Free Web NovelChapter 454: Chapter 50: Internal Deliberations in Lie Mountain
At this moment, within the Lie Mountain Tribe.
The atmosphere was a bit heavy inside the main meeting tent.
Because of the battle report that had been announced.
"How could we have lost so quickly?" Ma Shihuang, who hurried back from the north, exclaimed in shock.
Previously, Ma Shihuang had planned for the cultivator forces to engineer some minor defeats in this war to prevent Gonggong from winning too quickly.
To undermine Gonggong’s prestige within the tribe and elevate the cultivator forces’ standing in the Lie Mountain Tribe.
At the same time giving Gonggong the chance to be injured, so that Medicine Ancestor could have the opportunity to heal Gonggong, allowing the poison to enter his body.
This would facilitate controlling Gonggong afterward, but unexpectedly, Jiu Li did not follow Ma Shihuang’s script.
Ma Shihuang truly thought that if Jiu Li approached the heart of Lie Mountain, they would be unable to capture it for a long time, giving him room to maneuver.
Unexpectedly, Jiu Li captured Han River faster than the Lie Mountain Tribe could have imagined.
"What should we do now?"
Chi Songzi was also astonished; the combat power of the Jiuli Tribe and the results they achieved were completely beyond the imaginations of the cultivator forces.
"Haven’t Gonggong and Zhurong returned?"
Ting Yao asked, while Medicine Ancestor, who had escaped back, cupped his hands and replied, "I only saw that when the leader Gonggong was originally about to perish together with the High Priest, he suddenly stopped."
"And after the leader Zhurong was captured in fierce battle with the Jiu Li barbarians, he ceased all intense resistance."
Ma Shihuang sneered, "I said that Gonggong surely had secretly defected to Jiu Li."
But Ma Shihuang also thought it unfortunate; originally, in his plans, Gonggong was to be used as a bargaining chip to elevate their status within the Youxiong Tribe.
He just didn’t expect Gonggong to be even more incompetent than he had imagined, losing so quickly.
"Cough cough~"
Shennong sighed, "In light of this, the High Priest of the Jiuli Tribe is indeed a natural genius."
He now somewhat regretted it.
If he had initially considered Chi You to be the next Common Lord, would so many things have happened?
After several major defeats, Shennong, who was once the Common Lord, also began to reflect on how reckless his previous actions had been.
"Cough cough!"
Shennong coughed twice again, even spitting out some blackened blood.
Ting Yao waved his hand, wiping away the blood. freewebnσvel.cѳm
"How are things with Youxiong?"
Shennong didn’t care and Ting Yao answered, "Common Lord, Youxiong has suffered a defeat, and it’s said that Xuanyuan also fought Chi You.
Although neither side was victorious, in terms of warfare, Jiu Li is far superior to Youxiong."
"Youxiong was forced to retreat, but the losses were not significant, and Jiu Li did not pursue."
"However, Youxiong sent a message requesting our support."
After hearing this, everyone in the tent fell silent, having initially thought Xuanyuan could defeat Chi You.
To their surprise, he also lost.
Although Xuanyuan did not lose, Youxiong compared to Jiu Li was defeated; overall, it seemed Youxiong still couldn’t compare to Jiu Li.
Upon hearing this intelligence, Ting Yao couldn’t help but say, "Common Lord, one must know that Jiu Li directly waged war on two fronts."
"Yet they won both. I feel that the only chance to win against Jiu Li is for us to fully assist Youxiong..."
"Perhaps forming a grand alliance is necessary."
Ting Yao turned to look at Shennong, who fell into silence.
He had initially thought that even if Jiu Li made a move, it would target Youxiong first, but unexpectedly Jiu Li’s assault on Lie Mountain was swift and relentless.
Moreover, Lie Mountain had suffered significant defeats each time.
Now Ting Yao was proposing to him that they form an alliance with Youxiong.
But between Lie Mountain and Youxiong, even if they formed an alliance, there would be a hierarchy.
In the past, Lie Mountain would certainly be the main, but currently, it seemed Youxiong could be the main.
Xuanyuan can contend against Chi You, but he couldn’t defeat Chi You.
Perhaps in the past it was possible, but now his health is deteriorating with each passing day.
But Ma Shihuang also said, "Common Lord, this is indeed feasible."
If Shennong could be brought over to Youxiong, then their cultivator forces wouldn’t be too weak compared to those within Youxiong’s cultivator forces.
When he went to contact Xuanyuan, he had also met the cultivators from Youxiong.
They were indeed formidable, like Wind Queen, Li Mu, and also Da Hong, Cangjie, and others, all were Human Immortals.
At the level of Human Immortals, Lie Mountain was actually already unable to match Jiu Li, nor could it match Youxiong.
In terms of sheer strength, the Lie Mountain Tribe, despite its extensive territory, was already the weakest.
Although it still held the title of Common Lord, this title diminished with the decisions Shennong made to determine the successor to the Common Lord.
As well as the growing might of Jiu Li, it is likely that the other tribes of the Human Race are also waiting for the next Common Lord.
They are starting to make their bets, while the former Common Lord Shennong can just wait to abdicate.
And now, while the title of Common Lord still holds some weight, if they could get Shennong to join Youxiong.
Its value would definitely increase significantly; even if the Common Lord joined the Youxiong Tribe, wouldn’t it signify that the next Common Lord would definitely be Xuanyuan?
Shennong shook his head, "If Xuanyuan can defeat Chi You, I naturally can, but now that Xuanyuan has lost to Chi You, why should I help him?"
"But those Jiu Li barb..."
"Barbarians are also part of the Human Race!" Shennong glared at Ma Shihuang and said coldly, "I am merely sick, not senile.
The task given to me by the Celestial Emperor is to unconditionally protect the Human Race, and to appoint the next Common Lord before my time is up."
"My initial choice of Xuanyuan was indeed due to personal bias, choosing him when both candidates were about equal."
Shennong’s voice carried a chill, "But that doesn’t mean Jiu Li is not part of the Human Race; this is a test.
It is not a battle to the death for the survival of the race."
"If Youxiong wants Lie Mountain to join, then they must completely defeat Lie Mountain."
Shennong, being from the Great Wilderness as well, recognized the methods of tribe annexation, but his initial appointment of Xuanyuan as the Common Lord’s successor was out of personal bias.
"If I were to let Lie Mountain go to Youxiong without any test, then why didn’t I directly declare Xuanyuan the Common Lord initially?"
"Now that Jiu Li has come, and if Lie Mountain goes to Youxiong, do you think the other tribes will accept this decision?"
"Without a proper fight, it would inevitably lead to a major fracturing."
Shennong’s position and perspective were different; he saw the entire Human Race.
If he were to act on this without any test, recognizing Xuanyuan as the Common Lord.
The consequences would be unimaginable, inevitably causing a major rift within the Human Race.
Even the title of Common Lord would face a decline in influence, and in the future, no one would recognize the title of Common Lord anymore.
"Ma Shihuang, you and Chi Songzi lead the efforts to resist Jiu Li, exhaust all efforts."
Ma Shihuang and Chi Songzi exchanged glances and nodded, "Yes!"
Once Ma Shihuang, Chi Songzi, and the others from the Unity Realm left the tent.
Shennong placed his hand on Ting Yao’s hand, looking at his wife who had accompanied him until now.
He sighed, "I was truly wrong at the beginning; matters of life and death made me lose my judicious wisdom."
