The genius who counterattacked the mainland

The atmosphere within the Illusion Flame Empire's palace was heavy and oppressive. Xu Tiancai and his companions sat with the king in the council hall, surrounded by the empire's important officials and generals. Each had a serious expression, their eyes revealing their worry about the impending crisis.

The king was the first to break the silence, his voice low but firm: "Everyone, the threat of the Dark Pope is imminent. We must quickly form a strong alliance and integrate the forces of all parties to have a chance of victory. I have sent envoys to the neighboring countries, but this is far from enough. We must also seek out more potential allies."

Xu Tiancai nodded slightly, the power of the stars flickering in his eyes. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Your Majesty, in addition to the official forces of each country, some powerful organizations and independent cultivators in the private sector cannot be ignored. For example, in the mysterious forests of the West, there are a group of druids who specialize in natural magic. They are connected to the power of nature and may play a unique role in fighting against the forces of darkness."

Ah Gang patted his chest and said loudly, "I've heard that deep in the northern glaciers, there are some powerful ice warriors. They've cultivated strong physiques and powerful ice-based fighting skills in the harsh cold. If we can recruit them, it will definitely increase our combat power."

Lin nodded gently, the wind element rippling around her. "There's also the Magic Chamber of Commerce in the central region. They're quite wealthy and possess numerous rare magical materials and powerful magic items. If we can gain their support, we'll have an even greater advantage in terms of equipment and resources."

Upon hearing this, the king's eyes flickered with hope. "You are all absolutely right. I will immediately order the dispatch of several teams to various locations to persuade these forces to join the alliance. At the same time, we must also actively prepare at home, strengthen military defenses, train soldiers, and enhance our overall strength."

All parties quickly sprang into action. Xu Tiancai, Lin, and Agang volunteered to journey to the mysterious forests of the west in search of the druid. They crossed vast plains, where green grass swayed in the breeze and colorful wildflowers bloomed, emitting bursts of fragrance. But they had no time to admire the beauty; their only concern was finding the druid as quickly as possible.

Entering the mysterious forest, they felt as if they had stepped into another world. Towering trees blocked out the sun, leaving only dappled sunlight filtering through the leaves. Through the dense undergrowth, all sorts of exotic critters darted, some gleaming with fluorescent light, others chirping sweetly. A refreshing scent filled the air, a blend of the fragrances of trees, flowers, and earth.

However, the forest also harbours dangers. Suddenly, a swarm of giant spiders swarmed out from all directions. These spiders were the size of cows, covered with sharp bristles, their eyes flashed with strange lights, and they spit out white spider silk from their mouths.

Ah Gang brandished his battle axe and rushed forward first: "Come on, I'm itching to do something!" The battle axe brought up a gust of wind, and eternal fighting spirit burned on the axe blade. He swung it hard and cut off several spider silks, repelling the approaching spiders.

Lin controlled the wind element, turning it into sharp wind blades, which shot towards the spider group like flying knives: "Watch how I break your spider formation!" The wind blades whizzed past, cutting wounds on the spiders' bodies. Green blood splashed on the ground, corroding small pits.

Xu Tiancai unleashed the "Starry Sun Sword", and the colorful sword turned into a scorching sun in his hand. The sword energy sprinkled on the spider group like sunshine: "The power of the stars, purify the evil!" The sword energy crisscrossed, and wherever it went, the spiders were chopped off and their limbs flew everywhere.

But the spiders were so numerous, seemingly endless. Just as they were locked in a fierce battle, a melodious flute sounded from deep within the forest. The sound held a mysterious power, and upon hearing it, the spiders ceased their attacks and retreated deeper into the forest.

Xu Tiancai and the others looked warily in the direction of the flute sound, only to see an old man in a green robe slowly approaching. The old man had a kind face and wise eyes, and in his hand was a flute that exuded a delicate woody fragrance.

"Guest from afar, why are you killing people in my druid territory?" the old man asked calmly.

Xu Tiancai stepped forward, clasped his fists, and saluted, saying, "Senior, we are here to fight the threat posed by the Dark Pope. The forces of darkness are wreaking havoc, and the Phantom Flame Empire has suffered heavy losses. We hope to gain the assistance of the Druids and form an alliance to protect this world."

The old man frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "The Dark Pope's ambitions are well known to everyone. Although we druids live in seclusion in the forest, we cannot sit idly by and watch the world be swallowed by darkness. However, you must prove your strength and determination to gain our trust."

"Senior, please give us the questions, and we will do our best!" Xu Tiancai said firmly.

The old man waved his flute, and the surrounding trees suddenly began to move, branches stretching out like arms, forming a vast maze. "You must exit this forest maze within one hour, and you must not destroy a single blade of grass or tree in the forest. Otherwise, you will be deemed a failure."

Xu Tiancai and his companions entered the maze without hesitation. The maze was filled with thick fog, making visibility extremely low. They could only rely on their senses and elemental powers to determine their direction. A Gang tried to clear a path with his battle axe, but Xu Tiancai stopped him: "A Gang, we can't destroy the forest. We need to find another way."

Lin closed her eyes and carefully felt the flow of the wind element. She discovered that the wind had subtle patterns in the maze, so she said, "Follow the direction of the wind. It will lead us to the exit."

They cautiously advanced, following the wind's direction, encountering various traps and illusions along the way. There were sudden, bottomless pits, and phantom walls disguised as exits. But with Xu Tiancai's star-powered perception, Lin's wind-elemental guidance, and Agang's fearlessness, they repeatedly escaped danger.

Finally, at the end of an hour, they saw a bright light ahead, which was the exit of the maze. When they walked out of the maze, the old man was standing there with a satisfied smile on his face.

"You have passed the test. The Druids are willing to join your alliance and fight against the dark forces together," said the old man.

Xu Tiancai and others were ecstatic. They quickly returned to the Huanyan Empire with the promise of the Druid clan.

Meanwhile, preparations for war were underway across the Phantom Flame Empire. Soldiers trained diligently on the drill grounds, brandishing swords and spears, their cries of battle resounding through the heavens. Fire mages trained in the magic towers, flames dancing in their hands and magical runes flickering in the air. Craftsmen toiled day and night, forging various weapons and armor. Furnaces blazed in the forges, hammers clanged and clattered.

The Ice Princess and the Man in White returned to the Fantasy Flame Empire, bringing with them the hidden musicians and warriors of the Eastern Sea of ​​Clouds. They brought with them many precious magical weapons and unique cultivation manuals, which added significant weight to the alliance's preparations for war.

After receiving the invitation to join the alliance from the Phantom Flame Empire, all nations responded. The northern Ice Empire dispatched an elite force of ice warriors. Clad in white ice armor and riding giant direwolves, they galloped across the icy landscape. The arrival of the ice warriors caused the temperature in the Phantom Flame Empire to drop by several degrees. The powerful icy aura they exuded was awe-inspiring.

The southern commercial city-states provided a vast amount of material and financial support. Merchant ships laden with food, magical materials, and weaponry sailed towards the ports of the Phantom Flame Empire. Merchants busily moved goods, and the docks were filled with a dazzling array of supplies.

As various forces converged, the Phantom Flame Empire's alliance gradually grew stronger. But Xu Tiancai and his companions knew this was far from enough. They needed to develop a comprehensive battle plan to achieve victory in their confrontation with the Dark Pope.

The core members of the alliance gathered again in the palace's meeting hall. Xu Tiancai stood before a map, pointing to the area where the Dark Pope's forces were located. He said, "The Dark Pope's power is primarily concentrated in the Dark Temple's territory. As far as we know, he possesses powerful dark magicians, elite dark knights, and various sinister magical creatures. We can't attack rashly. We must first weaken his peripheral forces and sever his supply lines, then seek an opportunity to deliver a fatal blow."

Ah Gang frowned and said, "But how do we know where his supply lines are? And those evil magical creatures are definitely not easy to deal with. We have to think of a good way first."

Lin thought for a moment and said, "I can use wind elements to explore his territory and find the location of his supply lines. As for those magical creatures, we can dispatch corresponding forces to restrain them according to their attributes. For example, against dark creatures, we can use the natural magic of ice warriors and druids to contain them."

The Ice Princess nodded in agreement. "I can lead the ice mages and ice warriors as the vanguard to freeze and contain the dark creatures. Then, Agang will lead the melee troops, such as the soldiers of the Phantom Flame Empire and the warriors of the north, to launch a charge and disrupt the enemy's formation."

The man in white played his flute, and the sound echoed throughout the hall. "My flute can disrupt the enemy's mind during battle, creating opportunities for our side. At the same time, the Phantom Flame Empire's fire magicians can launch powerful flaming attacks from the rear, inflicting massive casualties on the enemy."

Xu Tiancai nodded slightly after hearing this. "This is a very good plan. However, we must also consider that the Dark Pope may take action himself. His dark power is extremely strong, and we must have a plan to deal with it."

Everyone fell into deep thought, pondering how to counter the Dark Pope's immense power. Suddenly, Xu Tiancai remembered the ancient inheritance he had obtained from the Demonic Abyss Ruins. "There, I gained some of the Star War God's power and some cultivation methods. One of these techniques, the 'Starry Devil Breaking Formation,' can gather everyone's strength to form a powerful seal, perhaps capable of countering the Dark Pope."

"But this formation requires close cooperation from everyone, and it also requires extremely high control of power." Xu Tiancai continued.

Everyone expressed their willingness to cooperate fully and to fight against the Dark Pope at all costs.

In the days that followed, the alliance army began intensive training according to the battle plan. The Ice Princess led the ice forces in a freezing drill on the outskirts of the city. The temperature plummeted, the ice rapidly spread, and a forest of icy spikes formed. Agang, on the other hand, trained the melee troops in charging techniques in the training grounds. The soldiers brandished their weapons in unison, their cries of battle deafening. A man in white played the flute in the barracks, allowing the soldiers to train their minds and strengthen their resistance to distractions. Xu Tiancai, along with magicians and powerful individuals from various countries, studied the "Star Destroying Magic Array." They infused their own powers into the magic array, constantly adjusting and refining its operating mechanisms.

As training deepened, the alliance's strength gradually increased, and coordination between the various units grew more and more harmonious. However, they also knew that the Dark Pope's power remained formidable, and this battle was fraught with uncertainty and danger. But to protect world peace and light, they remained steadfast, awaiting the decisive battle with unwavering determination.

As the alliance prepared for battle, the Dark Pope closely watched their every move from within the Dark Temple. He sat upon his throne of darkness, surrounded by a dark aura and shimmering magical runes. "You ants, you dare to challenge me? I will show you the true power of darkness." His voice echoed through the Dark Temple, filled with disdain and arrogance.

The Dark Pope dispatched his minions to harass and sabotage the Alliance's territory, attempting to disrupt its war preparations. Several small villages were attacked by the Dark Knights, with villagers slaughtered and houses burned. However, the Alliance army quickly responded, dispatching small forces to encircle and repel the dark forces.

These repeated skirmishes strengthened the alliance's resolve to fight the Dark Pope to the bitter end, allowing them to accumulate experience and refine their battle plans. Meanwhile, Xu Tiancai and his men were contemplating how to proactively attack, disrupt the Dark Pope's plans, seize the initiative, and lay the foundation for the final decisive battle.