Chapter 1166: Chapter 616: Four Hundred Thousand (Three Chapters Combined) (5)
What is all this for? If you say it’s because of her, she firmly doesn’t believe it. Changtian has always acted independently, never swayed by others, except for the blood pact made with Yin Jiuyou.
"The convoy from Guangcheng Palace took over half a year, and only reached the southwest in the winter before last." He Sect Leader smiled faintly, "The cultivation path emphasizes a slow and steady approach, cultivating the spirit and nurturing the body. Cultivators are different from us demons, having rushed for over half a year without proper breathing regulation and no one to serve them. By the time they arrived, their abilities were reduced to only thirty percent."
"They arrived in batches. The first batch settled in Xingbin Town. As soon as they entered the town, the townsfolk reported it. Soon after, these unlucky ones received our enthusiastic hospitality; out of more than six thousand people, only about two hundred survived and fled."
She exclaimed: "Did these people refuse to surrender? Human cultivators, with such strong resolve?"
He Sect Leader shrugged: "Lord Changtian said, in the early stage, there’s no need for prisoners. Besides, his blood pact with Yin Jiuyou also needs to be filled with lives."
Indeed, she took a deep breath in secret. Although she knew Changtian intended to intimidate the enemy, she was still shocked by his ruthlessness. In a mere gesture, he decisively wiped out tens of thousands of cultivators, a feat only an ancient giant demon could achieve.
Subsequently, Guangcheng Palace finally gained a foothold in the southwest and began to battle with the Hidden Stream. At this point, the Hidden Stream had greatly retracted, refusing to confront them head-on, withdrawing the main forces into Bashe Forest, leaving only highly mobile bird demons and ground troops skilled in earth escape techniques to use guerrilla tactics against the invading enemies, flanking them with small forces. Here, the innate abilities of the Hidden Stream demons became apparent, indeed varied and strange. Some demons didn’t have outstanding combat power but could provide earth and water escape effects to all friendly troops, some could set up illusions, while others could control insect beasts, performing extraordinarily in such an unconventional battlefield.
On the Guangcheng Palace side, they encountered numerous troubles, the most significant being the lack of supplies. Although cultivators don’t require three meals a day like mortals, they still need a hot meal once or twice every ten or twenty days. It’s not only a physical need but also a psychological comfort. Moreover, during battles, magic artifacts may break needing repair, life-saving elixirs may run out, requiring appeals to superiors, otherwise, facing enemies next time might cost their lives.
Many grumbled in silence: The Hidden Stream bastards lived up to their reputation; they fought as if they feared nothing, many cultivators, despite their cultivation, had never been on a battlefield, overwhelmed by the fierce bloodthirsty atmosphere, their minds went blank, their full strength reduced to thirty percent, quickly riddled with wounds in a matter of breaths.
Of course, Guangcheng Palace’s high command had two or three magic artifacts capable of holding large volumes. Though these ancient artifacts could contain a vast amount of items for individuals, in an army of hundreds of thousands, their effectiveness in carrying military supplies was negligible. Changtian had the God Demon Prison on hand, with a thousand or two Sea Bags, enough to change the entire logistics of Hidden Stream’s army, but the opponents couldn’t!
Then came passive resistance from the mortals in the southwest region. Wherever Guangcheng Palace’s convoy went, the common folk never showed a friendly face, leaving the cultivators bewildered, thinking: We’re here to help you escape misery, aren’t you ant-like mortals supposed to be kowtowing and crying with gratitude? Why the cold stares instead?
They didn’t realize that the cultivators’ world was far removed from mortals. For these humans with lifespans barely reaching a hundred, as long as immortal masters battling didn’t affect them, what did it matter who ruled over them? The commoners only wished to pay less Immortal Silver, leave more room for the Immortal Sect, and they would naturally be grateful. After the Hidden Stream took control of the southwest region, they implemented welfare policies, fostering development, even dispatching Pill Masters to treat the sick in half a year, ordering local officials to investigate public sentiment and distribute food to the poor in autumn and winter.
Even if the faction winning public support were full of cruel Master Monsters, so what? What does cruelty to cultivators have to do with them? As long as they treat mortals better, it’s all fine. So wherever Guangcheng Palace’s troops went, they couldn’t gather resources in cities and towns. This was partly because the Hidden Stream had already taken most useful resources before their arrival, and also because the townsfolk secretly hid their wealth, money, and even food.
