A massive column stretched for forty miles, marching brazenly through the heart of the Land of Rice Fields.
As they withdrew from the Land of Rice Fields, they also encountered an army that had received the news and hurried over from Tsurumi Pass.
But faced with the New Martial Army, its bloodlust soaring, on a flat plain with no geographical advantage, no one dared approach.
From afar, they could hear the former citizens of the Land of Rice Fields sobbing and wailing, their bodies trembling, yet not a single person dared draw a blade.
They could only watch helplessly as Dongfang Mao, leading away the Land of Rice Fields' vast wealth, calmly crossed the border.
The massive convoy rumbled slowly across Ishi Plain. The heavily loaded carts carved deep ruts into the grass, and the chains clattered with every step the prisoners took.
Dongfang Mao narrowed his eyes at the darkening sky, then turned to the messenger and said,
"Pass the order down. The entire army will make camp. We leave first thing tomorrow morning."
"Yes, sir!"
The heavy convoy came to a slow halt. Chains clattered as the prisoners were herded into the middle of an open area.
The soldiers kicked apart piles of grass and set up iron pots. Before long, cooking smoke rose into the dusk, mingling with the sizzling sound of rice going into the pots.
Dongfang Mao didn't join them. Instead, he took a dark pill from his robes and tossed it into his mouth.
It was a Soldier Pill. It tasted awful, but one pill was enough to fill his stomach and even restore a little Chakra, making it extremely convenient.
However, they were exceptionally difficult to make. They required not only rare medicinal ingredients but also had to be refined by a