Given the sheer smallness of the Hengduan Mountains, no one could traverse them, and it was utterly impossible for the Empire’s soldiers to attempt a sneak attack by crossing. If only a few powerful individuals dared such a crossing, it would be no different from suicide for the Tianlong Empire; thus, the Empire had no formidable fortresses guarding the direction of the Hengduan Mountains, never imagining an invasion might come from there.

Even the garrisons stationed there were the weakest among the Four Great Legions: the Nangong family. And the Nangong family had only stationed a modest contingent of soldiers, as this was not considered a primary line of defense. Fortunately, due to the terrain, a significant number of soldiers from the Murong family’s Mad Dragon Legion were also stationed nearby.

Upon arriving at the gates of the Imperial Palace, Mo Han saw that the guards had already received word of his approach and were specifically waiting for him. Seeing Mo Han arrive, the Imperial Guards led him directly to the Emperor’s study without a word.

Hearing of Mo Han’s arrival, the Emperor personally led a host of the Empire’s key officials to the entrance of the study to receive him, which clearly demonstrated the high regard the Emperor held for Mo Han. Indeed, at this critical juncture, any fool could grasp the significant role Mo Han could play.

Entering the Imperial Study, Mo Han dispensed with pleasantries, bowed to the Emperor, and then immediately began detailing everything he knew. Hearing that Mo Han had already informed the Church of Light about the Nether Clan's invasion, a weight lifted from the Emperor's heart. With the aid of the Church of Light, their chances of resisting the Nether Clan had significantly improved.

Furthermore, with the Church of Light’s backing, the other major Empires would likely hesitate to wage war now, allowing the Emperor to recall the major legions stationed at the borders. The other Empires would surely dispatch aid, not only due to pressure from the Church of Light but also based on the principle of ‘when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold.’

The monarchs of the other major Empires surely weren't foolish enough not to understand this. If the Tianlong Empire, the largest nation on the continent, fell, the remaining major Empires would only be waiting for death, with no chance of escape. The Nether Clan would not be satisfied with just the Tianlong Empire; even children understood this logic, let alone these exceptionally astute monarchs.

Just as the Emperor was privately sighing in relief, the next words from Mo Han weighed heavily on his spirits once more. Mo Han revealed the fact that the Nether King himself was leading the invasion, causing everyone present to gasp audibly. What kind of figure was the Nether King? He was one of the legendary Ancient Gods. If the Nether King truly took action, it was uncertain if anyone on the continent could withstand him. Battling a god—this was a concept the officials of the Tianlong Empire had never dared to entertain, including the Emperor himself.

Mo Han, however, was not from the Longteng Continent and felt no such awe toward these deities. Thus, he was naturally not as worried as those present. Mo Han knew that shifting the mindset of those gathered to openly fight a god was not something achievable overnight; moreover, this was a problem for the Emperor to manage, not something he needed to fret over.

The Tianlong Emperor proved himself worthy of his title. After a moment of surprise, he regained his composure. Looking at the demoralized assembly, he spoke calmly, “No matter who it is, we have no retreat left. The Nether Clan will not spare the humans on this continent. Fighting offers a sliver of hope; if everyone is afraid, it is useless. The Nether Clan will not spare us regardless, and then there will truly be no hope left.”

Hearing the Emperor’s measured words, everyone present felt a sharp realization, Mo Han excepted. They all knew the Emperor spoke the truth. With this thought, their confidence slightly recovered, and they began to discuss deployment strategies against the Nether Clan.

Mo Han was no expert in military strategy and dared not offer ill-considered advice. He had said all he needed to; the rest was a matter for the Emperor and his officials. Even if Mo Han wished to intervene, he likely couldn't. Time slipped away unnoticed during the ensuing discussions, lasting a full day.

The others were veterans of many campaigns; even the few civil officials discussed matters with considerable insight. However, since the heads of the Four Great Families were absent from Tianlong City, among the military leaders present, the most influential voice belonged to Long Gufan, the commander of the Tianlong Legion.

For most of the debate, it was Long Gufan and the Emperor arguing fiercely over the deployment of the Tianlong Empire’s ultimate trump card, the Tianlong Legion. Among those present, only Long Gufan possessed the standing and audacity to argue logically with the Emperor, besides Mo Han. But Mo Han was not proficient in warfare and dared not meddle, leaving Long Gufan as the only one qualified to engage the Emperor in vigorous debate.

According to Long Gufan’s suggestion, speed was paramount in war. Since they knew about the Nether Clan, they should immediately mobilize the Tianlong Legion and other military forces, gathering all of the Tianlong Empire’s strength in the cities closest to the Hengduan Mountains, so they could amass sufficient resistance before the Nether Clan invaded.

However, the Tianlong Emperor held a different view than Long Gufan. The Emperor worried that abruptly withdrawing troops while the Tianlong Empire was engaged in war with the Aoyue Empire might invite the Aoyue Empire to take advantage of the situation. But if they did not deploy defenses now, they might not have time to mobilize forces when the Nether Clan arrived, leaving them only capable of passive defense. In that case, the Tianlong Empire would be perilously close to collapse—this was precisely why Long Gufan insisted on immediate deployment.

Although the Emperor understood that Long Gufan spoke the truth, he remained unwilling to agree to Long Gufan’s request to move troops, hesitating. In Mo Han’s mind, the Emperor’s concerns had merit. If all the Tianlong Empire's military might was concentrated in the east, the defenses of Tianlong City and the northern territories would certainly be vulnerable. If the Aoyue Empire, driven by desperation, pressed the advantage, the Tianlong Empire could face immediate ruin. After all, the enmity between the Aoyue and Tianlong Empires was not a matter of a year or two but had persisted since the founding of both nations; no one could guarantee the Aoyue Empire wouldn't seize the chance.

Yet, if they did not dispatch troops immediately, there might not be enough time to react. If they delayed for a few more days, even mobilizing forces then would be too late to complete preparations before the Nether Clan arrived. The Tianlong Empire would still face the danger of annihilation. Everyone present fell into a dilemma; both scenarios were equally urgent and fraught with immense danger. A single misstep could see the centuries-old foundation of the Tianlong Empire vanish into nothingness.

However, not a single official present dared to step forward to state an opinion, as the fate of the nation hung in the balance. A wrong decision would brand them the betrayer of the entire Tianlong Empire. An awkward silence descended upon the council hall.

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Church of Light had received Mo Han’s urgent message two days prior but had shown no concrete action. High Priest Mora had still not returned, leaving the Tianlong Empire completely uncertain of the Church’s intentions. Before the Church of Light declared its stance, anything was possible, so the Tianlong Empire dared not act rashly.

But if the Church of Light declared its position—to launch a continent-wide war against the Nether Clan—the situation would be entirely different. If the Aoyue Empire dared to exploit the situation then, they would be opposing the Church of Light and every nation on the Longteng Continent. Even if the Aoyue Empire contemplated taking advantage, they would likely lack the courage.

The lack of action from the Church of Light, even the highest-ranking cleric in the Tianlong Empire, High Priest Mora, was unaccounted for. It was little wonder the Tianlong Emperor harbored such deep concerns. It seemed they could only find High Priest Mora as soon as possible to clarify the Church of Light’s precise stance to fundamentally resolve this problem. The Tianlong Empire had mobilized every available person to search for Mora, even sending out the Church members within Tianlong City, but after two days, Mora was nowhere to be seen.

What puzzled Mo Han was why Mora would suddenly disappear at such a critical juncture. Based on Mora’s temperament, he shouldn't make such a blunder at this crucial moment. Mo Han was even more worried that even if Mora was missing, the Church of Light had clearly received his message; why had they not yet responded specifically? Everything seemed chaotic.

It appeared he would have to make a trip to the Church of Light’s headquarters in the Holy City to understand the cause of the entire affair. As for time, if he could persuade the Sacred Dragon Clan to lend the aid of their great dragons, combined with his own full-speed travel, he estimated he could return within a day at the very latest. While this would still be a tight schedule, it was far better than waiting idly here.

With this thought, Mo Han requested leave from the Emperor, explaining his plan to travel to the Holy City. The Emperor, hearing this, understood it was the only viable course and naturally did not object, only urging Mo Han to return with news as soon as possible. Mo Han, aware of the urgency, decided to return immediately to inform Daili and the others of his movements, then rush to the Sacred Dragon Clan liaison point outside Tianlong City to state his purpose to the Dragon Clan Chief.

Upon returning home, he found Princess Rouxue of the Sacred Dragon Clan chatting quietly in the courtyard with Daili. Seeing Rouxue present, Mo Han felt a surge of happiness. Previously, he had been worried about whether the Sacred Dragon Clan would agree to his request. Mo Han had learned that the Sacred Dragon Clan Chief had already returned to Dragon Island with the elders, leaving only a few ordinary dragon kin at the liaison point outside Tianlong City. Mo Han was uncertain if he could persuade those Sacred Dragon kin to carry him to Tianlong City in the absence of their Chief.

The Dragon Clan was an inherently proud race. Unless one became a legendary Dragon Rider, the great dragons simply would not allow any human or other creature to ride upon their backs. However, without the innate flying ability of the dragons, Mo Han had no way to reach the Holy City in such a short time. Now that Rouxue was here, his prior worries were resolved. As long as Rouxue, the princess of the Sacred Dragon Clan, gave the word, those ordinary Sacred Dragon kin would not dare defy her.

Thinking of this, Mo Han suddenly found the girl incredibly endearing—certainly more so than before—and greeted her with a cheerful smile. However, upon seeing his expression, Rouxue eyed him warily and stated coolly, “Looking at you so cunning and overly enthusiastic, you must be up to no good.”

“Seriously? Do you have some kind of masochistic tendency, girl?” Mo Han stared at her and replied helplessly, “It’s rare that I’m in a good mood today, so I won’t argue with you, hehe. Besides, am I that kind of person?” “...Ugh, fine, I take it back.” Mo Han stopped midway, seeing the looks of profound suspicion on Daili and Rouxue’s faces, which clearly implied he was exactly that kind of person, so he added reluctantly. This caused both Rouxue and Daili to burst into laughter.

Watching the smug Rouxue, Mo Han could only mutter inwardly, Laugh now. Laugh all you want. If I didn’t need a favor from you today, I certainly wouldn't let you be so triumphant. Seeing Rouxue’s glee, Mo Han seized the opportunity and explained his plan. As expected, upon hearing Mo Han’s intentions, Rouxue immediately slapped her chest boldly and declared that everything was on her shoulders.

Watching Rouxue’s small hand thumping her chest with resounding sounds, Mo Han stared at her chest and thought wickedly, Her chest isn't that big; if she keeps hitting it like that, won't she flatten it into the legendary airstrip? Hehe. Thinking this, a slightly lecherous smile crossed Mo Han’s face. After arriving on the Longteng Continent, Mo Han had unexpectedly discovered that the women here generally had superb figures; even an average woman on the street would be considered a model in his own time. Among all the women he knew, Rouxue’s chest was the smallest. Seeing Mo Han’s ambiguous smile, Rouxue’s heart suddenly pounded. She quickly followed Mo Han’s gaze, covered her chest, and angrily cursed, “You pervert! What are you looking at? Sister Daili is right here, and you dare be so brazen.”

Mo Han simply smiled in response, “Don't worry. With your airstrip of a chest, I have zero interest, hehe.” Although Rouxue didn’t understand what Mo Han meant by “airstrip,” she could tell from his expression that it was certainly not a compliment. This scoundrel! Ever since she met him, he had never praised her once. Thinking this, Rouxue became even angrier. She murmured a few incantations, and several fire serpents suddenly materialized before her, shooting rapidly toward Mo Han.

But Mo Han was prepared. In the past, Mo Han might have scrambled, but with his current strength, these fire serpents were no different from paper constructs. Mo Han simply raised his hand lightly, and when the fire serpents were still a foot away, they saw them automatically decompose into countless magical elements, vanishing as sparks of fire before him. Rouxue, unaware that Mo Han had already reached the strength of a God of Magic, watched this scene with incredible disbelief, exclaiming in shock, “How is that possible? How did you do that? Only my father can effortlessly dissolve my magical attacks like that.”

“Hehe, didn’t you see for yourself?” Mo Han’s face held a mischievous smirk, one designed to provoke her. Seeing this, Rouxue snorted in annoyance, realizing that even if she attacked again, she might not defeat Mo Han. She turned away abruptly, refusing to look at him, though her cheeks remained puffed out in an expression of charming indignation, while Mo Han stood there looking thoroughly pleased.

It was Daili, observing Mo Han’s triumphant expression, who finally couldn't stand it and spoke to Rouxue, “Alright, Rouxue, stop arguing with Big Brother Mo Han. He is already a powerhouse at the level of a God of Magic now. No matter how much you fight, you can’t beat him.” Hearing Daili’s explanation, Rouxue turned back in disbelief and asked Mo Han, “Hey, you bad man, are you even human? How old are you to already be a God of Magic? Are you trying to make the rest of us obsolete?”

Hearing Rouxue’s words, Mo Han rolled his eyes helplessly and retorted, “Why am I not human? You’re just jealous of me. But that’s due to my high talent, which you can’t envy, hehe. However, if you stop provoking me in the future and agree to become my apprentice, I might consider teaching you a few tricks.”

“Dream on!” Rouxue glared back at Mo Han and said, “For this young lady to become your apprentice? You can forget about it.”

Watching the two bicker, Daili shook her head helplessly, smiling as she said, “Okay, Big Brother Mo Han, stop bullying Rouxue. Right, didn’t you say you were going to the Holy City? Since it’s so urgent, you should leave quickly. Don’t worry about things here.”

Hearing Daili, Mo Han stopped teasing Rouxue. “Alright, girl, let’s call it even. For now, accompany me to the liaison point outside Tianlong City. I have no confidence in persuading those Sacred Dragons to be my mounts.”

“When did I agree to go outside the city with you?” Rouxue’s anger seemed unspent as she replied coolly to Mo Han’s words. Mo Han looked at her helplessly and said, “Girl, this isn't a time for sulking. This concerns the safety of the entire Longteng Continent.”

“Unless you apologize to me, don't even think about it.” Rouxue remained displeased, making Mo Han shake his head helplessly. This girl really knew how to push her luck, but he needed a favor now, so he relented, “Fine, it was my fault, my lady. Are you satisfied? If we don't leave now, it truly will be too late.”

Hearing Mo Han’s words, Rouxue smiled with satisfaction and happily declared, “You know when to yield, hmph. Let’s go now.” With that, she led the way toward the door. Mo Han nodded slightly to Daili. Seeing Daili safe, seemingly less despondent, and giving him a reassuring look, Mo Han turned and followed Rouxue out of the Prince’s residence, heading directly out of Tianlong City.

Not long after leaving the city, Mo Han noticed they were walking in the wrong direction—not toward the Sacred Dragon Clan liaison point—and asked in confusion, “Hey, girl, are you sick? You can’t even find the direction to your own Sacred Dragon Clan liaison point.”

Rouxue shot him a fierce glare and retorted, “The ones at the liaison point outside Tianlong City now are relatively weaker members of our clan, and they are all Earth-attribute great dragons. They certainly couldn't manage a round trip to the Holy City for you in two days.”

Mo Han asked, “Then how will I get there?” Just then, Rouxue suddenly transformed into a flash of golden light, instantly reverting into a magnificent golden great dragon hovering in mid-air. She said to Mo Han, “You’re lucky this time, bad man. Get on. Since I agreed to your request, I won't go back on my word. I’ll work hard to carry you to the Holy City.”

Leaping onto...