reason why the Cangyue Empire always seemed slightly out of step within the Holy Word Alliance. They continuously exerted all their efforts to use the power of the Demon-Sealing Empire to weaken the military strength of the Demon Dragon Empire.
For the Cangyue Empire, whether the Moluo Alliance was annihilated was irrelevant; if they could leverage the Moluo Alliance's strength to completely crush the Demon Dragon Empire, that would be ideal!
Due to geographical circumstances, the sea territories between the Demon-Sealing Empire and the Demon Dragon Empire were relatively close. Furthermore, the Demon Dragon Empire had continuously suffered relentless attacks from the Heaven Proud Legion of the Demon-Sealing Empire west of the Black Sea. Several times, they nearly had their imperial city breached by the Heaven Proud Legion and the Blazing Flame Legion! But each time, the Sun Glow Celestial Demon, wielding the Blade of the Sovereign, managed to turn the tide, saving them from annihilation.
However, the sustained conflict with the Heaven Proud Legion exacted an unimaginable price from the Demon Dragon Empire! The depletion of military strength was severe: five centuries ago, the Demon Dragon Empire had twenty-eight heavy armored generals; now, only fourteen remained.
Even knowing Cangyue Empire's calculations, the Demon Dragon Empire was powerless to do anything about it! They had to devote resources to fully resisting the Demon-Sealing Empire while simultaneously guarding against a sudden stab in the back from the Cangyue Empire—a miserable predicament!
And just recently, the Heaven Proud Legion had joined forces with the Blazing Flame Legion for an even more fatal assault! Had the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man not suddenly intervened, the Demon Dragon Empire would likely have already been utterly destroyed!
But the current situation represented an earth-shattering reversal! This turn of events was absolutely something no one could have predicted back then!
After organizing his thoughts slightly, Cangyue Zhenwu turned to the Pigeon Group attendant and stated gravely, "Mano, do you think Qianyu can win over the Byron Tribe?"
"Replying to Your Highness," the Pigeon Group attendant Mano replied respectfully, "In my humble opinion, it is highly unlikely."
"Unlikely," a flicker of displeasure crossed Cangyue Zhenwu's face, but he had to concede the point to Mano's bluntness.
"Your servant is merely stating the facts," Mano continued. "However, the opportunity is not entirely absent. I hear the Great Chieftain of the Byron Tribe, Yin Shuang, is only forty and unmarried. If Prince Qianyu could truly win Yin Shuang's heart, it's not impossible that Yin Shuang would lead her tribe to defect. But doing so would destabilize the Black Flag Legion, and we might miss this golden opportunity to annihilate the Moluo Alliance."
"We can't worry about that right now," a chilling killing intent flashed across Cangyue Zhenwu's grim face. "As long as we can curb the growth of the Demon Dragon Empire, that is enough. In the final analysis, our joining the Holy Word Alliance was only due to pressure from the Church and the Beiqi Empire. For the Cangyue Empire, the Demon Dragon Empire will always be the greatest enemy. Only when the Demon Dragon Empire is utterly ruined will our Cangyue Empire dedicate its full strength to assisting the Church against the Moluo Alliance. I believe both the Church and the Beiqi Empire understand this clearly. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been so eager to target the Demon Dragon Empire the moment they heard Shen Yin and Shen Xu were captured—because they know that without the full support of our Cangyue Empire, they cannot definitively defeat the Moluo Alliance."
"But given the current situation, the Black Flag Legion formed by the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man has already displayed sufficient power. Perhaps they can complete the vital task of eliminating the Demon-Sealing Empire without needing our Cangyue Empire's strength at all," Mano analyzed.
"Therefore, no matter what, we absolutely cannot allow the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man's operation to succeed," Cangyue Zhenwu insisted. "This fellow is definitely the terrifying kind who grows stronger with every battle. If the Black Flag Legion destroys the Demon-Sealing Empire, the next unfortunate target will be our Cangyue Empire."
"But won't this openly oppose the entire Holy Word Alliance? The Church and the Beiqi Empire won't just stand by, will they?" Mano expressed some concern.
"Even if they know, what of it? We each play our own hand," Cangyue Zhenwu declared. "Who said only the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man can command the Black Flag Legion? Can my son Qianyu not? If things truly come to a breaking point, at worst, we defect to the Moluo Alliance. So, even if they understand our intentions, they will be helpless."
"Your Highness's insight is unparalleled," Mano praised.
"Haha, when it comes to fighting on the battlefield, the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man might be unmatched," Cangyue Zhenwu boasted slightly. "But in the battle of romance, the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man is no match for Qianyu."
"Hahaha, that's true," Mano chuckled with delight. "Up to this point, besides Yan Luo of the Moon Sect in Bai Ri Men, the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man seems to have had no ambiguous relationships with any girl, and even that relationship with Yan Luo doesn't seem to have progressed to anything substantial. It's clear the Nine Luminaries Divine True Man is an emotional simpleton. Prince Qianyu has a very high chance of winning."
"Mmm, send word to Qianyu, telling him to act according to the situation," Cangyue Zhenwu looked out the window with confidence. "Remember, many times, many problems simply cannot be solved by brute force alone—especially when dealing with women. The Nine Luminaries Divine True Man needs Prince Qianyu to teach him a proper lesson."