Ye Liuyun nodded as well, a trace of self-reproach in his voice. "It’s good that you have this mindset! Honestly, it’s my fault—I didn’t take care of everyone’s cultivation resources properly."

"How could this be on you?" Mo Tianheng countered, shaking his head. "You have so many people around you—it’s impossible to look after everyone! Besides, each of us should forge our own path instead of clinging to you forever." He paused, determination flashing in his eyes. "From now on, I plan to continue searching the cosmos for my own opportunities. Maybe I’ll stumble upon a way to restore my cultivation. And when that day comes, I’ll challenge you again to see who’s truly stronger!"

Mo Tianheng harbored no resentment toward Ye Liuyun. His earlier display of disdain in front of the Ancient Demon had been nothing but a ruse to mislead it. The demon never expected that Mo Tianheng, fully aware of its deceit, would play along with such patience. In the end, it was Mo Tianheng’s cunning and perseverance that sealed the demon’s fate. Ye Liuyun’s faith in him had been well-placed—he had indeed resolved the crisis on his own.

Ye Liuyun approved of Mo Tianheng’s approach and encouraged him warmly. "The universe is far vaster than we can imagine. Somewhere out there, a solution exists. As long as you don’t give up, you’ll find it." He placed a hand on Mo Tianheng’s shoulder. "Don’t leave just yet. Give me a few days—I’ll have some pills prepared for you to stabilize your true essence, soul, bloodline, and physique. They’ll help you hold on until then."

"Sounds good," Mo Tianheng agreed readily, following Ye Liuyun back to the army.

By then, the barbarian forces had already been routed and scattered by Liu Yunyao’s relentless assault. Mo Tianheng no longer cared about the barbarians and simply stayed by Ye Liuyun’s side. Meanwhile, Ye Liuyun tasked Lin Luoyi with concocting a batch of specialized pills for Mo Tianheng’s use.

Before his departure, Mo Tianheng renewed an equal soul contract with Ye Liuyun, ensuring they could stay in contact.

Liu Yunyao’s recent battle, though a resounding victory against the barbarians’ 300,000-strong army, had cost her nearly 80,000 soldiers. Yet she showed no signs of slowing down. While replenishing her ranks through the border army’s commander, she pressed forward, leading her troops toward the next barbarian-controlled planet.

Ye Liuyun and Yu Xiaofeng let her proceed without interference. With Ye Liuyun’s demonic legion as backup, Liu Yunyao could fight however she pleased.

Meanwhile, Ye Liuyun returned to his clone’s spatial realm to refine his soul and profound energy. The Ancient Demon’s potent soul force required careful consolidation, even with his clone’s assistance.

Leiming and Longnu took on reconnaissance missions for Liu Yunyao, while the other beasts continued battling on the frontlines. Ye Liuyun also dispatched A Xing and other first-level Dominators to gain combat experience.

Mo Tianheng’s example served as a wake-up call for Ye Liuyun, who cautioned everyone not to rush their breakthroughs without solidifying their foundations.

The news of the barbarian army’s second defeat—this time with 300,000 troops—sent shockwaves not only through the barbarian ranks but also across Willow Forest Royal City. Everyone marveled at the princess’s extraordinary prowess.

The reinforcements Liu Qianzhong had prepared for Liu Yunyao arrived just in time. After replenishing her forces and allowing them a brief respite, she pressed forward once more.

Wei Zhen, the barbarian chieftain, had never anticipated that dispatching 300,000 troops would fail to confirm whether the demon race had joined the war. Instead, the sheer strength of Liu Yunyao’s army left them utterly stunned.

With no other choice, Wei Zhen ordered the construction of a second defensive line. All martial cultivators from barbarian planets positioned before this line began converging there, while those behind it gathered at the barbarian stronghold, preparing for all-out war.

Thus, the barbarians’ second defensive line amassed not only 500,000 soldiers but also over six million martial cultivators. Though their cultivation levels varied, their combat prowess was no less formidable than that of trained soldiers.

Since the barbarians placed little emphasis on formation drills, relying instead on individual skill, this effectively meant they had 6.5 million warriors defending the line. Wei Zhen even dispatched his son, Wei Man, to oversee the defenses in his stead.

Meanwhile, the barbarian stronghold swelled with nearly ten million martial cultivators—and the numbers continued to rise. Their border forces had collapsed too abruptly, catching them off guard.

Now, with the call to arms, morale remained surprisingly high. After all, with the survival of their race at stake, no one wanted to end up enslaved by the Willow Forest Dynasty.

Upon gathering this intelligence, Thunderclap and the Dragon Girl returned to report to Ye Liuyun and the others.

The barbarians’ second defensive line was still five planets away in a straight line, but preparations had to begin immediately.

Liu Yunyao felt they had already achieved enough. She proposed halting before the second line and methodically clearing the surrounding barbarian planets to consolidate their gains.

But Qin Peng immediately objected. "If we stop now, the pressure on our defenses will be overwhelming! The barbarians have over six million warriors. If they launch a full-scale counterattack, even with all our border forces deployed, we might not hold them back. Not only could we lose the line, but we might even be pushed into retreat.

"If we’re going to withdraw, it’s better to do so now—while we can still retreat in good order. But if we advance to their second line, the outcome will no longer be in our hands!"

Yu Xiaofeng suggested an alternative: have the border forces establish a new defensive line while their main force swept through nearby barbarian planets, luring the enemy into splitting their forces for pursuit—then picking them off one by one.

However, Ye Liuyun had no intention of prolonging the stalemate. He turned to Yu Xiaofeng and asked, "Do you remember how we intimidated the demon race back in the divine realm of Outpost Island?"

Yu Xiaofeng immediately recalled the brutal strategy—utter annihilation of any city that refused to surrender, a tactic so ruthless that it ultimately forced the demons to their knees.

"But now we’re dealing with entire planets," Yu Xiaofeng hesitated. "The casualties would be catastrophic if we resorted to the same approach."

Though Qin Peng hadn’t participated in that battle, he had heard the gruesome details from Yu Xiaofeng—corpses piled high, the scene like a living hell.

"If intimidation works, wiping out a few planets would still cost far fewer lives than an all-out war with the barbarians," Ye Liuyun countered, his voice firm. "Otherwise, the Willow Forest Dynasty will need millions—no, tens of millions—of troops to end this conflict. War is cruel by nature. If we don’t strike hard now, the fighting will never stop."

Still, he was merely offering a suggestion. The final decision rested with Liu Yunyao. As far as he was concerned, it didn’t matter either way. At worst, he could recall the entire Death Corps and crush the barbarians himself. If he grew impatient, he could always leave and return when needed.

Yu Xiaofeng and Qin Peng remained indifferent as well, leaving the choice to Liu Yunyao.

After two days of deliberation, Liu Yunyao finally clenched her teeth and made her decision. "We’ll try it first!"

But Ye Liuyun warned her, "Be prepared. Their second line of defense might fight to the death. Only by breaking through it will their morale collapse. And that will require the full cooperation of the border forces—they’ll have to join the battle when the time comes."