Internal Deliberation, Countermeasures

Hu Shu looked at everyone, took a deep breath, and said, "Tomorrow morning, we will gather in the council hall to discuss how to deal with the Heavenly Origin Sect and the Witch Tribe. Tonight, everyone go back and get a good rest to conserve your energy." Everyone nodded and got up to leave. Hu Shu stood alone, looking up at the night sky, contemplating the discussion for tomorrow, wondering what kind of decisions and challenges awaited the Human Race.

The next morning, the mist on Shouyang Mountain had not yet completely dispersed, and a slight chill seeped into the skin. Hu Shu arrived at the Human Race council hall early. Inside the hall, a large stone table occupied the central position, surrounded by stone stools. Luminous pearls embedded in the walls emitted a soft glow, illuminating the entire hall.

Before long, the important members of the Human Race began to arrive one after another. Their footsteps echoed on the stone floor, their expressions grave. The members of the Elite Squad also stood neatly to the side, their eyes filled with determination and vigilance.

Hu Shu surveyed everyone and spoke first, "I'm sure everyone already knows that the Heavenly Origin Sect is secretly colluding with the Witch Tribe, intending to use the Witch Tribe to destroy us, the Human Race. Now, our Human Race has reached a critical juncture of survival. Everyone, speak your minds, how should we respond?"

As soon as he finished speaking, a burly, muscular Human Race member stood up abruptly, slammed his hands heavily on the stone table, and shouted, "Let's fight them! Attack them by surprise and catch them off guard, disrupt their collusion! We cannot just sit here and wait for death!" His eyes were red with anger and resolve, his voice echoing in the council hall, causing the light of the luminous pearls to flicker slightly.

Next, a white-haired elder holding a cane slowly rose. His eyes were wise and steady, and he gently shook his head, "We cannot be impulsive. The Heavenly Origin Sect and the Witch Tribe are powerful. Compared to them, our Human Race is vastly inferior. Attacking them would be like throwing an egg against a rock. In my opinion, we should strengthen our defenses, utilize the terrain of Shouyang Mountain, build a solid defense line, and wait for our opportunity." The elder's voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable authority.

For a moment, the crowd buzzed with discussion. Those who supported a proactive attack and those who advocated for strengthening defenses argued their points, unwilling to concede. The atmosphere in the council hall was heated, with debates rising and falling.

Hu Shu listened quietly to the arguments, his brow furrowed. He knew well that both a proactive attack and strengthening defenses had their pros and cons. A proactive attack might gain the initiative, but the risks were immense; strengthening defenses, while seemingly stable, might miss the opportunity to turn the tide.

Just then, a young member of the Elite Squad stepped forward and said respectfully, "Clan Leader, I believe we can adopt a two-pronged approach. On one hand, we should strengthen our defenses, organize the young and strong of the Human Race for defensive training, and ensure the safety of Shouyang Mountain. On the other hand, we should select a group of agile and stealthy clan members to infiltrate the territories of the Heavenly Origin Sect and the Witch Tribe, closely monitoring their every move. This way, we can ensure our own safety while also keeping track of the enemy's movements, allowing us to make more accurate decisions."

Hu Shu's eyes lit up upon hearing this. He carefully considered the suggestion and found it indeed feasible. It would solidify the Human Race's defenses and gather intelligence on the enemy, providing a basis for future actions.

After weighing the pros and cons, Hu Shu finally stood up, pressing his hands down to signal for quiet. Once the council hall fell silent, he said with a grave expression, "Everyone's suggestions have merit, but after careful consideration, I have decided to adopt this young brother's proposal. We will first consolidate our defenses, set up traps at all strategic points of Shouyang Mountain, strengthen patrols, and organize the Human Race for full combat readiness. At the same time, we will select a group of elites from the Elite Squad to form a surveillance team and secretly monitor the movements of the Heavenly Origin Sect and the Witch Tribe."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. Although this decision was not perfect, under the current circumstances, it was undoubtedly the most prudent course of action.

Subsequently, Hu Shu began to arrange tasks in an orderly manner. He detailed the defensive work, dividing the young and strong of the Human Race into different groups, each responsible for the defense of a specific area. At the same time, he personally selected ten members from the Elite Squad to form the surveillance team.

"When you go, you must be extremely cautious. If you detect any slightest disturbance, report back immediately. Remember, you bear the future of the Human Race, so do not be careless," Hu Shu said sternly, looking at the members of the surveillance team with determined eyes.

"Clan Leader, rest assured, we will not fail our mission!" the members of the surveillance team said in unison, their voices firm and powerful.

After the arrangements were made, everyone dispersed to carry out their tasks. Hu Shu watched their retreating figures, praying silently in his heart. Although an initial strategy had been formulated, the Human Race's strength was relatively weak. Would the implementation go smoothly? Facing the powerful forces of the Heavenly Origin Sect and the Witch Tribe, could the Human Race truly find a turning point?