Without a supreme ancestor like Ancestor Jin Xiao, the deterrent power against Jiang Chen was reduced by at least half.
Although both tribes each had two Divine Path ancestors standing guard, and their combat strength was absolutely comparable to the level of Ancestor Silverfrost...
Such-level demon ancestors could not pose a lethal threat to Jiang Chen, and naturally, could not form any real deterrent.
All told, there were four Divine Demon ancestors. However, the number of demon cultivators in these two tribes was quite substantial. The Giant Demon tribe fielded thirty to forty thousand, while the Beast Demon tribe numbered close to a hundred thousand.
In terms of absolute combat power, the numbers were truly staggering.
Of course, the factors determining the outcome of any battle were rarely about numerical superiority, but rather the strength of supreme power.
After weighing the options, Jiang Chen was fully confident that his side's absolute strength was more than enough to fight this battle.
While Ancestor Jin Xiao had not yet spread word of his defeat, Jiang Chen felt this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"Chen Shao, do you think Ancestor Jin Xiao might be lurking nearby after his defeat, waiting for you to appear?" the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast raised its own concern.
This was not a question Jiang Chen hadn't considered. However, he felt that Ancestor Jin Xiao could never have predicted that he, Jiang Chen, would come to the Hundred Sacred Ground.
After all, the Hundred Sacred Ground and Jiang Chen had a history of friction — their relationship had always been strained. Surely the demon ancestors had long since learned all about this.
Moreover, Jiang Chen was a disciple of the Eternal Sacred Ground. By the demons' reasoning, they would certainly assume Jiang Chen would rush to rescue the Eternal Sacred Ground, not the Hundred Sacred Ground.
No matter how one looked at it, there was no reason for Jiang Chen to come to the aid of the Hundred Sacred Ground.
Catch them off guard. Strike where they least expect it.
"The Gold Demon tribe has been utterly annihilated. Ancestor Jin Xiao certainly won't accept that lying down. I expect he's either returned to the barbarian wastelands or is plotting a revenge attack against me. However, consumed by his urgency for vengeance, he would never think we'd come to rescue the Hundred Sacred Ground." Jiang Chen analyzed calmly. "The Eternal Sacred Ground has old ties of obligation with me. The Rising Sun Sacred Ground's Dawn Fire is crucial for countering the Wood Demon tribe, making it a must-hold position. And Winterfuse Island is the key stronghold for humanity against the demon race — he would also suspect I would return to Winterfuse Island to shore up its defenses!"
All these possibilities were indeed far more likely than coming to the aid of the Hundred Sacred Ground.
The Vermilion Bird Divine Beast nodded. "Your analysis holds water. But Ancestor Jin Xiao is unpredictable. The moment we launch our attack on the Beast Demon and Giant Demon armies, he could catch wind of it and move. We need to cut through this quickly and decisively."
That reasoning was sound as well.
With Ancestor Jin Xiao's abilities, if he truly caught wind of something, he could arrive with alarming speed.
For the battle to rescue the Hundred Sacred Ground, if they were going to strike, it had to be swift and decisive. The goal was to have Ancestor Jin Xiao rush over upon hearing the news, only to find nothing there.
When it came to dealing with the Beast Demon and Giant Demon tribes, Jiang Chen was reasonably confident. But to accomplish it swiftly and decisively — to cut through like a hot knife through butter — the difficulty was enormous.
After all, of the ten demon tribes, not a single one had earned its reputation in vain.
Clashing with the demon race was never easy at any time. Fortunately, Jiang Chen's side boasted exceptional combat power — the Four Divine Beast bloodlines and the Gold-Munching Mouse clan were bloodlines every bit as formidable as those of the demon race.
In other words, if Jiang Chen had been leading ordinary human cultivators into battle, even with the same tactics and strategies, the outcome might not have been nearly as smooth.
Because in many cases, what truly determined the outcome of a battle was strength — and the depth of one's foundations.
The Four Divine Beast bloodlines possessed both a powerful foundation and extraordinary strength. And the Gold-Munching Mouse clan was likewise blessed with exceptional innate talent.
Seeing Jiang Chen fall into thoughtful silence, the Vermilion Bird Divine Beast grinned and said, "Chen Shao, I've actually come up with a plan. It's a tactic that your human cultivators have probably employed before."