Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 1056 - 844: Battle of the Emperors

Chapter 1056: Chapter 844: Battle of the Emperors

On the seventh day of the third month in the fifth year of the Wexin era, two vast armies were arrayed against each other in the Outer Void outside the Antarctic Expanding Sky.

Li Xuan led an impressive force of forty-five million troops, with four hundred and twenty thousand warships arranged like stars in a chessboard across the Taixu, dense as clouds, and with an overwhelming presence.

Emperors Ziwei, of the South, Gouchen, Randeng, Kunpeng, the Jade Emperor, and including Qinghua Emperor of the East Ling Weiyang, Chi Biaonu the Red Emperor of the South, Lord Tushan Han Shuniu of the Central Soil Deity, Bai Zhaoju the White Emperor of the Western Metal Deity, Black Emperor Liu Ji of the Northern Water Deity, and others, had no choice but to rally their thirty-six million troops here as well.

Zengguang Heaven of the South is the foundational land of the Changsheng Emperor of the South and also the primary food supply for these emperors.

Li Xuan’s tactics could be said to strike at their vital point, depriving them of their resources to conduct guerrilla warfare.

If the Antarctic Expanding Sky fell, the allied forces of Ziwei and the Emperor of the South would undoubtedly crumble without a fight.

However, their strategic intent to force Li Xuan into a decisive battle had been achieved; a battle of unprecedented scale was about to erupt.

Before the engagement, Li Xuan had sent the Star Lord Taibai to offer the chance of surrender, but as expected, it was declined.

But the true mission of Star Lord Taibai was to scout out the enemy formation.

Half a day later, when Star Lord Taibai returned, all of Li Xuan’s warships had just finished their formation.

A total of four hundred and twenty thousand warships stretched out end to end, spanning thousands of miles, forming a broad fan-shaped front that rolled towards the opposition.

And Li Xuan’s first question upon the return of Star Lord Taibai was about Black Emperor Liu Ji.

"What did Liu Ji say? Does he plan to resist to the death?"

"I did not encounter the Black Emperor of Water Deity," Star Lord Taibai shook his head, "When I observed the enemy’s formation, I noticed that this emperor’s troops were positioned on the far left flank, connected to the forces of Bai Zhaoju, the White Emperor of the West."

Li Xuan couldn’t help but curl the corner of his mouth, knowing that Ziwei of the South obviously lacked trust in Liu Ji.

With Liu Ji at the far-left position, even if he were to defect during the battle, it would not significantly impact their overall formation.

Moreover, Bai Zhaoju had made great efforts when Liu Ji ascended to the rank of the Black Water Deity, owing Liu Ji a great debt of gratitude.

In past times, Liu Ji beheaded a white snake, whose incarnation descended into the mortal realm, turning into an old woman who wailed in front of people, saying, "My son is a child of the White Emperor, transformed into a serpent, blocking the path, now slain by the Red Emperor’s son, hence my grief." Thus, the hearts of Liu Ji’s subordinates were swayed.

This ancestor of Liu, no matter how roguish he was by nature, had no reason to turn against allies and benefactors.

"So, how did the enemy arrange their formation?"

Li Xuan wasn’t actually eager for battle; he preferred to use his sweeping momentum to wear down the opposition or use strategies to divide and conquer.

But the enemy was also adept in tactics; the likelihood of Li Xuan fulfilling this scheme was slim.

Given the current situation, Li Xuan could only resolve the problem with a large-scale battle.

"The Changsheng Emperor and Kunpeng, along with Randeng, are responsible for the right flank with nine million troops; Ziwei and Gouchen command the Central Army with thirteen million troops; and the Emperors of Five Directions, led by the Jade Emperor, occupy the enemy’s left flank with fifteen million troops," said Star Lord Taibai, in thought.

While speaking, he continued to ponder, "Ziwei of the South and its allies are very determined to fight; the Emperors of Five Directions are slightly less resolute. However, they stick together and are overseen by the Jade Emperor. If Your Majesty attacks from the left flank, they will surely resist fiercely."

Li Xuan then asked, "What about the other directions? Any unusual movements?"

He was asking the two individuals before him, Gao Ming and Gao Jue.

Gao Ming had vision stretching thousands of miles and was known as Thousand-Miles Eye; Gao Jue could hear sounds from all directions, hence his moniker Downwind Ear. Formerly generals of the Shang dynasty, they later submitted to the Heavenly Court, becoming one of Haotian’s sources of intelligence.

With Li Xuan sweeping through the Taixu, these two had also joined Li Xuan’s ranks.

Gao Ming immediately clenched his fist in salute, "Your Majesty, I can assure you with my life that there are no ambushes within ten billion miles."

At that moment, Lord Tushan also kneeled respectfully, "Your Majesty, the Qinghua Emperor of the East has not yet mobilized his troops, while the Great Emperor of Tai Mountain is gathering the Emperors of Five Mountains to oversee the Blood Sea and Underworld River, without any movements. As for the Heavens of Shendu, the Buddhist armies are currently arrayed against them, presumably too occupied to pay attention here."

Her expression was a mix of excitement and apprehension, because today’s battle would directly determine the future fate of the Tushan race.

If Li Xuan won, the Tushan Clan, serving as this Heavenly Emperor’s eyes and ears, would rise in prominence and flourish once again; but if defeated, they might face a catastrophic disaster in the coming years.

Li Xuan nodded slightly, he wasn’t particularly worried about the Qinghua Emperor of the East and the Great Emperor of Tai Mountain.

He had already had Star Lord Taibai test the attitudes of these two emperors, knowing that they were waiting for the outcome of this battle.

If Li Xuan lost, everything would remain the same; if Li Xuan won, then both emperors would naturally submit to him.

They both had the privilege to watch and wait, as the most powerful forces in the Outer Taixu, each possessing Divine Heavenly level strength and commanding millions of troops, capable of influencing the entire situation in the Outer Taixu.

"Then let the battle begin."

Li Xuan looked into the Void, using his Tao-protecting Eyes to observe the enemy formation, "Please, Immortal Santan Haihui and Immortal Master Miaodao of Qingyuan, along with Devaraja Hayagriva, lead your forces out from the formation, and attack their left flank immediately!"

He then stood up and bowed respectfully to the Fumo Emperor Guan Changsheng seated beside him, "The right flank of our army is entrusted to you, Great Emperor. Please command the Four Heavenly Masters, Seven Demon Sages, and the forces of the Sanguan Great Emperor, totaling twenty-one million. After coordinating with the three Marshals, launch an attack on their left formation."