"Brother Feng, let's return to the main camp first."

Mo Feng looked deeply at Ling Feng. He immediately ordered someone to pass the news of Ling Feng's return to the earlier checkpoints so the troops stationed there could relax slightly while continuing to guard their posts without lowering their vigilance.

He then instructed the guards to summon the commanders of the fortress's elite units to the command tent for a strategic meeting.

After arranging everything, Mo Feng led Ling Feng and the others back to the command tent.

It had to be said that Mo Feng was far more capable now. He handled matters decisively and clearly had developed his own judgment. The bearing of a true ruler had begun to show.

Before long, everyone gathered inside the command tent.

In front of the commander's seat hung a massive map. It displayed dozens of counties across the Tianbai Empire. Most of them had already surrendered to the Yan family and now served as Yan Jinghong's forces.

Only Han Li, commander-in-chief of the Northwestern Army, had not submitted.

He guarded the northwestern frontier and held back the Tianyang Empire along with the northern demon tribes. With an army of more than a million soldiers under his command, he had enough strength to maintain independence.

However, Han Li's attitude remained uncertain. He neither raised an army to oppose Yan Jinghong nor declared allegiance. He simply continued defending the northwest and ruled it like his own domain.

The saying that the mountains are high and the emperor is far away[1] suited the situation well. Since the Tianmang Fortress in the south still needed to be dealt with, Yan Jinghong did not wish to create more enemies for the moment. As a result, he had not forced Han Li to take a stance and had silently accepted his neutrality.

After all, Yan Jinghong now controlled the emperor and used that authority to command the regional powers. The puppet emperor Mo Yan remained in his hands, and the Yan family had always been part of the imperial nobility. With the Yan family dominating the court, Han Li as commander of the Northwestern Army had little justification to rebel openly.

After briefly explaining the situation across the empire, Mo Feng frowned deeply and spoke in a heavy voice.

"At present, nearly all the counties in the empire have submitted to the Yan family. Even if the Southern Army is strong, fighting the garrisons of every county would pit citizens of the Tianbai Empire against each other. I cannot bear to start such a civil war!"

"Even if we fought our way forward and swept through the counties, our forces would suffer heavy losses before reaching the imperial capital. At that point, how would we face the elite forces defending the capital?"

"As far as I know, since the sect leader of the Cangqiong Sect was captured, the Divine Guards who were once commanded by the sect have fallen completely under the Yan family's control."

"In addition, the Black-Armored Cavalry that serves the imperial family has sided with Yan Jinghong because of my fourth imperial brother. Facing such elite forces, we may not gain the advantage!"

Mo Feng paused before continuing.

"The greatest concern is Yan Jinghong himself. Even if he lacks skill in military command and our generals gain some advantage on the battlefield, his individual strength alone can stop an entire army. The defeat of Sect Leader Yue already proved this!"

At these words, sighs spread throughout the tent.

Without Yan Jinghong, the situation would not be so hopeless. The Fourth Prince alone would not have pushed them into such a desperate position.

However, Yan Jinghong's power shattered the balance entirely.

"Leave Yan Jinghong to me."

Ling Feng suddenly rose to his feet.

He looked around at the discouraged generals and said in a clear voice, "If Yan Jinghong were not part of the equation, what would our chances of victory be?"

The generals stared at him in surprise.

After a brief pause, one of them forced a bitter smile.

"General Ling, it is not that we doubt your strength. But Yan Jinghong defeated Sect Leader Yue of the Cangqiong Sect along with several imperial elders of the Mo family. Those elders were peak Human Emperor level experts. If even they could not defeat him, then you..."

Ling Feng's expression remained calm.

Those so-called peak Human Emperor elders of the Mo imperial family were likely weaker than some early-tier Human Emperors from the Dongling Immortal Pool.

Beyond the peak Human Emperor level lay three additional stages of extreme mastery. Yan Jinghong likely stood at the Extreme Human Emperor level.

As for Ling Feng, his combat strength rivaled the Heaven Slaying Ten Absolutes!

"I said that Yan Jinghong will be my opponent!"

A cold light flashed in Ling Feng's eyes.

He released his immense vitality without restraint.

Instantly, the atmosphere inside the command tent changed. The generals felt overwhelming pressure pressing down on them.

That surge of vitality made it difficult for many of them to even breathe.

"Heavens. What kind of power is this?"

"It feels like an ancient beast is standing right in front of us!"

"So this is General Ling's strength? The Dongling Immortal Pool is truly incredible. Half a year transformed him completely!"

The generals stared in shock.

Only Jiang Xiaofan, who possessed the Xuanwu blood, could resist the pressure somewhat. Even Li Bufan frowned slightly. In body refinement, he still lagged behind Jiang Xiaofan.

"That brat..."

Yuan Tiangang narrowed his eyes and took a slow breath.

Ling Feng's cultivation level clearly meant nothing. His true strength had already surpassed the peak Human Emperor!

"All right, Ling Feng. Put away that power. Everyone understands your strength now!"

Yuan Tiangang smiled faintly.

"With General Ling's current strength, he truly can hold off Yan Jinghong."

"If we ignore Yan Jinghong and try to fight from the southern frontier all the way to the imperial capital, the campaign would take a long time and our chances..."

Mo Feng clenched his fists.

"Our chances would not even reach fifty percent!"

Relying on the Southern Army alone to oppose the entire empire remained extremely difficult.

"Less than fifty percent!"

Ling Feng shook his head.

"I do not have time to drag this out with Yan Jinghong. My strategy is to subdue the enemy without battle!"

"Without battle?"

The generals stared at him in confusion.

Mo Feng looked directly at Ling Feng.

"Brother Feng, how do we win without fighting?"

"Yan Jinghong forced the county lords into submission through sheer power. If he falls in defeat and Jingwang raises the banner of the Mo imperial family, those city lords will not dare resist. The Southern Army can march straight forward and advance directly toward the imperial capital."

Ling Feng spoke firmly.

The entire tent fell silent as everyone absorbed his words.

Ling Feng intended to enter alone and defeat Yan Jinghong himself.

"No. That is too dangerous!"

Mo Feng shook his head repeatedly.

"Yan Jinghong alone is already difficult to defeat. The imperial city is heavily guarded and filled with Human Emperor experts loyal to him. Even if it is you, Brother Feng..."

"That is not a problem. I have my own method to enter unnoticed."

Ling Feng spoke casually.

Ordinary Human Emperors posed no threat to him. He simply did not wish to slaughter people unnecessarily.

"Also."

Ling Feng turned toward Li Bufan and Jiang Xiaofan.

"Bufan, Xiaofan, I need the two of you to travel to Qingtian Fortress in the northwest. Captain Gu Tengfeng holds considerable influence within the Northwestern Army. Find him first, then ask him to take you to see Commander-in-chief Han Li."

"Go see Commander Han?"

Jiang Xiaofan blinked. He and Ling Feng had once visited Qingtian Fortress together, so they were familiar with the Northwestern Army.

"Yes."

Ling Feng nodded.

"Tell Commander Han that I have returned. Ask him to raise the banner of the Mo imperial family and pledge allegiance to Jingwang! One word from him commands more than a million soldiers!"

The generals exchanged uncertain glances.

The Northwestern Army and the Southern Army were the two strongest forces in the empire. If they joined together, they could rival the entire imperial military.

However, the two armies were stationed far apart. Han Li still had his own concerns.

Would he really agree so easily?

1. 山高皇帝远(shān gāo huáng dì yuǎn) direct translate: “The mountains are high and the emperor is far away." Actual meaning: The emperor is too far away to interfere. ☜