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"High Priest? Are we still... not retreating?" the Deputy General asked cautiously.

He actually had a hunch about what the High Priest was waiting for, but... was the risk too great? Was it not because of the high risk that he himself had refrained from taking action just now?

"Wait a bit longer..." The High Priest took a breath, a flash of blood-red in his eyes, "As long as we have enough time to break through, there’s no need to retreat so quickly. If that guy dares to be so overconfident, how can we not let him show off a bit more?"

Deputy General: "....."

By now, losses were starting to appear among the sixteen troops, with severe physical fatigue. The previously calculated timing might not be accurate. Was it really worth taking this risk at this moment? After all... hadn’t they chosen to play it safe?

At this time, the Sparrow Bee, darting throughout the entire battlefield, had an icy look in his eyes. Seeing that the Priest had no intention of signaling a retreat, a cold smile flickered in his gaze.

Demons always deemed themselves superior to humans due to the wealth of experience inherited from their ancestors, enough to grant them exceptional savvy without having to go through anything themselves, but was that really the case?

Could inherited memories be the same as personal experiences?

If the memories passed down could make each descendant as outstanding as their forebears, then why would there still be cases of decline among their groups?

Differences between individuals are not something inheritance can change entirely, at least not completely!

This guy, he started off on a steady course, but now he couldn’t help taking a risk. The reason is simple; he was never a prudent and mature commander. If he were, what would he have been doing at this time?

But if he’s a man of boldness, why didn’t he dare to confront the enemy head-on straight away?

In the end... he’s just someone who can’t bear responsibility, yet can’t resist temptation...

Amidst the mockery in his heart, he suddenly saw a streak of silver coming head-on. His pupils shrunk, and he instantly dodged to the limit, but the silver flash still left a bloody mark on his face.

In that instant, everyone around seemed to freeze, including the commander who had just taken the shot!

He gripped his silver spear, clearly incredulous that he had actually wounded the opponent.

After all, he had experienced this person’s speed firsthand. Being able to support all sixteen routes individually, if they truly faced off one-on-one, he feared he wouldn’t last ten exchanges!

He had merely reacted instinctively, not expecting it to be effective.

Sparrow Bee quickly retreated, wiping away the bloodstain on his face. His opponent had the attributes of a Vermilion Bird Guard and was imbued with the most authentic Southern Clear Li Fire of the Vermilion Bird, causing burns that even he could not easily heal. His gaze turned exceedingly cold.

He was someone who treasured himself greatly, especially his own face.

The commander felt Sparrow Bee’s piercing stare and his heart skipped a beat, momentarily forgetting to command his soldiers to encircle him. Sparrow Bee just gave him a chilling glance before swiftly retreating, continuing to support the other routes as before.

"He has slowed down!"

The High Priest, who had the advantage of observation, caught this scene and a glint of excitement passed through his eyes. Perhaps others hadn’t seen the situation clearly and would think it was a moment of carelessness.

But the High Priest could see clearly that it wasn’t carelessness. This fellow’s movements had become instinctual. The reason he couldn’t dodge in time was that he was running out of strength, leading to a moment of stiffness in movements that used to be at their limit.

Speed is always supported by strength; without strength, where does speed come from? When physical strength wanes and the flow of energy is impeded, even the most exquisite movements will falter.

With this thought, he immediately signaled to continue the charge, leaving the sixteen commanders baffled.

Really? Are we still pressing the attack now?

Sparrow Bee’s expression turned gloomy. He knew that the other side wanted to increase the pressure, forcing him to keep moving and thus revealing more flaws.

This coward with no guts...

---------------------------

"Heh..."

"What are you laughing at?"

Zhang Xiaoyun looked sullen. At this time, watching the High Priest neither take action nor retreat, he felt anxious. To make matters worse, that woman let out a cold laugh, adding to his frustration.

"How did such a person become your war Priest?" Zi Yue said softly.

Zhang Xiaoyun frowned, "War priests are selected from tens of thousands of elite descendants, and only after passing dozens of assessments can someone take that position."

"Assessments?" Zi Yue was taken aback, but then nodded and said, "That’s true. After all, during these declining years, without the opportunity for actual combat, selecting through assessments becomes a necessary practice."

If it were a matter of comparing martial strength, a simple contest would suffice, but how else to choose for military competence without actual combat?

It seemed that few in this world knew the idiom about armchair strategizing.

Performance during an assessment was one thing; true performance was another. Just like now, if this were an assessment, his choices might not be the same.

"The Priest has been too reckless," a ghostly voice arose beside Zhang Xiaoyun.

Zi Yue turned her head to look, the person was shrouded in black, not embodying any of the Four Holy Guard figures, but rather... seemed to be a character of the Human Race, and this individual held an extremely high status.

Although he hadn’t done anything, the fact that the remaining six Deputy Generals stood behind him, ready to take orders, suggested his status might be on par with that of the war priest.

But such a figure could not be recalled at all by her!

"This isn’t recklessness, it’s greed..." Zi Yue responded to the comment, "If it was about taking risks, he would have taken action immediately. He doesn’t dare to take risks, yet he’s greedy. Such a person, as a commander, is extremely dangerous..."

The other party remained silent at her words.

The status of a war priest was not low; if the Martial Legacy Priest were still around, perhaps they could forcibly make the other retreat, but now...

"The situation shouldn’t be too bad, he is someone who knows his limits. If he cannot deplete the Reincarnator’s strength after a bit more time, he will naturally retreat. By then, it will still be timely, although casualties among those covering the retreat will be greater."

"Is that so?" Zi Yue looked into the distance, a cold light flickering in her eyes.

She didn’t see it that way...

"Report!"

A resonant voice came, and all three immediately looked in the direction of the sound. It was a tall commander dressed in the black Black Tortoise Armor, his approach like a small mountain as he marched swiftly.

"What’s the matter?"

"There’s movement from the Black Tortoise Palace!"

"Hmm?" Zhang Xiaoyun was taken aback, and then his expression turned stern, "Are they headed towards us?"

"Yes... A great number of Giant Pythons, like a tide. Should we have the Priest retreat?"

"Quick..." Just as Zhang Xiaoyun was about to speak, he was suddenly interrupted by the man in black.

"Your Highness, do not panic. It is not yet time."

"But..."

"Please trust this old servant..."

"Alright." Zhang Xiaoyun appeared to trust the man a great deal, which made Zi Yue somewhat astonished.

He was known to be arrogant, not even submitting to the Martial Legacy High Priest; this man in black seemed to hold no ordinary status...

And for some reason, she felt... as if she had seen this man before.

When had she seen him?

"Your Highness," the man in black turned to Zi Yue first.

"What is it?" Zi Yue said indifferently.

"Chen Ying is in your possession, isn’t she?"

"Yes..." Zi Yue nodded, revealing a tiny piece of Space fragment, within which Chen Ying was seen meditating with his eyes closed.

"Please hand her over to this old servant!"

Zi Yue: "....."