No head coach would want to jeopardize the outcome of a battle on a duel between generals.
To be forced into a duel between generals when one clearly has a numerical advantage is a sign of incompetence on the part of the commander.
He had never seen such a tactic before, and for a moment he couldn't come up with any effective way to deal with it. He was left with only two options.
Either he should personally intercept the Quefeng, since the opponent is a master of the same level and extremely fast, and encirclement would be time-consuming, laborious, and ineffective; the only way is to restrain it himself.
The risks of doing so are also obvious. If they were to die at the hands of the enemy and lose their commander, the Four Saints Army would be severely weakened, if not completely thrown into chaos. Even if they managed to break through, they would lose at least half of their strength. These Four Saints Guard were not easy to make; each one was a valuable asset for conquering the world in the future. If they were to suffer too much damage, it would be extremely detrimental to their future.
The second option is to continue this stalemate!
The opponent's extreme support for all sixteen routes is quite exhausting and cannot be sustained for long. Once the opponent runs out of energy, this system will collapse immediately. Moreover, the threat of losing a top-tier general will allow the opponent to unleash their full potential.
However, the consequences of doing so are also obvious, because you can't calculate which side will run out of energy first. Theoretically, it should be the other side, but if the other side dares to use this tactic, didn't they prepare for it?
The priest was immediately torn by this thought.
He had countless war experiences and lessons learned in making decisive decisions on the spot. He originally thought that with so much experience from his predecessors, he would be full of courage when he commanded such a key battle one day. But it seems that this is not the case. When faced with a really big decision, he finds that he is not so decisive.
He used to think that the generals who were once praised for their great courage were nothing special, and that he would have been the same way if he were in their shoes. But it is only when you are in charge that you truly understand what it means.
When the outcome of a battle truly hinges on your own hands, and a single wrong decision could wipe out the entire army, it's not an easy decision to make!
"Master Priest?"
The lieutenant beside him looked anxious, and the priest's back was also covered in cold sweat.
"Let's wait," the priest ultimately hesitated to act rashly, "That kid can't maintain his stamina for such rapid reinforcements."
The lieutenant frowned. That was true, but his own soldiers were also exhausted.
Charging into battle is not the same as defending. Facing an army ten times larger than oneself, one must constantly shift positions to avoid being surrounded. To maintain mobility amidst thousands of troops, one must clear out any soldiers blocking the way at any time, and one's morale must always be at its peak. Although this kind of exertion is not as great as the sixteen-pronged support from the effeminate men, it is still considerable. At this rate, within a quarter of an hour, the soldiers' stamina will drop to an absurdly low level, at which point one will have no choice but to break out.
"Don't worry," the priest said, taking a breath. "Even if we can't break through their defenses, we can still escape. Their large-scale formation makes it difficult for them to hold anyone back."
This has always been a drawback of the Central Plains' large-scale battle formations. Unless a very capable general leads elite troops to ambush certain positions, it is actually very difficult for the attacking side to be captured. At most, they will only lose some soldiers covering the rear. This is also the reason why the Northern Wasteland can continue to harass the Central Plains, because only a few can annihilate the enemy's elite attacking troops.
The lieutenant fell silent upon hearing this, clearly knowing that the priest's method was the safest approach.
Taking a deep breath, the priest regained his composure. Throughout history, outstanding commanders have all had their own styles; some are adventurous, while others are conservative and prudent. He himself should be the latter, able to maintain composure in the face of great temptation, prioritizing stability, and thus be worthy of being a renowned general.
The main reason is that although the Ancient Demon Clan has a deep foundation, it has been suppressed for so long that it can only prepare for one Samsara. Naturally, it is far less capable than the Reincarnator Guild. These Four Saints Guard have almost all their resources. If they are lost here, the consequences will be extremely serious.
--
"It seems that the commander of this Ancient Demon Clan is a composed person."
"Hmm," the deputy general Tian Yu nodded. To be honest, if he were the enemy commander, he would also be in a dilemma. There's no way around it. When the outcome of an army's battle hinges on a single thought or decision, it's not an easy choice. Some choices may seem bold, but failure can lead to disgrace and ruin. The older the general, the less likely he is to make such a decision.
Of course, this is probably the difference between a renowned general of this era and myself; someone like me will probably only ever be a deputy general.
"There's nothing wrong with this tactic. Elite assaults are designed to be carried out with a single, decisive strike followed by a retreat. If the enemy can't take the position, they can simply withdraw. The imperial court doesn't have enough capable generals to hold them back, which is the key point. With this advantage, there's no need to take any risks."
"That makes sense," Chen Baifeng nodded. He was also the head of a family, and he would not gamble away his family's wealth unless he was forced into a corner and could act steadily.
Just as he was about to say something in response, Chen Baifeng turned around and froze.
Because, without warning, that dangerous guy suddenly appeared behind them.
Tian Yu saw the other person at that moment, and his whole body stiffened.
The other party arrived silently, without him even noticing when they approached. The soldiers behind him didn't even warn him. With such skill, they must be a top-tier assassin. If they wanted to do something, he probably wouldn't be able to fight back now.
"Senior?" Chen Baifeng also had some guesses in his mind, but he wasn't sure, so he asked cautiously, "But... is it time to take action?"
The mysterious figure hidden within the interplay of Yin and Yang nodded slightly.
The lieutenant's heart skipped a beat. Tian Heng had been thrown to the ground, his life hanging in the balance. What was this guy up to now?
He looked at Chen Baifeng with suspicion, feeling that Mr. Chen knew something, but it seemed that he was hiding something. What should he do?
Should I take this opportunity to save my boss?
"What do you want us to do, senior?" Chen Baifeng asked in a low voice.
Time is running out.
A deep voice came from the mysterious person for the first time, and both of them were stunned for a moment.
Time is running out?
What on earth is this guy saying?
"Sir, it's been a quarter of an hour!"
In such a high-intensity battle, time passes extremely slowly, yet the lieutenant still accurately recorded the time; half an hour had passed since they charged into battle.
Although the Four Saints Guard of the Sixteenth Route still seemed to be rampaging in all directions, causing considerable casualties to the enemy, their aura was clearly much weaker than at the beginning.
Conversely, the opposing Ghost Army, initially weak, became increasingly stable, like an indestructible mountain, giving off an aura of profound weight.
"Hmm," the priest nodded. He glanced at the Quefeng that was still darting around. The wasp's speed seemed about the same as before, but he could clearly feel that some of its movements were a bit stiffer.
This is clearly a sign of physical exhaustion.
Should we wait a little longer?
Perhaps if we wait a few more breaths, that guy won't be able to hold on?
Retreating at this point would be neither a merit nor a demerit, which was his initial thought. But now that the opportunity was right in front of him, how could he not be tempted?