158: Chapter 158 Post-War Rhetoric

When he opened them again, his gaze was once more filled with iron-like determination.

He no longer looked at Lin Tian, nor did he speak; he simply stared fixedly at the sky above, polluted by smoke, as if his ancestral god, whom he worshipped, was watching from there.

Silence became his final weapon, and his last shred of dignity.

Lin Tian took in his momentary stiffness and subsequent resolve, understanding everything in his heart.

The curve of his lips deepened. He stopped pressing and, instead, spoke in a tone that was slightly emotional and deliberately exaggerated, as if making small talk:

"Whatever. It seems you've made up your mind not to speak. Actually, whether you speak or not makes little difference to me. Anyway..."

He deliberately drew out his tone, his gaze sweeping over the chaotic, corpse-strewn tribal camp, and his voice suddenly turned cold, carrying a cunning, arrogant air of a conqueror:

"As the vanguard of the Purple Moon Dynasty, I am ordered to launch this expedition, which is meant to completely wipe you barbaric Minotaur from this land."

"If you won't speak, I'll just spend a little more effort, kill my way to the next tribe, and capture your nobles, elders, and shamans... there will always be someone willing to trade information for their life."

As he spoke, he turned his head seemingly at random and waved at Lin Feng, who stood to the side, his tone nonchalant:

"Since this Chief is seeking death, grant it to him. Lin Feng, make it quick. Be clean; don't disgrace the status of a warrior."

"Purple Moon Dynasty?"

Before Lin Tian's voice had even faded, the Chief's tightly pressed lips trembled violently, and his closed eyes snapped open.

In his one remaining eye, a light mixed with shock, realization, and an indescribable emotion erupted instantly!

So that was it! It was the Purple Moon Dynasty!

That human empire from the East that had fought a bloody war with their Kingdom years ago, a war where neither side could overcome the other, forcing them to sign a ceasefire agreement!

They finally couldn't hold back and were stoking the fires of war again!

And they were so ruthless right from the start; the vanguard army possessed such terrifying strength!

His previous guess was correct!

The message about the "Purple Moon Dynasty army pressing on the border" sent by the communication stone was accurate!

The Kingdom would surely be alerted by this and assemble its main forces!

No matter how strong this human lord and his army were, they were only the vanguard!

As long as the Kingdom's main force reacted...

In an instant, the endless grief and despair that had arisen in the Chief's heart due to the destruction of his tribe and his own impending death were diluted by a wave of twisted pleasure and mockery.

The way he looked at Lin Tian was no longer just filled with hatred; it carried a sense of "you are nothing more than this" and "your end is coming soon."

"Heh... heh heh..."

A low, raspy, broken-gong-like laugh emerged from his throat, mixed with bloody foam.

"Purple Moon Dynasty? I... I knew it! It's you despicable, greedy humans! Years ago... your entire nation could only fight to a stalemate with our Minotaur Kingdom..."

"Now, you want to rely on a sneak attack to wipe us out? Really... truly delusional! A pipe dream!"

He had to gasp for breath after every few words, but the mockery and disdain in his tone were undisguised.

A look of "just as I thought" appeared on Lin Tian's face. He inwardly chuckled; the fish had taken the bait.

He continued to maintain that deliberately cultivated arrogance and confidence of an "Imperial Vanguard General," following up on the Chief's words with an even more exaggerated tone:

"A stalemate? That was the past! Times are different now. Do you see that?"

He waved his arm, pointing to the endless, standing-like-a-forest army of 500,000 behind him, his voice rising with an aura that looked down upon the world.

"This is merely the vanguard of my Purple Moon Dynasty! 500,000 elites! Soon, my Empire's 5 million-strong iron flood will be ready and arrive in the coming days!"

"Crushing your wasteland is as easy as turning a hand! What can you use to resist? Your ridiculous stone axes and courage?"

"5 million? Heh... Hahaha!"

The Chief acted as if he had heard the greatest joke in the world. Ignoring his injuries, he laughed violently, coughing up fresh blood from his mouth and nose.

"Ridiculous! Truly ridiculous! Years ago, the Kingdom already had an army of 5 million! After these years of rest and development, forging blood and courage, there are only more warriors, not fewer!"

"Your Purple Moon Dynasty... it seems you've regressed over these years! With just this little force, you dare to brag about destroying our nation? Get back to your East while you can!"

"Otherwise, we will surely ensure your 500,000 vanguard never returns, buried on this grassland!"

5 million!

And listening to that tone, there were only more now!

Lin Tian's heart gave a sudden jolt. The arrogant expression on his face subsided a little, his brows furrowed almost imperceptibly, and he fell into a brief contemplation.

A Kingdom that had 5 million troops years ago, after so many years of development, plus the Chief's tone...

The actual troop strength might reach seven or eight million, perhaps even close to ten million!

This was an extremely massive number, a true powerhouse!

However, he quickly calmed down.

The opponent's territory was vast, and they had many directions to defend; they couldn't concentrate all their forces in one place.

To deal with his own "vanguard," or rather, to respond to this invasion.

The mobile forces the opponent could mobilize were estimated to be between one and two million.

This was still a terrifying number, but no longer an unimaginable, hopeless gap.

With his thoughts spinning, Lin Tian resumed that cold, indifferent mask of a conqueror.

He looked at the Chief, who was laughing wildly and seemed to have finally found some spiritual comfort, and said faintly:

"Whether we can wipe out the nation or not is not something you need to worry about. You only need to know that you and your tribe are the first. But you won't be the last."

He paused, his tone carrying a calm that signaled an end:

"Go on ahead and wait. The road to the underworld won't be lonely; later, many of your kin will go to keep you company. Rest assured."

The Chief's laughter ceased abruptly.

He stared fixedly at Lin Tian, the light in his single eye flickering rapidly.

Finally, it settled into a complex expression mixed with venom, mockery, and a trace of relief.

Using his last bit of strength, he said hoarsely, word by word:

"I... I have sent the message back to the Kingdom! You... you won't escape either!"

"I, the Chief, will wait for you in the endless hell! Waiting to see your Purple Moon Dynasty's ambition... crash and burn on this land! Total... annihilation!"

After finishing, he seemed to have exhausted all his life and spirit, slowly closing his eyes with endless unwillingness.

The rise and fall of his chest was so weak it was almost invisible; only the blood-stained face and the still-clenched fist showed the stubbornness of his final moments.

Lin Tian watched the Chief, who had completely given up resistance and offered his neck for the slaughter.