Endless Winter: My Camp Upgrades Infinitely Chapter 1391 - 450: Out of Control, Intimidation and Naivety, the Battle Clears, Cai Shiqing the Beautiful

It is precisely for this reason that the more than three thousand members of the Duan Family, despite facing certain defeat, refused to surrender.

The outcome now hinges on survival – either you fall or I perish.

Retreat even a single step, and all will be lost!

Thus, upon witnessing the arrival of reinforcements, the soldiers of the Third Army, already brimming with anticipation, experienced an explosion of renewed fervor. Their roars joined with the charge of those entering from the flanks, intensifying their assault against the Duan Family forces.

Whoosh......

As the blade swept towards his face, Mu Qinghe’s body executed a sharp backward flip to evade. However, before he could retreat more than a couple of steps, a flash of sword light caught his left eye. His vast combat experience immediately told him evasion was impossible. He abruptly lowered his head, sweeping his own sword from right to left in a fierce clash against the incoming blade.

Clang......

"Fighting against two, just with you!"

Yet, in the very instant he dodged Duan Xian’s sword light, the saber previously aimed at his forehead abruptly changed trajectory, slashing downwards towards his right shoulder.

Accompanying the descending blade was Duan Mian’s ferocious roar!

Duan Mian's strength registered at 43 Manes, while Duan Xian's was 39 Manes. Both were close in age to Mu Qinghe and possessed equally extensive combat experience. Mu Qinghe managing to hold his own for this long against two opponents was already considered a significant feat, especially with the direct lineage Mu Family reinforcements now entering the fray. Duan Mian recognized that if he didn't seize the moment to eliminate Mu Qinghe, the entire situation would rapidly spiral beyond his control.

However, the more agitated he became, the further his objective seemed to recede.

Crack...

Duan Mian’s massive saber struck true, successfully cleaving through Mu Qinghe’s skin and muscle, impacting directly against the bone. Mu Qinghe’s pupils dilated in fury as Duan Mian pressed down with all his might, aiming to widen his advantage and even end Mu Qinghe’s life.

Regrettably, a silver staff suddenly struck from behind him. Duan Mian’s eyebrow twitched violently; he dared not continue applying pressure. As he retracted his blade, his body rapidly shifted left, rejoining Duan Xian.

Still, the staff strike was only the beginning.

Before Duan Mian and Duan Xian could fully stabilize, a blade and a sword simultaneously attacked from their sides, targeting their heads and hearts respectively. The assault was clearly intended to be lethal, offering them no respite.

Bam......

The blade and sword landed their blows first, the staff followed closely, and critically, Mu Qinghe, despite his injured right shoulder, pressed forward through the pain. In an instant, the dynamic shifted from them besieging Mu Qinghe to Mu Qinghe and four others now surrounding them.

"Zhu Ziying, Helian Shan, Qiu Sanming, just as the Lord predicted, all you traitorous rebels, prepare yourselves to be beheaded!"

Duan Mian turned his head to survey the now-chaotic military camp. Despite observing his side's advantageous situation reversing, he displayed no trace of panic or confusion. Instead, he let out a vicious sneer towards Zhu Ziying and the others.

"Waiting for death? Duan Hong hasn't shown himself even now. With merely the Duan Family contingent and this hastily assembled Yellow Armor Second Army, who exactly is waiting for death?"

Witnessing his own forces gaining the upper hand, Mu Qinghe felt no urgency. His voice adopted a sinister tone as he taunted Duan Mian.

Hearing this, Zhu Ziying and the others nearby exchanged mocking smiles.

Currently, those clashing within the military camp operated at the Cold Resistance Level, their numbers aligning with previous estimations: upwards of a thousand from the Duan Family, combined with two Yellow Armor Armies, totaling slightly over three thousand Cold Resistance Level troops.

Conversely, their own total military strength surpassed three thousand eight hundred.

Possessing a numerical advantage was secondary; the crucial factor was combat capability. The current Yellow Armor Second Army, following a recent restructuring, had been a severely depleted force. Over sixty percent of its original strength had been deliberately purged by Duan Xian over the past year. The newly incorporated sixty percent comprised entirely of Duan Family members.

The majority of those purged belonged to the direct lineage of the Mu Family. Even those not directly related had been incited by the Mu Family to join the mutinous faction.

Consequently, they held an advantage not only in numbers but also in combat prowess.

The Duan Family had but one remaining path to avert this rebellion!

"Fomenting rebellion by collaborating with forces from the Outer Domain, plotting treason and usurpation! Mu Qinghe, your transgressions have ignited widespread fury. Chui Mountain can no longer harbor you after this day, nor can the Nine Towns Territory. Surrender now! Should you refuse, your Mu Family will be responsible for the destruction of Chui Mountain's century-old legacy today!"

Upon hearing Duan Mian's accusations of collusion with Outer Domain forces, a flicker of surprise was absent from Mu Qinghe’s countenance. As for the demand to surrender, he merely responded with a cold, continuous smirk.

"Brothers, the despicable Duan Family teeters on the brink of ruin. Stay with me and fight on! If our military strategy doesn't achieve victory today, we shall fall as martyrs! Charge!"

He answered Duan Mian with a resounding shout. Then, alongside Zhu Ziying and the other four, he re-engaged Duan Mian and Duan Xian, launching an assault with ferocity surpassing their previous efforts.

While engaged in fending off the five-man offensive, Duan Mian observed from the periphery that the casualties on his side were mounting, approaching the twenty percent mark. A growing anxiety consumed him, and his gaze darted towards the northern sector of the Inner City, in the direction of the Duan Clan’s ancestral grounds, his pupils dilated with urgency.

Why is there no movement? Why no response yet?

.........

By this time, the sun had climbed high, illuminating the Inner City of Chui Mountain. Centered around the Lord’s Hall, the city spanned a mere five-kilometer diameter. The deafening cacophony of battle originating from the military encampment had long since permeated the Inner City, rousing many inhabitants from their slumber.

Certain individuals, unaware of the peril, perhaps at the Cold Resistance Level, might venture out to observe. However, the vast majority, practitioners of the Earth-digging Realm, could only seal their doors and windows, confining themselves to their homes, anxiously awaiting the outcome.

The most tranquil locale within the entirety of the city at this precise moment would undoubtedly be the Lord’s Hall.

In reality, the Lord’s Hall was not experiencing any panic whatsoever. Instead, it exuded an atmosphere of profound serenity and harmonious calm.