Chapter 341 262: Entering the Capital

Yuan Tianhao had woken up.

Amidst the string of grim news—the Divine Land's forces retreating at every turn and the Neon Influence pushing south toward Kyoto—this was perhaps the only good news.

And it wasn't a simple awakening. That night, a stunning phenomenon was said to have appeared in the sky above the Yuan Mansion. The Beidou Seven Stars projected seven pillars of light that illuminated the entire estate, bathing the Yuan Mansion in starlight and making it resemble an Immortal Palace from the heavens.

In the sky, the Aurora spread like ribbons of color, magnificent and mystical.

A mysterious influence emanated from the Yuan Mansion. Any living being that came within a hundred meters of the estate would feel an overwhelming urge to prostrate themselves. Even masters at the Inner Cultivation level and above were affected, as if a supreme sovereign whose every word could shake the world resided within the Yuan Mansion.

This phenomenon lasted for nearly half an hour before it finally, gradually, subsided. Afterward, news of Yuan Tianhao's awakening spread from within the Yuan Mansion.

The news immediately triggered intense reactions from all sides.

Some said Yuan Tianhao had turned a disaster into a blessing. After being severely injured and in a coma for over a month, he had broken through a barrier untouched for a thousand years and reached the realm of a Divine General.

Others believed it was a ruse orchestrated by the various armies. Although a strange phenomenon had emerged from the Yuan Mansion, Yuan Tianhao himself had not made an appearance. Therefore, it was likely a diversionary tactic, a gambit by the armies' experts using special means to leverage Yuan Tianhao's reputation and deter the Neon Army's advance.

Still others thought that the reason Yuan Tianhao hadn't appeared was that he had just broken through and was still stabilizing his new realm, making it unsuitable for him to be seen. Once his realm was stable, they argued, he would surely drive back the Neon Army.

All sorts of theories circulated, shrouding the matter in a thick fog of suspicion.

The next morning, a broadcast was issued from the Yuan Mansion. It was a personal address from Yuan Tianhao himself. He claimed that his injuries were no longer serious and, addressing the current situation, continued to call for the heroes of the world to gather in Shangjing and resist the foreign enemy together.

The broadcast caused an immediate uproar. The morale of the Divine Land's people had been crushed by the infighting among the armies and the successive defeats. Now, it seemed to be recovering. Many righteous individuals immediately answered the call and hurried toward the Capital City.

The news also sent shockwaves through the Divine Land's United Military Department and the Neon Army. The various Military Commanders, with the exception of Lin Quelan, were both shocked and overjoyed. The Neon Army was bearing down on them, pressing closer with each step, and they had been unable to stop the advance. If Yuan Tianhao had truly recovered and even broken through to a new realm, he might actually be able to lead them to repel the Neon Army and achieve victory.

The only one who felt dread at this news was likely Lin Quelan of the Phoenix Army.

"Yuan Tianhao recovered?! How is that possible?! He was barely breathing before! There was no improvement for a whole month, so how could he suddenly recover?!"

Lin Quelan's expression was grim, her once-vibrant red lips now somewhat pale. Of course, this wasn't just because of the news of Yuan Tianhao's awakening. It was also because she had suffered significant injuries in a series of recent battles against top-tier masters from Neon, and she had not yet fully recovered.

Of all people, she was probably the one who least wanted Yuan Tianhao to awaken and break through. In her haste to climb the ranks, she had repeatedly tried to make a move against the Yuan Mansion in Shangjing, but she had been thwarted by the other Military Commanders every time. As long as Yuan Tianhao was alive, he could be used as a check on her power. That was why, in the end, she had only become the acting Grand Marshal.

'Once Yuan Tianhao wakes up and stabilizes the situation, I'll be the first one he comes after.'

"We don't know the real situation. The Yuan Mansion is under complete lockdown, and all information is being blocked. It's full of Yuan Tianhao's most trusted subordinates. Without forcing our way in, it will be very difficult to infiltrate and gather intelligence."

An aide reported to Lin Quelan.

"No matter what, the original plan to retreat to Shangjing is off the table."

Lin Quelan narrowed her eyes. 'If Yuan Tianhao is awake and takes charge, my position will become very awkward. He might even set a trap for me to eliminate the 'threat' of the Phoenix Army and further consolidate his control over the Divine Land. After all, Shangjing is his territory.'

'And if he's not awake and this is all just a bluff, then returning to Shangjing is even more out of the question. The Neon Army is pushing south, and they're unstoppable. I'm not foolish enough to lead my people into a doomed defense of Shangjing, just to wait for the Neon Army to arrive at the gates.'

"Find an excuse. We're changing the retreat route. The main force will not enter the Capital City. We'll divert directly back to Jinling. Just leave one unit behind to retreat into Shangjing with the United Army. Since Yuan Tianhao is awake, we'll let him be the one to manage the big picture."

Lin Quelan said, her expression cold and severe.

And so, while the united forces were retreating toward Shangjing, Lin Quelan led a portion of the main Phoenix Army force, broke away from the main army, and diverted back to Jinling.

Some of the other Military Commanders from the various armies made similar decisions.

The Military Commanders of the Giant Spirit Army and the Brahma Palace Army also broke away from the main force before reaching Kyoto.

「Meanwhile.」

As the United Army retreated into Shangjing, the Neon Army advanced swiftly, now encamped just a few dozen kilometers outside the capital. According to Seiichiro Shintani's original plan, this was when he should have pressed the advantage and attacked the Capital City. However, the news of Yuan Tianhao's awakening had made him change his plans.

"The Capital City of Shangjing, the thousand-year-old capital of the Divine Land, is right before my eyes..."

Standing on a high vantage point, Seiichiro Shintani held a pair of binoculars, gazing at the prosperous capital dozens of kilometers away, a strange light glittering in his eyes.