The strategy decided, the Zero Desolate Army lay in concealment like a malicious dragon, accumulating its strength.

At this moment, accompanied by his core subordinates like Gui Qu and Yan Chong, Hong Yuan rode upon a flying boat, looking down through the clouds at the Demon Soldiers and lesser demons below anxiously setting up defenses.

Some were setting up Energy Arrays between the islands, others were casting Poison Source Monster Devices in the coastal waters, and some were erecting high walls. A series of tight and robust defensive lines were being established.

This was already the ninth defensive line.

There was a defensive line for each sea territory, and Hong Yuan held sway over a total of twenty-five sea territories.

The Endless Sea Area was too vast, with each sea territory having a different geographical environment.

There were the Hot Fire Seas, the Frost Lands, and even the Thunder Pools.

Hong Yuan had instructed his subordinates to establish defenses based on the geographical environments, often using the terrain to their advantage.

In the past, due to incomplete defensive lines, a major defeat often meant the overall situation was decided, with the losers being mercilessly hunted by the victors.

But with the defensive lines, even if a battle was lost, whether retreating or counterattacking, operations could be carried out with greater composure.

The military is a critical matter of state; if mobilized, it risks the annihilation of clans and species and must not go unchecked.

If there wasn’t a huge disparity in strength between the two sides, with the aid of these defensive lines, they would be drawn into trench warfare, a war of attrition.

The reason Zhang Daoliu’s Gale Sea Area had been difficult to handle previously was precisely because of these defensive lines.

"My Lord, urgent news from the front line: Lang Fanyun has already reached the Falling Rain Sea Area, defended by Shuang Yuesheng. He is still seven sea territories away from us, and the situation is rather critical," Gui Qu, acting as the military advisor, reported urgently to Hong Yuan after receiving a red butterfly flower and absorbing the information.

Lang Fanyun was one of the most outstanding individuals among the three major Tao Species. As an offspring of the Swallowing Wolf Demon Saint, his Food Tao Demon Skills were feared in all directions. He had no concern for logistics, posing a huge threat to the Zero Desolate Army!

"Lang Fanyun has reached the Falling Rain Sea Area... I understand," Hong Yuan said, nodding slightly, his expression as usual.

In recent days, although Hong Yuan had been in closed-door cultivation, refining the Water Order and enhancing his personal fortune, he had also been closely following the intelligence reports from the front lines.

He was the supreme Monarch of the Zero Desolate Army; every moment, Demons would bring intelligence reports for him to review.

He also used a fifth-tier Wisdom Tao Demon Skill—Seven Star Beads—to assess the situation and thus maintain control, ensuring it wouldn’t collapse all at once.

"Considering the time, our vanguard commander Zhang Fan should be making first contact with the enemy and engaging them by now. How is his situation?" Hong Yuan asked quietly.

Hong Yuan was now positioned in the central army. Except for the Black Dragon Army, he had dispatched all other armies to the defensive lines.

Recently, there was unrest within the Zero Desolate Army over the position of vanguard commander.

The composition of his Zero Desolate Army was too complex, with various factions constantly vying for power.

Especially after he demonstrated strong Artifact Refining capabilities and placed the fire-element Tao Species, the Phoenix Fire Feather Fan, in the logistics merit department, the commanders went utterly mad.

The Phoenix Fire Feather Fan was once the Life Tao Seed of Feng Yu, a fifth-tier Tao Species hardly inferior to the Flood Gathering War Banner, and it even had the potential to be upgraded to a Holy Artifact.

No matter how you look at it, this is an extraordinary treasure! 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Therefore, each commander desired to vie for military achievements in the hope of obtaining the Phoenix Fire Feather Fan.

In the end, after a fierce battle, Zhang Fan stood out and became the vanguard commander.

"My Lord, the situation in the sea territory defended by Zhang Fan seems unoptimistic. They have been suddenly confronted by the Overbearing Pig Army led by Tao Species Zhu Jiushi," Gui Qu reported, his expression grim, clearly filled with hatred towards Zhu Jiushi.

"Oh? Zhu Jiushi..." Hong Yuan’s eyebrows raised slightly, a contemplative look flashing in his eyes.

A Tao Species Level demon hero... I wonder if Zhang Fan can withstand him.

「Nine Poison Troops.」

Zhang Fan, clad in black iron armor, stood firm within the central military camp, gazing toward the Overbearing Pig Army outside.

The approaching forces were fierce, not to mention that Zhu Jiushi himself, a Tao Species, was anchoring their line. This pressure made Zhang Fan grip his Eight-Foot Snake Spear tightly.

Damn it, why did it have to be Zhu Jiushi—

Zhang Fan clenched his teeth, gripping his spear with such force that the Eight-Foot Snake Spear trembled.

Zhu Jiushi was a fierce and ferocious overlord!

His original body was that of a Variant Seed Ancient Overlord Pig, possessing exceptional natural endowments.

In years past, Zhu Jiushi had a stroke of good fortune. He devoted himself to arduous cultivation and, without a sound, transformed from a wild boar in the mountains into a Variant Seed Ancient Overlord Pig.

Then, after emerging from seclusion, he stunned the world with his prowess, single-handedly defeating heroes from all sides. He was valued by the Thunder Eagle Demon Saint, who took him as a disciple.

From that point on, Zhu Jiushi’s destiny soared. He advanced by leaps and bounds, sweeping through all directions. Eventually, he became one of the six great Tao Species of the Dragon God Sacred Land, making a name for himself in the Endless Sea Area.

"So this is the vanguard army under the command of Xuan Guangqiao? Indeed extraordinary," Zhu Jiushi whispered in admiration.

The gale howled, stirring waves upon the sea surface. The sprawling armies of both sides, spanning dozens of miles, stood immovable as mountains, separated by multilayered defensive lines, teeming with soldiers.

The formidable warships, like icebergs upon the sea, bore Zhu Jiushi as well as many Sea Area Monarchs who had pledged allegiance to him.

The wind wailed, causing the war flags on the ships to flutter and snap.

"All forces, attack!" Zhu Jiushi waved his hand, issuing the command.

The signal soldiers danced their war flags, spreading his will.

BOOM! RUMBLE! RUMBLE!

A vast Beast Swarm, comprising Thunder Rocs, Water Sharks, and other Ferocious Beasts, began to roar and charge. Their tremendous momentum caused even the gale to pause momentarily.

The Overbearing Pig Demon Soldiers, too, took advantage of the ferocity of the beasts to launch their own offensives.

Mighty and overwhelming, they aimed to crush the Nine Poison Troops with their formidable force.

There’s more than one Slave Tao master... Zhang Fan gnashed his teeth, bellowing, "Defend! Defend with all your might!!!"

On the battlefield, practitioners of Slave Tao were the most hated by their opponents.

They could readily cope with the chaos of battle and demonstrate a level of skill that could be described as artistry.

They truly had the ability to turn the tide of a battle!

"What is this!?"

"Don’t run! Don’t run! Quickly activate the Energy Array!"

"Zhu Jiushi wants to wipe us out in one fell swoop and quickly end the battle! He’s deployed all his forces!!!"

The Nine Poison Troops were thrown into disarray, intimidated by the massive onslaught of the Beast Swarm.

Fortunately, Zhang Fan’s furious voice rang out, and countless Demon Skills and Energy Arrays were activated.

In an instant, the defenses of the Nine Poison Troops erupted with wind blades, poison mist, and other attacks.

But Zhu Jiushi’s power was too great. Especially with the assistance of several Slave Tao masters, his forces slaughtered the Nine Poison Troops until they were in complete disarray.

Even with Zhang Fan personally joining the fray, he could not prevent the defensive line from collapsing.

Within less than two hours, Zhang Fan had no choice but to lead his decimated troops in a shameful retreat.

This battle nearly wiped out his Nine Poison Troops!

[Life Span +701]

[Life Span +831]

[...]

[Life Span: 2,561/71,462 → 2,561 → 100,352]

[Talent: 77 → 79]

「The Zero Desolate Army, the Monarch’s Main Camp.」

Engaged in cultivation and attempting a breakthrough to the fifth-tier high level, Hong Yuan suddenly opened his eyes.

Shuang Yuesheng has already been defeated by Lang Fanyun. Now, it must be Zhang Fan who has been defeated by Zhu Jiushi.

"An ill wind blows. I hope Li Jianqiu can hold the Gale Sea Area," Hong Yuan sighed softly.

Though his talent and Life Span had improved, with his Life Span reaching the impressive milestone of one hundred thousand, he couldn’t feel truly happy.

It was all happening too fast. Far too fast.

The speed at which his opponents breached his defenses far exceeded his expectations. If possible, he would prefer to take down his opponents without crossing blades, not exposing his true strength. Victory alone was not his only desire.