The two armies faced each other. The He family was just about to send Pan Ping forward to issue a challenge, but Dongfang Yuliang, well-prepared, beat them to it and dispatched Tang Miaoming.
Tang Miaoming was a female Gu Master of the Slave Path specially cultivated by the Tang family. She was at the fourth rank, middle stage, and had a fondness for foxes, wielding them with exquisite skill. However, she had never achieved any notable feats in battle.
But Dongfang Yuliang specifically sent her out and had her directly challenge the Wolf King. It was obvious that Dongfang Yuliang had a plan specifically aimed at Fang Yuan, and Tang Miaoming was merely the first step.
Such was the way of Wisdom Path Gu Masters—they dealt with enemies in a chain of steps. One targeted by a Wisdom Path Gu Master might not realize it at first, but by the time they did, they would already be trapped, with no way out.
Tang Miaoming's open challenge drew everyone's attention to Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan remained composed. He took a sip of wine, slowly put down his cup, and looked at Hei Loulan. "Alliance Leader, shall I accept the challenge then?"
Hei Loulan laughed heartily, evidently pleased that Fang Yuan was asking for his orders before battle. "Let's see you, Brother Shanyin, display your might and awe the masses!"
Fang Yuan leisurely stood up, activated his Gu worms, and called out loudly, "Little girl, you have the courage to challenge me, but you are no match for me. Besides… the hour is getting late."
At the front, Tang Miaoming's hands, gripping the reins, were slick with sweat. Upon hearing Fang Yuan's response, her delicate body trembled slightly, and her thoughts raced. "The Wolf King has answered! He's as arrogant as expected, just as Alliance Leader Dongfang predicted. Then I'll follow the plan—use words to provoke him into using only a hundred-beast horde to match my fox group of equal size. But… what did he mean by that last sentence?"
Dongfang Yuliang, seated in the king's tent, had been closely watching the situation.
Tang Miaoming was someone he had accidentally discovered not long ago, a formidable Gu Master of the Slave Path. Upon learning more, Dongfang Yuliang found that Tang Miaoming excelled at controlling small-scale fox groups. Her skill in this area was profound, and with the set of auxiliary Gu worms she carried, she could even rival a Grandmaster of the Slave Path!
Dongfang Yuliang immediately thought of using Tang Miaoming to publicly set a trap for the Wolf King, Chang Shanyin.
The Wolf King's prestige was deeply rooted in people's hearts. If he could be made to look foolish in front of so many eyes, it would certainly boost morale tremendously.
What's more, the Wolf King Chang Shanyin was extremely proud, while Tang Miaoming was merely his junior, and a young woman at that. If she adopted a humble posture, Chang Shanyin would hesitate to bully the weak in front of all those people.
"Chang Shanyin, you're as arrogant as the rumors say. Hehehe, once you step into the ring, Tang Miaoming is certain to give you a great surprise."
While secretly excited, Dongfang Yuliang also felt a trace of doubt. "The hour is getting late? What does he mean by that?"
Dongfang Yuliang was not the only one confused; others shared his confusion.
But Fang Yuan's next words provided the answer. "It's getting late, so let's start the fight quickly. After it's done, I still have lunch to eat. Come on, those who want to challenge me, feel free to step forward!"
After saying this, he stood in the king's tent and waved his hand.
Howl—!
The five hundred thousand wolves all howled together.
The thunderous howling echoed through the sky. The immense pressure was so great that it even stopped the wind, and the assembled heroes trembled.
"Brother Shanyin, what are you…" Hei Loulan's hand trembled, spilling the wine from his cup onto his pants.
"Could it be? What is the Wolf King thinking?!" Dongfang Yuliang's pupils contracted, and his face changed slightly.
Immediately after, the five hundred thousand wolves surged forward like a tsunami, a monstrous wave. Magnificent and vast, they raced toward the opposing army at full speed.
"M-my heavens!"
"A wolf tide! A wolf tide…"
"Chang Shanyin launched a direct attack! He sent all his wolves!"
The allied army of the East fell into chaos. The overwhelming momentum of the wolf rush terrified them. Many shrieked in terror, and countless defensive Gu worms were activated.
In an instant, countless glowing shields lit up within the eastern army, dazzling in their variety. Some covered only individuals, while others spread over large areas. Some took the form of armor, while others caused the ground to rapidly rise into earthen walls.
Tang Miaoming's face turned ashen!
She was caught between the two armies, and the wolf pack was rushing straight at her, leaving her in the most vulnerable position.
Confronted by the vast wolf tide stretching for miles, she felt like a small rowboat in the vast ocean, about to be swallowed by monstrous waves.
"Damn it! The Wolf King doesn't play by the rules! I challenged him with only a thousand-beast group!" Tang Miaoming felt a mix of shock and fury.
Generally, when two armies were about to engage in battle, they would hold a duel between champions before the ranks.
This was a long-standing custom of the Northern Plains.
These one-on-one duels between powerful Gu Masters not only boosted the morale of the victorious side upon victory but also allowed them to probe the other side's strengths and make counterplans for the future. Moreover, these duels also served as a way to build connections. If the war ended, the losing side's Gu Masters could surrender without losing face.
But what happened to the agreed duel?!
Fang Yuan, without holding back, deployed his entire wolf horde from the very start, bypassing the duel phase entirely and plunging straight into an all-out assault.
O Wolf King, do you have any respect for the rules?!
For a moment, countless people, both friend and foe, screamed and questioned in their hearts.
The two armies were not far apart. The wolves ran swiftly and quickly closed the distance, engaging the eastern army in fierce combat.
"Hurry! Don't freeze up! The wolves are upon us!"
"Kill! Slaughter these damn wolves!"
"Brothers, draw your weapons! Let's fight together, shoulder to shoulder!"
Chaotic shouts erupted from the eastern army. Radiant colors flashed as rolling stones, golden lights, wooden spikes, water vapor, wind blades, and more rained down upon the wolf pack, causing massive casualties to Fang Yuan's wolves in an instant.
The He family's army, on the other hand, stood frozen in place, dumbfounded as they watched the intense battle unfolding on the other side.