Seizing Destiny From Heavens Hands

Chapter 364: Taking the Initiative – Marching South

The news of Gu Ming’s emergence from seclusion quickly spread to Jing Nation.

After all, most of the demon race was straightforward by nature and not adept at concealment or deception.

Gu Ming’s return instantly boosted the morale of all demons, sweeping away the sluggishness of the past five years.

Anyone with a bit of sense could guess that Gu Ming had emerged.

For a time, dark currents surged through Yuzhou and Qianzhou.

Everyone was on high alert, wary of the demon army’s arrival.

Yet, after a long wait, the demon army merely advanced to the border of Wuzhou but did not continue northward.

It seemed as if they were waiting for something.

The cultivators defending the border remained on edge every moment.

They feared a sudden attack by the demons.

However, day after day passed.

The demons never advanced north.

The longer the stalemate dragged on, the more oppressive the atmosphere became for the human cultivators.

It felt like being stranded on a lone island while witnessing a colossal tsunami rising from the horizon.

The massive wave inched closer and closer.

Yet, there was nowhere to run, no means of escape.

Wuzhou, Three-Sect Alliance Grand Camp.

This stronghold was situated on a vast plain in central Wuzhou.

From here, a high-speed march of ten days could reach Yuzhou, and likewise, ten days would be enough to cross into the territory of the Ten Thousand Demons Nation.

To ensure efficiency in operations, the stationed cultivators in the camp were all at least at the Core Formation stage.

Even those responsible for logistics and supplies were required to be at the Foundation Establishment stage at minimum.

Additionally, three armored cloudships were hidden in the surrounding mountains.

These vessels moved faster than even Nascent Soul cultivators.

As long as they had a steady supply of top-grade spirit stones, they could circle around Wuzhou in just five days.

At this moment, inside the main discussion tent.

Shen Mo, Ouyang Lang, and Tong Yuan were gathered.

Seated beside them were Li Zhendao, Du Cangqing, and other key figures from their respective sects.

Tong Yuan frowned. “This situation can’t continue. Our numbers are far inferior to those of the Ten Thousand Demons Nation.”

“Maintaining such high alert every day is merely a waste of energy.”

“If we keep this up, by the time their army actually attacks, we’ll be completely exhausted.”

Li Zhendao, Yang Qiye, and Wan Muchun nodded in agreement.

There’s an old saying—strike while the iron is hot. If the momentum falters, morale will dwindle.

The Ten Thousand Demons Nation had deliberately deployed its army to the front lines, with its soldiers brimming with vitality, chanting praises to the Demon Emperor each day, shaking the heavens.

Yet, they did not launch an actual attack.

This pressure alone was enough to drain the human cultivators’ will to fight.

No one knew whether the Demon Emperor Gu Ming was truly among the ranks of the army.

Shen Mo chuckled. “They’re trying to deceive us so they can act elsewhere.”

He turned to Ouyang Lang. “Elder Ouyang, what’s the situation?”

Ouyang Lang spoke solemnly. “Just as Daoist Shen predicted, the Ten Thousand Demons Nation has launched an assault on the South Sea Flood Dragons.”

“And, the Demon Emperor Gu Ming is personally leading the charge. Their forces are unstoppable.”

Tong Yuan, Li Zhendao, and the others were visibly shocked.

They hadn’t expected Gu Ming to deliberately deploy his army at the border to create pressure.

In reality, he had freed up his forces to attack the South Sea Flood Dragons instead.

“The Four Seas Flood Dragons, if united, would be a formidable force.”

“The South Sea Flood Dragons alone are at least equivalent to three major sects.”

“However, even with that level of strength, they are still weaker than the Ten Thousand Demons Nation.”

“Besides, water demons are still demons. They only submit to the flood dragons, but now that Gu Ming’s power is at its peak, who knows how many water demons secretly revere him?”

“If a real battle breaks out, the South Sea Flood Dragons will undoubtedly collapse like a crumbling mountain.”

Shen Mo spoke gravely. “Before Gu Ming wages war in the north, his first move must be to eliminate the South Sea Flood Dragons.”

“Otherwise, once he marches north, the South Sea Flood Dragons will undoubtedly land ashore and attack us from behind, forming a pincer assault.”

As soon as Shen Mo finished speaking, the others nodded in agreement.

That makes sense.

Shi Jingtian scratched his head. “Then why didn’t Gu Ming wipe out the South Sea Flood Dragons earlier? Why wait until now?”

Shen Mo replied calmly, “No matter how divided the Four Seas Flood Dragons may be, they are still one family.”

“If Gu Ming were to exterminate one faction, he would inevitably offend the other three. The remaining flood dragons would not take it lightly.”

“The fact that he is acting now means the benefits have already been delivered.”

Shi Jingtian suddenly understood.

“So, what should we do now…?” Du Cangqing’s eyes burned with intensity.

Shen Mo spoke in a deep voice. “We take the initiative—march south and attack!”

“While Gu Ming’s main forces have yet to return, we should eliminate as many as we can.”

“The Eagle Clan is one of the most powerful among the demon race. According to intelligence, a medium-sized settlement of twenty thousand adult eagle demons is stationed here.”

Shen Mo extended a finger, pointing at a mountain range within the Ten Thousand Demons Nation.

This mountain range was very close to Wuzhou.

With a high-speed raid, they could reach it in just over ten days.

Shen Mo then pointed to several other locations.

“Here, here, and here—these are the settlements of the Tiger Clan, the Lion Clan, and the Bear Clan.”

“Surrounding these powerful tribes, there should also be some weaker subordinate clans. We can wipe them out along the way.”

Shen Mo drew a circle on the map. “If we can destroy these medium-sized settlements together, it will greatly weaken the morale and fighting spirit of the demon army.”

After hearing this, everyone’s spirits were lifted.

Indeed, this was an opportunity too rare to pass up.

In a war between two races, staying on the defensive was not an option. The best strategy was to take the fight to the enemy!

“However… medium-sized settlements are usually guarded by demon royals. We will have to split our forces.”

“If that happens, we might not be able to secure a swift victory,” Li Zhendao said solemnly.

A settlement with a permanent demon population of over twenty thousand was considered medium-sized.

Above that, those with a permanent population exceeding a million were classified as large-scale settlements.

Shen Mo smiled slightly. “That’s why we need to notify the other sects.”

“I believe they would be more than happy to join us.”

Tong Yuan and Wan Muchun nodded in agreement. “That makes sense!”

Cultivators from the northern regions of Jing Nation rarely encountered the demon race.

For them, slaying demons was also a way to earn merits.

With such an opportunity in front of them, who wouldn’t be tempted?

“Spread the word. We set out immediately! After taking the demon camp, we split our forces and march south!”

Shen Mo made the final decision.

“Yes!”

The gathered cultivators responded in unison.

That afternoon.

The Three-Sect Alliance camp moved out at full speed.

All Nascent Soul and Divine Transformation cultivators boarded the armored cloudships.

Core Formation cultivators advanced on the ground.

For three consecutive days, they marched at full speed.

Soon, Shen Mo and the other cultivators spotted the demon army’s camp.

Even from the sky, the demon camp stretched for hundreds of miles, grand and imposing.

The air above the camp was thick with blood-colored energy, swirling like a vicious dragon, warding off any who approached.

On the armored cloudship Shen Mo was aboard, the helmsman was Wan Muchun.

Wan Muchun hesitated. “Should we continue forward?”

“If we enter the blood energy’s range, the armored cloudship will be vulnerable to attacks.”

“We don’t have the means to repair the ship if it’s damaged.”

Shen Mo was resolute. “Keep going. That blood energy is an illusion.”

“Understood!” Wan Muchun took a deep breath and gritted his teeth. “This old man will risk his life—charge!”

Boom!

The armored cloudship surged forward, slicing through the illusionary blood dragon.

They did not encounter the thick, near-solid blood energy they had imagined.

Beyond that false layer of blood energy, the sky was clear and boundless.

Looking down, the vast camp was nearly empty, save for a few tens of thousands of old, weak, and injured demons maintaining the illusion.

On the ground, massive formations had been arranged.

It was these formations that magnified the blood energy, creating the false image of a fearsome demon camp!

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