After listening to Marshal Golong's words, the senior generals of the Tian Dou Empire nodded one after another, voicing their agreement.
A grizzled general of approximately seventy, seated on the right, rose to his feet and said, "Marshal Golong speaks most wisely. Jialing Pass sits on open plains to both front and rear. If we breach it, we'll be able to deploy our army's full strength. Even if the assault falters, the vast plains behind are ideal for a retreat. Moreover, three of the empire's major cities stand watch along those plains. Even in a withdrawal, we'd never face a catastrophic rout."
Marshal Golong replied, "Your Majesty, that is precisely why we intend to fight a war of attrition. At present, the Spirit Empire may appear to be an unbreakable monolith, but it was only recently established. Every kingdom and duchy harbors its own selfish ambitions. An attrition war will certainly cost us dearly, but their losses will fall upon the armies that once belonged to those individual kingdoms and duchies. Disparities in casualties are inevitable. Once losses reach a certain threshold, the Spirit Empire's army will crumble from within. Our task is to manage the ratio of losses between our forces and theirs as favorably as possible. Our Tian Dou Empire spans vast territory, fields a million soldiers, and enjoys an inexhaustible supply chain. Combined with the Xing Luo Empire's support, a prolonged war of attrition will only swing the balance further in our favor. However, this all hinges on our Soul Masters being able to hold back the Spirit Hall Soul Master army for as long as possible. Imperial Preceptor—could you give me some indication? How many of the Spirit Empire's Soul Masters can you realistically withstand?"
The Imperial Preceptor Marshal Golong spoke of was none other than the Great Master.
The Great Master said, "Prince Blue Hao has already promised Your Majesty that the Tang Family Army will supplement our Soul Master Corps to resist the Spirit Empire's Soul Master forces, minimizing casualties to our main army as much as possible."
"Oh? So Prince Blue Hao is quite confident?" Marshal Golong's gaze shifted to
Having listened to the Marshal's analysis, Tang San had been silently nodding throughout. He possessed no expertise in military affairs, so he had simply been listening. Now, seeing the Marshal turn to him, he offered a calm smile. "Conditions on the battlefield shift in an instant. I can't yet say with certainty how much of the Spirit Empire's Soul Masters we can hold back. But as my teacher said, we will do everything in our power to minimize casualties to our main forces. However, I do have a concern—perhaps the Marshal has already devised a solution, but I'd like to raise it nonetheless."
"What concern?" A trace of disdain flickered in Marshal Golong's eyes. In his view, Tang San was simply too young. He knew, of course, that Tang San had won the Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament and defeated Spirit Hall's Golden Generation. But in his eyes, Tang San was merely a young genius Soul Master. He had earned his current position primarily because of his past rescue of Emperor Snowy Night, which had been instrumental in the current emperor's ascension. But when it came to military command, what did Tang San actually know? And yet here he sat in this command tent, above the Marshal himself.
Tang San said, "I know nothing of marching armies and waging war. Everything will naturally follow the Marshal's arrangements. But a war in which Soul Masters participate should be quite different from a conventional one. Soul Masters possess formidable individual abilities. They may not be able to stand against your army's steel legions head-on, but they can easily play a specialized role on the battlefield. For instance, if I were
Tang San's reasoning approached everything from a Soul Master's perspective. As his words sank in, not only did Marshal Golong's expression change—Xue Beng's face darkened considerably as well.
"I've stationed four light cavalry corps specifically to guard the supply convoys. Soul Masters may be powerful, but they wouldn't dare clash openly with my army. After all, the Spirit Empire couldn't possibly send large numbers of Soul Masters to infiltrate our rear." Marshal Golong furrowed his brow. He had considered what Tang San raised and had made preparations accordingly. Yet somehow, after hearing Tang San's warning, a distinct sense of unease took root in his heart.
Tang San said, "The speed and individual power of Soul Masters are beyond what ordinary soldiers can match. True, the Spirit Empire's Soul Masters certainly wouldn't engage our army head-on. But they can disperse into smaller units. I believe that even a single fire-attribute Soul Master of sufficient rank could inflict devastating damage to our supply lines. I urge the Marshal to take this matter seriously. Powerful Soul Masters are elusive. If Bibi Dong merely uses them to harass while she and her main army hold Jialing Pass, waiting for us to exhaust our supplies before launching a single decisive offensive—by then, even retreat may be impossible."
Golong was himself a Soul Master of no small cultivation, and though he had some disdain for Tang San, hearing his reasoning compelled him to think carefully. The more he considered it, the grimmer his expression became. Indeed, if Bibi Dong truly dispatched large numbers of Soul Masters primarily to harass, then the Tian Dou Empire's seemingly invincible million-strong army could find itself in serious trouble. If their supply lines were severed, the army would collapse within days without a single pitched battle being fought.
"Prince Blue Hao, what if I redeploy additional forces to garrison key towns along the supply routes and escort the convoys in relay fashion? How does that strike you?" Marshal Golong asked Tang San. Having heard Tang San's substantive suggestions, he had shed much of his condescension.
Tang San praised the idea. "That's an excellent approach. But I'll say it again—if those escorting forces encounter powerful Soul Masters, the situation will still be dire. Why not let me help the Marshal handle this? Only with a stable rear and ample supplies can we face the Spirit Empire with full confidence."
"Teacher, what are you—?" Xue Beng looked at Tang San, a questioning look in his eyes.
Tang San replied, "The disciples of my
Upon hearing this, the Great Master nodded repeatedly. "An excellent plan. The supply lines are absolutely vital to our million-strong army—not the slightest error can be tolerated. With Prince Blue Hao assisting Marshal Golong, once our army stabilizes the front and establishes a secure supply line, there will be nothing to fear in this war of endurance."
Marshal Golong said, "Then I'll trouble Prince Blue Hao with this matter. I'll expedite the deployment of supply units, have stone fortifications built along the route, and garrison troops at each. Once this supply line is established, the Spirit Empire will have no opportunity for surprise attacks."
Subsequently, a series of tactical discussions continued within the central command tent. Xue Beng treated the supply-line issue Tang San had raised with the utmost seriousness, dispatching an additional six corps—along with the four light cavalry corps already assigned—to station a hundred thousand troops along the supply route, ensuring the flow of provisions remained unbroken.
Back in his own tent, after consulting with the others, Tang San had settled on who would undertake the escort mission. It was simple—just the seven of them, the Shrek Seven Devils, supplemented by a hundred Agility Hall disciples.
Only the Shrek Seven Devils possessed the response speed necessary, and their strength was sufficient to handle any Spirit Empire Soul Master strike force. They could even split into multiple groups. The hundred Agility Hall disciples would serve as their hundred eyes, relaying all reconnaissance information in advance.
Tang San had volunteered for this supply-line protection task not only out of confidence but also because he had no desire to remain trudging along with the main army. Among the Shrek Seven Devils, only
The next morning, the Shrek Seven Devils departed the encampment. They didn't bother with horses, simply staying behind the main army as it marched onward.
Watching the million-strong host gradually recede into the distance,
Ma Hongjun clearly wasn't the only one who felt this way. The others nodded along as he grumbled.
Seeing Xiao Wu's smile, Tang San felt a surge of good cheer. He chuckled mischievously, eyeing the chubby one. "I wouldn't mind giving you another nine trials of the Tang Sect. Pass them all, and I'll hand over the Sect Master position and this Prince Blue Hao title to you. What do you say, Fatty?"
Ma Hongjun shot back indignantly, "Third Brother, stop trying to tempt me. Power is but drifting clouds to me. I absolutely won't fall for it. You just want to shirk your responsibilities—that's why you're offering to hand them over."
Tang San said, "I've completed more than half of the Sea God's eighth trial. All that remains are a few Soul Rings and one final Soul Bone. If I wanted to finish it, a trip to the Star Dou Great Forest would probably suffice. But with a major battle about to begin and the situation still unsettled, we can't just leave. They still need us here. We'll discuss it later."
Dai Mubai said, "Little San, if you were able to resurrect Xiao Wu, that means your Soul Power should have reached the Titled Douluo level. Yesterday there were too many people and you were vague about it—what exactly happened?"
Tang San sighed and pulled Xiao Wu close as her face paled. "It was
Before his companions, there was no longer any need for concealment. He recounted in detail everything he and Xiao Wu had experienced in the Star Dou Great Forest, particularly elaborating on the two martial souls Bibi Dong had displayed and her terrifying power.
"If I'm not mistaken, Bibi Dong seemed to have some kind of restraint at the time—a problem on her own end—which is why she didn't attack me with her full strength. Otherwise, even if I could have escaped, it certainly wouldn't have been so easy."
Tang San said, "I still can't defeat Bibi Dong at present, but if she appears on the battlefield, I'm confident I have the ability to keep her contained and prevent her from joining the fight. As for you all—once the battle begins, you may very well face opponents at the Titled Douluo level. The battlefield is nothing like the trials we faced on Sea God Island. This will be life-and-death combat. When that time comes, we move as one. Teacher is right—our personal safety comes first. Oh, that reminds me—I obtained three Soul Bones from killing Ghost Douluo and hunting Soul Beasts. One was suitable for Xiao Wu, and she's already absorbed it. The other two are perfect for you two to absorb now, to boost your strength."
As he spoke, Tang San produced two Soul Bones from his Twenty-Four Bridges Moonlit Night.
The moment the Soul Bones appeared, fluctuations of Soul Power in the surrounding air grew violent. Within a radius of several hundred meters, powerful ripples of Soul Power radiated outward. Given the strength of the Shrek Seven Devils, Tang San had no concern about anyone coveting them, so he made no particular effort to conceal what he was doing.
The two Soul Bones in his hands were a black right leg bone and a white right arm bone.
Tang San handed the black right leg bone to
At the same time, he gave the white Soul Bone to Dai Mubai. "Boss, this came from a White-Eyed Demon Tiger King I hunted—roughly sixty to seventy thousand years old. It was one of the overlords of the Sunset Forest. It's the same type as your martial soul, so it's definitely the best fit. Go ahead and absorb them now."
There was no need for pleasantries among the Shrek Seven Devils. Neither Zhu Zhuqing nor Dai Mubai said much—they began absorbing the Soul Bones right then and there.
By Tang San's estimation, Soul Bones of this caliber should benefit both of them significantly. Beyond the new skills and physical enhancement, they should also help advance their Soul Power by approximately one rank.
Sure enough, two hours later, when Dai Mubai and Zhu Zhuqing completed their absorption, their Soul Power had risen to ranks eighty-four and eighty-two, respectively.
The group did not continue onward. Instead, they waited in place for information from the Agility Hall's aerial scouts. Their current position sat squarely along the route that supply convoys had to pass through, essentially at the junction between the front lines and the Tian Dou Empire's interior. If the Spirit Empire sent raiders to intercept provisions, they wouldn't venture too deep into Tian Dou territory—doing so would require passing through several cities. Staying put and waiting was the best approach.
Three days passed quickly. The hundred Agility Hall disciples had spread out across the sky like a vast net. Unfortunately, though their reconnaissance abilities were beyond question, the three days came and went without incident. Nothing happened.
"Third Brother, could your judgment be wrong? Maybe the Spirit Empire is too confident and has no intention of cutting our supply lines?" Ning Rongrong asked Tang San, who was leaning against a tree trunk, having just emerged from cultivation.
Tang San smiled faintly, glancing at Xiao Wu, who was still meditating nearby. "If you were Bibi Dong, would you let slip an opportunity to make your enemy collapse without a fight—or even crumble completely? Jialing Pass is no easy target. Even a million-strong army can't breach it in a short time. Any commander with a modicum of military sense would think about destroying the supply lines. Bibi Dong is no fool. Moreover, the Spirit Empire's greatest advantage lies in its elite Soul Masters. Would she abandon such an opportunity? The Tian Dou Empire's command understood that the Spirit Empire cannot sustain prolonged attrition and is prone to internal fracture. Bibi Dong's side is certainly aware of the same. Overestimating the enemy is always better than underestimating them. I believe Bibi Dong will not only target our supplies but will send true powerhouses to do it. The longer she holds back now, the larger the eventual operation will be. She's waiting for our army to fully commit to the front lines—once retreating from the battlefield becomes difficult, that's when she'll strike."
"In two more days, our army will reach the front. Once they're entrenched in camp, that will likely be the moment Bibi Dong makes her move. She's hastily assembling her forces and lacks the thorough preparation of both great empires. She won't seek open confrontation anytime soon. Deploying behind-the-scenes tactics like this is entirely to be expected. Have you forgotten how Spirit Hall attacked your