In single combat, he was no match for Hou Yuxiao. The Yucheng King and Yongwei King were also severely suppressed by Chu Kuangren and Lu Kangping. If those two million Red Flame Army arrived, with their oppressive energy, the three of them would be in even more dire straits. They might not even have the chance to escape.

"Run!"

On the other side, in the minds of Yucheng King and Yongwei King, Wanyan Jun's voice echoed. The two looked back at the cloud of blood-red energy, immediately nodded in understanding, and while dealing with Chu Kuangren and Lu Kangping, they retreated eastward.

"Dignified Princes of the Great Jin, yet so cowardly and timid, laughable!"

Hou Yuxiao's taunt made Wanyan Jun more certain of his decision to retreat. He came here to scout Hou Yuxiao's whereabouts. With two million Red Flame Army here and Hou Yuxiao, Chu Kuangren, and Lu Kangping all present, there was no need to stay any longer.

With just the three of them, they couldn't even fight Hou Yuxiao, let alone the two million Red Flame Army. Since it was confirmed that Hou Yuxiao intended to attack Hulao Pass, his most pressing task was to notify the Hulao Pass garrison and muster troops to encircle and suppress these two million Red Flame Army.

"Hou Yuxiao, don't be so conceited. Our Great Jin's strong armies are countless. With merely your two million Red Flame Army, dreaming of rampaging about, it's sheer delusion. Once my armies arrive, you'll be crushed to dust, hmph!"

Wanyan Jun was still furious. Unable to defeat Hou Yuxiao, now having to flee in disgrace, the spreading of this news would certainly dent the reputations of himself, the Yucheng King, and the Yongwei King. But for the great cause of the Holy Dynasty, he had no choice but to swallow this humiliation.

"Crush to dust, just with you, a cowardly mouse?"

Hou Yuxiao continued to mock, his spearplay growing fiercer, each strike aiming directly at vital points. Lu Kangping and Chu Kuangren did the same. Clearly, they were strongly motivated to prevent Wanyan Jun and the other two from escaping.

This only confirmed Wanyan Jun's suspicions. Seizing an opportunity, he abruptly withdrew his martial spirit's avatar, leading the Yongwei King and Yucheng King in a frantic escape to the east.

"Cowardly mice, cowardly mice, die for me!"

"Don't let them escape, chase quickly."

Hou Yuxiao's furious voice, Chu Kuangren's thunderous roar of anger, and the trio's frenzied pursuit sent Wanyan Jun's heart racing, spurring him to hasten his flight.

With six Sub-Saints of Martial Dao, their speeds need no mention. The frantic chase did not last long, and soon only a hundred miles remained to Lingcang City. Spotting the city walls in the distance, Wanyan Jun felt a sense of relief without needing to look back. He could already guess the grim expressions on Hou Yuxiao and the others' faces would be, assuredly, not pleasing.

"Pingcheng King, they stopped chasing!"

When the three of them flew near Lingcang City, hearing Yucheng King's words, Wanyan Jun finally halted, turning to look behind. He could no longer sense the pursuit of Hou Yuxiao and the others. For caution's sake, however, they had run a bit farther.

As the trio approached, eight Lords led by the Marquis of Ziquan, who had been waiting in the city, all came out to greet them.

"Reporting to Pingcheng King, the three million troops of Jiuhua Dao, the two million troops of Gyeonggi and Shuofeng, and my command of fifty thousand Huben Guard are all ready to depart." The Marquis of Ziquan first bowed and reported.

Wanyan Jun nodded and directly ordered:

"Notify all armies to head to Hulao Pass. Also, send someone to warn the defenders at Hulao Pass to prepare for defense and guard against Hou Yuxiao leading an attack..."

At this point, Wanyan Jun paused, frowned, and shook his head, saying, "No, Hou Yuxiao, Chu Kuangren, Lu Kangping, the three Sub-Saints of Martial Dao, along with all the adept broken-realm figures from the three families, these two million are their trump cards, desperate to assault Hulao. They will certainly go all out. Though Hulao is strong, relying on Zuoqiuyuan alone, with his million troops, still seems somewhat uncertain."

The Yongwei King nodded and said, "Indeed, breaking Hulao is their final retreat option. If they fail to take Hulao Pass, the alliance will surely abandon them. Hou Yuxiao's recent frenzied pursuit has already made the situation clear."

Recalling the recent battle, the Yucheng King said gravely, "Hulao Pass cannot afford to fall. We must first go to assist, while the army can lag behind. We have over five million Sacred Army troops on hand, and once we arrive, the Hou Clan's two million Red Flame Army will pose no threat!"

Wanyan Jun lowered his head in contemplation for a moment, then looked at the group and said, "Have Yucheng King lead the army there. Yongwei King, along with you eight Lords, bring your Yuan Dan Realm and above martial experts, and accompany me to Hulao Pass, to aid Zuoqiuyuan in its defense."

Yucheng King nodded in agreement. With over five million Sacred Army troops at hand, even if Hou Yuxiao and his two million Red Flame Army appeared simultaneously, he would have no fear.

On one side, the Yongwei King also nodded in agreement.

"Your subordinate will obey the command!"

Marquis of Ziquan and the other eight marquises had no objections as well.

Soon, the eight marquises picked out all the experts in the military above the Yuan Dan Realm, totaling over two hundred people. Wanyan Jun wasted no words and led the more than two hundred people, Yongwei King, and the eight marquises directly flying towards the west.

Although there was only one official road connecting Cangyuan Mountain to Hulao Pass, with their cultivation, it wasn't difficult to take a detour. The Hou Clan's two million Red Flame Army, in marching to Hulao Pass, certainly wouldn't be faster than them.

Hulao Pass, the world's most majestic pass, is famously easy to defend and hard to attack. Zuoqiu Yuan originally had a million Sacred Army under him; it should be enough to hold it. Plus with their two hundred experts, even if Hou Yuxiao were to charge the pass at the cost of his life, it would be in vain.

By then, when the main force from Lingcang City arrives, the Hou Clan's proud two million Red Flame Army will inevitably be completely annihilated.

...

The moment Wanyan Jun fled to Lingcang City, Hou Yuxiao and his two companions had just flown back near Cangyuan Mountain, right next to the two million Red Flame Army.

Upon landing, the three of them immediately relaxed their previously tense expressions.

There wasn't a hint of panic on Hou Yuxiao's face. He turned to look at the east and sneered, "Playing along with this grand performance, now Wanyan Jun and his companions are probably secretly gloating..."

Chu Kuangren and Lu Kangping exchanged a glance, shook their heads slightly, and showed a slight smile, "After all, they escaped death, and they believed they had figured out the position of our two million Red Flame Army, confirming that we're targeting Hulao Pass. Now they should be in Lingcang City deploying their forces to launch an east-west pincer attack, wanting to obliterate us in Cangyuan Mountain or under the Hulao Pass."

Lu Kangping nodded, first smiled, then looked at Hou Yuxiao with eyes full of admiration, "Master of Hou Family is brilliant! The moment Wanyan Jun saw the red cloud of blood, he probably already confirmed it in his heart. When the three of us made a move, he became even more certain that we're going to strike Hulao. This way, the Great Jin's armies stationed in the three paths would almost all mobilize...

"Of course, it's brilliant. The entire world thinks we're heading to Dongyuan Path, but Master of Hou Family ingeniously bypassed to attack Lincang Path; Wanyan Jun, Marquis of Ziquan, Marquis Qingyang all thought we were going to attack Tao City, but we were aiming to assault Hulao Pass; now Wanyan Jun is moving the army towards Hulao Pass, and once he arrives there and finds us absent, he might just drop his eyes. Master of Hou Family's successive feints are truly godlike, turning the armies, three kings, and ten marquises into playthings, unnoticed. Mr. Chu is utterly convinced today!"

Chu Kuangren, although proud by nature, was neither reckless nor foolish. During this short period following the Hou Clan brothers, witnessing Hou Yuxiao's successive military maneuvers, he is genuinely impressed.

Across the world, it's unlikely to find another who could wield troops so divinely.

This is no mere Five Tigers of Hou Clan, but clearly five dragons!

Especially considering what they're about to do next, Chu Kuangren found himself increasingly awed and filled with admiration and fervor as he looked at Hou Yuxiao.

"A mere two million Red Flame Army trying to help allies, wanting to oppose Great Jin, is nothing but a fool's dream. To achieve greatness with little, we must rely on surprise. One surprise won't achieve much; only when everyone is unable to grasp our intentions can we accomplish great feats."

After speaking, Hou Yuxiao glanced east, a hint of ambition in his eyes. He took a deep breath, then turned back, signaling to Lu Kangping with his eyes.

Lu Kangping nodded, faced the two million Red Flame soldiers below, and announced loudly, "Remove armor, bury and mark the location, then everyone scatter and circle back to Jiuhua Dao."

"Yes!"

The two million soldiers responded in unison, gradually removing their red armor to reveal underneath a set of silver armor embossed with the Three Water Pattern.

These two million soldiers were not the Hou Clan's Red Flame Army.

Instead, they were the Lu Clan's... Hurricane Heavenly Army!