Under the campfire lights of the encampment, tall figures moved swiftly across the snow-covered ground. They possessed long tails, robust bodies, and powerful arms, each carrying a sturdy bow and a quiver packed with dense arrows. These were the Serpent People, a tribe of the Demon race. Only half-evolved, their upper halves were human, while their lower halves were serpentine, leaving tracks on the snowy terrain. A large contingent of Serpent People surged towards the camp like a tide.
Lin Zhao frowned, thinking what a strategist Shi Jun Gang was, to intend to neutralize the Snow Domain Legion's fighting strength without shedding blood by utilizing the Serpent People's ranged attack power. Moreover, the Serpent People were a race blessed with innate divine strength. Once adult, Serpent Men possessed astonishing physical might, their drawing strength nearly double that of human archers. Furthermore, demon race arrowheads were often treated, posing a threat even to high-level cultivators. A series of unpredictable blows could defeat a seasoned master; in the records of the Battle of Snow Domain Heavenly Lake, eleven-realm human cultivators had fallen to Serpent People arrows, not just one or two. For those in the Upper Five Realms, resisting these arrows consumed spiritual energy, and once depleted, death was inevitable.
In the snowy night, approximately thirty thousand Serpent People archers launched their surprise attack, which comprised almost all of the Serpent People troops in the Ninth Army Tent!
"Hoo..."
Lin Zhao let out a soft sigh, planning to find a way to annihilate this Serpent People army in one go today. It was indeed a formidable task for two thousand human warriors to defeat thirty thousand Serpent People, sounding like a fantasy. However, with proper tactical application and suppression from the Upper Five Realms, anything was possible.
...
"Chii chii chii~~~"
As a group of Serpent People stepped into the encampment, they were impaled by the Demon Suppressing Crossbows positioned on the high ground, forming a string of casualties. Immediately, a Serpent People leader roared, "Be careful, there are ambushes on the arrow towers! Those behind, keep up! Those outside, climb over the city walls! Don't hesitate, charge into the encampment and devour them all at once, quickly!"
Instantly, countless Serpent People surged into the encampment. Densely packed, they appeared at the outer walls, twisting their bodies like geckos, scaling the snow-covered walls. In a blink, they had crossed the parapets and infiltrated the encampment, leaving Lin Zhao stunned. Fortunately, they had played a feigned empty city strategy; otherwise, it would have been disastrous. If these Serpent People had launched a full-scale assault, the five or six-meter walls would have been of no use!
"Can we attack now?"
A centurion, clutching the hilt of his sword, felt an urge to fight.
"Not yet."
Lin Zhao raised his hand, signaling for everyone to remain calm. "The Demon Suppressing Crossbows and Bronze Beasts within the camp can still hold them for a while. Let's wait for more Serpent People to enter the encampment."
A short while later, Sufu Xiu frowned slightly and said, "There are at least about twenty thousand Serpent People who have entered the encampment."
"That's enough."
Lin Zhao said in a deep voice, "Attack!"
"Charge!"
Everyone raised their torches. Immediately, the thousand human armored soldiers outside the city, carrying heavy shields and long spears, charged towards the interior of the city. Lin Zhao followed behind, holding his Thunderclap Sword, and said in a deep voice, "Sufu Xiu, your mission is to kill the high-realm demon cultivators in the crowd. Even if an eleven-realm great demon appears, you must use all your might to kill it!"
"Understood!"
Sufu Xiu raised her hand and sent out a sword strike. Instantly, a ninth-realm Nascent Soul Serpent People cultivator knelt on the ground, his head rolling more than ten meters away. He was likely beyond saving.
As soon as the signal was given, the thousand armored cavalry of the Snow Domain Legion, ambushed on the east and west flanks and led by Mu Zha and Chu Yu, launched their charge. Mu Zha thrust his fists forward, unleashing two golden fist imprints that blocked all the incoming arrows, acting like two giant golden round shields for the five hundred cavalrymen behind him. Chu Yu, at the forefront, punched like lightning, scattering waves of arrows. The thousand cavalrymen, in an instant, plunged into the dense Serpent People ranks, hacking and slashing like tigers entering a flock of sheep. The Serpent People were a ranged unit; once caught in close combat with cavalry, they were no match.
Within the encampment, under the command of Lin Zhao and Xiang Ji, groups of Snow Domain Legion heavy shield warriors advanced. The demon leaders within the encampment roared repeatedly, "Shoot them! Don't panic, they're at most a thousand people, they can't do anything to our Serpent People army. Pierce their shields and kill them all!"
However, this time, the Snow Domain Heavenly Lake army was using the thousand heavy cavalry shields provided by Han Ye Tang. These heavy shields were exquisite steel shields produced by the Great Shang Dynasty, incredibly sturdy. Although the Serpent People's arrows might penetrate them, they would have lost their force and could at most inflict minor injuries, not kill anyone.
"Sufu Xiu, chop down that leader!" Lin Zhao said in a deep voice.
"Yes, my lord!"
Sufu Xiu slashed her sword horizontally. Instantly, the Serpent People leader who had been issuing orders in the crowd was torn into seventeen or eighteen pieces by the chaotic sword qi. With a peak eleven-realm human Sword Immortal guarding the field, the enemy's commander had met his doom. It was as if Lin Zhao was calling out names; whoever he pointed to would die the next second. For a time, countless Serpent People surged outwards like a tide, but they were unable to break through the human heavy shield soldiers. Instead, they were counter-enveloped and cut down one by one by spears and swords, their bodies falling.
"Mother..."
A first-realm Serpent Person trembled with fear, almost unable to look directly at the human army before them. What kind of human army was this? Centurions were at least sixth or seventh-realm martial artists, and squad leaders were all fourth-realm martial artists at the very least. The foot soldiers were even more formidable, with second, third, and fourth-realm warriors appearing like common weeds. A single kick could snap an adult Serpent Man warrior in half, while their sword strikes were blocked. This was war, and they were fighting as if in a life-and-death arena, why were they so ferocious?
With the charge of the Snow Domain Legion's armored soldiers, no one paid attention to the Demon Suppressing Crossbows mounted high above. Instantly, five Demon Suppressing Crossbows fired at full force, "Chii chii chii," raining down on the dense Serpent People. The arrows were large and long, capable of hitting two or three targets at once. Thus, these five Demon Suppressing Crossbows, with their five thousand arrows, might kill over five thousand Serpent People, greatly reducing the pressure on the Snow Domain Legion's infantry.
Suddenly, from amidst the Serpent People crowd, a man in a cloak leaped up. His sword light flashed, and he fiercely slashed at Lin Zhao. This was a Star River Realm demon cultivator. He had been lurking for a long time and had finally realized that although the female Sword Immortal was powerful, she was completely loyal to this inconspicuous lower-five-realm Sword Cultivator. Killing him was the key!
"Hmm?!"
Lin Zhao quickly retreated, simultaneously summoning his Sword Qi to protect himself. With his thick skin and tough flesh, activating Sword Qi protection would surely withstand a round of fierce attacks from a Star River Realm boss; he was confident of that. As a result, with a deafening roar, Lin Zhao lost over 10,000 health points from the sword strike, staggering back. The Star River Realm Sword Cultivator roared, his long sword transforming into wisps of sword rain, directly targeting Lin Zhao's body. He roared, "I'll deal with you first!"
Lin Zhao advanced instead of retreating. He leaped up, stomping on the city wall with one foot, twisting his body, and executing a Rising Dragon Slash that fiercely slammed into the opponent. It was a beautiful "comeback jab." The next moment, the Star River Realm Sword Cultivator was sent flying in mid-air!
"Sufu Xiu, kill him!" Lin Zhao shouted as he landed.
"Yes!"
Sufu Xiu suddenly swung her arm. Instantly, a blood-red Demonic Soul Sword pierced the Star River Realm demon cultivator's chest, pinning him to the thick wall. Then, with a spread of her five fingers, three more Demonic Soul Swords pierced the night sky, landing on the opponent with a "peng peng peng." In an instant, this Star River Realm demon cultivator turned into a rain of blood, his body vaporized by the scorching energy of the Demonic Soul Swords, leaving only a gleaming demon core on the ground, which triggered a scramble among a group of Serpent People. Of course, these Serpent People were immediately slain by the flying swords summoned by Sufu Xiu.
"Thank heavens!"
Lin Zhao raised his eyebrows and said in a deep voice, "Continue killing until they are all wiped out! Those outside, Mu Zha, Chu Yu, put more effort into your work, don't delay everyone's time, alright?!"
From afar, Mu Zha and Chu Yu, though engaged in their charge, had been paying attention to Lin Zhao's movements and heard him. They transmitted their voices from a distance, saying, "My lord, rest assured, we are doing our utmost to charge and kill!"
...
This fierce battle lasted for about an hour and a half of real-time before concluding. As dawn broke in the game, the few remaining Serpent People forces retreated northward, numbering around three to four thousand. The encampment was strewn with the corpses of Serpent People. This surprise attack by Shi Jun Gang had dispatched thirty thousand elite Serpent People in the dead of night, resulting in over twenty-five thousand casualties, a devastating loss.
In the war between humans and demons, there were never any prisoners, only corpses.
"Hoo..."
Lin Zhao plopped down on the city wall, sighing in relief. They had finally won. He immediately instructed Sufu Xiu to tally the battle losses. With the extermination of over twenty thousand demon elites, the losses for the human Snow Domain Legion were bound to be significant.
Just then, a bell rang in his ear. The harvest season had arrived once more—
"Ding!"
System notification: Congratulations on completing the [Counter-Attack Ambush] quest. You have received quest compensation rewards: Level +1, Charm +2, Gold Coins +4000, Reputation +3000!
A strand of golden rain descended from the sky, nourishing his entire body. The feeling of leveling up was exhilarating.
However, Lin Zhao's heart felt no relief. He had once again severely wounded the demon elite. This time, the killing was even more brutal, almost tearing apart half of the Ninth Army Tent. With a record of two thousand people defeating thirty thousand, this was an astonishing feat. For someone as arrogant as Shi Jun Gang, this was undoubtedly a deep humiliation.
Shi Jun Gang would not let this matter rest. The demon race would surely return.
...
North of Jiuzhangyuan, in the Ninth Army Tent's command tent.
"Bang!"
Shi Jun Gang slammed a palm onto the bronze table before her, deforming it. Her entire body was hunched over, like a maddened beast. Her true form even materialized behind her.
"Why? Why?"
Shi Jun Gang roared, "Why could they have predicted my ambush?! How were they able to defeat thirty thousand elite Serpent People?"
Bai Ye sat beside her, silent. Shi Jun Gang was in a rage, and anyone who dared to speak would incur her wrath.
"Guards!"
Shi Jun Gang pointed with her hand and said, "Execute all three thousand plus members of the Serpent People Legion who have returned. A bunch of good-for-nothings, what use are they?!"
Bai Ye frowned but remained silent. What could he say? They had encountered a formidable opponent. Even Shi Jun Gang had been defeated. If it were himself, he might have been defeated even more thoroughly.
"In the next battle, I will make them pay with blood!"
Shi Jun Gang looked menacingly towards the south, in the direction of Snow Domain Heavenly Lake. Behind Shi Jun Gang's black robe, a ferocious true form emerged, silencing the generals of the Ninth Army Tent.
That true form was none other than a ferocious hyena.
She was originally the queen of the hyena tribe on the southern grasslands of the Demon Ancestral Mountain, cunning and greedy by nature. The Demon Ancestor bestowed upon her the name Shi Jun Gang.