Nobles.
Under the feudal system, they held immense resources.
At times, this was more effective than hiring a gourmet hunter like Gang Tu.
According to Laitefu, the Phoenix Koi had a tenacious vitality and remarkable effects. In its high-yield era, many nobles purchased them for artificial breeding.
Although they couldn't reproduce, koi lived for a considerable time, so there should still be living specimens.
They returned with Laitefu to his family's old mansion.
It had been ravaged by the Northern Allied Forces and was in a state of utter ruin.
Entering the courtyard, a dozen or so low-grade beings were hauling furniture...
Laitefu's eyes widened, and he grabbed one of them, roaring, "Do you know the penalty for stealing from a noble?"
The low-grade being appeared startled and stammered, "We thought you weren't coming back."
"Nonsense!"
The remaining low-grade beings scattered, showing no loyalty whatsoever.
Laitefu said anxiously, "Quick, catch them!"
"Don't forget why you're back. The Allied Forces have no obligation to maintain public order."
Zhang Wei said coldly, "If you can't find any leads on the Phoenix Koi, I don't mind tying you up and letting the low-grade beings decide what to do with you."
"Yes... Laitefu understands..."
...
One hundred and twenty li west of Yicheng, the very front line of the battlefield!
After a full day of encirclement, all fleeing Yun Kingdom troops had been annihilated.
Only the camp remained as the final stronghold.
Twenty-six hours after parting ways with Modu, Lang Tu concluded that no reinforcements would arrive and immediately issued the order for a full assault!
"Joint Skill: Wildfire!"
Ground troops launched countless flammable items, while air cavalry units were responsible for igniting them. Towering flames erupted over the damp cloud sea, spanning dozens of li.
However, for the Lang Gu righteous soldiers, this was a minor affair; fire attacks were a common tactic.
After the great fire engulfed all the houses, sounds of struggling and shouting rose one after another.
"It's about time. All troops, mount up, drink, and attack!"
At Lang Tu's command, all units seamlessly transitioned into cavalry. Everyone in the Lang Gu righteous army had grown up on horseback.
They took wine skins from their waists.
And drank them down in one gulp!
A surge of valor filled them!
"Follow me, and kill!"
Lang Tu led the charge!
Both air and land cavalry followed suit!
Unstoppable!
Their might was unparalleled, as if the sea of flames before them was nothing!
Lang Tu knew very well that the Yun Kingdom's military recruitment required a minimum of Level Four Awakening. Such strength could not inflict heavy casualties through arson alone.
Arson was merely to sow chaos.
The true reliance was on the lances in their hands!
Amidst the flames, countless fleeing figures were impaled on spearheads, their cries of anguish and pleas for mercy echoing.
Some routed soldiers attempted to leap to evade the cavalry's formations but were struck down by the javelins of the air cavalry.
In the deepest part of the camp, hundreds of large shields were erected, deflecting many of the thrown spears...
"There's still organized resistance?"
"Heh, they're just turtles hiding behind those large shields!"
"Those large shields are well-used, with almost no blind spots. Spear attacks can't penetrate."
Lang Tu, who had swept across the Yun Kingdom and slain over ten thousand enemies, would hardly be deterred by such a sight!
"A mere thousand-strong formation dares to oppose me!"
"Follow me and trample them into mud!"
Thousands of riders advanced like a flood.
As they closed to within dozens of feet, over a thousand arrows rained down from the gaps between the large shields!
These crossbow bolts were swift and powerful, and combined with the cavalry's charge, the distance between the two sides was only tens of feet. Even the elite Lang Gu righteous soldiers could not effectively evade them.
After three volleys of arrows, every soldier hit was sent flying back, a testament to their power!
Lang Tu casually caught an arrow.
"The shaft is thick and short, with a groove at the tail. These are heavy crossbow bolts..."
He scanned the surroundings, seeing many long-time followers heavily wounded on the ground. Lang Tu's rage intensified.
"After breaking through the formation, leave none alive!"
BOOM!!!
"These large shields..."
"Damn it, they're so sturdy!"
The sight of shields being shattered did not occur on a large scale. Apart from Lang Tu's own mount, only a few of his trusted confidantes possessed enough strength to break through.
These shield-bearing soldiers were formidable!
Even fiercer shouts erupted from behind the shields. These Yun Kingdom soldiers abandoned their shields and drew their sabers, slashing at the cavalry whose movement speed had been nullified.
Cavalry that lost their mobility were like stunned turtles...
Watching countless subordinates being cut down from their horses, Lang Tu roared in anguish.
"I will kill you all!"
His terrifying power, exceeding Level 60, erupted like a nuclear bomb! However, the soldiers on both sides were not insignificant, and were not harmed by the aftermath.
Over a dozen Yun Kingdom blade commanders charged out, surrounding Lang Tu.
Without Lang Tu's support, the Lang Gu righteous soldiers began to fall even faster.
"Damn it, this is a conspiracy!"
"A conspiracy targeting the Lang Gu righteous soldiers!"
They continuously had scattered troops lower Lang Tu's guard, making him underestimate his enemy and advance recklessly...
Inducing him to choose a direct assault, thus forfeiting the cavalry's inherent mobility.
A specialized tactic using large shields and crossbows, designed to counter light cavalry. Moreover, the shields and heavy crossbows were of extremely high quality, capable of affecting the Lang Gu righteous soldiers.
Finally, a large number of blade commanders were gathered to restrict Lang Tu's individual combat prowess.
This was a trap!
The Lang Gu righteous soldiers had roamed the Yun Kingdom for too long, and almost all their intelligence had been compromised.
In war, once the intelligence advantage is lost, one is completely in a passive state.
Lang Tu fought desperately but could not break through the encirclement of over a dozen highly martial blade commanders, forced to watch his subordinates dwindle in number.
Crossbow bolts continued to fly, and the exhausted flying steeds fell one by one!
"Retreat!"
"All of you, retreat!"
Retreat meant abandoning the wounded, it meant being pursued...
And the only stable stronghold for the Lang Gu righteous army was Yicheng, held by Modu.
...
Yicheng.
After hours of effort, Laitefu finally found a ledger.
It meticulously recorded transaction information from various auction houses over several decades.
"Why do you have something like this?"
"My family has shares in several auction houses. Although not much, the shares were enough to sustain a living. As a shareholder, I naturally demand strictness in accounts and occasionally gather intelligence on rivals."
According to the intelligence.
Half of all Phoenix Koi were urgently needed, with no desire for breeding.
The remainder had been transferred over decades and eventually disappeared. Only a small portion of the Phoenix Koi had their whereabouts clearly documented.
One was the royal family, who, with their abundant resources, had virtually no critical need for Phoenix Koi. Keeping them would only be for rewards or ornamental purposes.
The rest were a select few individuals in the Yun Kingdom who held high positions and power.
Zhang Wei scanned the list, and a familiar name leaped out at him. Da Feng Novel Network.
"Bo Gang?"