Chapter 1999: Impossible Battle

"Can't we get around East Fort?"

"We've tried several times, but couldn't bypass it. The mountain path behind East Fort is easy to defend and hard to attack." They had been repelled repeatedly.

He Lingchuan, who had also seen the sand table, gave a slight smile. "Alright, we'll stick to your previous method. However you fought last time, that's how I'll fight today!"

The generals exchanged puzzled glances. "Don't we need to discuss tactics? No optimization of forces? No special strategies, like sending scouts or sowing discord among the enemy?"

He Lingchuan ignored their questioning gazes. He led the Black Armored Army and the newly integrated Seven Nations Allied Forces up the mountain, charging directly towards East Fort.

This was a complete replication of the Allied Forces' past approach, without a single change. Yes, it was that casual. But the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities had issued a strict command: each unit would have overseers behind them. Those who hesitated or deserted the battle would be immediately beheaded!

Such a vast army approaching, openly and without seeking cover, was naturally quickly discovered by the enemy. Bells and whistles rang out, echoing through the mountains.

"Where did these enemies come from? Are they the Allied Forces? But hadn't General Chongwu said that Bixia had already reached a truce agreement with the Allied Forces? Do these guys dare to break the treaty?"

West Fort immediately dispatched troops to support East Fort from behind. The garrisons of both forts, from their elevated positions, braced themselves to meet He Lingchuan's army.

Both sides blew their charge horns and began their frantic advance.

What happened next?

They were overwhelmed!

From the perspective of the circling bird-demons high above, the Twin Forts' army descending the mountain did indeed resemble waves crashing onto the shore, orderly and imposing. However, He Lingchuan's army attacking uphill was more like a tsunami breaching a dam. The contact between the two forces was very brief, lasting only... one... two... three... a dozen breaths or so, as the vanguard swept forward, scattering their opponents violently!

The main army advanced with a ferocity incomprehensible to the Allied Forces. Any hindering enemies were either knocked aside or crushed. In a narrow pass, the brave prevail.

With their momentum seized, the Bixia army was steadily pushed back, forced to yield the open ground on the mountaintop. He Lingchuan immediately divided his vast army into three groups: one group was to attack the East Fort walls, another to encircle and attack the East Fort army, and the third to intercept the West Fort army.

At this point, the East Fort army had no time to retreat into their fort, leaving it undefended. The Black Armored Army had specialized climbing units that scaled the walls and conquered the fort in moments. The East Fort army itself couldn't hold, suffering heavy casualties, and surrendered after two *kechen* (approximately 30 minutes).

The West Fort army, seeing the unfavorable situation, quickly retreated to West Fort, intending to barricade themselves inside and await rescue. To their surprise, the Nine Serenities army, like "hitting a snake with the stick it's on" (following up closely), pressed directly to the foot of West Fort. They hadn't even properly closed their gates before the army smashed its way in!

A single wave pushed through, and the job was done.

The end of this battle was as sudden as its beginning, lasting less than two *shichen* (four hours) from start to finish. Even as they marched in formation through the gates of East and West Forts, even as they saw rows of prisoners kneeling three deep along the walls, the Allied soldiers felt as if they were dreaming.

"We won? Just like that? What exactly happened just now? How could the Bixia army be so fragile, collapsing with a single push? Just over ten days ago, we were fighting them tooth and nail!"

"The people were the same, the soldiers were the same, so why did they seem so brittle, like fragile porcelain, in front of the Dragon God?"

Everyone was at a loss, unable to comprehend the key to victory that day. Was it the exceptional bravery of the charging Black Armored Army? Or did the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities seize the perfect moment?

Regardless, they had just fought the most exhilarating battle of their lives. It turned out that warfare could be so irresistible, that battles could be so swift and decisive, seemingly without rhyme or reason! No wonder the Dragon God gained more and more followers—who doesn't like to win? Joy was all that mattered.

At this moment, a light drizzle suddenly began to fall, pattering softly and feeling cool and refreshing on their faces. It was the Imperial Nectar! It arrived right after the battle, perfectly timed to replenish the tired soldiers' strength.

Many were filled with anticipation: "Since we achieved such a great victory, taking a critical pass in three *shichen* that we couldn't conquer in two months before, will there be a victory feast later?" In the past, whenever they achieved a major victory against Bixia, the commander would reward the army to boost morale for the next vigorous advance.

However, there was none. The Dragon God looked up at the sky, feeling the vibrant energy brought by the Imperial Nectar, and declared, "Heaven helps me!" Then, he ordered everyone to rest for one *shichen* (two hours) in place, replenish food and water, and afterwards, resume their march north!

"If we fight a little and rest a little, how much time would it take to conquer Bixia?" Time was He Lingchuan's most precious commodity!

As soon as some of the old, seasoned soldiers from the former Allied Forces opened their mouths to complain, a whip lashed across their faces from behind: "This is the Dragon God's Army. If you're told to go east, you don't go west. If you're not told to speak, the only reason you open your mouth is to breathe! The Allied Forces no longer exist. Here, there are only the Black Armored Army and the Dragon God's Army. Your sole standard for action is to carry out the Dragon God's will!"

Although the Imperial Nectar had the effect of disturbing and amplifying emotions, the army's energy had been completely depleted during the recent battle, and everyone was exhausted. Coupled with the Dragon God's imposing presence, everyone, including the former Allied generals, became utterly silent.

In the night, the army could only press on, looking up and using the refreshing Imperial Nectar to restore their physical strength. Unexpectedly, their steps grew lighter and lighter, and their physical fatigue was washed away. When spiritual rain falls, the concentration of spiritual energy between heaven and earth is particularly high. This is the best tonic, allowing living beings to recover their strength very quickly.

"If not now, when should we make a forced march? Should such a convenient period be used for sleeping?" It was then that the generals truly began to admire him, realizing that the Dragon God indeed excelled at leveraging the forces of heaven and earth.

For the next two days, spiritual rain frequently fell at night. Seizing the opportunity of the Imperial Nectar's descent, the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities led his army to fight across four different locations, achieving five consecutive major victories! Bixia was thrown into near chaos internally. The Great Emperor of Nine Serenities advanced too quickly. The Bixia people hadn't even learned that the previous city had fallen when the Dragon God's army was already at the gates of the second city. Before the enemy could react, the battle was already over. Among these, the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities attacked two cities consecutively, taking a mere four *shichen* (eight hours) for the shortest one. And they were separated by forty *li* (approximately 20 km)!

The Allied Forces, under the command of the Great Emperor of Nine Serenities, experienced a blissful illusion: "So, we're actually this powerful?" They marched day and night, constantly replenishing themselves with Imperial Nectar whenever possible. Though the army was weary, the feeling of repeated victories kept the soldiers standing tall, walking with a swagger.

At dawn, He Lingchuan, holding a whip, pointed at the fields and city in front of them. "From here, we divide into three routes. Three days from now, we meet at Xiyun Brook."

The purpose of dividing the forces was, of course, to speed up the advance. Bixia and the Allied Forces had fought for two years. While it couldn't be said that the Allied Forces had achieved nothing—they had at least encroached upon a large amount of territory and even twice besieged the capital—Bixia's land area had now shrunk to one-third of its original size. He Lingchuan divided his forces and advanced, giving each army only three days to rendezvous at Xiyun Brook, the stop before Bixia's capital. Failure to meet on time would result in severe punishment.