Once upon a time there was a greedy snake.

Chapter 246 Times have changed
Just as those chosen champions were preparing to retreat under the cover of night, the city of the Serpent God, Tatunbuto, had reached its limit.

The four priests had long since taken off their priestly robes, losing all solemnity and dignity. It wasn't that they didn't want to maintain their image; it was mainly because the workload of the day was simply too great—they had hardly dealt with anything else that day, spending the entire time in the temple continuously performing resurrection techniques.

Under their guidance, one terracotta figure after another rose from the ground.

As for the source of the terracotta figures, it was naturally the pottery sage in the city. The old man named Lachcot was extremely enthusiastic about this matter and even patted his chest to tell them that he could handle it quickly—and in fact, the old man really did it. After the old man jumped directly into the kiln, the entire pottery workshop went crazy and began to spew out terracotta figures.

Clearly, in order to increase efficiency, this old man named Lachcot was already using some completely unusable methods. However, as it turns out, this flame that burned with his life did indeed achieve a terrifying miracle.

Just like it is now.

"You call this fighting a war?"

After another batch of terracotta warriors rushed out, Satek, who had finally gotten a little chance to catch his breath, wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"Then what about what we fought back then?"

"do not know……"

Ansaq, the leader of the four priests, had also removed the serpent fang crown from his head and was continuously pouring honey and salt water down his throat.

Hot water with honey and salt can quickly replenish the body's energy. At least after drinking this sweet water, Ansag's almost dead mind finally came back to its senses.

Even after regaining his senses, Ansag was still somewhat dazed. He had realized that he seemed to be participating in an unprecedented war without even realizing it—even though the scale of this war was too small, only at the level of small-scale warfare, Ansag could already realize that this was something that completely changed the logic of all previous wars.

In the past, wars emphasized martial arts and training. When two armies faced each other, they would not even need to kill everyone. As long as the enemy's formation was broken, the outcome would be decided.

But right now, war is a completely different story.

One terracotta warrior after another rushed out. Even though their bodies were so fragile, even if their bodies were shattered, they could be quickly resurrected under the soul-summoning ritual. In other words, as long as the soul-summoning ritual could be carried out normally, these terracotta warriors would hardly die in the true sense and could get up again and again to charge at their enemies.

Ansag even instinctively began to think about how he would win if he were in that situation.

But the conclusion after thinking about it was that it was absolutely impossible.

To truly kill these terracotta warriors, the soul-summoning ritual must be destroyed. However, to destroy the soul-summoning ritual, all the terracotta warriors must be killed before they can enter. If these terracotta warriors had always been at the same level, it wouldn't be a problem. But the problem is that these terracotta warriors are constantly improving their combat skills, and they even become stronger as they fight.

"And right now, they are just terracotta figures."

Ansag took a deep breath.

"If it were wooden figurines, or even iron golems..."

Ansag was already hesitant to think any further.

However, after considering the materials, Ansag suddenly realized that the current tactics were not without their drawbacks—those disposable terracotta figures were ultimately a form of consumption, and maintaining such a frenzied terracotta figure firing rate was not something that could be done every time.

The main reason they were able to do it this time was because that mad pottery sage burned himself in the kiln. If it had been the carpenter sage instead… were they going to nail him to the workbench? “Efficiency, and resources.”

Ansag clearly understood the key point.

If such tactics are to be used, then future wars will be about efficiency and resources. It will no longer be about using swords to kill the enemy, but about using large amounts of clay, wood, and even steel to overwhelm and bury the enemy alive.

"Perhaps we should calculate the exact amount consumed after this battle is over."

Thinking this through, Ansag secretly made a mental note of it.

The battle that took place outside the city was gradually coming to an end.

The reason they knew about this without leaving the city was mainly because there were fewer requests for resurrection from the underworld, which meant there were fewer and fewer broken terracotta figures, and the workload of the soul-summoning ritual was much less. However, this brief respite did not bring any joy to the four priests. Satek, the Greatsword among the four, even couldn't help but sigh.

"Times have changed."

Taking a deep breath, Satek looked up at the ceiling.

"Our era has finally passed."

Upon hearing this, the other three priests also shook their heads and sighed.

They could understand what Sataik was trying to say: the era of individual strength was over, and no matter how strong one's martial arts skills were, they were meaningless in the face of the endless stream of terracotta warriors.

No one can rely on their skills to dominate the battlefield anymore. What should have been a bloody battle has turned into cold clay and altars, into the consumption list submitted by the scribes afterward.

"Unless one possesses the power of a serpent god."

Satek gave a wry smile.

Yes, that can also be said in reverse. A large number of terracotta warriors can indeed drown any being who relies on personal strength to become powerful. However, if personal strength goes too far, then it is a completely different matter. Just like that serpent god outside the city, who could embed all the terracotta warriors, along with them and the entire Tatungbto, into the ground with just a flick of his tail.

However, such power is still rare, at least their enemies cannot do it. Those so-called chosen champions who fell from the sky ultimately do not have this level of power.

"But...really not?"

It was at this moment that Ansag, the Crowned One, felt a sudden, inexplicable jolt in his heart.

Everything seemed to be going smoothly at the moment, with the terracotta warriors of the Blood Warband even chasing after the Chosen Champions. But it was this excessive smoothness that made Ansag suddenly smell the scent of death.

Ultimately, the methods they are currently using still originate from the stars.

So, do the chosen champions, who also come from the stars, really have no other way?

(End of this chapter)