Chapter 2859: Bloody Battle (part 2)

Forewarned is forearmed; without preparation, failure follows. This was life advice from Mo Shan, Mo Hua’s father, who repeatedly reminded him during monster hunting in his youth.

Now, in a chaotic era, with more than 800,000 lives on his shoulders, a single misstep could lead to irrevocable consequences, thus Mo Hua naturally exercises utmost caution.

Regarding any potential dangers, Mo Hua has long calculated and established numerous contingency plans.

Even the location where he is currently stationed was planned in advance to ensure there is room for both offense and defense in case of danger.

Thus, upon detecting the approach of the Wujiu Tribe’s barbarian soldiers, Mo Hua quickly ordered his own barbarian soldiers to form the rearguard.

The rest of the tribesmen retreated to the nearby large mountain valley, while the barbarian soldiers utilized the natural barriers of the valley to guard the pass and resist the Wujiu Tribe’s attack.

Because preparations were made in advance, the order from Mo Hua was timely.

Thus, when the Wujiu army truly arrived at the forefront, most of the barbarian cultivators under Mo Hua’s command had migrated to the other side of the valley.

The two armies faced each other across the valley’s natural barrier.

Between them lay only a path, approximately ten zhang wide.

As a result, the formation presented an image of ’one soldier guarding the pass against ten thousand enemies.’

For the Wujiu Tribe to destroy Mo Hua’s forces, they had no choice but to charge through and cross the relatively narrow path.

Meanwhile, the Shugubu’s barbarian soldiers could avoid disadvantages in large-scale warfare concerning troop types and strength.

They simply had to concentrate their efforts on guarding the valley.

The Wujiu army paused, seemingly as higher-ranking barbarians weighed their options and deliberated. But after some consideration, they still began their assault.

It appeared that launching the attack to annihilate the Shugubu and swallow Mo Hua’s forces offered them far more benefits than drawbacks.

Even with the natural barrier, the battle capabilities of the Shugubu were not considered a concern by the Wujiu Tribe.

Especially since the barbarian armor worn by Shugubu’s soldiers was noticeably inferior in material, grade, and type compared to that of the Wujiu Tribe.

Although the Bone Heavy Armor of the Shugubu was strong, the overall quantity was far too scarce.

Moreover, within the Third Grade Mountain Realm, during a Golden Core-level battle, even the Second Grade Bone Heavy Armor constructed with a Twenty-one Patterns Ultimate Formation became limited in effectiveness.

All these reasons combined were insufficient to deter the Wujiu Tribe.

To guard the pass with one soldier means to kill all pass-keepers.

The Wujiu Tribe commenced their charge.

The witch cultivators murmured spells, danced oddly, accompanied by the sinister sounds of the xun. .

The heavy armor soldiers of the Wujiu Tribe led the forefront, advancing step by step into the valley.

Various other barbarian soldiers also followed in orderly fashion, as if a mountain wall cascading down, pressing forward.

Even Mo Hua felt his scalp tingle slightly.

He hadn’t anticipated the strength and momentum of the Wujiu Tribe’s forces to be so formidable.

They even seemed to possess the aura of the Great Wilderness "Royal Court’s soldiers."

Times create heroes, and it appears that, unbeknownst, the Wujiu Tribe has gradually grown into a significant power in this chaotic struggle.

Mo Hua had no choice but to brace himself and order the heavy armor soldiers of the Shugubu, along with various barbarian soldiers, to face their foes.

The two sides engaged in fierce and deadly combat within the narrow mountain path.

Swords and spears entwined with flesh, blood splattering upon the earth.

It was intensely tragic at times.

The Shugubu was clearly disadvantaged, yet they forged a "Great Wall" with human lives.

As the battle progressed and the situation grew urgent, Mo Hua had no alternative but to make some decisions he was previously unwilling to make.

He could only send the barbarian slaves to charge into battle, to serve as "cannon fodder."

Otherwise, once the regular forces were depleted, everyone would be left only to await death.

As for the survival of the barbarian slaves as cannon fodder, it ultimately depended on their own "fortune."

Mo Hua could only promise them that, should they survive the charge, they would have achieved merit and would be granted freedom.

This was the most he could offer.

Witnessing each barbarian slave, each vibrant life, heeding his "Shaman’s" orders, charging toward the Wujiu Tribe’s formidable heavy armor soldiers, only to die one by one on the front lines, torn apart by the war’s jaws—

Mo Hua’s heart bled.

At this point, he truly experienced the sentiment of "compassion does not command troops."

War is cruel, it is merciless, accompanied by extensive death.

It is a matter of you die, or I perish.

Often, it involves choosing certain subordinates to send to their deaths.

No one wishes to do this, yet they are compelled to.

Because they have no choice.

Many seemingly cold-blooded and merciless "choices" are essentially driven by harsh reality.

No one wants to be "merciless," but the cruel reality forces this upon people, lest even greater suffering ensues, costing more lives.

In war, in the grand scheme, every authority holder making decisions bears this pain within.

Mo Hua’s heart, too, is filled with this anguish.

But the fight continues.

Pressed by formidable enemies, he has no choice but to cast aside pain, maintain clarity and rationality, using telekinesis for "cold and merciless" calculation, treating human lives as "chess pieces," engaging in mutual slaughter, "exchanging pieces," fiercely strategizing to maximize his side’s interests.

Shugubu’s casualties continue to increase, flesh flying.

But fortunately, with a fight to the death and shared hatred against the enemy, the Shugubu’s defense line managed to hold, albeit barely.

No matter how the Wujiu Tribe launched their charges, the Shugubu stood as firm as a reef.