With most eyes fixed on the battles in the East Domain, few paid any attention to the South Domain.
As a result, hardly anyone realized that in just a few days, the South Domain Martial Alliance had already unified Rift-Heaven Sword Sect and Suncrest Sect.
Ian Song stayed at Suncrest Sect for a day, mainly to instruct his newly accepted disciple, Elder Chen.
Before leaving, he wrote out three pill prescriptions and gifted them to Elder Chen.
Upon receiving the three pill prescriptions, Elder Chen was overjoyed and treated them as priceless treasures. As soon as Ian left, he couldn’t wait to start studying them.
Meanwhile, with Suncrest Sect’s cooperation, the South Domain Martial Alliance’s forces quickly took over Suncrest’s territories.
Just after Ian left Suncrest Sect, a figure flashed into view—Huang Yan appeared.
"My true self, as you requested, I’ve laid grand formations over the mountain gates of Soaring Heaven Sect and Heavenly Sword Sect. The arrays can be activated at any moment!"
Ian nodded. "Good. Next, we split up: you go to Heavenly Sword Sect, I’ll head to Soaring Heaven Sect!"
With absolute martial force, both Soaring Heaven Sect and Heavenly Sword Sect ultimately chose to submit.
Just like that, all four of the South Domain’s greatest sects fell into Ian Song’s hands.
Pristine Way Sect.
Ian Song sat at the head seat, exuding authority. Below him stood the high-level leaders of the Martial Alliance and Pristine Way Sect, as well as the sect masters and top figures from Rift-Heaven Sword Sect, Suncrest Sect, Heavenly Sword Sect, and Soaring Heaven Sect.
"Greetings, Alliance Leader!"
Everyone bowed in unison.
"No need for formalities, please rise!"
Ian raised his hand. Once everyone had stood, he directly announced, "Now, in the names of Pristine Way Sect, Rift-Heaven Sword Sect, Suncrest Sect, Soaring Heaven Sect, and Heavenly Sword Sect, we invite all sects in the South Domain to come to Pristine Way within ten days to attend the South Domain Martial Conference!"
With all the major sects of the South Domain now under his command, it was time to complete the unification of the region.
East Domain.
The East Domain coalition army clashed with the Military Council’s main force for the second time.
This time, once again, the East Domain side was defeated. But compared to the first battle, the East Domain coalition suffered much fewer losses, and the Military Council’s army also took significant casualties.
East Domain coalition army camp, command tent.
Ian Song’s figure appeared directly inside the command tent, where Raymond Lei was currently staring blankly at a map.
These days, Raymond was nearly driven mad by exhaustion—coordinating the army on one hand, dealing with the war on the other. He barely had any time to rest. If not for his high cultivation, anyone else would have collapsed already.
"You’re here?" Raymond Lei looked up at Ian, revealing his heavy dark circles.
"You’ve worked hard!"
Ian said gratefully.
Raymond Lei shook his head, his expression gloomy. "Leon, this battle isn’t easy. If we lose, don’t blame me!"
"What’s wrong? Losing confidence so soon?" Ian teased.
"Do you know who’s commanding the enemy forces?" Raymond replied irritably.
"Who?"
Raymond said gravely, "It’s Invincible Yan! He’s the marshal of the Dragon Mountain front, a genius at warfare. His three million troops are all elite soldiers, while ours are mostly a loose rabble. Plus, we’re short on experienced generals. If all-out war breaks out, I don’t even have confidence we can hold out for a month!"
Ian suddenly smiled. "Old Lei, I don’t need you to hold out for a month. Just stall their army for half a month, and I’ll break this stalemate!"
"All I can do is try my best!" Raymond sighed.
Next, Ian and Raymond discussed the situation for a while, then Ian took his leave.
Actually, Ian had at least two ways to defeat the Military Council’s main force.
First, set up a grand formation to trap the enemy with no chance of escape.
Second, launch a decapitation strike and kill the enemy commander and all senior generals.
However, doing either would expose his operations in the South Domain, so for now he could only have Raymond stall the Military Council’s forces. As soon as the South Domain was unified, Ian would lead the army to support Raymond.
With the summons from the five great sects, sect masters and top leaders from all over the South Domain began gathering at Pristine Way Sect.
Finally, on the tenth day, representatives from every sect in the South Domain arrived at Pristine Way Sect, and the Martial Conference officially began.
Meanwhile, in the East Domain, the coalition army and the Military Council’s main force fought two more battles. In the first, the army deployed 800,000 troops, while the East Domain fielded one million.
The result: the East Domain coalition lost 300,000 men, while the Military Council’s losses were under 100,000.
In the second battle, the army sent out one million troops, and the East Domain deployed 1.5 million. Still, the coalition was defeated again, suffering a staggering 500,000 casualties.
After two major defeats, Raymond Lei’s forces kept retreating.
The Military Council’s troops pressed forward relentlessly.
After four battles, the army’s momentum soared. All across the land, people lamented for the East Domain, fearing its defeat.
Pristine Way Sect.
Heroes from every sect gathered in the outer plaza. Ian Song arrived with the sect masters and Martial Saints from Rift-Heaven Sword Sect, Suncrest Sect, Heavenly Sword Sect, and Soaring Heaven Sect. In addition, thirty-six masked Martial Saints joined them.
Altogether, more than fifty Martial Saints were present—and none of them bothered to hide their auras.
The combined pressure of over fifty Martial Saints shattered the clouds and sent them rolling, leaving all the sect masters and top leaders trembling in silence. For a moment, the entire plaza was utterly quiet.
Then Ian Song took the stage and announced nine crimes committed by the Strategic Operations Camp.
As Ian listed each crime, the more sensitive listeners began to sense what was coming. Their faces showed every emotion—nervousness, surprise, shock, fear.
After announcing the nine crimes, Ian revealed another piece of news: Rift-Heaven Sword Sect, Suncrest Sect, Soaring Heaven Sect, and Heavenly Sword Sect had all joined the South Domain Martial Alliance. He hoped everyone present would join as well.
The hidden dagger is revealed!
At last, the sect masters realized the true purpose of the Martial Conference.
Now that even the four great sects had joined the South Domain Martial Alliance, how could the smaller sects dare refuse?
Still, a few reckless ones jumped out to oppose.
For people like that, there was only one outcome—death.
After executing a few dissenters, no one else dared object. Honestly, Ian hated to do it, but the East Domain’s crisis left him no time to argue with these minor sects.
Three days flew by. After intense discussions, the Martial Alliance finally set its direction.
Ian Song was appointed Alliance Leader of the South Domain Martial Alliance. The sect masters of Rift-Heaven Sword Sect, Suncrest Sect, Soaring Heaven Sect, Heavenly Sword Sect, and Origin Return Sect, plus Pristine Way Sect’s Supreme Elder Cole Chong Duan, became Vice Leaders.
Beneath the Vice Leaders, a Council of Elders was formed with ninety seats: Pristine Way Sect held twenty, Origin Return Sect eight, Suncrest Sect eight, Rift-Heaven Sword Sect, Soaring Heaven Sect, and Heavenly Sword Sect five each, with the rest divided among the smaller sects.
The Alliance Army and Alliance Chamber of Commerce were both expanded.
The Alliance Army was increased from one million to at least three million soldiers, and the Chamber of Commerce staff grew tenfold.
After the South Domain Martial Alliance was fully established, a statement was issued in the name of the first Alliance Leader, Leon Huang: the Strategic Operations Camp is tyrannical, and the South Domain’s three-million-strong Allied Army will immediately march to the East Domain front to support the East Domain Martial Alliance!
The news spread instantly, shaking the entire world!