Purple Mist Dao Master-Chapter 839 - 546: The Entire South Continent Becomes a Chaotic Mess!

"Some nations, facing the fiercest assaults and direst situations, even ceded most of their territories, suffering huge losses."

"Thanks to the trait that Ocean Ruin Beasts cannot stay too far or too long away from the sea, these nations barely managed to preserve their sovereignty, but their territories greatly shrank, their populations dwindled, and their national strength suffered immensely!"

"These coastal nations getting no benefit along the coast and losing territories, where can they make up for the losses?"

"Inland!"

"As early as mid-July, coastal nations began expanding inland one after another, robbing Peter to pay Paul, unable to defeat the Ocean Ruin Beasts and contend with the endless Four Oceans Ruin Beasts. But the inland areas once neglected, now with most of the maritime nations freeing up territories and manpower, can certainly be conquered, and are indeed easier to deal with than the Ocean Ruin Beasts."

"War, chaos!"

"We are all on the South Continent, speaking of the South Continent—"

"The first-class nation 'Flying Snow Country' fleeing from the South Ocean is like a fierce dragon crossing the river, taking advantage of the coastal 'Nine Tongue Country' attacking inland. Unintentionally, they clashed with the third-class nations 'Jifeng,' 'Chang Mei,' 'Fengyu,' and 'Rock Peak', while being attacked by Ocean Ruin Beasts. Seizing the opportunity, they sought to capture 'Nine Tongue Country.' In its peril, 'Nine Tongue Country' sought assistance from the first-class nation 'Ronghai Country' of the South Continent, while 'Flying Snow Country' received aid from another first-class nation 'Cang Chun Country' of the South Continent."

"In just a month, the situation changed several times, with the national struggle between the nomadic nation 'Flying Snow Country' and the coastal second-class nation 'Nine Tongue Country' as the fuse, leading the only two first-class nations 'Ronghai Country' and 'Cang Chun Country' of the South Continent to join, dragging almost the entire South Continent into the flames of war, with few exceptions."

"The entire South Continent became a chaotic mess."

"The third-class nation 'Sitting Mountain Country', close to your Tan Valley Realm and Jinze Region, is currently engaged in a conflict with the coastal second-class nation 'East Marquis Country' to the east. 'East Marquis Country' invades while 'Sitting Mountain Country' defends, but they are still in the probing stage, with even few appearances by Overlord Realm, let alone War God Realm."

...

Hidden Sword Immortal, one of the Iron Clothes Sect's Five Friends, Master Zhong is talkative; Iron Clothes Realm is right on the South Continent. His grasp on the Mountain and Sea Realm's situation, especially the South Continent, might not be comprehensive, but he certainly has a clear understanding of the big picture, able to depict the current situation of the South Continent to Yan Chuan in just a few words.

Master Zhong laid out a map, showcasing the distribution of forces across the South Continent.

From above, it's apparent—

Tan Valley, Hunxi, Danhu, located in the 'Jinze Region' situated in the southwest corner of the South Continent, secluded and barren.

From 'Jinze Region' heading eastward, lies vast regions that are relatively resource-poor, with sparse population and few experts, mainly occupied by 'disparate forces', without any nation occupying.

Beyond this expansive region, the first encountered nation is 'Sitting Mountain Country'.

Starting from 'Sitting Mountain Country', the surrounding nations multiply rapidly; aside from 'Sitting Mountain Country', there are two other third-class nations, 'Long Yu' and 'Meiyang', which have always been friendly and connected. Further east, 'East Marquis Country' picks the softer target to pinch, choosing 'Sitting Mountain Country'.

"Sitting Mountain Country!"

"Again it!"

Yan Chuan gazed at the map where 'Sitting Mountain Country' was marked in red, exclaiming.

Early on in the 'King City Competition', he encountered recruitment from teams within 'Sitting Mountain Country'. Later, having proved the Innate Dao, Tan Yunqing sent the 'Sitting Mountain Order', enabling direct participation in the national phase of the 'Genius Battle' held by Sitting Mountain Country. Yan Chuan still has that 'Sitting Mountain Order' with him.

And this time, Master Zhong has emphasized 'Sitting Mountain Country' again.

One can't help but say, fate indeed binds them.

But this is also logical, after all, despite the vastness of the South Continent, the entire land has only two first-class nations, only five second-class nations, and merely twenty-two third-class nations.

Very few nations.

Yan Chuan's roots lie in Tan Valley Realm, on the South Continent, and the opportunity to hear or encounter 'Sitting Mountain Country' will likely be more frequent in the future.

However, why does Master Zhong deliberately mention 'Sitting Mountain Country'?

Yan Chuan looked at Master Zhong.

"'Sitting Mountain Country's national strength is far inferior to 'East Marquis Country'; the war has barely started and 'Sitting Mountain Country' is already making a big show of recruiting everywhere, with a determination to resist to the death, not necessarily intent on fighting 'East Marquis Country' to the bitter end. But, being weak, it must project a stronger stance to intimidate the opponent." Master Zhong laughed, "'Sitting Mountain Country' and 'East Marquis Country's win or loss doesn't matter much, but the greater the pressure on 'Sitting Mountain Country', the more resources it expends, and the greater benefits it provides, hence attracting people willing to fight for 'Sitting Mountain Country'."

Master Zhong looked at Yan Chuan: "To be honest, our Sect Leader has already joined 'Sitting Mountain Country'. With his strength, he qualifies to independently lead a division and can earn more 'military merits'. Sufficient military merits can even grant direct guidance from Sitting Mountain Country's War God or King, among countless other resources."

Upon hearing this, Yan Chuan gradually understood: "Senior Zhong intends to help recruit me alongside Senior Lu to strive for military merits in 'Sitting Mountain Country'?"

"Precisely."

Master Zhong nodded.

"I recently proved Innate Dao; why me?" Yan Chuan wondered, his combat power in July within Tan Valley Realm was only at Fourth Rank or Fifth-rank at most.

Fourth Rank and Fifth-rank?

In national wars, it's nothing but an ant.

Yan Chuan was puzzled; why would Master Zhong or Iron Clothes Sect's Sect Leader Lv Zhong recruit him?

"'National Struggle' often lasts long, ten years or a century is common; unable to strike a decisive blow swiftly, it's more about step-by-step erosion and gradual exhaustion until tolerance reaches a certain limit—"

"Therefore."

"In the late stage of 'National Struggle', Overlords make their move; in some cases, even until a country's downfall, the King and Overlord may not act; their level is higher, but they also value their lives more."

"During the middle stage of 'National Struggle', true fire is ignited, this is the phase where War God Realm widely participates; then, even Sixth Rank Divine Generals are mere cannon fodder."

"But in the early stage of national struggle, Divine Generals are the mainstream."

National struggle!

It's not about fighting to the death right at the beginning.

Generally speaking, there's a 'degree,' even if the battle situation escalates, it develops little by little, and won't start with a grand decisive battle.

For example, the war between 'Sitting Mountain Country' and 'East Marquis Country.'

First, from the perspective of 'demands'—

'East Marquis Country' wants to capture part of 'Sitting Mountain Country's territory to make up for its losses in coastal areas, seeking 'expansion' and 'loss prevention.'

'Sitting Mountain Country' just wants to defend its land; even losing a part is acceptable as long as it's not too much, they can tolerate it.

But the focus is on how much territory 'East Marquis Country' wants, and how much 'Sitting Mountain Country' is willing to lose at most.

This is critical.

Negotiations will definitely fall through.

'East Marquis Country' wants more.

'Sitting Mountain Country' wants to give less and not too easily; otherwise, it would make them look weak and invite further bullying in the future.

So, they must fight!

But how to fight also requires skill—

'East Marquis Country' doesn't dare to start with an all-out attack involving Overlords and War Gods, as it leaves no room for maneuver; launching such a fierce attack would most likely provoke 'Sitting Mountain Country' to resist with all its might, and they could fight a brutal battle unreservedly. The outcome would be the same, which 'East Marquis Country' doesn't want to see.

'Sitting Mountain Country' also dares not react too aggressively; 'East Marquis Country's early-stage testing is primarily psychological warfare. At this stage, if 'Sitting Mountain Country' proactively escalates the battle, showing excessive toughness by unleashing War Gods and Overlords at the start, it would also push 'East Marquis Country' to launch a nationwide attack.

"Therefore, the national struggle is more about comparing depth."

"A big country bullying a small one is like boiling a frog in warm water, taking one city today, another city tomorrow, gradually pressing the weak country's limit, step by step devouring and strengthening itself. This situation of increase and decrease doesn't even require a decisive battle, nor does it need the Overlords or Kings to make a move; the outcome of the war is already decided."

Master Zhong looked at Yan Chuan: "In the early stage of national struggle, Divine Generals are the main force. Both I and the Sect Leader know that City Lord Yan has not only excellent personal combat power but also remarkable training capability."

Indeed so.

Yan Chuan was enlightened.

He was brilliant yet unaware, focusing all his attention on his combat power upon hearing 'national struggle,' neglecting the shock others experienced from his training of thirty thousand Tan Valley Army.

It's not just the Tan Valley Army.

Recently, the 'Heavenly Gang Beidou Formation' and 'Beidou Formation' showcased by the disciples of Hundred Flower Palace, as well as the swift mastery of 'Heavenly Gang Beidou Formation' and 'True Martial Seven Styles Formation' by many Innate practitioners in Tan Valley Realm, have all shone brightly amid the 'Beast Tide.'

Yan Chuan's skills in guiding array formations are even more straightforward than his martial arts teaching, with a significant enhancement in a short time.

"We all know what the thirty thousand Tan Valley Army was like before, but having been trained by City Lord Yan for just a year, they became thirty thousand elite soldiers, skilled in battle formations to an impressive degree," Master Zhong solemnly remarked, "The Sect Leader has assembled Innate and Postnatal practitioners into an army; their individual strength isn't weak, but they are like scattered soldiers who lack formation skills, unable to exert their maximum combat power. If City Lord Yan is willing to assist, it might not even take a year to form a strong army!"

Lv Zhong and Master Zhong valued not the combat power Yan Chuan displayed in Tan Valley Realm earlier in July but his ability to train a group of misfits into a proficient combat formation within just a year.

The former means being formidable against a single enemy! 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

The latter signifies formidable against ten thousand foes!

"The Sect Leader mentioned that if City Lord Yan is willing to help, this Seventh-rank Divine Weapon 'Green Brilliance Sword' would be a meeting gift, and future military merits won't be few either." Master Zhong brought out a sword.

Gasp!

A Seventh-rank Divine Weapon.

What a generous offer.

Yan Chuan was amazed.

He recalled that at the auction held by Feiyu Trading Company in Five Blessings City, a Seventh-rank Divine Weapon 'God Slaying Spear' was auctioned for a sky-high price of 72,990 Primordial Pills.

The 'God Slaying Spear' was a Seventh-rank top-grade.

Even though Master Zhong's 'Green Brilliance Sword' was only a Seventh-rank lower grade, it would still cost over ten thousand Primordial Pills.

A Seventh-rank Divine Weapon worth ten thousand Primordial Pills as a meeting gift?

Lv Zhong's sincerity is remarkable.

Conveniently, Yan Chuan's Tan Valley Realm was facing internal and external threats, and he needed a Sixth Rank expert to help stabilize the situation, to intimidate the Sixth Rank Ruin Beast in the Ruined City, and suppress any rebellious thoughts from Sheng Xuan, thus giving Yan Chuan more time to grow.

...