https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-136-Only-in-Loss-Do-We-Appreciate/12988995/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-138-What-Excuse-Did-Tiangang-City-Give-for-Not-Sending-Aid-/12988997/
Chapter 137: 24 Missing, 17 Injured
Chapter 137: 24 Missing, 17 Injured
Taiwu Zhenren's arrangements were swiftly conveyed to the Frontline Defense.
Everyone was aware that the current situation at the frontlines was of utmost importance to the Yunyang Sect, and no one dared to slack off.
The improved treatment and rewards for Scout Disciples also attracted envy from those at the frontlines.
However, after the previous incident where two Scout Disciples died and one was injured, the other disciples at the frontlines seemed less envious of the Scout Disciples.
In the past, when Su Chen was around, the Scout Disciples could earn a significant amount of contribution points.
But now, the risk of death was very real.
The seventeen Scout Disciples who scouted the surroundings daily faced challenges and dangers.
They encountered Golden Demons on multiple occasions.
Deep down, most disciples didn't feel as envious or jealous as they seemed.
Given the current situation, the Yunyang Sect would likely not refuse any sect disciples willing to undertake reconnaissance missions, even if they lacked experience. The sect might even arrange for instructors to assist them.
With such opportunities right before them, how many would be willing to step forward?
On the seventh day after the arrival of the three sects from the Ten Thousand Mile Sect at the frontlines, the other four supporting sects also reached their destination.
These four sects were relatively sincere, each bringing over twenty elite disciples.
Although the number wasn't significant, they were all skilled in dealing with demons.
After their arrival, the three sects that came earlier with the Ten Thousand Mile Sect joined the Yunyang Sect in welcoming the new arrivals.
When they witnessed the condition of Yang Chenghu and his companions, the newcomers' faces turned solemn.
The pressure on the Yunyang Sect's frontlines, which had pushed these warriors to such a state, was evident.
At the welcoming banquet, the four sects attempted to inquire about the situation at the frontlines.
Hall Master He Chao and Xia Kun tried to deflect the questions, offering vague responses.
However, Yang Chenghu and the Hall Master of Sky Curtain Mansion took advantage of the alcoholic atmosphere to openly accuse the Yunyang Sect of concealing information from them.
Naturally, He Chao and Xia Kun denied these allegations.
With so many disciples present and the potential impact of exposing the beast tide, they couldn't let the truth get out.
The Hall Masters sensed a problem but lacked concrete evidence.
The welcoming banquet, intended to be a joyous occasion, ended up feeling heavy and somewhat uncomfortable.
After the banquet, the four newly arrived Hall Masters approached Yang Chenghu privately to seek information.
Upon hearing Yang Chenghu's detailed account of the issues at the frontlines, the group grew even more serious.
The Yunyang Sect's request for assistance indicated their dire situation, and they had no choice but to come. Now, they could only take things one step at a time.
With the reinforcement of four additional sects, the pressure lessened slightly.
Moreover, these sects brought skilled reconnaissance experts, increasing the number of Scout Disciples to twenty-nine.
This large team provided extensive daily feedback on demon activities.
After expanding the reconnaissance team, the frontlines seemed to stabilize.
Following frequent assaults, the situation appeared to be under control.
With the ability to track demon movements, dealing with the beasts became much easier.
Over the next four days, the four newly arrived sects experienced the pressure of the Yunyang Sect's frontlines.
However, compared to before, the Scout Disciples became more proficient, and the accuracy of the intelligence they gathered continued to improve.
For several days, no one at the Yunyang Sect's frontlines was injured.
The reinforcement effects were evident, and the situation was considered stabilized.
On the fifth day, during the late afternoon, the large camp at the Frontline Defense gathered several Hall Masters from the Yunyang Sect and the other seven supporting sects.
The discussion centered around a counterattack on the frontlines.
Of course, this didn't mean pushing the defense line forward.
Instead, it was about transitioning from defense to offense, inflicting heavy losses on the demons.
The plan was to ensure that for every demon that came, one would die, and those that escaped would be left severely wounded.
The previous frontline defense primarily focused on holding the line. Now that the situation has stabilized, it's time to launch a counterattack.
When Hall Master Zhao Li witnessed the changes on the front line, she felt a sense of relief.
If the counterattack goes well, these demons will suffer heavy losses with each attack, reducing their numbers significantly.
Perhaps this beast tide could be stopped in its tracks.
In the tent, everyone agreed to change their strategy.
They decided to launch the counterattack as soon as possible to suppress the demons quickly. This would also allow the reinforcement teams to complete their tasks faster.
On the first day of the strategy shift, it was surprisingly calm, with hardly any demons launching attacks.
He Chao and Xia Kun, witnessing this, couldn't help but laugh, "Do these beasts know that we're about to slaughter them all? They're not even coming; they're just hiding."
"If this continues, I might not get used to it."
The two laughed, gazing at the sunset's afterglow in the distance, as if it were the dawn of victory.
But they seemed to have forgotten that it was, in fact, the sunset.
As the sun set, darkness enveloped the land.
On the second day of the counterattack, the scouting disciples located a trail of demons.
They quickly organized an ambush.
The site was three li outside the defense line, not far from the front.
As night fell, the disciples' ambush was precise.
With a 70% accuracy rate in scouting, they had indeed located the demons.
However, while the ambush was well-planned, they had severely underestimated the demons.
Over two hundred demons, including more than thirty powerful ones and four Golden Demons, were hiding in the darkness of the wilderness, illuminated only by flickering torches.
Facing these ferocious demons, Taiwu Zhenren and the five elders rushed to the front line that very night.
By nightfall, news arrived that twenty-four disciples were missing, and seventeen were injured.
Minor injuries were not even counted.
The seventeen injured disciples were likely to succumb to their severe wounds soon.
Those reported as missing were most likely already dead, having fallen to the demons' blood-filled maws.
The Great Zhou's frontline defense had likely not faced such a significant loss in many years.
Cultivating a warrior takes decades and countless resources.
Yet, a pillar of the warrior community can be lost in a single night.
Moreover, there was another significant problem.
Among the many injured and missing, there were not only Yunyang Sect disciples but also members from the seven reinforcing sects.
Taiwu Zhenren and the Yunyang Sect elders had to consider how to explain the situation to the other sects.
While it was expected that casualties could occur when assisting others, these were still someone's disciples, and they had perished.
The disciples brought by the various sects were the elite of their respective sects.
The Yunyang Sect's frontline, which had been relatively stable, was now in greater chaos than when the crisis began.
Many disciples had their confidence shattered, and some even wanted to flee the front line, terrified by the demons' brutality.
Upon reaching the front line, Taiwu Zhenren and the five elders immediately began comforting the disciples and restoring their morale.
Simultaneously, they swiftly allocated resources to support the front line.
Hall Masters from the sect who were available also rushed to provide assistance.
The demons would not cease their attacks, raids, and ambushes just because many disciples were injured.
This night, there was still a high possibility of demon assaults.
If they neglected the defense tonight, the entire defense line might face catastrophic consequences.
That night, the Yunyang Sect's elders personally patrolled the front line, whether for show or to genuinely protect those on the front. At the very least, they stood guard throughout the night.
(End of Chapter)
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