Great Wilderness Demon Lord

The following morning, the first strong wind of the winter swept across the plains.

The cold wind came from the snow-capped mountains in the north, carrying ice shards and gravel, lashing against the ruins and making a shrill, ghostly wail.

Inside the makeshift camp, the campfire flickered in the wind, the convicts huddled in their tents shivering, and even the strong soldiers wrapped themselves tightly in their fur coats, their breath instantly torn apart by the wind.

Inside the main tent, Xiao Yunlan summoned all the key members.

Zhao Meng, Tieshan, Manager Wu, the five craftsmen leaders, and the captain of the thirty merchant guild guards—a northern man named Shi Biao, with a scar running from his forehead to his chin, and a fierce look in his eyes, was a true ruthless fugitive who had seen blood.

Xiao Yunlan unfolded the map and pointed to the location of the Shuoshui River.

"Our forces are insufficient, and we have no chance of winning a direct confrontation with the Jackal tribes. The Wolf Rong tribe is even more beyond our current capabilities." His voice was calm and even, without any emotion. "To establish a foothold in the Shuofeng Plain, we must rely on the terrain. The Shuoshui River is twenty zhang wide, deep, and has a rapid current, making it a natural barrier."

Everyone listened intently.

"But it is only late autumn now, and the river is not yet frozen. If the barbarians want to cross the river, they can wade across at shallow spots. Even if it freezes, it will take more than a month, and the ice layer will be uneven in thickness, making it difficult to stop the enemy." Xiao Yunlan raised his eyes and glanced at the people in the tent. "Therefore, our army should take the initiative to make the Shuo River freeze ahead of time, and use the ice to build city walls, connecting the ruins of Wangbei Fortress with the riverbank, forming a strong fortress with its back to the water."

The tent was completely silent.

Shi Biao spoke first, his voice hoarse: "Captain, make the river freeze ahead of schedule? That... is beyond human capability, isn't it?"

"Ordinary methods won't work," Xiao Yunlan said, his tone unchanged. "But I have a method that can trigger a celestial anomaly, causing a section of the Shuo River to freeze over."

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances. Invoking celestial phenomena? That was a realm only high-level cultivators could supposedly reach. Just how many unknown secrets did this young captain possess?

Zhao Meng quickly followed up with a concern: "Even if the river freezes over and the city is built of ice... ice walls are brittle and melt easily, how can they withstand the barbarian invasion?"

Xiao Yunlan pointed to the map: "It's not a wall of pure ice. It's made by mixing riverbed mud and sand with crushed ice, using a wooden frame as a mold, and then pouring and tamping it layer by layer. This method can be called 'ice-soil ramming'."

Its outer walls are made of solid ice, smooth and difficult to climb; the interior is inlaid with mud, sand, and gravel, which increases its thickness and stability. Once solidified, it is as hard as a stone fortification.

He paused briefly to allow everyone to process his words, then continued, "The key is that after the wall is built, water can still be continuously drawn from the river to irrigate it. In such cold weather, the water will freeze instantly, and the ice layer will continue to thicken and reinforce the wall as it is built. In terms of construction speed, it far surpasses the speed of burning bricks and laying stones."

Old Chen, the foreman of the craftsmen, seemed to be deep in thought, and murmured, "This method... I have indeed heard of it. In the bitterly cold lands of the far north beyond the Great Wall, a few barbarian tribes use this method to build igloos to protect themselves from the wind and snow."

However, its use in constructing city defenses and repelling enemies from the outside is truly unheard of.

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures." Xiao Yunlan withdrew his hand, his gaze sweeping over the people in the tent. "This plan has three parts: First, freeze the river surface in advance, turning the natural barrier into a smooth road, which can also be used for our purposes; second, build walls with the ice and soil, erecting a barrier before the weather completely deteriorates; third—"

His tone remained calm, yet it seemed to lower the temperature inside the tent even further: "When the barbarians come to attack on the ice, I can choose an opportunity to break the ice. Once the river freezes over, we can pre-determine the thickness of the ice layer."

If gunpowder is secretly planted in key locations, especially in the middle of the river and near the shore, it can be detonated suddenly when the army arrives.

"Ice cracks, people fall; the water of winter chills to the bone, piercing to the heart—that is the abyss."

The tent was deathly silent, save for the heavy breathing.

This plan is not only extremely bold, but also exudes a cold and resolute air of having calculated every advantage of the time and place, sending chills down one's spine.

A gleam of excitement flashed in Shi Biao's eyes: "Captain, your plan is brilliant! But how can we freeze the river ahead of time?"

Xiao Yunlan remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "A ritual must be performed, using the blood and souls of beings whose numbers are multiples of nine as offerings, to communicate with heaven and earth and trigger the cold wave."

"Sacrificial offerings?" Zhao Meng's expression changed slightly.

"Jackals." Xiao Yunlan uttered two words, "The jackal tribe twenty miles to the northeast is a ready source of sacrificial offerings."

Everyone was astonished.

Using barbarians as sacrifices and performing bizarre rituals... this has already touched the edge of certain taboos.

Seeing their changing expressions, Xiao Yunlan added, "The ritual requires few offerings, nine will suffice. However, to ensure success, I intend to take eighty-one jackals. This is not indiscriminate killing, but a last resort in a life-or-death situation. Moreover, the jackals are enemy captives, so killing them is not a crime."

Silence fell inside the tent. Only the howling wind outside sounded like ghostly whispers.

After a long silence, Tieshan said in a deep voice, "Captain, this action... may offend the natural order and easily incite criticism within the army."

"Tianhe?" Xiao Yunlan raised his eyes, a cold light flashing in them. "Did the hundred-odd soldiers who died on this Shuofeng Plain last year receive Tianhe? When the Langrong broke into the fortress and slaughtered them, did they take Tianhe into consideration?"

Our army is now trapped in ruins, surrounded by wolves on the outside and lacking supplies for a prolonged siege. If we cling to empty fame, we will be sitting and waiting for death.

He stood up, his black dragon armor gleaming coldly in the dim tent: "In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken. If this plan succeeds, our army can hold out in Ice City and delay until the true arrival of winter."

At that time, the weather will be freezing cold, making it difficult for the Rong barbarians to advance south. Our army will have a chance to regroup, prepare defenses, and coordinate with our rear. If this plan fails—”

He paused, his voice growing colder: "Then let us be buried here, keeping company with the spirits of the fallen soldiers of Shuofeng Plain."

Having said that, no one dared to object anymore.

Xiao Yunlan began assigning tasks: "Zhao Meng, Tieshan, each of you will lead fifteen strong soldiers and twenty recruits. Set off at dawn tomorrow, infiltrate the area around the jackal tribe, and seize the opportunity to capture the jackals. Remember, I need them alive, at least eighty-one. Choose the able-bodied as much as possible; the old and weak are useless."

"Shi Biao, you will take ten guards and coordinate with the operation, responsible for perimeter security and evacuation support."

"Manager Wu organized the convicts and remaining soldiers to begin collecting silt from the Shuoshui River and piling it up on the riverbank. The craftsmen designed a method for building ice walls and prepared the tools."

"I personally oversaw the preparations for the ritual."

Everyone solemnly accepted the order.

After the banquet ended, Xiao Yunlan sat alone under the lamp, took out the tattered scroll of "Secrets of Military Strategy" that he had obtained from the library, and turned to the incomplete chapter that recorded "the formation of military spirit".

Deep within his dantian, the deep blue aura of the Scheming Demon flickered faintly, coldly analyzing the ancient texts; while the eerie green aura of the Trickster Demon lingered like shadows, gradually completing the details of the sinister ritual.

Two demonic thoughts and two different plans have now merged perfectly.

The strategist provides methods for building cities and commanding armies, while the cunning demon completes the details of rituals and intrigues.

As the price for all of this, Xiao Yunlan must continuously feed these two demonic thoughts—the strategist demon craves the practice of calculation and planning, while the cunning demon craves the execution of conspiracy and deception.

He closed the tattered scroll and looked out at the dark night sky.

The whispers of the demonic thoughts within him grew clearer. He knew he was walking a dangerous path, but the desperate situation in Shuofeng Plain allowed no room for hesitation.