Batian Martial Soul

Chapter 14420 War Readiness

"How many usable men does the Behemoth Army currently have?"

Ling Xiao sat upright on the high platform, his gaze sharp as he slowly swept over the soldiers below, who were clad in armor and had resolute faces.

These soldiers were all veterans who had experienced countless battles and were seasoned warriors; their eyes revealed their indomitable spirit and resilience.

Lian Hu, the commander of the behemoth army, immediately knelt on one knee upon hearing this and responded in a deep voice:
"Your Highness, the Beast Army currently has seventy-two men remaining!"

"They have all reached the Great Sun Realm, each possessing extraordinary martial arts skills, capable of taking on ten opponents at once, and are incredibly brave!"

"Among them, three have already faintly touched the threshold of the Star River Realm, and given time, they will surely break through."

Ling Xiao nodded slightly after hearing this, a hint of satisfaction flashing in his eyes:
"good!"

"Everyone must be assembled and ready for battle within three days."

"From this day forward, the Beast Army is officially incorporated into the regular army of the Overlord Empire, under the unified command and dispatch of the Military Affairs Department, and there must be no errors."

After Lian Hu left to carry out his orders, Lü Ning, Ling Xiao's personal bodyguard, slowly approached. Watching Lian Hu's departing figure, she softly said to Ling Xiao:
"Your Highness, is this person truly trustworthy?"

"I noticed his eyes were shifting, as if he harbored some resentment."

Upon hearing this, Ling Xiao's lips curled into a slight smile. With a flick of his finger, a sharp sword aura flowed through the air like a swimming dragon.
"It doesn't matter."

"Faced with absolute power, any petty schemes are futile."

Upon hearing this, Lü Ning looked puzzled and cast a questioning glance at Ling Xiao.

The sword intent within Ling Xiao's sleeve flickered uncertainly, seemingly containing boundless power.
"Killing him would be a piece of cake for me."

These words were calm and composed, yet they sent a chill down Lü Ning's spine. He was secretly amazed by Ling Xiao's strength and decisiveness.

Watching Ling Xiao's receding figure, Lü Ning suddenly realized that the boy who once needed her protection had now grown into a true powerhouse.

With each step he took, faint sword marks were left on the stone slabs beneath his feet. These were deliberate displays of intimidation, and symbols of his strength and confidence.

After returning to the main hall, Ling Xiao immediately announced that he would go into seclusion to cultivate.

He took out a large number of precious spirit crystals and hung them in front of him. The runes flowing on those spirit crystals flickered in the dim palace, emitting a faint light.

As he circulated his cultivation technique, one sword after another transformed into pure energy and entered his body.

At his spiritual altar, his primordial spirit became increasingly solid, as if it were about to break through some kind of boundary.

The guards on duty outside the palace could hear gusts of wind, like the cry of a phoenix in the sky, which was an unusual phenomenon caused by Ling Xiao's cultivation.

Time passed silently in the daily grind of training. The entire Batian Empire was immersed in a tense yet orderly atmosphere, with everyone making meticulous preparations for the upcoming great battle that would determine the fate of the empire.

During this time, the Tianyuan Temple, which should have been bustling and turbulent, became unusually quiet. This unusual calm did not make people feel at ease; instead, it felt like a huge rock was pressing on their hearts, making them even more uneasy.

Battle reports from all over the empire all point to a worrying fact: on the border, unidentified forces are spying and provoking, like venomous snakes lurking in the shadows, ready to launch a fatal attack at any moment.

Shangguan Yue stood quietly outside the palace gate, holding a jade slip with a warm luster in her hand. It was densely covered with records of the troop deployments, movements, and possible strategic intentions of various forces.

She had been waiting here for seven whole days, from the first light of dawn to the fall of night, and then to the arrival of yet another dawn.

As dawn quietly descended on the seventh day, and the sky began to lighten with the first hint of white, the long-closed palace doors finally opened slowly, as if the wheels of history were turning and a new page was being turned.

The morning light seeped in through the crack in the door like a gentle stream, illuminating the hall and the figure slowly emerging from within—Ling Xiao.

He strode out of the palace gate with steady and powerful steps, his aura powerful and profound. It was as if even the ancient trees in the courtyard felt this power, moving without wind, their branches and leaves swaying gently.

Ling Xiao took a deep breath, the breath seemingly containing endless magic, causing demonic intent to surge in his eyes, as if to tear apart the void before him and reveal the scene of another world.

After seven days of secluded cultivation, Ling Xiao's cultivation level has quietly risen to the third level of the Cangyue Realm.

Although such progress might not seem particularly remarkable to others, Ling Xiao himself didn't pay much attention to it.

For him, true improvement in cultivation often comes from fierce battles, from struggling and transcending the edge of life and death.

For Ling Xiao, the greatest improvement during this period of arduous training was not in his cultivation level itself, but in the demonic intent hidden deep within his body.

Now, once he unleashes his full demonic power, even a peak Great Sun Realm expert will feel that invisible pressure, and their mind will be shocked and affected.

Upon seeing Ling Xiao emerge, Shangguan Yue hurried forward and respectfully reported:

"Your Highness, we have successfully integrated various forces, gaining over a hundred Great Sun Realm experts, and countless other experts across all other realms."

"only……"

She hesitated slightly as she spoke, the jade slip in her hand becoming slightly hot with nervousness.

"We are currently lacking a Star River Realm expert and have not been able to find suitable assistance."

Ling Xiao remained silent for a moment, then nodded slightly, his expression solemn.

The lack of Star River Realm experts is undoubtedly the biggest weakness of the Overlord Empire at this moment, and also the most significant gap between them and the Heavenly Abyss Holy Hall, which has a deep foundation and many experts.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze passing over the eaves and brackets of the palace, looking at the rising sun on the horizon. The golden light shone on his face, but could not dispel the worry between his brows.

In an instant, he raised his sword finger slightly, his movements elegant and decisive, as if he were communicating with some invisible force between heaven and earth.

As he made this move, the entire defensive array of the royal city seemed to be awakened, lighting up simultaneously. Brilliant rays of light shot into the sky, weaving together into a huge net of light that firmly protected the royal city within it.

The light was dazzling, making even the rising sun appear somewhat dim in comparison.

"Pass down the order!"

Lingxiao's voice, like a resounding bell, pierced through layers of morning mist and clearly reached every corner of the royal city.

The voice carried an unquestionable authority and decisiveness, startling the birds that had been perched on the branches throughout the city. They flapped their wings and flew frantically into the sky.

Ling Xiao continued:

"Activate all national protection formations."

"From this day forward, the Overlord Empire officially enters a state of war preparedness. No one is allowed to slacken their vigilance!"

Night falls and the stars are shining.

Ling Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, quietly atop the city wall, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the cold bricks.

His eyes revealed a hint of anxiety, yet also a touch of determination.