Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains
Chapter 933 - 933: 405, Heroes from both sides, Hexi bows down

The woman who stepped down from the carriage was instantly recognized by Hou Yucheng.

Lian Ningxue, an Elder of the Huamai branch of the Haoran Holy Sect.

Ten years ago, on the eve of the Tongling disturbance, forces from all sides got involved. To secure a way out for the Hou Clan, his brother Hou Yuxiao had once sent him to negotiate with Lian Ningxue while maneuvering among the three major Holy Lands: Haoran Holy Sect, Ziqing Holy Sect, and the Great Yu Holy Dynasty.

He still vividly remembers the first time he met Lian Ningxue at Shengxin Residence in Tongling County. Back then, the Hou Clan was just a fledgling minor clan emerging from Zhaoyang County. Hou Yucheng was respectful and humble before Lian Ningxue, not daring to harbor any expectations despite any thoughts he might have had, given that she had already become an Elder of a Holy Land at a young age. At that time, he was only at the Gang Qi Realm, while Lian Ningxue was already a master at Great Perfection in the Yuan Dan Realm.

Seeing her again after ten years didn't spark feelings of affection, but a strange flutter still arose in his heart. He could easily tell that, like himself, Lian Ningxue was at the Shattered Realm cultivation level.

"Miss Lian, it's been a while!"

Hou Yucheng didn't disguise the flutter in his heart. Although he tried to maintain a calm demeanor, the slight emotional fluctuation in his voice was still easily detectable. After all, Lian Ningxue was the prospective bride sent by the Hedong Alliance to negotiate a marriage alliance with him.

Lian Ningxue nodded slightly, a flicker of complexity flashing in her eyes.

"Second brother, the allied troops have arrived!"

Suddenly hearing the reminder from Hou Yuling behind him, Hou Yucheng quickly gathered his thoughts and looked past Jing Tianyu and his entourage. What he saw made his body shudder.

Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop......

A vast army was coming from five to six miles away, wading through water, and even within the visible range, there were at least hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Further back, it was impossible to see. These soldiers, despite not unleashing any energy, were moving at a leisurely pace, yet they made the sky overcast with dark clouds and caused the water currents to surge.

They wore armor of various colors and rode sturdy horses. Though their marching speed wasn't fast, the countless horse hooves struck the water's surface, sending up a spray that continued to stir him and the hearts of everyone from the Hou Clan.

"So, this is the seven hundred thousand strong army of the Hedong Alliance!"

"Their cultivation, all of them are at the Ten Layers of Body Openings."

"These are all elites of the Holy Land, plenty of Gang Qi, Grandmaster, and Yuan Dan Realm individuals."

"Gasp... The five leading commanders are all formidable at the Shattered Realm!"

"Five? It's the four major Holy Lands, plus the Wuwei King's forces—five factions, right?"

......

The seven hundred thousand strong army couldn't be fully seen with the naked eye.

But everyone in the Hou Clan had at least reached the Yuan Dan Realm, so sensing the scale of the army approaching from the east was no problem. Precisely because of this, after clearly sensing the momentum of the vast seven hundred thousand strong army, they were left with nothing but amazement and awe.

Including the Five Elements Heaven, the Hou Clan had developed for at least a hundred years, but even now, the Red Flame Army had only reached two hundred thousand. However, the Hedong Alliance effortlessly presented an army of seven hundred thousand. Judging from the status and momentum of this seven hundred thousand army, they undeniably surpassed the Hou Clan's Red Flame Army.

"The Hedong Alliance wishes to use the Zhaoyang Prefecture City for a period. Since Master of the Hou Family also has a heart against Jin, I presume there will be no objections. Our army is passing through from Wanyang County, so I request Second Master Hou to order the gates to be opened."

Jing Tianyu's tone was full of indisputability, demanding the gates be opened as if he were commanding his own subordinates. This caused a slight chill to run through Hou Yucheng, momentarily icy before he quickly cupped his hands and smiled, saying: "It should be so."

After speaking, he immediately shouted down from the top of the city wall: "Quick, open the gates to welcome the Hedong Alliance army into the city..."

"Yes!"

The gates below promptly opened, and the endless army of the Hedong Alliance flowed into the city like a lengthy dragon. They did not halt in the city but moved directly from the east gate and continued to the west gate, heading toward Zhaoyang Prefecture City, located eighty miles west of Wanyang County.

Hou Yucheng took a deep breath, turned to look at Jing Tianyu and Lian Ningxue:

"Since the allied troops are stationed in Zhaoyang Prefecture City, would Lord Marquis and Miss Lian accompany me to Tao City to discuss the specific matters of this marriage alliance, how about it?"

Lian Ningxue did not speak but looked at Jing Tianyu.

Evidently, though she was the one to be married, the decisions were indeed made by Jing Tianyu.

"Very well, lead the way, Second Master Hou!"

Though Hexi's stance remains unclear, there is no issue regarding the marriage alliance.

Moreover, with the seven hundred thousand strong allied army stationed in Zhaoyang Prefecture City, he could conveniently check the situation. Hexi Tao City, originally part of the earliest Tongling County, wasn't far from Wanyang County, being less than three hundred miles, with Zhaoyang Prefecture City nestled between Tao City and Wanyang County—it was added later as a prefectural city. The party would pass through it en route to Tao City.

The four hundred and fifty thousand strong army of the Hou Clan was all stationed in Xingnan Prefecture City, so there should be no issues on the way to Tao City. It's very likely that the Hou Clan intended this move to facilitate a smooth marriage alliance.

This invitation left Jing Tianyu with no reason to refuse.

Seeing Jing Tianyu agree readily, Hou Yucheng nodded, took Hou Yuling and several Hou Clan experts, and led Jing Tianyu's party, flying in the direction of Hexi Tao City.

......

New Yu Era, November 14, 1332

North of Xiapi County, Chaoxia Crossing

After more than twenty days of drought, the once verdant and lush ferry crossing had become a barren wasteland. For dozens of miles visible from the crossing, not a single drop of river water could be seen, and the riverbed, dozens of meters deep, had long been exposed.