Chapter 1024: The Great Chu Expeditionary Force

Ye Chen descended from the city wall and flew towards the Tian Ting headquarters. His departure drew the attention of countless people.

Earlier on the Yun Tai, when Ji Ning Shuang tugged at his sleeve, everyone had seen it. The esteemed leader of Zheng Yang Sect and the proud Xuan Ling body was acting like a young girl pulling his sleeve, which spoke volumes.

Those who knew Ye Chen well had a strong intuition that he was about to undertake something earth-shattering.

Not long after, divine rainbows took off from various sections of the Nan Chu city walls. They came from different forces in Da Chu, with all sorts of identities, but the one thing they shared was that they were all in the Quasi-Tian Jing realm.

This wasn't limited to the Nan Chu city walls; the same happened across the five major domains of Nan Chu, as a multitude of Quasi-Tian Jing experts converged towards the Tian Ting headquarters.

In the dim night, within a massive underground palace at the Tian Ting headquarters, the space was filled with upright figures. There were the successive generations of kings, Tai Xu Gu Long, Zi Xuan, Ouyang Wang, Dao Huang, Du Gu Ao, Tian Zong Lao Zu, Zhong Jiang, and others.

Ninety thousand Quasi-Tian Jing experts?

The Da Chu Expedition Army?

A direct assault on the Qing Tian Mo Zhu?

Upon hearing Ye Chen's words, even the composure of all the Quasi-Tian Jing experts present couldn't help but change. An army of ninety thousand Quasi-Tian Jing experts was an awe-inspiring force. In the past, such a cultivator army could have swept away any faction in Da Chu.

Of course, what truly shocked those present was Ye Chen's audacity.

This was a time when Da Chu was at a complete disadvantage, with the Tian Mo potentially breaching the Nan Chu city walls at any moment. In the midst of this crisis, Ye Chen actually planned to withdraw eighty percent of Da Chu's Quasi-Tian Jing experts. This bold strategy was unimaginable, and few possessed Ye Chen's resolve.

Gui Wang furrowed his brow after the initial shock and looked at Ye Chen.

"We can't delay any longer."

"Leading away ninety thousand Quasi-Tian Jing experts and stepping into Bei Zhen Cang Yuan could mean total annihilation. Without them, how will Nan Chu stand against the Tian Mo army?"

"This is a massive gamble!" Mo Wang Kui Yu Jiang took a deep breath. "If we lose, it'll be utter ruin."

"Da Chu is already in a doomed situation without reinforcements. Defending to the end will only lead to defeat." Ye Chen's voice was hoarse. "If we can destroy the Qing Tian Mo Zhu, then even if we all perish, it will be worth it."

"Using surprise tactics to strike at the heart—it's your signature style!" Tai Xu Gu Long chuckled and shook his head.

"Though it's mad, it's straightforward." Ouyang Wang smiled with a touch of weariness. "We've lived on borrowed time anyway. If we can fight for a future for those who come after, dying early won't matter."

"Time is pressing. Does anyone have objections?" Ye Chen scanned the ninety thousand Quasi-Tian Jing experts.

"This king agrees." Yao Wang's voice was resolute. "Blindly defending is too stifling. Better to fight to the death and go out with a bang."

"I like the sound of that." Xue Wang and the others chuckled in agreement.

"We have no objections." The other successive kings nodded, as did Tai Xu Gu Long and the rest. With time so short, no one wasted it on pretense. Not a single one of the ninety thousand Quasi-Tian Jing experts opposed the plan.

"In that case, let's discuss the specifics." Ye Chen immediately unrolled a massive map, pointing to it as he spoke. "Ninety thousand people are too conspicuous, so we'll split into nine routes to infiltrate Bei Chu. Each of the successive kings will lead one group of ten thousand, and the rest will follow me. No matter what methods you use, you must avoid the Tian Mo army at all costs."

"Where will we rendezvous?" Zhong Li asked.

"At the border between Zhong Tong Da Di and Bei Zhen Cang Yuan: Di Zang Shan." Ye Chen pointed to a spot on the map.

"No more nonsense—let's move." Xing Wang was decisive, turning abruptly and striding out of the hall, with ten thousand Quasi-Tian Jing experts following him.

After Xing Wang, the other successive kings didn't linger, each leading their ten thousand Quasi-Tian Jing experts out of the underground palace.

As for the remaining group, they fell in step behind Ye Chen.

In the dark night, the nine routes of the Da Chu Expedition Army headed in various directions from Nan Chu. They all wore black robes and cloaks, concealing their auras, like silent assassins.

Though the Tian Mo army was vast, the Nan Chu city walls stretched over three million li, and not every section was guarded by them.

Ye Chen and his forces sought out those gaps. They couldn't afford to be detected, lest the demon lords of Bei Zhen Cang Yuan notice. As a surprise force, they needed to catch the enemy off guard to maximize the Da Chu Expedition Army's impact.

In the pitch-black night, the nine routes of the Da Chu Expedition Army found their breakthroughs and quietly crossed the Nan Chu city walls.

It's worth noting that as they left, they all instinctively glanced back at Nan Chu.

In a sense, this was a suicidal mission—most wouldn't return. Many of them were the patriarchs of their families, and before departing, it felt as if they could see their descendants from afar.

Even knowing the path ahead led to the gates of hell, no one hesitated. For the survival of future generations and the continuation of their legacies, these elderly figures were all-in, marching forward with a resolve to die.

"This journey likely means we won't come back." An aged elder gazed wistfully at the Nan Chu city walls.

"Let's go." Ye Chen took a deep breath, pulling his eyes away from Nan Chu, and was the first to step onto the lands of Bei Chu.

Following him, Tai Xu Gu Long, Zi Xuan, and the others quickly caught up.

They crossed through the Fan Ren realm.

The Fan Ren realm was now a scorched wasteland, its people having been evacuated by cultivators to Nan Chu, leaving their homes in ruins.

Along the way, they moved at incredible speed. With Tai Xu Gu Long's powerful divine sense, they evaded the Tian Mo army multiple times, skillfully slipping through the gaps each time.

At some point, Ye Chen halted on a mountain peak and instinctively turned, his brows furrowing as he gazed into the dark void, as if he could see a graceful figure through the emptiness.

Her tracking exposed, the void twisted slightly, revealing a fairy-like silhouette. She too wore a black robe and cloak—it was unmistakably Chu Ling Er.

"Why did you follow?" Ye Chen looked at Chu Ling Er, his brow creasing further. He knew the dangers ahead and didn't want her involved, yet she had trailed him unnoticed.

"I'm also in the Quasi-Tian Jing realm." Chu Ling Er approached, though she felt a bit guilty.

"Don't be foolish." Ye Chen said sternly, "Go back."

"You're trying to leave me behind again." Chu Ling Er lowered her eyes slightly, biting her lip. "My sister is gone, and I don't want to watch your back fade into the distance anymore. Even if it means death, I'll follow in your footsteps."

Ye Chen fell silent, a sharp pang of pain in his heart.

In the end, he said nothing more, turning quietly and stepping into the void first.

Seeing this, Chu Ling Er smiled softly and followed, stepping out as well. Since Ye Chen didn't send her away, it meant he accepted her joining the Da Chu Expedition Army on their way to Bei Chu.

Kill!

Not long after they left, shouts of battle erupted from the direction of Nan Chu.

As if viewing the heavens and earth, the Tian Mo forces were like a vast, dark ocean, surging with turbulent waves, intent on swallowing the Nan Chu realm.

Ji Ning Shuang had already drawn her killing sword, pointing it at the approaching Tian Mo lords.

With Ye Chen gone, she was now the commander on the Nan Chu city walls, while the five major domains of Nan Chu were left to the descendants of the emperors.

Boom! Bang! Boom!

Soon, thunderous roars echoed through the heavens and earth.

The battle was brutal. Tian Mo fell in droves, but they also surged onto the Nan Chu city walls in waves.

Fight!

The Da Chu cultivators roared with thunderous voices, their battle spirit soaring, charging forward relentlessly. Wave after wave fell, paying a bloody price to drive back the Tian Mo that had scaled the walls.

Blood stained the Nan Chu city walls red.