Family Cultivation: My entire family are Villains-Chapter 755 - 335, Six-Year-Old Little Demon Head_2

Additionally, the Wuwei King has been in charge of the Xingyuan Road for the past two years, enticing local martial artists and has reassembled a Xingyuan army, reportedly up to a million strong."

"A million-strong Xingyuan army, plus the seven hundred thousand Tianwei Army, that's a force of one million seven hundred thousand troops. With the Sub-Saint of Martial Dao, the Wuwei King, personally overseeing Tao City, unless the Wanjian Holy Sect takes serious action, relying merely on Gu Tianyun and Ying Changtian, the two Sword Chiefs, to counterattack and reclaim Xingyuan Road seems realistically improbable!"

"So why doesn't Xuzhou dare to take serious action and send some powerful individuals over?"

"Big brother should have guessed it, Xuzhou is currently in trouble."

Hou Yuling also knew what Hou Yuxiao was thinking and immediately explained, "It's not that Xuzhou doesn't want to take serious action, it's mainly because, to the east, there's the Jiaozhou army watching!"

The matter between the Ziqing Holy Sect and the Wuwei King had ceased to be a secret.

Four years ago, Hou Yuxiao had guessed that the reason why the Wuwei King dared to act recklessly in Xuzhou and defy both holy lands was because of the support from the Ziqing Holy Sect. Now, as expected, the subsequent news from Hou Yuling confirmed his previous speculation.

"Two years ago, when the Wuwei King captured Xingyuan Tao City, in less than two months, two million elite soldiers from the Taiyi Army under the Ziqing Holy Sect encamped in the Xuzhou Jiangdong Road. Although they have not crossed the provincial boundary yet, the distance is already very close.

It's clear to any astute observer that Jiaozhou is providing cover for the Wuwei King. If Xuzhou dares to act rashly, the Ziqing Holy Sect will definitely launch an attack on Jiangdong Path, and together with the Wuwei King, they will strike Jiangdong Path from both sides.

If at that time, both armies breach Jiangdong Path and converge, Xuzhou would only be left with the territory of Chenliu and Nanping Path. The situation would become dire, so currently, Xuzhou is also being cautious, focusing on defense rather than offense, aiming to hold Jiangdong Path at all costs."

Hou Yuxiao pondered for a moment, then looked up and asked, "What about the Bailu Academy?"

"Yangzhou and Yanzhou are the most puzzling!"

Hou Yuling clearly also found this matter perplexing and said, "A part of the Qingyang Army is still in Jiangdong Path under the command of Gu Tianyun. It's assumed they would certainly be on Xuzhou's side, but when Xuzhou was threatened by the Ziqing Holy Sect, both academies from Yangzhou and Yanzhou didn't send a single soldier; they just observed with indifference. Yet at the same time, they did not withdraw that portion of the Qingyang Army that is in Jiangdong Path. This baffles me, and I guess many people can't understand what the academy is really thinking."

Hou Yuling's confusion became clear to Hou Yuxiao upon hearing it.

When the Wuwei King first attacked Guangling Prefecture, there were two forces from The Righteous Path that came to Xuzhou's aid: one was Leiyin Temple, which sent a hundred thousand Earthshade Monastic Soldiers, and the other was the academy, which sent a hundred thousand Qingyang Army. By the time Gu Tianyun lost Xingyuan Road, there was still a remnant of the Qingyang Army, which also retreated to Jiangdong Path with him.

Logically, the academy standing with Xuzhou meant that they wouldn't stand by when Xuzhou's borders were threatened by the Ziqing Holy Sect since Yangzhou and Yanzhou both border Jiaozhou. If the academy also deployed troops on the border with Jiaozhou, Xuzhou's precarious situation would be immediately resolved.

The academy's inaction indicated they didn't wish to help Xuzhou. Yet, not wanting to help Xuzhou but not withdrawing that part of the Qingyang Army from Jiangdong Path seemed contradictory.

However, Hou Yuxiao had already understood the reason.

"It's quite understandable. With the Battle of Hedong dragging on, it initially involved the academy and the Wanjian Holy Sect uniting against Great Jin. But with the Wuwei King becoming estranged from Great Jin and forming a substantial alliance with the Ziqing Holy Sect, many now speculate that the Wuwei King might turn against Great Jin at any moment. Tell me, for the academy, which is a greater threat, Great Jin or the Wuwei King?"

Upon hearing this explanation, Hou Yuling's eyes brightened.

Even Hou Yucheng, who was beside him, understood and said, "If I haven't misunderstood, big brother means that compared to the Wuwei King, the academy fears Great Jin more. Therefore, allowing a power that's about to defect from Great Jin to grow stronger is more suitable than helping Great Jin extinguish it. Hence, the academy doesn't wish to relieve Xuzhou's plight?"

"But that's not right. Xuzhou has already lost Xingyuan Road. By doing this, if Xuzhou also loses Jiangdong Path, the Wanjian Holy Sect will suffer such massive losses, which would..."

Hou Yuling suddenly stopped, and the expression on his face gradually became fascinating.

Hou Yuxiao turned to look at the Shenzhou map hanging behind him and spoke with a scoff, "The academy is playing a game of balance. No matter how strong the Wuwei King becomes, he is not a holy land, and he will pose a threat to Great Jin. Using Xuzhou's territory to foster the Wuwei King and cultivate an enemy for Great Jin is just perfect to weaken the Wanjian Holy Sect as well. Killing two birds with one stone, why not do it!"

"Even more crucially, the Wanjian Holy Sect, even if aware, is powerless to change anything. Currently, all holy lands across the world fear Great Jin. With the academy not helping, the Haoran Holy Sect won't help either. Unless they turn to join Great Jin, they can only maintain the current situation. Either they defend Jiangdong Path on their own, or they lose it, leaving only Chenliu and Nanping Path!"

Hearing Hou Yuling's words, Hou Yuxiao nodded and said, "In my view, the academy not withdrawing that part of the Qingyang Army is because they worry that if they make a definitive stance, Xuzhou might switch sides to Great Jin. However, that possibility should be virtually non-existent, because just like other holy lands, the Wanjian Holy Sect fears Great Jin too."

"So it seems that Xuzhou is unlikely to counterattack Guangling Prefecture. At most, they will try to hold on to Jiangdong Path and might not even manage that. It looks like Guangling Prefecture will essentially become the Wuwei King's territory in the future. The Wuwei King, to expand his power, will definitely continue to covet Jiangdong Path. It just depends on how much support the Ziqing Holy Sect is willing to provide and also on the Wuwei King's own skills!"