Chapter 144: As Everyone Knows, Four Means Five
Mo Lin nodded slightly:
“The Mountain Lord told me that the ‘Falcon Beak’ Plan would divide Yongzhou into four regions, launching an attack on humans in each to show our retaliation.”
The Iron-Armored Rock Rhino shook its massive body slightly, as if laughing:
“As expected, the Mountain Lord didn’t tell you everything, Brother Mo Lin.”
Mo Lin looked puzzled:
“Could it be that ‘Falcon Beak’ isn’t planning to strike in four regions?”
The Iron-Armored Rock Rhino nodded, then shook its head:
“From the movement of the demonic beast armies alone, it’s indeed divided into four regions. However, those four regions do not include Yongzhou’s most important city—Yongchang County.”
Hearing that, Mo Lin grew thoughtful.
The Great Qian Dynasty’s main administrative system was divided into prefectures and counties. For example, Yongzhou had Ningjiang County and Quankang County under its jurisdiction, and the highest local official of each prefecture was called the Prefect.
The Prefectural Mansion of Yongzhou was located right in Yongchang County.
It could be said that Yongchang County was the most important county in all of Yongzhou.
What was even more thought-provoking was that such an important place as Yongchang County was completely overlooked by ‘Falcon Beak’. Why?
The Iron-Armored Rock Rhino answered the question for Mo Lin:
“Yongchang County is the most heavily guarded and fortified city in all of Yongzhou. It isn’t something an Earth Rank demonic beast could conquer.”
“So, as early as a day ago, the Heaven Rank demonic beasts of ‘Falcon Beak’ had already gone together to Yongchang County and surrounded it tightly.”
“If the Heaven Rank human cultivators throughout Yongzhou have received the news, they must now be hurrying there at full speed.”
From the Iron-Armored Rock Rhino’s meaningful little eyes, Mo Lin read the part it didn’t say aloud:
Because the Heaven Rank demonic beasts had surrounded Yongchang County where the Prefect resided, all Heaven Rank human cultivators had no choice but to rush there to break the siege.
If the Prefect were to die at the hands of demonic beasts, none of those Heaven Rank cultivators—especially those within the imperial hierarchy—would end up well.
As all the Heaven Rank cultivators were heading to Yongchang County, the rest of Yongzhou’s regions would become empty, providing the perfect battlefield for them, the Earth Rank demonic beasts.
In other words, the actual combat zones of ‘Falcon Beak’ weren’t four, but five!
“Of course, the Heaven Rank demonic beasts are mostly just posturing near the Yongchang Prefectural Mansion, preventing the Heaven Rank human cultivators from acting recklessly.”
“They’re merely playing a feinting role. The ones truly meant to deliver results are us, the Earth Rank demonic beasts.”
Hearing this, Mo Lin understood.
Yet doubts still lingered in his heart—
Why had all the discussions among the demonic beasts only mentioned Postnatal beings, as if this battle had nothing to do with the Innate beings?
Did those more powerful Innate beings believe that the ‘Locust’ Operation’s fire wouldn’t reach them?
Or did they think that this ‘Falcon Beak’ conflict was but a small skirmish unworthy of their involvement?
Or perhaps… this was a tacit understanding among higher existences?
That it was fine for the lower ones to fight to the death, but those of greater power should not intervene?
In truth, Mo Lin knew little about those of higher strength or the deeper secrets behind it, so he was unaware of one thing.
As the Great Qian Dynasty gradually declined, its fortune was slowly dissipating.
This was the accumulated destiny of a millennium-old empire.
A fortune of such immense quantity and quality that it defied imagination.
As this fortune collapsed and scattered, even an Innate being could gain tremendous benefit from merely obtaining a fragment of it.
Both the higher existences among demonic beasts and humans sought to seize whatever advantage they could from the dynasty’s fall.
They were like surfers standing on their boards, eyeing the unprecedented wave building in the boundless sea that was the Great Qian Dynasty.
Each sought to become the one standing highest atop that wave—the strongest being or beast.
But unfortunately, within this vast sea where a colossal wave was about to rise, there still stood a most unshakable stabilizing pillar—the Sea-Calming Divine Needle.
Although this divine pillar had begun to waver under the relentless battering of the waves, it had not yet collapsed completely.
Every being powerful enough—or ambitious enough—to stand upon the wave watched that trembling divine pillar in silence.
When the divine pillar finally fell, the suppressed waves of the sea would explode into the most violent of surges.
At that moment, heaven and earth would be overturned, and chaos would reign.
But for now—that moment had not yet arrived.
The divine pillar still stood tall in the sea. It might not care about mere ripples, but any hidden currents attempting to stir the waters would be mercilessly crushed beneath its weight.
Before the divine pillar fell, none dared to challenge its authority. All could only balance upon their boards, hearts anxious yet forced into patience, awaiting that destined moment.
Even the Innate beings.
Compared to the waves that would erupt once the divine pillar fell, things like ‘Locust’ and ‘Falcon Beak’—mere waves stirred by mortal hands—were nothing in their eyes.
It wasn’t so much a mutual understanding among higher beings as it was a shared greed among them.
Whatever the case, the fact that the Earth Rank demonic beasts like the Iron-Armored Rock Rhino—each so different in temperament—were unconcerned, proved that the stronger Heaven Rank existences would not interfere with their upcoming actions.
The only thing left to consider was their concrete plan of action.
“Since everyone has already gathered, then tonight at midnight shall be the time for us to act.”
“Let the humans witness how ‘Falcon Beak’ pierces through the body of ‘Locust’!”
All the demonic beasts, Mo Lin included, roared in agreement.
At nearly the same time as Mo Lin’s group was preparing to set out, a guest arrived at the Prince of Jiyang’s residence in Jiyang County.
When the butler ushered the round-bellied guest into the mansion, the Prince of Jiyang came forward with a smile:
“Oh my, such a rare visitor indeed—Chairman Dong!”
Dong Li cupped his fists toward the prince:
“Prince of Jiyang, I fear I must impose upon you.”
Dong Li’s voice was low, his mood clearly somber.
Having already caught wind of some inside news from his own intelligence network, the Prince of Jiyang knew exactly why—but he chose not to mention it.
“Chairman Dong’s visit to my humble residence is a rare honor indeed! Come, someone, bring tea!”
Dong Li, however, had no patience for polite banter. The troubles within his chamber of commerce were already more than enough.
If not for the sake of vengeance, he wouldn’t have even come to Jiyang County.
He spoke directly:
“No need for tea. Prince of Jiyang, you should already know—after you left, my chamber of commerce was attacked by a demonic beast.”
He looked directly at the prince.
“That’s right, it was the very same python demon that you and I failed to capture back in Ningjiang.”
“No one expected that after escaping, it didn’t leave but instead returned to my Yongzhou Chamber of Commerce, wreaking havoc within and causing devastating losses, leaving my Chamber utterly humiliated.”