Liguang was a large town located in the active conflict zone between the Li Family and the Alzar Kingdom. To minimize confusion and casualties, advance warnings were given ahead of time to alert the citizens of the impending conflict. This would allow them to safely evacuate for the troops to enter. If they were still found loitering around, then they would only have themselves to blame if they died. It could be considered the Li Family's and the Alzar Kingdom's final act of mercy.
Currently, the Samfeng Province was divided into two main active conflict zones, the eastern theatre and the southern one. The eastern theatre was fought between the Li Family and the Alzar Kingdom with more than one hundred and fifty thousand active combatants. It was many times more intense and violent than the southern theatre, so the people living here fled westward for the other provinces. This left Liguang in a state of desolation, where very few people remained and the ones that stayed were either too old or weak to, just like the Yunyun Stronghold.
Despite that, the streets were bustling with activity now. Soldiers prowled every corner and transformed this simple town into a fortified fortress. According to estimates, the Li Family had mobilized more than one thousand into Liguang, but appearances were deceiving. There were countless experts moving in the shadows, watching over from afar. Half-Perception Realm experts were as common as grass here, while bona-fide Perception Realm monsters remained hidden. Many of them belonged to the Loon Family's yoke, having been raised and trained since birth, as weapons of death such as the Four Dragons of the Loon Family. Some fought for the Li Family's cause, having been helped in some way or another and hoped to lend a hand in their trying times. Others wanted to curry favors with one of the behemoths of the human world and show their worth. It was naturally far easier to do this with the Li Family than the Imperial Council or the Alzar Kingdom. Even in the Alzar Kingdom, they would be farfetched to mobilize so many Perception Realms, which spoke volumes of the Li Family's monstrous military prowess.
Not to mention, the one thousand soldiers which the Li Family prepared were not simple either. Like how the Imperial Council named trump card divisions which possessed power far exceeding their peers, the Li Family called this division the Lotus Division! To have the Li Family's namesake meant that they were considered the strongest division under the family. Every soldier was handpicked from millions for their stellar potential, trained through the most rigorous of systems, placed in hundreds of life-or-death situations, and fought in impossible battles. Although these thousand might not be Perception Realms, the ladder of strength was an exponential one and they were close to the peak of mortal power! Their strength was magnitudes greater than the normal soldier, and they could reap lives as easy as breathing. On the battlefield, their presence was equivalent to the grim reaper!
"The Alzar Kingdom's forces will arrive in approximately three minutes, patriarch," someone respectfully reported to Imperian Qiang.
The man in question nodded. He was tasked with overseeing the negotiations with the Alzar Kingdom by the elder council. And to facilitate that cause, there was no shortage of experts responsible for his security. The Four Dragons of the Loon Family stood around, while other famous Perception Realms like the Humming Swordsmen, the Blind Snake, and the Spider Seven were nearby too. There were also the Division General of the Lotus Division, General Fuzhi Loon. Her posture and expression were impeccably perfect in every way, seemingly devoid of flaw or emotion. She radiated a certain ethereal quality that made it difficult for others to approach her. Contrary to ordinary Division Generals who lauded zero combat capabilities, General Fuzhi was a unique existence among her peers because she was a Perception Realm! Her prowess was enough to rank her solidly among the Loon Family as a Perception Realm Expert. Due to her heroic tales and unfathomable strength, she led the Lotus Division to prevail against countless suicidal battles. She was practically the face and pride of the Lotus Division!
Imperian Qiang relayed the news to his nieces, Princess Xiuying and Ming, who were standing next to him. Currently, they abandoned their lofty dresses and sported a more official uniform, fit for a delegate of the Li Family. Normally, for people of their status, it would be beneath them to negotiate with the Alzar Kingdom like this. They were the Imperial Princesses after all! However, whether it be their intention or not, they were thoroughly in the Li Family's camp now, and their status as Imperial Princesses was defunct. They no longer carried the glamor of standing at the top of the Xingyuu Empire, rather they had no choice but to accept their new role of being the Li Family's lackeys. Whatever the elder council ordered them to do, they had to commit. Of course, they were not given authority over the following negotiations. They were only used to smoothen relations, considering their connection to the heir apparent, Princess Elizabeth.
Furthermore, they predicted that the incoming storm would be something no one could control. On Princess Xiuying's waist was her sabre and Princess Ming had her spear close by. Princess Xiuying was a Half-Perception Realm that only needed a strong push to enter Perception Realm, while her sister climbed to Fundamental Realm Master. In this regard, they could be considered as fearsome under Rank 2 Lords, if it were not for their lack of combat experience hindering them. Still, should something happen, they would have the ability to protect themselves at least. Their true Protectors, Protector Chang and Tai, were right behind them too. As Perception Realm Adepts in their twenties, they were young monsters with incredible potential that would make the older generation feel embarrassed. It would not be surprising if they could stand on the same pedestal as the Four Dragons of the Loon Family in the future!
Altogether, the one thousand soldiers from the Lotus Division, the countless hidden Perception Realm monsters, and the numerous apex experts that stood by Imperian Qiang's side… Their combined aura transformed the air above Liguang into a stifling sludge as if a veiled blade rested on everyone's throats. Taking everything into account, there was a large chance that this was the single largest concentration of military power that the Li Family could field. It was not an exaggeration to say that they could rend the heavens together! And yet, no one felt at ease. Instead, everyone became vigilant watching the incoming convoy on the horizon. Bearing the flag of the iconic lion and snake, it was the Alzar Kingdom! They had finally arrived!
In a show of force, the Alzar Kingdom would never lose out. They were a true and tested civilization, one of the three paragons of humanity! The Li Family might be the strongest nobility family in the human world, but they could never match the Alzar Kingdom. Whether it be in terms of overall military, economic, or political might, they were a step above the Li Family! The 'three-way deadlock' that existed prior to the Second Great Kingdom War never actually meant that the Li Family could contend against the Alzar Kingdom. Rather than that, it implied that if the Alzar Kingdom invaded the Xingyuu Empire, then the Li Family and the Imperial Council could unite against the invaders and repel them. That was the true meaning behind the 'three-way deadlock'. However, in a case where the Imperial Council absolved themselves of any responsibility, the Li Family was woefully overwhelmed. The present scene reflected this aptly.
The Alzar Kingdom's envoy had around one thousand soldiers too, which reflected their intent to negotiate. If they sent more soldiers than this, it would tip the scales and make it difficult for the opposing party to reject their demands. It would be more of coercion, than a negotiation. Although the Alzar Kingdom had the advantage in this war, it could not consume the Li Family quickly. The ensuing conflicts would be a massive drain of resources and manpower. Suffice to say, they would be bleeding their coffers out if they wanted to annihilate the Li Family. War was expensive! Between negotiating the surrender of the Li Family and bitterly duking it out until the last man, the former was much more preferrable than the latter. However, that did not mean that they would deliberately lower themselves. One thousand soldiers or not, their ranks were filled with a menacing air. Just like the Li Family's Lotus Division, or the Imperial Council's Phoenix Division, it was the 32nd Brigade, also known as the legendary Steel Eagle Brigade!
The Steel Eagle Brigade had dozens of infamous battle records and were a step above both the Lotus Division and the Phoenix Division. If the latter were seen as ferocious wolves, then the former was a majestic lion! The Battle of Narai Fortress was perhaps the best example because the Steel Eagle Brigade, a force of five thousand, fought against two armies from the Xingyuu Empire, a force exceeding fifty thousand! Against all odds, the Steel Eagle Brigade managed to defend, repel, and even counterattack, killing twelve thousand! It was not just a matter of tactical superiority either, as the brigade was composed of extremely talented and superior individuals. They were actually a mixture of Half-Perception Realms and Fundamental Realm Masters! There were even a few Perception Realms in their ranks. Coupled with the immense funding provided by the Alzar Kingdom, their armor and weapons were also top-of-the-line and custom made, tailored to their individual specifications. Armed with equipment that fit their exact specifications, it could allow them to exhibit far greater power than normal. Indeed, on the battlefield, they were monsters above monsters!