Chapter 524 - 453: Miracle 2

Chapter 524: Chapter 453: Miracle 2

Liu Ancheng let out a soft sigh.

Qian the Sixth hoisted Zhao the Third’s body onto his shoulder and started walking toward the main camp.

According to Zhenxi Army regulations, bodies were not allowed inside the camp tents, at least not while the war was ongoing.

Delaying military operations was a secondary concern; the most important thing was the fear of a plague breaking out.

A plague born from the corpse of a Martial Artist was far more lethal than an ordinary one and could wipe out an entire army. Such things had happened far too many times before.

Liu Ancheng believed that once Qian the Sixth calmed down, he would make the right choice.

He scanned his surroundings.

The Zhenxi Army had paid too high a price in this battle.

Four Mingxin Grandmasters—it was a number that had caught everyone completely by surprise.

It was impossible for the Zhenxi Army’s scouts to ascertain the number of Mingxin Grandmasters, and this had been the only variable in tonight’s great battle.

Liu Ancheng walked over to Grand General Zhenxi, Gao Xiong.

Gao Xiong was as valiant as ever.

He had fought two powerful experts alone and still hadn’t been at a disadvantage.

"Grand General, if we fight one more time, I’m afraid we’ll have no choice but to retreat to Lonely Wolf City."

Liu Ancheng stated his analysis calmly.

"Kongshan sounded the retreat just now. Tonight, or tomorrow night at the latest, he will definitely launch a second major assault. Even if we can withstand the next attack, we won’t be able to hold out against the one after that."

He too felt helpless.

The gap in absolute strength could not be bridged by tactics alone.

The Zhenxi Army had already done everything it could.

In fact, just repelling tonight’s attack was enough to make the Zhenxi Army proud.

But on the battlefield, there was never any shame in using superior numbers to overwhelm the few. Victory was the only thing that mattered.

"We’ll hold for two more attacks."

Grand General Zhenxi, Gao Xiong, gave his decision.

"Yes, sir."

Liu Ancheng nodded.

’Two more times... After two more attacks, I wonder how many men the Zhenxi Army will have left.’

He understood Grand General Gao’s intentions.

As long as the Zhenxi Army could hold the front line for a while longer, they could continue the stalemate after retreating to Lonely Wolf City. By then, reinforcements from the Northern Territory should be able to arrive.

But many soldiers of the Zhenxi Army would also die.

...

「On the other side.」

Inside the Ximo Camp, the Ximo generals were no longer as arrogant as before.

The tenacity of the Zhenxi Army had far exceeded their expectations. If Kongshan hadn’t sounded the retreat, they would have surely suffered heavy losses in this battle.

Kongshan saw all of this.

This was also precisely why he had ordered the retreat.

He wasn’t just aiming for a victory in this single battle, but for total victory.

Although the Zhenxi Army had lost the support of the Xuan Yang Western Realm, the Northern Territory was now Bai Yuan’s domain, and he would certainly send troops.

Therefore, while defeating the Zhenxi Army, he also had to preserve as much of his own forces’ strength as possible.

Otherwise, when the Northern Territory’s army arrived, their own fate would be grim; total annihilation was a possibility.

"Rest for a day. We fight again tomorrow night!"

Kongshan issued his command once more.

In truth, continuing the attack tonight would have been the best opportunity, but the discipline of the Ximo Alliance Army was far inferior to that of the Zhenxi Army.

If he dared to deploy his troops in such a manner, the soldiers from the other nations under his command would surely mutiny.

"Understood."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

A full day and night of rest would be enough for them to recover their combat strength.

Both sides on the Great Desert fell into silence once more.

However, such tranquility would not last long.

...

「The next day.」

Aside from a few minor skirmishes between scouts, the day was largely peaceful.

Neither the Ximo Alliance Army nor the Zhenxi Army had the morale to start a major battle ahead of schedule.

Just as Kongshan was sitting in the main tent, waiting for night to fall—

A soldier burst into the tent.

His expression was one of panic.

When he got a clear look at the man, Kongshan’s brow furrowed slightly.

This was because the man was not one of the Order Officers who had marched out with the army.

Before he could speak, a Ximo general voiced his confusion, "Ah Lang, you’re supposed to be in Wunan serving the Sovereign. What are you doing here?"

The man named Ah Lang had streaks of blood still wet on his face.

Seeing this, the general from Wunan Country felt a sudden, inexplicable panic.

"Ah Lang, what in the world happened?"

The soldier was on the verge of tears. "Grand General, hurry back to the country! A Profound People army has invaded our homeland! No one can stop them! His Majesty... His Majesty is dead."

"What?!!!"

The Grand General of Wunan Country shot to his feet.

He cried out in disbelief.

The generals from the other countries had similar reactions.

While they were fighting a major battle on the front lines, a Xuanyang Army had actually appeared deep in the Ximo heartland. It was utterly preposterous.

’Did they fly over from the sky?!’

Kongshan’s expression turned extremely ugly.

The thing he had worried about most had finally happened.

But he couldn’t fathom how that Xuanyang Army had managed to cross thousands of miles to reach Wunan Country in just seven days.

’Unless...’

A flash of insight struck him.

"How did they get to Wunan Country?"

The soldier named Ah Lang replied, "Through Fire Prison Canyon. If not for that, the Sovereign wouldn’t have been caught so off guard."

Fire Prison Canyon?!!

Upon hearing those three words, everyone’s eyes went wide.

An army actually managed to cross Fire Prison Canyon?!!

This completely shattered their long-held common sense.

In the eyes of the Ximo people, it was impossible to cross Fire Prison Canyon unless one was above the Sensing realm. Only a Mingxin Grandmaster could completely withstand the Bone-Eroding Wind there.

"How is that possible?"

The corner of Kongshan’s eye twitched.

He no longer had time to ponder how that Xuanyang Army had crossed Fire Prison Canyon.

Because now he had to consider how to keep the Ximo alliance from falling apart.

The King of Wunan Country was no ordinary figure—he was a Mingxin Grandmaster.

If even the King of Wunan Country could be killed, then aside from Chehe and a handful of other nations, all the other kingdoms would face the same situation as Wunan Country.

Once a king dies, his country is bound to descend into chaos.

There were many countries near Wunan Country, including several that had sent forces for this expedition.

"We’re leaving!"

The Grand General of Wunan Country had no more will to fight.

Compared to plundering Xuan Yang’s treasures, the stability of his own country was undoubtedly more important.

Kongshan did not stop him.

He had no way of stopping him, either.

If he dared to block the Grand General of Wunan Country, the entire Ximo Alliance Army would collapse on the spot.

Less than fifteen minutes after the Grand General of Wunan Country left, another general spoke up. "General Kong, my country is too close to Wunan Country. We will return everything that was promised. Farewell."

With that, he turned to leave.

Seeing that things were going south, a large, pot-bellied man quickly blocked his path. "Tu Lu, we’re only a few days away from defeating the Zhenxi Army! You’re just going to watch the prize slip through your fingers?"

The man shot a glance at the pot-bellied man.

"Don’t think I don’t know what you’re thinking. Your country borders Chehe, so of course you’re not scared. But I’m different! My home has been raided, so what the hell is there left to fight for? Get out of my way!"

Saying this, he moved to push the pot-bellied man aside and leave.

Of course, the pot-bellied man wasn’t going to let him leave so easily.

Just as the two were about to come to blows, Mo Na suddenly spoke up. "Brother Kong, my country is also too close to Wunan. I will not be accompanying you any further."

The pot-bellied man saw that Mo Na was also about to leave and grew even more furious.

This time, however, he didn’t step forward to stop him. Mo Na was a Mingxin Grandmaster; a mere Sensing Martial Artist like him stood no chance of stopping him.

Kongshan and Wumu’s expressions were both ice-cold.

But in the end, they still chose not to act.

Because the last Mingxin Grandmaster in the tent also rose slowly to his feet. "Farewell."

His words were brief.

This Ximo Alliance Army had, in fact, been assembled by the Ximo State Preceptor alone. The nations of Mo Na and the other Mingxin Grandmaster would never have participated if they hadn’t been given solemn promises of great reward.

Now that their own backyards were on fire, no amount of reward was of any use to them.

Naturally, they were not going to continue campaigning with the Ximo Army.

Flames of rage burned in Kongshan’s eyes.

"Dammit!"

They were on the verge of final victory, only for something like this to happen at the critical moment. Who wouldn’t be furious?

Now, three of the ten nations had already left. The remaining countries had no hope of contending with the Zhenxi Army.

Wumu looked at Kongshan. "Old Kong, what should we do now?"

Although Kongshan was extremely unwilling, in the end, he could only grit his teeth and give the order, "Withdraw the army."