Family Cultivation: Rise of the Wilderness

Chapter 496 Divination
"and then?"

Tang Xueyan's voice was as cold as frost.

Luo Silin was speechless for a moment, then said, "You shouldn't have come here."

Tang Xueyan looked away: "Everyone has their own path to walk. There's no question of right or wrong."

Before Luo Silin could say anything more, Tang Xueyan interrupted him, saying, "With a formidable enemy at hand, Young Master Luo, as the commander, you should prioritize military affairs."

Upon hearing this, Luo Silin's face showed a look of dejection, and he silently turned and left.

Chi Laiyong hesitated for a moment and asked in a low voice, "Does Miss Tang know Commander Luo?"

"We met a few times in Changyang Valley before, but it was just a chance encounter."

Tang Xueyan's face was expressionless.

They've tracked us all this way; is this just a chance encounter?
Chi Laiyong couldn't help but mutter to himself,
He's not stupid; how could he not see that Luo Silin was interested in Tang Xueyan?
Although the Luo family is not as prominent as the Li family, it is still a powerful clan in the region. Tang Xueyan is just a rogue cultivator, so marrying into the Luo family would actually be a very good outcome for her.

Moreover, Luo Silin's identity is not simple; he is the young master of the Luo family! Once he takes control of the Luo family, Tang Xueyan's path to enlightenment and happiness will be guaranteed.

But clearly, Tang Xueyan still harbored feelings for her senior brother. Luo Silin's good intentions were destined to be in vain.

This has nothing to do with the Chi family!

The thought flashed through Chi Laiyong's mind. Although Luo Silin was his superior, the Demon Suppression Camp would most likely be disbanded after the beast tide, and he had no reason to help Luo Silin force a marriage between them.

"I shall take my leave now!"

Chi Laiyong cupped his hands in greeting and prepared to leave.

Suddenly, a commotion erupted at the entrance of the valley.

Chi Laiyong and Tang Xueyan hurriedly looked down, only to see two streaks of light, one red and one green, flash into the valley in an instant.
"The commander has returned!"

A look of surprise appeared on Chi Laiyong's face, and he quickly turned around.

No matter how talented Dean Li or Master Liaoshen are, only Li Xiangming is the pillar of the Demon Suppression Camp. With him there, even if the beast tide is in front of them, the Demon Suppression Camp has the confidence to fight.
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"A decisive battle in Calabash Valley?"

Ignoring his exhaustion, Li Xiangming sat at the head of the main tent in the valley, his face grave.

Li Qianshi nodded slowly: "Plans can't keep up with changes! We originally planned to leave a small force in Calabash Valley to hold off the main force of the beast tide, while the main force turned towards Golden Scale Slope to prepare for battle. But the beast tide moved south much faster than expected. In order to rescue the Yanji Division, we marched north with our entire army, and now we have to retreat back to Calabash Valley, which has wasted too much time. According to the Tongyou Mirror, the main force of the beast tide is less than 50 li away from us. This is almost an encounter battle! If we turn towards Golden Scale Slope as originally planned, we will probably be intercepted by the Bone-Melting Demon Cultivator who has caught up with us first."

Li Xiangming frowned deeply.

Li Qianshi's concerns were not unfounded. Those lesser demons with low cultivation levels might not be able to keep up with the speed of the Demon Suppression Camp's relocation, but the Bone Fusion Demon Cultivators were not among them.

The Golden-feathered Iron-clawed Eagle, which was entangled with him, was now lurking outside Calabash Valley, taking advantage of its speed. If the Demon-Suppressing Camp was on the move, there would be no way to avoid its incursions and those of the Bone-Melting Demon Cultivator behind it.

The threat posed by the Bone-Melting Demon Cultivator is self-evident.

Li Xiangming had to consider one thing: the Demon Suppression Camp was mostly composed of demon-hunting cultivators. These people could fight, but not to the death. Once they panicked, the Demon Suppression Camp would inevitably collapse.

"Is the commander still hesitating?"

Seeing that Li Xiangming remained silent, Master Liaoshen couldn't help but ask.

Positional warfare is where human cultivators can truly demonstrate their advantages!

The Demon Suppression Camp can build fortifications in Calabash Valley, such as narrowing the valley entrance. Since the monsters are not very intelligent, apart from some flying monsters, they will often swarm into the narrow path.

Even if the Demon Suppression Camp doesn't intervene, the demon beasts will still trample each other, causing chaos.

At this point, human cultivators can easily inflict heavy casualties on the beast tide by setting up pre-arranged traps on both sides of the valley entrance or on the small roads.

However, these advantages are all lost when facing a horde of beasts in open battle.

If the Demon Suppression Camp wins, it will suffer at least three to four times more casualties than in positional warfare; if it loses, it will almost certainly be wiped out by the pursuit of the beast tide.

No matter how you look at it, staying in Calabash Valley for the final battle is better than moving to Golden Scale Slope now.

He didn't believe Li Xiangming couldn't understand such a simple multiple-choice question. Li Xiangming remained silent.

How could he not know the good intentions of Master Shen and Li Qianshi in their intense preparations for battle in the valley?
However, after meeting the Mangjiao sect, he felt uneasy.

At this moment, they had lost the desire to fight the beast tide.

He even had a vague idea of ​​abandoning Monkey Valley—not out of desperation because the Demon Suppression Camp had not yet returned, but because he genuinely wanted to shrink his forces and retreat to Angelica Mountain.

Monkey Valley is important, but the Li family of Dangui Mountain is its foundation.

He knew very well that with the Mang Cult so rampant, the Bailu Sect would never let it go. Pu County was probably already in turmoil, and all sorts of demons and monsters would be eager to make their move.

He was eager to return to the Li family home to see Li Qianxiong and learn about their countermeasures.

But what he understood even more was that if he left now, the morale of the Demon Suppression Camp would be completely lost, and they would be slaughtered under the iron hooves of the beast tide.

Regardless, the Demon Suppression Camp must fight a major battle against the beast tide that is besieging the city, and only by winning can he lead the Demon Suppression Camp to retreat.

Calabash Valley

Li Xiangming murmured something, looked up at the people beside him, and said in a deep voice, "Then let's fight a battle in Calabash Valley. You all must do your best. This battle is one of victory only, and defeat is not an option!"

"Must win!"

Li Qianshi, Master Liaoshen, and others stood up and echoed his sentiments.

Li Xiangming waved wearily: "You guys go ahead and get back to work."

After watching them leave, Li Xiangming called out again, "Yang Yun."

"Commander!"

Yang Yun immediately entered from outside the tent and respectfully said, "I'm here!"

"Please invite Master Li over."

"Yes!"

A moment later, Li Chengfeng slowly walked in.

Before he could even bow, Li Xiangming stood up first, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "I apologize for disturbing Master Li's peace and quiet."

Li Chengfeng glanced at Li Xiangming, stroked his beard, and smiled, "Commander Li seems to be preoccupied. Are you worried that the beast tide is too powerful to handle?"

"Exactly!"

Li Xiangming sighed deeply: "I've heard that you are an expert in the principles of the I Ching. Would you be so kind as to divine the fortune of me and the Demon Suppression Camp?"

"this."

Li Chengfeng hesitated for a moment, but still answered truthfully: "To be honest, Master Li, I am injured and unable to perform divination. However, on the way here, I cast a divination for myself, and the result showed that life is in the south, and there will be no danger but only misfortune."

"Is life in the south?"

Li Xiangming looked surprised. To the south was Monkey Valley, guarded only by Zhang Min and a few other cultivators from the Transport Division. If the Demon Suppression Camp encountered danger, even if they all went north, they probably wouldn't be able to save the Demon Suppression Camp.

Could it be that your family will send someone over?

The image of Li Xiangren flashed through Li Xiangming's mind; it seemed that only Li Xiangren was available at home.

But will Li Qianxiong send Li Xiangren during the turmoil in Puxian?

After pondering for a moment, Li Xiangming still had no clue, so he simply stopped making pointless guesses.

Although Li Chengfeng was only divining for himself, he was in the Demon Suppression Camp, so the divination might reflect the fate of the entire army.

He cupped his hands in greeting again, his tone softening slightly: "Now that I have received your kind words, I am at ease."

(End of this chapter)