Batian Martial Soul

The sky was as blue as a jewel, and the white clouds floated in it like cotton candy, a beauty that was intoxicating.

But Ling Xiao's eyes showed no leisure to appreciate the beautiful scenery; instead, they reflected the ever-changing beauty of the world, as if he were deducing the future battle situation.

He spoke softly, his voice seemingly from ancient times, carrying a sense of vicissitude and weight:

"Will the wolfish ambitions of the Temple of Annihilation be stopped by a single battle?"

They are like a pack of greedy wolves; once they set their sights on their prey, they will not give up easily.

They will surely come back, and next time, they will be even more ferocious.

As he spoke, he raised his hand and made a gesture, and a dazzling light flowed around him.

The light was like a nimble dragon, freely traversing the void.

He used light as a brush to outline the boundaries of the Overlord Empire in the void.

That border line, like a winding dragon, guards every inch of the empire's land.

"From this day forward, this sky will be the last barrier of the Overlord Empire!"

We must hold this place to the death, not yielding an inch!
No matter the cost, we must not let the Temple of Annihilation's conspiracy succeed!
Ling Xiao's voice was passionate and powerful, like a war drum, inspiring everyone's fighting spirit.

The last barrier!
Shangguan Yue stood quietly in the space filled with tension and solemnity, remaining silent. It felt as if a heavy boulder was pressing on her heart, making it hard for her to breathe.

She slowly looked around, and as far as her eyes could see, dozens of top experts from the Overlord Empire were floating in the sky.

They exuded a powerful aura that spread outwards like a surging tide, as if to fill the entire space.

Everyone's expression was extremely solemn, their eyes revealing determination and resolve, as if they were ready to face any challenge.

Shangguan Yue was acutely aware of the gravity of the situation.

She knew that this place had gathered more than 90% of the top combat power of the Batian Empire. These strongmen were like the empire's anchor and their last hope.

If this place falls, the consequences will be unimaginable.

The Hegemonic Empire will have no more barriers, and the once prosperous nation will be plunged into endless darkness. Hundreds of millions of lives will be like birds falling into an abyss, forever trapped in darkness and never to be reborn.

Thinking of this, a trace of worry and determination flashed in Shangguan Yue's eyes. She secretly vowed to protect this land and the people of the empire.

Just then, Ling Xiao suddenly turned around, his movements graceful and swift.

His robes fluttered, creating a dazzling starlight effect, like a brilliant galaxy showering down on him, making him look like a war god straight out of mythology.

His eyes were piercing, and he shouted loudly:

"Summon the Xuan Tian Temple's Xuan Tianzi to come see me."

The sound, like a resounding bell, echoed in the silent space, lingering for a long time.

Shangguan Yue nodded slightly, and her figure vanished like smoke, leaving only a faint afterimage.

Her skirt rippled in the starlight, like a flower blooming in the night sky, beautiful and mysterious.

In a short while, an old man with white hair and beard arrived through the void.

Although he was old, his eyes were sharp as lightning, so sharp that they seemed to be able to see through all illusions. This man was none other than Xuan Tianzi, the abbot of Xuan Tian Temple.

Xuan Tianzi held a jade whisk in his hand. The whisk's wisps of dust floated gently in the wind, resembling the beard of an immortal, exuding an otherworldly aura.

Each step he took carried a mysterious rhythm, as if in harmony with the rhythm of heaven and earth, giving people a sense of unfathomable depth.

He slowly walked up to Ling Xiao, bowed slightly, and then stood quietly to the side, waiting for Ling Xiao's instructions.

"Any news about Ling Bi and Zhu'er?"

Ling Xiao got straight to the point, his voice carrying a barely perceptible urgency.

Ling Bi and Zhu'er were his family, and in this time of war, he was constantly worried about their safety.

His eyes were fixed on Xuan Tianzi, as if trying to find the answer in his face.

The abbot of Xuantian Temple sighed softly, his sigh filled with helplessness and worry.

He gently shook his head, and as he lightly swept the whisk in his hand, it created specks of starlight. The starlight, like twinkling stars, shone brightly in the darkness.

There is still no news.

The abbot of Xuantian Temple spoke slowly.

"However, we have already sent the most elite disciples to investigate. Hopefully, they will be safe and sound."

His voice was low and hoarse, as if it also carried a hint of fatigue.

Upon hearing the news, a hint of disappointment flashed in Ling Xiao's eyes, but he quickly regained his resolve.

He lightly tapped the scabbard at his waist with his fingertips, the crisp sound resonating loudly in the silent space, as if echoing the determination in his heart.

He asked again:

"Which of the neighboring countries still have some hope of survival?"

At this critical moment for the empire, he had to consider all possibilities and seek out any available resources; he would not give up even if there was only a sliver of hope.

His gaze was fixed on the Emperor Xuan, awaiting his answer as if it would determine the future of the empire.

"The Land of Clouds and Mist".

The abbot of Xuantian Temple had a solemn expression, his brows furrowed tightly, as if shrouded in a dark cloud.

He lightly flicked the jade whisk in his hand, pointing it towards a certain point in the sky, his voice low and solemn.
"For a long time, they have lived a seemingly peaceful but actually precarious life in that corner of the world."

It was all because our Overlord Empire blocked the wolf-like and tiger-like advance of the Temple of Annihilation.

The Temple of Annihilation is ambitious and seeks to conquer the entire continent. If we perish in this brutal war, they will be the next to suffer a terrible fate.

The simple yet profound truth that "if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold" should be understood by their shrewd rulers.

Ling Xiao stood quietly to the side, his eyes flickering slightly. His deep eyes seemed to hold countless calculations, like stars twinkling in the night sky, mysterious and elusive.

After a moment, he spoke slowly, his voice steady and firm:
"I intend to travel to the Kingdom of Clouds and Mist."

Though the words were spoken softly, they were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up ripples in everyone's hearts.

Upon hearing this, the sect leader of Xuantian Temple looked up in astonishment. His silver-white beard and hair were particularly striking under the sunlight, as if they were deep marks left by the years.

His eyes were full of surprise and confusion as he asked:
"Does Your Majesty wish to form an alliance with the Cloud Mist Kingdom?"

In his view, forming an alliance is undoubtedly a major event in this time of war and turmoil, and requires utmost caution.

Ling Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, his posture as upright as a pine tree. Sunlight fell on his broad shoulders, giving him a sacred glow and making him look like a god descended from heaven.

He tilted his head slightly, gazing into the distance, as if he could already see the hope and challenges of the future.

"When facing a formidable foe, it's always better to have one more friend than one more enemy."

His voice was loud and powerful, like a war drum, striking the hearts of everyone present. (End of Chapter)