The eight individuals, Huang Hualuo, Wukongzi, Zhang Fan, Cao Ming, Yan Li, Wei Liqiu, Tao Le, and Lei Nuo, also began to bustle after Wu Tao departed.
If one were to truly compare the human forces in the underground world, they were indeed stronger than the cultivation world of Zi Zhou.
This was true in terms of both the quality and quantity of cultivators!
The human cultivators in the underground world numbered at least over twenty million. While they could not all be mobilized, deploying fifteen million was certainly feasible.
The matter the eight were discussing was the impending war against the Blood Clan.
To ensure this war proceeded smoothly and achieved a decisive victory, Huang Hualuo, Wukongzi, Zhang Fan, Cao Ming, Yan Li, Wei Liqiu, Tao Le, and Lei Nuo decided to go all out, deploying eighteen million cultivators and leaving only two million to guard their homeland.
Of course, this was a monumental undertaking that would take far more than a few months, perhaps even more than half a year.
Six Months Later.
"As of yesterday, all cultivators from human strongholds and sects have been mobilized. The entire army, consisting of eighteen million cultivators, has been assembled and awaits your command, Big Brother."
Cao Ming, who was primarily in charge of human logistics, spoke slowly after glancing at the others.
Huang Hualuo nodded slightly upon hearing this, then turned his gaze to the strategic map of the various races in the cultivation world displayed in the sky above.
Over the years, due to the Blood Clan's rampant expansion, their territory had become vast. The entire Blood Clan domain, as depicted on the map, formed a crescent shape, meaning the direction of the human army's assault would necessitate careful consideration!
...
"Very good. You have worked hard over these past six months. It is commendable that you were able to assemble eighteen million cultivators."
"Based on the current situation, the entire army of eighteen million cultivators will be divided into three main armies. The central army must have at least eight million cultivators to maintain strategic initiative, while the left and right wings will each require only five million cultivators."
Wukongzi, Zhang Fan, Cao Ming, Yan Li, Wei Liqiu, Tao Le, and Lei Nuo nodded in agreement.
...
Following this, the eight individuals discussed numerous other issues for a considerable time before finally reaching a consensus.
Five Days Later.
The three armies were arrayed in succession, stretching for tens of thousands of miles. War banners fluttered in the wind, forming a cloud-like expanse. The sound of bugles and drums shook the heavens, and boundless killing intent and blood aura surged upwards.
A powerful military aura, thick and oppressive as dark clouds, hovered above the dense armies.
The eighteen million cultivators, divided into three paths, each formed an elite force, strong and imposing, poised to launch an offensive against the Blood Clan.
On the eighth day of rapid march, in the central army's command tent, Huang Hualuo frowned as he studied the terrain map, contemplating the next phase of the battle.
This time, with the human race amassing such a large force and sharpening their blades, the higher echelons of the Blood Clan were not fools. They had long since learned of this news through spies.
At this moment, the Blood Clan had also assembled tens of millions of troops to prevent human encroachment!
Although wars had erupted many times between humans and the Blood Clan over the past few centuries, this was the first time the humans had launched such a large-scale offensive.
Previously, had the Blood Clan not always initiated the conflict, pressing their advantage against humanity?
"While the Blood Clan is powerful, they have offended far too many races in recent years. They probably wouldn't dare to fight with their entire clan, would they?"
After studying the map for a while, Huang Hualuo's lips curved slightly as he said slowly, a hint of disdain in his tone.
...
Zhang Fan, Cao Ming, and Yan Li exchanged glances. Zhang Fan then stepped forward, his expression grave.
"Big Brother, we must not be careless."
"In this battle, our human race has two advantages. The first advantage is our stronger resolve compared to the Blood Clan. We are essentially mobilizing our entire race, with the determination to exterminate them, and launching a war of annihilation by taking them by surprise."
"The second advantage is the several million troops of Fellow Daoist Wu, who can engage them from both sides, leaving the Blood Clan vulnerable."
"However, in my opinion, the most crucial factor is to prevent the higher echelons of the Blood Clan from believing that we have truly resolved to fight a war of annihilation. Otherwise, once the Blood Clan mobilizes its full power, a battle that is already difficult will become even more arduous."
Upon hearing this, the mockery vanished from Huang Hualuo's face, and his expression also became extremely solemn.
Looking at the dense red dots on the map, Huang Hualuo's brow furrowed tighter. He turned to Zhang Fan and asked, "How are the other two armies doing?"
...
"Everything is proceeding normally. Wukongzi, Wei Liqiu, Tao Le, and Lei Nuo sent messengers not long ago to report that they are fully prepared and can march north at any moment, awaiting your command, Big Brother."
Seeing this, Zhang Fan quickly clasped his hands and replied.
"It's one thing for us here; with our combined influence, we can barely manage this army of eighteen million cultivators. But what do you say, can that kid Wu Tao truly bring five million formidable fighters?"
Huang Hualuo asked with some concern after a period of deliberation.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Fan, Cao Ming, and Yan Li's faces showed a hint of worry, as they were still somewhat uneasy about Wu Tao.
After thinking for a moment, Zhang Fan replied in a deep voice, "In my opinion, Wu Tao is at least a cultivator of the Purple Mansion stage, and he has great animosity towards the Blood Clan. He wouldn't make such a colossal joke with us."
Huang Hualuo fell silent for a moment, then nodded in agreement.
In fact, regarding this great war, both Huang Hualuo and the other seven, as well as Wu Tao, were well aware that while the focus of inter-species combat lay in the basic combat power, the victory or defeat of the high-level combatants was equally crucial.
As long as victory was achieved at the King Realm level, even if the armies were defeated, they could stabilize the situation and slowly consume the enemy.
After all, at the King Realm level, as long as one was not foolish enough to fall into an encirclement, and without an equally powerful opponent to contain them, they were virtually invincible.
Once the outcome of the high-level battle was decided, the lower levels would be easier to manage!
Meanwhile, the Blood Clan also began a large-scale mobilization, with Blood Clan members from various regions immediately moving to the border.
In haste, for the sake of convenience in command, led by Blood King Chunyu, fifteen Blood Kings such as Blood Baal, Blood Gares, Blood Shak, Blood Mikina, Blood Riff, Blood Meng, and Blood Tos had to temporarily swap command of their nearby subordinates…
Instantly, countless streaks of light rapidly traversed the skies of the underground cultivation world, and intelligence flowed back and forth between the various races.
At this time, the highest echelons of the Blood Clan had to face a problem that required immediate attention.
That was whether to commit their entire clan, abandon some territory, and fully respond to the massive human offensive.
Frankly speaking, the unprecedentedly powerful Blood Clan did not fear war. They would not back down simply because the humans had mobilized their entire race.
Moreover, their troops and their strength were undoubtedly stronger than the human race's, and not by a small margin.
However, a serious issue was that their Blood Clan had enemies on all sides. Should they leave forces behind? How many should they leave?
Especially as the surrounding races were already beginning to stir, waiting for the great war between the Blood Clan and the humans to launch a surprise attack from behind!
It must be known that although the Blood Clan had been prosperous in recent years, annexing the territories of many races and greatly improving their influence and other aspects, they had also offended many people in the process!
For the Blood Clan at their peak, dealing with the human race alone would not pose much pressure. However, the Blood Clan had other fronts besides the human race; in other words, they were always fighting on multiple fronts.
To be honest, the Blood Clan was a bit overwhelmed. Despite their swift and seemingly complete responses, due to various reasons, being able to use six out of ten fingers was already quite good; they simply couldn't muster a full fist to deal with the enemy.
In fact, the high-ranking officials of the Blood Clan did not believe that the human race would risk mutual destruction and mobilize their entire clan. They believed it was merely a war of extortion at most.
In other words, the human race had carefully chosen the timing and strategy, even releasing some false information, clearly being well-prepared.
Huang Hualuo, wielding the top-tier spirit treasure, the Human Emperor Sword, led the central army in a rampage through the Blood Clan's territory.
Wherever the Human Emperor Sword pointed, countless human cultivators surged forward. As the鋒芒 passed, rivers of blood flowed, and mountains of corpses and white bones were formed.
Easily breaking through the hastily erected defense lines of the Blood Clan, Huang Hualuo's central army began to penetrate deep into the Blood Clan's hinterland.
"The Blood Clan is unjust, we punish the wicked!"
Countless human warriors, brandishing magical treasures and artifacts, piloting warships and chariots, sang battle songs and engaged in battle after battle with the Blood Clan!
The other two armies on the left and right wings were no less formidable. Led by Wukongzi, Wei Liqiu, Tao Le, and Lei Nuo, they also captured considerable territory.
The Blood King Chunyu, the leader of the Blood Clan's base camp, looked at the jade slips filled with extremely grim news on the table. Although he managed to maintain a poker face on the surface, his twitching eyes betrayed him.
The foremost figure of the Blood Clan, upon realizing that the human race was indeed serious this time, had become somewhat flustered.
The news of the human army's rapid advance, conquering cities and seizing territory, reaching the Blood Clan's hinterland, caused a great uproar within the Blood Clan, creating a very bad influence.
Taking a deep breath, Blood King Chunyu finally calmed down. So what if the human race mobilized their entire clan? Their Blood Clan had profound foundations and countless strong cultivators; they had enough power to suppress the human race by deploying more than half of their forces.
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