Meanwhile, at the Zhao Clan estate in Magic City.
The luxurious manor gleamed with gold and jade splendor. Zhao Manyan sat in the seat of honor, gently stroking a Baxia Wooden Fish engraved with exquisite totem patterns.
He swept his gaze across the hall. Numerous Super-tier Mage elders had gathered, every one of them respectful and deferential, a stark contrast to their attitudes in the past.
Seeing this, Zhao Manyan understood clearly. Ever since he had partnered with the Ancient Capital's Military Strategic Council and secured the sales channels for China's Stardust Magic Tools, not only had many major powers proactively sought cooperation, but his standing within the clan had also risen dramatically.
Once the core members of the Zhao Clan had assembled, he got straight to the point.
"China is currently under invasion by the Pacific Empire. As a great clan, we cannot stand by and do nothing. I have decided to donate ten billion yuan worth of supplies to the front lines."
The crowd was momentarily stunned, but they soon voiced their approval one after another.
Keeping in step with China's direction was both the duty and survival wisdom of a great clan.
Besides, they were based in Magic City itself. Countless industries under their control were involved. This amount of money was insignificant compared to the losses caused by fluctuations in asset values if Magic City were invaded. The sooner the Sea Demons were driven away, the sooner they could resume making profits.
Yet Zhao Manyan still felt it wasn't enough.
He revealed another bombshell.
"I've also decided to dispatch the clan's Super-tier Mage Retainer Corps to participate in the Sea Demon War."
The announcement immediately caused an uproar among the Zhao Clan members.
The resources required to cultivate a single Super-tier Mage were equivalent to the value of the supplies being donated this time.
However, under Zhao Manyan's firm suppression, the proposal was ultimately approved.
That said, he had no intention of intervening in Magic City's battlefield. Instead, he would redirect his forces toward Xiamen.
Magic City, Demon Capital, Hangzhou, and the other major first-tier cities all possessed their own foundations and guardians.
Only Xiamen was desperately short of manpower and had practically been abandoned by default.
When Shao Zheng learned of the Zhao Clan's sudden intervention, he lavished praise upon them.
The clan's internal members also breathed a sigh of relief. For a moment, they had thought their Patriarch had become arrogant and lost sight of reality by planning to join the Magic City battlefield, a battlefield where an Emperor could appear at any moment.
Before setting out, Zhao Manyan gently caressed the wooden fish in his arms and grinned.
"Old Turtle, your grandpa is coming to save you this time. Let's see if you still dare look down on me."
At the same moment the Pacific Empire launched its invasion, he had received a message from Baxia.
The totem beast had discovered its mortal enemies in Xiamen and had resolved to seize the opportunity to kill the Twin Calamity Stars, Qiuchi and Qiongzi.
Originally, Zhao Manyan had wanted to accompany it.
Unfortunately, after transmitting the information, the old turtle immediately cut off contact without even acknowledging him, clearly treating him with disdain.
Zhao Manyan felt exhausted.
In the end, it was still his family's totem beast.
Pulling himself together, he summoned the Zhao Clan's forces to provide support.
As the saying went, three days apart were enough to warrant a fresh look.
He had already broken through to the Super-tier. Powerful experts gathered beneath his command.
This time, he would definitely shock that old turtle.
It was also one of the advantages of a powerful mage serving as clan head. Within the business-oriented Zhao Clan, strength earned genuine respect.
Elsewhere, in the suburbs of Magic City, Zhang Xiaohou and He Yu stood by the roadside, watching dense formations of military mages form a long procession as they slowly advanced toward the urban districts.
Zhang Xiaohou's expression was dazed.
Silently, he murmured to himself,
"Brother Fan, Brother Lu, I've come. I wonder if we'll meet again."
The entire eastern front was covered in red alerts. Manpower was stretched to its limit.
As a result, forces from western China had been mobilized, and even an important commander like him had been transferred.
After all, with Lu Jun guarding the Ancient Capital, it was as stable as Mount Tai.
Just as Zhang Xiaohou was deep in thought, a dark-skinned middle-aged general strode toward him and issued an order.
"Commander Zhang, correct? New orders. Your forces are to reinforce Xiamen."
"Not Magic City?"
Zhang Xiaohou was stunned.
But military orders were absolute.
Without delay, he turned around and began directing his troops.
The entire army changed direction and marched toward Xiamen.
Meanwhile, at Dingcheng, the Rock Capital, not far from the coastline.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A towering Flame Monarch stood proudly beneath the heavens, its immense aura cascading downward.
Ahead of it, a sky-piercing Rock Giant collapsed with a thunderous crash.
The Calamity Fire surrounding Mo Fan gradually extinguished as he swiftly descended.
Reaching into the Rock Giant's chest, he pulled out a massive crystal of muddy yellow color.
It was a Earth Element Crystal Core.
Its size was astonishing, more than twice as large as the Water Element Crystal Core Lu Jun had obtained from the Mermaid Nest.
There was more than enough for two people.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Old Lu really didn't lie to me. An Earth Devouring Seed, huh?"
Mo Fan practically drooled.
After wandering around the Military Strategic Council, he had learned countless secrets.
Fusion Magic.
Devouring Seed creation.
Customized Dark Matter.
Any one of those could dramatically increase his combat strength.
Naturally, he understood the principle that following Lu Jun meant good opportunities would always come his way.
Take this mission, for example.
Without Fusion Magic, even with two Super-Tier Elements, he would never have been able to defeat such a powerful Monarch.
Having secured the Earth Element Crystal Core, Mo Fan had not even had time to rest before suddenly receiving shocking news.
The Pacific Empire had invaded?!
Immediately, panic set in.
Magic City contained far too many people and things important to him.
His father.
His little wife and big wife.
Pearl Academy.
And much more.
Thus, Mo Fan hurriedly set off for Magic City at top speed.
Unexpectedly, halfway through the journey, he ran into Zhang Xiaohou.
As the two brothers reunited, countless emotions surged through their hearts.
Unfortunately, Mo Fan's request to join the Magic City battlefield was rejected. For an ordinary Super-tier Mage like him, let alone facing an Emperor, even fighting a Great Monarch would be extremely difficult. At best, he could serve as a distraction. As a result, he was assigned to Xiamen instead.
Originally, Mo Fan was unwilling to accept it, but upon hearing that Lu Jun was in Magic City, he somehow felt greatly relieved.
He knew exactly what Lu Jun was capable of. That guy had countless trump cards, so there was no need to worry about Magic City falling.
More importantly, Zhang Xiaohou was also being transferred to Xiamen, so the two simply headed there together.
With the invasion of the Sea Demon Empire, experts from every direction began to gather.
It was not only Mo Fan, Zhang Xiaohou, Zhao Manyan, and the others who were taking action.
Far away in the Qinling Mountains, an extraordinarily grand ceremony had just come to an end. A massive battle involving more than a dozen Monarchs had erupted, leaving countless casualties.
At an altitude of ten thousand meters, the corpses of avian demons rained down every moment.
Torrents of blood poured from the sky, drenching the land below. Within the dense forests and mountain ranges, every demon creature trembled in fear as they listened to the deafening roars overhead.
The competition for this generation's Feathered Emperor had been especially brutal.
In previous ascension contests, bloodshed was not uncommon. However, at the level of Monarch-class avian creatures, victories and defeats were decided without taking lives.
But the times had changed.
That leader from Ancient Capital would not tolerate an uncontrolled force lingering so close at hand.
Leading the Supreme Monarch Moon Moth Phoenix, Lu Mei fought her way to the highest heavens.
She strengthened the authority of the Feathered Emperor, and every Monarch unwilling to submit was slain without exception.
Within the Heavenly Void Realm, amid the vast sea of layered clouds and towering peaks, atop the crimson phoenix nest at the highest summit, stood a supreme Feathered Emperor.
Its entire body was pure white. Six phoenix wings spread from its back, exuding an aura of mystery and nobility. Its gentle yet dignified gaze swept across the dozen or so Monarchs present.
The Moon Moth Phoenix had successfully completed its Nirvana.
Its appearance had changed completely. There was no trace of its former moth-like form. It now resembled a true Light-element Phoenix.
Its body was immaculate, untouched by even a hint of blood.
Yet it still silenced all the Monarch avians present.
Not far away, several colossal nests contained the corpses of gigantic creatures as large as mountains.
Among them was a giant bird covered in magnificent silver feathers.
Had Lu Jun been present, he would have immediately recognized it as the former Silver Sky Ruler.
Now, however, not a trace of life remained within it.
Standing atop the broad back of the Moon Moth Phoenix, Lu Mei radiated a fierce and murderous aura.
Raising an eyebrow, she said:
"Order them to depart."
"Head to the coast and reinforce my little brother."
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Fairy Tail{30 Chapters}
Patreon. Com/ALLISWELL123