The northern border, Zhenbei Pass.

The leaden sky hung low, as if it were glued to the distant, hazy horizon.

The biting autumn wind whipped up sand and gravel, lashing against the cold, heavy walls, making a howling sound.

Although the earth-shattering phenomenon had faded, what remained was a deeper unease and a chilling atmosphere.

Beyond the pass, the army of the Shuofeng Dynasty, like a dark, surging tide, had already swept across the plains, its advance pointing directly at the formidable pass.

Meanwhile, the barbican that the interior relied on had already fallen into complete chaos.

Cries, shouts, and the sounds of fighting and clashing weapons mingled with billowing dust, echoing continuously.

The urgent assembly order, representing the highest level of alert in the military, suddenly rang out, piercing through the noise and striking the hearts of every soldier.

Inside the central command tent, figures moved swiftly, and all the senior generals donned their armor and assembled at top speed.

With the support of Liu Yan's incredibly fast "momentum", Qin Zhaoqiong almost turned into a blur.

He abandoned his personal guards and rushed into the tent.

Her phoenix eyes held a murderous glint, and she carried with her the dust and chill of her journey.

At this moment, General Yuan Zhen, the General Who Guards the North, was already fully armored, his face as solemn as iron.

The core generals of the Xuanwu Army, including General Su Mu of Dingyuan, Military Advisor Sun Wence, General Li Hua of Xuanwei, and General Zhou Yuan of Huaihua, were all in place, and the atmosphere inside the tent was so heavy that it was almost suffocating.

Qin Zhaoqiong's arrival immediately put everyone on edge.

The scouts rushed into the tent without giving any prior notice.

"Reporting to the General!"

The barbican gate was completely destroyed, and a large number of Shuofeng cavalry poured in.

The main gate of Zhenbeiguan was affected and developed cracks, but preliminary inspections suggest that the main damage is not serious.

The terrifying phenomenon just now was likely the work of a high-level Divine Martial Realm expert.

Although the strange phenomenon had faded, the barbican was almost lost.

The Shuofeng army was not testing the waters; it was launching a full-scale attack!

Before Yuan Zhen could speak, Qin Zhaoqiong shouted, "Flowing Flame!"

Liu Yan, who had been following her like a shadow, immediately revealed himself, kneeling on one knee with his fists clasped, his face extremely grim.

"Generals, the aura just now was far beyond what an ordinary third-grade Divine Martial Realm cultivator could achieve."

Its overwhelming power caused celestial phenomena; it was at least at the second-grade realm, or even… possibly stronger!

All eyes instantly focused on General Yuan Zhen, who was also a third-grade Divine Martial Realm cultivator.

Yuan Zhen nodded heavily, confirming Liu Yan's judgment:

"What you say is true; the level of power that erupted in that instant was far above mine."

With a massive army pressing in, and at least a peerless expert at the second rank lurking in the shadows, the situation... is now critically precarious.

He changed the subject, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and looked at Qin Zhaoqiong, his tone asking for instructions.

"Your Highness, how should we deal with this situation? Please advise."

Although he is the highest military commander in the North, His Highness Prince Chen has come with the title of military supervisor, and he needs to clarify whether his authority and responsibilities will change during wartime.

Sure enough, the next moment, Liu Yan swiftly took out an imperial edict made of bright yellow silk from his bosom and held it high above his head:

"His Majesty's secret decree is here!"

The generals inside the tent instinctively reached out to kneel and receive the imperial decree, but Qin Zhaoqiong stepped forward and grabbed Yuan Zhen's arm.

"In these extraordinary times, formalities are unnecessary. General Yuan, gentlemen, please read this immediately!"

"yes!"

The imperial edict was quickly passed among several high-ranking generals. It was clearly stamped with the imperial seal and explicitly granted Prince Chen, Qin Zhaoqiong, the supreme authority to command all military operations in the northern border.

"Your subordinate obeys!"

Yuan Zhen clasped his hands in greeting first, and the other generals followed suit without any further objections.

Qin Zhaoqiong's sharp gaze swept across the entire room, and she shouted again:

"Liu Yan, seal off the main tent!"

Upon receiving the order, Liu Yan's invisible aura instantly expanded.

Like a transparent dome, it tightly enveloped the entire central command tent.

Unless a second-grade expert launches a forceful attack, it will be extremely difficult for outsiders to see anything inside the tent, ensuring that the meeting can proceed without worry for the time being.

"From this moment forward, all generals must be under the strict protection of the military formation and must not be separated from their posts." Qin Zhaoqiong's voice was icy.

"Individual bravery can be greatly suppressed in the face of the combined might of thousands of troops and the battlefield's fierce aura and military formation."

Even those at the second rank would not dare to easily find themselves surrounded and fight alone.

Although I am in overall command of the northern border campaign, the specific details of troop deployment and decision-making in battle still rely on General Yuan and the other generals; I will not interfere.”

She spoke very quickly and clearly:

"My Phoenix Feather Battalion of two thousand cavalrymen can immediately serve as the vanguard to clear the way."

Furthermore, a portion of the Shence Xuanjia Army is stationed nearby, and I can mobilize them at any time.

A faint gasp came from inside the tent.

The Phoenix Feather Battalion was formed just over half a month ago, based on three thousand women, but now only a little over a thousand cavalry are truly usable.

Most of them were skilled fighters who already had some foundation or were drawn from the Fengjing Imperial Guard; they were still far from being truly well-rounded.

A frontal assault might not be enough, but as the eyes and ears of that legendary army...

Yuan Zhen suppressed the turmoil in his heart and hurriedly asked:

"Your Highness, how many battalions of the Shence Xuanjia Army have arrived?"

That was a heavily armored cavalry force built with the full strength of the nation—a national treasure!

Qin Zhaoqiong stated bluntly: "It commands five battalions and five elite Xuanjia units, all of which are waiting for orders nearby."

Five thousand heavily armored cavalry!

Yuan Zhen's breathing instantly became heavy, and his eyes flashed with an astonishing light.

Five thousand heavy cavalry, deployed to the battlefield at this critical juncture, would be enough to completely turn the tide of the war.

At that moment, only five words remained in his mind:

One battle will decide the fate of the world!