Chapter 239

Tiger-Chasing withdrew entirely to their Central Camp eight hundred miles behind, while Eastern Wilderness resumed their westward advance after securing the battlefield.

The Great Prince appeared dissatisfied with merely holding half the southwestern territory and sought to seize the remaining half conquered by Tiger-Chasing in a single decisive push.

With no time to mourn fallen comrades, Tiger-Chasing’s armies and cultivators immediately reorganized after retreating, preparing for the impending clash between the Two Dynasties.

At this critical phase, Spirit Communication cultivators—the pinnacle forces of both sides—were mobilized across strategic locations.

Though Tiger-Chasing’s three pillars of national combat strength now guarded the western, southern, and northern borders, leaving them unable to join the fight, Eastern Wilderness faced its own dilemma. The untamed eastern frontier posed a threat no less severe than the three-front dynasty pressure confronting Tiger-Chasing.

Nevertheless, as the Great Prince inheriting most of the former Eastern Wilderness Dynasty’s legacy, he commanded slightly more Spirit Communication cultivators and titled real persons than Tiger-Chasing.

Northern Front:

Eastern Wilderness deployed five Spirit Communication cultivators: one early-stage, two mid-stage, and two late-stage. They were also accompanied by a titled real person at the perfect realm of Spirit Communication.

Tiger-Chasing mustered only four:

– Tao Yuan, Master of ChengTian Academy: twelfth level, perfect realm of Spirit Communication, Tiger-Chasing’s foremost scholarly cultivator.

– Du Yuan, City Lord of Wang Hai City: ninth level, late-stage Spirit Communication.

– Lu Changfeng, Hall Master of Divine Governance: ninth level, late-stage Spirit Communication.

– Feng Xiaotian, Feng family Elder: sixth level, mid-stage Spirit Communication.

The four stood against Eastern Wilderness’ six.

“City Lord Du,” taunted an Eastern Wilderness Spirit Communication cultivator through spiritual transmission, “shouldn’t you be guarding Wang Hai City instead of sightseeing here?”

Du Yuan shook his head. “Friend, you’ve mistaken directions. Your Eastern Wilderness lies behind me. This ground beneath me belongs to Tiger-Chasing.”

A female Eastern Wilderness cultivator familiar with Lu Changfeng remarked, “Hall Master Lu, you’ve aged since we last met.”

“Heh.” Lu Changfeng chuckled dryly. “Half a feast left uneaten keeps a man restless. Aging’s inevitable.”

Another voice, addressing Feng Xiaotian, prodded, “Elder Xiaotian, why abandon your books to meddle in warfare?”

Instead of a scholarly retort, the response erupted as a vulgar snarl:

“Screw your mother’s rotten eggs! You’ve barely flipped through three pages and dare lecture me? My granddaughter died here! I’ll slap your teeth out unless you kowtow!”

As the curses echoed, a faint beam of light streaked across the sky—invisible to Gathering Qi and Condensing Essence cultivators, but clear to all Spirit Communication observers.

Unnoticed by most, the Master of ChengTian Academy and Eastern Wilderness’ titled real person had already clashed.

In the next moment, both individuals returned to their respective positions.

"Master Tao, how skilled is he?" Du Yuan transmitted.

"A newly ascended titled real person, young but competent," answered Tao Yuan in his dark green robe, appearing completely composed as though he’d never clashed with a real person.

The title of "real person" denoted achievement rather than cultivation realm. Any Canglan cultivator reaching perfect Spirit Communication could perceive celestial truths and enter the "True Self Cave" realm.

This realm contained the "True Self Catastrophe" trial. Successful challengers gained their Title of True Master displayed upon Canglan’s central region’s Pathseeking Peak. Jia Huairen, Xing Jiuli, and Ji Ci had all earned their titles thus.

Though the Master of ChengTian Academy had reached Twelfth Level Spirit Communication, he lacked such title not from weakness, but disinterest. The Immortal Patrol Office, Exterminate Evil Division, and Prison – all Tiger-Chasing Dynasty subsidiaries – required their leaders to hold titles demonstrating national might.

ChengTian Academy maintained cooperative ties with the He Family rather than dynastic control. Combined with Tao Yuan’s indifference to fame, the title meant little to him.

Brushing ash from his fingers, Tao Yuan added, "I can manage him, but fighting would occupy my full focus. You three would face greater pressure."

"Ha! Don’t worry, Master!" Feng Xiaotian boomed, still enraged by Feng Lingyue’s death. "I brought every hidden asset to make these Eastern Wilderness saviors regret crossing us!"

Lu Changfeng nodded. "Though perilous, this battle can’t compare to our dynasty-founding war."

Central Frontline:

The Eastern Wilderness deployed ten Spirit Communication cultivators – eight above Eighth Level late-stage practitioners, plus two veteran real persons personally selected by the Great Prince.

Their formidable lineup faced northwest Canglan’s sole Spirit Communication Martial Cultivator – Tiger-Chasing’s West Concubine Yu. Single-handedly commanding 300,000 troops, she’d forced eight Eastern Wilderness cultivators and two titled real persons into 100-mile retreat.

The ten invaders remained cautiously outside her black blade’s reach. Even the two perfect real persons avoided addressing West Concubine Yu directly. All knew this battlefield demon followed no rules – exposed necks invited instant decapitation. None courted such misfortune.

Southern Frontline:

Matching northern deployments, the Eastern Wilderness force confronted Tiger-Chasing’s four defenders:

– Sikong Shang: Twelfth Level perfect Spirit Communication, head of royal martial academy

– He Dingshan: Ninth Level late-stage Spirit Communication, current He Family Master

At the sixth level, mid-stage of Spirit Communication, was the Sect Master of Daoyuanshan, Lu Hefe.

At the fourth level, mid-stage of Spirit Communication, stood the Master of Wanhuamen, Cao Xiang.

The four individuals sat rigidly within their formation, gazing at the spectral projections clashing high above.

Compared to the northern front, tension hung thicker in the southern region. Both sides had already traded several strikes through their skyborne avatars.

During this Eastern Wilderness counterattack, all four families had lost promising juniors.

Daoyuanshan suffered particularly – both Chu Hao and Qi Wei had been destined to achieve Condensing Essence.

Yet both perished during the Eastern Wilderness encirclement.

Had the other three leaders not restrained him, Lu Hefe would’ve stormed the enemy camp despite the opposing titled real person’s presence.

"Hefei, your fury is justified," Sikong Shang cautioned, "but charging blindly into their numerical advantage risks ambush. We must bide our time."

Like Tao Yuan, Sikong Shang bore no Title of True Master.

But where Tao Yuan disdained such honors despite his strength, Sikong Shang had failed his True Self Catastrophe trial.

This made him less confident than Tao Yuan when facing Eastern Wilderness’ titled real person.

"Master Sikong speaks wisdom," Cao Xiang agreed. "Their posturing aims to lure you out."

"Patience, Sect Master Lu," He Dingshan added. "When the Emperor’s order arrives, we two shall join your charge!"

Lu Hefe clenched his jaw, smothering his rage. He knew the stakes. Alone, he could barely hold his own against a late-stage Spirit Communication cultivator.

Against a titled real person? No chance of survival.

His sect’s Elder, confined to Daoyuanshan’s caverns by dwindling lifespan, could’ve scattered these five cultivators with golden thunderbolts – making even real persons retreat.

Across three battlefronts, stalemate settled.

Tiger-Chasing forces waited motionless for imperial commands.

The Eastern Wilderness host delayed advance as their Great Prince calculated costs – whether total war over half a territory proved worthwhile.

Having effortlessly seized southwestern lands, withdrawing now to split the gains seemed prudent.

True war might claim Spirit Communication cultivators and titled real persons, rendering victory hollow.

For three days, both sides awaited their masters’ decisions.

Then movement stirred at the Eastern Wilderness frontline’s Central Camp.

The West Concubine’s piercing vision spotted crimson light plunging into the enemy camp through hundred-mile dust clouds.

As the crimson light descended, three figures emerged.

The Great Prince of the Eastern Wilderness, clad in a crimson and gold imperial robe.

A slender female cultivator in red.

And a shadow crawling on all fours.

"Long live the Emperor! Ten thousand years!"

Every soldier and cultivator in the Central Camp prostrated themselves, chanting in unison.

The Great Prince gestured for them to rise. Gripping an iron chain, he ascended the observation platform flanked by the female cultivator in red and two titled real persons.

At the final steps, he tugged the chain and spoke softly, "Little Seven, hurry along."

"Y-yes!"

The chain’s other end bound a young cultivator resembling the Great Prince – the Seventh Prince who once ruled the Eastern Wilderness’ southwest. Hearing the command, he scrambled faster on hands and knees.

Soldiers and cultivators kept their gazes lowered. The shackles around the Seventh Prince’s neck had been clasped by his own hands when begging for mercy. Being led like a hound now brought him not shame, but relief. Constant defeats by Tiger-Chasing forces had left him trembling nightly, fearing being devoured alive. As the Great Prince’s "dog," such fears vanished.

Four figures and one "hound" reached the platform’s summit. The Great Prince settled into his throne while the Seventh Prince curled at his feet.

"Teacher," the Great Prince addressed the red-clad woman, "What odds would you give this war?"

"If Your Majesty desires victory," she answered without pause, "it’s certain." Her sidelong glance held unexpected tenderness.

"You test me again, Teacher." The Great Prince chuckled. "A victory costing eight hundred losses for a thousand enemy dead remains victory. Triumph without bloodshed is also victory. But true victory lies in seizing wealth and glory intact."

Admiration flashed in the female cultivator’s eyes. "Your Majesty speaks wisely. You already hold the answer."

The Great Prince rose wordlessly, turning not west toward Tiger-Chasing territory, but north. Before the two titled real persons could comprehend this, the Seventh Prince’s face lit with fervor.

"Brilliant! Only Elder Brother would see it! Why battle Tiger-Chasing when we can both strike north against Third Brother’s lands? Tiger-Chasing gains territory, we reclaim the dragon vein! Then we rebuild the vein, restore the Eastern Wilderness’ True Dragon power, and regain our glory!"

His gaze flicked to the female cultivator. "Elder Brother actually tamed this witch. Patricide meets matricide – perfect partners to upheave the great Eastern Wilderness. Their union births a demonic phoenix-dragon spawn that’ll-"

CRUNCH.

"AAAAGH! MY EYES!"

Darkness swallowed the Seventh Prince’s vision as searing pain erupted. "Little Seven," the Great Prince chided mildly, "You’re being loud."

The prince’s agonized shrieks died instantly, his body curling into a silent, trembling ball. The two titled real persons remained stone-faced – loyal retainers of the red-clad cultivator. Merely plucking eyes counted as mercy; were he not the Emperor’s dog, they’d have cast him into crimson torment.

"We’ll proceed thus," the Great Prince decided, stroking the quivering Seventh Prince. "I’ll find you better eyes later."

"Th-thank… Elder Brother."

"Dispatch envoys to Tiger-Chasing. We’ll negoti-"

BOOOOM!

A thunderous roar split the western sky. From roiling clouds plunged a five-clawed Golden Dragon, blazing like the great sun itself. Golden radiance bathed the land in imperial majesty.

The female cultivator in red flicked an incantation, severing the Great Prince’s senses. But the dragon’s image had already seared his mind – she felt his composure crack, fury blazing in the eyes.

"Damned beast!"

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