Chapter 54: Preparing for Battle


    On this day, forty-five individuals formed a neat formation, standing solemnly in the courtyard.


    After months of relentless improvement, almost everyone had ascended to a higher level.


    All forty-five were d in aplete set of ck metal armor, named "Extreme Night." Under the sunlight, it didn''t reflect the slightest gleam.


    These were all magical weapons tailored by Wang Hong through Gao Yue''s meticulous measurements. From cing the order topletion, it took an entire year.


    The full set of magical armor included: one helmet, two shoulder tes, two arm guards, one chestte, one backte, two leg guards, one crotch guard, and a pair of leather boots.


    The armor, named "Extreme Night," weighed five hundred catties and was entirelyposed of high-quality magical weapons. Its defensive capability approached that of a top-grade magical weapon, but its drawback was its excessive weight, impacting speed.


    Despite being only a mid-grade magical weapon, its cost exceeded that of top-grade magical weapons.


    Each set was priced at two thousand Spirit Stones, totaling ny thousand Spirit Stones for the forty-five sets. ording to the conniving merchant Gao Yue, this was considered a friendly price.


    Additionally, each person was equipped with ten long spears for throwing, with weights ranging from one to three thousand catties based on individual strength.


    In battle, if dozens of people simultaneously threw these long spears at a single point, with tens of thousands of catties in weightbined with the force of the throw, how many could withstand it?


    Wang Hong stood at the forefront of the formation, looking at the team he had invested a considerable sum in, nodding with satisfaction.


    "Everyone! Over these years, we''ve endured numerous humiliations from the Lin Family, being trapped in the city like turtles, afraid to venture out. We''ve also been harassed by ruffians disturbing our shop from time to time.


    As upright men of seven feet, how can we tolerate such humiliation for long? To endure for a moment is heroic, but to endure for a lifetime is to be a bear.


    Tell me, do we want to be heroes or bears?" Wang Hong emphasized, shouting loudly.


    "Heroes! Heroes!" the crowd roared in unison.


    "Good! Good! We''ve taken the heads of enemy generals in the midst of a sea of soldiers; we''ve collectively killed experts at the Innate Stage; we''ve in an Immortal Cultivator with mortal bodies. Faced with formidable enemies, we fear nothing. All formidable foes before us will be crushed to dust!"


    Pausing for a moment, he raised his voice even higher, "Where the de points, I am invincible!"


    "Where the de points, I am invincible!"


    "Where the de points, I am invincible!"


    All soldiers shouted along with flushed faces.


    Wang Hong made a downward gesture with both hands, and though the soldiers were emotionally charged, they immediately quieted down.


    "Good! Good! Zhang Chunfeng, step forward!"


    Zhang Chunfeng walked out of the front row withrge strides. After consuming a Barrier Breaking Pill, he finally broke through the bottleneck, reaching the seventhyer of Qi Cultivation and entering theter stages.


    Zhang Chunfeng, standing at nine feet tall with broad shoulders and a robust figure, silently stood at the front of the army like a silent mountain. Through the years, he had be even more steady.


    "In this battle, Zhang Chunfeng will be inmand. Any vition of militaryw will be punished."


    Everyone responded in unison.


    Zhang Chunfeng tookmand, standing at the front of the formation, and shouted, "Everyone, put on your outer robes, depart in small teams!"


    Everyone took out a ck, oversized cloak from their Storage Bag and wore it over the armor, including a hood covering their helmets.


    They didn''t leave the city together but departed in small teams, converging at a designated location outside the city.


    Along the way, several scouts were deployed, with one positioned on the teahouse opposite the main gate of the Lin Residence, observing any activities within.


    Azure Void City had four gates in the east, west, south, and north. Due to limited manpower, scouts were only ced on the side they would exit.


    Additionally, ten miles away from the battle location preselected by Wang Hong, a hidden lookout was stationed to serve as an early warning system.


    Wang Hong had carefully chosen the battle location in advance after much reconnaissance. It was a rtively small t ground, advantageous for deploying a battle formation. The surrounding area was nted with various messy bushes and thorn thickets by Wang Hong, greatly restricting agile movements.


    This allowed them to maximize their own advantages, oveing shorings such as insufficient speed and less agility in collective actionpared to individuals.


    One side of the t ground was a swift-flowing river, about thirty to forty zhang wide, impassable for cultivators in the Qi Cultivation stage.


    The other two sides were towering cliffs. Unless one could fly, even monkeys would find it impossible to climb over.


    With this arrangement, as long as they guarded one side, no one could escape. Even if they were defeated, there would be no easy escape for themselves.


    Of course, Wang Hong didn''t like the idea of setting up a deathtrap. He preferred the strategy of having multiple options and being prepared for any situation.


    In the direction of the cliffs, there was a cave with several forks inside. One of the paths led to another exit on the other side of the mountain.


    If they were to lose the battle, this would be the only retreat route. Wang Hong had set up the ambush for Foundation Building cultivators in this cave.


    In case of defeat, they could retreat through the cave, which had numerous branches. Wang Hong also arranged some means to hinder pursuers.


    Even more daringly, Wang Hong used arge number of explosive talismans. The entire two-mile-long path leading to the exit in the cave was covered with these talismans.


    During the escape, all it took was for thest person to continuously activate these talismans, causing the entire cave to copse, leaving the enemy with no path to follow.


    He believed that in the event of defeat, this would still provide an opportunity for escape.


    This was a habit he developed in the militarythinking about failure before sess. Bearing the lives and fortunes of countless people, he wanted to ensure there was always an escape route, regardless of the circumstances.


    If, due to his impulsive actions, dozens of subordinates lost their lives, he would regret it toote.


    At this moment, dozens of people gathered on this t ground, casually enjoying an outdoor feast.


    Several demonic beasts were skinned and cleaned, roasting over the fire. Soldiers who had learned spiritual cooking moved around, asionally brushing on some sauce or sprinkling some spices.


    The sauce and spices, when grilled over the fire, emitted bursts of blue smoke, while the rich aroma of meat and spicesbined wafted far and wide.


    Dozens of people sat around the bonfire in separate groups.


    "Xu Ge, what if the Lin Family cultivators don''t show up after all the precautions we''ve taken?" Skinny Monkey whispered to Xu Lun, sitting beside him.


    In the cultivation world, seniority was usually determined by cultivation level, but Wang Hong''s team had not adopted this convention internally. They still addressed each other in their original way, adapting to external norms.


    Although Skinny Monkey had a slightly higher cultivation level, he was younger, picked up by the group on their journey. Hence, he respectfully called everyone "ge" (brother).


    He said it naturally, and no one found it inappropriate.


    Xu Lun casually poked the bonfire with a wooden stick.


    "The Lin Family will definitelye. Killing Lin Junjie before might have been forgotten over the years, but after the general executed several Lin Family cultivators on the Life and Death tform, the news spread.


    This enmity is not about whether the Lin Family wants revenge but about necessity. If they don''t seek revenge, the Lin Family''s reputation will suffer, affecting their status in Azure Void City, and other families may look down on them.


    So, it''s not about whether the Lin Family wants revenge; it''s a must."


    Looking at Skinny Monkey''s admiring gaze, Xu Lun took the opportunity to impart some wisdom, "When facing an enemy, first understand their intentions, then guide them. Where, when, and how to fightall these decisions are up to our side."


    Skinny Monkey nodded in partial understanding.


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