It has been a full seven days since Lin Qian learned that the eight forces led by the Jiang family had joined forces.
During these seven days, the Yuan family has been under attack. However, the territories controlled by the Xia Empire in the central region have not been attacked yet because the Jiang family and the Yuan Ling Chamber of Commerce are being held back by Ling Tian and his subordinate forces, resulting in a deadlock.
Ling Tian, once the leader of the Yuan Ling Chamber of Commerce, though separated from the Chamber, still commands a formidable force.
He is extremely enraged that the Yuan Ling Chamber of Commerce has participated in the assault on the Yuan family.
The existence of communication arrays ensures that news within the human territories spreads very quickly.
As evening approached in the Xia Empire's territories, the people of Xia looked up at the soul-viewing devices in the sky, which displayed various scenes.
Cities were being wiped out, and cries of anguish continually emanated from the screens. The alien forces were burning, killing, and looting, and the human beings were meeting a tragic end at their hands.
But then, the scene changed, showing different alien races fighting each other, one side attacking and the other defending.
The defending alien races were clearly in a much worse situation. Seeing their cities being breached, the alien men being tortured, and the women being dragged into rooms, many people felt a pang of anxiety.
"The front-line reports from the Imperial Army's Gale and Night Shadow have returned. The Soul Martial Continent is already engulfed in war. Whether it's the slaughter of humans in the Eastern Continent by alien forces or the massacre of anti-war races in the Western Continent by savage races, it is clear that this war is unjust and inhumane," announced Hu Wen, the female anchor familiar to the people of Xia, her eyes brimming with tears and a sorrowful expression on her face.
Simultaneously, the male anchor Li Kui, with a grave expression, reported, "According to the battle reports, besides our southern domain, which remains intact, the Eastern and Western Domains have been attacked by alien forces coming across the sea. The Eastern Domain has fallen in thirty-seven states, and the Western Domain has fallen in twenty-five states."
"The Northern Domain, thanks to the support of our soul cannons and Destruction Impact Soul Cannons, and the secret garrison of the Imperial Army, has not lost a single domain, having eliminated twenty-five million alien soldiers."
On the other side, Hu Wen had regained her composure and continued reporting, "In the Central Domain, it has been reported that the forces led by the Jiang family, along with the Nangong family, Yuan Ling Chamber of Commerce, Jinhua Chamber of Commerce, Demon Spirit Sect, Sacred Spirit Sect, Heavenly Gate Sect, and the Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain, have launched an offensive against the Yuan family."
"Due to defending the Northern Domain, the Yuan family's strength has been depleted, and they have already lost seventy-six states."
When the Xia TV broadcast reached this point, many people in Xia exchanged worried glances and murmured in dismay.
They had not anticipated that the situation on the Soul Martial Continent had deteriorated to such an extent.
Especially the initial scenes shown on the screen filled the people of Xia with immense hatred towards the savage alien races and deep sympathy for the innocent humans and the alien races in the Western Continent.
"In the Western Continent, have you also suffered such treatment from those savage alien races?" At this moment, a human man standing in a city's street asked his Wood Spirit friend who had come to visit the city.
The Wood Spirit, looking at the soul-viewing screen, sighed deeply, "Many of the alien races in the Western Continent are not warlike and just wish to live a peaceful life, but things have not gone as hoped."
"Just like us, as a lower race in the Western Continent, we are merely enslaved and exploited. Only those lower races sheltered by benevolent higher races have slightly better lives."
"Those savage alien races burn, kill, and loot in the Western Continent. The warring races protested, and hence they suffered such disasters. The savage alien races simply occupied those races opposing the war and plundered their resources."
The Wood Spirit's words made the human man clench his fists, "It's truly detestable. What good is war? How many families will be shattered under the flames of war?"
"But didn't our Empire also conquer the entire Southern Domain back then?"
"Except for the fact that the people of the Yuheng Nation were too cruel, His Majesty has never ordered the slaughter of ordinary people. Moreover, after the unification of the Southern Domain, conflicts have decreased, and as Xia people, we no longer kill each other."
"After His Majesty unified the Southern Domain, you have also felt how the lives of us subjects have changed." Looking at the soul-viewing screen, the human man suddenly spoke, "If those savage alien races were to rule the entire Soul Martial Continent, what kind of life do you think we would have?"
Recalling how the savage alien races would wantonly slaughter and rule the lower races for pleasure, treating them like livestock, the Wood Spirit could not help but shudder.
"If only the Xia Empire could rule the entire Soul Martial Continent," the Wood Spirit said after a while, almost as a murmur.
At this moment, Lin Qian had arrived at the Yuan family's stronghold in the Central Domain, sitting at the head of the conference hall.
Elders from the Yuan family continued to enter the conference hall. Seeing the man sitting at the head seat, they all paid their respects before taking their seats.
At this time, hurried footsteps were heard from outside. The remaining elders looked and were astonished to find Yuan Wudi returning from the front lines, accompanied by a young man.
"Your Majesty!" Upon entering the conference hall, Yuan Wudi quickly bowed and saluted Lin Qian.
The young man following Yuan Wudi also mimicked the gesture and then sat down next to him, his eyes filled with curiosity as he looked at Lin Qian.
Lin Qian was not surprised by Yuan Wudi's arrival. Given that the Yuan family had been attacked, it was indeed expected for the family head to return.
With Yuan Zhizun guarding the Northern Border, there was no immediate danger. Lin Qian was also very relieved that he had arranged so many soul cannons and Destruction Impact Soul Cannons previously. Otherwise, the Northern Domain might have already been occupied by alien forces, and the Yuan family's members would have suffered severe casualties.
"The situation in the Northern Domain is fine; there is no need to report it. I am already aware of the situation." Once everyone who could come had arrived, Lin Qian waved his hand to stop Yuan Wudi from speaking and addressed everyone, "I want to know, with the Yuan family being attacked, are you now able to participate in the struggles of other forces?"
"Your Majesty, my father mentioned that when the eight forces allied, the ancestral teachings that bound us have completely shattered. Perhaps this was a contingency left by our ancestors. We are not completely helpless against the attack," Yuan Wudi quickly replied with cupped hands.
Lin Qian nodded in understanding and looked at Yuan Wudi, "Then you, the Yuan family, should announce that the entire human race will join the Xia Empire and become part of the Xia Empire."
"Then, I will avenge the fallen members of the Yuan family and seek justice!" Lin Qian's eyes gleamed with a cold light, filled with murderous intent.