Family Management Game In Immortal Continent Chapter 858: A Surprise Drill

Spells faded away like swirling mists and vapors; warriors advanced across the vast heavens; massive Dharma Treasures towered like colossal peaks, ready to smash down upon the city.

The Old General bowed his head and stooped low.

"All forces, obey my command: Halt the fighting!"

With the command echoing into silence, the generals who had begged for Li Tianyue's life eagerly signaled for the withdrawal horns to sound.

Dongfang Liancheng tilted his gaze downward to survey the assembled forces below.

There, he spotted the Blood-Robed General—the fierce woman who had faced death with him for more than three centuries, the one whose reputation alone chilled the hearts of Duskwild Prefecture—serenely directing her troops into position.

In that instant, Dongfang Liancheng sensed every bit of energy slipping from his frame.

A gentle wind swept by, revealing his own streaked gray locks to his eyes.

On the execution platform, as the retreat call resounded, Tang Miao's face twisted in shock.

Cries rang out from every side.

"Directive from the Imperial Capital's Ministry of War: All units fall back!"

"Instruction from the Imperial Preceptor: This was an unexpected exercise! Your quick response deserves commendation!"

"The Eastern Expedition Army resumes standard duties. Every squad return to stations at once, no mistakes!"

The troops exchanged puzzled stares.

Within just twenty minutes, a third of the forces had been rallied.

The frontier defenses had even reached maximum readiness.

Soldiers had clashed over seizing the gates, war tools, and supplies; those protecting the stores had nearly ignited alchemical flames to burn the depots.

If this counted as practice, it felt all too genuine.

Yet with the official decree in place, the warriors could only share uneasy looks and pull back.

Tang Miao gaped at the withdrawing ranks.

When his eyes fell on the figure next to Dongfang Liancheng—a man with an imposing aura and a sly, taunting grin—he abruptly realized the truth, though it seemed unbelievable.

"A decree from the Crown Prince? From the Imperial Preceptor?

The Li Clan... do they really hold such sway that they can stir up the Ministry of War and the Imperial Preceptor?!!"

At once, his gaze flickered with scheming thoughts.

A spark of bitterness crossed his eyes as he looked at Li Tianyue, but he buried it fast and soared into the skies toward Dongfang Liancheng, pretending not to recognize Li Kuangren.

Tang Miao let out a breath.

"Old General Dongfang, so it was just a scare after all.

I've always maintained that even if the whole Eastern Expedition Army turned against us, General Yue would stay loyal.

I figure that uprising from those thousand underlings was another ploy you set up, Old General.

It's a good outcome; it proves our forces stand together as one."

His voice stayed casual and easy, yet inside, Tang Miao trembled with dread!

Right then, he grasped what real terror meant.

He dreaded that Li Tianyue would come after him once things calmed.

Before, he'd felt sure Li Tianyue had no proof of his hidden attacks.

But now... with the Li Clan able to sway capital military commands, why would they balk at ending a single Tang Miao?

He had no choice but to take the risk.

He needed to bet that Dongfang Liancheng would still value the "bigger cause," shoulder the blame alone, and keep him—a strong Void Refining stage fighter—alive for the troops' sake.

Soon, he exhaled in relief; his bet had paid off!

Dongfang Liancheng didn't even glance his way, and Li Kuangren showed utter disdain.

"Heh."

Disregarding the pair entirely, Li Kuangren dropped from the clouds.

Any further words to such fools would just squander air!

...

The protective arrays of the two hundred thousand warriors powered down, and her nephew touched down beside her.

Li Tianyue lifted her gaze again to the Old General, who appeared to have withered years in a heartbeat.

Now, only distance and fury lingered in her chest.

The encircling army had pulled away, but the area lay in ruins—the marks of combat.

The Spiritual power their own comrades had released hadn't just scarred the ground; she worried it had wounded her spirit and those of her followers too.

"All forces, follow my directive: Establish base in West City and stand by for instructions."

"Yes!"

The two hundred thousand warriors streamed toward West City in a grand, unstoppable flow.

They strode tall with pride swelling in their chests.

This clash held no foe for them, but victory was theirs all the same.

They weren't traitors; they'd battled to restore their honor as people.

At minimum, they'd proven to those callous souls that they'd once defended this soil against outsiders with pure intent and bold spirit!

Here and now, more talk with Dongfang Liancheng would ring hollow.

Li Tianyue wasn't one for endless chatter.

She gestured to Li Kuangren. "Kuangren, we're leaving."

"Yes, Aunt!"

Li Kuangren answered, shooting a sideways look at Dongfang Liancheng, who had descended with his men, then striding right by without pause.

Dongfang Liancheng seemed on the verge of speaking yet held back, too ashamed to utter a word.

The Li Clan had once shared close bonds with Dongfang Liancheng, but after this mess, Li Kuangren viewed him in his true light.

Some folks in the world always tallied gains and losses, sure of their moral high ground.

To achieve it, they'd cast aside not only longtime allies but even blood ties.

Three hundred years of devotion to him—let it feed the strays!

"No."

Li Kuangren turned to the followers loyal solely to his aunt, his gaze igniting with hope.

"Aunt, you've got more than two hundred thousand soldiers right here.

In their ranks sit four Divinity Transformation stage experts, plus plenty of other officers whose loyalties lie with you..."

Li Tianyue creased her forehead.

"I've been thinking along those lines. Following this clash, they've turned into pariahs in the Eastern Expedition Army.

Leaving them behind would just doom them to death.

Still, army rules bind tight.

I might slip away, but if they departed freely, they'd be marked as fugitives."

"This issue twists and turns, but solving it won't prove tough."

Li Kuangren barely concealed his joy while eyeing this enormous host.

Only moments before, these two hundred thousand had displayed zero hesitation; each one brimmed with unyielding resolve.

"To the Crown Prince and Min Youguo, these warriors are mere pieces in the game.

Be it battling on the Eastern Border or shifting to fresh fronts... provided it doesn't harm the overall campaign, they'll gladly clear the path for us.

This holds even more now, with Shadowfell Prefecture's frontier in dire straits and the Crown Prince set to command an assault himself.

He'd welcome you with open arms in Shadowfell Prefecture, Aunt."

"Regarding Duskwild Prefecture..."

Li Kuangren offered a subtle smile.

"I visited to negotiate with the Fourth Prince this round, and he's consented to yield ground. We'll hash out the details once we meet the Old Ancestor."

"He consented to yield?"

A hint of doubt flickered in Li Tianyue's eyes.