Chapter 1261: Scorpion Clan's Response

"You've worked hard, and it's good that morale has improved. However, we must not blindly assume victory. We are about to face the true power of the Scorpion clan. The Vanguard Fortress's greatest advantage lies in its geographical conditions. Therefore, once fighting breaks out in this area, most of their reserve forces will be mobilized as support in the shortest time, which is the group we just defeated. But in reality, these Scorpion warriors serving as support troops are all of the lowest caliber. The truly powerful and core forces are distributed among their other three fortresses and ultimately in the Scorpion Royal City. Those are the Scorpion clan's genuinely strong main forces. Only when we destroy the other three core fortresses and finally lay siege to the Scorpion Royal City can we consider ourselves halfway to success. Conquering just one Vanguard Fortress is merely a morale boost and a stepping stone to finding our position. It is far from time to celebrate."

Xu Yang assumed the role of the disciplinarian, tempering the Naga warriors' elation with a sobering message. Queen Thalia, however, recognized the profound importance of his words, valuing them far above any material rewards for her troops. She knew that her clan's overall fighting capability was vastly inferior to the Scorpion clan's, and their strongest advantage in this campaign was Xu Yang's team. Without their assistance, even with her enhanced bloodline, Queen Thalia would never have dared to launch a full-scale offensive against the Scorpions. This war was a monumental gamble for Queen Thalia, wagering her people's honor and their very existence. Failure would condemn the Naga clan to permanent oblivion in the harsh northern wilderness, and Queen Thalia would be forever branded a historical villain. Yet, a decisive victory would crown her with glory across the vast Gobi.

As anticipated, news of the attack had already sent the Scorpion clan's headquarters into an uproar.

"What did you say? Ha! That tiny snake, Thalia, dares to launch a full-scale assault on our Scorpion clan? Has she gone mad?" The major chieftains on the main dais of the Scorpion Royal City erupted in laughter, as if hearing the most ludicrous joke. In truth, they had been awaiting this precise opportunity for the Naga clan to overreach for countless years. The only aspect that truly puzzled these Scorpion leaders was what specific reason or opportunity had driven Queen Thalia to make such an ill-advised move—a move they were convinced would only accelerate the Naga clan's extinction.

"Hahaha, Eldest Brother, how many years have we waited for this opportunity? Today, we can finally fulfill our ambition to unify the entire Gobi! Although our Vanguard Fortress has fallen, it's merely a natural barrier for the Scorpion clan. That fellow, Shatongui, was always meant to be sacrificed when the time came. The loss of the Vanguard Fortress, a long-term strategic placement, has actually presented us with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As long as we seize this chance and completely encircle the Naga clan, they will be utterly helpless, with no one to call upon. I can already imagine the despair on those wretched Naga women's faces. By then, won't it be our brothers' turn to do as we please? Hahaha!"

With a lecherous grin, the Scorpion clan's Third Chieftain stepped forward. "Heh heh, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, I want nothing else but that little hussy, Thalia. She is truly beautiful; I've coveted her for countless years. Now, I finally have the chance to fulfill my desire. You two can divide all the other cultivation resources; I only want Thalia!"

Upon hearing the Third Chieftain's words, the Scorpion clan's First and Second Chieftains exchanged mocking glances. However, as neither the First nor Second Chieftain harbored any interest in women, being entirely consumed by the pursuit of cultivation resources, they readily agreed to their Third Brother's demand.

"Let's simply divide things," the First Chieftain stated. After outlining their glorious blueprint, he regained his stern, commanding demeanor and issued further orders to the scout warrior who had brought the report.

"Speaking of which, our Scorpion clan's Desert Mausoleum, constructed over hundreds of years, hasn't been utilized in a long time," the First Chieftain continued. "I remember the last time we activated it was during the battle where we personally buried the previous generation's Naga leader. Now, since we've decided to capture Thalia alive, let's activate the Desert Mausoleum again. We will lure these reckless Naga warriors into the heart of the Mausoleum Array, letting their strongest among them experience its true power. Then, we brothers will unite to suppress and capture Thalia alive, bringing this war to a perfect conclusion. My command is this: order the generals defending the three major fortresses to immediately dispatch their troops. They are to divide their forces into three routes, drawing the Naga army into the region of the Mausoleum Array. Afterward, we three chieftains will personally lead our main forces to that location."

Receiving the First Chieftain's command, the Scorpion scout warrior immediately sprang into action, quickly disappearing from the great hall.

Shortly thereafter, as the First Chieftain's precise commands were disseminated, the garrison forces of the three inner fortresses began their movements. The generals defending these major strongholds were all eager for action, having long craved the glory of conquering the Naga clan. After all, across the vast Gobi, the Naga were the only ones who dared to openly defy the Scorpions. They had been archenemies for hundreds of years, and for any general, ending this protracted conflict and unifying the entire Gobi region in their lifetime would be an immeasurable honor.

Unbeknownst to the Scorpion clan, during this very same period, the Naga army, personally led by Queen Thalia, had arrived at the territorial border—the very area the Scorpions referred to as the Mausoleum Array.

The Mausoleum Array, a formidable magic formation, had in fact been personally designed and constructed hundreds of years prior by the Scorpion clan's previous First Chieftain. Its very name, "Mausoleum," attested to its unparalleled deterrent effect. Once activated, it could manipulate all the sand within a thousand-mile radius, instantly transforming the battlefield into an immense tomb. One could easily imagine the terrifying, widespread devastation such a formation would unleash once triggered.

"We cannot go any further," she warned. "This must be the border between our territories. Beyond this point, we would be entering the Scorpion clan's dangerous zone, where their deployed formations are quite formidable."