On October 20th, the second year of Great Han, Yan Hai of the Great Yan Dynasty broke through to the eighth level of the Hua Tian realm and publicly announced Great Yan's secession from the Human Emperor Hall. Of the million-strong army sent by the Great Yan Dynasty to the Human Emperor Hall, only the commander-in-chief returned to Great Yan; all other soldiers were suppressed by the Ten Elders.
On October 21st, the second year of Great Han, the Holy Elder of the Human Emperor Hall emerged from seclusion. With his strength at the ninth level of the Hua Tian realm, he suppressed all directions. At this moment, Wang Yue, Li Bai, Fan Zichen, Yan Hai, and Ying Yu, who had entered the Secret Treasure, instantly understood why the ninth blood refining pool in the Blood Refining Cave had been depleted that day: it must have been completely collected by Blood Elder and Moon Elder.
On October 22nd, the second year of Great Han, Empress Weiyang, with her Hua Tian realm power, convened the Weiyang Imperial Court and specially enfeoffed Fan Zichen as the Blood Robe Marquis, ranking below Empress Weiyang. This was a position of immense authority, second only to the Empress.
Meanwhile, Great Han, after five months, had seen a complete transformation in the strength of its ancient heroes.
In the face of the impending breach of the seal and a monumental change in the southwestern domain not seen in a million years, under the royal decree of Yang Hao and the meticulous planning of civil officials like Li Si, all of Great Han, from officials to common citizens, were mobilized.
Building upon the industrial chain of the Ling family's commerce, almost all of Great Han's citizens participated in collecting spiritual materials and beast bones, owing to a royal decree issued by King Han, Yang Hao.
"All citizens of Great Han may exchange spiritual materials, beast bones, beast essence, and beast cores for pills at the Pill Hall. Great Han citizens need only pay sixty percent of the pill's value; the remaining forty percent will be subsidized by the court!"
Upon the decree's issuance, the citizens of Great Han went into a frenzy. Especially the former citizens of the imperial dynasties, when they truly received the pills, they genuinely submitted to Yang Hao, the King of Han.
In five months, according to the census by the Ministry of Household, there were as many as a hundred martial artists in the Heavenly Martial realm and a thousand in the Spiritual Venerable realm in the local regions of Great Han.
These martial artists, who had broken through with the support of the Great Han court's policies, were almost all integrated into the Great Han army.
In the royal palace's sleeping quarters in Chang'an City, Great Han.
"System, open my information!"
Over the past five months, most of the ancient heroes summoned into existence were in seclusion for cultivation. The Pill Hall, in particular, had worked extremely hard. However, the fruits of their diligent alchemy not only aided Great Han but also greatly improved the alchemists themselves.
"Ding!"
"Lord of the Samsara Xuanhuang Tower: Yang Hao."
"Cultivation: Ninth level of Heavenly Martial!"
"Cultivation Method: Universal Vast Sky Emperor Scripture."
"Faith Points: Zero, Slaughter Points: One million four hundred thousand."
"Summoned Ancient Heroes: Rong Tian Realm: Zhu Sheng, Wu Yong, Cheng Yaojin, Wan Miza (Seventh-grade Alchemist), Bao Zheng, Yuwen Kai, Wei Zhongxian, Di Renjie!"
"Tong Tian First Layer: Liao Hua, Zhou Yuji, Gao Shun, Jing Ke, Mao Xiang, Zhang Jiao, Changsun Wuji, Du Ruhui, Fang Xuanling!"
"Tong Tian Third Layer: Cheng Yaojin, Lu Kang, Shan Xiongxin, Zhang Han, Yuan Tiangang, Qi Jiguang, Meng Tian, Yuchi Gong, Shi Wansui, Yao Li, Wang Baobao, Li Si, Lu Junyi, Sun Simiao (Eighth-grade Alchemist), Ji Youyu, Shi A, Xu Huang, Zhou Tai, Gongsun Zan!"
"Tong Tian Fifth Layer: Han Qinghu, Qin Qiong, Chen Tang, Gan Ning, Ying Bu, Li Wenzhong, Li Bai, Zhang Liao, Gao Ying, Cen Peng, Wang Yue!"
"Ding! Main mission issued: In the Southwestern Domain of the Eastern Wilderness, after hundreds of thousands of years of turmoil, the human lands have been ravaged by the ferocious beasts of the Ancient Wilderness. Now, various imperial dynasties wish to eliminate Great Han. As courtesy demands retaliation, the host shall seize the opportunity to lead troops, sweep across all imperial dynasties, and unify the Southwestern Domain!"
"Ding! Success reward: Two summons of ancient heroes; no penalty for failure!"
"Ding! Main mission in progress, three-tenths complete!"
"Ding! Side mission issued: With the Qi Luck Nine Cauldrons raised to Level Eight, the Great Han Dynasty can be promoted to an imperial dynasty. The host shall become the Lord of the Human Emperor in the human lands of the Eastern Wilderness Continent!"
As for Xu Chu, he had turned gray, with no realm displayed. Yang Hao had asked the system about it, and the system had only responded that Xu Chu was alive; all else was unknown!
The soldiers under the ancient heroes, after being trained in the barracks to the peak Gui Yuan realm and then stabilized and cultivated for several months, had all entered the Divine Mansion realm. This realm, even five months ago, could have crushed the vanguard army of the Ancient Wilderness mentioned by Xi Thirteen.
…
Yang Hao sat on the throne, scanning the civil and military officials below. After this imperial court session, Great Han would likely not hold another for a long time. In another month, the seal would break, and the Southwestern Domain would be plunged into utter chaos, marking a period of reshuffling among the top powers of the Southwestern Domain.
Wei Zhongxian picked up the royal decree and, looking at the ministers, declared in a deep voice, "Effective immediately, the Vermillion Bird Legion will be divided into three armies!"
"The commander of the Vermillion Bird Legion will still be Zhang Liao, and the position of strategist will remain with Chen Gong!"
"The commander of the First Army of the Vermillion Bird Legion will be Xu Huang, and Liao Hua will temporarily serve as the deputy commander of the Second Army!"
"The commander of the Second Army of the Vermillion Bird Legion will be Gongsun Zan, and Gao Shun will temporarily serve as the deputy commander of the Second Army!"
"The commander of the Third Army of the Vermillion Bird Legion will be Gan Ning, and Zhou Tai will serve as the deputy commander of the Third Army!"
"Effective immediately, the Gluttonous Army will be divided into three armies!"
"The commander of the Gluttonous Army will be Gao Ying!"
"The commander of the First Army of the Gluttonous Army will be Han Qinghu!"
"The commander of the Second Army of the Gluttonous Army will be Shi Wansui!"
"The commander of the Third Army of the Gluttonous Army will be Shan Xiongxin!"
"Effective immediately, the Kui Niu Legion will be divided into two armies!"
"The commander of the Kui Niu Legion will be Qi Jiguang, and the position of strategist will be held by Zhu Sheng!"
"The commander of the First Army of the Kui Niu Legion will be Li Wenzhong, and Zhou Yuji will serve as the deputy commander of the First Army!"
"The commander of the Second Army of the Kui Niu Legion will be Wang Baobao!"
"The military system of the remaining legions will remain unchanged for the time being!"
After Wei Zhongxian finished reading, he put down the royal decree. Li Si stepped forward, bowed to Yang Hao, and then addressed the civil and military ministers with a firm and powerful tone.
"Where are the commanders of the Qilin Legion and the Azure Dragon Legion!"
"Here!"
Qin Qiong and Chen Tang stepped forward and shouted in unison, bowing to Yang Hao!
"Royal Decree!"
"The Qilin Legion and the Azure Dragon Legion shall guard the northern frontier of Great Han for ten thousand li. Once the seal breaks, immediately advance with your troops and intercept all forces from the Ancient Wilderness outside the national gates!"
"Your subject accepts the order!"
Qin Qiong and Chen Tang responded with solemn expressions, then took the royal decree from Li Si, bowed to Yang Hao, and retreated.
"Where is the commander of the Vermillion Bird Legion!"
"Your subject is here!"
Zhang Liao stepped forward and bowed, his face resolute.
"Royal Decree!"
"The three armies of the Vermillion Bird Legion shall guard the border between Great Han and the Great Yan Dynasty, constantly monitoring the movements of the Great Yan Dynasty's army. Once the Great Yan Dynasty's army is defeated, you must march north!"
"Your subject accepts the order!"
Zhang Liao bowed and took the royal decree from Li Si.