"Five Great Grandmasters!"


    Gu Qingfeng’s expression flickered slightly.


    He was aware that the Ji Family royalty had a legacy built up over thousands of years, but he had not anticipated such depth.


    Five Great Grandmasters!


    What a concept this was.


    Over ten thousand years, in the Nine States, the number of Great Grandmasters who had appeared openly was not much greater than this.


    Now,


    a single Ji Family royalty wielded control over five Great Grandmasters, highlighting the terrifying extent of their resources.


    However, upon further thought, Gu Qingfeng felt this was to be expected.


    After all, the Ji Family royalty ruled over the Nine States, and even if an Immortal Family was covetously lurking in the background, it was not entirely impossible for them to have hoarded a portion of resources to cultivate a few Great Grandmasters.


    "But just relying on five Great Grandmasters to change the current situation doesn’t seem to be that simple!"


    Gu Qingfeng pondered to himself.


    The presence of five Great Grandmasters was certainly formidable, but with many Immortal Sects and families now eyeing the Nine States, such a force attempting to reverse the tide with just five Great Grandmasters had a slim chance of actual success.


    However,


    at this point,


    the Ji Family royalty had no way out.


    Without revealing their ultimate hand, they were likely on the brink of extinction.


    Therefore,


    no matter the circumstances, these five Great Grandmasters could not remain hidden.


    "Continue to monitor the situation in Central State. Inform me immediately of any developments!"


    Gu Qingfeng ordered dispassionately.


    The Hidden Guard promptly acknowledged and withdrew.


    The emergence of five Great Grandmasters was bound to escalate the situation in Central State to a climax.


    In Gu Qingfeng’s view, the chaos in Central State would not last much longer.


    The only question,


    was who would be the ultimate victor.


    But regardless, it was highly likely that the Ji Family royalty would not be the winner.


    Again, that same point.


    The five Great Grandmasters were strong indeed.


    But which of these Immortal Sects lacked a profound foundation?


    To expect five Great Grandmasters to hold off these powerful clans and sects was nothing more than a joke.


    Unless,


    the Ji Family royalty had an even stronger legacy up their sleeve, that would be a different matter altogether.


    However,


    the current situation in Central State also seemed advantageous in Gu Qingfeng’s eyes.


    After all, with the Ji Family royalty revealing such strength, it was bound to draw the attention of all parties, which would make Gu Yang’s actions somewhat easier.


    When the time came for him to take charge of Qingyun State, he too would possess the qualifications to truly contend for supremacy over the world.


    With that thought set,


    Gu Qingfeng continued his cultivation in seclusion.


    For him, nothing was more important than enhancing his own power.


    ——


    "Five Grandmasters of the Ji Family royalty... it’s no wonder the Taixuan Dynasty has stood at the pinnacle of the world for three thousand years. Such a foundation was probably not even anticipated by the Ji Family themselves!"


    In Nanyang County, Gu Yun also felt deeply moved upon learning of this news.


    The Divine Martial Sect, as a top-tier sect established by the Martial Ancestor, currently had no living Martial Arts Grandmasters.


    Looking now at the Ji Family royalty, that could bring forth five Grandmasters at once,


    it was evident how severely the Divine Martial Sect had declined.


    Although the strength of Dan Yang County was not weak, Shi Zhen was quite confident.


    800,000 troops.


    He himself had also broken through the limit of Refining Organ and stepped into the Grandmaster Realm.


    Coupled with the assistance of five Innate Grandmasters, taking down Dan Yang County was naturally not a big problem.


    After all, the foundation of Dan Yang County was also different from that of Nanyang County.


    The latter had the Immortal Sect of the Tianyang Sword Sect stationed there, while the former was not quite as strong.


    Moreover,


    now that the Guangyang Army had captured two counties in succession, its reputation was resounding, and Dan Yang County was unlikely to dare to clash head-on with the Guangyang Army, even if it had some foundation.


    Upon hearing this, the other generals looked on with envy.


    Such a great achievement was naturally enviable to them.


    Sensing everyone’s gaze, Gu Yang paused and then his gaze fell on Jiang Mo.


    "This time, in attacking Chi River County, Jiang Mo, you will be the main commander, and Xue Cheng, you will be the deputy. I will also give you an army of 800,000 and five Masters to set out for battle."


    "There’s only one requirement for this battle, and that is to take Chi River County with the fastest speed and the lowest casualties!"


    "Yes!"


    Jiang Mo and Xue Cheng both saluted with their fists, their faces filled with excitement.


    Especially Xue Cheng.


    Although he was the deputy commander, given his status as Defector General from the court, being valued in this way was enough for him in his own eyes.


    After appointing the main commanders for the two forces, Gu Yang passed down other commands, with only one goal in mind: to take the two counties and completely control Qingyun State.


    —


    In Zhongzhou,


    outside the Capital city.


    The army was attacking the city.


    The flames of war affected all sides, with countless soldiers perishing.


    "Boom!"


    The ferocious blade wind seemed capable of splitting the heaven and earth. With one slash, hundreds to thousands of soldiers exploded into clouds of blood, without even a chance to scream before falling dead on the spot.


    This scene


    caused the others to change their expressions dramatically.


    Atop the city wall,


    stood a young man in white, fluttering like a peerless war god descending upon the world, his brows filled with an indifferent chill—that was a disregard for life.


    "Whoever dares to approach the Capital by half a step, this will be their fate!"


    As soon as these words were uttered,


    the enemy’s siege did not slow down in the slightest.


    Seeing this,


    the young man in white’s expression turned cold. With a swing of his long blade, hundreds of beams of light shot out instantly, slaughtering countless enemy soldiers on the spot. Blood and limbs flew, creating an extremely horrifying scene.


    Just then,


    a voice filled with rage came through.


    "Ji Shendao, as a True Intent Grandmaster, what pride do you find in attacking ordinary people? Let me, your opponent, come to meet you!"


    The moment the words fell,


    the void trembled.


    A horrifying and chilly aura erupted, shaking the cosmos, and a hand formed of Spiritual Power suddenly pressed down towards the young man in white.


    "Desolate State’s Li Family!"


    Ji Shendao’s eyes went cold, torrents of True Qi poured into his long blade, followed immediately by a terrifying Blade Intent that tore through the cosmos, fiercely cleaving down towards that hand.


    With this one slash,


    it split the heaven and earth


    as if it could Divide Rivers and Cut Off Flow.


    That hand formed of Spiritual Power was completely shattered under the slash, and a middle-aged man was forced to retreat from the void, looking at Ji Shendao with a grave expression in his eyes.


    "Not unworthy of being the most outstanding genius of the Ji Family’s royal lineage six hundred years ago, your strength is indeed remarkable!"