Through intelligent reconnaissance, the opposing army was discovered to possess considerable combat strength, exuding an aura of savagery and radiating a terrifying presence.
The enemy force was not solely composed of infantry; they also included cavalry, flying units, and even several hundred combat airships.
Zhou Yan was quite surprised by this development and found himself coveting those airships.
They would be quite useful for long-term troop transport. Zhou Yan contemplated the possibility of capturing a few.
However, he then considered that if the enemy were to enter his territory directly, their airships would likely be reduced to fragments by the territory's defensive towers within moments.
The territory's previous defensive towers were already formidable, let alone those that had undergone a second evolution.
These defensive towers were mostly at levels eighty or ninety. If not for a lack of materials, Zhou Yan would have long since maxed them out.
The number of these defensive towers was not small, and Zhou Yan was eager to witness their power.
These newly emerged enemies would serve as the perfect test subjects.
Xuan Ning looked towards the communication device, observing the enemy forces enveloped in dark energy, holding a banner adorned with a bizarre totem. Zhou Yan had ordered an inquiry into the 【Tian Di Book Repository】 to identify these adversaries.
Yin Lihua transmitted a message to Zhou Yan, saying, "My Lord, information regarding that totem has been found."
"Tell me," Zhou Yan responded.
"It originates from a place called Xuan Ming Realm. The inhabitants there are primarily of the Xuan Ming attribute. Consequently, their lords and summoned soldiers are also of the Xuan Ming attribute..."
After Yin Lihua's explanation, Zhou Yan indicated his understanding and then inquired of Shang Yang, "Has the enemy's territory been located?"
"Their territory has been discovered. Furthermore, their soldiers are currently collecting Nine-Star Timber in the vicinity. Their location is a mere forty kilometers from our territory."
After Shang Yang's reply, he transmitted the visual feed to Zhou Yan.
Zhou Yan first examined the enemy territory, noting its shroud of darkness, which he surmised to be Xuan Ming Qi.
The specifics of their territory were obscured, as it was protected by a formation. Judging by its scale, it was not to be underestimated.
"Xuan Ming Realm, Xuan Ming soldiers, quite intriguing," Xuan Ning remarked after understanding the enemy's situation. He then asked, "How long until they reach us?"
"Within ten minutes," Shang Yang replied.
Zhou Yan could already see the enemy advancing from afar, their presence evident both in the sky and on the ground.
A vast, dark horde surged towards his territory, their objective clear: to attack Zhou Yan's domain, or perhaps, to expel him from it.
No one would tolerate another competing for their valuable high-grade materials. Such resources were precious to any lord.
The enemy soon arrived at Zhou Yan's territory, but upon seeing the colorful domain, they were clearly taken aback.
They had never encountered a territory like this, complete with such a wide moat. To attack it, one could only approach by air or via the bridges.
However, upon witnessing the towering city walls, dozens of meters high, the invaders began to doubt their ability to breach them.
Diao Chan and others had also ascended to the city walls. Observing the dense enemy ranks outside, Diao Chan commented, "The enemy numbers are quite substantial."
"I hear they have an army of no less than six hundred thousand, and their lord is from Xuan Ming Realm," Zhen Mi added.
"I wonder if they will still dare to attack after seeing our territory."
"I suspect they are currently questioning their ability to assault our domain."
"If they wish to attack, they can only do so from the air. Any ground assault will result in their complete annihilation, regardless of their numbers."
...
After a brief reconnaissance, they initiated their first wave of attack.
"Although the enemy's territory differs significantly from those we have encountered before, any who dare appear within the bounds of Xuan Ming Realm's domain must be annihilated," declared General Harvey of Xuan Ming Realm.
"General, entrust the task to our Nether Army. I assure you, we will capture their territory!" one general proclaimed.
"I believe our Xuan Ming cavalry, with their speed, can quickly cross the bridges to the gates of their territory and blast them open," another commander stepped forward.
Harvey shook his head, "No, no, no. You are all valiant heroes of Xuan Ming Realm, but we also have the Flying Legion and combat airships. Let them bombard the enemy's city walls from above."
"Our combat airships are exceptionally powerful and have rendered invaluable service. None can withstand them. Once the airships breach the city walls and neutralize their defensive towers, it will be your time to advance."
"Yes, General Harvey, we will surely bring ruin to their territory."
...
Just as Diao Chan and the others had surmised, they did not deploy infantry or cavalry. Instead, they sent forth their Flying Legion and airships to attack the territory.
When the airships and the Flying Legion entered the range of the territory's defensive towers, Zhou Yan did not immediately order an attack. He waited until the enemy was within a specific proximity before commanding, "Activate the defensive towers."
As the soldiers activated the towers, the secondarily evolved defenses erupted with terrifying energy fluctuations.
Roars like those of countless true dragons echoed through the air.
Fiery dragons shot forth from the territory, soaring towards the external enemies like genuine beasts, attacking them proactively.
They even autonomously targeted their foes, utterly ignoring the ground, which astonished everyone.
The enemy, upon witnessing this, was somewhat shocked, exclaiming, "These must be attacks launched by the enemy's powerhouses. It seems they have quite a few formidable individuals."
"Such powerful attacks are clearly not the work of ordinary individuals, but I refuse to believe they can sustain such assaults."
"Airships, commence counterattack."
The enemy had no inkling that these fiery dragons were merely attacks from the defensive towers, mistaking them for the efforts of powerful individuals within Zhou Yan's territory.
Their airships unleashed volleys of cannon fire towards the approaching fire dragons.
They aimed to destroy the incoming dragons, but to their utter disbelief, the fire dragons simply swallowed their cannonballs whole. Although the resultant explosions within the fire dragons weakened them slightly, their remaining power was still formidable.