"How much did you pay to hire them?"
The Black Robe Patriarch scoffed and said, "20 Emperor-level crystal cores, all dug out from the heads of Emperor-level creatures, not the kind mined from ore."
Ming Ling was stunned, then realized.
Holy crap, these two have a deal.
What, are they trying to steal my position as the top strategist? They're already looking for people to learn from, this won't do.
Seeing Ming Ling's ill-intentioned gaze, the Black Robe Patriarch could only shrug helplessly and take out a communication jade slip.
The figure on the jade slip was Ouyang Chengshan.
"Hehe, greetings to both patriarchs. We, the terrestrial human race, provide high-quality strategic planning services to all. Our prices are reasonable and fair. We welcome all patriarchs to consult us."
Looking at Ouyang Chengshan's smile, Ming Ling felt a wave of dizziness.
Damn, why are all humans like this?
It's one thing for the juniors to fool us, but now the elders are starting to scam people for money?
This is pure 'the rotten upper beam leads the rotten lower beam.'
Just as Ming Ling was pondering how to continue fooling the Black Robe Patriarch and King Ashura into being his thugs, the main city gate of Heciod's plains suddenly opened wide. A force of over a million elite cavalry thundered out and galloped towards the distance.
The three dimwits of the terrestrial race and Ouyang Chengshan in the communication jade slip exchanged glances.
Holy crap, we've stumbled upon an unexpected bonus.
"It looks like this is an elite raiding cavalry, and their direction of advance is towards our Heavenly Road defense line," Ming Ling said with a frown.
The Black Robe Patriarch and King Ashura exchanged a look, then simultaneously turned to Ouyang Chengshan in the jade slip, their meaning clear.
Kid, it's your turn to say something. You can't let us waste our money like this, right?
Ouyang Chengshan frowned and thought for a moment, then quickly said, "Holy crap, these Heavenly Race bastards want to attack our Heavenly Road defense line. It seems they really want to cut off our retreat."
The Black Robe Patriarch's eyes lit up at this, and he said earnestly, "They want to trap our forces inside and attack them from both sides."
"Mm-hmm, or perhaps corner a turtle in a jar," King Ashura said, using a Chinese idiom he had just learned, seeing how cultured the Black Robe Patriarch was.
"Go to hell, both of you. If you don't know how to speak, just shut your mouths. This is..."
Having made up his mind, Ming Ling said to the Black Robe Patriarch and King Ashura, "Did you two understand? Quickly pass the order to our men in the spatial secret realms to prepare for battle. We'll be ready to attack. King Ashura will stay to attack the city, and Black Robe and I will go after the Heavenly Race forces' rears."
The two nodded in succession and began transmitting messages to their respective spatial secret realms.
The Black Robe Patriarch even took out a skewer of roasted lamb kidneys and started munching on them.
"Holy crap, Black Robe, what's with that habit?" Ming Ling and the other were stunned as the Black Robe Patriarch ate with grease all over his mouth.
The Black Robe Patriarch chuckled, his face looking lewd, and said, "Aren't we going to attack the Heavenly Race's rears? I'm just replenishing my strength beforehand so I can last longer."
Ming Ling was instantly stunned, then shivered and instinctively moved aside.
King Ashura, however, seemed to have an epiphany and said, "Holy crap, you're still the best, Black Robe. Give me a couple of skewers too. After I finish attacking the city, I can also 'poke' for a longer time."
"Damn you two beasts," Ming Ling muttered blankly at this.
Ouyang Chengshan ignored the three terrestrial powerhouses who were hurting each other, quickly hung up the communication jade slip, and spread the news of the Heavenly Race's impending attack from Heciod's plains main city.
Upon hearing this, Lin Tian immediately convened an emergency military meeting with all the remaining legion commanders, Jiang Zheng, and He Dazhuang.
Two hours later, Jiang Zheng and He Dazhuang, along with their respective group armies, handed over the defense mission of the entire Heavenly Road, except for the Hulu Kou Fortress, to the terrestrial human spirit army led by Lin Tian.
After a night of forced march, Jiang Zheng successfully rendezvoused with Huo Qubing and the Han cavalry.
The Sixth and Ninth Group Armies, with casualties reaching seventy percent, joined forces with the Han cavalry. The combined force of nearly 20 million elites, under the reception of the two founding ancestors of the Shang Dynasty, Zhaoming and Xiangtu, all entered Zhaoming's spatial secret realm.
Then, the group hid in the void, becoming silent.