On the western border of the Star Luo Empire, at the pass connecting the Mingdou Mountains with the Sun Moon Empire, stood the fortress city of White Tiger City.
It was named White Tiger City because, ever since the Sun Moon Continent collided with the Douluo Continent and wars began between the Sun Moon Empire and the Star Luo Empire, generals from the White Tiger Dai family had always been stationed here to defend the first line against Sun Moon's invasions.
Inside the command center of White Tiger City, Dai Hao and his subordinates were staring grimly at the map spread on the table. The Sun Moon Empire's attack would likely commence at any moment.
Currently, half of the West Army Corps' strength was stationed here, tasked with defending this critical pass that led deep into Star Luo's territory.
"General Dai, how many troops do you think the Sun Moon Empire will deploy against us? If they commit their main forces..." One of Dai Hao's officers asked cautiously.
"No, they likely won't commit their main forces. Instead, they'll probably send a Hand of the Nation–level soul engineer legion as the vanguard. Our defenses are too tight. Without such overwhelming strength, they won't be able to break through this pass," Dai Hao shook his head and spoke with certainty.
"General is right. We hold a large number of elite soul master units, even soul sages among them. Even if we can't hold indefinitely, as long as we stall the Hand of the Nation for a while, it will buy time for our empire to mobilize forces nationwide."
Another officer chimed in, and the heavy mood in the command room slightly lifted. Indeed, wasn't it just soul engineer legions they needed to worry about? They had fought those countless times before. They had the experience.
However, just then, the command room doors burst open with a loud bang.
A messenger, panting and looking urgent, rushed inside.
"Reporting, General! Our scouts have detected Sun Moon Empire's forces approaching! They are now only thirty kilometers away and accelerating toward our front lines!"
Dai Hao nodded slightly, the timing was within his expectations. "Good. What's the composition of their forces? Which soul engineer legions are coming?"
The messenger hesitated, his face growing more tense. Dai Hao immediately sensed something was wrong. The messenger's next words confirmed it:
"G-General, the enemy force is estimated to be at least thirty thousand strong—"
Dai Hao and the officers frowned. Thirty thousand? Was Sun Moon Empire sending a regular army first to throw them into battle?
That didn't make sense. Even if they didn't care about losing soldiers, it was too wasteful to send mere foot soldiers against a heavily defended pass. Before they could think more, the messenger continued.
"—And the entire force is equipped with various types of soul tools. Some are familiar, but there are new models we've never seen before..." The messenger's voice trembled. His job was done, but his fear was evident.
Everyone's expression changed dramatically.
Dai Hao stood up abruptly in disbelief. "What!? Thirty thousand soul engineers? Impossible!"
The atmosphere fell into suffocating silence.
After a long pause, Dai Hao sat back down heavily, waving his hand. "You may go. Tell the scouts to keep watching them closely. Prepare all soul master units to form battle-ready formations at the pass. Normal soldier units will stay behind to man fortress defenses and be ready at a moment's notice."
"Understood, General!"
The messenger retreated. The other officers still looked confused and shocked.
"General... what is going on?"
Dai Hao thought for a while. His expression lightened slightly but still remained grim.
"I understand. The Sun Moon Empire couldn't have possibly created thirty thousand real soul engineers. They don't have that many trained individuals. Rumors say they have developed soul tools that ordinary people can use. It seems the rumors were true."
At his explanation, the others breathed a little easier, though their anxiety didn't disappear completely.
"Ordinary soldiers wielding soul tools..."
"My god, they really think such troops can breach a critical fortress pass guarded by seasoned soul masters?"
Dai Hao inhaled deeply. "Do not panic, everyone. Even if the soul tools are powerful, it depends on the users. Ordinary people, no matter how well-armed, are still ordinary. A first-ring soul master can do things no ordinary soldier can match."
He stood up, his eyes flashing fiercely. "Prepare for battle. Let the Sun Moon Empire witness whether their toy soldiers can truly breach the West Army Corps' iron wall!"
"Yes, General!"
Meanwhile, aboard the rearmost military vehicle of the advancing Sun Moon army, Huo Yuhao turned to Xu Tianyuan.
"Senior Xu, the remaining three Hands of the Nation and a few soul engineer legions should be attacking the Heavenly Soul Empire under the Empress' command, right?"
Xu Tianyuan stroked his beard and sighed. "Indeed. It is hard to understand why His Majesty insisted on letting a woman lead the attack..." He didn't say more, but clearly, he doubted Xu Tianran's judgment.
Huo Yuhao smiled.
"Don't worry, Senior Xu. I estimate the Heavenly Soul Empire will fall within six months. Maybe even faster."
Xu Tianyuan looked at him with surprise.
"Little Yuhao, you sound so confident."
Huo Yuhao chuckled. "Senior, you probably don't know—Her Majesty the Empress has exceptional talent in military command. Under her leadership, the invasion of the Heavenly Soul Empire will face little resistance."
In the original story, the Heavenly Soul Empire was indeed the first to fall. Now, with armies of ordinary soldiers equipped with soul tools, the Sun Moon Empire's main forces were even stronger. The Heavenly Soul Empire would be crushed even faster.
In truth, the Empress had wanted to personally attack the Star Luo Empire. But when she learned about Huo Yuhao's deeper hatred toward Dai Hao, she graciously gave him the honor of leading the charge against Star Luo instead.
However, the Empress still requested that once Star Luo City fell, she be allowed the glory of capturing Dai Hao personally. Huo Yuhao had readily agreed.
He had no affection for Dai Hao as a father and wouldn't mind if the Empress killed him. But the Empress had promised—she wouldn't kill Dai Hao, just capture him alive.
(End of Chapter)
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