The Culprit

The elite forces departed from Emperor Xia's Realm several days later. They headed towards the battlefield and prepared to rendezvous with the Eight Legions.

Ye Futian sent four Holiness of Nirvanas out as well. He sent Yaya out with them too, but she was following the ones from the Sword Clan of Lihen.

The Swordmaster of Lihen and Yaya had both fought to be the top swordsman in Emperor Xia's Realm. Presently, both renowned swordsmen joined hands as they made for the inner parts of enemy territory. None was able to stand in their way.

They could have let Emperor Xia take them to Dali Imperial City right away just as they had done previously, yet they did not. They went on to wage a war across Emperor Li's Realm instead, charging towards the palace. That was the only way they would have been able to truly lean on the emperor.

What they were really doing was waging a realm war, not staging a rescue operation.