Chapter 596: Chapter 165: Melee_2
“The defeat in this battle was due to the strong military system of Liangzhu Country. We have already summoned local Barbarian Clan tribes from various mountains in advance for rigorous training.”
“But the coordination among the tribes is poor, and there are too many internal conflicts. How could we perform like Liangzhu Country on the battlefield?”
“Nevertheless, the idea of a Mechanical Army is indeed excellent. The actual combat effectiveness is impressive. Thousand Peak Forest should also create some.”
After taking down the enemy camp on the hillside, Ning Zhuo quickly inspected his Mechanical Army.
Originally there were more than four hundred Mechanical Puppets. After the recent battle, nearly a hundred have been destroyed, leaving more than three hundred.
“At least it’s a loss of over two hundred thousand Mid Grade Spirit Stones.” Ning Zhuo assessed his losses.
This kind of loss, for an ordinary Golden Core Level Cultivator, is comparable to half a year’s income.
“I spent over two hundred thousand Mid Grade Spirit Stones for the Golden Core Combat Power I possess now.”
“Actually, it’s quite worth it!”
At this moment, Ning Zhuo suddenly gained new insight.
The essence of the Cultivation Hundred Skills is actually about seeking cost-effectiveness—using more ingenious ways to utilize resources for greater effects.
Cultivation Hundred Skills are like a lever. The higher the skill and mystery, the less and cheaper resources are needed to exert stronger and greater power.
Ning Zhuo surveyed the battlefield.
The reconnaissance by Sun Lingtong and Ten-Thousand-Li Travelling Dragon informed him that there were no other ambushes nearby.
With an expressionless face, Ning Zhuo led the Mechanical Army down towards the foot of the mountain.
The Mechanical Army surged down like a long river.
A Golden Core Cultivator with a spear led part of the remnants to launch a long-range attack on Ning Zhuo.
Under the enhancement of the Light Body Swift Wind Formation, Ning Zhuo’s Mechanical Army moved lightly and quickly, dodging many attacks, and reached the side of the Three Generals Camp.
The Dual-axe Golden Core Cultivator cursing loudly in anger while besieging the Three Generals Camp.
The Spear-wielding Golden Core Cultivator performed poorly and failed to intercept Ning Zhuo, allowing him to kill from behind. This created a situation where Ning Zhuo’s Mechanical Army and the Three Generals Camp attacked from both inside and outside.
“Quick, support me!” the Dual-axe Golden Core Cultivator cried out to the Spear-wielding Golden Core Cultivator.
The reason the Spear-wielding Golden Core Cultivator retreated was to protect the people around him.
His tribe was not populous, and those around him were the fire seeds for the tribe’s future continuation, indispensable.
Therefore, he issued the military order to retreat.
But the current situation, if Ning Zhuo and the Three Generals Camp inside and outside join forces leading to victory, was something the Spear-wielding Golden Core Cultivator did not wish to see.
Grinding his teeth, the Spear-wielding Golden Core Cultivator led his troops to provide urgent assistance.
The Dual-axe Barbarian Golden Core Cultivator loudly boosted morale: “Men, hold on! Just hold on!!”
The Dual-axe Golden Core Cultivator also encouraged himself in his heart: “It’s okay, we can hold on. We have the Wilderness Hunting Formation!”
The Barbarian Clan was not without Dynamic Formations.
But these Battle Formations are of ancient heritage, passed down to this day.
The Wilderness Hunting Formation is one such typical Dynamic Formation.
As implied by the name, it is geared towards hunting, offense, rather than defense.
Ning Zhuo did not hesitate or linger. He led the Mechanical Army and crashed head-on into the enemy’s Formation.
After resisting for several breaths, the Barbarian Battle Formation struggled to hold and was heavily pushed and crushed by the Mechanical Army, inflicting massive losses on the Barbarians, breaking through their line, and slaughtering them!
Ning Zhuo cast spells frequently, which was one of the primary reasons for breaking through.
He didn’t care about the life and death of the Mechanical Puppets, oh, the Mechanical Puppets were indifferent to life and death, but the Barbarian Cultivators were not, as they were made of flesh and blood.
They were killed gruesomely under Ning Zhuo’s barrage of Five Elements Magic.
This was the first time Ning Zhuo fully experienced military combat.
For him, this was unprecedented; the feeling was very novel, unique, and stirred his heart.
The pressure he felt when clashing with the Spear-wielding Cultivator’s army was like a bowl of thin porridge.
Fighting under the command of the Dual-axe Golden Core Cultivator brought much more pressure, but that was all. It’s like going from thin porridge to rice.
Although the opponent had established a Battle Formation, it was still mediocre at best.
“They lack training, and the soldiers have complex backgrounds with deep-seated grudges, making unity difficult. Even with their numbers, their military power is insufficient.”
“In contrast, our Three Generals Camp’s training far exceeds theirs, not to mention my Mechanical Army has reached the level of absolute obedience.”
“More crucially, there’s a disparity in National Power.”
Ning Jiufan’s Mechanical Army and Liu Guanzhang’s Three Generals Camp are both bolstered by National Power.
Thousand Peak Forest, on the other hand, isn’t a sovereign nation, so its military only has Military Power and lacks the support of National Power.
This isn’t because the Ginseng Whisker Dragon King is unwilling to establish a nation, but rather, forming a nation is extremely difficult. Even those at the Transforming Spirit Level wouldn’t dare to try lightly.
To establish achievements, one must at least meet three criteria: National Destiny, National Artifact, and a Monarch.
Usually, the Monarch must possess a King’s Order. Just this requirement alone has stymied many ambitious figures.
The Barbarian Clan’s army is squeezed by attacks from both inside and out, plunging them into a perilous situation.
Even with the Golden Core wielding a spear joining the battle for reinforcement, it was already too late.
The Golden Core wielding dual axes was furious, abandoned the Three Generals Camp, and turned to attack Ning Zhuo.
Upon seeing this, the Three Generals Camp immediately seized the opportunity and urgently switched formations!
The fruits of their arduous day-and-night training were fully manifested in this moment.
They swiftly shifted from the Triangle Arrow Formation into the Iron Bucket Formation.
Indeed, during the time they had returned to Canglin Immortal City for rest and reorganization, the Three Generals Camp had madly drilled their soldiers, mastering another battle formation.
And this formation is a classic defensive formation.
Thus, Liu Guanzhang was relieved. Previously in the Triangle Arrow Formation, the three of them always had to occupy the Array Eye and Array Heart.
Now, the Iron Bucket Formation only required one person to maintain the formation over a long period.
Zhang Hei and Guan Hong, no longer restrained, charged out like a Black Tiger released from its cage and a Red Dragon breaking its chains.
In the Barbarian Clan’s army, there were naturally more than two Golden Cores, as well as other Golden Core Cultivators. Seeing Guan and Zhang charge out, they immediately took action to intercept them.
Zhang Hei unleashed Black Wave Sky Technique, with innate Fierce Python Tendons inside, and a Black Snake Spear outside, the more he battled, the stronger he became, and the fiercer his offensive.
Guan Hong invoked the Red-faced Blood Tribulation Scripture, wielding the Blood Dragon Saber, and suddenly launched a Military Art—Single Stroke Through!
The surge of blood light transformed into a saber glow, directly penetrating the Barbarian army.
A Barbarian Golden Core roared with fury, lunging at Guan Hong.
Guan Hong neither dodged nor evaded, his long whiskers moved without wind, whiskers stretching eight feet long, suddenly reflecting blood light.
Heavenly Gift—Thousand Whiskers Blood Reflection!
With the blood light providing both offense and defense, under its illumination, it seemed like a river of blood surging forth, enveloping a Barbarian Golden Core within it.
The Barbarian Golden Core screamed in terror, but within a few breaths, he was transformed into a puddle of blood.
The enormous essence in the blood was instantly absorbed by Guan Hong’s blood light.
This was characteristically a Demon Skill, using other Cultivators as resources for one’s own practice!
Guan Hong swiftly killed a Barbarian Golden Core, while Ning Jiufan’s Five Elements Magic also wounded another.
In the meantime, the spear-wielding Golden Core attempted a surprise attack, only to be repelled by Ning Jiufan with a Gold Element Technique.
The spear-wielding Golden Core retreated explosively, his eyelids twitching. It was Ning Jiufan’s display of ferocity that was truly chilling.
All sorts of Spells came crashing down indiscriminately, heavily injuring many of his own Mechanical Puppets.
Even the friendly forces’ Liu Er couldn’t help but lament upon seeing Ning Jiufan’s method of combat: “As expected of a noble clan member, how many Mechanical Puppets are ruined, how much money wasted!”
Liu Er wielded the Xuanhuang Sword, commanding the Iron Bucket Formation, but did not take the initiative to attack.
“Die for me!” The fierce battle continued unabated, and suddenly, Zhang Hei let out a thunderous roar, causing his Golden Core opponent to fall into a brief daze.
In the next moment, the Black Snake Spear pierced the enemy’s heart, and Zhang Hei even grabbed the Golden Core Cultivator’s head in his palm and, with a fierce squeeze, crushed it like an exploding watermelon.
The second Barbarian Golden Core Cultivator fell!
The Barbarian’s battle formation was already collapsing, suffering a backlash. Witnessing the ferocity and bravery of Zhang Hei and Guan Hong, their will to fight diminished further.
Sensing that the reinforcement from their own Military Power plummeted, several Barbarian Golden Cores convened and had no choice but to admit defeat, choosing to retreat to the mountains.
Taking advantage of the situation, Ning Guanzhang pursued and inflicted heavy casualties.