Chapter 70

When the Black Fox Clan was powerful, every few months they would send caravans to transport forest specialties, medicinal herbs, and minerals to the border with the Centaur territory, exchanging them for grain.

The Centaur territory contained both forests and plains.

That plain was a river alluvial plain, not very large in area, but with decent yields.

But this time, the Centaurs did not wait for the Black Fox Clan's grain exchange caravan.

The Centaurs found it strange, so they sent several Centaurs to inquire about the situation.

Then, in the forest, they encountered some Black Fox people and learned what had happened.

After these Centaurs reported back, the Centaur chieftain dispatched professional scouts into the forest.

These scouts advanced all the way to the vicinity of the Miracle Wasteland and saw the transformed Miracle Wasteland.

And the Miracle City under construction.

"The Fox Clan has unified, acquired such fertile land, and even these divine beans!"

The Centaur chieftain held a potato in his hand, turning it over and over.

This potato was one that a scout had risked his life to snatch from the forest as he was leaving.

"You're not lying, are you? One plant can produce a dozen or more of these?"

The Centaur chieftain asked the Centaur scout.

One Centaur scout said: "Yes, Chieftain. We hid in the forest for several days and witnessed the Fox people harvesting. Based on our estimate, one mu of land can yield at least ten thousand jin of these divine beans!"

"Ten thousand jin!"

The Centaur chieftain drew a deep breath.

Beside the Centaur chieftain, the Centaur high priest and elders could not help but show astonishment.

Ten thousand jin per mu!

This number made their hearts tremble slightly!

"The Fox people guard these divine beans tightly. I nearly didn't make it back trying to steal just one. I doubt they'd sell us the seeds."

Said the Centaur scout.

"Chieftain, the Fox Clan isn't strong, but now that barren wasteland has become land larger and more fertile than our plain—this is already a serious threat. Once they grow stronger, as our neighbors, we'll be in trouble. We must prepare early."

At this moment, the Centaur high priest spoke.

It's not pleasant to have a powerful tribe as a neighbor.

The Fox Clan is a perfect example!

It was precisely because the Centaurs were stronger that the Fox Clan was so heavily suppressed.

Centaurs have human upper bodies and horse lower bodies—each one tall and massive, possessing not only the horse's running ability but also hands capable of wielding weapons. They are true human-horse unity, far more terrifying on the battlefield than human cavalry.

Of course, assuming human cavalry aren't wearing armor!

If facing heavy cavalry, these Centaurs might not prevail.

Although the Centaur Clan is stronger than the Fox Clan, this strength lies mostly in their innate physical size.

The Centaur Clan also lacks iron tools, let alone the thick armor covering both rider and mount like human cavalry!

These Centaurs can only cover themselves with leather from other animals or woven plant fibers—their defense is far too weak!

Yet in the land of the beastmen, on the battlefield, they remain invincible.

Their charges are terrifying!

Moreover, the Centaurs have archers and some who wield magic.

Their archers aren't as fearful of close combat as human archers.

Each Centaur archer carries a long spear, ready to transform into a powerful warrior at any moment!

The Fox Clan's inherent physical disadvantages and smaller population naturally made them unable to defeat the Centaurs.

To many Centaurs, the Fox Clan were little lambs.

When the Centaur high priest spoke, other Centaur High Elders of the Clan all voiced their opinions.

These Centaur High Elders of the Clan all favored launching a war against the Fox Clan to seize their land!

These Centaurs were all worried the Fox Clan would grow strong.

Moreover, they coveted the land of the Miracle Wasteland and those miraculous divine beans.

The Centaurs still operated under a tribal system—many small tribes merged into one large tribe. If they could seize the land of the Miracle Wasteland, the leaders of these small tribes would gain vast tracts of land!

The Miracle Wasteland's land was immense—even after the Fox Clan unified, with eighty to ninety thousand people working full force, they had only developed a small portion!

As the Centaur chieftain was about to speak, having heard all opinions, a dissenting voice emerged:

"Even if the Fox Clan gained that wasteland, they can't stand against us. Why not trade with them? Why must we go to war?"

The Centaur chieftain turned to the one who spoke, his expression turning cold: "Mountain Tribe's chieftain, do you have an objection?"

"Ah, the Mountain Tribe—no wonder. They used to be friendly with the Fox people."

"Mountain Chieftain, everyone agrees. Your tribe's opposition is meaningless. You don't have to join the war—just don't come to claim our land afterward."

"Yes, yes…"

As soon as the Centaur chieftain spoke, other small tribe chieftains chimed in.

Seeing this, the Mountain Tribe's chieftain gave a light "huff," took his men, and left—he truly had no intention of joining the war.

With the Mountain Tribe's chieftain gone, no further opposition remained among the Centaur High Elders of the Clan; all rubbed their hands together, ready to launch a great campaign!

"The Fox Clan has at most ten thousand warriors—all weak little foxes. One charge and they'll scatter."

"True, but still don't be careless. Everyone should send as many troops as possible…"

"Someone stole divine beans from the Fox Clan?"

In the Sacred Temple, Sister Qing Ling received a report from her subordinates.

Her brows furrowed slightly.

Then she went straight to Meng Ying and her mother.

"Holy Maiden, the Centaur tribe may be preparing to strike us."

Qing Ling's mother immediately thought of this.

The fox maiden Qing Ling had also thought of this long ago; otherwise, she would not have taken it so seriously.

"Mm, I think the same."

Said the fox maiden Qing Ling.

Beside them, the girl Meng Ying, being human, did not understand the relations among the beast tribes and said nothing, only listening quietly.

Qing Ling's mother asked, "Holy Maiden, what do you plan to do?"

Though young, the fox maiden Qing Ling was highly decisive.

This decisiveness, in fact, stemmed from her faith in Lin Yan.

Because of her faith, because she saw herself as Lin Yan's own, she devoted herself entirely to serving him—and that was why she displayed wisdom and insight rare for one her age!

The fox maiden Qing Ling said, "We strike first!"

"Strike first?"

Qing Ling's mother had never considered this.

Qing Ling's mind had already opened up: "Yes, strike first. We cannot let them reach the Sacred Wasteland. The Centaurs have too great an advantage on open plains. If they come to attack us, there are several places we must pass through in the forest—we can ambush them there and catch them off guard!"