“Kongming, go on.” Ying Zheng said slowly.

Hearing his words, Zhuge Liang nodded with a smile. He looked at Yu Wude and said, “Wude, we’re destined to be together for ages. Besides, you’re a genius of arrays, who has obtained the essence of my Eight Diagram Tactics.

“I’ve seen all the progress you’ve made in the past few days and you do live up to my expectation. Therefore, I’ll give you a task which is as tough as guarding Sichuan.”

“Prime Minister, your kindness to me is no less than that of my teacher, brother, and someone else. Since I have inherited such skill, guarding this land is my destiny. Whatever the task is, I’ll try my best to complete it!” Yu Wude said in awe.

The relationship between Zhuge Liang and him was really wonderful. Just by reckoning, he knew that a fated person would appear after thousands of years. Moreover, he had been engaged in inspecting and training him after meeting him.

Then, he had passed down all his lifelong painstaking efforts to him, so he could on no account let him down in view of such great kindness. No matter how difficult the task was, he had to go through fire and water.

Zhuge Liang also nodded with gratification and said, “You must have guessed the place which I want you to defend. It has been a critical strategic point since ancient times.

“As the intersection of the north and south, it’s a place with convenient transportation. In addition, under the circumstance of the north-south confrontation, it’ll play a decisive role. As long as our enemies take up this place, they can enter the Yangtze River from the Han River.

“Then they can attack the south following the current. As for the south, getting command of this place means not only blocking out the Yangtze River, but also using it as a springboard to maintain the attack to the north.”

The more Yu Wude heard, the more he identified his inner thoughts, thus he exclaimed, “Is it… Xiangyang, which is known as the junction of seven provinces?”

“Haha, you’re really smart.”

Zhuge Liang smiled and joggled his feather fan, saying again, “It’s the number one city in Hua Xia, the iron-clad Xiangyang City, which enjoys a very important strategic position.

“If the enemy launches strikes from the north and successfully crosses this defensive line, the two vital cities, Wuhan and Jingzhou, will also be in great danger, and they will control the whole defensive line of the Yangtze River then.

“I’m sure you’re aware of the importance of Jingzhou and Wuhan. Yunchang losing Jingzhou in those days did trouble me. And in consideration of the importance terrain of Wuhan, we can’t lose control of it.

“Since seven provinces are linked here, it’s indeed of great significance today. If you safeguard Xiangyang, the Eight Diagram Tactics, the Second Killing Array and the Third Divine Array can be employed to change the battle situation of these seven provinces.

“From then on, the entire military situation will continue to take a turn for the better. Once I discover the situation in Xiangyang looks up, I’ll cast a spell in Sichuan to help you support the whole Hua Xia, enlarging our odds of winning!”

After saying that, Zhuge Liang put the feather fan in front of his chest and waited for Yu Wude’s response. Simultaneously, other people also looked at him, for they all knew clearly how tough this task was.

He was the only one to defend Xiangyang. If he were to lose his territory, seven provinces would obviously be threatened. What’s worse, plenty of important defensive lines will be occupied by the enemy, and all the people in the mortal world would be plunged into misery and suffering.

“Prime Minister, if you trust me, just give me this important task. I’ll breathe with Xiangyang!” Yu Wude said resolutely.

Now that Prime Minister and his siblings firmly believed in him, and Xiangyang was so important, how could he shirk this mission?

“Good.”

Zhuge Liang smiled as he turned to look at Ying Zheng, and said, “Senior, I’d like to ask you a favor of another matter.”

Upon hearing his words, Ying Zheng raised his eyebrows slightly and said, “Do you want me to summon all the cultivators in Hua Xia?”

“Yes, you’re the most influential person at present. I’ll assign them to certain key strongholds in accordance with the characteristics of different Taoism and build solid defenses with the aid of the Great Wall.”

Zhuge Liang raised the feather fan and pointed to the mountains and rivers around. The subtle aura surrounding him revealed that he possessed a peerless heroic imposing manner.

However, a refined and otherworldly disposition tinted his face, leaving a detached immortal-like impression on other people. Even though he was old, he still cherished such an extraordinary temperament.

Without further ado, Ying Zheng quickly gestured to congeal his spirit mind, and infused his Imperatorial Power into it. Then, he pointed to the sky with one finger, releasing the spirit mind.

“Zoom!”

At this moment, this powerful spirit mind turned into a giant golden beam of light, breaking the dimension of the Eight Diagram Tactics into the outside. Then, countless beams of golden light that could only be seen by cultivators fell down from the sky and flew to various regions of Hua Xia.

“All the cultivators in Hua Xia, come here as soon as possible to discuss the event of the rise and fall of Hua Xia!”

A few moments later, the majestic voice sounded in the minds of all cultivators, whether they were successors of Taoism or liberal cultivators. Even the people who were fortunate enough to meet Ying Zheng could distinguish his voice.

As for the liberal cultivators who had never seen him before was also stunned by this shocking power. With just a streak of the spirit mind, they could judge that he was much stronger than them. Faced with this person, they were just nobodies!

The next moment, numerous figured emerged from the sky. All these cultivators, with a variety of Sunday punches, rushed to the place indicated by the spirit mind in fear.

“Zoom!”

In the Eight Diagram Tactics, as a golden light tore through the barrier, Yun Jinghong and Leng Shuangrong walked over side by side.

“Ah! Bugui!”

Yun Jinghong noticed Wang Bugui at the first time, and was relieved after finding that he was still in seclusion.

“Clang!”

Then, the sound of a sword was heard between earth and sky, followed by Mu Wujian and all the people of Shushan, who rode their swords breaking through the sky. They went to Ying Zheng, put their swords back, and saluted. Then, they said in unison, “Greetings to senior First Emperor!”

“You’re too polite. Let’s just call each other as cultivators.” Ying Zheng said as he shook his head slowly.

“Yes, senior.” Mu Wujian said with a smile.

“Zoom!”

“Shoosh!”

Countless beams of light then dropped down in the Eight Diagram Tactics. Almost all the Taoism cultivators and liberal cultivators came here. Catching sight of Ying Zheng, they all felt excited and could not calm down for a long time.

Any cultivators in the Age of Dharma Decline had learned about the famous superiors in history in various ways, among whom Ying Zheng was absolutely the strongest one since the Age of Dharma Decline.

He had become a unique Emperor-level strongman of this inheritance though he was not the descendant of the Palace of the Human Emperors. If the Overlord of the Chu, who was as powerful as him, had not cooperated with Liu Bang, who held the Emperor Sword, he would not have been defeated so early by virtue of his peerless cultivation base.

Moreover, heaven’s punishment also had been the most fatal factor.

“Is this the so-called Emperor-level overmatch? How terrifying!”

“Is he… really the Eternal Emperor?!”

“I once had the honor to see his portrait, so I’m sure enough!”

“This person… eight feet tall, with a silk scarf on your head, wears a crane cloak. With beautiful eyebrows gathering the spirit of rivers and mountains, and a heart to contain heaven and earth, he looks really like an immortal. Is he possibly Zhuge Liang?!”

“Dressed in a white robe and a silver helmet and holding the dragon gut silver spear, the handsome and elegant man is taking on a firm and calm look. Is he… Zhao Zilong from Mount Chang?!”

“That man with an awesome face, tall and strong, is holding the double-bladed halberd in his hand. Judging by his domineering imposing manner, he should be Demonic God Lyu Bu who is known for his sanguinariness among cultivators!”

The crowd began to discuss heatedly. They could not believe that all the legendary figures gathered here, in front of them, today.

In addition, they were in the Eight Diagram Tactics that had been lost for a long time. Even the Sect Leaders of each sect could not figure out the profound Tao principle in it, but could only marvel at it.

“Master! You’re here too!”

On catching sight of his mentor in the crowd, Yu Wude immediately ran over to welcome him.

“Ah! Is he… truly senior Marquis Wu?”

He was an old man whose murky eyes could hardly see anything, with the signs of aging spreading over his wrinkled face.

However, after he saw Zhuge Liang, his eyes lit up, and he seemed to be in a high spirit.

“On the basis of our birthdate, how can I be your senior? We’re of the same generation.” Zhuge Liang said with a smile.

“I didn’t expect that before I was about to die, I’m actually able to see the number one genius among warlocks of the Age of Dharma Decline, which makes me feel every honored.” The old man said with a smile slowly.

The expression in his eyes showed that he did not deceive others at all, and actually, he was really glad to see Mr. Reclining Dragon.

“I’m overpraised.” Zhuge Liang joggled his feather fan and said modestly.

Hearing his words, the old man shook his head and said, “I’m not flattering you. All the cultivators present will possibly exhaust all their Sunday punches while breaking the Eight Diagram Tactics. I still want to ask you about the arrays in detail.”

“Sure. But not now. You can consult me again after I’ve arranged everything in order, and it’s a high time for me to learn more about the law of length and breadth.”

Zhuge Liang smiled, gathered everyone to show the current map of Hua Xia on the top of their heads, and then he started disposing tactics.

Every time he joggled his feather fan, he would mark a place on the map, and then assign the corresponding tasks to suitable Taoism cultivators in accordance with favorable conditions. Only in this way could he make the best use of the materials as well as the talents.

In the meanwhile, he thoroughly analyzed all the information of the liberal cultivators, and finally arranged them to join the proper position and Taoism. Among them, some were responsible for collecting information. Some were in charge of delivering orders and contacting people of the major battle agencies.

There were also a certain number of people who took charge of supporting and rescuing. Besides, he hid many tricks in his plans, which were calculated thousands of times in Zhuge Liang’s mind.

With a variety of tactics on the feather fan and the small Eight Diagram Tactics, the entire deployment was almost flawless.

Under such a circumstance, if they still failed to defend this land, there could only be two reasons. First, the enemy’s strength was really beyond their imagination; second, people’s minds could not be completely controlled.