The Demonic World I designed
Chapter 193 - 193 186 The Only Chance!

193: Chapter 186: The Only Chance!

193: Chapter 186: The Only Chance!

“Is the situation not favorable?”

Princess Chang’s brows furrowed tightly.

Jiangnan was a place they had to capture.

The West Sea was now under the long-term arrangement of Elder Shen, and it was unlikely to take it over hastily.

Therefore, to contend with the opposition, seizing control of Jiangnan, which choked the throat of the West Sea port, was a crucial strategic location!

However, the opponent’s strength greatly exceeded their estimates.

Duke of Qin had heavy troops stationed in the West Sea, and Duke of Lu brought a hundred thousand bloodline descendants to assist.

In theory, that should have been enough to engage his forces!

Yet, he still had the capacity to contend with her over Nanming Prefecture…

And from the current increase in troops on the shore, the opposition had no intention of conceding and seemed determined to fight her to the end…

Now, with Mu Hongqing’s interference, it seemed both families would be locked in a protracted battle.

Taking down Nanming Prefecture in the short term was likely impossible.

If Nanming Prefecture couldn’t be taken quickly, Nanyang City became a necessary position!

Compared to the central position of Nanming Prefecture, Nanyang City was located in the far rear, a relatively defensive position.

Taking Nanyang City would mean even if the situation turned unfavorable, she could retreat there and watch the struggle between the Imperial Court and Elder Shen from afar while seeking her own opportunities.

But the other side was telling her Nanyang City couldn’t be taken easily either?

“How can this be?” Princess Chang frowned.

“Nanyang City has no Imperial Court garrison currently, and right now, your Old Liu controls all the arrays.

With only a few Magicians from the Shen Family, what can they use to hold Nanyang?”

“That’s the problem…” Fifth Elder Shen frowned.

“At the coast, that bastard Old Liu blocked us with his zombies, demanding that more than seventy percent of the zombies landing ashore be his own!”

“What a joke!” Princess Chang’s brow tightly furrowed.

The breakthrough point at the coast wasn’t easily obtained; it required a massive number of zombies to fill it with their lives—and not just any zombies.

Only those of high bloodlines had a chance to find the breach in the Array and use their lives to fill an exit.

Now, whether it was Nanming Prefecture or Nanyang City, several breakthrough points had already cost them heavily.

Old Liu had been very cunning, shirking his work when searching for breakthroughs.

He calculated precisely their need for the city’s breakthrough points, causing her and Elder Shen to waste lots of the bloodline descendants.

Now that everything was ready, he dared to hike up the price last minute—how could she allow that?

If it were you, would you give a large portion of your military rights in your rear base to others?

Even if that person had collaborated with Fifth Elder Shen for many years as an Ancient Worm.

But among Ancient Worms, there was naturally a desire to devour each other.

Compared to Fifth Elder Shen, with whom she had established the Golden Crow Bloodline Sorcery, her trust in Old Liu wasn’t one percent of her trust in Fifth Elder Shen!

“But the Array is in Old Liu’s hands, and Old Liu has said he needs some guarantees!” Fifth Elder Shen frowned.

“In the current situation, he is in a good position to stall, and we…

probably can’t afford to drag this on with him…”

Upon hearing this, Princess Chang’s face darkened.

That was indeed true; the other side had some capital to delay and, if they completely fell out, he could even turn to Elder Shen.

He did have bargaining chips!

Curse it; these Ancient Worms had the temerity to say human hearts were complicated—weren’t they the same?

Devious and despicable!

“Seventy percent is impossible!” Princess Chang said coldly.

“Send the message, forty percent!”

Meanwhile, on the other side…

Second Elder Shen, who controlled Old Liu, turned to look at Chen Qing, while in the distance, Old Liu’s face was dull as he communicated with a familiar that belonged to Fifth Elder Shen that had come ashore.

At that moment, Second Elder Shen was sweating profusely, clearly struggling with severe depletion of his spiritual power, evidently fully controlling Old Liu to ensure he didn’t reveal himself prematurely.

Chen Qing shook his head.

“Forty percent won’t work.

Your subordinates lack the bodies of the Golden Dragon Guard and the Dark Dragons, and the overall strength doesn’t match up with Princess Chang’s side at all.

Even with seventy percent of the quota, you don’t stand much chance head-on.”

“But what if we add the Array…” Old Qi proposed from the side.

“Even with the Array, it won’t work…” Chen Qing shook his head.

“We must strive for as big a share as possible.

In this operation, only success is acceptable; failure is not an option.

Once it fails, if we can’t contain Princess Chang’s spread, Jiangnan will immediately fall into the hands of the opposition!”

The members of the Shen Family looked at each other upon hearing this and finally nodded in agreement.

Seeing this, Second Elder Shen gritted his teeth and controlled Old Liu to say, “Sixty percent, the last bottom line.

If that doesn’t work, then let’s not be brothers anymore!”

This was the heaviest exchange Shen Old Liu and Shen Old Wu had ever had with each other, as far as memory served.

Since they had inherited the memories of the two brothers, the relationship between the two Ancient Worms seemed quite amiable on the surface—at least influenced to some extent—leading them to seldom argue.

Even through Old Liu’s memories, Second Elder Shen rarely saw any signs of a rift between them.

The only exception was when Fifth Elder Shen went to the capital, and they had some disputes over negotiating terms.

That was the first time Old Liu had spoken harshly.

“It was this very sentence!”

Indeed, the expression of Fifth Elder Shen changed as he received the message through his kin.

He turned to Princess Chang with a wry smile and said, “Old Liu is serious, sixty percent, not a step back!”

“Sixty percent…”

Princess Chang bit her crimson nails, her eyebrows tightly furrowed.

She didn’t like such unknown variables.

Giving up sixty percent of the military force to Old Liu meant that she would need to arrange for more elite troops at the rear to feel secure.

After pondering for a good while, Princess Chang finally said, “Sixty percent is acceptable, but with two conditions!”

“Please speak…” Fifth Elder Shen said respectfully.

“First, from the moment we set foot on the island, Shen Old Liu must be with us at all times.

When facing Shen Elder at the West Sea frontline, he must also be present!”

Fifth Elder Shen nodded his assent.

Old Liu controlled the Array in Nanyang City, possessing a strong variable.

If he were to stay at the rear with sixty percent of the familial forces, it would indeed pose a threat.

There was no choice but to agree.

If he stayed with them at the frontline position, at least there would be no need to worry about him secretly exploiting the Array.

With the vast number of powerful Human Race bodies currently under Princess Chang’s control, even if she gave up sixty percent, facing fewer with more, Old Liu wouldn’t stand a chance of victory.

Thinking this, he immediately communicated with the other side.

“Remember, it has to be his true body with us, not one of those puppet avatars he uses to make do!” Princess Chang reminded eerily.

Fifth Elder Shen nodded and conveyed this through his kin.

After the other side hesitated for a while, the response came, “Agreed, but we must sign a non-aggression Technique!”

Old Wu nodded.

Old Liu was cautious enough.

With Princess Chang’s power and the inheritance she had recently gained from the Dragon Palace, she was rapidly growing in strength.

Old Liu’s Techniques were not suited for one-on-one battles, so naturally, they needed to be bound by a Technique for reassurance.

“Second: I want half of Shen Family’s remaining bodies, and Old Qi must join us!”

Upon hearing this, the expressions of Chen Qing and others on the other side changed dramatically.

Old Eleven burst into laughter, “It seems our Seventh Brother is quite popular!”

Old Qi shot a glare at him, “Stop your jabbering!” and then shook his head at Chen Qing.

Chen Qing understood; they couldn’t concede too quickly, or it would raise suspicions.

Second Elder Shen also understood instantly and responded, “Old Qi cannot join you, but the Shen Family can give you one more body.”

On the other side, Fifth Elder Shen smiled at the response, “This Old Liu is indeed seizing the opportunity to demand a higher price.

What shall we do, Princess Chang?

It seems they are unwilling to hand over Old Qi!”

“Old Qi’s role is crucial, we cannot let him go!” Princess Chang shook her head, “We give up two other Shen family members, but Old Qi must be ours… Otherwise, I will forcefully take the Sea Port and let them not assume the Shen Family Array is unbreakable.

If I disregard the consequences, it won’t be me who dies!”

Old Wu nodded and conveyed the message immediately.

Princess Chang was a dominant person, and he knew it would be impossible to persuade her to compromise with Old Liu.

There was a hesitation on the other side for a long while.

It took a long time before a reply came, “Old Eleven and Old Ten must join us, Old Qi joining you is acceptable, but a Technique must be established, forbidding the use of Old Qi’s Techniques to monitor and interfere with me!”

“Agreed!” Princess Chang answered without hesitation; she was obviously not a person prone to vacillation.

“So be it, we will land at the Sea Port tomorrow!” Princess Chang declared, “We cannot delay.

After stabilizing Nanyang City, I must focus all my efforts on the position in Nanming Prefecture; within ten days at most, I must have arranged everything in Nanyang!”

Fifth Elder Shen nodded and relayed the message.

Shortly after, a reply came back, “We will land at the Sea Port at noon tomorrow, Old Liu will be waiting within the Array for Your Highness, and only after signing the Technique will the living dead be allowed into the city.”

Princess Chang nodded slightly, “Very well…”

With Princess Chang’s reply, Chen Qing and his company all took on a grave expression.

“Gentlemen, we only have one chance!” Chen Qing spoke solemnly, “We are facing someone who has completely outwitted the Duke of Qin.

Any misstep could lead to the total annihilation of our forces.

Gentlemen, whether we can secure enough time in the Jiangnan region depends on this one move!!”