Another two years passed.
On this day, the sky above the Azure Cloud region was overcast. The clansmen in Merit City emerged from their secluded cultivation. The major factions, having recuperated and regrouped throughout the Region, all began to mobilize.
"The war against the Wu Clan within Starfall Region has begun."
Li Wei stood on the city wall, watching the people of Merit City fly out on their swords.
After years of development, Merit City was no longer the city it once was. Having experienced the Wu Clan invasions, nearly every household practiced cultivation. Families with two or more children would invariably send one to join the Azure Cloud Region Army. Those who remained at home would strive to raise more children and cultivate diligently.
This wasn't just the case in Merit City; it reflected the reality across all of the Azure Cloud region.
Mortals had also returned to their hometowns, resuming their lives. The major factions, having suffered heavy casualties among their disciples over long years of war, would seek out children with decent cultivation aptitude in mortal villages. They made sure to explain clearly that joining a sect involved fighting the Wu Clan and facing a future fraught with peril. Yet, the common people of the Azure Cloud region, having all endured the hardship of fleeing as refugees, felt gratified that their children had the opportunity to cultivate and fight for the Region.
The entire Azure Cloud region had truly become a land forged for battle.
Even those cultivators who had fled from various parts of the Azure Dynasty, after being dispatched to defend the borders, would gradually absorb the beliefs and convictions of the Azure Cloud region cultivators, eventually becoming 'Azure Cloud region people' in spirit.
"Everyone! Today, the Azure Cloud region border requires the aid of fellow Daoists! We call upon all individuals of aspiration to come forth and defend the walls!"
On this day, throughout every village, town, and city in the Azure Cloud region, the resonant voices of the powerful could be heard, and bells tolled everywhere!
All the cultivators in the Azure Cloud region raised their heads to the sky, a sharp light gleaming in their eyes.
Subsequently, across the entire Azure Cloud region, cultivator after cultivator began converging on the Azure Cloud region border from every direction.
Their journey might take a month, yet if battle called, they must answer!
Death might claim them swiftly, but if victory could be won, they would die without regret!
"Along the way to that border lies a cemetery, bearing the will of the entire Azure Cloud region. Who among our generation fears death?!!"
Once, the Li Clan possessed a trait called 'Azure Cloud Region War Clan'.
But now, in the Azure Cloud region, every single person embodies the spirit of the Azure Cloud Region War Clan.
"Why are there so many people here?"
In just seven days, standing atop the Azure Cloud region border city wall, Li Yunbing stared, stunned. Below was a dense, overwhelming mass of Azure Cloud region cultivators, and incredibly, even burly men with no cultivation, pitchforks in hand, were mixed within their ranks.
....
On the border between the Starfall Region and the Azure Cloud region.
The assembled forces of Starfall Region's six major factions and its cultivators, along with experts from the Mi Region Prince, had long been poised and ready for battle.
A roaring sound echoed from the rear.
They were stunned.
"Good heavens!"
"That's the Red Widow, Li Tianyue, and the Azure Cloud Region Army! They're friendlies, here to help! Why are your legs shaking?"
"Aren't your legs shaking too?"
All the cultivators gazed towards the rear, where clouds of dust and smoke billowed into the sky.
Even the numerous experts from the Starfall Region gazed in astonishment at the arriving Li Tianyue and the Azure Cloud Region Army cultivators.
Mi Zhunqi let out a long sigh. "The Azure Cloud Region Army has fought on the border for many years," he remarked. "It seems they have truly forged a military soul."
Even Ye Xiu, who had always been exceedingly arrogant, nodded in deep agreement. "No wonder they could beat the Six Divisions Wu Tribes so badly they didn't dare retaliate," he said. "Azure Cloud region... Old Mi, ah, I've been saying all along – merging our Starfall Region into Azure Cloud region actually wouldn't be a loss."
The two men gazed towards the rear together.
Above the billowing dust and smoke floated fleet after fleet of Spirit Boats. It seemed as if the sky rained blood – for as the Spirit Boats descended to within tens of meters of the ground, the Azure Cloud Region Army soldiers leaped down from them en masse!
Soldier after soldier landed, astonishingly steadying themselves with practiced ease, utterly ignoring the swirling dust. They didn't even break formation!
They were clad in blood-red armor. Each soldier carried seven blood-red long spears upon their back, along with a large, blood-red bow. A quiver was slung at their right hip; a blood-red long saber and a long sword hung at their left. Tucked into their belts were numerous small pouches containing talismans, medicinal pills, explosive artifact spheres, and likely much more.
Armed to the teeth, they marched in square formations!
Their faces remained impassive; it seemed that no matter what obstacle lay before them, they would obey their general's command and charge straight through!
Oppression...
From the Azure Cloud Region Army, the forces of Starfall Region felt only an overwhelming sense of pressure and boundless killing intent. It was such that even Golden Core stage cultivators would not dare advance against this force!
Then, all eyes turned to the front.
At the very head of the Azure Cloud region forces, one figure stood out distinctly: Li Tianyue, known as The Red Widow!
Her long robes whipped and snapped in the fierce wind amidst the dust and smoke.
Her features were mesmerizing, naturally attracting the attention of everyone around her. However, at that moment, her furrowed brow exuded a steely intensity that caused people to recoil. A strong wind blew from the west, tossing her long hair over her eyes and forehead. Maintaining a look of calm and determination, she continued to guide the Azure Cloud Region Army ahead.
Reaching out with a hand clad in an iron gauntlet, she produced a red silk ribbon. Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, she used the ribbon to tie her dark, lustrous hair back into a high ponytail. Then, taking a helmet from a nearby adjutant, she donned it.
Then, with a wave of her hand, she issued a cold command:
"Azure Cloud Region Army! Follow me into Starfall Region!"
As Li Tianyue and the Azure Cloud Region Army advanced, the cultivators of Starfall Region stared, completely mesmerized. The imposing aura of the Azure Cloud region forces left them stunned, unable to recover their senses for a long moment. Li Tianyue's heroic bearing and the sheer might of her army were deeply etched into the very depths of their souls.
Azure Cloud Region.
Invincible!
---
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