: Chapter Six Hundred Eleven: Tomb Guardian
Hidden deep in the North Mountain, the Fuling ridge is where the ancestral temple of the Tang n is located and also serves as the n’s burial ground. For a thousand years, the benevolent forefathers of the Tang n have beenid to rest here.
As the most solemn and sacred ce of the n, a perpetually burning fire is always lit in the ancestral temple of the Tang n.
This perpetual me is a fire that is continuously kindled and maintained. This kind of me subsists on a unique spiritual power, and the longer it burns, the deeper the color of the me bes.
To maintain this ever-burning me, strong protectors are needed to guard it day and night, ensuring the spiritual fire continues.
The Tang n’s perpetual fire has been extinguished twice in the long span of a thousand years, but for the past few centuries, the n has remained stable and the ancestor worship has gradually expanded from its initial three participants.
An eternal me, an eternally respectful person, a forever guardian – this is the impression given by the Tang n’s ancestral temple and also the role these people assign to themselves. If one were to paint their portrait, loyalty, righteousness, bravery, and love would be the defining traits of this group.
Not only do they guard the final peace of the departed, but they are also ready to stand up in defense of the honor of the living at any moment.
“Junior Tang Zu, respectfully requests the honored ones of the temple toe out for the sake of resolving the great crisis of the Tang n!” In front of the family tomb, Tang Zu, the n’s head, knelt solemnly. With hands holding his forehead, he shouted towards the serene and cold ancestral temple.
…
At the southern foot of North Mountain<div>
Great Elder Tang Siyuan and Second Elder Tang Hongjun were currently organizing the n’s martial artists to take inventory of the seized goods from yesterday. Seeing the excitement on the faces of their nsmen, both elders felt genuinely pleased.
This surprise attack marked the Tang n’s first major victory since the war began. Led by several top martial ancestors, they managed to break through the stronghold of the Mi n swiftly and decisively. They killed or severely injured more than twenty defenders, seized arge amount of supplies and Elixir of Life, and even captured many craftsmen.
This victory was worth celebrating. If it weren’t for the fact that the allied forces of Mi n were still menacingly stationed at the Yuxiling, everyone would like to hold a grand feast right on the spot.
“After this battle, the forces of Mi n’s allied army will be greatly reduced. Our n will have a good chance to recuperate for a while. We can hold out till Spring without any issue.” Second Elder Tang Hongjun stood with his left hand behind his back, while his right hand stroked his long beard, speaking with a sense of pride.
Ever since he had received the information from Tang Luo, he had nned this surprise attack. Now that they had achieved such a significant victory, he was greatly satisfied, and as such, his words naturally carried a touch of arrogance.
“Let’s hope so.” Compared to the optimism of Tang Hongjun, Great Elder Tang Siyuan was not asfortable. Even with the loss of more than twenty martial ancestors, the allied forces of the Mi n still have the advantage in terms of numbers.
Given his understanding of the tribes aligned with the Mi n, the current personnel of the allied forces is far from being their limit.
Let’s hope that the seven major ns can be more self-interested and y their own cards, allowing the Tang n to defeat them one by one. With two to three more victories like this, North Mountain will be worry-free.
However, ideal is plump, but reality is harsh. Before even finishing the tally of supplies, a senior member of the Wind Media rushed into themand center, followed by several frontlinemanders.
“Great Elder, Second Elder, Commander Tang Yi, the n Leader has issued an order: all martial warriors on the rotation must be dispatched to the frontline; all lightly wounded martial ancestors must be healed with elixirs immediately. They must hold off the attack of the allied forces to buy time for the n’s evacuation from North Mountain!”
“Did the n Leader exin why?”
“The Mi n and the seven ns have gathered another team of top martial ancestors with a strength of over fifty. They are currently on their way to assist the Mi n’s allied forces.” The Wind Media quickly answered Tang Siyuan’s question, then stated another crucial piece of information, “The head of our n, Tang Zu, has gone to the ancestral temple to ask for help from the shrine’s protectors. They wille to the front line to assist us soon. So please summon any defenders on rotation as quickly as possible to resist the attack of the Mi n’s allied forces.”
“How long do we need to hold off?” Second Elder Tang Hongjun asked, his voice heavy.
“The n Leader said…” The Wind Media swallowed, and stuttered, “The longer the better. At least until the fourth sequence has retreated to the depths of North Mountain. Only then will we be allowed to abandon the southwestern defense lines.”
It was actually a full n evacuation. Upon hearing the Wind Media’s report, both Tang Siyuan and Tang Hongjun turned pale. The front four sequences of the n included all artisans, martial researchers, n rtives, as well as the rtives of all subordinate ns, totaling no less than two hundred thousand people. To hold off until such arge group of people have evacuated means keeping the Mi n’s allied forces outside North Mountain for at least a month.
No wonder they wanted to call back all rotational warriors. No wonder they sought help from the shrine’s keepers. Tang Siyuan could almost foresee how many of the Tang n’s elite would perish in this uing arduous defense.
But since Tang Zhi had made such a judgment, he definitely wasn’t shooting blindly. Tang Siyuan and Tang Hongtao exchanged a nce. Both of them gave orders to the Wind Media assigned to them, “Summon all the n’s warriors to the southern foothills. Order the housekeeper to prepare the untamed beasts from the stables. Call out all Blood ves in the n treasury. Have all the guests with Fierce Realm cultivation stop their retreat ande to the southern foothills to assist!”
There is no small home without a big home. Up until this point, if Tang Siyuan had been using thebined power of the n to resist the Mi n allied forces, upon hearing the Wind Media’s orders, he finally began to use his own resources.
Strong warriors like to purchase untamed beasts. These beasts, equal inbat power to the average Fierce Realm creature, are premium assets for offensive and defensive battles. Blood ves are top-tier puppets exclusive to Longzhou. Along with these years of cultivated guests in the Fierce Realm, as the Great Elder of the Tang n, Tang Siyuan has revealed a deep foundation at this moment.<div>
The Second Elder, Tang Hongjun, didn’t want to be outdone either. He also brought out his own resources. As a mainline that produces outstanding martial researchers every generation, though Tang Hongjun’s umtion might not be as bountiful as Tang Siyuan’s, it is still not to be underestimated.
On the contrary, Tang Yi, the Commander of the Divine Martial Army, was the poorest. He could only order his subordinates to bring a few untamed beasts from his mansion to the battlefield, enough to stall two or three Fierce Realm opponents.
Upon receiving the orders from the Wind Media, the three of them pulled out all their resources. Simrly, those martial ancestors guarding the southern foothills followed their example. Here one beast, there one old friend, everyone wished they could empty out their homes.
The three Great Elders didn’t request more contributions from everyone, but the martial ancestors all began to follow their method voluntarily, without any hesitation. This spirit of solidarity and unity raised great hope in everyone’s heart.<div>
“Go back and tell the n Leader that I, Tang Siyuan, the Southern Commander, willplete the assignment to repel the enemy. Before spring arrives, we will not allow the Mi n allied forces to breach the defense line!” Tang Siyuan, high-spirited, announced to the Wind Media that came to pass the message.
However, inparison to the unity seen at the southernmand headquarters, the atmosphere at the western headquarters seemed rather gloomy.
“If only your esteemed wife had gone to visit her familyter… We’d have her four-horse golden chariot and several untamed beasts with bloodlines of divine beasts. Wouldn’t our western defense line be unbreachable then?” Third Elder Tang Zhenghao said helplessly to Head Tang Sen.
As the Third Elder of the n, Tang Zhenghaomanded the Wind Media to return to his mansion with his marker and mobilize his resources as soon as he heard of the orders. But Tang Sen, who held the highest position in the Western region, seemed indifferent.