Chapter 1351 – Out to Battle
Count your men and gather the soldiers!
Ye Qingyu's order swept across the entire Vast Thousand Star Domains in the shortest amount of time like a typhoon.
The Heaven Wasteland Empire and the Immortal Empire reacted like a well-oiled machine and were all abuzz in a flurry of activity because the armies from both empires had been making preparations for this day for two thousand years. Many high-ranking supreme commanders were all well aware of what the frantic preparations of the military over the past two thousand years had been for.
The ten main battalions of the Heaven Wasteland Empire and the twenty main battalions of the Immortal Empire had experienced countless battles and had survived through blood, gunpowder, and perilous situations over the past two thousand years, so they were battle-ready and hardened soldiers. They arrived at the defensive line of the Great Wall on the 10th day after Ye Qingyu issued his edict.
In addition, there were also the new troops that had been secretly groomed by the optical brain [The Beginning] over the past two years. They were transported by metallic warships and arrived secretly at the rendezvous point.
This was undoubtedly the most powerful military force ever assembled in history.
The most powerful military force across the Vast Thousand Star Domains had gathered along the defensive line of the Great Wall in the span of two weeks.
The famous commanders, generals, experts, and legendary figures who were powerful enough to stun entire lands into submission all showed up along the Great Wall's defensive line at the Unmoving City of Darkness. As all the Martial Emperor experts of the Vast Thousand Star Domains from both the Immortal Empire and the Heaven Wasteland Empire were summoned to the Unmoving City by Ye Qingyu, they immediately made their way over without a second's hesitation. In fact, there were many talented prodigies and experts who had emerged over the past two thousand years, as well as many strange creatures who had gone into hiding in the past, and all of them wanted to take advantage of this golden age of prosperity to proclaim themselves king. However, the Immortal Empire had used its immense power to deliver a stern warning either publicly or privately, and had also publicly announced the impending danger that the formation martial way's civilization was about to face. Ye Qingyu had drawn inspiration from the Sky Emperor's tactics and forced all the new Martial Emperors to promise to fight on behalf of the Vast Thousand Star Domains, even if they didn't render any services to the Immortal Empire.
The most powerful experts across the Vast Thousand Star Domains had gathered along the defensive line of the Great Wall in the span of a month.
The herds of Invaders that were constantly charging toward the western part of the defensive line along the Great Wall had ceased their constant barrage of attacks and retreated toward the chaotic zone of Chaos in an orderly manner. They moved with military precision and in an organized manner, so it was clear that their commanders were plotting and preparing for the final battle.
Old Fish, Liu Shaji, the million-year-old soul, Gao Diping, Wen Wan, Divine General Zhi, Divine General Jue, and the martial artist of the shadows…
These peerless experts who had stunned the formation martial world over the past two thousand years had appeared in front of the empire's soldiers.
The experts from the Immortal Dojo in the Ancient Sky Dragon Domain naturally formed a battalion of their own.
The Immortal Dojo had become a place of pilgrimage for those who cultivated the martial way and who lived in the Vast Thousand Star Domains. It was said that "All martial ways are from the Immortal Dojo", and these words clearly described the Immortal Dojo's significance in this Starry Realm and formation martial way system. The one hundred and eight divine statues that contained Emperor techniques had a far-reaching influence, and the wide and easy disciple entrance tests, the easy barrier for entry and exit, and the generous sharing of the secret manuals containing martial techniques all allowed the Immortal Dojo's fame to spread across the Vast Thousand Star Domains. There were many occasions in which the native martial artists of certain domains who had just reached the Spirit Spring Stage would cultivate the authentic martial techniques of the Immortal Dojo even if they had never left their own domain.
It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that the Immortal Dojo's disciples were scattered throughout the world and that their techniques were handed down for generations to come.
Thus, after the Imperial God Emperor issued his edict, many martial experts who weren't soldiers and weren't part of the group of martial experts that were obliged to fight also came forward to join the battle.
Over the last century, the empire's wisest men had deliberately spread the news about the impending doom that was about to befall the formation martial way's civilization, so many top-level experts were aware of what was about to happen. Imperial God Emperor Ye Qingyu's authority and fame only served to add credibility to these rumors, so these experts who joined the battle on their own accord all knew what they were fighting for.
In the blink of an eye, one month had passed.
The empire's grand army had already left the defensive line of the Great Wall and set up camp in a vast empty land to the west of the Great Wall.
Millions of soldiers and military tents dotted the landscape.
Ye Qingyu appeared on top of the defensive line of the Great Wall.
His gaze swept over countless hardened soldiers before he looked toward the Chaos District in the distance, which was now at a complete standstill. Then, he looked at the starry road that lay even further ahead before he looked away. He felt a sense of heroic pride that was hard to describe in words.
He was well aware of the significance of this battle.
He also knew that the final outcome of this battle probably did not rest on the shoulders of these energetic soldiers, but that it would ultimately be determined by a battle between Kings of Sovereigns.
He had issued the edict nonetheless and he was still prepared to take these men with him to space.
He didn't do this because he was worried that his strength would be exhausted by the neverending stream of Invaders, nor was he intending to use this battle to kill those forces and experts who had not pledged their allegiance to the Immortal Empire or the Heaven Wasteland Empire. He did this because he stood by his belief that the destiny of each realm and each world should not be determined by one man. Instead, the destiny of each realm should be guarded and defended by all its residents.
The survivors would only be able to treasure what they had if they had experienced battles and bloodshed for themselves.
The residents of the Vast Thousand Star Domains would only be able to truly understand and treasure the future progress of this world if they had managed to defend this world from the avaricious hands of the enemy.
He wanted to make everyone across the Vast Thousand Star Domains aware of what they had once gone through.
He walked across the void one step at a time and arrived at the firmament.
Countless pairs of eyes followed his every move eagerly and moved along with him.
Everyone, from ordinary soldiers to Martial Emperors who had managed to ascend to the peak of the formation martial way, looked at him reverently. Although Ye Qingyu had not released his aura and they were unable to sense how strong he was now, none of that affected their respect for and fear of him.
They were all absolutely certain that this person was the sovereign of the Vast Thousand Domains and a legendary figure.
There wasn't any need for him to prove his strength to them.
A stern military command was issued and everyone fell silent.
The wind and clouds stirred and the sky was dark and bleak.
Ye Qingyu spoke.
"I'm sure every one of you knows what kind of battle awaits us out in space. We have spent two thousand years preparing for this day, but we still can't be sure that we'll be able to vanquish our enemies, who seem hell-bent on destroying our world. We will be battling fiendgods who we've never seen before and Invaders who don't belong to this world. As we embark on this expedition, this might be the last time you bid farewell to your family and friends. And after we go to space, there's a possibility that we might never be able to return…"
Ye Qingyu's voice could be heard clearly by every single soldier.
"Everyone is equal in the face of death; it doesn't matter whether you are an ordinary soldier, a high-ranking general, or a Heaven Ascension stage martial artist. Fate will treat all of you equally. Even I might be lost forever in space… We are also all the same in the face of glory and victory… Death is no longer something to be feared because we cannot afford to look back. Our family homes lay behind us and our families live in those homes. If we retreat, this will mean that our families will be destroyed, but if we step forward, perhaps you might be able to use your swords, your flesh, and your blood to fight for the future of your families, and bring about peace and glory to all formation martial artists…"
Ye Qingyu's voice echoed like a battle drum in the hearts of all these military men, as though it contained some sort of enchantment.
The cadence of his words made every beating heart feel so full that it was about to burst.
Ye Qingyu's voice was calm even as his next statement shook the hearts of all who were present. He said clearly, "Now, all of you brave and strong soldiers of the Vast Thousand Star Domains, are you willing to battle alongside me?"
There was a brief silence, then millions of spears and swords were raised into the air.
Countless pairs of eyes blazed with an energy that bordered on fanatical and shone brightly as though their eyes could contain all the light in the world.
"Battle! Battle! Battle!"
These soldiers replied loudly and they stood firm and organized in their determination to fight.
Their majestic aura seemed as though lovely streams of water had instantly gathered to form a raging torrent that swept across the heavens, caused the mountains to quake, and shook the hearts of men.
Several Martial Emperors in their midst who had initially been ambivalent to this battle were also moved by Ye Qingyu's words and now exuded a fiery combat will.
Ye Qingyu nodded.
"Then, let us battle," he said as he pointed his finger outward and released an indescribable and abundant Dao force.
A new path appeared from the bottom of the Great Wall.
This road headed west and stretched into the chaotic zone of Chaos. Then, it split apart everything within the chaotic zone and continued on toward space. It stretched on endlessly… Finally, it reached the place where he sensed would be the final battleground, the place where the Invaders had chosen for the final battle.
"Onward!"
Ye Qingyu's figure landed on a metallic flagship.
A long, ancient military bugle call rang out across the land.
The large army formally set out on their expedition.
After two thousand years of preparation and training, the army now operated like a well-oiled machine. The frontline was the first to set forth and they stepped onto the road that Ye Qingyu had created.
The military machines operated.
The massive empire showcased its efficiency.
Countless wise men and military strategists had made countless plans and preparations for this day, so they already knew what to do after the military expedition set off. They also knew how to defend the land, how to transmit reports, and how to make everyone understand the significance of this important battle. They had already considered all of this and made plans in advance.
The only thing that awaited the Vast Thousand Star Domains was this all-important battle.
The only thing they could do was fight.
