Rise of The Demon General

Chapter 622: Chapter 622. Refuse to Retreat

The battle in Tusha Valley continued to intensify, with Khode’s ground force pouring into the valley without end. They tried to break through the other exit, but without success. The exit was guarded by rows of Echos’ soldiers equipped with giant shields anchored into the ground. Above them, Xu Bao and a few Martial Realm Cultivators guarded the airspace.

The Great Sun Hawk aided them. Amon left it there to help with the battle.

Even with the Echos Army’s advantage in terrain and positioning, the pressure badgering them was great. Khode’s army had a huge number. Still, Xu Bao didn’t worry that the enemy could punch through them. He could see the real decisive battle was up on the mountains, where most of the enemy fliers were. So, he instructed the Martial Realm soldiers to help Yong Baili.

He also called the Great Sun Hawk to do the same. He was unsure at first whether the spirit beast could understand him. He was relieved when he saw the firebird fly toward the mountain range after his call.

*

Up on the mountain range, the battle continued to shift left and right. Khode’s army managed to destroy another two of Echos’ Yuanxu Cannons, further reducing the pressure on their ground force. But in terms of the troops’ battle, neither side seemed to gain any advantage over the other. That was, until a loud alarm sounded from the direction of Khode’s camp.

Xuang Feng disengaged from his fight with Yong Baili. He let his soldiers take over while he looked in the camp’s direction. He saw smoke coming out of the camp.

”General, the enemy has a hidden force striking our camp. We should retreat,” Wai Kung also disengaged from his fight. Wai Ling was beside him.

Xuang Feng was silent for a while before answering, ”It’s too late.”

Wai Ling didn’t understand the remark. She asked, ”Feng...?”

”The enemy wouldn’t attack using a meager force. The enemy attacking our camp is surely enough to overcome the few troops left there. In other words, we can assume they have destroyed our supplies.”

Wai Kung and Wai Ling looked again at their camp. Judging from the smoke, they must admit that Xuang Feng was most likely right.

”Without our supplies, we can’t support these many troops,” Xuang Feng continued. ”If we retreat now, the army will most likely collapse. As you saw before the battle, a prick like Lai Badong could cause a riot. If we must retreat to a settlement to get new supplies, everyone will most likely leave. This is our last chance. We must bet everything in this battle!”

”So... We just let them ransack our camp?” Wai Ling asked. She was unwilling.

”I don’t think there is anything to save, but okay. Ling, you go and lead the rear troops still queuing outside Tusha Valley. They won’t be entering the valley anytime soon anyway. Lead them back to camp and chase away the enemy there. We will continue our battle here. No matter the outcome, we will decide our victory today!”

Wai Ling turned to Wai Kung, who nodded. She said, ”Be careful, you two.”

”You too,” Xuang Feng replied.

After Wai Ling left, Xuang Feng returned his attention ahead. His face showed determination. The enemy had forced their hands, but he would show the enemy that this would instead fuel them to fight harder.

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Back at Khode’s camp, Amon continued following Lin Li, raiding enemy supplies. Their progress was slower now since they had enemy soldiers blocking them at every turn. If not for the auxiliary battle puppets he kept inside his black space ring, Amon might have needed to cut this raid short.

After slaying another Khode soldier in his path, Amon stopped and looked in the direction of Tusha Valley.

Lin Li, who saw Amon stop, transformed into a human so she could speak. ”Brother, what is the matter?” She asked.

”The enemy surprises me. I expected them to retreat after seeing their camp in trouble,” Amon said. ”It seems the enemy commander has more backbone than I gave him credit for.”

”Oh, but I see those troops are coming over,” Lin Li pointed at Khode’s ground troops that were heading toward them from Tusha Valley.

”They only send their rear troops without stopping the battle,” Amon said.

”We should leave before those troops arrive,” Lin Li said.

Amon didn’t answer. He was pondering his options. While thinking, he looked at the incoming ground troops. He used Eagle Eye. He asked Yong Huan to teach him the art during their time in Surly Gate Town. The art allowed him to see that it was Wai Ling who led the troops that were on their way here.

”Li, did you have a good look at one of the enemy female leaders? The one who was intimate with the enemy commander,” Amon asked.

”Do you mean Wai Ling? Yes, why did brother ask?” Lin Li asked back.

”Can you copy her appearance and aura?”

”I can,” Lin Li answered.

”Good,” Amon said. ”The enemy refused to follow my script. That’s fine. Victory will still be mine, I just have to accept losing a little bit more men.”

Amon told Lin Li that it was time to leave this camp. Lin Li was very happy to hear that. Amon took most of his battle puppets with him, but left around a hundred puppets to keep the incoming enemy soldiers busy.

Lin Li and the battle puppets entered the black space ring, and Amon used another high-tier engraved invisible talisman. A talisman of this grade could not fool even Mystic Sense, but Wai Ling and the others were still far away, so a simple invisibility was more than enough. The incoming Khode’s troops were not aware that the troublemaker in their camp had already fled.

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The battle at Tusha Valley raged on. Both sides refused to let up.

Khode’s army, which was pushing in the valley, died at an alarming rate, but under Xuang Feng’s order, they continued to push. Most soldiers had already grown tired of waiting. That’s why they were swayed by Lai Badong. So, even when they saw their comrades die all around them, they remained resolved to defeat the enemy. They believed that if they kept pushing, they would eventually succeed in breaking the enemy’s blockade.

Echos’ troops were running low on the elemental mines, but they refused to give way. They were fewer in number, so they knew they couldn’t let the enemy break through the blockade. If they did, the enemy’s superior number would overwhelm them.

The pressure continued to increase until Echos had to send in the human puppets. The Mental Regulator was placed slightly outside the valley’s exit, sitting atop a moving platform. The human puppets charged ahead without a care for themselves. These human puppets helped disrupt the enemy’s push, giving Echos some breathing room.

On top of the mountain, the prolonged battle slowly revealed that one side had a slight advantage. It was the Khode’s side. While Echos had more high-level cultivators, Xuang Feng’s Lightning Calamity trimmed the number considerably. Khode had more battle puppets. With Echos running out of the elemental mines, the scale began to shift. Moreover, Echos’ troops had the extra pressure of protecting the Yuanxu Cannons.

The beneficial factor still in Echos’ favor was the riflemen. Xuang Feng soon learned that battle puppets were effective against these riflemen, so he had the puppets at the forefront to shield Khode’s soldiers from the bullets. The battle puppets were also ordered to charge at these riflemen to take them down every chance they got.

”Remain strong, my brothers and sisters!” Xuang Feng exclaimed. He landed on the ground to take a breather and used this resting time to rally his troops. ”We will win this day! We will drive these invaders away! For Khode!!”

”For Khode...!!!” Khode’s soldiers echoed his rallying cry. Their morale was high. Victory seemed to be within their grasp.

”Feng!”

A familiar voice made Xuang Feng turn. He saw Wai Ling approaching.

”Ling? What are you doing here? Didn’t I send you to deal with the enemy at our camp?” Xuang Feng asked.

”I did. The enemy has fled. Our troops have secured the camp. I came back to lend you a hand,” Wai Ling answered.

”How bad was it?” Xuang Feng asked.

”Pretty bad. Almost everything was torched or stolen.”

”So... It is as I feared. Damn these Echos scums! But we can still win. If our main army can break through, we can storm their camp and cripple them. After that, we just need to reach Steam Water City. We can recuperate there and request supply delivery from other settlements before routing the remaining enemy. We will make them pay for all the trouble they put us through!”

”I believe you will make it happen, Feng,” Wai Ling encouraged. ”I will be right behind you.”

”I’m glad to have you watch my back. Let’s advance together,” Xuang Feng said. He turned around to return to the front line. That’s when he felt a cold steel in his back.