Chapter 1994: Waiting for Reinforcements

The group took a few steps back. Someone's foot hit loose gravel, and they almost slid down the slope with a rustling sound.

Wan Houliang was the last to stand up. With quick reflexes, he grabbed the loose gravel, then turned and smacked the back of the culprit's head, whispering, "Be careful!"

The person hunched their neck and said, "Brother Liang, my fault."

They were all Bailong tribesmen and quietly asked, "Guo Baiyu is actively bullying our people. Why don't we just take them out?"

Wan Houliang's army had just arrived nearby, but they were only conducting reconnaissance, not engaging.

The group's initial task was to gather intelligence on the opposing armies. Witnessing Guo's forces flaunting their power and the heavy casualties in Miancheng, they all seethed with indignation.

Wan Houliang's face was cold as he stated, "The Great Emperor said the time is not yet right."

In the past, he would have simply waved his hand and shouted for his brothers to charge.

"How long do we have to wait?"

"You'll know when the time is right," Wan Houliang said, his mouth twitching. "Holding our positions is a direct military order from the Great Emperor! For now, no one is permitted to alert Guo Baiyu, or they will be executed!" This was classified information, never usually mentioned.

"You all," he said, pointing at his subordinates, "must have self-control!"

He glanced at Dong Rui. That young man used to be the most hot-headed, a real firecracker who could explode without even being lit. But since returning from the Upside-Down Sea, he had become much calmer. This time, He Lingchuan had also sent him out to lead independently.

Indeed, war truly tempers a person.

"So what do we do now?"

"Wait," Wan Houliang said seriously. "Keep a close eye on Guo Baiyu, watch for any unusual signs, find out what extraordinary individuals he has under his command, and which other forces are coming to pledge allegiance to him."

A moment later, Wan Houliang himself sidled up to Dong Rui and quietly said, "Mr. Dong."

"Hm?"

"Six teams from nearby have joined Guo Baiyu; he now commands over twenty thousand men, but their quality varies, and they all have their own agendas. From our observations, only about three thousand are elite troops." Wan Houliang paused. "I have four thousand soldiers here, plus you, a powerful figure. What do you think? If we include the Miancheng defenders for a coordinated attack, can we try to confront him?"

"Guo Baiyu is different from the enemies we eliminated at Songbai Ridge. Three great demons have already appeared on the battlefield in his army,"

"My Number Sixty-Six has also detected the scent of demon puppets in his army, though the quantity is unknown," Dong Rui whispered. "I ask you, with Guo Baiyu's current forces, will he have any trouble taking Miancheng?"

"There are many unpredictable factors in a siege. Sometimes, a small city can unexpectedly resist to the very end, delaying for two or three months," Wan Houliang considered carefully. "However, judging by his efficiency in annexing nearby towns and villages, Guo Baiyu is very skilled at siege warfare. Unfortunately, we lack intelligence and still don't know how he achieves it."

Dong Rui thought that if He Lingchuan were here, he would likely be very pleased with Wan Houliang's growth.

"Then why has he been so slow in taking Miancheng?"

"Miancheng has guardian beasts installed, manufactured by Songyang Prefecture, but you're right, they probably won't stop him."

Dong Rui rubbed his hands. "These dozens of powerful factions raised armies to attack the Dragon God's territory, one after another and almost simultaneously, causing us immense headaches. All things considered, Guo Baiyu has been besieging cities and seizing territory for over two months now, his influence growing steadily, and his power becoming stronger. He must know he'll attract the Dragon God's attention, yet he shows no restraint and isn't rushing to take Miancheng."

"He burns Miancheng's grain and kills Miancheng's people just to provoke us." Wan Houliang let out a long breath. "Could this be the trap the Great Emperor worries about most? No wonder the Great Emperor forbids us from fighting alone."

"Wait a bit longer; Mother Zhu should be arriving soon too."

With the Dragon God's main army undergoing intensive training, the territory's defenses were inevitably weakened. The Nine Nether Great Emperor's high-tier combat forces and Black Armor Army had to break into smaller units and disperse across various locations.

Compared to such a vast territory, the Black Armor Army's numbers were too small. They could only dispatch small teams to key defensive areas, training local militias and assisting with public order. Their main focus was to organize local military and civilians to resist attacks and defend their homes.

If the enemy was too strong, like Guo Baiyu, the local towns, villages, and Black Armor squads had to resist with all their might, awaiting reinforcements.

Wan Houliang and Dong Rui had just finished the battle at Songbai Ridge and immediately rushed here without stopping.

However, Dong Rui had actually only coordinated with him once before, having separated from Tao Ran's army to come here. According to the Nine Nether Great Emperor's deployment, high-tier combatants like Dong Rui and Mother Zhu were not allowed to stay with the same army for too long; they had to switch teams after one or two battles.

Although Dong Rui was exhausted from traveling, he had no complaints, knowing He Lingchuan's intentions were good and that he feared they would be targeted or singled out.

Such top-tier fighters under He Lingchuan were a precious few, easily counted on one's fingers. He was extremely cautious in deploying them.

In the Battle of the Upside-Down Sea, although both immortal and demonic sides had armies and sects, it was those dozen or so great powers who truly decided the outcome. Before Miaozhantian and Qianhuan's ultimate confrontation, the side with more living great powers held the advantage.

Why did He Lingchuan take a pessimistic view of the Flash Gold's stubborn forces? It was because Miaozhantian had essentially played all their best cards here, leaving few top masters.

But he never forgot that his ultimate opponent was not these disorganized forces of Flash Gold.

The Dragon God's main army had just entered its training period when these dozens of resistance forces almost simultaneously rose up. He wouldn't believe it if someone claimed there was no one directing them from behind the scenes.

It was obvious who was behind it.

He Lingchuan would never dare to underestimate the Heavenly God. Even a rotten ship has its salvageable parts; who knew what hidden cards the opponent still had?

As for strongholds like Guo Baiyu, who kept expanding as if oblivious to their own peril, He Lingchuan strictly forbade Dong Rui and others from attacking them alone. Such losses were unacceptable; even one would be devastating.

The sky grew dim, and a strange fragrance permeated the air. Soon, spiritual rain began to fall.

Wan Houliang immediately said, "Alright, let's go back."

Tonight, with another Imperial Nectar falling, Guo Baiyu's army would likely halt operations, making a siege highly improbable.

It was a pity; if Mother Zhu had already arrived, they could have launched an attack on Guo Baiyu.

Just then, a few drops of spiritual rain fell, and among them was a thumb-sized lump of spiritual paste. Dong Rui was about to open his mouth to catch it, but the ghost ape got there first. He glared at the damned monkey.

Five years ago, people would have fought fiercely over a spiritual paste of this size, but recently, the Imperial Nectar had come too frequently and its quality was high, so everyone was more relaxed.

Miaozhantian and over a dozen attendant gods had fallen in the Upside-Down Sea. These were all great gods with names, titles, and divine positions, not subordinate deities or common divine beings. According to He Lingchuan's latest intelligence, the transformed Imperial Nectar was excessively abundant, so much so that the timing of the spiritual rain could not be accurately predicted; it might randomly divide into two to four major bursts, with several smaller bursts in between.

On the way back, Wan Houliang suddenly approached again. "Mr. Dong," he said, "I have an idea."