Chu Ding muttered two words. Having dealt with the Barbarian Clan for many years, he instantly understood what that fleeting sensation represented.
Shen Changqing, standing to the side, showed a look of surprise. "Divination?"
"The Priests of the Barbarian Clan are different from Martial Artists. They mostly worship the legendary Barbarian God, borrowing power from him, and thus possess all sorts of miraculous methods; they can not only control Demon Evil but also engage in Divining Heaven and Earth. However, not all Barbarian Clan Priests are adept at divination. But those who are truly skilled in divination are extremely terrifying. They can foresee many events, and some powerful Priests can even predict the future."
As he spoke of the Barbarian Clan Priests, a serious expression came over Chu Ding’s face. Divining Heaven and Earth... even peering into the future... Those were the powerful methods of the Barbarian Clan Priests.
"The Zhou Residence is no longer safe; let’s prepare to move to a different location!" Chu Ding spoke in a heavy voice. It goes without saying, this place must have been divined by the Barbarian Clan. If that was the case, they definitely couldn’t stay any longer. Otherwise, when the Barbarian Clan Army arrived, they would be trapped like cornered beasts, ultimately left with only a path to death.
Shen Changqing, hearing this, realized that the Barbarian Clan Priests actually possessed the method of Divining Heaven and Earth. Hearing Chu Ding say they needed to retreat, he had no intention of objecting. He simply voiced the doubt in his mind. "Is there any limitation to the Barbarian Clan’s method of Divining Heaven and Earth? If there are no limitations, couldn’t they just divine at will and then make the appropriate preparations?"
"Of course, there are limitations." Chu Ding nodded, his expression returning to calm. "But if you are asking me what the limitations are, I can’t answer that. I’m not clear on what the exact restrictions on divination are—perhaps someone from the Demon-Subduing Division should know. After all, the experts within the Demon-Subduing Division have also had quite a few run-ins with the Barbarian Clan Priests."
"I see." Shen Changqing nodded. He was also somewhat curious about the methods of the Barbarian Clan Priests. So after hearing Chu Ding’s words, he made a secret decision in his heart; Once I return to the Demon-Subduing Division, I will definitely look for an opportunity to inquire about the Barbarian Clan Priests.
Not long after, Wen Ce rushed in from outside. "Reporting to the General, according to information from our other brothers, the Barbarian Clan has suddenly tightened their forces, coming toward us in a manner that forms an encirclement."
"Just as I thought!" Chu Ding’s eyes turned cold, and he immediately issued an order. "Issue my command, everyone in the Zhou Residence make ready to break through the encirclement; as for the rest of the Black Tiger Army, follow the original plan and wait for the right moment to block the Barbarian Clan. There’s no need to panic."
The goal of the Barbarian Clan’s arrival is undoubtedly me. The final result of the divination is inevitably my location. After all, capturing the leader is the key. As long as they capture me, the strength of the Black Tiger Army within the city will be greatly diminished.
"Yes!" Wen Ce saluted and took the orders.
Once he left, Chu Ding looked at the others. "Gentlemen, make ready for the evacuation!"
Though they said to prepare, in reality, there was not much they could prepare for. In just a few minutes, the Black Tiger Army remaining in the Zhou Residence began to move out.
At the same time, Black Tiger Army soldiers hidden throughout the city continued to send back reports. Eventually, all the reports were collected, causing Chu Ding’s expression to change once again.
"What’s the matter?" Nie Xu’s eyebrows furrowed.
"The Barbarian Clan really intends to annihilate us this time. They’ve completely abandoned the defense of other parts of the city, and tens of thousands of their troops are converging on our location. The difficulty of breaking through has increased; it’s down to a fight with our backs to the river now!" Chu Ding spoke gravely.
He hadn’t anticipated that the Barbarian Clan would be so decisive, entirely giving up on other parts of the city to gather their forces and come to surround them first. However, this situation did not cause the commander of the Black Tiger Army to lose his composure. From the moment Jincheng fell, Chu Ding had already prepared himself for anything.
Twelve thousand Black Tiger Army soldiers blocking a hundred and twenty thousand from the Barbarian Clan Army. Any slip could lead to complete annihilation. Now that Jincheng has fallen, although the Black Tiger Army is using the city’s advantages to keep sniping at the Barbarian Clan, it only serves to delay them for some time. A large number of Barbarians have entered the city. As long as they are decisive enough, they could gradually consume the Black Tiger Army to nothing. The only downside to this process is probably the time it will take.
Hearing this, the faces of the others all changed. Zhong Chi’s face showed a troubled and helpless smile. "I never thought we’d still be unable to escape this calamity. If the Barbarian Clan encircles us from all sides, with our current strength, it seems there’s no possibility of breaking through their blockade."
He had wanted to find an opportunity to withdraw when it was clear that further resistance was futile. But what he hadn’t expected was that the Barbarian Clan would encircle them so quickly. In the face of such a situation, the idea of fleeing had become unrealistic.
"Let all of the Black Tiger Army come together and attempt to break out!" Shen Changqing suddenly spoke up.
Upon seeing this, Chu Ding immediately frowned. "If we gather all the Black Tiger Army to break out, the probability of successfully breaking out is very slim, and it is easy to be wiped out all at once by the Barbarian Clan. If Jincheng is completely taken, our plan to delay them will fail."
"The Black Tiger Army has suffered heavy losses now. Even if we are just trying to delay, how much longer can we hold? Retreat. It’s not worth it to sacrifice all twelve thousand Black Tiger Army soldiers here. As for delaying, perhaps I can give it a try!"
"Leave it to you—" Chu Ding looked uncertain. It wasn’t that he looked down on Shen Changqing, but what significant role could a warrior of the Innate Realm play? Forget the Innate Realm. Even if he were a Grandmaster, so what? Facing such a multitude from the Barbarian Clan Army, even a Grandmaster would fall.
"I want to try it!" Shen Changqing gripped the long saber at his waist, a faint smile on his face. "Although I am not a Grandmaster who has broken through the realm, I may not be much worse than a Grandmaster. Besides, my Martial Arts are mainly for slaughter on the battlefield. If I could use the Barbarian Clan Army to help me comprehend Martial Dao True Intent, that would be best."
"You want to use the Barbarian Clan Army to refine your Martial Arts!" Chu Ding’s face completely changed. Only when he saw the serious expression on Shen Changqing did he finally begin to take it seriously. "Have you considered this carefully, Lord Shen?"
"Of course." Shen Changqing nodded confidently. "Gather all of the Black Tiger Army to break out. There’s no need to persist any longer."
"Naturally, I will deal with Mairba." Shen Changqing interrupted Chu Ding. Through the latter’s words, he had a clear understanding of Mairba’s strength. Although he himself had not broken through to the Grandmaster realm, he might still be a match for Mairba.
The others fell silent. They looked at Shen Changqing’s expression, then turned their gazes to Chu Ding, waiting for him to make a decision.
"Give the signal!" Without much hesitation, Chu Ding immediately made a decision. As Shen Changqing said, from beginning to end, the Black Tiger Army’s strength was too weak. Now, even if they exerted all their strength, they probably couldn’t hold off the Barbarian Clan for long. After all, blocking them for two days was just an idealistic estimation. The reality at hand proved that blocking them for two days was nothing but a joke.
Since Shen Changqing was so confident, Chu Ding chose to trust him this time. Besides, he had no other choice.
Upon receiving the command, Wen Ce immediately sent out the signal. A signal arrow was shot into the sky, bursting into dazzling light even in the daylight.
All the hidden Black Tiger Army soldiers, seeing this, stepped out from the shadows and moved toward the direction of the signal.
"The signal of the Black Tiger Army!" Mairba looked at the signal arrow blossoming in the sky, his eyes sharpened. "The Black Tiger Army is now releasing signals, knowing that they cannot escape, so they want to fight with their backs to the wall? How laughable!"
A desperate fight! They have to have the qualifications for it first. If it were the twelve thousand Black Tiger Army soldiers at their peak, maybe they really could carve out a bloody path from the Barbarian Clan’s encirclement. But the Black Tiger Army now has already suffered heavy losses. With just a few thousand crippled soldiers and defeated generals wanting to break out from the surrounding Barbarian Clan Army, it’s nothing but a joke.
Upon hearing this, the Barbarian Clan Priest agreed as well. "You’re right, sir. The Black Tiger Army has been greatly weakened now, and they shouldn’t have any chance of breaking through the encirclement. It’s best that they are sending out signals now, so we can take this opportunity to wipe them all out. Once the Black Tiger Army is exterminated, Jincheng will completely fall into our hands. After a short rest, we can march north, meet with other armies, and then take over Great Wilderness Prefecture."
Even though there were some twists and turns in taking Jincheng, to be honest, up until now, it’s only been about a day. To take down a city in one day—the battle achievement wasn’t too poor. It’s just that the number of our troops decreased somewhat during the siege, but it’s within an acceptable range.
"They’re breaking out!"
"They absolutely have no chance of breaking out!" Mairba sneered. With me here, if the Black Tiger Army could break out from under my very nose, then I would be unworthy of being their commander.
Immediately, Mairba waved his hand. "Surround them with all your might! I want to slaughter every last one of those Black Tiger Army soldiers!"
"Yes!" The Barbarian Clan generals under his command all cupped their fists and accepted the order.
Elsewhere, the Black Tiger Army within the encirclement had all fully assembled. Chu Ding, looking at the no more than two thousand Black Tiger Army soldiers before him, turned his head towards Wen Ce. "Signal the Black Tiger Army in other places to find opportunities to retreat on their own."
The assembled Black Tiger Army were all within the encirclement, while those outside it were still in hiding. The Black Tiger Army had many signal arrows, each with a different meaning. The signal arrow just now had summoned the surrounded Black Tiger Army.
Upon receiving the command, Wen Ce shot another signal arrow. As the signal arrow burst into light, Chu Ding took the lead and headed toward the North City Gate. "Everyone follow me! We will break out toward the North City Gate!"