News of the destruction of the scattered cultivator camp soon reached Lin Xiuyuan's side.
"It's done. The overall situation is basically settled now, and things can be much more stable from now on."
Lin Xiuyuan smiled, immediately stood up, and shouted towards the opposite side:
"Fellow Daoist, the camp of rogue cultivators has been breached, and Daoist Youqing is currently being hunted down. It's estimated that he will have little chance of escaping back to the Purple Mountain Herb Garden! What do you think, Fellow Daoist? Have you made a decision yet?"
The wandering cultivators along the way were immediately shaken, their expressions varied. Some remained calm, seemingly unconcerned, while others were ashen-hearted, as if they had a great connection with the alliance of wandering cultivators, resulting in a complex array of expressions.
"It's really been breached? How could it be so fast? With Daoist Youqing and other seniors overseeing the operation, and the central army also located there, how could it..."
"Are we doomed now? Unless reinforcements come from the front lines, the Cloud Soaring Sect will take back the north."
"I never expected this. We had such a big advantage, how could we have been defeated by a smaller force in the blink of an eye? The situation has deteriorated to this extent."
"Looking back now, it seems like someone from the Cloud Soaring Sect has a third eye, calculating every step of the way with perfect accuracy!"
"Such a victory with fewer troops is truly astonishing..."
For a moment, the rogue cultivators whispered among themselves, their minds deeply shaken.
Neither Daoist Youqing nor other high-ranking officials expected the situation to deteriorate so drastically.
Isn't the same true for these independent cultivators?
At this moment, countless people have begun to consider surrendering.
Especially after a brief review, the realization was terrifying. It was as if they were facing an all-knowing opponent who, despite being outnumbered, had gradually turned the tide and nearly crushed their army of rogue cultivators!
Upon seeing this scene, Cheng Mao fell silent. His mind was already wavering, and he was undecided. At this moment, he was filled with mixed feelings.
But it still feels somewhat unbelievable.
After all, with Daoist Youqing and several others residing in the Purple Mansion, commanding over two thousand cultivators in the central army...
How long has it been since this happened?
A quarter of an hour?
Or is it still 5 quarters of an hour?
They were wiped out just like that?
Those are all cultivators, not ordinary soldiers!
Cheng Mao found this unbelievable and deeply incomprehensible, and immediately took out the Thousand Mile Fragrance to send a message.
But after waiting for a while, there was still no reply.
If it were a simple jade slip for communication, it would be understandable during a major battle.
However, when the fragrance of a thousand miles away signifies an urgent matter, someone will be specially assigned to guard it and deliver the message in a timely manner.
Several minutes have passed, but there has been no news.
It's likely... the camp of the rogue cultivators has really been breached.
After waiting for a while, Lin Xiuyuan grew impatient. Although it was only a few minutes, the situation was critical and time was of the essence; there was no room for delay. He immediately shouted in a cold voice:
"What? Fellow Daoist, as a cultivator, you are still so hesitant? You haven't made a decision yet? So you've decided to be my enemy? You've chosen the path of death, haven't you!"
Hearing such a cold tone, one could tell that the other party was already growing impatient.
Immediately, Cheng Mao made a decision, sighed, and said, "Fellow Daoist, we are willing to surrender!"
Although from a broader perspective, for the Loose Cultivator Alliance, this place was a defeat and Daoist Youqing may have perished, it was not a complete collapse; at most, it was just a loss.
Because the frontline army is still there, and they are all elites, including nearly ten cultivators at the peak of the Purple Mansion realm.
With the addition of manpower from various resource-rich areas, a counterattack could be launched by the Cloud Soaring Sect. Even if they seek reinforcements, they might not be able to gain the upper hand.
However, as someone who experienced the battlefield from the rear, I witnessed firsthand how the enemy's brilliant strategies turned the tide step by step, achieving victory with fewer troops and ultimately defeating them.
While feeling frustrated and angry, I was also extremely incredulous and amazed.
If given a choice, who would willingly fight to the death with such an opponent?
Furthermore, isn't the whole point of getting involved in this situation to secure resources?
These days, following the Cloud Soaring Sect seems to offer a brighter future...
As Cheng Mao uttered those words.
Immediately, countless rogue cultivators under his command breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if they had escaped a calamity.
I wonder how many people have lost their spirit. Even if they don't surrender and successfully return to the Purple Mountain Herb Garden, many of them will probably want to leave.
Given this situation, how can the fighting continue? It would be more likely if the main force returned from the front lines!
However, at this moment, many people looked grim, their faces showing worry, and they hesitated, as if they wanted to say something but couldn't.
Cheng Mao saw through the situation and said, "If there are any who are unwilling to surrender, they may step forward and leave."
The rest of them immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
They were all people who had too many ties with the Loose Cultivator Alliance, whether it was with their Daoist partners or resources, and they could not easily surrender.
"Thank you for your understanding, senior. I am deeply grateful."
"Thank you very much, Senior Cheng."
"..."
Cheng Mao waved his hand, "Please be patient, everyone, let me go and explain."
He then rode the light of his escape and slowly approached.
They stopped some distance from where Zhongyunxiao belonged.
"Fellow Daoist's brilliant strategies and meticulous planning have truly impressed us. We are completely convinced and have come here to surrender."
Cheng Mao cupped his hands in respect and said with a look of admiration.
Lin Xiuyuan went out alone, and Zhong Kangshun wanted to follow, but he waved him off.
He approached Cheng Mao with a warm smile and cupped his hands, saying, "Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. Fellow Daoist Cheng's previous imposing presence also left a deep impression on me, especially when you led the team into battle. Your tactics were quite impressive and gave me a real headache, hahaha."
"I am fortunate to have Fellow Daoist Cheng's broad vision and discerning eye, who has led me to abandon darkness and embrace light. It is truly my blessing."
Cheng Mao saw Lin Xiuyuan casually approach, showing no sign of channeling his power. He stared at him intently for a moment, then smiled warmly and cupped his hands in greeting:
"I also deeply believe that this is a move to abandon darkness and embrace the light. Most of my subordinates think the same way. Oh, and there is one more thing I need to report to you, sir."
Then he recounted the fact that some people were unwilling to surrender.
As Lin Xiuyuan was pondering this,
Suddenly, a murderous glint appeared on Cheng Mao's face, and he said coldly, "I believe that rather than letting the tiger return to the mountain, it is better to slaughter it now to prevent future troubles!"
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