Three days passed before the clanging sounds from the distant courtyard finally ceased.
After a moment's contemplation, Fang Xiaoyu flew towards the small courtyard.
Upon arriving, she saw the statue.
The girl in the statue had bright eyes, a high-arching smile, and one hand raised as if waving to someone.
Beside it, Wan Lei sat quietly, gazing at the statue.
Seeing this, Fang Xiaoyu's eyes welled up.
She went to Wan Lei's side and gently placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Don't be too sad."
Fang Xiaoyu comforted him.
"I'm not sad. I'm just commemorating her. One day, I will resurrect her and have her sitting here, alive and well."
"If... if that day ever comes, I think I would accept her. She was a good girl, and we owe her too much."
Wan Lei stood up, taking Fang Xiaoyu's hand.
"That would be unfair to both you and her. With her personality, she wouldn't accept such charity. I will only focus on resurrecting her. The rest, she can choose. Whatever she wants, if I can provide it, I will."
Fang Xiaoyu nodded. She knew that Wan Lei would fulfill his promises, but if he were asked to give up someone named Fang Xiaoyu, that would be impossible.
Qi Manya o had thought of them being happy and together even in her final moments, so she would never do anything to separate them.
"Let's go. Let her rest in peace for a while. We'll head to the front hall. Three days have passed; we should be sufficiently rested."
"Yes, let's go."
Wan Lei and Fang Xiaoyu returned to the main hall. It was now empty, with only Xi Renjun and the Heavenly Punishment Executor's helmsman present.
The Heavenly Punishment Executor's helmsman was responsible for providing intelligence, while Xi Renjun collated this information to make timely adjustments.
"Has anything happened recently?"
Wan Lei sat down directly and asked.
"Reporting to the Alliance Leader,"
The helmsman clasped his hands in salutation and said,
"Most of the defeated soldiers from the Huo family and Kaitian Sword Sect have returned to their respective homes and raised their defensive formations. Covert operatives report that the two families are now in a state of panic, with their order collapsing into chaos. Even within their own compounds, instances of the strong preying on the weak are frequent.
Or, there are disciples with grudges against each other. Previously, elders could restrain them, but now that all ancestors are dead and more than half the elders are gone, no one is willing to manage these matters. The entire situation resembles the end of the world.
In short, both families are in disarray. Some disciples, unable to bear the chaos, have fled their sects."
"It's only natural for those two families to be in disarray. We need to depart quickly and not let everyone inside escape."
Wan Lei nodded and continued,
"What about the Liu family? Why do you only mention these two?"
The helmsman hesitated before replying,
"This is precisely what puzzles me. After the demon marshals returned, the Liu family's original protective formation has been replaced by the demon race's spatial blockade. Our covert operatives inside are unable to transmit messages through the spatial blockade.
However, outside covert operatives have reported that although Liu family disciples cannot leave, the remaining stragglers outside can still escape back to the Liu family without issue. Logically, the Liu family's troop strength should be mostly preserved.
The Alliance Leader's strategy of attacking the two families first and then dealing with the Liu family is correct.
However, we cannot breach the Liu family's demon race spatial blockade. With our current capabilities, it is very difficult..."
"You don't need to worry about that. The demon race's spatial blockade is like an open door to me. There's no need for concern.
How is our army's rest progressing? Are we ready to depart?"
"Most have recuperated. Some severely injured personnel did not have enough time to recover."
"Then we won't bring them. Conquering those two families doesn't require a large force. Let all those capable of fighting depart. We will assemble at the Thunder Emperor Hall today. We will begin our counter-offensive. We cannot delay any further. I have a feeling the demon race still has some hidden cards."
"As you command."
Xi Renjun rose and began issuing orders to the other three families. Simultaneously, the Thunder Emperor Hall's army started to assemble.
An army's deployment is never a simple matter of a few words.
Upon receiving the order to march, the other three families immediately began loading various supplies onto their war vessels. At the same time, all disciples and elders who were able to move, save for those left behind to guard their homes, boarded the war vessels.
This process, even with the high efficiency of the three families, took a full half-day. Preparations were only completed in the afternoon.
The large teleportation array outside the Thunder Emperor Hall lit up. War vessels flew out of the teleportation array and assembled above the Thunder Emperor Hall.
This process took another full hour.
Only after the armies of the three families had all arrived and rendezvoused with the Thunder Emperor Hall's army did their respective sect leaders come to report to Wan Lei.
"Kui Lian Sect, one million two hundred thousand troops assembled. Please give your orders."
"Fang family, one million five hundred thousand troops assembled. Ready to engage at any time."
"Thunder Emperor Hall, two million troops assembled. Requesting inspection by the Hall Master."
"Yin Yang Sect, eight hundred thousand troops assembled."
Among the three allied families, the Yin Yang Sect had the fewest troops. This was because, during the final decisive battle, the Yin Yang Sect bore the brunt of the assault, with the main battlefield being on their territory.
Before the arrival of reinforcements from the other families, it was up to the Yin Yang Sect to resist the enemy's attacks.
Furthermore, with the Yin Yang Sect having been invaded, their elders and disciples fought with shared hatred and righteous indignation, each taking the lead and charging to the front. Consequently, the Yin Yang Sect suffered the most casualties in the battle.
Seeing the slightly dejected expression of Sect Leader Ji, Wan Lei felt a pang of sympathy.
"Master, in this battle, let the Yin Yang Sect take the rear positions. Let the Thunder Emperor Hall spearhead the attack."
Upon hearing this, Wan Lei expected Sect Leader Ji to nod. However, to his surprise, Sect Leader Ji erupted in anger.
"My Yin Yang Sect has no cowardly disciples. The demon race and the allied forces of the three families killed so many of our people. Now, in the counter-offensive, it is the time to fight with shared hatred and avenge our fallen comrades. How could the Yin Yang Sect hide behind others?
This time, the Yin Yang Sect will lead the charge. We shall not return until the three families are annihilated!"
"Yes, we will lead the charge! Brother, you don't need to worry about us!"
"Our Yin Yang Sect has no cowards! Brother, just watch our combat strength!"
"The Yin Yang Sect will not disappoint you!"
The Yin Yang Sect disciples behind them shouted in unison.
Wan Lei flew up and stood before these millions of soldiers, waving his hand to quiet the Yin Yang Sect disciples.
"Everyone, our Lei Feng Realm has suffered the depredations of the demon race for far too long. The Liu family, the Huo family, and the Kaitian Sword Sect colluded with these villains, harming our kin. For the past year, our fallen compatriots number in the hundreds of millions.
Today, we shall avenge our fallen comrades and our unjustly slaughtered kin!
We will use the heads of villains and demons to commemorate their souls.
This battle is the final battle. After this war, our Lei Feng Realm will return to peace."