The messengers and carrier pigeons dispatched by Xu Mujun relayed the intelligence to the tents of Meng Guang, Cui Xiawu, Guanshan, Miao Xiu, and others over the course of seven days.

Tens of thousands of troops from the Imperial Court began advancing toward Qingzhou, Yangzhou, Jiangzhou, and Xuzhou, among other places.

However, the movements of the court's army were soon noticed by various rebel forces, each of which took action accordingly.

Wuxi Island, Changhe City.

Hearing the report from his subordinates, Tuoba Qingtong spoke in a peculiar tone: "Are you saying... the court's army has started to move? What about Meng Guang from Zhuxi City?"

"Reporting to the young master, Meng Guang's navy has always been under our surveillance, but they have yet to take any action."

A clansman said, "Young master, the clan leader has sent a message saying you must find a way to quickly break through the Imperial Navy and support His Highness Prince Chen in Xuzhou to encircle and kill Xu Mujun."

"Otherwise, if the other rebel forces are defeated, our Tuoba Clan will have to face the entire court army alone."

Tuoba Qingtong said irritably, "I understand, you may leave."

"Yes, sir!"

"Big brother, what's troubling you?"

Zhao Qingshan asked curiously, "Elder Wugou said in her last letter that she had already cracked the secret of the court's explosives and instructed the clansmen to produce them. Our war camp now stores a substantial number of bombs..."

"So what?"

Tuoba Qingtong shook his head and said, "What we need now are cannons and muskets!"

"How far can a bomb really be thrown? We can't just mount a trebuchet on a ship."

"Damn it... Who on earth invented these cannons and muskets, making them so hard to replicate?"

Zhao Qingshan replied with a wry smile, "Big brother, our Tuoba family is not skilled in artifact refining, so we have no idea how to counter these firearms."

"The craftsmen in the clan have managed to replicate some, but their power doesn't match that of the court's firearms, and they're prone to backfire, injuring many people."

"I hear Elder Wugou has reached out to other allies in hopes of uncovering the secret of those firearms."

"Hmph!"

Tuoba Qingtong scoffed, "What difficulty is there in weapons created by mere mortals?"

"Those explosives may seem mysterious, but they're essentially just leftover scum from a cultivator's alchemy."

"Their power is barely adequate, but they're far too conspicuous, nowhere near as convenient as the Celestial Thunder Seed."

Zhao Qingshan chuckled helplessly, "Big brother, the Celestial Thunder Seed can only be refined by Qi Cultivation Late-stage cultivators with special magical artifacts to channel the celestial thunder."

"But this gunpowder is easy to refine, even mortals can use it."

"If our Tuoba family could grasp the secrets of gunpowder and firearms, our overall strength would at least double!"

Hearing this, Tuoba Qingtong had to admit that Zhao Qingshan's words held some truth.

Yet, as a cultivator, his pride would not allow him to concede easily.

He could only change the topic, "Let's not talk about this for now, has the clan found Qingying yet?"

"Not yet, but based on her departure direction, the clan leader suspects that Miss Qingying has likely gone to the Great Yu Imperial City."

"The Capital City? What is she doing there?"

"I don't know, but according to niece Lingyun, it seems Miss Qingying went to the Capital City to investigate the cause of the changes in the world."

Zhao Qingshan added, "A few years ago, our Yunmeng Marsh suddenly showed signs of a Spiritual Qi Revival, and although it gradually receded, it drew the attention of the clan elders."

"Being a Celestial Spirit Root Cultivator, Miss Qingying is more sensitive to changes in Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi."

"Perhaps she sensed something and went to investigate."

"The Capital City, the Capital City!"

Tuoba Qingtong murmured, "Of all places, why go to the Capital City?"

"The Capital City is the heart of Great Yu, if her identity as Qingying were discovered by the Great Yu..."

"Don't worry, big brother."

Zhao Qingshan assured, "Miss Qingying has always kept a low profile, how could the Imperial Court possibly know her true identity?"

"Besides, Miss Qingying is now a Qi Cultivation Peak Cultivator and is only a step away from Foundation Establishment."

"Moreover, the clan leader has entrusted our clan's magical artifact, the Dragon Pearl, to Miss Qingying."

"In this vast world, unless she encounters a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, what does Miss Qingying have to fear?"

"The Dragon Pearl...!"

Tuoba Qingtong muttered, eyes full of envy and greed.

Recalling Tuoba Qingying's stunning visage, Tuoba Qingtong felt somewhat moved.

"Qingying is now eighteen, it's time to choose a husband."

"Big brother..."

Zhao Qingshan hesitated, "Miss Qingying once said that unless she reaches the Golden Core, she won't marry. Her goal is the Nascent Soul, you..."

"Golden Core! Haha..."

Tuoba Qingtong sneered, "With the path of immortality severed, where in this world is there a Golden Core Cultivator?"

"On Star Island, the largest in the Overseas Cultivation Realm, even Foundation Establishment Cultivators are as rare as phoenix feathers. Qingying's aspirations are... too naive!"

"What she should do is consider the future of the Tuoba Clan and bear many offspring for the clan to strengthen it, maintain the clan's heritage, and wait for the full revival of Spiritual Qi!"

"Being a Celestial Spirit Root Cultivator, her offspring would likely possess extraordinary Spirit Root qualities as well."

"Big brother..."

Seeing Tuoba Qingtong slightly obsessed, Zhao Qingshan didn't know what to say.

As a member of the Tuoba Clan and a cultivator himself, but merely an in-law, significant clan matters were only to be discussed by real members of the Tuoba family.

As an outsider, all he could do was follow orders.

"Report… young master!"

Suddenly, a clansman shouted outside, "Young master, it's me, Tuoba Jiang, with important intelligence to report."

"Come in!"

Soon, an elderly man, around fifty, clad in armor, strode in and respectfully reported, "Young master, spies have brought news that the court's army from Zhuxi City has moved!"

"Oh?"

Tuoba Qingtong's eyes brightened sharply, "That's great! So the court's army is indeed planning a full-scale assault."

"That Meng Guang has been an incredibly tough nut to crack. Except for the first time he attacked and was defeated by us, he has been hiding in Zhuxi City like a turtle for two years."

"This time, to fight outside the city is truly a fantastic opportunity!"

"Pass the order, prepare all Tuoba family naval forces in camp, massacre the court's army!"

"Young master!"

Tuoba Jiang hurriedly tried to stop him, "Zhuxi City is quite peculiar this time. The fierce generals have defended it for two years, so why suddenly launch an attack?"

Tuoba Qingtong threw the intelligence from the clan at him, "It's not just Meng Guang; the northern Xu Mujun forces, the southern Cui Xiawu, Guanshan, and even Miao Xiu have all moved."

"It seems Xu Mujun couldn't withstand the Imperial Court's urgings and is preparing for the final battle."

"The intelligence we received is to break through Meng Guang's blockade on the northern front and go to Xuzhou to support King Chen!"

"What, do you have other opinions?"

Tuoba Jiang quickly said, "I dare not!"

Looking at the nervous and fearful Tuoba Jiang, Zhao Qingshang sighed deeply beside him.

By age and generation, Tuoba Jiang is actually Tuoba Qingtong's clan uncle.

Unfortunately, Tuoba Jiang had no Spirit Root, although his military strategies were the best in the Tuoba Clan, and with Elder Wugou's help, his Martial Dao Cultivation reached the Innate level.

But within the Tuoba Family, neither fame nor status surpassed Tuoba Qingtong.

Thus, stationed in the northern Yunmeng Marsh, the Grand General facing Meng Guang in the obvious battle was Tuoba Jiang.

But secretly executing commands was still Tuoba Qingtong!

"Then give the orders!"

"Yes, young master."

Tuoba Jiang asked again, "Don't know when the young master plans to act?"

"As long as Young Master Qingtong and Young Master Qingshang are willing to join the army and take advantage of the thick fog and giant waves, we can easily defeat the Imperial Navy!"

Tuoba Qingtong shook his head, "This magic consumes a lot; we two cannot release it freely."

"Once Meng Guang appears, we'll strike."

"As long as Meng Guang is killed, the Great Yu Navy will collapse without a fight!"

Tuoba Jiang hesitated for a moment but respectfully responded, "Yes, young master!"

Soon, on Wuxi Island, countless clan members of the Tuoba Family started moving.

Not just them, but countless fishermen and water thieves living in Yunmeng Marsh, relying on it for survival and recognizing the Tuoba Family as their master, also set sail on their respective warships, heading north.

Half a day later, a dark silhouette slowly emerged on the lake ahead.

With clouds and mist swirling, the sun rising high.

Under the sunshine, that distant dark silhouette finally revealed its true form.

That…

was nothing more than the formation of the Imperial Navy!

Over three hundred large warships, a thousand or more small gunboats, lined up one after another, layer upon layer, advancing toward the Tuoba Family's fleet.

Compared to the Imperial Navy, the Tuoba Family's fleet was evidently weaker.

There were only a dozen large warships, but small gunboats, fishing boats, and even sampans numbered at least in the thousands.

Like a swarm of flies, they charged together.

The Yunmeng Marsh's territory stretched far, equivalent to that of an entire province.

Within the Yunmeng Marsh, at least hundreds of thousands were attached to the Tuoba Family.

Relying on these ordinary people, the Tuoba Family formed a naval force of over two hundred thousand.

The two naval forces quickly discovered each other; the sound of lonely horns echoed, reaching thousands of meters away.

On the main ship of the Great Yu Navy, Meng Guang, aided by a telescope, quickly spotted the distant Tuoba Family fleet and frowned, "The Tuoba Family fleet has grown again."

Beside him, Tan Yunlong shook his head, "General, don't worry, these are just fishermen and water thieves; what qualifies them to be called a navy?"

"If not for the Tuoba Family, we could easily scare them off with a single shot."

"Huh…"

Meng Guang exhaled heavily, "If not for Grand General Xu's orders, this general truly wouldn't want to clash with the Tuoba Family in Yunmeng Marsh."

"Since things have reached this point, the battle cannot be avoided, issue the order, prepare to fire!"

"Yes!"

"Prepare to fire!"

"Prepare to fire!"

Flag signals swiftly swung, military orders echoed between many sea vessels.

With Meng Guang's command, the signal soldier beside him waved the flag again.

"Fire!"

"Fire!"

"Fire!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

"Boom!"

In an instant, there was a burst of rumbling from hundreds of Red Coat Cannons arranged on the sides of ships.

Hundreds of large iron balls shot out ferociously, smashing into the midst of the Tuoba Family's fleet.

"Boom!"

"Bang!"

"Ah!"

"It's leaking!"

"The ship's been hit and collapsed!"

On the Tuoba Family fleet, countless panicked cries rang out.

Some ships were directly struck causing a massive hole, some masts were toppled.

But more cannonballs fell into the lake, raising huge waves.

After all, the accuracy of the Red Coat Cannons wasn't very good.

On a large ship, Tuoba Jiang frowned, "Have the Chaotic River Dragon launch from the left side of the formation to approach the Imperial Navy as quickly as possible."

"Only when the armies are in close combat can the Great Yu Imperial Navy's Red Coat Cannons hesitate to act."

"Yes, my lord!"

"Additionally, deploy the Water Ghosts to destroy their warships."

"Yes!"