Chapter 57 The Mysterious Void
After announcing his decision before the imperial court, he immediately issued a series of military orders. Every commanding general stationed along the northern frontier was to begin the long-awaited counteroffensive. The era of merely defending the empire had come to an end.
Royal messengers stepped forward one after another, kneeling respectfully before the Dragon Throne.
Hong Yuanji looked at them with a firm expression. "Take these imperial decrees to every frontline commander without delay. Inform them that the Crimson Empire will launch a full-scale counteroffensive. Every general is to coordinate their forces and reclaim our occupied territories."
"This humble servant obeys!"
Each messenger carefully received a sealed imperial decree before hurrying out of the audience hall. Moments later, the sound of galloping horses echoed throughout the imperial capital as they departed in different directions, racing toward the northern frontier.
. . .
A month quietly passed.
Inside the Crimson Empire's military headquarters in the frontline, the atmosphere inside the command tent remained solemn. A massive map of the northern frontier covered the central table, its surface filled with markings indicating the positions of both the imperial army and the Northern Alliance.
Just then, a royal messenger entered the command tent. His travel-worn robes were covered in dust, his complexion pale with exhaustion, and every step he took was noticeably unsteady. Upon reaching the center of the tent, he respectfully knelt before Grand General Jin Zhou.
The messenger had ridden day and night without stopping, changing horses at every relay station along the way. Had he followed the normal schedule and rested properly, the journey from the imperial capital to the northern front would have taken nearly four months. Instead, by pushing both himself and his mounts to their limits, he had arrived in just one month.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, the messenger carefully withdrew a sealed letter bearing the golden imperial seal and raised it with both hands.
"Grand General, an order from His Majesty."
Jin Zhou accepted the sealed letter and dismissed the exhausted messenger with a nod. After confirming the imperial seal, he slowly broke the wax seal and unfolded the document.
The command tent fell silent.
Several officers quietly waited as their commander carefully read through the contents. At first, Jin Zhou's expression remained as calm as ever. However, as he continued reading, the corners of his lips gradually curled into a smile.
The officers exchanged puzzled glances.
One of the deputy generals could no longer contain his curiosity.
"Grand General, what does the letter say?"
Without answering immediately, Jin Zhou calmly folded the letter and tossed it onto the table.
He looked around at the gathered officers before smiling.
"This is good news, everyone."
The officers instantly straightened their backs, their eyes fixed on Jin Zhou.
He placed both hands on the military map and spoke in a steady voice.
"His Majesty has issued the order."
"The Crimson Empire will no longer remain on the defensive."
He paused briefly, allowing the words to sink in before continuing.
"The Emperor has ordered a full-scale counteroffensive. Every army along the northern frontier is to attack immediately and reclaim every city occupied by the Northern Alliance."
For a moment, the command tent fell into stunned silence.
One of the veteran officers stepped forward, his brows furrowed in confusion.
"Grand General, why would His Majesty suddenly order a counteroffensive? For the past two years, we've focused on defending our borders and exhausting the enemy. Why change our strategy now?"
Several officers nodded in agreement.
They had grown accustomed to fighting a defensive war, and the Emperor's sudden decision caught them by surprise.
Jin Zhou did not answer immediately.
Instead, he tapped the folded letter resting on the table.
"See for yourselves."
The officer nearest to him stepped forward, picked up the letter, and carefully unfolded it. As his eyes scanned the contents, his expression gradually changed from confusion to astonishment.
"The Northern Alliance... has begun turning against itself?"
He continued reading aloud, allowing the other officers to hear every detail.
The report described the alliance's dwindling food supplies, the growing number of deserters, the destruction of their supply depots, and the distrust that now plagued the rulers. It even mentioned the recent chaos during their war council, where accusations of treachery had nearly torn the alliance apart.
By the time the officer reached the end of the letter, a broad grin had spread across his face.
"So that's why!"
"The Northern Alliance is already collapsing!"
The other officers gathered around the table, each taking turns reading the report. The more they learned about the enemy's situation, the brighter their expressions became.
Soon, the command tent erupted with laughter and cheers.
"Heaven is truly on our side!"
"The enemy is already on the verge of defeat."
"This is the perfect opportunity to strike!"
Jin Zhou nodded in satisfaction.
"Our scouts have already reported that their armies are scattered across multiple fronts. With their supplies exhausted and their rulers distrusting one another, they no longer possess the strength they once had."
He looked at the map before him, his eyes filled with confidence.
"In that case, there is no reason to hesitate."
The officers exchanged determined glances before cupping their fists in unison.
"We agree, Grand General."
"The imperial army should launch the counteroffensive immediately."
Jin Zhou's smile faded, replaced by the stern expression of a commander about to lead his army into battle.
"Good."
"Then summon every division commander. We march at dawn and show the Northern Alliance that the Crimson Empire has endured these two years... for this very moment."
A few days later, the headquarters became busier than ever.
Division commanders from every sector of the northern frontier arrived one after another, each bringing their trusted officers and the latest reports from their respective battlefields. The command tent, once occupied by only a handful of generals, was now filled with the empire's highest-ranking military leaders.
Standing before the massive campaign map, Grand General Jin Zhou wasted no time.
He thoroughly explained the Emperor's decree and revealed the intelligence gathered by the Crimson Empire's hidden spy. From the Northern Alliance's dwindling food supplies to the growing distrust among its rulers, every detail was laid out before the assembled commanders.
When Jin Zhou finished speaking, the atmosphere inside the tent became noticeably different.
The uncertainty that had lingered over the past two years had vanished, replaced by confidence.
Every commander understood that the opportunity they had patiently waited for had finally arrived.
Without further delay, Jin Zhou began assigning objectives to each division. Every army received its own route of advance, target cities, and supporting forces, ensuring that the offensive would strike the Northern Alliance on multiple fronts simultaneously.
To achieve a swift and decisive victory, Jin Zhou ordered every frontline army to abandon their purely defensive positions. Garrisons that had stood watch over the border for years were evacuated as the soldiers marched out in full force. Instead of waiting for the enemy to attack, the Crimson Empire launched a massive offensive, with countless troops advancing toward the Northern Alliance from every direction.
As the meeting concluded, the commanders saluted in unison before leaving the headquarters to prepare their armies.
Soon, war drums echoed across the northern frontier.
The banners of the Crimson Empire fluttered proudly in the wind as countless soldiers marched out from their fortifications.
After almost three years of relentless defense...
The Crimson Empire had finally begun its counteroffensive.
. . .
Far away from the battlefield, deep within the secluded mountains of the Zan Clan, everything remained peaceful.
Inside the cultivation cave where Zan Yunxiao usually entered seclusion, silence filled the surroundings.
He sat cross-legged upon a stone platform, his breathing so faint that he appeared to be asleep. Wisps of spiritual energy continuously flowed toward him, disappearing into his body as if drawn by an invisible force.
Yet, within his consciousness...
Everything was different.
There was no mountain.
No cave.
No light.
Only an endless, boundless void stretched in every direction.
Zan Yunxiao slowly opened his eyes and looked around.
As far as he could see, there was only darkness.
He couldn't sense the flow of spiritual energy, nor could he perceive the passage of time.
A hint of confusion appeared on his usually calm face.
"Where... am I?"
Zan Yunxiao frowned as he surveyed the endless darkness surrounding him.
No matter how far he looked, there was nothing but an empty void. Even his spiritual sense, which could normally cover vast distances, was completely useless here. It was as though this place existed beyond the laws of the world he knew.
Just as he was trying to make sense of his surroundings, a faint light suddenly appeared in the distance.
It was no larger than a speck at first, yet in the endless darkness, it stood out like a beacon.
Curiosity overtook his caution.
Without hesitation, Zan Yunxiao walked toward it.
The closer he drew, the brighter the light became. However, before he could reach it, an overwhelming pressure descended upon him without warning.
His instincts screamed.
Danger!
Every hair on his body stood on end as an indescribable force pressed against him. It felt as though the very space around the light rejected his existence, as if he were an intruder trespassing somewhere he did not belong.
Without thinking, Zan Yunxiao pushed off the ground and leaped backward with all his strength.
The crushing pressure vanished the instant he retreated, allowing him to breathe once more.
He landed several hundred meters away, his heart pounding violently.
For the first time in many years, genuine shock appeared on his face.
"I... almost died."
He stared at the distant light, his expression filled with disbelief.
The pressure he had just experienced was unlike anything he had ever encountered. It wasn't a cultivator's aura or the suppression of a higher realm. Instead, it felt as though the world itself had rejected his presence.
Had his instincts been even a fraction slower...
He was certain he would have been crushed into nothingness.
Zan Yunxiao remained silent for a long while, unable to take his eyes off the mysterious light.
"What exactly is that place?" he wondered.
"And more importantly..."
"Where am I?"