Chapter 298: Deploying the Hive, Dividing Forces into Two Routes

"They came with such aggressive momentum, only to end up empty-handed. Li Ying Xuan Ling must be so furious right now that she's dazed. Who could have imagined that Wu Shuang would be completely devoid of a single person?"

"It's not just that there isn't a single person; the beast meat, iron ore, and coal—the vast majority of the supplies that could be moved have been taken. They've only gained a patch of empty land."

"After a four-hour forced march, that group of Longshan soldiers was bursting with pent-up rage, only to have nowhere to vent it. They must be absolutely livid inside, hahaha..."

………………

On the snowfield three kilometers southeast of Wu Shuang, Xia Hong was gazing from afar toward the direction of the Wu Shuang encampment, while Xia Chuan and the others behind him were discussing it with great excitement.

"Don't even mention it, those three thousand Longyou troops had a truly terrifying momentum. Those three battle cries scared me quite a bit. If our four thousand men had tried to hold the line, we likely wouldn't have been able to stop them."

"It's not that we likely wouldn't have been able to stop them; it's ten out of ten, one hundred percent impossible to stop them!"

Hearing Yuan Cheng's words, Xia Hong immediately shook his head, giving a different answer.

The crowd reacted differently upon hearing this, but if one were observant, they would notice that Xia Chuan, Director Yu Wen Tao, Chen Yingyuan, and Peng Bo all nodded with certainty, clearly agreeing with Xia Hong's words.

As for those with slightly weaker strength like Yuan Cheng, Lin Kai, and Qiu Peng, they wore expressions of skepticism.

This is the difference in perspective caused by different levels of strength.

The stronger a person is, the more they can feel the might of the three thousand Longyou troops.

Conversely, those with less strength don't feel it as clearly, believing that as long as they fight with their lives, there is still hope to stop them.

"Just how strong the three thousand Longyou troops are, you will all know very soon!"

Xia Hong turned his head to stare at Xia Chuan and the others, his expression suddenly turning serious.

Realizing that Xia Hong had matters to entrust to them, the crowd's expressions immediately became much more solemn.

"Longshan has come up empty, so their morale will inevitably suffer a major blow. Li Ying Xuan Ling likely won't continue to pursue us, but you must not lower your guard. Li Tiancheng has already seen our people retreat back to the Hive, and Longshan must already know about that Xia Straight Road to the southeast. Barring any surprises, they will soon discover the straight road connecting to Hanqiong in the northeast as well. All necessary preparations must be made to prevent them from using the straight roads to march."

Although both of Wu Shuang's straight roads are buried under accumulated snow, their total length is over twenty kilometers. For such a large construction, it is unrealistic to hide it from Longshan; Xia Hong even suspects that Longshan already knows.

Both straight roads were built by Does Does Da Xia for its own use. Now that everyone has withdrawn from Wu Shuang, destroying them entirely is both unnecessary and a waste, so they can only leave behind measures to prevent them from being utilized by Longshan.

"Rest assured, Leader, I have already made the arrangements."

Xia Chuan immediately answered with a salute, a hint of confidence appearing on his face.

"Over these next few days, I will send Cold-Resistant Realm experts to keep a constant watch on the Xia Straight Road. If Li Ying Xuan Ling dares to let the Longyou troops walk it, then I can guarantee they won't even reach the Hive..."

Having said this, he paused, then continued: "It's not just the straight road from Wu Shuang to the Hive; I have already ordered Watching Yue Feng to tamper with the straight roads from the Hive to Mirror Valley, and from Mirror Valley to Xia City."

Xia Hong raised an eyebrow upon hearing this and smiled: "You've considered things quite far ahead. Do you think Longshan will bypass the Hive and strike directly at Mirror Valley or even Xia City?"

Xia Chuan's brow furrowed as he replied: "Xia City is unlikely, but Mirror Valley is hard to say. If they fail to break the Hive after a long siege, it wouldn't be impossible for the Longshan forces to act like a cornered dog and march south, would it?"

Xia Hong shook his head and chuckled lightly: "Li Ying Xuan Ling isn't that foolish. She knows to send people to scout the situation at Wu Shuang in advance, so she must have also sent people to scout the situation at Xia City. If I'm not mistaken, Longshan should already have people who have been to Twin Dragon Valley and seen Xia City."

Xia Chuan first looked puzzled, but after lowering his head to ponder for a moment, he immediately realized and his eyes lit up: "That's right! The condition Li Ying Xuan Ling just proposed to us was for Does Does Da Xia to withdraw from Longyou. She must know the situation at Xia City and know that Longshan could never break in, so she was forced to propose such a condition to us."

Xia Hong nodded with a smile, a hint of pride appearing in his eyes.

The sturdy Xia City can be said to be Does Does Da Xia's strongest reliance at present.

With three sides of five-meter-thick, fifteen-meter-high black stone walls totaling ten kilometers, plus the more than one hundred thousand people inside Xia City, let alone three thousand Longyou troops, even if ten thousand Longyou troops came to attack, Xia Hong would have ample confidence to hold it.

Just as Xia Chuan said, from the previously aggressive march on Wu Shuang, with the posture of not stopping until Does Does Da Xia was destroyed, to the recent light handling of the situation, proposing to Xia Hong that they could cease hostilities as long as Does Does Da Xia withdrew from Longyou.

This change is enough to prove that Longshan must have received some information.

Aside from Li Ying Xuan Ling sending people to spy on Xia City, Xia Hong cannot think of any other reason.

"Li Ying Xuan Ling is not stupid; she won't give up the advantage of fighting on home turf. She should be clear that as long as the battlefield remains in Longyou, Longshan still has room to maneuver, but once they leave Longyou, the situation will be completely different..."

After making a guess about Li Ying Xuan Ling, a flash of sternness crossed Xia Hong's eyes as he continued: "Let alone attacking Xia City, if she dares to lead the Longyou troops south to strike Mirror Valley, I have enough certainty to settle the outcome in one battle and have Longshan erased from the Frozen Abyss from this day forth!"

Xia Chuan, as well as Chen Yingyuan and the others standing behind him, felt their spirits immediately stir upon hearing Xia Hong's words, their expressions becoming invigorated.

Xia Hong looked up to scan the crowd behind him and quickly found Watching Yue Feng in the throng.

"Watching Yue Feng."

Watching Yue Feng immediately stood out, cupped his hands, and bowed: "Subordinate is here."

"What is the situation at Mirror Valley now?"

"After nightfall, the seven thousand Earth-Digging Realm experts from Xia City, under the leadership of Zhu Yuan, took the straight road via Mirror Valley to gather at the Hive. The Woodcutting Realm experts from the three outposts of Wu Shuang, Hanqiong, and the Hive have all returned to Xia City via Mirror Valley one after another. When I just departed for Wu Shuang, Mirror Valley was already completely empty."

Xia Hong nodded, his expression stirred, and he cast his gaze toward Zhu Yuan.

"What is the situation at the Hive now?"

Zhu Yuan also immediately stood out, cupped his hands, and bowed: "Reporting to the Leader, the giant rocks marking the entrance on the surface of the Hive have all been cleared away. The seven thousand Earth-Digging Realm experts I brought have all entered the main underground area. Including the 2,500 people from Wu Shuang, there are currently a total of 9,500 people at the Hive, all of whom are exclusively Earth-Digging Realm experts.

This group has already begun setting traps and building defensive works in the various underground tunnels. As per the Leader's previous instructions, the underground passages have been made unrecognizable, completely different from before. We expect to finish by nightfall tomorrow."

Xia Hong continued to ask: "Have all kinds of beast meat, crystal fruit, and essential water supplies been brought in sufficient quantities?"

"The seven thousand people who departed from Xia City in the first half of the night had their hands full. The total supplies brought over, without affecting everyone's cultivation, I estimate will be enough for thirty days. If we only maintain basic subsistence, it will last for more than three months."

With things having reached this point, although Xia Hong had not yet fully stated his intentions, the group of Cold-Resistant Realm experts present, connecting it to the movements of the four thousand people at Wu Shuang tonight and Xia Hong's earlier remark that they would soon know how powerful the three thousand Longyou troops were, basically all realized it now.

Clearly, Does Does Da Xia was preparing to hold the Hive to the death!

Just as the dozen or so people were revealing expressions of sudden realization, Chen Yingyuan, standing behind Xia Chuan, showed no surprise on his face.

Coincidentally, Xia Hong also cast his gaze toward him at this moment.

"Chen Yingyuan, you are the former leader of the Hive, and you know the situation of the Hive's underground encampment best. I will ask you one last time: with 9,500 Earth-Digging Realm experts, plus twenty-five Cold-Resistant Realm experts, placed under the full command of you and Xia Chuan, do you have the confidence to hold off the Longshan army?"

Chen Yingyuan's expression was solemn as he bowed forward and said in a clear voice: "Leader, rest assured. The main area of the Hive is buried over a hundred meters underground; Longshan will spend a great deal of effort just finding it, and even if they find it, they won't be able to break in.

All the walls of the main underground area were poured with molten iron by three generations of the Hive's people, and even the weakest point is ten meters thick. Even if Li Tiancheng takes action personally, wanting to break through is wishful thinking. Aside from attacking through the iron gate, Longshan has no other way. With 9,500 Earth-Digging Realm experts waiting in comfort for the exhausted enemy, as long as we respond appropriately, there will absolutely be no problem holding off the Longshan army for several months."

Hearing these words from Chen Yingyuan, Xia Hong nodded, a trace of arrogance flashing in his eyes, and he spoke directly: "You don't need to hold them for several months. I only need fifteen—no, at most ten days—and I can make Li Ying Xuan Ling obediently withdraw her troops from the Hive."

The crowd's expressions immediately stirred, and they all subconsciously looked toward the north.

"From today on, matters of the Hive will be handled by Xia Chuan and Chen Yingyuan. I will not inquire further. Only if there is truly something you cannot handle may you send someone to the north to report to me. However, I hope you do not need to find me. Do you understand?"

Xia Chuan and Chen Yingyuan's expressions tightened, and they both nodded heavily.

Xia Hong then scanned the dozen or so people and spoke in a deep voice: "It is said that Does Does Da Xia going to war with Longshan now is a case of the small challenging the large, which is not appropriate. But since Li Ying Xuan Ling has already come to our doorstep, Does Does Da Xia has no reason to retreat. Such a large Longshan cannot be allowed to be monopolized by the Li clan.

Challenging the large with the small has its own methods. I do not need you to risk your lives; your mission is to hold the Hive to the death for me, avoid excessive casualties, and drag Li Ying Xuan Ling's army at the Hive for a few days.

As long as this battle is successful, Does Does Da Xia will be firmly established in Longyou from now on, and perhaps we might even be able to topple the Longshan Li clan in one fell swoop, directly swallowing the 13,000 square kilometers of land in Longyou and turning that towering Longshan in the east into Does Does Da Xia's hunting ground."

Swallowing the 13,000 square kilometers of land in Longyou and turning that towering Longshan in the east into Does Does Da Xia's hunting ground.

Xia Chuan felt invigorated upon hearing this final part and bowed directly to Xia Hong, speaking in a deep voice:

"Leader, rest assured, we will hold the Hive to the death and await the Leader's good news!"

Chen Yingyuan and the other dozen or so people immediately followed suit, cupping their hands and bowing to Xia Hong in unison: "We will hold the Hive to the death and await the Leader's good news!"

"Good, all return to the Hive to prepare. Once Li Ying Xuan Ling restores her army's morale, she will surely march to the Hive with all speed. At that time, it will depend on your performance."

Xia Chuan nodded heavily and was the first to turn and leave. The other dozen or so people also quickly turned to follow him, all darting toward the Hive in the southeast.

Xia Hong stood in place, staring at Wu Shuang for a few minutes, and after two cold laughs, he turned and headed toward the snowfield on the north side.

"Li Tiancheng has such high seniority, yet he actually knows to come and scout the movements of the Wu Shuang army personally. It's a pity he had bad luck; he only saw the large group of people heading to the Hive and didn't see that I have another army heading to Hanqiong."

Of course, saying Li Tiancheng had bad luck and didn't see it was just a joke.

He had long calculated that Longshan would still have people spying on the side, so when the 1,000 Cloud Dragon troops departed, he deliberately let the last group of people retreating south to the Hive make a big commotion. This was the reason Li Tiancheng discovered them.

Xia Hong's eyes flickered slightly. Longshan probably never dreamed that Does Does Da Xia, with only 1,000 Cloud Dragon troops, would dare to divide its forces at such a critical juncture.

"If it weren't for the Hive encampment's unique and sturdy protection, I wouldn't have had such great courage. Since it exists, I naturally must make good use of it."

The sturdy iron walls poured with molten iron by three generations are the same black stone walls that Xia City currently possesses, just on a larger scale. In terms of defensive capability, they probably don't compare to the Hive's underground space.

After Xia Hong learned of the Hive's unique underground main area structure, his first reaction was relief. It was fortunate that Zhaoyang acted first, taking advantage of Chen Yingyuan's absence to catch the Hive off guard, which ultimately allowed Does Does Da Xia to pick up the bargain.

Otherwise, judging by the situation of the Hive's underground space, even if he had taken action personally to lead people to attack, it would have been absolutely impossible to take it.

With such strong defensive capability, plus Chen Yingyuan, the former leader who knew the underground space like the back of his hand, 9,500 Earth-Digging Realm experts, and 20 Cold-Resistant Realm experts, holding off 3,000 Longyou troops is absolutely more than enough.

"Ten-meter-thick iron walls, and buried underground—wanting to break through by manpower alone is almost impossible. Unless they clear out a large stress point and then have Li Tiancheng lead a dozen or so Cold-Resistant Realm experts to work together, there might be a possibility of breaking through. But if that happens, the time it would take would be significant. If Longshan is willing to do that, it would actually be for the best.

Water attacks are impossible; even if there is water around the Hive, Li Ying Xuan Ling wouldn't dare take people to touch it. Fire attacks might have some potential, but Chen Yingyuan knows the Hive's structure like the back of his hand and has countermeasures, so that's useless too."

This underground space made of pure iron, the Hive, is simply too difficult to attack.

If it were exposed on the ground, one would only need to burn it with a large fire. But it happens to be buried deep underground. Not only is the thickness astonishing, but because it was poured with molten iron, the entire barrier is seamless. Aside from the main gate, there are almost no other openings for people to pass through.

It is basically equivalent to an oblate sphere poured from molten iron, buried more than a hundred meters deep underground, with a diameter of three kilometers and wall thickness of over ten meters.

"Three generations—this Chen Yingyuan's ancestors were quite stubborn. Were they really that afraid of death? The molten iron used for pouring alone must be countless. The Hive's development was so slow; perhaps it was because all the iron resources were used on this."

Xia Hong gave two low laughs, then shook his head. It was also thanks to Chen Yingyuan's ancestors being honest; otherwise, aside from withdrawing from Longyou, he truly would have had no other way.

"Greetings, Leader!"

Although he was thinking about things, Xia Hong's footsteps had not stopped. After walking more than ten kilometers toward the north, a familiar voice suddenly came from ahead.

Seeing that it was Chen Yingba, a smile immediately appeared on Xia Hong's face. Following his gaze to the rear, he saw a severed straight road entrance and asked with bright eyes:

"Has the main army already come out?"

Chen Yingba cupped his hands and replied: "They came out of the straight road long ago. Deputy Si Zheng Director Yu Wen ordered me to lead a battalion of soldiers to set up the third trap here, while he took the main force and continued to depart toward the north."

Xia Hong walked toward the straight road as he spoke. Seeing that under the opening, there were over a hundred Cloud Dragon soldiers holding bundles of small torches, hiding them under the snow on both sides of the straight road, and then beginning to repair the straight road again, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.

"Speed up. Once it's done, hurry north to catch up with the main force."

"Subordinate obeys!"

After Chen Yingba cupped his hands and agreed, he immediately rushed under the straight road opening, urging the soldiers to speed up their progress while personally helping everyone work.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 299 =====