The Three Teachings Converge into One: The Path of the Mortal and the Saintly is the Same

Poetry:

The desert is desolate and the night air is still; false beacon fires are stacked to break through the towering cliffs.

Don't say that a powerful army is as solid as iron; every inch of a heart holds a message.

Three days later, thirty kilometers west of the Tarud Oasis lay an endless desert.

As night deepened, the moon disappeared and the stars faded, leaving the surrounding area dark and deathly silent.

The Eagle Army patrol team is driving its standard patrol vehicles along the desert pioneer road.

The vehicle-mounted psionic scanner slowly swept across the surroundings. Within the screen, there were only continuous sand dunes and scattered drought-resistant shrubs, a scene of desolation and peace.

"What a boring night," the driver muttered.

"The Western Desert tribes have all hidden in sand caves, leaving us here to wither and eat sand."

"Keep your mind focused and concentrate on driving." The captain of the guards in the co-pilot's eyes were fixed on the psionic screen, his expression solemn.

"The 7th Patrol Team was ambushed here the day before yesterday, losing three men. Do you want to follow in their footsteps?"

Before the words were finished, several bright, vivid heat sources suddenly appeared at the edge of the psionic screen, extremely dazzling.

"Warning! Multiple heat sources are moving rapidly at the two o'clock position, 800 feet away!"

The patrol convoy immediately stopped, and all personnel quickly disembarked and used the armored vehicles to form a temporary defensive formation.

In the night vision psionic field of vision, several figures were lurking behind the sand dunes, their movements secretive, as if they were digging a cave.

"A suspected enemy-occupied trap-laying squad." The garrison commander lowered his voice and issued the order in a deep tone.

"Initiate air support, with two squads flanking the enemy, taking prisoners alive, and thoroughly investigate their movements!"

Once the order was given, two Azurewing anti-enemy rotorcraft took off from the forward floating fortress.

They arrived at the battlefield in an instant.

Thirty elite infantrymen, positioned on the left and right flanks, rapidly approached in a pincer movement.

The person lurking behind the sand dune noticed the unusual movement and immediately turned and fled.

However, they were unfamiliar with the desert terrain and staggered, making it difficult for them to break free of the encirclement. They were all stopped in no time.

The brief clash ended in an instant.

The Western Desert tribesmen possessed only a few outdated, standard-issue weapons, and hastily fired a few shots indiscriminately.

They were then completely overwhelmed by the overwhelming combat power of the Eagle Army.

All five infiltrators were captured and forced to kneel on the yellow sand.

The garrison commander stepped forward, his psionic lamp sweeping across the faces of the crowd—

They were all young men around twenty years old, dressed in ordinary clothes, their faces filled with fear and apprehension.

"Who sent you here? What are you digging for?" the garrison commander asked in a deep voice in the common language of the Western Desert.

A boy trembled, his voice shaking: "Dig...dig the hidden water pipes,"

The tribal oasis has run dry, and the people are struggling to survive...

"A hidden water pipe?" The garrison commander's eyes held a cold suspicion as he waved his hand, ordering his soldiers to inspect the pit.

In the shallow pit, several sections of broken water hose lay quietly, their appearance unassuming.

At first glance, it truly seems like just an ordinary tribal people's attempt to survive.

But the seasoned garrison commander didn't believe such a claim at all.

He immediately ordered everyone to thoroughly search the body, and soon after, they found something inside the collar of a young boy's clothes.

A hand-drawn topographic map was found.

The map clearly marks the precise location of the Tarud Oasis garrison fortress.

Several red circles are conspicuous and glaring, pointing directly to the core of the fortress.

"Where did this image come from? Explain the meaning behind the labeling truthfully!"

Upon seeing this, the boy's face turned deathly pale, and he abruptly raised his head.

They shouted their tribal oaths in their tribal dialect.

He then clenched his teeth, triggering the hidden throat-sealing poison in his mouth.

His body swayed, and he immediately died.

The remaining four followed closely behind, and within moments, all five teenagers perished.

They turned out to be five tribal warriors who had vowed to die for their cause.

The garrison commander was deeply shaken, staring intently at the red circle markings on the topographic map—

All the spirit stone power stations, storage warehouses, and armories corresponding to the fortress are the core of the defense.

This is not about ordinary people seeking survival; it is a meticulously planned infiltration and sabotage operation aimed directly at the core!

"Send a message to central command immediately!" the garrison commander shouted the order.

"Upgrade the defense level across the entire region and conduct a thorough search of the surrounding twenty miles of desert!"

It's definitely not as simple as a five-person team!

Urgent news was sent back to the garrison fortress in the Tarud Oasis.

Upon seeing the news, the commander-in-chief of the theater command's expression changed drastically, and he became highly vigilant.

The entire fortress instantly entered a state of high alert, with all patrol teams on duty.

A levitation psychic scout works tirelessly day and night to detect threats across the entire region.

The Central Secretariat immediately analyzed the hand-drawn topographic map and determined that the Western Desert garrison was inevitable.

They planned a massive raid targeting the vital logistical system.

In an instant, the fortress's defensive focus was completely locked down on the key locations marked on the blueprints.

The number of guards has tripled, all defensive formations across the entire area have been activated, and additional protective barriers have been erected around the fortress.

They set up defenses at every level, ready to face any enemy attack.

The entire army was on high alert, awaiting the arrival of the great battle.

But this wait lasted for two whole days.

In two days, seventeen sporadic skirmishes broke out around the fortress.

Forty-three suspicious infiltrators were eliminated, and various concealed weapons were seized.

However, the large-scale offensive that was expected never materialized.

The commander of the theater command harbored many doubts.

Could the intelligence report be wrong? Or has the enemy's plan been exposed and abandoned halfway through?

Just as he hesitated about whether to lower the garrison level and temporarily ease the tense situation of the entire army,

In the early hours of the third day, the long-awaited offensive finally arrived as scheduled.

However, this attack did not come from the ground, but from the heavens above.

Five miles east of the Tarud Oasis garrison fortress lies an abandoned, old quarry.

The night was deep, and black mist shrouded the surroundings. Su Qingxuan stood quietly in the darkness, raising his eyes to look up at the deep night sky.

Chi Ying stood beside him, holding a tactical spirit terminal in her hand. On the screen, the time was frozen at 17:00 in the Yin hour.

"Young master, the time has come."

"Place the piece."

With that word spoken, Chi Ying lightly pressed the energy activation button.

Deep within the quarry, thirty simple psionic launchers simultaneously emitted bursts of light and ignited their arrays.

It was not a standard psionic weapon, but a simple Sky-Piercing Fire Arrow modified from ordinary materials.

Powered by ordinary fuels, it is inexpensive and extremely common.

Without a precision-guided array, the trajectory is fixed, and bombardment relies entirely on azimuth prediction.

But Su Qingxuan didn't need them to break through formations and kill enemies.

Thirty fiery arrows, trailing blazing flames, pierced the dark night and hurtled towards the Tarud fortress.

The fortress's global early warning array instantly roared to life.

"Airborne attack! Due east, five miles away, thirty high-speed artillery barrages!"

The commander decisively ordered: "Activate all nearby interception formations! The air defense formation is poised for action!"

In an instant, the entire area's close-range defensive psionic array burst forth with a sky-filling curtain of light.

They intertwined to form an impenetrable barrier, and the air-suppressing and enemy-defending light bullets soared into the sky.

Thirty simple fire arrows were all blasted apart and intercepted two miles from the fortress.

They transformed into countless sparks falling into the desert, none of them able to approach the fortress.

Inside the fortress, the soldiers, who had been on edge for days, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The tense atmosphere eased slightly, and people couldn't help but whisper among themselves.

"Is that all? The Western Desert tribe dares to defy the heavens with such crude firearms?"

"It's like a mantis trying to stop a chariot; it only makes us a laughingstock."

The war zone commander's brows relaxed slightly, then furrowed again, his mind on high alert.

The Shu tribe had been planning this for a long time, and it was impossible for them to provoke them with such a harmless attack.

This is a feint attack, not the main attack.

But what is the real purpose of this feint attack?

His mind raced, and before he could fully grasp the situation, the second wave of attacks had already arrived.

This offensive suddenly erupted from the ground.

Suddenly, countless tiny lights appeared in the airspace west of the fortress.

Like a sky full of stars falling to earth—they were actually hundreds of miniature psionic flying armors.

Like a swarm of locusts sweeping across the land, they engulf everything in their path.

The psionic detective's footage is clearly visible, showing each of the miniature flying mechs...

All are equipped with small explosive spirit bombs, which are extremely lethal.

"Swarm of flying armored bees is attacking! Full-scale air defense array, open fire!"

Mobile defensive vehicles, individual defensive magical weapons, and airspace blocking formations were all activated.

Under the cover of night, the interplay of offensive and defensive energies was intense, accompanied by deafening explosions and deafening roars, as countless flying armors were shattered in mid-air.

However, the flying armors were numerous, small in size, and extremely low in dispersion.

There are always some that slip through the net and break through the light barrier, crashing into the fortress walls, watchtowers, and garrisoned vehicles.

A series of explosions occurred, but none caused fatal damage.

Only a few exterior walls and ordinary vehicles were damaged.

The commander of the theater command grew increasingly heavy-hearted.

Both offensives were feints and decoys, resulting in minimal losses and limited deterrence.

The real killer move has yet to be revealed!

Where exactly is the main attacker hiding?

The eastern side is fortified with defensive barriers, making it difficult for a large army to cross;

The underground was covered with layers of detective runes, leaving no trace of any underground tunnel attack.

Just as he was racking his brains and couldn't figure it out, the third attack came crashing down from the sky.

This time, it was a truly extraordinary aerial raid.

Without fire arrows or flying armor, there were hundreds of giant wind-riding spirit kites.

Made from supple bamboo frames and tough spiritual cloth, it takes advantage of the strong west wind at night...

Drifting slowly from the north of the fortress, beneath each of the spirit kites...

They all had unidentified objects hanging from them, swaying gently in the night breeze.

All the soldiers guarding the area were stunned and speechless.

Psionic detectives can detect faint heat sources, and array scans show clear outlines reflecting off them.

However, its flight speed, altitude, and trajectory are not listed in the catalog of standard combat weapons.

"Shoot them all down! Eliminate all potential threats!"

The airspace formation was activated at full power once again.

Shooting down the Spirit Kite is far easier than shattering the Flying Armor; its large size and slow speed make it an easy target.

However, after a massive number of spirit kites were shattered one after another, fragments of spirit cloth scattered everywhere.

Some fragments are attached to Lei Tianshu Da and obstruct the optical detective's spiritual eye.

Within a few dozen breaths, the fortress's meticulous all-area offensive and defensive formation experienced a brief period of disorder and stagnation.

In that fleeting thirty-breath opening, Su Qingxuan's true killing move, which he had been preparing for many days, finally broke through the ground!

It doesn't come from the ground, nor from the air, but from something that has been dormant for thousands of years—a deadly strike from the ground!

The Tarud Oasis, originally a fertile land in the western desert for millennia, is crisscrossed by underground irrigation canals dug by ancient inhabitants.

Dense as a spider web, stretching for hundreds of miles, it is an underground labyrinth sealed by the dust of time.

This ancient network of underground waterways, having weathered countless changes over time, has long been completely forgotten by the world.

Even among the local Western Desert tribes, only scattered legends remain, and no one knows the full picture.

Only Su Qingxuan, while perusing the fragments of ancient local chronicles from the Western Desert, glimpsed a secret passage:

"The ancient Talud Island is known as the Secret Land of Thousand Canals. The underground canals run for hundreds of miles. It could hide soldiers in ancient times and nourish life in the past."

He sought out the last remaining ancient geomancer in the Western Desert, combining celestial maps and other geographical features...

Using psychic telekinesis to sense the terrain, working tirelessly for three days and three nights, they finally deciphered the entrance to the main canal, which had been sealed for thousands of years.

It is located three miles southeast of the fortress, beneath a dried-up ancient riverbed.

Within seven days, three hundred elite soldiers of the Western Desert tribe, using the most primitive tools,

They quietly widened and dredged the ancient underground canal, digging day and night.

The passage will eventually lead directly to the area beneath the Tarud Fortress.

At this moment, all three feint attacks in the airspace landed, causing a brief disruption to the entire array.

The camouflage covering of the underground culvert was quietly pushed open.

Fifty elite warriors of the Western Desert tribe emerged silently from the ground, like phantoms in the night.

Their breakout landing point avoided all the heavily guarded psionic power stations.

Key locations such as storage warehouses and armories.

The areas selected were the weakest points of defense: the soldiers' quarters, the mess hall, and the open space where vehicles were parked.

The prevailing perception is that the enemy will inevitably attack the core strategic points.

They will never expend military force to invade ordinary residential areas.

However, Su Qingxuan's methods of warfare have always been unconventional.

In his pre-battle planning, he once said to everyone:

"In the art of war, winning hearts and minds is paramount, while defeating the enemy is secondary."

Damaged military equipment and supplies can all be repaired and replenished;

However, once the enemy's fighting spirit is crushed and their morale and beliefs are shattered, it will be an irreversible and devastating blow.

What is the ultimate way to defeat the enemy?

It is not about slaughter and killing, but about instilling fear in the enemy and rendering them powerless to resist.

They were utterly weary of war and cowardly of fighting, fully aware that this war was futile.

Therefore, the mission of the fifty elite suicide soldiers was not to blow up formations or damage heavy weapons.

Instead, it was in the enemy's sleeping quarters, their daily meals, and their vehicle camps.

They quietly deployed remote-controlled psionic bursts, scattered scrolls of divine pronouncements, and inscribed words of wisdom to awaken the world.

The eagle's words of wisdom are striking and clear:

"War is unjust, and tyranny deceives the world."

"The smoke signals of war are all driven by selfish desires, and there is never any righteous conquest."

"The homeland is where I truly belong; the battlefield is but an illusion."

"Tomorrow's fate is uncertain; those who wield weapons are like duckweed adrift."

After the deployment was completed and the information was thoroughly disseminated, the elite troops immediately turned back along the same route.

They sealed the entrance to the underground channel and quietly withdrew along a secret passage that stretched for hundreds of miles.

The entire process took no more than ten breaths, leaving no trace and unnoticed by gods or ghosts.

When the fortress garrison noticed the unusual activity in the living area and hurriedly conducted a patrol,

All those who launched the attack had already vanished into the vast desert, leaving no trace.

The next moment, all the small psionic bursts scattered throughout the living area were triggered simultaneously.

There was no earth-shattering roar, only bursts of soft, crackling sounds.

Several vehicles and horses were damaged, two rest tents collapsed, and kitchen equipment was broken.

The physical damage was negligible, but the psychological impact was profound, instantly engulfing the entire fortress.

The soldiers, fast asleep, were suddenly awakened, staring at the conspicuous admonitions on the outer wall of their tents.

Scattered scrolls of imperial edicts lay on the ground, and the parked chariots burned fiercely.

A bone-chilling coldness shot straight from the soles of my feet to my mind.

The enemy was once so close, standing right next to my pillow!

The enemy calmly lingered at the place where they ate and distributed proclamations!

If the enemy wanted to slaughter them, they would have already perished in their sleep!

The words on the scroll were piercingly incisive:

We will not kill those who have abandoned their weapons, nor will we disturb ordinary living beings; we will only resist foreign invaders.

Return home to settle down and live a peaceful life; do not chase after vain hopes and empty promises.

Panic spread rapidly through the military camp like a plague.

In a single day, the morale of the fortress army plummeted to rock bottom.

The twelve guards were thrown into a state of mental breakdown, developing severe battle-related mental demons.

If you are unable to control yourself, immediately move to the back to calm down and regulate your breathing.

Thirty-seven soldiers submitted a request for transfer, asking only to be removed from the desolate battlefield.

The rest of the group couldn't sleep at night, sitting silently with their weapons in their arms until dawn, their minds filled with dread and seeing enemies everywhere.

But the real series of devastating blows have only just begun.

Three days later, when the commander of the Tarud garrison inspected the damaged camps...

The carriage and horses beneath it inadvertently triggered a hidden, miniature, fragmented restriction—

It was set up casually by the assassins when they left, and even the person who set it up has forgotten about it.

The divine light exploded, severely injuring the commander, though his life was spared.

However, this completely ended his military career, preventing him from ever returning to the battlefield again.

On the same day, the fortress's psionic power supply core suddenly malfunctioned, causing a power outage across the entire area for eighteen hours.

The temperature-controlled grain storage environment has completely lost its heat, causing the stored grain to rot and spoil.

The entire army could only survive on compressed dry rations, and morale continued to decline.

Two days later, the fortress's daily water supply system was secretly tainted with low-grade spiritual materials that could disturb the spirits.

It does not pose a direct threat of death from a deadly poison, but it can cause stagnation in the chest and abdomen.

The entire battalion of soldiers was physically unwell and completely lost their fighting ability, thus losing all ability to defend.

This Eagle Army's core forward fortress in the Western Desert,

They had never experienced a spectacular breakthrough or faced a heavy attack.

The morale of the troops had collapsed, logistics were paralyzed, and they had completely lost their ability to fight and defend.

The Western Desert tribe's series of surprise attacks came at a negligible cost:

Five volunteers who went to their deaths, thirty makeshift fire arrows, and two hundred miniature psionic flying armors.

Three hundred wind-riding kites and fifty elite soldiers rushed to the scene within ten days.

The total cost of materials was less than 500,000 taels of silver.

In contrast, the Eagle Army suffered heavy losses: the theater commander was seriously wounded and rendered incapacitated.

A dozen soldiers were plagued by inner demons, dozens of officers requested to be transferred away from the area, and an entire battalion was rendered powerless.

Logistics were disrupted for more than half a month, resulting in direct and indirect financial losses exceeding 500 million taels of silver.

More deadly than the loss of resources is the seed of fear.

It has already taken deep root in the hearts of every soldier guarding the area.

After the soldiers who had been rotated home departed, this nightmare, ingrained deep in their bones, continued...

Eventually, the news will spread throughout the entire territory, and everyone will know:

The Western Desert tribes are cunning and omnipresent, and every battle on the battlefield is fraught with unknown dangers.

Public opinion across the region is turbulent, with voices questioning and criticizing the campaign rising everywhere.

Seven days after the Tarud Fortress Incident, in the secret chamber of the Central Imperial Palace of the Eagle Federation Empire.

The atmosphere inside the hall was heavy and oppressive, suffocatingly so.

The Federal President sat in the main seat, flanked by the Chief Minister of Defense, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, and others.

The chief strategist, the commander-in-chief of the military council, and a group of key advisors.

On the giant light screen, a nationwide public opinion report is being broadcast.

In the scene, a young soldier who had just returned from a rotation on the western desert battlefield sat quietly in a wheelchair.

He was physically unharmed, but his mind was completely shattered, and he no longer possessed any youthful spirit.

A messenger's voice rang out: "May I ask, sir, what is the scene like on the battlefield?"

The soldiers' eyes were vacant, and they murmured in hushed tones, their voices like those of wandering souls:

"They are everywhere...in the desert and in the sky."

We were unable to see or hear, and were passively controlled throughout the entire process.

I dream every night that someone is standing beside my pillow, and I live in constant fear.

There is hardly any peace... I can't hold on any longer, I just want to go home.

The scene shifts, revealing the faces of her closest relatives; the woman's eyes are filled with tears, her voice is mournful and earnest, every word dripping with anguish:

"The young boy joined the army full of vigor and high spirits, but now he is mentally and physically broken and lives in constant fear."

I implore the President to have mercy and allow my son to return home! What, then, is the purpose of this endless war?

The lights and shadows on the screen faded, and a solemn closing resounded:

"This is the third report this week of soldiers' mental breakdown."

According to central statistics, since the start of the war, the number of soldiers who retreated to recuperate due to battle-related mental blocks...

The number has exceeded 260 and is increasing daily.

Repeated campaigns have depleted countless resources and funds, yet the war remains deadlocked.

Doubts are growing louder from both the government and the public; the righteous path is being attacked, and no one can discern the truth.

The Grand Commander raised his hand, shutting down the spiritual screen, and his gaze swept over the assembled officials in the hall.

"Gentlemen, the current situation demands a decisive and swift victory."

To pacify the court and the people, and to stabilize public sentiment.

The voice was deep and piercing, carrying the imposing authority of a superior.

"If we fail to achieve anything further, the court and the country will be in turmoil, power will be shaken, and neither of us will be able to secure our positions."

The Chief Defense Secretary stepped forward, bowed deeply, and reported in a deep voice:

"Commander-in-Chief, I have dispatched three Sky Fighter Squadrons to prepare the 'Decapitation and Debunking' strategy."

Using stealth combat weapons and formation-breaking heavy artillery, they directly attacked the central royal city of the Western Desert tribe.

"Disrupt their overall coordination and cut off their command structure in one fell swoop!"

"Beheading?" The Emperor's eyes flashed with cold sternness, followed by a slight, cold laugh.

"In a past battle, our army killed their tribal high priest. What was the result?"

The war was far from over, and the conflicts had not ended. Instead, it fueled the people's shared hatred of the enemy and their fighting spirit soared!

Secret reports from both the court and the public all stated that the death of the former high priest was part of a trap set by the enemy to lure them in.

He sacrificed his life to unite the entire clan's fighting spirit!

The Minister of Foreign Affairs bowed respectfully and said, "Your Majesty, perhaps it is permissible to send a neutral force to mediate."

Negotiate a peace treaty, cease hostilities, demarcate the borders, and end the fighting?

"Absolutely not!" The chief strategist suddenly stood up and retorted in a deep voice.

"Today's peace talks are a declaration of the empire's defeat in its conquest!"

The Eagle Empire's century-old prestige and its foundation of dominance beyond its borders were destroyed in a single day!

The surrounding myriad realms and the two top-tier Daoist lineages all watched with bated breath, ready to pounce if they showed weakness.

It will inevitably attract the covetous eyes of many heroes, be invaded from all sides, and cause turmoil in the empire, with no day of peace ever coming again!

"If the three foundations of imperial military might, the prestige of the Daoist tradition, and the dominance of spirit stones were to falter, it would mark the beginning of the collapse of this golden age!"

The room fell silent instantly.

Everyone knows that everything the mastermind said is true.

This conquest is no longer a matter of territorial disputes or the plunder of spiritual resources.

Rather, it is the ultimate struggle for the survival of imperial hegemony.

If we win, the imperial might will endure forever, and it will awe all realms.

If defeated, Ba Lu will fall and become an enemy on all sides.

"Tell me, what is the best way to break this deadlock?" The commander-in-chief's voice was weary and tinged with anxiety.

The long-silent commander-in-chief slowly raised his eyes, his expression cold and stern, and uttered a startling statement:

"Great Leader, there is still an extremely risky strategy that can quickly end the war and subdue all lands."

"speak."

"Unseal the forbidden technique - Heavenly Punishment Annihilation Array - Annihilation Thunder".

The Commander-in-Chief's gaze was resolute, and his words were heavy:

"Using the ancient array plate treasured by the empire, carrying the annihilation thunder, it can condense the divine power of heavenly punishment within an extremely small area."

Locking in the ten core nodes of the Western Desert Royal City:

The Central Council Hall, the Messenger Hall, the Armory, the Public Opinion Hall, the Guardian Array...

A single strike could completely paralyze their tribal political system and cripple their offensive and defensive capabilities.

Furthermore, the scope of divine punishment can be controlled, minimizing losses.

The president stiffened slightly, a hint of extreme hesitation flashing in his eyes.

"The forbidden technique of divine punishment is a world-destroying taboo left over from the conflicts of the Middle Ages."

Since the establishment of the prosperous era, no one in the myriad realms has dared to open it!

"Once the ban is lifted, the ancient balance will be shattered, and the consequences will be endless..."

"Commander-in-Chief!" The Commander-in-Chief of the Military Council stood up straight, his voice resounding throughout the hall.

"If we show weakness to others today, it will become known throughout the land that a top empire has been dragged into a quagmire by a tribal tribe through cunning tactics!"

After this, all the nations of the world will follow suit and defy the trend.

My eagle will be shrouded in smoke and fire, struggling to defend itself, and the war will never end!

A temporary taboo and short-term pain can be exchanged for eternal peace and stability under Heaven's authority! This is the only way to break the deadlock!

He moved to the map of the territorial realm, his fingertip landing on the Western Desert Royal City:

"This single strike has shaken all realms and demonstrated the empire's determination to protect its orthodox path and hegemonic power at all costs!"

For the next thousand years, no one dared defy the eagle's might! A short, sharp pain to stop the bleeding, preventing future troubles!

The president closed his eyes and pondered, fine beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.

He recalled the oath he took upon ascending the throne to protect the empire's territory and safeguard its dominance across all realms.

Now that the foundation of the empire is crumbling and its path to hegemony is on the verge of collapse, as the supreme leader, I must shoulder the responsibility for all ages.

Even if it means opening Pandora's box with one's own hands and bearing eternal infamy, there is no other choice.

"What are the chances of this strategy succeeding?" The president's voice was hoarse, filled with a desperate determination.

"Absolutely foolproof." The military commander-in-chief said decisively, "The Western Desert tribes have no ability to resist divine punishment, nor the power to break the deadlock."

With ten nodes deployed simultaneously, the central function of the royal city can be rendered useless in an instant.

Completely destroy their fighting capacity!

"At that time, if a force that has submitted is established to govern, the war can be declared over!"

"How can we quell the public outcry across the land?" the Emperor pressed.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs immediately responded: "I can control the narrative of public opinion across all domains and make it public."

The Western Desert tribes secretly researched forbidden evil formations and hoarded world-destroying weapons, intending to wreak havoc on all realms.

Our country had no choice but to take preemptive action to stop the chaos.

Both real and illusory evidence can be perfectly arranged.

History is always written by the victors.

The secret room fell silent once again.

After a long while, the Grand Commander slowly opened his eyes, all hesitation fading from them.

All that remains is a domineering, reckless brilliance born of madness and desperation.

"Draft edict. This policy is codenamed 'Scorched Earth Dawn'."

Within seventy-two hours, the complete deployment plan was presented.

This entire process is classified as top secret. Anyone who leaks this information will be prosecuted for treason and will never be able to recover!

"Your Majesty, we obey!"

The officials bowed and accepted the order, then withdrew in turn.

The spacious war council chamber was empty, with only the Grand Commander sitting alone.

He gazed at the tiny western desert region on the spiritual map and murmured softly:

"It's not that I'm bloodthirsty, it's that you've pushed me to my death at every turn."

Unbeknownst to him, in the Western Desert capital city thousands of miles away, a refined figure had already seen through the secrets of heaven.

Su Qingxuan stood quietly in front of the window of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, and the three spiritual seal pendant on his chest suddenly became scorching hot.

A chilling sense of impending doom washed over me like ice water, engulfing my entire body.

He looked up at the vast starry sky, where the trajectories of countless stars were disordered.

Arranged into an extremely dangerous and catastrophic star formation.

The calamities of a chaotic world have finally arrived.

Yeah.

The day the calamity begins will be the day the calamity ends.

It has begun, and it should end now.

It is:

A tyrannical man, driven to desperation, resorts to force; a clever maneuver employs a flanking force to overthrow the enemy.

The mad demon seeks to unleash a calamity upon all living beings, but the Golden Immortal, with his pure heart, can restrain him.