Chapter 622

We are to slay the dragon and exterminate its heart, to use a dull knife to cut flesh, to put pressure on Cang...

Shangyang Yao Marshal said calmly, "Let him have time to feel and savor the torment, that kind of anguish of watching his own living forces being destroyed and devoured, thus being forced to step down, even though he clearly knows we are stirring trouble, he still has no choice but to fall into the trap."

Jimeng Yao Marshal listened, his eye twitching.

This colleague... is quite ruthless!

"Only a living, hopeful dragon clan can influence Cang's thoughts... but if the dragon clan is gone, the old dragon, with all hopes lost, will single-mindedly seek to fight us to the death, avenging his clan—what then?"

"We're suffering losses!"

Shangyang Yao Marshal sighed, "In that case, aren't we just becoming the big sucker?"

"Within the Wu Clan, Nüwa's sister faction is probably laughing so hard their teeth fall out... the Heavenly Court paid a huge price to have them annihilate the dragon clan, both sides suffered losses, and the human race got a huge windfall for free!"

"So..."

Shangyang spread his hands, "The best method is just like this now!"

"Apply pressure on the dragon clan, making them hover on the edge of heavy losses, but also give a hint of hope, making people feel—as long as they put in extra effort and the Wu Clan headquarters shifts its support, the dragon clan can get through this crisis!"

"If the Wu Clan doesn't come to the rescue... then we'll on one hand cut flesh and bleed the dragon clan, on the other spread rumors that the human side is betraying trust and abandoning allies in bloodshed... This will further create conflict within the Wu Clan's core, splitting this faction."

The dragon clan is in a bloody battle; how do the other clans view it?

When one clan is in trouble, do all clans gather to watch?

People's hearts will scatter.

Like the dragon ancestor, there will surely be resentment—watching his own clan's youths become bait, even sacrificial pawns, for the so-called "greater good," serving it, or rather someone else's greater good...

Will they resign themselves? Will they be convinced?

If it cannot be saved, then forget it.

If it could be saved but isn't... if the dragon ancestor's temperament were a bit more stubborn, he might very well turn on the spot!

Shangyang is currently overseeing the assault, grasping this degree, mobilizing the enemy in fields outside the battlefield.

Of course.

If the Wu Clan temporarily stops taking the human race as its axis, shifts its tendency, and seriously supports the dragon side, stirring into this flesh-and-blood battlefield?

Shangyang Yao Marshal pondered, this isn't a loss either!

"If the Wu Clan comes to the rescue, things will get more interesting." Shangyang chuckled low, "We can then continue to 'arrange' for this old friend Cang."

"There are two routes we can take."

"If Cang sees the light, grasps the subtleties of wallgrass, deeply understands the principle of nurturing bandits to be self-respecting, we don't mind cooperating, slowly attacking, letting him develop, then feeding some intel to the human side, putting some eye drops on the dragon clan, continuing to manufacture conflict and sow discord."

"If Cang does not see the light, being wise and martial, commanding the front lines and taking the initiative... then Donghuang has long been planning in his chambers, waiting for him!"

"What if the old dragon neither sees the light nor is brave?" Jimeng asked.

"Then we'll take the reinforcements that came to support and strike them hard... while the dragon clan's forces will mainly be used to pin them down." Shangyang gave a light hum, "Afterward, we'll open our mouths and concoct some rumors... claiming the dragon clan deliberately sold out its allies, harmed the reinforcements as cannon fodder, while itself stayed in the rear—if not, why did so many reinforcements die while the dragon clan hardly lost any?"

"A saying once uttered by August Emperor Majesty, I deeply believe it."

Shangyang Yao Marshal said, "As long as the mind dares to slip, there are always more methods than difficulties."

"Applied here, I think it's quite fitting... as long as the strategy is proper, we can always divide and dismantle the two major factions of Cang and Princess Nüwa, letting the Wu Clan turmoil in internal strife, weather-beaten!"

"Your strategy... you're dead set on stirring up wind and rain in the Wu Clan." Jimeng Yao Marshal sighed, this colleague beside him truly lives up to being from the faction that once mixed with the Phoenix Clan, close to the ancient Three Great Sages of the dragon-phoenix era—Báizé, Fuxi, Jieyin—his lows are rather worrying, full of dirty tricks.

Of course, Jimeng also muttered these words in his belly, saying... it's impossible to say them out loud.

After all, the former Three Great Sages, even at their worst now, have achieved Taiyi... although Jimeng is strong, he still belongs to the working class.

Dare to spout nonsense, aren't you afraid one day someone will knock you out with a club?

Muttering a couple of complaints in the heart is about enough.

"I'm also speaking from the actual situation..." Shangyang didn't know Jimeng was secretly scheming against her, already viewing her as a dangerous element, still smiling and saying, "The Wu Clan harbors huge hidden contradictions, yet puts on such a proper front, making me see it and unable to resist wanting to stab twice."

"I'm also quite helpless!"

"All we can do is go with the flow, unleash the Demon Race's strengths, target the Wu Clan's weaknesses."

"What are the strengths of the Demon Race?"

"Numerous! Sufficient foundation! Inheriting the legacy of the ancient Heavenly Court is enough!"

"Thus, we can afford to be more casual about sacrifices, able to operate with strategic objectives as a premise."

"Of course, there are also shortcomings..." Shangyang Yao Marshal's eyes narrowed, "Traitors... are relatively many."

"Moreover, those traitors hold high positions—don't even mention the third rank; even the first and second ranks are full of problems, either plotting rebellion or seeking a new patron, true steadfast supporters are perhaps few."

"Jimeng, do you say so?" Shangyang asked with a smile to his colleague.

"Who knows?" Jimeng hesitated, then didn't answer, directly throwing the question back, "Shangyang, you say this—could it be that you suspect a colleague of harboring ill intentions, plotting wrongdoing, wanting to present evidence, and restore the Heavenly Court to a bright and upright universe?"

"As a steadfast loyal minister of the Heavenly Court, I sincerely support you!"

Jimeng's eyes were very sincere, "Quietly tell me, I'll go help you gather evidence against the target and bring them to justice!"

"Forget it, forget it..." Shangyang waved his hands repeatedly, "I was just saying that offhand, I have no mind to investigate... Jimeng, you also don't need to look into it."

"I'm afraid that if you investigate poorly and leak traces, the startled traitor will be driven to desperation and directly do me in—how unjust would I be!"

"If there's injustice, you can seek redress!" Jimeng laughed, his smile somewhat bright.

"Hey... under the bright sun, who dares to have a grievance?" Shangyang shook his head, "How rare to be muddled, how rare to be muddled... like Emperor Jun Majesty, he's a top-notch master of playing dumb."

"However, the Heavenly Emperor Majesty is also quite capable... with so many members of differing thoughts under his command, he can still keep the Heavenly Court firmly in hand."

"Many colleagues have the idea of flying solo, yet he cleverly keeps them around to work in the Heavenly Court... although giving one's all is impossible, each can still barely do their proper job, right?"

Shangyang gave Jimeng a meaningful look.

Jimeng's eyes were deep, he responded without changing expression, "Exactly, exactly... the Heavenly Emperor Majesty indeed governs his subordinates well."

"Governing subordinates well... very good." Shangyang said offhand, "The Heavenly Court is precisely scattered but not chaotic."

"Emperor Jun relies on his own methods and various interest exchanges, balancing factions... so although many Heavenly Court officials harbor different intentions, the authority to command the Heavenly Court is gradually drawn back into his hands, ensuring core stability."

"He pays respects to Empress Nüwa, yet strips her of the legitimate authority to command the Demon Race."

Respectfully inviting Xihuang, I don't know whether some agreement was reached behind the scenes, allowing Xihuang to hardly meddle in the Heavenly Court.

Also, Elder Báizé, fellow Daoist Kunpeng... one is a Historian, one a Demon Master; their status is exalted, but in actual power they are marginalized, lacking the highest military authority.

Among the Heavenly Court's Six Giants, only the Heavenly Court's Two Eastern Emperors hold the overall situation, penetrating top and bottom, wherever their orders point, the Demon Race follows... As of now, no one can shake them.

As for the Wu Clan?

The capable ones handling affairs are indeed not few... It is precisely relying on them that the Wu Clan's early weakness was propped up, developing to the present level.

Alas, the hidden danger was already planted back then... Houtu promised authority, letting all the great ancestor witches have military power, theoretically without hierarchy.

This indeed mobilized teammates' enthusiasm, but it also left her repeatedly weakened, resulting in a top-heavy situation, giving us today the opportunity to strike.

Right and wrong, it's hard to say clearly.

Shangyang sighed.

"Perhaps." Jimeng's eyes twitched slightly, "However, if there wasn't even a beginning, there's no point considering these later worries... So, we can't say Nüwa's approach was wrong."

If she is to blame, she can only blame her own ill fortune, continuously suffering multiple weakenings... The sage position and reincarnation are both great mountains weighing on her.

"That's right." Shangyang nodded with a smile, "But in the end it benefited the Heavenly Court, allowing the Demon Race to exert itself and seize the initiative in war."

Using the Demon Race's strength to strike the Wu Clan's weakness... this hurdle, the other side won't find it easy to get past!

The Demon Race, with the Yao Clan's Advantage in Numbers, upper and lower orders uniform, the lower ranks dare to contribute, can sacrifice, obeying the Heavenly Court's Two Eastern Emperors' orders.

The Wu Clan, top-tier combat strength slightly dominant, yet hampered by differing positions... Perhaps there's no doubt about defeating the Demon Race, but who gets to reap the fruits is a major point of contention.

Now, the Demon Race has found the Wu Clan's weakness, coming right out with a matching strategy, and gradually building up the matches, letting the Wu Clan's players watch helplessly, wanting to act but unable to, unable to refrain—disgusting... it's top-notch.

A slow strike, rather than a rapid advance, is a yang stratagem, yet very effective.

If the Heavenly Court were to boast of destroying the Wu Clan within a certain number of years and months... instead it would easily capsize, prompting humans and dragons to cooperate, possibly leading to a direct counterattack that would rout the entire Demon Race.

Beating one side, letting the other side go... but the problem is thrown to the Wu Clan's upper echelons, to see their respective levels of awakening.

However.

They have truly awakened fully...

The Eastern Emperor is still waiting!

He, as the Great Sage Dragon Ancestor, has prepared for so long, just waiting to trample upon the Dragon Ancestor's prestige to proclaim to the Honghuang the Eastern Emperor's majesty!

……

About as Shangyang estimated.

As pressure on the Dragon Clan's front line kept increasing, the Wu Clan's command center also gradually became restless.

Originally, Di Jiang Zu Wu issued orders, each department executing in an orderly manner, transporting supplies, mobilizing troops, on every front either defending, attacking, or making detours, continuously wearing down the opposition, the battle results were still quite gratifying.

The casualty ratio is quite good; overall the Wu Clan is gaining... After all, they are on the defensive, and defense inherently holds an advantage, with home-field support.

Moreover, if the Demon Race side, losing its senses, frenziedly attacks the Dragon Clan, unwilling to spare losses elsewhere in retreat... this makes the Wu Clan even more delighted, casually making many profitable 'deals'.

But, this is from an overall perspective.

When it comes to the details...

Throughout the process, the Dragon Clan ended up pitiful.

They bore the greatest pressure, fought the most brutal war, suffered the greatest losses, being beaten from start to finish, and also had to endure the mental hardship and bitterness.

——The Demon Race's reinforcements came wave after wave, each stronger than the last, like endless, limitless repeated pressure, ever-present insurmountable peaks appearing, bringing unparalleled pressure, making the Dragon Clan's overall spirit stretched to the limit, liable to snap at any moment.

What 'unyielding despite repeated setbacks'... that's merely because the setbacks aren't numerous or large enough!

Time after time hope is strangled, time after time blows are dealt... except for a very few outstanding individuals, the rest have long since collapsed.

The Dragon Clan, although possessing tremendous spiritual potential, cannot withstand such deliberate crushing, being rushed to destroy the spiritual pillar.

The Dragon Ancestor watched from the command center, his gaze gradually changing.

Remaining silent, he suddenly rose, cast aside the task of being a mere cog in the long wall defense line, and walked straight out.

"Gonggong, don't fall for the scheme!"

Tiānwú Zuwu spoke up to dissuade, "Everyone knows the Heavenly Court's power... this manner of attack is inherently unreasonable, there must be deceit!"

Perhaps they are waiting for you to act impulsively, to make an unwise move!

"Not bad!" Qiángliáng Zuwu gave a thumbs-up, "Moreover, considering the overall situation... our current casualty ratio is very profitable."

For the overall situation...

"'The overall situation?' Gonggong Zuwu suddenly turned, his eyes sharp as lightning, 'What is the overall situation?'"

Whose overall situation is it?

If I don't acknowledge it, don't care, what does the overall situation have to do with me?

My Dragon Clan, how much have they sacrificed? Can't you see?

Gonggong growled low.

"You fear sacrifice? We understand." Jumang Zuwu came to from his dazed state, very calm, "Compensation can be increased by thirty percent."

Moreover.

After the era ends, I will, via the path of nirvana, greatly revive the fallen Dragon Clan, so they won't have died in vain.

Sacrifice is indispensable; we also see the Dragon Clan's contributions, eyes not blind, we won't let heroes shed blood and tears.

Jumang Zuwu said calmly, 'It might merely delay the paths of some ambitious folks, making them suffer minor losses.'

But this is also good.

It can also let everyone see, those who constantly speak for the clan, for the collective... whether it's truly public-spirited or just self-interest.

Jumang Zuwu's words, laced with hidden barbs, left Gonggong Zuwu choked, unable to speak for a moment.

After an awkward moment, Gonggong Zuwu reluctantly said, 'Is this about money? Is this about sacrificial death?'

The Heavenly Court is executing a 'kill the dragon, exterminate the heart' strategy against the Dragon Clan!

(End of chapter)