Chapter 637: The Death-Seeking Camp

Three Kingdoms Battlefield edge, Lang Province western border, a desolate plain known as Azure Wolf Plain.

The great army under the command of the Li Clan, the gate of generals of Azure Hill Divine Kingdom, dug earth and built a city; with army formation masters, using nearly a thousand remaining warships as core, they hastily constructed a crude defensive formation, barely holding against the enemy's furious assault.

The city is small, spanning only a dozen li, yet it gathers over a million defeated soldiers.

How many times the besieging army outside exceeds the city's remnants? Just the warships of various sizes floating in the high sky already number over ten thousand; a mere million remnants, logically, a single volley from this fleet would be enough to obliterate them completely.

How could a hastily built city defense formation possibly resist a simultaneous volley of the fleet?

Heavy snow falls swirling down, outside the city a vast white expanse, snow depth reaching several zhang; over a thousand warships float in high altitude, their bodies blazing with blinding light, emitting terrifying heat; snowflakes falling above the warships are vaporized before they hit the ground.

Not a single snowflake can fall into the city.

This hastily built crude military city has been cut off water for half a month.

The Xiang Clan's main force commanded on the Three Kingdoms Battlefield was defeated too swiftly, almost collapsing in just a few hours, annihilated in one blow; the various armies commanded by the great gates allied with the Xiang Clan had not yet figured out what happened ahead when they were struck by the allied forces of two kingdoms, dazed and fleeing in disarray.

All baggage and grain were abandoned; many warships were either destroyed or fell into enemy hands.

The Li Clan's remnants barely retreated to Azure Wolf Plain, surrounded on all sides by enemy forces, with no way out, they could only build a city to defend themselves and await reinforcements.

Azure Wolf Plain is the most remote place in Lang Province, mostly desert, little standing water, relying only on the heavy snow each winter to add a bit of moisture to the scarce underground rivers.

The besieging enemy fleet in high altitude causes snow to evaporate; truly not a single drop of water can fall into the city.

Inside the city, the few deep wells painstakingly dug have been dry for half a month; these days, soldiers, on the condition of not damaging the foundation of the city defense formation, have dug as deep as possible, adding several dozen zhang, yet the dry wells still show no trace of water.

High-ranking officers of profound cultivation in Life Pool Realm and Womb Storage Realm, though lacking water, can still persist.

But those soldiers whose cultivation is no higher than Chonglou Realm, after half a month without a drop of water, have reached their limit; even healthy, uninjured soldiers with sturdy bodies are like this, let alone the wounded, especially the severely wounded, who have collapsed in droves.

Outside the city, in the central command tent of the Great Wei Divine Kingdom's army camp, Linghu Jiu holds a luminous pearl, narrowing his eyes as he carefully examines the geographic map of Azure Hill Divine Kingdom's western frontier, condensed with spiritual power, spanning several hundred zhang.

This spirit‑condensed geographic sand table is far more detailed than the Azure Hill Divine Kingdom's military department's "Map of the Whole Realm of Rivers and Mountains".

At least on this geographic sand table before us, many goat‑trail paths known only to herb gatherers are recorded, whereas the military department's version of that map marks only the roads suitable for horse‑drawn carriages.

This geographic sand table is the crystallization of countless spies, countless time, effort, and wealth painstakingly investigated over many years by the Linghu Clan, who have held the military department; it can be called the supreme asset for marching and war. Such a vital instrument, the Linghu Clan privately kept it, giving only a version a hundred times cruder to the military department for safekeeping.

Within the entire Linghu Clan, this geographic sand table is a unique treasure, secretly kept in Tushan Hall, regarded as one of the Linghu Clan's treasures of the clan. When Fox Hill was attacked, the core bloodline of the Linghu Clan was utterly wiped out, and naturally this geographic sand table was seized; now it has returned to Linghu Jiu's hands.

"If Linghu Qingqing knew we were using this sand table to fight against his loyal subjects and capable generals, I don't know if he would vomit blood from anger."

Linghu Jiu straightened his back and pointed with a smiling chuckle at a spot on the sand table.

"The one commanding inside the city is Li Moyou, right? The current head of the Li Clan, also considered a capable general…… In such a completely collapsed situation, being able to gather a million remnants, choosing this place where six earth veins converge to set up a fortress, is no easy feat."

"Li Moyou…… not bad. His troops are also not bad." Linghu Jiu said calmly: "Force him to surrender; avoid killing if possible, do not massacre…… they are the dynasty's elite blood; killing them harms neither Great Wei nor Great Wu in the slightest, but for us it would be a heavy loss."

A Linghu clansman stepped forward and whispered: "Young Lord, I fear Xiahou Hanhan's side can't wait any longer. After over a month of encircling without attacking, one place like this, two places like this, now dozens of places are like this……"

Linghu Jiu smiled faintly and said calmly: "If he can't wait, then he can't wait; let him order an attack if he wishes. Just tell him, when a dog is cornered it jumps over the wall, when trapped it fights to the death; the casualties will all be his Great Wei's soldiers."

The night‑bright pearl in his hand flicked nimbly on his fingertips; Linghu Jiu said slowly: "Tell him he is now the Crown Prince of Great Wei; this campaign against Azure Hill Divine Kingdom is an opportunity for him to gain fame…… if he loses too many troops, will his reputation among the Great Wei populace still hold?"

Linghu Jiu glanced at the many clan members in the central tent and said leisurely: "Ask him, could it be that within the imperial family he has no rival eyeing him covetously?"

All the Linghu clansmen laughed in unison.

Linghu Jiu nodded lightly and said softly: "Remember, brothers, bear in mind, bear in mind…… this time, for the Linghu Clan, is an unprecedented great change, extremely perilous yet also hiding endless opportunities."

"One step to heaven and achieve eternal glory, or one step into the void and die without a burial place, hehe…… everyone must be extra cautious, extra cautious." Linghu Jiu closed his eyes; several blue veins on his forehead twitched rapidly.

"Be cautious, be deliberate, then everyone pool ideas and efforts, each day spend mental energy to plan and calculate…… each day do not merely indulge in eating, drinking, and entertainment; in your hearts carefully deliberate."

"From the moment Linghu Qingqing decided to usurp the throne, we have carefully pondered, carefully considered, carefully weighed the causes and effects…… until now, the situation of our Tushan Hall lineage, how we came from Fox Hill, being 'sold' to Great Wei…… in this, who could be the instigator? Everyone must think it through clearly."

"Dare to imagine, dare to guess, do not overlook any possibility; even if your ideas seem fantastical, perhaps they could save our entire Tushan Hall lineage, could save our Linghu Clan."

Linghu Jiu exhaled heavily, opened his eyes, and rubbed his temples with both hands: "Headache, headache, in this matter there are many crucial points I cannot comprehend."

"If it were usual, not understanding would be fine…… but now, not understanding means people will die."

"Death of others' children does not pain me, but harm to our own clansmen…… losing one feels like losing a finger, making me heartbroken……"

The words had not finished when a piercing whistle shot up from the distance.

Linghu Jiu's body trembled, turning into a blue afterimage, bringing a gust of clean wind as he rushed out of the central command tent; he leapt into the air, stepping on flowing clouds, soaring to an altitude of ten thousand zhang, gazing toward the direction of the whistle.

In the far east, one after another red flame shot up into the sky, reaching tens of thousands of zhang high, then violently exploded, turning into fiery clouds flickering in the night sky, emitting blinding light that shone in all directions.

Secretly produced military signal flares were transmitted like drum‑beating flower signals; every over a hundred li, dozens of crimson signal flares shot straight up; in less than half a cup of tea's time, on the beacon tower just over ten li from the central command camp, blood‑colored signal flares already shot up high.

After about three breaths, a buzzing sound came from Linghu Jiu's sleeve.

Linghu Jiu took out a sound‑transmission talisman from his sleeve, tapped it with a finger, and heard an urgent voice from within: "Young Lord…… we……"

A "pfft" sound rang out, and no further sound came from it.

Linghu Jiu's eye corner twitched.

Signal flares are easy to send; this kind of sound‑transmission talisman, when facing urgent military affairs, is actually less useful than a signal flare that can be launched with a shake of the hand.

Now the sky filled with blood‑colored signal flares bursting forth shows there is urgent military news, yet the frontline units in contact with the enemy have failed to relay any useful information. Linghu Jiu's eye corner twitched violently as he muttered to himself: "Linghu Qingqing, is it you?"

A flash of green light passed through Linghu Jiu's eyes.

He narrowed his eyes and said slowly: "Originally, Tushan Hall's duty was merely to maintain the bloodline inheritance, to keep the Celestial Fox lineage unbroken; that is Tushan Hall's proper function."

"But since you, Linghu Qingqing, have already taken this step…… the lives of countless Tushan Hall clansmen are now in others' hands…… no wonder I, the Young Lord of Tushan Hall, must wrestle with you."

"Let us see whether your worldly lineage has the ability, or whether it is Tushan Hall that has inherited the finest Celestial Fox bloodline."

"No matter whom you send, no matter how many you send…… in any case, I, Linghu Jiu, will accept it."

Just as these self‑spoken words finished, a Tushan Hall clansman appeared soundlessly behind Linghu Jiu, handing him a blue secret talisman stained with blood‑red patterns: "Young Lord, this is the message sent from there."

"Is it the side that sold the Xiang Clan's main force deployment route, cooperating with us to annihilate the Xiang Clan's army?" Linghu Jiu sneered, took the talisman, and affixed it to his forehead.

"Linghu Qingqing, Linghu Qingqing, who can blame this? You, as the Founding Divine Emperor of Azure Hill Divine Kingdom, could not even purge the dynasty's interior…… I do not know if your Divine Emperor's throne is truly that comfortable? It makes no sense."

Strands of spiritual light flowed from the talisman into Linghu Jiu's brow; he stared blankly, then laughed.

"It is Prince An Huo Xiong who stole the Great Wu Divine Kingdom's state‑protecting artifact, the Black Heaven Cauldron…… hehe, this fellow is ruthless and vicious, moreover despicable and shameless? That assessment is high; it seems he is a talent."

"Hmm, did he just slaughter the Works Hall of Azure Hill Divine Kingdom? Even the Master of the Works Hall, Situ Tu, was beheaded?"

"Hmm, he is a talent worth heavy use."

However, he is now our enemy, which is a headache.

Hiss, this bastard came all the way from Green Hill City, the state troops and county soldiers along the route were wiped out by him? Tens of thousands of large transport ships? How many troops did this bastard bring? He is, he is…… even countless lackeys of the Perceiving Mystery Realm? What does he want to do? Ah? What does he want to do?

Perceiving Mystery Realm…… sending such goods to the battlefield, what is he trying to do? Eighty or ninety thousand Perceiving Mystery Realm cultivators are merely ants that can be turned to ashes by a single secret technique of the Life Pool Realm; bringing these wastes to the battlefield, what is he aiming for?

Linghu Jiu blankly gazed in the direction from which order signals kept arriving.

Suddenly, the sound‑transmission talisman in his sleeve trembled again; he hastily pulled it out, and finally a heavy breathing came through: "Young Lord, be careful…… they are……"

A loud boom came from the sound‑transmission talisman; obviously a powerful spell blasted down, blowing up both the messenger and the talisman into pieces.

"They arrived so fast? Unexpectedly, unexpectedly no one could send back a single completed message? Who exactly are they? What are they doing?"

Linghu Jiu's eyes twitched violently.

Afterward, the sound‑transmission talisman trembled again, but before Linghu Jiu could activate it, the talisman's movement suddenly vanished; obviously, the person on the other side responsible for transmitting messages was killed once more.

"Send out scouts; we must find out clearly what exactly happened ahead."

Linghu Jiu muttered to himself: "This makes no sense; Prince An Huo Xiong's foundation is so shallow, how many usable people could he have? This assault speed simply defies common sense; even with naval bombardment coverage, not a single word could possibly get through……"

Linghu Jiu suddenly felt a surge of alarm; he jerked back two steps, a 'hiss' sounded as a long, thin arrow reeking of a faint fishy odor shot silently past the tip of his nose, the arrow's gust of energy causing a faint scorching sensation on the tip of his nose.

"Assassin!"

Linghu Jiu bellowed hoarsely, layers of spiritual and treasure light flickered across his body, and over a dozen high‑grade defensive secret treasures immediately shielded him thoroughly.

Dozens of generals with spiritual light flowing around them rushed in from all directions, encircling and protecting Linghu Jiu.

However, no further arrows came; instead, terrifying howls echoed throughout the main camp below.

The wind howled, the snow churned, and invisible arrows swooped through the blizzard like ghosts; many mid‑level officers lacking defenses shuddered, and vital spots were instantly pierced by a dozen arrows, after which they collapsed limp to the ground.

A mysterious poisonous gas spread rapidly through the air.

The stronger the wind, the faster the poison gas spread; wherever the invisible poison passed, large numbers of Linghu Jiu's troops collapsed in droves.

Before Linghu Jiu could devise a countermeasure, the eastern camp gate exploded open, thousands of burly figures surged forward, their bodies rippling with piercing blood‑colored flames, marching in unison as they stormed into the main camp.

"Green Hill Divine Kingdom, under Prince An Huo Xiong, the Death‑Camp Commander Xiang Zan is here."

"Death‑Camp, kill!"

Thousands of heavy weapons were raised high, then brought down heavily in a forward chop.

Just one strike, thousands of hurricane‑like dragons swept across the camp grounds, shattering vast swaths of barracks; just one strike, at least a hundred elite troops were crushed to pieces.

Linghu Jiu finally bellowed: "Enemy attack, meet them!"

Before his words faded, the dozens of guards beside Linghu Jiu had their heads shattered simultaneously; a burly old man appeared out of thin air behind him and threw a punch at his skull.