Chapter 2009

"Yes."

"Can the demonic puppet escape into the rocks?"

"Of course not."

"Good." Guo Bai Yu immediately adjusted his direction, fighting while retreating!

He naturally hoped to fight while retreating, with both sides locked in a stalemate, so the Black Armor Army would naturally follow him up the mountain.

Unfortunately, at this point it became clear that his troops were of mixed quality; the peripheral soldiers were already dazed from the Black Armor Army's charge, and upon seeing the main force retreat, they assumed the Guo army had been defeated and that they would become sacrificial pawns, so a large crowd scattered in all directions with shouts, and the supervising officers had no time to stop them.

Guo Bai Yu cursed loudly, calling them "worthless." Recently, too many troops had defected to him, bringing in a large number of such dregs to fill the ranks, utterly lacking loyalty, always ready to turn coat, and even wasting his provisions in peacetime!

Above this slope lay the continuous Dashan, whose main body consisted of hard granite, but covered with a thin layer of soil, so vegetation could still grow.

The sandy ground was a bit slippery, but the horses could still walk.

Guo Bai Yu ordered the main force to lead the Black Armor Army in a circuit, then ascend the mountain. After all, how else could it be said? Only the troops he personally raised could endure such hardship.

At this time, the rebel army deliberately appeared somewhat disheveled, discarding helmets and armor along the way.

The Black Armor Army did not know that Guo Bai Yu had a heavenly palace supervisor beside him, nor that the heavenly palace wished to capture Dong Rui alive, nor that there was a true divine incarnation here. In Guo Bai Yu's view, they should have pursued relentlessly.

The sorcerer beside him tore open two speed talismans, and a hazy green light covered most of the main force, making their movements more agile.

Seeing the enemy enter the mountains without a word, the Black Armor Army rushed to the slope's summit and, without hesitation, charged forward. Miancheng naturally had detachments to relieve the siege, and Wan Si Liang's target was Guo Bai Yu!

But they had not yet run more than ten or so zhang when Wan Si Liang heard Dong Rui's voice transmission in his ear:

"Wait, my snail toad cannot climb up."

He accompanied Wan Si Liang on the campaign, also using Zhu Xiuer's eyeball spider as a means of communication.

Wan Si Liang slowed his steps: "Why?"

"This mountain's main body is entirely stone; the snail toad cannot perform earth escape."

Wan Si Liang was startled, looked up, and saw that the mountain was mostly sparsely scattered shrubs, like a bald head, indicating thin earth energy. Did Guo Bai Yu truly understand the geographical conditions here? He had plunged straight into the mountains—was he intending to wage Mobile Corps Commander warfare against the Black Armor Army, or did he have some other calculation?

Wan Si Liang raised his hand, and everyone soon halted, awaiting new orders.

Normally, he would pursue the fleeing enemy relentlessly and capture Guo Bai Yu directly, ending the battle tonight.

This idea was extremely tempting, because Guo Bai Yu's true intentions were hard for Wan Si Liang to gauge. If he were merely retreating and Wan Si Liang did not pursue, letting Guo Bai Yu escape easily, then later capturing him would become difficult. Guo Bai Yu still held several cities under his command; if he shut the gates and focused solely on defense, this suppression campaign could turn into a prolonged engagement, and no one could say how long it would last.

If it were like Lu Yaofei's great army, besieging a city for twenty or thirty days, thus delaying other campaigns, the Dragon God would surely reprimand.

These thoughts flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern.

In the past, Wan Si Liang would surely have charged ahead without a second thought.

But now, with heavy forces in his grasp, he was not blinded by bloodlust or the thrill of victory; instead, he turned his head to look toward the distance.

From this angle, he could see the situation in Miancheng:

The Black Armor Army was locked in fierce combat with the rebel forces, and the danger to Miancheng had not yet been lifted.

Hmm, had Guo Bai Yu set some trap, prompting him to turn so decisively? What if, after reinforcements arrived, Miancheng was instead breached? That would truly be...

Moreover, he firmly recalled the repeated admonitions of the Nine Nether Great Emperor:

Absolutely, absolutely, do not let Mr. Dong be exposed in the open!

But under the current circumstances, if Dong Rui wished to continue with the troops, he could only emerge from underground; if he were to halt and Wan Si Liang alone led the army in pursuit of Guo Bai Yu, that would also seem inappropriate.

Wan Si Liang drew a deep breath and shouted loudly: "Turn and rush to aid Miancheng, quickly!"

The Black Armor Army reversed direction and charged out again, straight for Miancheng.

Seeing this from the mountain, Guo Bai Yu's eyes turned green with rage: "So cunning?"

Clearly, if they advanced just a few more steps, the entire Black Armor Army would enter the mountain zone, forcing that surnamed Dong puppet master to surface from underground. Yet the opponent retreated back instead.

What scent had the opponent detected?

He considered himself to have revealed no flaws; was the Black Armor Army really this cautious?

What happened to the promised bold advance, the promised fearless courage? Why wouldn't they even pursue a fleeing enemy?

So overly meticulous!

After all, his disadvantage lay in not knowing who led the Black Armor Army, nor understanding their combat habits and temperament.

Guo Bai Yu had no choice but to descend the mountain and regroup the peripheral troops.

He was about to head straight for Miancheng when a courier arrived on horseback from behind:

"General, bad news—Luo Feng Tan has been seized!"

Guo Bai Yu exclaimed in shock: "Who?"

"Nan Rong He personally led the troops."

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"That petty Nan Rong He, he really knows how to seize an opportunity!" Guo Bai Yu nearly bit his back teeth in frustration.

He had occupied Luo Feng Tan for over three months, yet Nan Rong He had not uttered a word, not even come to negotiate, as if the matter had never occurred.

But as soon as he attacked Miancheng, the other side dispatched troops to retake Luo Feng Tan.

The timing was seized precisely.

This again presented Guo Bai Yu with a dilemma:

Attack, or withdraw?

With Luo Feng Tan occupied, his forces would have to retreat to Huancheng, a longer route with greater risk.

The biggest problem was that the Black Armor Army's combat strength far exceeded his expectations; even his main force engaging directly could barely withstand it.

Guo Bai Yu immediately sought the supervisor, pointing at the city gate opening onto the mountain: "Can you descend as a deity to Miancheng? Right now!"

The supervisor's reply was clear: "No! You haven't lured that puppet master out!"

The heavenly palace's reserve would only be used against the great powers dispatched by the Nine Nether Great Emperor, not for wasting divine energy on mere soldiers and crabs!

To him, all the lives here combined were not as important as Dong Rui.

This is the high-end combat power of the Nine Abysses Great Emperor, an irreplaceable resource.

Guo Bai Yu laughed angrily: "Then what use is there in keeping this god-descended body?"

His goal was to win, to capture Miancheng, but these shamans stirred up trouble, insisting on capturing some demon puppet master—now the war's rhythm is completely disrupted, and he can't turn it back.

The commander heard the threat in his words and said coldly: "The heavenly gods have always been watching here; even if you kill us, they will not descend. Wait a while longer—there may still be a chance."

Guo Bai Yu exhaled and ordered a retreat.

Even with a god-descended body, it's not something he can summon at will—first, he needs the commander's memorial, and second, it depends on the heavenly gods' will.

If they are unwilling to descend, Guo Bai Yu has no recourse.

Holding a great killer weapon yet unable to use it—this suffocating frustration is beyond words.

Since he cannot take Miancheng for now, why waste time and lives here? Withdraw!