Chapter 2743

Both sides are already fighting openly with swords and spears, and he doesn't worry about Panlong learning of their movements. The war has progressed to this point, and all the open and hidden cards each side could play have been played; now they are just barely holding on to their last breath.

But as the old saying goes, plans change faster than expected.

Only an hour and a half later, the golden urgent order from Lingxu City arrived via thousand-mile flying message, directly into Gao Huaiyuan's hands.

The Demon Emperor issued an edict:

Retreat the troops!

Retreat the troops immediately.

The edict contained no other nonsense; its firm intent overflowed the paper's back.

It seems the struggle between Lingxu City and the Heavenly Gods has already exceeded Gao Huaiyuan's expectations, prompting the Demon Emperor to order a troop withdrawal in anxious haste.

If Gao Huaiyuan obeys the order, the Heavenly Gods' chance to seize the Great Fang Hu would likely plummet to near zero.

If he openly defies the Demon Emperor's edict, let alone whether the army will mutiny, it's uncertain how much combat strength this force could still muster.

Moreover, the Demon Emperor's urgent order awaits his acknowledgment, so he must reply immediately!

What should he do? Gao Huaiyuan felt himself being roasted over a fire. His plan to launch an early attack before the Emperor's edict seemed to have come to nothing.

The Emperor was still one step ahead!

Immediately after, another major piece of news arrived:

Zhang Kangyi and Du Shian received orders to withdraw troops.

In the Between Between Between Beijia encirclement and suppression campaign against Panlong, there were three grand marshals in total; these two originally led the main force to attack the eastern part of Panlong Wasteland, facing the Red General.

The three armies each fulfilled their duties.

That is to say, besides Gao Huaiyuan, Marshals Zhang Kangyi and Du Shian have already begun withdrawing troops.

They were originally imperial partisans and would not defy the Demon Emperor's edict.

But their withdrawal would make Gao Huaiyuan's actions appear even more sluggish.

Only he himself remained.

Furthermore, he clearly knew that among the three grand marshals, the Demon Emperor trusted him the least.

Moreover, with the withdrawal of Zhang's and Du's armies, the Red General's pressure would lessen, and he would certainly lead troops back to reinforce Mingsha Forest!

The Panlong army was already hard to fight, and with troop numbers fluctuating inversely, their chance of victory in this battle would become even slimmer. Moreover, the Red General bore the reputation of a War God; if she appeared on the same battlefield as the Tiger-Wing General... just imagining that scene made Gao Huaiyuan's head buzz.

He made a swift decision: "Launch the total attack early, at nightfall!"

That is, launch the total attack two hours later, two hours earlier than the deadline set by the Heavenly Gods.

Since delay was impossible, better to strike early—launch the attack before the news of the Emperor's retreat order spread!

No half-measures; he would achieve everything in one battle!

He also wrote a reply to the Demon Emperor, sending it back via thousand-mile urgent message, falsely claiming he obeyed imperial orders and would immediately withdraw troops from the southern part of Panlong Wasteland.

In such critical times, he must buy time—gain a moment, gain a moment.

The order for the nightfall total attack was passed down layer by layer.

Gao Huaiyuan knew full well that his substantive defiance had already amounted to issuing a false edict.

This is a capital crime; if he fails today, the Gao family will become benevolent martyrs!

In the past two hours, the Between Between Between Beijia army had been preparing for the total attack; hearing of the advance, they merely became a bit more flustered. War variables are numerous, and few things cannot be changed—especially when the opponent is Panlong, such a strong foe.

But less than half an hour after the military order was issued, five or six generals came together to find Gao Huaiyuan.

Upon seeing them, Gao Huaiyuan silently thought trouble had arrived.

These generals were all imperial partisans; leading them was Chunyu Zhao. Fushanlie had been recalled to Between Between Between Beijia, and Gao Huaiyuan took command of the southern Panlong Wasteland army; this was the Demon Emperor's compromise with the Heavenly Palace, but this army contained many imperial partisans, who would serve as a check on Gao Huaiyuan.

The generals had their personal guards behind them; Chunyu Zhao saw Gao Huaiyuan coming out to meet them and was about to speak, when the latter personally lifted the tent flap: "Enter the tent and then speak!"

This was exactly their usual military tent for deliberations; Chunyu Zhao and the others exchanged glances and entered.

These few were merely the leaders; the army contained many imperial partisans. If they suffered any misfortune, it would likewise cause a mutiny.

Gao Huaiyuan looked around and saw their personal guards stationed not far away. He knew these generals had likely already consulted each other, so he loosened his grip, and the tent flap fell behind him.

Chunyu Zhao got straight to the point: "The Emperor has ordered troop withdrawal; Grand Marshal, have you received the order?"

Gao Huaiyuan could receive flying messages from the capital; naturally, they could too. At this critical juncture, the Demon Emperor would not feel at ease with Gao Huaiyuan.

Upon entering the tent, they felt a chill; even the hairs on their backs wanted to stand up.

Something felt off.

He gave the others a glance. Gao Huaiyuan also noticed, standing with hands behind his back: "I received it."

He answered bluntly, and the generals were instead somewhat surprised; Chunyu Zhao pressed: "Since you received the edict, why is the Grand Marshal still planning a total attack?"

Put bluntly, this is the Marshal defying orders!

This is also transmitting false edicts, a capital crime implicating the nine clans.

The Demon Emperor also anticipated Gao Huaiyuan would not withdraw so readily and would likely play some tricks, so he quickly issued orders to Chunyu Zhao, demanding they urge Gao Huaiyuan to obey the edict.

The Demon Emperor's attitude was also decisive, not allowing this war to continue.

Otherwise? Military remonstrance!

Acting military authority!

Therefore, they all left trusted aides and retainers outside the central marshal's tent; at the slightest disturbance, they would act immediately!

Gao Huaiyuan said in a deep voice: "In emergencies, one must adapt."

"Emergencies?" The generals secretly gathered their power, ready to draw weapons at any moment, guarding against his sudden outburst.

Gao Huaiyuan instead turned his body, toward the corner of the tent, and performed a salute:

"Hail, Lord Shi Yu!"

The generals startled and looked over, only then noticing three people hidden in the corner at some unknown time.

What does this mean? Gao Huaiyuan silently summoned three divine descents without a sound?

The generals drew their weapons in unison. They already knew the emperor had broken with the Heavenly Palace, and the sudden appearance of three divine avatars here left no doubt as to their intent.

But as they raised their hands, they felt the temperature inside the tent plummet.

Though it was already spring, the air inside the tent was colder than the White Elephant Plains during the depths of winter; everyone's wrists grew especially stiff, and every joint in their bodies felt like the rusted hinge of a long-neglected door, refusing to turn.

As soon as they spoke, they exhaled white vapor, and frost quickly formed on their eyebrows and faces.

Damn it, it's a divine technique!

And Bekka's spiritual power struggles to have any effect against the Lingxu crowd's divine technique.

The interior of the tent rapidly froze into a half-pan-thick layer of solid ice, leaving only a faint white mark even when struck by blades or axes.

This is more effective than a barrier.

Only then did Xiyi trace a circle in the air behind him, and the cold wind sweeping out from within the circle intensified.

It seeks to open its own Ice Divine Realm.

The martial commanders were about to charge forward when, inexplicably, they felt their steps grow unsteady and their heads heavy.

After a few more breaths, their bodies no longer felt like their own, and they even sheathed the weapons they had just drawn.

The generals were greatly startled, yet unable to speak.

When had they been afflicted? They had only entered this place a few dozen breaths ago, had not taken a sip of water, nor inhaled any poison.

Besides, with spiritual power protecting them, poisons should be useless against them.

Sorry, sorry—something urgent came up at home this morning, I got so busy I forgot everything, and didn't even submit a leave request.

I've just rushed back to make this release; I hope everyone will bear with me!