"Your Majesty, for now, you should handle the matter of that young man from the West State invading the Tianyuan Dynasty."

The State Preceptor stared at Yin Yue Demon Venerate, his expression serious, and said, "If you possess the strength worthy of convincing the Elder Council, naturally, they will acknowledge your status and position. You must first display your strength."

"State Preceptor, are you referring to Qin Tian of the West State?"

Yin Yue Demon Venerate frowned, "Wait, what did you just say, Qin Tian intends to invade my Demon Clan?"

"Isn't that so? Tie Bing was captured, the West State Army is still within the Demon Clan's territory, isn't that considered an invasion?" the State Preceptor retorted.

Yin Yue Demon Venerate took a deep breath, then burst into laughter, "Hahaha… I underestimated Qin Tian! I did not invade him, yet he dares to invade my Demon Clan?"

As he spoke further, Yin Yue Demon Venerate's face turned somewhat grim.

"To invade the Demon Clan, Qin Tian dared not report to the Imperial City of the Tianyuan Dynasty and directly invaded the Demon Clan... Hmph, this is the first time in all these years that someone from the West State has dared to do such a thing! Courting death!"

Yin Yue Demon Venerate gritted his teeth in anger, and said, "In this case, I will show Qin Tian the might of our Demon Clan!"

The State Preceptor said, "So, all of your previous speculations are superficial, understand?"

"It's not that Qin Tian anticipated our invasion of the West State and preemptively mobilized troops in preparation. That's merely a surface phenomenon. The real situation is… before we even thought of moving against Qin Tian, he was already preparing to invade my Demon Clan. That is his true aim!"

Wow!

As these words were spoken, all the ministers of the Demon Clan present were stunned.

"Qin Tian actively wants to invade our Demon Clan? Is he insane?"

"Indeed, with the Imperial City of the Tianyuan Dynasty eyeing him so closely, does he still have the mind to invade the Demon Clan?"

"Offending us at this time is unwise, is Qin Tian truly intending this?"

The ministers, astonished, were also filled with questions in their hearts.

The State Preceptor, hearing this, coldly laughed, and said, "Whether or not Qin Tian has long planned to invade our Demon Clan, you will know by observing his actions next."

"If he retracts his troops toward the border, it means he intends to withdraw."

"But if… his forces move west, approaching the Black Cloud River, what do you think his purpose would be?"

The State Preceptor's question left everyone in silence.

The Black Water River, this is the first line of defense in the East of the Demon Clan.

If they cross the Black Water River heading west, wouldn't that mean they intend to attack the Demon Capital?

Everyone fell silent.

The previously silent Yin Yue Demon Venerate coldly snorted and said, "I see the State Preceptor is right! In that case, on our territory, we shall give him a painful lesson, let Qin Tian know the might of the Demon Clan!"

"Your Majesty, I heard this time, Qin Tian has dispatched his elite troops, known as the Qin Family Army, very formidable, Generals Yang Mu and Tie Bing were reportedly besieged and then captured by the Qin Family Army."

A general, worried, said, "I suspect, this time, this Qin Tian might indeed possess some strength. Previously, in the East Capital, and when he annihilated King Wu, he hadn't yet suffered a defeat."

"Hmph, he hasn't suffered defeat because he hasn't met me!"

Yin Yue Demon Venerate gritted his teeth, although seething with anger, now that Qin Tian's army has entered the Demon Clan's territory and shows intentions of invading westward, tactically, he must pay serious attention to Qin Tian.

It is known that, after he dispatched his hundred thousand troops, less than half a month later, only over twenty thousand returned. And on Qin Tian's side, it is reported there are only several tens of thousands. 𝐟𝕣𝗲𝕖𝕨𝗲𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝗲𝚕.𝗰𝚘𝐦

The West State Army, even with half the number of the Demon Clan's forces, surprisingly routed the Demon Clan's troops, which was once unthinkable.

It used to be the opposite scenario.

"We will employ a dual strategy; I will send someone to negotiate with the Imperial City of the Tianyuan Dynasty. Hmph, Qin Tian's unauthorized invasion of the Demon Clan has already violated the laws of the Tianyuan Dynasty. Once we remind friends in the Imperial City, I believe they too would be eager to take down Qin Tian."

Yin Yue Demon Venerate began to organize, "Certainly, now that this Qin Tian is already on our Demon Clan's land, we cannot afford any relaxation. Mu Lou!"

"At your command!"

A middle-aged general in black armor stepped forward.

"You will lead fifty thousand troops to support the local forces at the Black Cloud River, and you must block Qin Tian's forces east of the Black Cloud River, not letting them cross the river!"

As the order was issued by Yin Yue Demon Venerate, Mu Lou hesitated, yet didn't respond.

"What's wrong, any issues?" Yin Yue Demon Venerate frowned.

Mu Lou said, "Your Majesty, it's not that I refuse to comply, it's just... the disparity in forces is quite significant, I worry I might not fulfill Your Majesty's great trust."

"Qin Tian's forces, the Zhao Lanjin's troops, and his own, aren't they less than one hundred thousand? You command fifty thousand, plus the Black Cloud River's local army, the forces are comparable to Qin Tian's, are you losing heart before the battle?"

"I wouldn't dare!"

Mu Lou directly knelt down, reporting truthfully, "Your Majesty, from the information gathered at the Black Cloud River, the ten thousand troops are merely Qin Tian's vanguard. In the rear… there seems to be another hundred thousand strong that have already crossed the Demon Clan border…"

"Two hundred thousand!?"

Yin Yue Demon Venerate was taken aback, "Qin Tian mobilized a total of four hundred thousand troops and dispatched two hundred thousand to attack the Demon Clan, ha, indeed ambitious."

Yin Yue Demon Venerate clicked his tongue, falling into deep thought.

After he seized power, due to the internal strife within the Demon Clan, the current forces aren't very substantial; to counter Qin Tian's two hundred thousand troops, he indeed needed some planning.

"This way, I will give you another fifty thousand, mobilize another thirty thousand from other places, so on the Black Cloud River line, you should have around two hundred thousand."

Yin Yue Demon Venerate took a deep breath, and said, "Mu Lou, remember, when you reach the Black Cloud River, you don't need to take the initiative to attack, just focus on defense. If you can hold back Qin Tian for three months without letting him cross the river, it will be your foremost merit!"

"For three months, I have absolute confidence, please rest assured, Your Majesty!"

With reinforcements, Mu Lou's confidence surged, yet Yin Yue Demon Venerate was worried about him being assassinated, thus he sent several secret experts from the Demon Clan Palace as Mu Lou's guards, to ensure his safety.

"Your Majesty, you intend for the Imperial City to help you remove Qin Tian, right?"

The State Preceptor knowingly smiled, and said, "An excellent strategy. Our Demon Clan cannot withstand a great war; Qin Tian has offended several influential figures in the Imperial City, so with a bit of planning on our part, the Imperial City will definitely deal severe blows to Qin Tian. Three months, I believe, Qin Tian will not last three months."

Yin Yue Demon Venerate nodded, "A brute like Qin Tian, with humble origins, hmph, there are countless people in the world wanting to kill him. This time, falling into my hands, his death is well-deserved!"