Chapter 136: Divination

The atmosphere within the main hall grew even heavier.

Every face reflected grim contemplation as they wrestled with the impossible: how to provide aid.

It was a no-win situation.

The Black Tiger Army was stretched thin, forced to contend with the numerous Barbarians infesting the city. They simply couldn’t afford to be bled dry.

Shen Changqing needed to be rescued.

Yet, the Black Tiger Army’s strength had to be preserved at all costs.

As they dithered, a clear, resonant voice cut through the tension from outside.

"What troubles you, that it causes such consternation among you lords!"

Even as the words hung in the air, a figure in azure robes stepped into view.

"Lord Shen!"

The sight of Shen Changqing brought visible relief to their faces.

Chu Ding couldn’t help but ask, "We heard Lord Shen was engaged in battle with the Barbarians. We never expected you to break free so quickly!"

"Break free?"

Shen Changqing raised an eyebrow.

"I didn’t need to ‘break free’. I simply dealt with those Barbarians. Though, I confess, I didn’t expect Jincheng to fall to the Barbarians so quickly. It seems they are indeed here in force this time."

"Dealt with them all? Lord Shen, have you advanced to the Grandmaster Realm?"

A flicker of excitement ignited in Chu Ding’s eyes.

Just standing before Shen Changqing, he felt an inexplicable pressure. Combined with Shen Changqing’s recent seclusion and his words, he couldn’t help but wonder if he had attained the Grandmaster level.

Zhong Chi and Nie Xu also fixed their gazes on Shen Changqing, their eyes burning with anticipation.

Grandmaster!

Had he truly broken through?

But as their hopes soared, Shen Changqing shook his head, dashing their expectations.

"No, I have yet to grasp the Martial Arts True Intent."

The light in their eyes dimmed.

Without grasping the Martial Arts True Intent, he hadn’t reached the Grandmaster Realm.

"I see…"

"Grandmaster is not so easily achieved!"

Chu Ding sighed heavily.

Indeed, breaking through to Grandmaster was incredibly difficult. He had been stuck in the Innate Outer Gang Realm for nearly a decade, unable to comprehend the Martial Arts True Intent.

For someone as young as Shen Changqing to reach Grandmaster would be even more challenging.

They had initially placed great expectations on him, and now, hearing that he hadn’t succeeded, they felt a sense of disappointment.

On reflection, though, it was understandable.

Shen Changqing’s failure to break through was entirely within reason.

Chu Ding quickly composed himself, saying, "It’s perfectly normal, Lord Shen. Grandmaster is not easily attained. With your talent and a bit more time to refine your skills, I’m sure you’ll break through eventually.

For now, with the Barbarians in the city and Lord Shen not yet a Grandmaster, we must stick to our original plan: harass the Barbarians for as long as possible, giving Dahuang Prefecture time to prepare, and then find a way to break out of the city."

"That seems to be our only option!"

The others nodded in agreement.

Lacking sufficient strength, they had to adopt a more cautious approach.

Chu Ding turned his gaze back to Shen Changqing.

"Though Lord Shen hasn’t broken through, your strength is still considerable. I was severely injured in my battle with Mierba, and I was worried that the Black Tiger Army lacked a strong leader. With Lord Shen here, we can at least address the immediate crisis."

Even if Shen Changqing hadn’t become a Grandmaster, he was still a peak Innate expert.

Such power could not be underestimated.

"General Chu fought with Mierba? What can you tell me about his strength?"

"Information…"

Chu Ding’s expression turned grave, his voice measured.

"To say I fought with Mierba is an exaggeration. I was practically crippled by a single blow. Mierba’s strength is terrifying; I suspect he’s far more powerful than an average Grandmaster Middle Stage expert.

If we fought head-on, I wouldn’t last ten moves.

His power is simply astonishing."

Chu Ding spoke without any hint of embarrassment, despite admitting he would be killed within ten moves by Mierba.

A true warrior acknowledged his limitations.

Even though he was confident in his own strength, he knew the gulf between himself and Mierba was vast.

Not just for Innate cultivators.

Even most Grandmasters would be no match for Mierba.

"If General Chu can’t withstand ten moves against Mierba, then his strength must be truly frightening!"

"Indeed. Mierba is a renowned Barbarian warrior, blessed with immense natural strength. Few Grandmasters of equal realm can contend with him."

"I see…"

Shen Changqing nodded, gaining a better understanding of Mierba.

To slay Chu Ding within ten moves…

In truth, Chu Ding would probably only last five or six moves.

The difference between them was immense.

Rumbling!

Suddenly, a series of thunderous explosions echoed through the air, shaking the very ground.

Everyone’s expression changed. As one, they rushed outside, just in time to witness several plumes of fire erupting into the sky.

"That’s where the granaries are!"

Nie Xu instantly recognized the source of the flames.

The granaries!

The stores of grain they hadn’t had time to move, left behind in Jincheng.

The granaries were strategically vital, constantly guarded by the Black Tiger Army. The fact that they were ablaze meant the Barbarians had breached their defenses. The Black Tiger Army there must have been overwhelmed and had resorted to torching the supplies.

Without grain, the Barbarian army would be crippled.

After all…

An army marches on its stomach.

In any war, supplies are of paramount importance.

If the Barbarians lacked grain, even a million soldiers could never breach Dahuang Prefecture.

The reverse was also true.

If Jincheng’s grain fell into Barbarian hands, it would bolster their strength.

Burning the granaries was a scorched-earth tactic, one that hurt both sides.

"Lord, the Black Tiger Army has set fire to Jincheng’s granaries!"

A Barbarian general rushed to report.

Mierba’s face darkened.

"Order the men to put out the fire immediately! The granaries cannot be lost! Deploy the hawk patrol and ferret out every Qin hiding in Jincheng. I want their heads!"

"Yes, sir!"

The Barbarian general hastily acknowledged the order and retreated.

As he departed, Mierba glared at the burning granaries, his expression growing even more sinister.

"Burning the grain… good, very good. Do you think that will stop our army? How ridiculous!"

"The Black Tiger Army is holed up in the city, trying to stall us and buy time. If we let them drag this on, I fear the situation will turn against us."

The Barbarian Priest at his side spoke softly, offering a gentle reminder.

Hearing this, Mierba’s gaze turned icy.

"I know what the Black Tiger Army is trying to do. They want to delay us, to give Dahuang Prefecture time to prepare. But even if they do, they cannot stop our Barbarian warriors."

"Besides…"

"I will not give them any more time!"

A single city, a mere twelve thousand Black Tiger soldiers, had held back his one hundred and twenty thousand strong army for an entire day.

This infuriated Mierba.

"Does my Lord have a plan?"

"I know the Priest possesses the power of divination. I need you to use it, to locate Chu Ding. Once he’s dead, the rest of the Black Tiger Army will be no problem."

As Mierba spoke, he turned to the Priest.

Barbarian Priests.

They possessed mysterious powers, the ability to control evil, and to divine the future.

Throughout history.

The priests had foretold every disaster in the harsh Barren lands, allowing them to prepare and respond accordingly.

It was because of this that the Barbarian tribes had been able to thrive in such a harsh environment.

"Very well!"

The Priest nodded.

"Divination is possible, but I will need the heart’s blood of ten warriors as a catalyst!"

"So be it."

Mierba had anticipated this. He immediately turned to the Barbarians behind him.

To capture Qin now would be a waste of time.

"You have all heard the Priest. I need ten brave warriors willing to offer their lives. The Barbarian God will receive you, and protect your families!"

At once, a line of Barbarians stepped forward, each drawing a dagger from his breast, their faces burning with fervor as they shouted in unison.

"We are willing to die for the Barbarian Tribe!"

With a roar, the daggers plunged into their chests, then were pulled back out.

Thwack!

Blood sprayed everywhere.

The ten Barbarians fell to their knees, but even in their agony, they did not flinch. Their faces remained filled with zeal.

Seeing this.

The Priest stepped forward, plunging his bone scepter directly into the chests of the dying warriors.

Soon, he retrieved the scepter.

What was once white was now stained a bloody crimson.

The Barbarians collapsed completely, lifeless.

One.

Two.

Soon, all ten Barbarians were dead. The skull at the top of the scepter had been completely dyed red with blood.

The Priest seized the scepter in one hand and began making strange gestures with the other, his eyes closed tight, muttering incomprehensible incantations.

A mysterious power began to emanate.

The crimson color was drawn out of the nameless skull, turning into threads that intertwined above, forming a sphere.

Time flowed slowly.

Finally.

The Priest suddenly brandished the scepter, shattering the bloody sphere.

His eyes snapped open, the bone scepter pointing in a specific direction. His voice was chilling.

"I have found them. They are in that direction, approximately three hundred yards away!"

"Good!"

Mierba nodded, issuing his command.

"Pass down my orders! Surround that area! Chu Ding and his lackeys must not escape!"

"As you command!"

Several generals bowed and accepted their orders, then led the Barbarian army to encircle the area.

With a concrete direction and location, the rest would be easy.

"I will see if he can survive in my grasp this time!"

Mierba’s face was grim.

As a Grandmaster, it was humiliating to have failed to kill Chu Ding on several occasions.

He had now placed Chu Ding on his personal kill list.

Meanwhile.

As the Priest performed his divination, Chu Ding and Shen Changqing felt an instinctive tremor, a quickening in their hearts. They exchanged a look, and both saw surprise in the other’s eyes.

A premonition!

For a martial artist, these things were not mere coincidences.

"We may have been exposed!"

Shen Changqing said calmly.

End of Chapter