Chapter 1019: The Grand Strategy

Chapter 1019: Grand Strategy

Everyone’s eyes were fixed on Ye Chen, placing all their hopes on him.

Ye Chen didn’t refuse. He didn’t care who became the commander-in-chief of Da Chu, but since everyone approved of him, there was no need to be overly modest.

Moreover, while the title of Da Chu’s commander-in-chief seemed like a glorious position, it was, in fact, a heavy burden. Every decision he made concerned the lives of countless people and could determine the outcome of the entire war. One who bore such supreme glory must also be prepared to face potential infamy.

“Ji Tu!”

Ye Chen spoke up, not wasting any more time on pleasantries, as the Tian Mo army could attack at any moment.

Hong Chen Xue immediately understood and formed a hand seal with one hand.

Instantly, the entire Heavenly Court hall hummed and trembled.

Then, a vast star map appeared, with shattered stars like dust, impossible to count. Stars of various colors flickered with different lights, vibrant and dazzling, truly resembling a real starry sky.

“This is…”

The descendants of the emperors and the kings of past generations all rose to their feet, their expressions filled with astonishment. With their level of insight, they could naturally discern the extraordinary nature of this star map, which was constructed from countless secret techniques and divine powers, its mysteries difficult to fathom.

“This is the Tai Gu Xing Tian Tu,” said Tai Xu Gu Long, the one who had created it, rising to his feet with a leisurely tone. “As you can see, it is not a real starry sky but an imitation created using profound secret techniques. It can independently capture the opportunities of heaven and earth. Of course, its greatest function is for surveillance and observation.”

“Surveillance and observation?”

“Come, look here.” Tai Xu Gu Long pointed to one section of the star map. “That’s Qian Qiu Ancient City in Nan Chu. In that area, each star represents a person. Yellow stars indicate Zhen Yang Jing, purple ones indicate Ling Xu Jing, red ones indicate Kong Ming Jing, and gold ones indicate Quasi-Tian Jing.”

“This can even show that?” The kings of past generations and the emperor descendants were stunned.

“That’s Dong Yue, that’s Xi Shu, that’s Nan Jiang, that’s Bei Chuan.” Tai Xu Gu Long continued pointing at the stars. “Stars of different colors represent cultivators of different cultivation levels. When they move, it means those people are moving, and you can see clearly where they’re going.”

“How formidable!” Even Mo Wang Kui Yu Jiang, known for his composure, couldn’t help but exclaim in admiration.

“With this Tai Gu Xing Tian Tu, it’s no wonder the Shi Xue Dian suffered such a devastating defeat.” Shi Hun Wang took a deep breath, his voice laced with shock.

“The one who created this technique must be an unparalleled master.” Yao Wang inhaled deeply, his golden eyes filled with reverence.

“Da Chu Heavenly Court is full of talents; no wonder we lost so miserably.” Wu Zhu Wang and the others chuckled self-deprecatingly.

“With this Tai Gu Xing Tian Tu, we are like tigers with wings.”

“Let’s discuss the strategy.” Amidst the exclamations, Ye Chen spoke again, and the hall fell silent at once.

“Although Nan Chu is not as vast as Bei Chu, its territory is still extensive and fertile.” Ye Chen explained, continuously pointing at the Tai Gu Xing Tian Tu. “Next, we will divide Nan Chu into five major regions: Dong Yue Region, Nan Jiang Region, Xi Shu Region, Bei Chuan Region, and Zhongzhou Region. We will deploy half of Da Chu’s cultivators to guard these five regions, and correspondingly, each region will establish its own Tai Gu Xing Tian Tu.”

“Allow me to interrupt.” Mo Yuan, the first divine general of Sheng Dian, spoke up thoughtfully. “Nan Chu’s walls stretch across the east and west ends. If the Tian Mo want to take Nan Chu, they must breach those walls. Yet, my friend, you’re not concentrating all of Da Chu’s forces at the walls; instead, you’re splitting half to guard the five regions of Nan Chu. Could they possibly attack from the rear?”

“Senior, have you forgotten the recent war in Bei Chu?” Ye Chen replied calmly. “The Tian Mo attacked from both front and rear, nearly wiping out Da Chu’s cultivators. Do you know why such a massive Tian Mo army appeared behind us?”

“I must admit, I’m quite puzzled.” Mo Yuan stroked his chin, and he wasn’t alone—many in the hall shared the same doubt. “The Tian Mo army circling to our rear was completely beyond our expectations.”

“They didn’t circle around to the rear of Da Chu’s cultivators.” Ye Chen revealed the secret.

“They didn’t circle? Did they fly over?”

“It was a transmission domain gate.” Tai Xu Gu Long explained leisurely. “The Tian Mo used the transmission domain gate to reinforce their troops behind Da Chu’s cultivators and launch a pincer attack.”

“Impossible.” Da Chu Huang Xuan immediately objected. “Constructing a transmission domain gate requires creating a spatial channel, especially one spanning hundreds of thousands of miles. It would take centuries to build! Or are you saying they had it ready before the Tian Mo invasion?”

“It’s an emperor-level transmission domain gate, specifically an emperor-level fixed-point transmission domain gate.” Zi Xuan explained. “As long as the distance allows, they can deploy it anywhere to establish a temporary spatial channel. The Tian Mo are fully capable of that.”

“Emperor-level fixed-point transmission domain gate.” Whether the kings of past generations or the emperor descendants, they all exchanged glances. What Tai Xu Gu Long and Zi Xuan described far exceeded their knowledge.

“So, does that mean the Tian Mo could infiltrate Nan Chu through that emperor-level fixed-point transmission domain gate at any time?” Xing Wang frowned as he looked at Tai Xu Gu Long and the others.

“Just as you think.”

“This…” The faces of everyone in the hall darkened instantly.

“This war is turning out to be even more absurdly difficult than we imagined!”

“We thought holding the walls would secure Nan Chu, but now it seems we not only have to defend the walls but also prepare for Tian Mo attacks from behind. For Da Chu’s cultivators right now, that’s an enormous burden.”

“Open attacks are easy to defend against, but hidden ones are hard to guard.”

“If the Tian Mo coordinate an inside-out attack, Da Chu’s cultivators will have nowhere to retreat.”

Even the kings of past generations now realized the severity of the issue, understanding just how crucial Ye Chen’s strategy of dividing forces to guard Nan Chu’s regions was.

“Da Chu Imperial Clan and the Assassin Divine Dynasty will guard Dong Yue.”

“Moon Emperor’s Guang Han Palace and the Netherworld Underworld will guard Nan Jiang.”

“Xuan Emperor’s Tian Long Holy Sect and the Shi Hun Clan will guard Xi Shu.”

“Dong Emperor’s Tian Fu God and the Yao Clan will guard Bei Chuan.”

“War King’s Jiu Tian Zhan Long Zong and the Yin Ming Holy Domain will guard Zhongzhou.”

“Tian Zang Emperor’s Tian Dian, the Gui Clan, Tai Wang Holy Hall, and the Wu Zhu Clan will serve as the reserve army, ready at all times to support the five regions and the Nan Chu walls.”

“You’re not including us in this, Commander?” Xue Wang and Mo Wang both remarked lightly.

“Of course not.” Ye Chen smiled and looked at Xue Wang and Mo Wang. “The entire Xue Clan and Mo Domain will go to the Nan Chu walls.”

“Excellent.” The kings of past generations all cracked their necks. After their humiliating retreat from Bei Chu, they were now fully geared up to fight the Tian Mo army to the death.

“All of Da Chu’s alchemists will head to Dan City.” Ye Chen continued slowly, glancing at a black-robed figure sitting behind Mo Wang—that was Dan Mo, an elder of frightening seniority, the grand-uncle of Dan Chen and the others.

“Understood.” Dan Mo replied indifferently, without any objection.

“This will be a prolonged war.” Ye Chen withdrew his gaze. “Bei Chu has already fallen, and Nan Chu’s cultivation resources dwindle with every use. We need Dan City to provide a steady supply of pills.”

As he mentioned pills, Ye Chen turned his eyes to everyone present. “Forgive my boldness, but may I ask who holds the other half of the Tian Ji Dan? I’d like to borrow it.”

“Tian Ji Dan?” The kings’ eyebrows all raised in unison, their gazes fixing on Shi Hun Wang.

“I’ve already consumed it.” Shi Hun Wang coughed dryly. Back then, Shi Xue Yan Luo had used that half of the Tian Ji Dan as the price to summon many great powers from the Shi Hun Clan, but in the end, the outcome remained unchanged.

However, Shi Hun Wang’s words made everyone’s looks toward him turn strangely judgmental.

You’ve already consumed it? You’re quite bold. After swallowing half a Tian Ji Dan, we don’t see your cultivation soaring—hope it doesn’t make you burst.

Ye Chen felt a bit regretful. He had thought he could gather a full Tian Ji Dan for research or have a Quasi-Tian peak cultivator take it, potentially breaking through to the Tian realm. If Da Chu had a Tian realm expert now, the situation would be entirely different.

But it was just his luck that it had already been consumed.

The kings of past generations understood Ye Chen’s thoughts well. Da Chu desperately needed a Tian realm expert right now. If any emperors were still alive, the Tian Mo would never dare act so brazenly.

“With your alchemy skills and having half a Tian Ji Dan in hand, are you still worried about refining one?” As everyone felt regretful, Dan Mo remarked sarcastically.

As soon as he spoke, all eyes shifted from Shi Hun Wang to Ye Chen. No one in the hall was foolish; from Dan Mo’s words, it was clear that the other half of the Tian Ji Dan was with Ye Chen.

At once, everyone’s gazes turned peculiar again.

Back when Tian Xuan Gate auctioned the Tian Ji Dan, the kings of past generations, the emperor descendants, and many veteran cultivators of Da Chu had all joined the scramble. But with the Quasi-Tian experts restraining each other, only those at Ling Xu Jing and Kong Ming Jing levels ended up competing.

In the end, Shi Xue Dian’s experts took the Tian Ji Dan, but only half of it—the other half mysteriously vanished.

Those days, Shi Xue Dian searched frantically, investigating all the major forces in Bei Chu, yet found no trace.

Now, learning that the other half was with Ye Chen, their expressions were anything but normal. At that time, Ye Chen was only at Ren Yuan Jing—or wait, perhaps Ning Qi Jing. What incredible luck!

“To be honest with everyone, Senior Dan Chen and I did gather the materials to refine the Tian Ji Dan.” Ye Chen said slowly. “We tried to refine it, but we ended in failure.”

“If even you two couldn’t refine it, then no one in Da Chu could.”

“But that’s not necessarily true.” Dan Mo smiled faintly and slowly stood up, gliding out of the Heavenly Court hall like a ghost. “Just wait for my good news. If I can truly refine a Tian Ji Dan and create an emperor for Da Chu, it would be quite the legend.”