There were thirty five days left before the Mirror Demon King would run out of energy!
Thirty five days later, Mirror Mountain would lose its protective energy barrier, and the Flame Demon Tribe would lose its protection.
The entire Flame Demon Tribe continued their construction work with great enthusiasm.
After completing a five hundred metre city wall, they began building the castle within the walls.
With the city wall in place, the people of the Flame Demon Tribe clearly felt much safer, yet none of them relaxed. Instead, the more than one thousand people worked even harder.
The castle complex of the Flame Demon Tribe was planned to cover around three hundred mu. There was no doubt that this was an enormous project. Completing it within a year would already be an impressive achievement.
Moreover, Lanling had no intention of living in the castle alone like some lofty ruler. The first group of citizens of the Flame Demon Tribe, namely the more than one thousand brothers from the Foreign Legion, would all live inside the castle as well.
A castle complex covering three hundred mu could easily accommodate one thousand people, even three thousand would fit comfortably.
Once the Flame Demon Tribe expanded and recruited new members, an outer city would then be built beyond the city walls.
“Lanling, there are more and more troops gathering outside Mirror Mountain,” Duo Duo said. “Don’t you plan to look for reinforcements?”
Lanling replied, “Reinforcements? Where would they come from?”
The remaining forces of Duo Duo’s Wild Horse Tribe had all entered the Flame Demon Tribe.
For the time being, the Wild Horse Tribe was still considered to be staying with the Flame Demon Tribe. The two sides remained partners and allies.
Duo Duo had never said he wished to join them permanently, and Lanling had never tried to recruit him.
Duo Duo said, “Across the entire Rakshasa Territory, apart from the Rakshasa Clan, there are all kinds of native barbarian tribes. There are also countless exiles. Some hide in the forests, others hide in ravines. As long as you’re willing to accept them, I believe many of them would be willing to join the Flame Demon Tribe.”
The south eastern region of the Southern Wilderness was considered Rakshasa territory. It covered two million square kilometres, with more than twenty alliances and nearly three hundred tribes.
Beyond these, however, there were countless exiles and native barbarian tribes.
What were native barbarian tribes?
All barbarian races on this land that were not Rakshasa were collectively known as native barbarian tribes.
Among these native tribes, a large proportion consisted of beast folk.
For example, wolf people, leopard people, tiger people, lizard people, fox people, and so on.
These races all lived deep within the mountains and forests, with each group numbering from several dozen to several hundred individuals.
Compared with the Rakshasa, they were far less civilised. They had no true tribes of their own, and their way of life existed somewhere between wild beasts and humans.
In truth, the entire Wilderness World was now in complete chaos, and the distinctions between different races had become rather blurred.
Strictly speaking, only around a dozen races in the Wilderness World could truly be called Demon Races.
The Rakshasa, the Eli Race, the Near Human Race, the Winged Race, and others.
These races all shared one characteristic. Their ancestors had all been Demon Kings who served under the Demon God Monarch, beings who came from another realm.
Meanwhile, races such as the Wolf People, Leopard People, Fox People, Snake People, and similar groups were considered Barbarian Races.
The distinction between Demon Races and Barbarian Races was actually quite simple.
If your ancestors were demons, you belonged to the Demon Race.
Barbarian Races, on the other hand, existed because certain wild beasts carried relatively high concentrations of demon blood, causing them to develop human forms.
For example, among one hundred wolves, perhaps one would possess an unusually strong demon bloodline, allowing it to become a Wolf Person.
These native beast races usually lived deep within the mountains and forests, remaining separate from the various Rakshasa tribes without interfering with one another.
Of course, a small number of beast folk eventually grew tired of the loneliness of the mountains and were tempted by the outside world, so they left to serve the Rakshasa tribes.
Even then, they usually ended up as second or third class citizens.
Among the one thousand three hundred citizens of Lanling’s Flame Demon Tribe, about one thousand two hundred belonged to the Near Human Race. The remainder consisted of other Demon Races, along with fifty or sixty beast folk.
These beast folk were simple minded but fearless in battle. Once their wild instincts had been tamed, they made outstanding soldiers.
“Within the territory of the entire Silver Alliance, there are at least one hundred thousand native barbarian tribesmen. We could persuade them to join us,” Duo Duo said. “Admittedly, most of these native tribes are isolated and conservative. Many of them don’t even speak the same language and live completely cut off from the outside world. But if you could even subdue the Mirror Demon King, then I believe dealing with these native tribes shouldn’t be a problem.”
Lanling did not answer.
Duo Duo continued, “Watching everyone work with such enthusiasm, there are some things I really don’t want to say. The enemy has thirty thousand troops, while we only have a little over one thousand. Even if we build our walls higher and our castle stronger, it won’t matter. We are bound to lose.”
His thinking was perfectly reasonable. One thousand against thirty thousand, no matter how one looked at it, there was no hope.
Even if the one thousand soldiers of the Flame Demon Tribe were exceptionally brave, it would still be impossible for each one to fight thirty enemies, especially since years of malnutrition had left them far from strong.
Lanling suddenly asked, “Chief Duo Duo, our Flame Demon Tribe is in grave danger. We face destruction at any moment. Do you think anyone would join us? Would anyone willingly board what they believe to be a sinking ship?”
Of course not. Even the wandering Near Humans would rather endure hunger in the forests than come here to die.
Besides, Constantine’s and Alfonso’s armies had already sealed every entrance to Mirror Mountain.
Even if someone wished to join the Flame Demon Tribe, they simply could not get in.
“So, there is only one way for exiles and native barbarian tribes to join us,” Lanling said. “We must win this battle. We must defeat the allied armies of Alfonso and Constantine. Once we win, our reputation will spread everywhere. Countless exiles, countless Near Humans, and countless native barbarian tribes will come to join us. Otherwise, everything is just empty talk.”
Lanling was absolutely right.
If you wanted countless people to seek refuge with you, you first had to prove your strength and show that you were capable of protecting them.
For the Flame Demon Tribe to become powerful, they first had to win this battle.
If Lanling defeated the combined thirty thousand strong army of Alfonso and Constantine, his name would shake the entire Silver Alliance.
After that, the Flame Demon Tribe could openly declare its principles, welcoming all kind and righteous exiles, proclaiming itself the homeland of all Near Humans, and so on.
When that happened, exiles living within several hundred miles, Near Humans hiding everywhere, and expelled native barbarian tribes would come in endless numbers without anyone needing to recruit them.
Therefore, the battle thirty five days later would serve as the greatest advertisement imaginable.
Besides, one thousand soldiers fighting thirty thousand was already an astonishing story in itself.
“But we simply can’t win,” Duo Duo shouted. “One thousand against thirty thousand. Even in your dreams, it’s impossible. No matter how capable you are, you still can’t win.”
Lanling looked calmly at Duo Duo.
“We can win.”
“This is impossible,” Duo Duo replied. “Just because you say we can win doesn’t make it true.”
Lanling answered, “In truth, what worries me isn’t the first battle one month from now. It’s the second battle that comes afterwards.”
“The second battle?” Duo Duo was stunned.
Lanling said, “After Alfonso and Constantine are defeated, the Silver Alliance will certainly send troops. By then, it won’t be twenty or thirty thousand soldiers anymore. It could easily become an army of one hundred thousand from all thirteen tribes. When that time comes, I’ll need to recruit countless exiles, Wolf People, Leopard People, especially the Centaurs, the natural kings of cavalry.”
The Centaurs were among the most troublesome and powerful native races of the Southern Wilderness.
They were born as cavalry. Their speed was extraordinary, their strength overwhelming, and their archery far surpassed that of every other barbarian race. Normally, whenever a tribal hunting party encountered a Centaur force, they would immediately retreat.
However, Centaur tribes were usually independent, unruly, and fond of raiding. More importantly, their numbers were small. Even the largest tribe only had a few hundred riders. Otherwise, they might well have become the rulers of the Southern Wilderness.
After hearing Lanling’s words, Duo Duo found the whole thing absurd and almost burst into laughter.
The first battle was already impossible to win, yet Lanling was worrying about the second battle. It was simply ridiculous.
“You only have one thousand men. How exactly do you intend to defeat thirty thousand?” Duo Duo asked.
Lanling replied, “I can’t tell you that. All I can tell you is that I can win.”
Duo Duo laughed in anger. “Fine. Let’s make a bet. I bet you can’t win. If you lose, we’ll all die together. If you win… then… I’ll marry my daughter to you.”
At that moment, Duo Ning walked in from outside. Upon hearing her father’s words, her face immediately flushed red before her eyes turned cold as she glared fiercely at him.
Marry that bastard Lanling? Impossible. She would rather die.
“I refuse that wager,” Lanling said. “From now on, I’ll continue sleeping with women whenever I wish, whether it’s like Constantine’s wife or like Nini’an. But actually marrying someone? Unless there are enormous benefits involved, I won’t do it. Marriage carries far too much responsibility.”
The moment those words left his mouth, Duo Ning’s body trembled with rage.
Lanling’s words were utterly shameless. His meaning was perfectly clear. He was willing to sleep with her, but taking responsibility was another matter entirely.
Although she would never agree to marry Lanling, being looked down upon in such a way still filled her with overwhelming anger.
“If you defeat Constantine’s and Alfonso’s allied army in one month’s time, I’ll lead the remaining one hundred brothers of the Wild Horse Tribe to fully join the Flame Demon Tribe. I’ll acknowledge you as my chief,” Duo Duo declared.
Lanling had finally been waiting to hear those words.
He immediately smiled and held out his hand.
“It’s a deal.”
“It’s a deal.” Duo Duo reached out and slapped his hand against Lanling’s.
…
Over the past few years, the Black Widow Meng Tuoluo had endured an extremely difficult life.
After falling out with Zhi Li, she had led the people of the Poison Snake Tribe across the Hundred Thousand Mountains into the Northern Wilderness.
There, her tribe was far too weak, forcing them to rely on the powerful Barbarian Hammer Tribe.
Living under another tribe’s protection was unpleasant, but at least they survived, though she had to sacrifice many things, including her dignity and much more.
Yet even that life lasted for only a little over three years.
Princess Naxue of the Motuo Empire marched north with an army of three hundred thousand, sweeping away every tribe within two thousand miles, including the mighty Barbarian Hammer Tribe.
Meng Tuoluo’s Poison Snake Tribe naturally became one of the victims.
With a single order from Princess Naxue, all one hundred thousand members of the Barbarian Hammer Tribe, together with several thousand members of the Poison Snake Tribe, were slaughtered without mercy.
This princess had become the nightmare of the entire Northern Wilderness.
She had begun leading armies at the age of sixteen and had killed countless people.
Over the past five or six years, she had destroyed more than several hundred tribes and massacred at least one million barbarian tribesmen.
Rumour claimed that anyone standing beside her would be so overwhelmed by her murderous aura that they would lose all bodily control in terror.
The Motuo Empire currently had eight supreme commanders, two for each of the east, south, west, and north. Princess Naxue commanded the north eastern expansion and led the five hundred thousand strong North Eastern Army.
In other words, the entire wilderness south of the Furious Wave Kingdom’s border fell within her theatre of war.
Three years earlier, the commander of the Motuo Empire’s North Eastern Army had been her father, Prince Disha. Rumour had it that she had personally killed her three elder brothers before inheriting her father’s position.
Now, Meng Tuoluo’s protector, along with all her people, had been slaughtered completely by this demon like princess.
The only survivor from both the Barbarian Hammer Tribe and the Poison Snake Tribe was Meng Tuoluo herself.
Led by several eunuchs from the Motuo Empire, Meng Tuoluo entered Princess Naxue’s mobile palace.
Yes, it truly was a mobile palace. Wherever Princess Naxue campaigned, this palace of several hundred square metres travelled with her.
The palace was magnificently luxurious, filled with fine wine, exquisite food, gold, jewels, silk, and every imaginable luxury.
Normally, it required more than thirty giant beasts to pull it, or one hundred giants to carry it.
Everything inside gleamed with gold and silk.
The carpet beneath her feet felt extraordinarily soft.
The pale cream coloured walls were equally soft and smooth to the touch, decorated with magnificent patterns. Had Lanling been present, he would have thought they resembled wallpaper from Earth.
But upon closer inspection, Meng Tuoluo almost lost all feeling in her body.
The carpet had been woven from the hair of barbarian tribesmen.
The walls were covered with…
Human skin.
Yes, genuine human skin stripped from living people, tanned and decorated with breathtakingly beautiful patterns.
Entering the inner chamber, the four eunuchs remained outside while Meng Tuoluo walked in alone.
Inside, it resembled a palace of endless indulgence.
Countless fine wines, countless beautiful attendants, all completely unclothed, each holding trays of exquisite delicacies.
At the centre stood an enormous throne made entirely from bones.
Yes, a chair crafted from white bones and gold, over three metres wide.
Four stunning beauties reclined upon the enormous golden bone throne in strange and alluring poses. Resting lazily upon their soft bodies was an incomparably beautiful young man.
Was this Princess Naxue?
No.
She was a woman disguised as a man.
The moment Meng Tuoluo saw Princess Naxue, she froze in complete shock, staring at her face in utter disbelief.
That face was breathtakingly beautiful, naturally wicked, naturally seductive. Disguised as a man, she possessed an irresistible beauty that blurred the line between masculine and feminine.
Meng Tuoluo herself was an extraordinary beauty, yet among all the women she had ever seen, she believed only Ji Xiuning and Zhi Yan could rival Princess Naxue in appearance.
A beauty at this level was no longer about looks alone. It was about temperament, presence, and an indescribable charm.
Yet what truly shocked Meng Tuoluo was not Princess Naxue’s mystery or beauty.
It was because she looked exactly like someone.
Far too much like him.
How could that be?
He was clearly a man, and according to rumour, he was already dead.
When Princess Naxue noticed Meng Tuoluo staring blankly at her, she gave a wicked smile, rose from her seat, walked over, and gently lifted Meng Tuoluo’s chin with her jade like fingers.
“Tsk, tsk. You truly are an exceptionally beautiful temptress.”
Then, in just a few quick movements, she tore away Meng Tuoluo’s clothes completely before examining every part of her body without missing a single detail.
Princess Naxue said, “A face that appears once in a million, and a body equally rare. You truly are an incomparable beauty.”
“Then it shall be you…” Princess Naxue said.
She then opened her mouth, revealing sharp white fangs, and bit into Meng Tuoluo’s slender neck, drinking her blood frantically!