“Understood!” The assembled High Immortals and Earth Immortals bowed respectfully, their faces alight with unbridled excitement.
The Eldritch-Immortal Battlefield had raged for hundreds of thousands of years.
Since the Third Eldritch-Immortal War began, both sides had engaged in increasingly brutal slaughter, with more than one high-tier eldritch tribe being annihilated.
But the Four Archeldritch tribes? In the eyes of these High Immortals and Earth Immortals, they were unshakeable.
Indeed, in the view of many high-ranking members of both the eldritch race and immortal race, the escalating conflict between the two great powers over the past century had come to be known as the Third Eldritch-Immortal War.
The First Eldritch-Immortal War saw myriad races unite as one immortal race, and the emergence of three Imperial Majesties who occupied Heavenly Pillar Mountain.
The Second Eldritch-Immortal War proved that the eldritch and immortal races were gridlocked, reaching an equilibrium.
And the Third Eldritch-Immortal War would mark the beginning of the immortal race’s counterattack and conquest – at least, that was how many high-ranking members of the immortal race saw it.
In the blink of an eye, the numerous High Immortals and Earth Immortals departed one after another to make their final preparations before battle, leaving only the three Imperial Majesties in the divine hall.
“Big Brother, why did you suddenly announce an attack on the Wood Archeldritch tribe? Didn’t we previously agree to deal with Hou Feng?” Imperial Majesty Lei Fu asked.
“Isn’t Hou Feng in the Earth Archeldritch tribe? We’ve been preparing for decades, sacrificing the mana bodies of countless Earth Immortals and High Eldritches, and even the true bodies of many immortals, to draw away large numbers of the eldritch race’s Earth Eldritches and High Eldritches. Wasn’t the ultimate goal to kill Hou Feng?” Imperial Majesty Lei Fu was puzzled.
The three Imperial Majesties had never revealed the real reason for waging the Third Eldritch-Immortal War to any High Immortal or even the Heavenly Masters of the immortal race. The truth about Hou Feng was only known to the three of them. Everything was done in the name of secrecy!
So, Imperial Majesty Lei Fu was quite perplexed by Imperial Majesty Nan You’s actions.
“Who said we’re attacking the Wood Archeldritch tribe?” Imperial Majesty Nan You smiled at his second brother.
Imperial Majesty Lei Fu was taken aback.
“Second Brother, this is merely a delaying tactic.” Imperial Majesty Da Yan, who had remained silent until now, spoke up.
His face was still pale as he continued, “Over these years, I have performed multiple divinations and gathered extensive intelligence. I can now confirm that Hou Feng is indeed in the Earth Archeldritch tribe.
However, Hou Feng has never shown his presence within the Archeldritch tribes, remaining hidden the entire time. The vast majority of the eldritch race’s powerhouses are unaware of this peerless genius.” Imperial Majesty Da Yan looked towards Imperial Majesty Lei Fu.
“It’s clear that the Earth Archeldritch faction has been protecting him, and he won’t venture out until he becomes powerful enough.”
Imperial Majesty Lei Fu nodded in understanding.
“We’ve never revealed the ultimate goal of the Third Eldritch-Immortal War, but the eldritch race will certainly speculate.
Under normal circumstances, it’s still far too early for our immortal race to launch a full-scale counteroffensive,” Imperial Majesty Da Yan explained.
In terms of overall strength, the eldritch race still far surpassed the immortal race. Any single Archeldritch tribe, along with the numerous subordinate eldritch tribes under its command, could nearly match the entire immortal race.
The immortal race’s greatest advantage was Heavenly Pillar Mountain!
The entire mountain was incomparably majestic, reaching a height of hundreds of millions of li. Even with the eldritch race’s strength, they couldn’t completely blockade it.
And with the three Imperial Majesties guarding Heavenly Pillar Mountain, no matter how many High Eldritches or Eldritch Deities the eldritch race sent to attack them, they couldn’t win. This place was like an impregnable fortress.
In contrast, the eldritch race had branched out into numerous tribes in order to expand their influence. None of these individual eldritch tribes were particularly strong, and once a major battle broke out, they would require the protection of the eldritch race’s top experts.
As a result, the immortal race, with no real weaknesses, appeared weaker overall but could easily concentrate their forces to gain an advantage in any local battlefield.
Unless the eldritch race was willing to abandon the vast majority of their tribes, this vulnerability was unavoidable.
But if the eldritch race were to abandon a large number of low and mid-tier tribes, the total population of the eldritch race would fall by more than half. The probability of them producing powerful experts would also drop sharply.
As time passed, the immortal race, with Heavenly Pillar Mountain as their stronghold, would steadily increase their overall strength, eventually approaching or even surpassing the eldritch race.
For the eldritch race, the optimal solution was to engage in a frenzied war of attrition, to exhaust the immortal race of its powerhouses!
Trading two Earth Eldritches for one Earth Immortal, or two High Eldritches for one High Immortal, would still be worth it, because the total population and number of powerhouses in the eldritch race far exceeded that of the immortal race.
As for the immortal race? The most suitable battle arrays for Earth Immortals and High Immortals had yet to be fully developed. Initiating a series of intense battles at this time would be extremely unwise.
This reasoning was understood not only by the immortal race but by the eldritch race as well.
However, guided by the invisible hand of destiny, the pressure Hou Feng brought upon the three Imperial Majesties of the immortal race was too great, forcing them to devise a plan of action.
“The eldritch race will speculate about our war objectives.” Imperial Majesty Da Yan continued: “Especially that old fogey Teng Snake, who will likely protect Hou Feng with all his might, just as he protected Zhu Jiu back then.
Temporary victories or defeats mean little to the entire eldritch race, especially to the Earth Archeldritch tribe.
If we launch a frontal assault to kill Hou Feng? The probability of failure would exceed eighty percent!” Imperial Majesty Da Yan stated, “The Earth Archeldritch tribe has at least thirty to forty High Eldritches in their ranks.”
Imperial Majesty Lei Fu nodded thoughtfully.
Indeed! Compared to the eldritch race, the immortal race had far fewer peak powerhouses. The so-called vulnerability of the eldritch race’s Archeldritch tribes was only relative.
At Heavenly Pillar Mountain, the immortal race had the advantage of terrain, but once they invaded the Earth Archeldritch tribe? The situation would completely reverse.
“Then what’s the plan this time?” Imperial Majesty Lei Fu asked quizzically.
“Second Brother, it’s just a feint,” Imperial Majesty Da Yan smiled. “Throughout the Eldritch-Immortal War, we’ve planted pawns on the eldritch race’s side, and the eldritch race has planted pawns within our immortal race. This has gotten even easier now. Among the Earth Immortals gathered just now, there were certainly some eldritch race pawns.”
Imperial Majesty Lei Fu nodded in agreement.
The eldritch race was a unified race, currently holding the upper hand overall. However, there were still those who felt the eldritch race’s situation was unfavorable overall, choosing to collude secretly with the immortal race. Add to that the numerous eldritch experts whose souls had been controlled by the immortal race over the years, and the number of spies was substantial.
The immortal race originated from myriad races, with a more diverse composition, and was currently at a disadvantage. Even if they could eventually win, how many years would it take? Ten thousand years? A hundred thousand years?
Therefore, the probability of spies appearing within the immortal race would only be higher than in the eldritch race.
Among the eight hundred Earth Immortals summoned earlier, it would be perfectly normal for two or three to be secretly working with the eldritch race, passing on information.
“Once the news reaches the eldritch race, they will have three choices,” Imperial Majesty Da Yan smiled. “First, they might think it’s a feint, and ignore it.
Second, they might choose to believe this information, and then gather a large number of powerful eldritch experts at the Wood Archeldritch tribe, setting up an ambush for us to walk into.
Third, they might take advantage of our immortal race’s lack of manpower to attack our Heavenly Pillar Mountain, destroying the lower levels of the world and slowing down our immortal race’s production of powerhouses. After all, the higher we go in the Thirty-Three Heavens, the more powerful our three Creation Divine Artifacts.”
Imperial Majesty Lei Fu nodded, admiring Imperial Majesty Da Yan’s thorough planning. He had considered almost every possibility.
“Third Brother, then what should we do?” Imperial Majesty Lei Fu asked.
“Nothing at all,” Imperial Majesty Da Yan shook his head. “If I were part of the eldritch race’s highest echelons, I would most likely choose to attack Heavenly Pillar Mountain, engaging in a war of attrition.
So, tomorrow, Second Brother, you will lead these High Immortals and Earth Immortals, carrying them in the Creation Divine Artifact. This will isolate them from the external world so these immortals don’t know exactly where they are and can’t send messages.
Meanwhile, you will not travel more than ten million li from Heavenly Pillar Mountain.
If the eldritch race attacks and breaks into the Second Heaven, you will immediately lead the army back to reinforce the stronghold, trapping them inside,” Imperial Majesty Da Yan explained.
Imperial Majesty Lei Fu’s eyes lit up as he pondered for a moment.
“What if the eldritch race doesn’t take the bait?” Imperial Majesty Lei Fu asked again.
“Then so be it. You can simply lead the army back, and we won’t have suffered any losses,” Imperial Majesty Da Yan smiled.
“Besides, if we can use this feint once, we can use it multiple times.
We’ll keep at it until the eldritch race takes the bait.”
…
“The immortal race plans to launch an ambush on the Wood Archeldritch tribe tomorrow? No need to pay attention.”
“Let them come if they dare.”
“There’s also no need to attack Heavenly Pillar Mountain. The fact that such secret information was leaked out so easily means this is most likely a ploy by the immortal race.”
The highest echelons of the eldritch race indeed received the news. However, after discussions among the Four Archeldritch tribes, the eldritch race’s highest echelons made their decision – to ignore it!
You fight your battle. We’ll fight ours.
For the eldritch race, as long as they firmly held onto their base of territories and tribes, keeping the immortal race guessing when it came to the location of their main forces, that would be enough. They would seek opportunities for constant clashes, battles, and attrition.
If the immortal race truly attacked the Wood Archeldritch tribe with full force?
“Then let them attack! Unless the immortal race commits all their forces, they won’t be able to breach the Wood Archeldritch tribe. Even if they succeed, we can kill a large number of immortal race powerhouses, which would be worth it.” The eldritch race’s highest echelons were prepared to pay the price.
If one Archeldritch tribe were to fall, but they could kill thirty or forty High Immortals of the immortal race in exchange, it would still be worthwhile.
