64: Chapter 64 Merit Award, Forest Commander

Charging head-on against a horde of Corpse Beasts was definitely out of the question; that would be seeking death!

Zhao Feng couldn't spare any attention for his two allies. With the Corpse Beast horde right before them, if they couldn't build up speed, even cavalrymen would die with regret.

He led the cavalry, sweeping toward the outer perimeter.

The tribes in the camp huddled together to put up a stubborn resistance. Utilizing the simple camp fortifications, they wouldn't be scattered in a single blow.

Charging out from the perimeter, Zhao Feng saw clearly that the Corpse Beast horde before them numbered only a little over two hundred, without a single towering Epic-grade Corpse Beast in sight. It appeared to be just a probing attack by the Corpse Beasts.

He didn't have time to wonder why the Corpse Beasts actually knew how to probe. Zhao Feng urged his Hammerhead Rhino forward.

Bronze Age cavalry were not heavy cavalry; their ability to break enemy formations was poor. However, they were excellent light cavalry, and Zhao Feng planned to lead them in a peeling tactic.

With a swing of the Hammerhead Rhino's thick head-ram, the Corpse Beast in front was sent flying far away with a loud "bang", knocking aside several nearby Corpse Beasts. Zhao Feng swung the Spirit Blade in his hand, decapitating a nearby Corpse Beast with a single strike, and the Corpse Beast crashed to the ground.

The cavalry behind him also charged up one after another, using the short swords in their hands to stab and kill the Corpse Beasts. Although their achievements were modest, they suffered no casualties.

Striking the Corpse Beast horde from the rear naturally carried little danger. Zhao Feng led the cavalry to sweep past, claiming five or six Corpse Beasts. Afterward, they regrouped not far away and turned around to charge again.

A small tribe not far away was being besieged by only about twenty Corpse Beasts. Zhao Feng did not hesitate and rushed over at high speed.

A surprise attack was naturally always successful. Relying on the advantages of intelligence and equipment, coupled with their tall mounts, the group rescued the small tribe without any losses. Before they could even exchange words, the cavalry squad dove back into battle.

In the chaotic battle, there were Kelo People, Kilian Tribe, Duerte People, Mad Wolf Tribe...

In the face of a common enemy, the conflicts between different living beings were basically cast aside.

Zhao Feng killed a Corpse Beast with one slash, saving a Lizardmen—the very same one who had been beaten earlier.

"Thank you!" The Lizardmen looked at the charging Zhao Feng with a complicated expression and suddenly said in a low voice.

A large amount of transformation points were collected, much to Zhao Feng's delight, which somewhat made up for the sadness and depression of losing two cavalrymen.

The fierce, chaotic battle lasted for over an hour. Through the joint efforts of all the tribes, although they suffered heavy losses, they still managed to hold out. The Qin Tribe performed extraordinarily in this battle, rescuing many tribes that were on the verge of being overrun, thereby earning the friendship of numerous tribes.

"Brother, rest in peace!" A Leopardman turned back reluctantly, shattering the throat of the Leopardman in front of him with a claw strike. The light faded from the injured Leopardman's eyes, leaving a trace of gratitude in his lifeless pupils.

In addition to being killed, these beings also had to have their heads chopped off to prevent them from turning into Corpse Beasts again.

Zhao Feng could not bear to watch, but he knew that once Qin City revealed even a hint of the ability to cure corpsification, countless hungry wolves would pounce on them and tear the Qin Tribe completely to shreds. He could only turn his head away, avoiding this cruel scene.

"City Lord Qin, the Small Taiji requests your presence for a discussion." A Mad Wolf Cavalry soldier rode over on his mount wolf to deliver the Small Taiji's command. His eyes no longer held hatred and greed, but rather deep respect.

Werewolves worshiped the strong. Although some werewolves had clashed with Qin City, to most of them, the powerful Zhao Feng was practically an idol.

After following the Wolf Cavalry for more than ten minutes, Zhao Feng arrived before a massive silver tent with Xiao Luo.

The Wolf Cavalry soldier leading the way entered the tent to report, while Zhao Feng stood outside, waiting to be summoned.

The silver tent of the Third Junior Taiji was situated on a small hill, offering a very distant view. Compared to the standard infantry tents, the cavalry camp had simple palisades, but the Wolf Cavalry could leap over them easily with their jumping ability. However, for the Corpse Beasts that could not jump, it was a barrier difficult to breach.

Ignoring the gazes of the two burly werewolf infantrymen in front of him, Zhao Feng looked around while chatting and laughing in a low voice with Xiao Luo.

"City Lord Qin, please come in," a Wolf Cavalry soldier said to Zhao Feng after emerging from the tent a moment later.

"Alright."

Zhao Feng lifted the curtain made of an unknown material and stepped inside.

The guards had presumably been instructed beforehand, as they did not stop Xiao Luo either.

"Are you Zhao Feng?"

The moment he entered, Zhao Feng heard a deep, stern question.

By the dim light of the torches, Zhao Feng saw six werewolves in the tent. Below them, many other figures sat in the shadows. On a furry beast-skin cushion at the head of the tent, a slender purple werewolf reclined on his side.

Among the Mad Wolf Tribe, purple was the color of nobility, and pure purple fur denoted a noble among the werewolves.

"It seems this is the Small Taiji," Zhao Feng thought to himself. Hearing Xiao Luo's quiet translation, he cupped his fists and said, "Greetings, Small Taiji."

"I have heard that Qin City is rich in resources. After this great battle, City Lord Qin must play the host well," the Small Taiji said with a wave of his hand and a smile.

"You are most welcome," Zhao Feng replied with a smile of his own.

"Mm, City Lord Qin, please take a seat." The Small Taiji nodded and continued, "The Corpse Beasts are coming with ferocious momentum. If our tribes do not gather together to face the enemy as one, we will surely not survive for long. In this moment of crisis, everyone must put aside selfish motives. I have gathered all the chiefs today to announce our battle plan."

"Yes!"

"Great!"

"Speak, Small Taiji."

The people in the tent clamored one after another.

It turned out these people were not from the Mad Wolf Tribe either, but rather the chiefs of various tribes who had come under orders.

"The Endless Grasslands are swarming with Corpse Beasts. Through the efforts of our Mad Wolf Tribe, approximately three million Corpse Beasts have been divided into nine groups and lured away. Our Third Taiji Division needs to eliminate about four hundred thousand Corpse Beasts. Combining our concentrated forces, our ten mid-sized tribes have over seven thousand people, and together with the Mad Wolf Cavalry, we have about ten thousand in total. The pressure is immense."

Seeing the calm expressions on the faces of the tribal chiefs below, the Small Taiji nodded inwardly. It seemed they were all battle-hardened veterans whom these difficulties could not easily frighten.

"According to our reconnaissance, among these Corpse Beasts, there are about three hundred Epic-grade Corpse Beasts, while most of the rest are small and micro-sized Corpse Beasts. Our Third Taiji Division is divided into three directions to eliminate the Corpse Beasts, so we need three commanders to concentrate our forces and wipe them out in one fell swoop. What are your thoughts?"

Those seated here were all chiefs of mid-sized tribes with populations of over a thousand. While they had no real concept of numbers that were too large, they generally understood that it would be a massive horde of Corpse Beasts. Even so, these chiefs, who felt nothing toward figures like a hundred thousand or a million, were blindly optimistic and eager to try.

Zhao Feng was secretly alarmed. With so many Corpse Beasts, the Mad Wolf Tribe must have some conspiracy. With their current troop ratio, there was absolutely no chance of victory!

Ordinary Corpse Beasts were nothing, but the micro-sized Corpse Beasts were the real enemy. With such a small number of people, it was simply like throwing eggs against a stone!

The voting method of these primitive people was very simple: might makes right.

The commanders for the Birch Forest Area, the Bay River Area, and the Yellow Sand Area were quickly decided.

Meanwhile, the Duerte People and the Kilian Tribe, knowing the strength of Qin City, did not fight Zhao Feng and directly acknowledged his position.

"The three commanders may return to your respective stations to arrange defensive measures," the Small Taiji said with a wave of his hand, dismissing the crowd.