The gloomy clouds in the sky were dissipating. Magnificent pillars of light pierced through the gaps in the clouds, shining upon the damp grass.
The sky was high, the earth vast, and their spirits soared joyfully.
The grand army of the Hei Alliance surged like a mighty torrent towards the direction of the Grass Manor.
Looking ahead, the human torrent merged into the horizon. Looking back, the dark mass of troops trailed out of sight like a long tail. Yet this was only the central army. In addition, there were the vanguard, the logistics corps, the left guard, and the right guard. The sheer scale of the Hei Alliance's army was clear for all to see.
A massive two-headed rhinoceros, covered in clanking iron armor, was like a moving miniature fortress. Its sixteen pairs of thick, pillar-like legs moved in turn, each step leaving a deep pit in the grass.
This was a Rank 4 giant beast, the Two-headed Iron Rhino. Driven by an enslavement path Gu Master, it exuded a domineering might. On its broad back sat the command tent of the Hei Alliance. Hei Lou Lan sat upright in the center of the tent. The curtains on all sides were rolled up high, giving him an extremely wide field of vision.
He was dark-skinned and stout, with a face full of whiskers. He lay back on a large tiger-skin throne, tilting his head back to gulp down the fine wine from his cup.
"Hahaha! With our army in such formidable shape, what do I have to fear from that brat Dong Fang?" he said, sweeping his gaze across the tent. The flames of ambition burned fiercely in his chest, and a trace of savage brutality emanated from his laughter.
"The Alliance Leader is absolutely right!"
"I bet that brat Dong Fang has already pissed his pants in fear!"
"Haha! With all the heroes here today, our army will surely sweep the enemy away with the force of a thunderbolt!"
Inside the tent sat several high-ranking members. Most were Rank 4 experts; there were very few Rank 3 peak Gu Masters. They burst into loud laughter, their mood optimistic, and they all echoed Hei Lou Lan's words.
Only one person, seated in the highest position on the left, remained expressionless, resting with his eyes closed, as if he were an outsider, completely indifferent to the chatter around him.
Yet no one felt offended. Instead, they found it only natural.
Hei Lou Lan filled his cup and took the initiative to toast this person. "Brother Shan Yin, come, let's drink a cup!"
Fang Yuan slowly opened his eyes, raised his own cup from the low table, gave a slight nod to Hei Lou Lan from afar, and drank the fine wine.
"Brother Shan Yin, still thinking about the assassination attempt the other day? Hahaha, that Shadow Swordswoman is indeed a beauty. I've already sent people specifically to deal with her. That vile brat Dong Fang dares to send assassins, so we can't be weak! When we win this battle and capture that little wench alive, I'll hand her over to you to have your way with her!" Hei Lou Lan said in a rough, comforting tone.
Everyone laughed heartily.
"With Lord Wolf King lending a hand, any defense line can be torn apart!" A Gu Master immediately flattered.
"Yes, yes! I heard that the Shadow Swordswoman is beautiful as a flower. She must be a handful in bed!" A male Gu Master winked, a knowing smile spreading across his face.
"What assassination could ever take Lord Wolf King's life? Hmph, that's just the wishful thinking of that brat Dong Fang. No matter how many times he tries, we have nothing to fear," the Gu Master in charge of the logistics camp said with a fawning smile.
Fang Yuan let out a cold snort and shot a cold glare at the speaker. "You want more assassination attempts? Someone sneaked into the logistics camp and then swaggered right out. Aren't you all ashamed of yourselves?"
The tent suddenly fell silent.
Hei Lou Lan tried to smooth things over. "Ai, Brother Shan Yin, don't be angry..."
Before he could finish, Fang Yuan interrupted. "I won't say anything else, Clan Leader Hei. What about those materials and Gu worms I requested?"
Taking advantage of the assassination as a perfect excuse, Fang Yuan flew into a feigned rage and used the opportunity to demand a hefty "compensation for the shock."
A flash of displeasure quickly crossed Hei Lou Lan's eyes, but he smiled and said, "They've all been sent to your camp, Brother."
Only then did Fang Yuan nod in satisfaction. He stood up and said, "In that case, I'll take my leave to go cultivate. Call me when the great battle begins."
With that, without waiting for Hei Lou Lan's reply, he jumped straight off the two-headed rhinoceros and disappeared from everyone's sight.
"Humph!" Hei Lou Lan snorted heavily, slamming his wine cup heavily onto the table.
He had successfully founded the Alliance and assumed the position of Alliance Leader. The power he held over tens of thousands was intoxicatingly sweet to him. Consequently, Fang Yuan's arrogant attitude was becoming more and more unbearable.
The people in the tent remained silent.
But soon, a sinister voice rang out. "This Lord Wolf King... Now I understand. No wonder the Chang clan couldn't tolerate him back then."
Upon hearing this, although no one said anything, the expressions on their faces showed slight agreement.
Chang Shan Yin was arrogant by nature, but in any organization, the rule has always been that the superior commands the inferior. Any superior will never tolerate disrespect from their subordinates.
"Oh, it's the Scoundrel Sun Shihan." Hei Lou Lan glanced over and recognized the speaker. He pointed at the seat Fang Yuan had just vacated. "Come. Since Chang Shan Yin has gone, you can sit over here."
Sun Shihan was overjoyed. He had spoken ill of Fang Yuan behind his back precisely to curry favor with Hei Lou Lan.
Hei Lou Lan had accepted his gesture of goodwill. One must know that Fang Yuan's seat was the closest to Hei Lou Lan. And it was precisely for this reason that it was not a position a mere ordinary person could occupy.
Sun Shihan was known as the Scoundrel. He was cunning, deceitful, and skilled in plotting and scheming. Yet, he was surprisingly adept at flying the banner of righteousness, finding grand and lofty excuses for everything, deeply versed in the rules of the righteous path. Therefore, although others held him in contempt, they could do nothing to him.