Fantasy: Unparalleled Prince, Conquering the Heavens!-Chapter 614 - 588: Deploying Troops_1

「Three days later!」

「The Imperial Palace!」

The ministers, having finished their cultivation, sat with solemn dignity. Their expressions were grave, and the atmosphere was somewhat heavy.

"Prime Minister, have the casualties been tallied?" Qin Wudao, clad in imperial robes and seated on the throne, regarded his ministers sternly and inquired in a deep voice. If one listened carefully, a hint of murderous intent could be detected in his tone.

"Your Majesty!" Zhuge Liang rose, holding a memorial, and bowed respectfully. "According to reports from the localities, a total of one hundred thirty-seven regions were attacked by the Great Dao."

"This includes ninety-eight cities, thirty-seven Spirit Mountains, and twelve blessed lands."

"The number of innocent commoners who perished is..."

"One billion, one hundred million people!"

As he uttered the final words, a palpable murderous intent also emanated from his voice.

"HISS!"

Upon hearing these figures, Guo Jia, Zhao Yun, Xiao He, Xiang Yu, and the others all drew a sharp breath, utterly aghast. They knew that many would die facing the Great Dao’s vengeful strike, but they had not anticipated such a staggering number of casualties.

"One billion, one hundred million people!" Qin Wudao’s heart quivered, his expression grim. His hands clenched into fists; his voice was icy, as if forced through gritted teeth. Faced with such massive losses, he could no longer maintain his composure. His concealed murderous intent erupted, overwhelming and blanketing everything.

When an emperor’s anger is aroused, rivers of blood flow for a thousand li!

The sky above the Imperial City was consequently veiled in a layer of blood-red light.

The heavens above the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court transformed; dark clouds amassed, lightning flashed, and thunder roared, as if the very firmament raged.

"Let me calculate!"

"Since the founding of the Qin Dynasty, the total number of commoners who have died in wars does not exceed one billion, one hundred million, does it?"

"This is the disgrace of the Qin Dynasty! It is my disgrace! And it is the disgrace of all of you, my ministers!"

Qin Wudao stood up, his eyes bloodshot, bellowing in rage, his voice thick with self-reproach.

He was the sovereign of the Qin Dynasty, the bulwark of the Qin people!

Yet, he had failed to protect them!

"Your ministers are guilty!"

All the seated ministers hastily rose, their heads bowed in deep shame.

Zhuge Liang, Xiang Yu, Xiao He, and other renowned ministers and generals of Huaxia, in particular, were overwhelmed with remorse.

"Since it is a disgrace, it must be washed away!"

Suddenly, Qin Wudao’s voice boomed, like a clap of thunder, reverberating through the imperial study.

"Your Majesty, this general requests to go into battle!" Lv Bu stepped forward, his expression cold, his gaze sharp and imperious, as he knelt on one knee to volunteer.

Zhao Yun, Xiang Yu, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Li Jing, and other generals said nothing, merely kneeling in silence. Their battle intent surged, piercing the heavens.

"Good!" Hearing the response he desired, Qin Wudao nodded in satisfaction, his face filled with murderous intent. He unsheathed the Xuanyuan Sword and commanded sternly, "For this battle, I will personally lead the campaign to raze the Eternal Temple!"

The Great Dao was formless. Even though he controlled the Heavenly Dao, he could not pinpoint the Great Dao’s specific location.

Across the continent, the only entity connected to the Great Dao was the Eternal Temple.

Beyond this, there was another crucial factor:

Expanding the territory of the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court to strengthen the Heavenly Dao’s power, thereby weakening the might of the Great Dao.

He had a premonition that the Great Dao was plotting an even greater conspiracy, related to the special physiques it had been collecting.

"Your Majesty, the State Preceptor and Venerable Cao are still in seclusion. We have no Demi Immortal experts to hold the fort. This minister advises postponing the dispatch of troops!" Xiao He, slightly alarmed, walked to the center of the hall and offered his counsel.

"My mind is made up!" Qin Wudao waved his hand, his voice firm and resolute.

Although his current cultivation was only at the Origin Great Emperor Realm, his actual combat prowess was by no means inferior to that of a Demi Immortal, especially within the borders of the Qin Dynasty, where he was virtually invincible.

"His Majesty is wise!" At this moment, Guo Jia stepped forward and cupped his hands in salute.

Xiao He turned, his face etched with incomprehension. In his opinion, this was clearly a very dangerous undertaking; why would Guo Jia agree?

Actually, this was related to Guo Jia’s strength.

Within the Imperial Court, Guo Jia’s cultivation was the highest. Utilizing his Fortune, he had successfully broken through to the Peak of the Hunyuan Great Emperor Realm. Despite this, when he looked at Qin Wudao, he still found him unfathomable.

This indicated that Qin Wudao’s strength was no weaker than the Semi-Immortal Realm.

"For this expedition, all major combat legions will accompany us. Affairs of the court will be handled by Prime Minister Zhuge and Minister Xiao in consultation!"

Seeing no objections, Qin Wudao’s majestic voice echoed through the court.

Disgrace!

It must be washed away with blood!

「The next day,」

Qin Wudao led the major combat legions of the Qin Dynasty in a mighty procession towards the Middle Region.

...

「Very soon!」

News of the Qin Dynasty’s military deployment spread like a hurricane across the entire Primeval Continent, causing tremendous upheaval and widespread apprehension.

"I hope the Qin Dynasty’s deployment is truly just for the Eternal Temple!"

In the Gu Clan Saintly Tribe, a middle-aged man muttered while reading an intelligence report.

It was common knowledge that the Eternal Temple had no army, relying on powerful individuals for combat. Yet, the Qin Dynasty had dispatched a massive army, which undoubtedly struck a sensitive chord with him.

"Ancestor! Ancestor! This is terrible!"

In the Ninefold Saint’s Court, Dongfang Huang, clutching an intelligence report, rushed into the Ancestral Hall, flustered, and reported in panic, "The... The Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court has mobilized its troops!"

"I am aware," Dongfang Wendao, seated, remained perfectly calm, his expression unchanged.

This composure unsettled Dongfang Huang, who asked again, "Ancestor, do you know who leads the Qin Dynasty’s army? It is Qin Wudao himself! Are you not worried in the slightest?"

"Worried about what?" Dongfang Wendao shook his head and retorted.

Dongfang Huang was taken aback. Wasn’t it obvious? They were surely worried that the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court would seize this opportunity to expand and attack the Ninefold Saint’s Court!

After all, the last time the Qin Dynasty had dispatched Bai Qi to attack the Myriad Demon Saint’s Court, they had ended up occupying six sacred lands. This time, Qin Wudao himself was leading the campaign...

"With the strength of the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court, even if they wished to attack us, we would be unable to stop them," Dongfang Wendao explained with a bitter smile, as if seeing through Dongfang Huang’s thoughts.

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Huang’s spirits sank.

...

"Master, the Qin Dynasty has launched its offensive!"

In the Eternal Temple, within the pitch-black main hall, the Soul Emperor reported.

"They’ve moved quite quickly, haven’t they?" ’Calamity’ frowned momentarily before his expression returned to normal. Since they were bound to face it sooner or later, what difference did it make if it was earlier or later?

"How many branches are still operational at present?" ’Calamity’ asked in a deep voice.

"Thirty-five remain. Six in the South Territory, nine in the North Territory, and twenty in the Middle Region!" the Soul Emperor reported immediately, without hesitation.

"Only that many?" ’Calamity’s’ heart sank, the pressure immense.

The Soul Emperor’s face turned grim. He recalled how, just a few years prior, the Eternal Temple boasted hundreds of branches, its influence spanning the continent. Its every move could stir tempests and inspire fear in billions of beings.

Yet, in just a few short years, it had declined to this state.

"Abandon the branches in the South and North Territories. Consolidate all forces at the eight branches near ’Endless Cliff’ and defend them with all your might!" ’Calamity’ pondered for a moment, then began to formulate a battle plan.