Chapter 640: Six Hundred Thirty-Six: Just In Case
Chapter 640: Chapter Six Hundred Thirty-Six: Just In Case
South Ridge Beast Valley, Mi Clan’s Wind Media Department
Since the start of the war, Mi Jin, who had been stationed in the center, moved his office here, accompanied by several of his capable consultants, so they could react immediately to information reported from the front line.
Ever since the Mi Clan’s allied forces breached North Mountain and made their landing, the South Ridge Beast Valley had been thriving. Every time a Martial Ancestor returned from the front line, the valley’s clansmen would cheer and jump like they were greeting a hero.
After all, everyone knew that once they drove out the Tang Clan, the Mi Clan’s allied forces would be the indisputable strongest. The next step would be to sweep across the entire Lingjiang.
However, compared to the vibrant scenes at the South Ridge Beast Valley, the atmosphere in the Wind Media Department was tense.
“Immediately notify the Wind Media pursuing the Tang Clan’s formation. The Tang Clan’s Death Defenders have been missing; they may very well be hidden within the formation. Instruct them to be careful and not to take unnecessary risks for the sake of merit!”
With his eyebrows furrowed, Mi Jin issued orders from the tower. He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the Xiangyun Valley encircled by the allied forces, his face filled with solemnity.
Even though the Mi Clan had gained the absolute upper-hand, he felt uneasy, sensing he had overlooked something.
The attack-defense battle was going too smoothly, so smoothly that he could hardly believe it.
As someone who had been confronting Tang Zhi for years, he couldn’t believe such a formidable opponent was now making mistakes frequently.
The Martial Hall had several opportunities to break free, but Tang Zhi gave up on them, concentrating almost all of the Tang Clan’s forces in Xiangyun Valley, as if waiting for something.
The Grandmaster and the Dragon Beast knight who took Bai Ang away, further added an eerie flavor to Tang Zhi’s decisions.
But he and his trusted consultants had combed through this issue several times from scratch, and came up with no constructive conclusion. Changing their perspective, they couldn’t see how they could turn the tide against the imposing allied forces’ pressure.
He admired Tang Zhi’s insights and courage very much, but since there was no chance of winning at North Mountain, why wasn’t Tang Zhi retreating?
“Is the Clan Leader pondering the recent bizarre moves of the Tang Clan?”
Lost in thought, Mi Jin turned around and noted Mi Shen, who had already arrived beside him. He refocused his gaze on Xiangyun Valley in the sand table and asked mildly, “What’s your opinion?”
As the designated young clan leader by the Elder Council, Mi Shen not only possessed remarkable aptitude and talent, but his strategic insights also ranked highly in entire Xiling. With just one Martial Ancestor as a guard, he managed to control the intricate powers in the new Mi City. He even mobilized those martial artists to help in the city’s construction. Due to his strategies, the four prestigious families of Bai, Bie, Wan, and Pan had no choice but to join the Mi Clan and form an alliance through marriage.
If the Mi Clan emerges victorious this time, without a doubt, Mi Shen will receive the highest credit. After a decade of external practice afterward, he may even become the next Mi Clan leader.
If it were an ordinary family, the old clan leader facing the new generation might have insecurities. However, in a wealthy clan like the Mi Clan, the position of clan leader was meant to rotate.
Therefore, Mi Jin was very calm towards Mi Shen’s attitude, even seeming to be soliciting ideas.
Upon hearing Mi Jin’s question, Mi Shen, whose eyes sparkled like stars, chuckled and said, “The Clan Leader is upset because he can’t figure out the Tang Clan’s trick. If this trick were to be exposed, wouldn’t we be worried about how to deal with it?”
In the world, there are always more solutions than difficulties. The most terrifying things are ignorance and lack of ideas. As long as you can predict, you can always find ways to respond or minimize losses.
But the key to both is how to know.
Mi Jin turned his head, looking at Mi Shen’s half-smiling expression, and asked in a deep voice, “Do you know?”
If the Mi Clan leader, equipped with abundant resources, wasn’t able to figure out the enemy’s trick as much as a young clan leader with limited resources, then this difference was a manifestation of ability. No wonder Mi Jin’s tone was heavy.
After all, a self-important person feels a little uncomfortable when he sees a junior who is much better than himself. It’s as if time is rushing him to be efficient.
Fortunately, Mi Shen was not sent from heaven to humiliate Mi Jin, so he simply shook his head and said, “Not sure, but I can narrow down the possibilities.”
“Please enlighten me.” Mi Jin’s anxiety lessened largely. This was what he and his consultants were doing, and right now was a good time to corroborate.
“The resources that the Tang Clan obtained from the Minor Spiritual Realm should all have been handed over to the Ji Clan in Beimang, and the Ji Clan is under the Xuanji Sect. So I think the reason Tang Zhi is unwilling to leave now is that he’s waiting for the Xuanji Sect’s support.” As soon as Mi Shen spoke, he presented an aspect that Mi Jin had never considered.
While those consultants were still focused on the Tang Clan’s current power – like those Defenders who hadn’t taken action yet, potential allies, weapons obtained from the treasury – Mi Shen pointed out the most likely direction.
The Grandmaster, that Dragon Beast knight and Tang Zhi’s strange behavior were suddenly linked in Mi Jin’s mind after Mi Shen’s reminder.
“Are you saying that the Xuanji Sect will join the war in Xiling?” Mi Jin asked with a gloomy face. Despite it being a query, he believed it to some extent in his heart.
Son Shen nodded and confirmed, “Exactly. Therefore, the longer it goes on, the more disadvantaged we are. Like the Grandmaster who appeared on the battlefield last time, although one person doesn’t have a large impact on the war, if two or three of them appear again, it could rip a hole in Xiangyun Valley’s defense line.”
Originally, each family in the allied forces was besieging slowly. After all, the duck in hand couldn’t be let go. From the beginning, the purpose of the Mi Clan’s allied forces was aimed at the transforming martial artists in the Martial Hall and the retreating formation. They were actually hoping that Tang Zhi would hold on for a longer period.
But now it seems, Tang Zhi reserved all the family’s combat power and used his clansmen as bait to wait for the Xuanji Sect’s support.
This is the most plausible hypothesis that explains Tang Zhi’s decision now. And they should be prepared for the worst-case scenario.
Feeling an abrupt sense of urgency in his heart, Mi Jin immediately called the Wind Media to instruct, “Send orders to the front line to speed up the advancement. Within three days, I want the Spiritual Martial Array in Xiangyun Valley to be shattered!”
Defense is always easier than attack. What the Mi Clan’s allied forces have been doing these days is depleting Xiangyun Valley’s array. But as the Mi Family, which has an equally deep foundation, knows that draining the crystal stones under Xiangyun Valley isn’t something that can be accomplished in a few days. Also, they have to guard against Tang Zhi’s breakout, so only thirty percent of the allied forces are truly attacking. The rest are assisting.
However, it seems that such an attack is what Tang Zhi is hoping for. The Grandmaster, who appeared on the battlefield last time, is nowhere to be found. If he went back to ask for help, the outcome would be dreadful to consider.
Just after the order was sent, another Wind Media rushed to Mi Jin’s side, whispered a few words in his ear as he bent over to get up, adding a touch of anger to the Clan Leader’s gloomy face.
“Tell the second elder to hold Xiao Jinlin steady and prepare the imperial carriage for a trip to Nanping Peak!”