I Steal the Ancestors' Sacrifices to Nourish Myself-Chapter 284 - 126: Xiaoyang Warfare Grandmaster Muo Long General: I Will Drain the Human Race’s Last Drop of Blood
Three Fire Ancestral Temple.
Huo Chang and Shen Can sat opposite each other, with two wine bowls placed on the table.
After receiving ample resources from the Luo River Bo Division, Huo Chang has been training the newly recruited clan soldiers, aiming to forge combat strength as soon as possible.
The war soldiers who went out to scout for Xiaoyang have all returned, leaving only a few to search Scattered Divisions and continue gathering the remnants.
It’s unavoidable; months have passed with tens of thousands of war soldiers dispatched, yet only thirty thousand Xiaoyang POWs were captured, far from enough for sacrificial purposes.
The Xiaoyang once sacrificed tens of thousands, and now the Three Fires are retaliating in kind.
In every Xiaoyang tribe land seized, numerous Human Race remains were discovered.
After incinerating, the bones piled like mountains at one corner of the Yang Mountain Ruins Market City.
Only by killing to stop killing can Xiaoyang shiver in fear.
At the Four-direction Camp outside the Three Fire Race City, a total of three hundred thousand clan soldiers were drafted.
Among them, two hundred thousand are war soldiers, and one hundred thousand auxiliary soldiers.
The elite war soldiers consist of the Blood Sea Guard, Heavy Blade Guard, and Antelope-Qilin Guard, with resources from Luo River directly enhancing their equipment strength.
The army massing naturally gears up for imminent action.
The next target is the Heyang Ruins Market north of Yang Mountain.
Currently, Huo Chang and Shen Can face two battle reports: one from Jishan and another from Yanran.
These reports weren’t collected by Three Fire Division scouts but were delivered directly by Jishan and Yanran divisions, detailing the warfare over the past few months.
In both east and west directions of Ji Land, the two major divisions lead their vassal tribe soldiers, clashing with Xiaoyang Race large and small over a dozen battles, with casualties on both sides.
Jishan defends at the Blood Mountain Pass City against Xiaoyang Muo Yan and Qiu Yin’s two major branch forces.
Yanran defends at Liuming Ancient Land against Mu Kang Branch’s army.
The Three Fire Division sits on the east side of the Guimu River, right between the Yanran and Jishan divisions.
The reports from both divisions are genuine with no need for falsification.
After all, rival scouts from Three Fire Division are also out there, making it easy to verify if engagements occurred in the confrontation zone.
Through the battle reports, it’s clear that during the attack on Yang Mountain Ruins Market by Three Fire Division, Jishan and Yanran relieved some pressure from Xiaoyang on both flanks.
It was only at the first clan sacrifice that envoys from Yanran and Jishan divisions came for courtesy visits.
Since then, formal communication among the three tribes has ceased.
But the reports sent by the two divisions seem quite straightforward to Shen Can.
The two divisions will withstand Xiaoyang’s three major branch forces; whether the Three Fire Division continues is the question.
Thinking about the seven towering figures within the Sacrificial Tripod Cauldron, Shen Can felt not only the need to continue but also to proceed quickly and aggressively.
If they don’t seize favorable opportunities now, waiting could mean losing the chance.
Among Xiaoyang’s four Guardian Ruins Markets, three are on the east bank of the Guimu River, and only one on the west bank.
From north to south on the east bank are Jinyang Mountain, Heyang, and Yang Mountain, while only Yin Mountain Ruins Market lies on the west bank.
The route from Yang Mountain Ruins Market to Heyang Ruins Market is convenient, with the army able to advance north while utilizing the area’s great water vein, the Guimu River.
A tributary of the Guimu River runs near the Three Fire Tribe Division, with the river channel currently expanding to connect the division with this water route.
"Yanran and Jishan divisions are weighing our resolve, seeing how far we can go,"
Shen Can set down the battle report, noting that with Yanran and Jishan constraint in both directions, Three Fire Division could seize the Xiaoyang territory.
"Still going according to the original plan: first seize Heyang Ruins Market and take control along the Guimu River’s edge."
"Use the water route to transport Xiaoyang prisoners!"
"I need Xiaoyang as sacrifices; the more, the better."
...
"Reporting to Ancestral Temple Keeper, Clan Leader."
Footsteps sounded in the Ancestral Temple as Huo Ning entered, unhesitatingly pouring himself a bowl of wine upon seeing the table setup.
"Huo Tu reported back that Heyang Ruins Market is empty!"
"Nearby major Xiaoyang migrating tribes have already moved away; smaller, remote Xiaoyang tribes are still being investigated."
Upon hearing this, Huo Chang paused.
With Xiaoyang gone, whom would he attack?
Shen Can was also surprised; the Xiaoyang meticulously migrates their tribes, indiscriminately fleeing if the situation is unfavorable – is this an imitation of his tactics?
Without Xiaoyang captives, how would he perform the sacrificial rites?
Shen Can picked up his wine bowl, finished it in one go, and turned to the map standing nearby.
By relinquishing control of Heyang Ruins Market, what trick is Xiaoyang playing?
Ji Land offers many large and small Ruins Markets for Human Race tribes’ exchanges; Xiaoyang’s selection of these four Ruins Markets was optimal.
By relying on these markets and migrating tribes into the surrounding wilderness, combat power could project across most areas suitable for propagation within the occupied zone.
If they consolidate for a dozen years, Xiaoyang could truly capture the northern region of Ji Land.
To retreat suddenly – could this be sparked by Huo Chang’s scorched-earth tactics?
Looking at the map, Shen Can considered: if Xiaoyang indeed retreats from Heyang Ruins Market, they could only move north. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
The Xiaoyang martial artist controlling Heyang Ruins Market is Muo Feilong of Celestial Vein Ninth Layer; they might retreat to Jinyang Mountain Ruins Market to join Mu Kang’s branch of Xiaoyang.
Alternatively, cross the Guimu River to approach Yin Mountain Ruins Market, joining Qiu Yin’s lineage.
The probability of heading to Blood Gate Mountain City to join the main division elite is minimal.
Elite forces gather near Blood Gate Mountain City; these Xiaoyang tribes would only be burdensome there, weakening strength, giving Jishan Bo Division an opportunity.
