Tang Hao slowly stood up.
His towering figure seemed capable of bursting the roof of the council hall.
He looked at the four clan leaders below, their faces brimming with fighting spirit, and then at his son, whose expression was resolute.
"Since this Blue Silver King doesn't take my Haotian Sect seriously, then there's nothing more to say."
His voice returned to calm, but beneath that calm lay a volcano about to erupt.
"This battle is unavoidable."
Tang Hao turned his gaze to Bai He and continued to ask, "Have you been able to find out the whereabouts of the Blue Silver King himself?"
The white crane shook its head.
"Your Majesty, the vanguard was led by only Dugu Bo, and no trace of the Blue Silver King was found."
"My people are still investigating the follow-up news, and it should be back soon."
...
The next day, at dawn.
As dawn broke, the morning light shone through the gaps in the tents, casting a faint golden glow.
Inside the central command tent, all was peaceful and serene.
Zhu Zhuqing was carefully helping Tang Qing put on his armor.
Today she wore a tight black outfit that perfectly accentuated her already stunning figure. Her long, straight legs were faintly visible beneath the slit in her skirt, making her an incredibly alluring sight as she walked.
But at this moment, her face carried a lingering worry.
She fastened the last buckle on Tang Qing's armor and said softly, "Your Majesty, besides Poison Douluo, are you really not going to bring a few more Douluos with you on this expedition?"
"The four major sects have profound foundations, and their clans are full of experts..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but the worry in her eyes said it all.
Tang Qing turned around and gently stroked her smooth cheek.
His movements were very gentle, carrying a warm, plant-like quality that instantly calmed Zhu Zhuqing's tense emotions.
As a Blue Silver Emperor Martial Soul, he always possesses a unique temperament that is close to all living things, peaceful yet containing the majesty of dominating everything.
"rest assured."
Tang Qing had a faint smile on her lips, her eyes calm and confident.
"A bunch of worthless chickens and dogs."
"I alone am enough."
This is not arrogance, but a statement based on absolute strength.
As Zhu Zhuqing gazed into his deep, universe-like eyes, her unease gradually dissipated, replaced by complete trust.
Yes, the man before us is someone who stands at the pinnacle of the continent.
Why should I worry about him?
Tang Qing withdrew his hand, his voice regaining the majesty of a king.
"Is the army ready?"
Zhu Zhuqing immediately composed herself and bowed in response.
"Your Majesty, the 100,000-strong army is already arrayed outside the camp, and the soldiers are ready to march at your command!"
Tang Qing nodded.
He currently has 500,000 soldiers capable of fighting.
One hundred thousand of them were the troops he personally led on this expedition.
The remaining 400,000 troops, like a lurking beast, guarded the northern border of the Heavenly Dou Empire, wary of any unusual movements by the Star Luo Empire and the covetousness of other forces on the continent.
He strode out of the tent.
"Pass on the order."
"Set off for war."
The curtain was lifted by a hand with distinct knuckles, and Tang Qing's figure was bathed in the rising morning light.
The golden sunlight bathed his dark gold armor in a sacred glow, and the intricate blue-silver grass patterns on the armor seemed to come alive, their light and shadow shifting.
Outside the tent, a silent world prevailed.
One hundred thousand soldiers stood silently on the vast plain, arranged in a huge square formation.
Swords and spears stood like a forest, and armor gleamed in the sun.
Every Blue Silver Guard wore an almost fanatical reverence, their gazes all fixed on the figure emerging from the central command tent.
There was no commotion, no disturbance, only the heavy breathing of a hundred thousand people, converging into a repressive tide.
This army was a formidable force built by Tang Qing himself; they recognized only one person and obeyed only one order.
Zhu Zhuqing followed closely behind.
Tang Qing walked down the command platform step by step and entered the army formation.
As he marched forward, soldiers parted to both sides like a tide, kneeling on one knee with their right hand on their chest, greeting their king with the highest military salute.
He walked slowly, his gaze calmly sweeping over the resolute faces.
Finally, he stopped at the very front of the army formation.
A magnificent horse covered in blue scales and bearing a single horn was led over; this was the extinct spirit beast, the Wind-Scaled Horse.
Tang Qing mounted his horse with fluid, graceful movements.
He didn't turn around, but slowly drew the sword from his waist.
It was a long sword with a jade-green body, and blue-gold patterns were faintly visible on the blade, which was his martial soul, the Blue Silver Emperor.
"Clang—"
The sword rang out clearly and melodiously, echoing through the heavens.
Tang Qing raised his longsword high, its tip pointing straight to the sky.
Sunlight shone on the blade, reflecting countless rays of light that were so bright they made it hard to open one's eyes.
No words are needed; this gesture is the most impassioned pre-battle declaration.
The deathly silence was broken.
"I swear to follow the Blue Silver King to the death!"
It's unclear who shouted first, but then a deafening roar rose into the sky, as if to tear the clouds apart.
"I swear to follow the Blue Silver King to the death!"
"I swear to follow the Blue Silver King to the death!!"
"I swear to follow the Champion Marquis to the death!!!"
The roar of 100,000 people merged into a torrent, shaking the surrounding fields and swallowing mountains and rivers. Their voices were filled with absolute loyalty and an unwavering belief in victory.
A faint smile appeared on Tang Qing's lips.
With a flick of his wrist, he swung his longsword forward, the blade pointing directly in the direction of Tiandou City.
"All troops, listen to my command!"
His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every soldier, carrying an undeniable authority.
"Forced march!"
"Within three days, the army will be at the city gates!"
"Set off!"
"Boom—Rumble—Rumble—"
The earth began to tremble violently.
The army of 100,000 men, this sophisticated and terrifying war machine, began to slowly operate the moment it received the order.
The black torrent of iron, stirring up clouds of dust, swept towards Tiandou City like an ancient behemoth awakening.
...
Meanwhile, in Tiandou City, at the Tang Clan...
The atmosphere inside the council chamber was so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.
A day and a night had passed since the white crane first sent back a message.
No one could sleep peacefully for a day and a night.
The four clan leaders below the hall paced back and forth anxiously at times, and sometimes huddled together to discuss in hushed tones. Each of them had a solemn expression on their face.
Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others also frowned, studying the map repeatedly and deducing various possible battle scenarios.
Only Tang Hao remained seated upright in that grand master's chair.
He appeared calm, but the terrifying glint in his occasionally opened eyes foreshadowed an impending thunderous storm.
Everyone understood that they were waiting.
Waiting for definite news.
When will that sword hanging over our heads finally fall?
You can read 40+ advanced chapters right now on PA TREON.
Don't wait for daily updates
Support and unlock: [ patreon.com/FicHub ]
(End of chapter)