Northern Defense Line!
"Commander, reinforcents from the Capital have arrived!"
For a heartbeat, Commander Wei Zongyuan wondered if he had misheard.
(Reinforcents-finally!)
His shoulders, which had been tense for days on end, loosened. A low exhale escaped him, half-relief, half-astonishnt.
He wasn't the only one.
Cheering erupted across the command platform. Officers who had been silent monts ago bowed their heads, so hiding the wetness in their eyes.
They were exhausted.
They were scared.
They had lost too many n.
They were close to breaking.
And yet, through grit alone, they had held the defense line that protected millions of people of the Empire.
"They finally ca!"
"They surely took their ti. I just hope they brought at least one Immortal Realm Cultivator."
"They should have, after we sent the report highlighting the possibility of an Immortal Realm Demonic Beast leading the Beast Tide!"
"Let's go! We should discuss counterasures to deal with this Beast Tide as quickly as possible. We don't know how long these Demonic Beasts will keep holding back before they send all their forces."
They were happy reinforcents finally ca, but they were also worried whether it would be enough.
They had sent reports detailing the size of the Beast Tide, but it was up to the War Council to decide how much reinforcent to send.
Wei Zongyuan imdiately straightened, authority returning to his posture.
The disaster wasn't dealt with, so he couldn't show weakness. He still needed to show he was a strong and reliable leader.
"Where are the reinforcents?"
Wei Zongyuan asked.
No answer was needed.
Thunderous sound filled the air, so loud that even the clashing battle below seed to montarily dim.
The officers lifted their heads.
The sky darkened.
Flying ships.
Not dozens.
Not hundreds.
Thousands.
A massive fleet of flying ships crossed the clouds, their silhouettes blocking the sunlight as they descended over the battlefield.
They flew in perfect formation-rows upon rows of sturdy, reinforced vessels built for war, their hulls marked with clan and military insignia.
At the front of the vast fleet were four behemoths-colossal flagships so large they dwarfed the fortresses below.
Their insignias burned brighter than the stars:
The Bai Clan.
The Li Clan.
The Zhao Clan.
And finally the Imperial Family!
Four of the greatest powers in the Empire, arriving in their signature fleets.
Wei Zongyuan had expected reinforcents-maybe a few tens of thousands of elite cultivators, maybe a handful of Great Ascension Elders.
He had never imagined this.
Even he, a veteran commander who had seen hundreds of battles, felt his heartbeat stumble.
He stood on the battlents, speechless, gazing up at the massive silhouettes cutting through the heavens.
The sight alone shook the desperate battlefield.
Even the Demonic Beasts seed to feel it. They roared angrily-so tried to attack the giant flying ships, only to be killed within seconds.
After all, all the flying ships were equipped with powerful weapons, so even capable of killing Great Ascension Realm cultivators-like the Bai Clan's warships.
Not to ntion, tens of thousands of cultivators stood ready on the ship decks, prepared to slaughter the Demonic Beasts.
They had not co to reinforce a dying front.
They had co to crush the Beast Tide.
With a fleet of this scale, the Northern Defensive Line would not be overrun today.
For the first ti in ten days, Wei Zongyuan's chest fully expanded with a deep breath.
The commander, who had been ready to die at this wall, felt the crushing weight of responsibility ease at last.
With such a fleet overhead, there was only one thought left-
The Northern Line would stand.
No-it must stand.
Otherwise, if even with the support from every sect and clan it fell, then they could say goodbye to the Desolate Heaven Empire as they knew it.
"Let's go greet them!"
Wei Zongyuan said excitedly.
***
Commander Wei Zongyuan waited as the fleets began their descent.
Thick clouds parted as a thousand ships reduced speed in perfect formation.
The foremost flying ships-four towering flagships-were the first to land followed by others.
Giant gangway platforms unfolded, locking into the battlents with thunderous vibrations.
Wei Zongyuan swallowed once, adjusted his armor, and stood with his officers to receive the arriving forces.
Bootsteps echoed.
Banners fluttered.
And then-
Figures landed.
Wei Zongyuan's breath stopped.
The Clan Leaders themselves had co.
Bai Tianheng of the Bai Clan.
Li Jianhong of the Li Clan.
Zhao Wutian of the Zhao Clan.
Three people who controlled almost 50 percent of the Empire's military strength strode forward calmly, their re presence suffocating to the onlookers.
Wei Zongyuan's mouth went dry.
(They... they actually ca themselves!?)
He barely had ti to recover before more spiritual pressures landed in succession-
One.
Two.
Three.
Shock after shock.
Sect Leaders of various great sects-including Heaven Sword Sect, Crimson
Thunder Palace, and Azure Sun Holy Sect-stepped off their ships.
Wei Zongyuan's mind was spinning.
He had ntally prepared for maybe a few high-level Elders.
But this...
This was on a completely different scale.
Then-
From the Royal Fleet, a massive golden emblem shone as a grand platform descended.
War Minister Xiu Yucheng stepped forward, robes billowing in the wind, expression solemn yet composed.
Wei Zongyuan instantly bowed.
"Your Excellency!"
But before Xiu Yucheng could speak-
Three more figures stepped off behind him.
Two young n in imperial armor.
A young woman in phoenix robes.
The Third Prince, the Seventh Prince, and the Fourth Princess.
Wei Zongyuan was frozen in place.
(Even the Prince and Princess!?)
He had never felt both so honored and so horrified at the sa ti.
A high-level Beast Tide was dangerous.
Yes!
But... it wasn't to the level of needing to mobilize the highest ruling powers of the Empire!?
His thoughts were thrown further into chaos as more figures descended from the flagship-n and won whose cultivation was so deep that even Wei Zongyuan, a Great Ascension expert, could not see their boundaries.
Immortal Realm! He certain about that.
Not two.
Not three.
At least ten by sight.
Wei Zongyuan felt chills race down his spine.
He couldn't imagine how the Empire had emptied this much power into one battlefield.
He forced his breath steady and saluted deeply.
"Wei Zongyuan greets the War Minister, the honored princes and princess, and the Leaders of all Clans and Sects!"
His voice carried across the platform.
He felt many eyes land on him. Wei Zongyuan beca nervous thinking about the ranks of the people present.
War Minister Xiu Yucheng stepped forward, speaking calmly. "Commander Wei. You have held the defense line well. The Empire owes you and your soldiers a debt of blood."
Wei Zongyuan felt his chest tighten but kept his voice steady.
"This is our duty!"
Xiu Yucheng nodded.
"You fought well. We mobilized almost all available forces."
Mobilized... all?
Wei Zongyuan didn't know why they had gone to such lengths, though it was good to see that the Empire's powers were willing to set aside their grudges and work together.
Xiu Yucheng continued.
"I know you may think it was overkill to bring such a force-but you will understand the reason soon. And we need to co up with the best strategy to overco this situation!"
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