The words of the Jinguang World-Honored One stirred immense excitement in everyone's hearts.
Ten miles outside the east gate of Yeyun County, the just-retreated Hexi army still displayed some low morale at this moment. In reality, it was mainly the Zhaoyang Army that suffered a great defeat, but since everyone set out together, all under the Hexi army, the soldiers' emotions naturally influenced one another.
The army was originally stationed three miles east of Yeyun County. Now, with low morale, Hou Yuxiao ordered a further retreat of seven miles, which only worsened the morale.
However, unlike the dejected mood outside the camp, those just entering the tent showed not a hint of defeat or despair; instead, they seemed indifferent and even had smiles on their faces.
Especially Hou Yuxiao, who was just furious, now had a calm expression, and he couldn't suppress a smile looking at everyone.
"Hong Ju, you will continue to stay here with your troops. Those fools think I've suffered a great loss and won't venture out to seek battle. In two days, Yucheng should be ready. If nothing unexpected happens, Jin Guang and Nu Yuan will leave after two days. At that time, based on the situation of the forces inside Yeyun County, you will act accordingly; whether to retreat or stay, it's up to you!"
Hong Ju bowed respectfully and said, "I shall obey the order!"
Hou Yuxiao left a single remark and then disappeared from within the camp.
Yeyun County and the Hexi army camp were entirely different. Even the over one million troops that never left the city were inspired by the seventy thousand Earthshade Monastic Soldiers who ventured out and steadily heightened their morale.
Daily, Nu Yuan and Jin Guang regularly patrolled the city gates, occasionally scouting the Hexi military camp ten miles away, eagerly awaiting their next siege. But as they waited, the situation began to seem off.
In theory, Hexi's losses weren't too great; at most, the morale was seriously impacted. Yet even so, it shouldn't have taken long to recover, given that Hexi had just conquered two counties. Even if there was a setback in morale, it shouldn't have led to a collapse.
Jin Guang initially guessed it would take at most a day for recovery, but after waiting a day, the Hexi army made no movements.
The second day, still nothing.
On the third day, the Hexi army still remained motionless. At this point, not only Jin Guang but others as well began to sense that something was amiss.
But despite this uneasy feeling, they found nothing out of place.
Until around noon on July 19, as Nu Yuan and Jin Guang were inspecting the troops on the city wall, suddenly, both of their faces froze, and they swiftly turned to look eastward, towards the Hexi military camp.
"Wait, why are they heading towards the east?"
With the perceptiveness of the two, no movement of the over one hundred thousand soldiers ten miles away could escape their notice. When the army moved, they initially thought it was a siege attempt, but realizing the Hexi army was moving east, the two exchanged a glance, confusion evident in their expressions.
Suddenly, Jin Guang's body trembled, and his face showed a trace of panic.
Seeing that he seemed to have realized something, Nu Yuan immediately inquired.
"That day, when Hou Yuxiao ordered the Red Flame Army to act, how wide was the blood red cloud formed by that massive Red Flame Army?"
"Three or four miles, why?"
Nu Yuan was stunned. The immense Red Flame Army normally should form a blood red cloud spanning over a hundred miles, but that day, they had already withdrawn the army in advance to avoid conflict, so the enemy only raised a cloud of three or four miles before retrieving it. What's the issue?
Suddenly, Nu Yuan also understood something, his expression suddenly darkened.
"What lure, it's clearly a diversion! Those thirty thousand surrendered soldiers and the Zhaoyang Army casualties, that massive Red Flame Army, it was all fake. He tricked us into waiting here foolishly for three days!"
After saying this, Jin Guang's face was filled with horror, and he exclaimed in shock:
"It's bad, the real Red Flame Army has gone around to the Prefectural City!"
"Hou Yuxiao definitely also went, hurry back."
Nu Yuan also swiftly turned, exclaiming in surprise.
Both their expressions changed dramatically in an instant. Without much ado, they communicated telepathically with Mingwang Buddha and the seven other shattered realm powerhouses, transforming into two beams of spiritual light racing towards the direction of Jianye Prefecture City in the west.