Chapter 54: Preparation and First Contact.
Chapter 54: Preparation and First Contact.
With more plans and suggestions being made, Xue Tie takes his leave to immediately implement the moat. He has his people create a 40ft vertical tunnel just under the ground so that there is a thin layer of ground for anyone who isn't aware to fall in once too much force is applied. This takes 2 days to finish around the whole city.
During this time, the resident ice spirit masters under Xue Tie's management condensed giant ice cubes which were then melted down into a false spirit water. This took another day to fill up even when working on parts of the cave that were already finished (essentially it took a total of 3 days to make this as the ice maker got to work on the 2nd day).
Scouts reported that there was movement from the Balak Kingdom as they gathered up a simple force of 300 spirit masters to set off to the newly crowned Sun and Moon Kingdom. Under Xue Tie's propositions, the possible trails were discovered and traps were arranged to bother and annoy the enemy so that they aren't in their best condition.
Another thing that was done was taking a small 'elite' group of the shown archers, under the leadership of Xian, to use agility and range to hamper and kill occasional enemy soldiers reducing their numbers during the few day's journey here that Xue Tie used to create even more traps and plans as well as using earth element to reinforce the castle walls
With a wide smile on his face, a figure takes a few steps to make his presence known to the filthy, dirt covered and ashen faced soldiers of the Balak Kingdom. The only one in reasonably suitable condition is the small army leader. They give out some orders to watch out for any ambushes.
This figure wears a red lizard skull which covers his face and red and black robes that have fire flowing around it like veins continuing walking forward until he stops. Slightly more elevated than the enemy soldiers.
"Who are you? What do you want? We are soldiers of the Balak Kingdom, move out of the way" the enemy commander yells out, perturbed by the appearance of the individual. A glow seemingly comes out of the eye sockets which intimidates them but this is an illusion as the unknown person begins their next action.
The only response is the mouth of the red skull opening a bit as condensed fire begins gathering. This continues for a few brief moments where the army sets up heavy defenses and even spirit skills to reduce the effect of any attack but when the beam is released. A whisper is heard "Cero". The commander charges in front of the beam as he knows that their defenses won't hold up and hopes to weaken the beam enough for his people to not get hurt. Which is a pipe dream.
"Run, I'll hold off this attack. Rejoin the other units'' The commander yells out false bravado. As he summons up his martial spirit and bolsters himself with his spirit rings but it's all for naught.
This figure is Xue Tie who just releases the compressed fire beam from his external spirit bone. He has the power to defeat 100 thousand year old beasts, a few lower level walls and a low level Spirit Emperor trying to combat the beam fired by a spirit Saint like XUe Tie is not enough.
Especially since Xue Tie's disguise includes his Primal Burst, improving the power of the beam further. Especially since the ring and skull came from the same beast. It's a hidden synergy that outright gouges through the chest of the spirit master commander who had summoned a bull martial spirit. A Head sized hole through his chest before it tears through the walls and when it lands, an explosion occurs. Injuring many of the people, mostly knocking them out from the shockwave.
Xue Tie nods and says "Job Done. Gather up the survivors to the prisons" Individuals who were hiding in various holes dug into the ground climb up and begin scavenging the location for survivors and items. These individuals are not amongst the 120 that Xue Tie came with to support the Sun Moon kingdom. They quickly leave while Xue Tie makes his way back to the castle to report the subjugation of the first set of soldiers that were sent after us. Their strongest was Spirit Emperor but this also buys them a few days of time more to prepare.
The Moon Saint applauds his capabilities and has him continue his preparations while he guards his big brother who had already finished absorbing the flower and is just now going for the 2nd level breakthrough to reach level 94. Xue Tie bows and takes his leave once more.
This first unit had been able to get a scout to return back after the first few ambushes and traps. But now with that unit dead, Xue Tie has his people change out the traps just a bit so it's no longer accurate. A new trap here, replaced trap there, fix up the land to all look nice and new. The land is fairly rocky due to passing by the outer edges of Mt. Qixiao. And so what if they choose a completely new route. That is just more new traps and unknown placement which means their already feeble attempt at intelligence gathering was made useless.
He let the scout go for this exact purpose. He could have easily had the harassing scouts kill them when they split off from the group but he let them go. This is all part of warfare and Xue Tie is formerly from a place that had much larger wars. So this is chump change compared to when Titled Douluos come and join the party. He is preparing for such an event but he believes it to be unlikely as Titled Douluo of the Balak Kingdom are the pinnacle force to hold off against Star Luo and they can't utilize them unless the Balak kingdom itself is threatened.
In the meantime, Xue Tie is also cultivating to reach level 76 naturally so he can later hunt down the last of his 5 rings (8th for his armor and 5th/6th/7th/8th for his trident).
After a day, he finds no luck with his progress but he instead receives an interesting letter.
To assist the Balak Kingdom against the Sun moon kingdom. The Spirit Hall is serving as intermediaries for mercenaries to join in and fight them. This brings a grin to Xue Tie's face. He delivers the letter to the moon Douluo who says.
"The possibility has shown itself as you had predicted. It's possible that spies from Star Luo masquerading as mercenaries may appear. We should prepare for a two front assault or even multiple fronts if some of the better known mercenary groups show themselves then we will be fighting on multiple fronts. As such, I authorize that crazy plan you had proposed."
"Thank you my lord. I shall send out word and we will get to work. May the Balak kingdom serve as nutrients for this kingdoms rise to prominence" A slightly crazy smile on Xue Tie's face as he takes his leave.
The Moon Douluo simply shakes his head as he thinks 'Damned Evil Spirit Masters, every one of them is crazy. I just hope big brother comes out soon to fix all this up.With his strength, we should be able to take them down but there will be more issues from the repercussions of such actions.' While the Moon Douluo is lacking in intellect compared to Xue Tie, he is no fool and knows of cause and effect. Especially how the war's new turn will affect them.
****************************************************************
I have realized I made another blunder. I may have been depicting Xue Tie as a spirit emperor this whole time when he was a Spirit Saint. He has his 7th ring from the bull/tiger he killed at the volcanic region, which is the martial spirit avatar clone that he used to beat up the frog with. I completely forgot and I'm sorry. I had been making him look like a spirit emperor in the previous chapter and even almost this chapter until I looked back
I was fully prepared to bs my way into saying, 'yea he got his avatar as his 6th ring' but no, that's his primal burst (flame grants me strength) and I realized how stupid I was. I blame my nausea for frying my brain by using my guts against me.
But yall didn't catch this mistake either in the last chapter so it's fine. Maybe someone will judge me for it in the future. But going back to comment about it now will just make me want to mock you.