CHAPTER 444: CHAPTER 438: BIZARRE_1

Bu Pei knew that the final result of this battle would certainly be defeat. A powerful martial artist could influence the outcome of a war and change its course. Moreover, they were the weaker side; whether it was the disciples of the Sacred Land or the vassal legions, all were beaten into constant retreat.

"Marshal, an Imperial Realm Ancestor has fallen! We should retreat!" a confidant stepped forward and whispered into Bu Pei’s ear, his voice filled with intense concern.

The situation on the battlefield was critical. After the fall of the four Imperial Realm martial artists, the morale of the Qionghua Sacred Land’s disciples was greatly damaged. Some began to flee. If this continued, the battlefield would eventually collapse. Faced with this situation, not even the War God himself could turn the tide!

"Where else can we retreat?" Bu Pei asked, shaking her head as she clutched her sword.

The confidant fell silent. Behind them lay the Qionghua Road Domain; there was no path for retreat. Moreover, four Imperial Realm martial artists hovered above them. Retreating was far from simple.

"Spare those who surrender!" Guan Yu announced slowly, seeing the time was right. His voice was not loud, yet it echoed clearly in everyone’s ears, as if he spoke right beside them.

"I surrender!" A disciple from the Qionghua Sacred Land, without the slightest hesitation, threw down his weapon and knelt on the ground in surrender. He had completely lost the dignity of a martial artist.

In contrast, the vassal legions of the Qionghua Sacred Land did not surrender immediately. Instead, they looked to Bu Pei, awaiting her command. This made Guan Yu look deeply at Bu Pei.

"Relay the order! We surrender!" Bu Pei’s lips quivered. She sighed and chose to surrender.

Continuing this unwinnable war would only lead to more deaths and change nothing. It was better to survive than to let the soldiers sacrifice themselves needlessly. After all, the soldiers were merely following orders from their superiors; they bore little sin. Why should they atone for the sins of the Sacred Land’s high-ranking officers?

Upon hearing this, the soldiers from the vassal legions dropped their weapons one after another and squatted on the ground. Soldiers from the Fan Qiu Army, Long Plank Army, Ding Yang Army, and Blood Fight Army charged forward, collecting weapons, securing prisoners, and clearing the battlefield.

A gust of blood-laden wind swept through, sending a chill down everyone’s spine. The captive disciples and soldiers of the Qionghua Sacred Land curled up, a hint of sorrow in their eyes.

Actually, due to its location in the southern part of the East Border, the Qionghua Sacred Land’s climate was warmer than that of the Thousand Demon Saint’s Court and the Zixiao Sacred Land. The bright sun still hung high in the sky. The winter sun, its light descending lazily, bathed everything in a radiant glow.

In peaceful times, they would be lounging on rocking chairs, basking in the warm sun, gathered with family, and enjoying the New Year’s arrival. But now, war had shattered their warm winter, replacing it with an atmosphere of death and desolation. They did not know what fate awaited them, or if they would ever have a chance for a family reunion.

「Imperial Capital!」

The city’s buildings were blanketed in white snow. By calendar, it was nearly the New Year. In ordinary times, preparations would have long begun: couplets pasted, red lanterns hung, and New Year’s goods purchased. But now, the populace had no mind for celebration. The front lines were engulfed in fierce battles, the empire’s finest sons fighting and bleeding. How could they bring themselves to celebrate? If there was to be a New Year celebration, it would be one they all shared.

Inside the Imperial Palace, the New Year’s atmosphere was similarly absent. Officials hurried about their duties, constantly relaying reports from the front lines and arranging various matters. The entire Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court operated like a high-speed machine, where no single component could afford to err.

In the Imperial Study, Qin Wudao and several court officials were discussing important matters.

"Your Majesty, the main forces of the Qionghua Sacred Land and the Zixiao Sacred Land have been annihilated. Only the Thousand Demon Saint’s Court has encountered some difficulties!" Zhuge Liang, seated at the head of the officials, reported respectfully.

"Tell Zhao Yun not to be anxious; the court supports his plan!" Qin Wudao replied in a deep voice. He had also reviewed the intelligence and understood the predicament of the army on the northern front.

"Your Majesty is wise!" Zhuge Liang said with a smile.

"Your Majesty, according to reports from the Abyss Guard, the upper echelons of the three major powers have been making unusual movements recently!" Li Ru, who rarely spoke, stood up, his expression grave.

"You’ve noticed it too?" Jia Xu, sitting beside him, also rose and reported gravely, "Your Majesty, the Hidden Guard has also detected some issues. The upper echelons of the three major powers are moving towards the Kylin Road Domain!"

Are the three major powers forming an alliance? Preparing to make a final stand in the Kylin Road Domain? Xiao He wondered, his brow furrowed in thought.

"Your Majesty, honored sirs, the three major powers acted suddenly. Moreover, their fortunes have undergone slight changes, flowing towards the Middle Region!" Li Ru quickly added.

At these words, the expressions of everyone present changed dramatically. Normally, even if the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court conquered the territories of the three major powers, their fortune should flow towards the Qin Saint’s Court, not towards the Middle Region.

"Could it be the Sacred Lands backing the three major powers?" an official conjectured. He immediately flushed, recalling, "The Sacred Lands behind these powers signed a pact with the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court, making it impossible for them to interfere in the East Border’s affairs."

The others glanced at the official but paid him no further mind, continuing to ponder, trying to glean useful information from the limited intelligence.

About five minutes later, Zhuge Liang, Xiao He, and Guo Jia simultaneously looked up. Their movement drew everyone’s gaze.

"Prime Ministers, have you identified them?" Jia Xu asked. In terms of wisdom and strategy, he was still not on par with Zhuge Liang’s trio. He belonged to the second tier within the Qin Dynasty, yet even so, few across the continent could rival him.

"The Eternal Temple!" Zhuge Liang, Xiao He, and Guo Jia said in unison.

On the throne, Qin Wudao’s eyes narrowed. Prompted by the trio’s deduction, he too became certain that the power behind the scenes was the Eternal Temple. Given the current scale of the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court, it ranked among the top twenty on the entire Primeval Continent, even surpassing some weaker Sacred Lands. Constrained by the "Resurrection Pact," the various Sacred Lands would certainly not dare to offend the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court. The only powers that had not signed the "Resurrection Pact" and could threaten the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court were the Eternal Temple and Immortality Mountain.

Immortality Mountain could be ruled out first. They existed independently of the world, never interfering in continental conflicts, and only emerged if there was an upheaval on Immortality Mountain itself. Therefore, the only remaining suspect was the Eternal Temple. Furthermore, regarding motive, the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court had repeatedly disrupted the Eternal Temple’s plans. The two sides had long harbored a deadly enmity, making it plausible that the Eternal Temple was using the three major powers to retaliate.

"The Eternal Temple is currently at war with several Sacred Lands, so its focus won’t be on the East Border. However, for the stability of our frontline soldiers, Prime Minister Guo, I need you to make a trip to the front!" Qin Wudao said to Guo Jia after a moment’s contemplation.

"But Your Majesty, if I go to the front lines, what if Eternal Temple operatives raid the Imperial Capital?" Guo Jia’s first instinct was to refuse. In his heart, Qin Wudao’s safety was paramount.

"Do not worry. The Liang Mountain Legion is protecting the Imperial Capital from outside!" Qin Wudao waved his hand, stating firmly, "Our frontline legions are the very foundation of the Qin Dynasty Saint’s Court. We cannot afford any losses there!"

Seeing this, Guo Jia knew he couldn’t refuse and reluctantly accepted the task.