Chapter 666: Defensive Pure Land
Lin Feng casually set the rule that after the Blue Star plane was invaded, the enemy would have to break through the Qingyang Martial Tempering Pure Land before they could attack the Beacon Fire Territory, and then closed the territory management panel.
He could have set it up so that all three Pure Lands had to be conquered before he could attack Beacon Fire Territory, but he felt it was unnecessary.
Both the Pure Land of Ten Thousand Life and the Pure Land of Abundance are resource-based Pure Lands with extremely weak defensive attributes. Even if they are placed at the front...
At most, it will only buy some time, and in the end, it will cost us a complete destruction, which is really not worth it.
But Qingyang Martial Arts Tempering Pure Land is different. The Four Symbols Formation can rival Grandmasters, the Transmission City can mass-produce Innate Talents, and the Martial Arts Arena can quickly master the Bone-Breaking Staff Technique in ten days.
It possesses inherent combat capabilities, defensive strength, and counter-attack ability, making its placement on the outermost perimeter the best option at present.
Lin Feng walked to the window and looked north for a long time, but the more he looked, the deeper his brows furrowed.
The Qingyang Martial Arts Tempering Pure Land is ultimately for "cultivation," not for "resisting powerful enemies."
If the enemy really attacks and the defense line is breached, the loss will not only be a safe haven, but also the entire training system for Qingyang martial artists.
When the Qingyang Guard is cut off from its source of soldiers, the General Selection skill will have no place to be used, and even the young people produced by the Pure Land of Ten Thousand Life will have nowhere to be converted.
Therefore, it should be protected, not placed at the forefront.
"It seems that the last pure land must be defensive."
Lin Feng withdrew his gaze, his brows furrowing slightly. A defensive Pure Land was the optimal solution, and the higher the level, the better.
The Heavenly Wall Pure Land is quite good; it's purely defensive and specifically designed to withstand attacks from the enemy.
However, the Heavenly Wall Pure Land is a special Pure Land, and to designate it, one must consume a mid-level rare item.
The only intermediate-level rare item he possessed had already been used in the Qingyang Martial Tempering Pure Land.
"I wish I could get another one."
The moment the thought crossed his mind, Lin Feng shook his head.
He was greedy. He had just obtained three Pure Lands in one go, one of which was a special Pure Land. This was already an incredible opportunity.
It's simply unrealistic to expect a second mid-level rare item in the short term.
He gave a self-deprecating laugh and let out a long breath.
"Alright, let's leave it at that for now. We'll figure out a defense strategy later."
He withdrew his gaze, tapped his Sky-Chasing Boots, activated the Return Anchor Point, and flew out of the window, heading towards Hangu Pass.
...
Two weeks later.
Zhang Ergou rode a skinny horse, hanging at the very front of the group, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, swinging his legs listlessly.
Behind him was a large procession of over three thousand natives of the Crimson Blood Plane, with their families in tow, driving oxcarts and donkey carts piled high with supplies plundered from the Crimson Blood Plane.
Bags of grain, boxes of ore, and carts of animal hides still stained with blood stretched for two miles, raising dust and creating a lively scene of shouts and neighing horses.
Zhang Ergou squinted and looked ahead. The purple teleportation gate was already faintly visible, only two or three miles away.
"Boss!"
Several Qingyang Guards from the group gathered around, their faces beaming with joy.
"Boss, we've really got good luck this time." A round-faced Qingyang Guard chuckled as he walked, counting on his fingers.
"Our assigned location is closest to the teleportation portal, so are we among the first to return?"
The tall, thin man next to him immediately chimed in: "That's for sure! I heard that Zhao Mazi's team is in even worse shape. They were assigned to the far east, and it will take them months just to get there. By the time he comes back, we'll probably all have rested and be taking on new jobs again."
The round-faced Qingyang Guard patted his belly, looking quite pleased with himself: "It's good that you're back soon. I'll go back and sleep for three days, then have my wife stew a pot of braised pork hock. We'll eat until we're stuffed. Zhao Mazi probably won't even get a sip of hot soup."
The tall, thin man glanced at him sideways: "All you know is eating. If you ask me, the first thing you should do when you get back is practice your skills. If the lord sees us, the next promotion spot will fall to us, right?"
"Alright, stop daydreaming." Zhang Ergou snorted and slapped the skinny guy on the back of the head.
“You guys better behave yourselves when you get back. Don’t think that things are over just because you’re back. There are probably many more tough battles to come.”
The round-faced Qingyang Guard chuckled, "Boss, don't worry. With you here, what are we afraid of?"
Zhang Ergou didn't reply, but the corner of his mouth curled up slightly.
He held a blade of grass in his mouth and squinted at the approaching portal.
The purple light curtain stretched across the sky and earth, with people coming and going, truckloads of supplies being pushed in, and groups of people walking out.
"Stop flattering me." He spat out the grass stalk. "Let's go, let's get to work and finish this quickly."
The group chatted and laughed as they followed the group through the portal.
In a flash, the familiar scenery of the Blue Star plane came into view.
The sky was blue, the wind was dry, and the ground beneath my feet felt different from the Bloodstained Realm.
The area around the portal was bustling with noise, with rows of temporary sheds. Qin soldiers maintained order around the perimeter, and squads of returning Qingyang Guards were leading their respective teams in different directions.
Zhang Ergou took a deep breath and was about to say something when a thousand-man general walked out from the crowd.
"Who's in charge?"
Zhang Ergou dismounted and went to greet them, clasping his hands in a fist salute: "I am Zhang Ergou, the centurion of this unit."
The centurion nodded in acknowledgment: "Greetings, Centurion Zhang. My name is Li Wu. The lord has ordered that all those who migrated from the Azure Blood Plane must be settled in the Pure Land of Ten Thousand Life in the east. Please entrust these people to us."
Zhang Ergou replied, "Okay."
He turned around and waved to the group, signaling the Qingyang Guards to hand over the civilians and supply wagons to the people brought by Li Wu.
But the handover had only just begun when he suddenly remembered something and turned back: "General Li, has the lord said anything about the future arrangements for our Qingyang Guard?"
Li Wudao said: "Of course there is. The lord has ordered that the Qingyang Guards who returned from the Azure Blood Plane should immediately head north to escort the original Blood Abyss Plane residents to the Qingyang Martial Tempering Pure Land."
Each Qingyang Guard is responsible for fifty civilians. Your team of one hundred will depart once we have assembled five thousand men. You are among the first to arrive. According to the plan, you are to travel to Zhuwu City, about two thousand five hundred kilometers to the north.
"Oh, right, this is the map."
As he spoke, he handed over a roll of parchment.
Zhang Ergou took it, unfolded it, and glanced at it.
Two thousand five hundred kilometers to the north? That far?
His face remained expressionless, but he was already internally complaining.
Well, we thought we'd gotten a great deal by coming back early, but now it seems we're about the same as Zhao Mazi's side.
"Understood." He put the map away and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Li Wu.
Li Wu nodded and left.
Zhang Ergou turned around and glanced at his hundred or so men: "Did you all hear that?"
"Yes, boss."
"Alright, now you're dismissed. You have two days to settle your families. Pick up those who need to be picked up and make arrangements for those who need to be settled. Meet up here in two days, and we'll gather another five thousand people and then we'll set off."
"Yes!" everyone responded in unison.