Chapter 216

Dusk.

Beast carriages and sword-flying figures stretched for two li, rushing along the road.

The north wind howled, yellow sand swirling.

Autumn had arrived, the air was chilly; although cultivators don't fear the cold, the wind blowing on them was still uncomfortable.

On the wolf cart, Tao Saniangzi, Baozhu, and Goudan crowded around Heng Xian as they sat.

Tao Saniangzi took out a wolf-skin cloak and draped it over Heng Xian, saying: "Young master, you are now the commander; you must look after your health!"

Heng Xian glanced at her and said: "Why does that sound weird? Am I going to catch a cold or what?"

"Hehe..." Tao Saniangzi and Baozhu laughed.

The master jumped onto the cart from the side, clasped his hands, and said: "There are still forty li to go before we reach the territory of the Heroic Gang!"

Heng Xian asked: "Any movement from the enemy?"

The master shook his head: "No word yet, but Sun Botian and his men, who took a detour to attack Tianyang Stronghold, have sent back news."

Heng Xian sat upright and said: "Speak!"

The master replied: "At the end of the Yin hour, they arrived at Tianyang Stronghold and launched an attack; Tianyang Stronghold resisted only half an incense stick's time, after which its chief, Lv Tianyang, led his people to surrender."

We suffered no casualties; the enemy lost thirty-six killed or wounded, and afterward we absorbed ninety-nine of their men.

Now, Sun Botian's force of nearly nine hundred has rushed to a point fifty li around the Three Gates Gang and stands ready!

"Excellent!" Heng Xian nodded.

Baozhu pondered, then asked: "Why not let them attack the Three Gates Gang directly? With their strength, wiping out the Three Gates Gang would be easy."

Tao Saniangzi and the master both looked at Heng Xian; this was also something they were curious about.

Heng Xian explained: "With such a grand show of force to seize territory, we can't keep it hidden from others; the news of the Fierce Tiger Stronghold and the Clear Water Stronghold has been blocked, but the Three Gates Gang and the Heroic Gang have not."

Upon receiving the news, knowing they cannot win, they will certainly make a choice; if they surrender voluntarily, then we will have achieved the goal of subduing the enemy without battle!

If they are unwilling, they will surely unite, giving us the perfect opportunity to strike them from both sides and finish them once and for all!

After listening, the master gazed deeply at Heng Xian and said: "Sir, your strategies are peerless and your vision far-reaching; you are truly... a dragon among men!"

Heng Xian said: "Nonsense, just a small scene."

Tao Saniangzi gave a snicker, not knowing what she found funny.

Baozhu mused: "Could there not be a third possibility?"

As his words fell, Wang Dalin suddenly came speeding on a double-tailed leopard, his face strange, saying: "Sir, the Heroic Gang's stronghold is empty—no one there!"

"This..." Baozhu and Tao Saniangzi stared, stunned.

Heng Xian waved his hand: "Send some disciples with decent cultivation to find them; they have one or two hundred people—they can't get away!"

Then order the main force to pass through the Heroic Gang's stronghold and head toward the Three Gates Gang.

Also instruct Sun Botian and his men to check the current situation of the Three Gates Gang!"

"Yes! Sir, look after yourself; it's cold!" Wang Dalin solemnly slapped a flattery, turned the leopard, and galloped off.

Baozhu curiously asked: "Where will the people of the Heroic Gang go?"

The master said: "Don't rush; you'll know soon!"

The large contingent continued forward, and not long after passed the Heroic Gang's deserted stronghold.

The stronghold was small, about twenty ramshackle huts, with a large flag erected outside, the character 'Hero' fluttering on it.

After passing the stronghold, they continued west; soon darkness fell.

At that moment, three or four figures rushed forward from ahead; leading them was the second brother of the Five Goat Brothers, head of the western forces, who clasped his fists and said urgently: "Sir, something serious has happened!"

Baozhu, Sir, and the others rose with solemn expressions.

Heng Xian said calmly: "Don't panic, speak slowly!"

The second brother of the Five Goat Brothers said: "We went to scout the Three Gates Gang's stronghold and found it empty! Immediately, brothers sent to gather intel reported that the Three Gates Gang and the Heroic Gang have joined forces, also bringing in three powers from two hundred li to the north and a large band of wandering bandits, claiming a force of three thousand, and are waiting at Tiger Skin Shoal to do battle with us!"

"Oh?" Heng Xian's eyes flashed with a hint of excitement.

Baozhu said with concern: "The three northern powers were originally too far away to be counted in our attack range; now they suddenly appear with so many people, and we don't know where they come from."

The troops we have just gathered lack loyalty; they can only fight when they have the advantage, and I fear...

The master shook his head and laughed: "No problem! Their claim of three thousand is exaggerated; they likely have only about a thousand. You think our lack of loyal troops means they can unite in hatred against us?"

"Well..." Baozhu hesitated.

Heng Xian waved his hand: "Have confidence; defeating them will be as easy as taking something from a pocket!"

San Niangzi, pick two hundred Qi Hai Realm brothers, equip them with profound-rank spiritual armor and spiritual artifacts, silently detour behind the Tiger Skin Shoal, conceal your traces, and await orders!

"Good!" Tao Saniangzi wrapped herself in a swirl of demonic wind and rushed straight ahead.

Baozhu rose and said: "Sir, what about us?"

Heng Xian looked at the forward troops and said: "Go tell the brothers to quickly link up with Sun Botian of the western route, have Wang Dalin send more men to gather intel, beware of ambush, and we will march to Tiger Skin Shoal to do battle with them!"

"Yes!" Baozhu also hurried away.

After half an hour, the main force met with Sun Botian's men, totaling fifteen hundred, and they marched mightily toward Tiger Skin Shoal.

……

'Tiger Skin Shoal' lies beside the sand river of Yue'er Lake; the ground is covered with variegated mortar stones that look like a whole tiger hide, hence the name.

At that moment, to the north of Tiger Skin Shoal, about a thousand men in tattered clothes, wielding swords, spears, and clubs, with disheveled hair, waited in a menacing manner.

Leading them were four men and one woman, each imposing, and indeed all were cultivators of the Yuan Dan Initial Realm.

These people were precisely the members of the alliance of the Heroic Gang, the Three Gates Gang, and the other three major powers!

Among the five Yuan Dan cultivators leading them, a man with loose, long hair said in a deep voice: "The enemy must be arriving soon!"

A middle-aged woman beside him asked: "Feng San Ge, where exactly do these people come from? How did such a force suddenly appear in the eastern stretch of Vast Mountain?"

The disheveled-haired man Feng San Ge hesitated for a moment: "It is said that this is a newly risen force, formed from the Five Goat Stronghold and a small power called the Righteous Aid Gang, and they have also recruited several hundred scattered bandits."

A thin-faced Golden Core cultivator frowned and said, "How could the bloodless killers of Five Goat Stronghold join forces with other factions? And where did they get the money to recruit so many scattered bandits?"

Feng San Ge shook his head and said, "I'm not sure; it happened too quickly, and the other side came with overwhelming force!"

The middle-aged woman asked, "Who is their leader? Who has the audacity to build such a huge force?"

Feng San Ge said in a low voice, "I sent people to investigate, and all I know is that this person is very mysterious; rumor has it they're a youth under twenty!"

"A... youth?" the middle-aged woman and the three others exclaimed.

Feng San Ge nodded: "I've heard the same; I don't know if it's true, but if it is, this person is so young that no matter what methods they used to build their force, they couldn't possibly control so many savage bandits!"

They relied on their numbers, merely defeating the Wallhead Gang and Heavenly Sun Stronghold; we, however, can await them at ease, and our chances of victory are great!

As long as we defeat them and seize their resources and spirit crystals, all five of our families can greatly increase our strength!

"Report!" Just then, a lackey ran up from the front, panicking: "Bosses, they're here!"

Feng San Ge and the five exchanged a glance and shouted, "They've come; what's there to panic about?"

That lackey pointed behind and said, "You bosses, see for yourselves!"

"Whoosh..."

All I saw was countless torches appearing in the distance darkness; beneath the torches were masses of men uniformly clad in spiritual armor and wielding spiritual artifacts.

The synchronized footsteps were deafening, as if they weighed heavily on everyone's hearts!

The contrast between the two sides was too stark—like a regular army versus beggars; even before fighting, we lost in momentum!

"This..." the nearly thousand-strong forces of the Five Great Powers Alliance involuntarily began to retreat backward.

Feng San Ge and his five companions' faces also changed.

"Those who don't want to die, stand your ground! Prepare to meet the enemy!" the middle-aged woman shouted angrily.

Only then did the forces of the Five Great Powers Alliance stop, glancing at each other.

Meanwhile, the fearsome forces of the Bandit Alliance also halted, slowly making way down the middle; a wolf cart appeared, upon which sat cross-legged a youth and a monkey.

Dozens of men and women with fierce auras surrounded them as guards.

Feng San Ge and his five exchanged another glance, stepped forward together, and shouted, "Why attack others' strongholds for no reason? What do you want? Have you abandoned all righteousness and shame?"

(End of chapter)