Transcending the Nine Heavens

The enemy’s three forces were rapidly approaching like arrows, each with its own target. It was a time of panic and confusion, but Mo Tianji’s finger pointed to a fourth target!

The Li family had three strongholds: Snowy Cliff, Centipede Ridge, and Eagle Worries Peak. Capturing any one of them would allow them to establish a foothold in the Li family’s heartland, enabling subsequent armies to pour in continuously, causing further pressure.

However, Mo Tianji was now pointing at Pear Blossom Slope, a location even further ahead than the three targets!

This place was to the left and rear, and moreover, it was next to an unshakable mountain range. At present, it seemed to have no value. The Li family had only sent a few Saint-level experts to deal with it casually.

Moreover, this place was relatively remote compared to the other three strongholds.

“Prepare the manpower!” Mo Tianji ordered, “At least sixty Supreme level experts! In this battle, we must spare no cost to devour the Shi family!”

“The Shi family?” Li Wubo couldn’t help but widen his eyes.

The Shi family was on the far right, while this place was on the far left.

Mo Tianji said, “Do as I say!”

Li Wubo hesitated and asked, “May I ask, Brother Mo, why?”

Mo Tianji explained, “Losing those three strongholds would lead to a seesaw battle; both sides would attack and defend with all their might. For the enemy strategist, it would be like killing a thousand enemies at the cost of eight hundred of their own. The enemy has always adopted a strategy of boiling frogs in warm water, and they are preserving their strength. Therefore, they won’t choose to fight hard...”

“Here, however, is unimportant to both sides. Thus, even if it is occupied by the enemy, the Li family will not fight to the death.” When Mo Tianji reached this point, everyone nodded in agreement.

That’s right; what’s the point of fighting to the death over a place with little value?

Mo Tianji casually wrote down five place names, arranging them in a straight line on the table, slightly staggered.

They were, in order: Pear Blossom Slope, Snowy Cliff, Centipede Ridge, Eagle Worries Peak, and Steamed Bun Gorge.

“But... what if, after occupying Pear Blossom Slope, we also occupy Steamed Bun Gorge?” Mo Tianji pointed to another overlooked location, Steamed Bun Gorge, which was similarly an unremarkable place. It was located to the right of the previously mentioned Pear Blossom Slope, both extending inward.

Everyone furrowed their brows.

“If you still can’t see it, then... after occupying both Pear Blossom Slope and Steamed Bun Gorge, what if we immediately attack and capture the Centipede Ridge in the middle?” Only then did Mo Tianji point to the enemy’s seemingly desperate target in the center – Centipede Ridge!

The expressions on everyone’s faces changed dramatically. The two previously useless strongholds, after being occupied along with Centipede Ridge, immediately became menacing. They formed a triangular combat formation, a veritable fortress!

Moreover, this development put both Snowy Cliff and Eagle Worries Peak in a pincer attack situation.

“If these two strongholds each guard a family’s elite soldiers, and then forcefully take Centipede Ridge in the middle, the three points would form a mutually supportive network. They can attack or defend as needed, and their reinforcements would be endless. We have no means to stop them. In the end, the only option would be to give up on fighting for Centipede Ridge,” Mo Tianji explained.

“Once we give up, the situation becomes dire; the strongholds at Snowy Cliff and Eagle Worries Peak on both sides of Centipede Ridge would find themselves surrounded by enemies on all sides. They would be forced to surrender, as they would be impossible to defend. If we stubbornly try to defend them, we would only be sending men to their deaths, turning the area into an enemy’s meat grinder!”

“So, the only option is to give up. Once we do, the enemy would instantly occupy five strongholds, creating a complete blockade.”

“Our current advantage is that we can still move in and out of these five locations. However, once they are completely sealed off, it would be like we were driven from the ocean into a small pond; we would have nowhere else to go but retreat further inward.”

Mo Tianji took out two brushes, placing one on each side, and said, “These two mountain ranges, one close to Pear Blossom Slope and the other close to Steamed Bun Gorge, are both towering peaks, different from the other mountain ranges. Even a Ninth-Rank Supreme could not shake them!”

Mo Tianji felt somewhat contemptuous in his heart. No wonder they had been beaten so badly by Diwu Qingrou. They were all like pigs with human heads. If he were discussing this with Chu Yang, a single glance would be enough. Yet, he had to explain everything in great detail to these people.

Seeing the situation Mo Tianji laid out on the table, everyone’s faces turned ashen.

Yes, as Mo Tianji explained it, they all understood.

They all felt a little dispirited and lost.

The enemy was not only well-prepared but also had foresight, anticipating the third, fifth, and even the final step before they even made the first move. In contrast, everyone else was only focusing on what the enemy’s first step might be.

This was the gap!

An irreparable gap!

“Is it possible that the enemy would start from Steamed Bun Gorge? The consequences would be the same,” one of the elders suggested.

At this remark, Mo Tianji’s face twitched.

The others looked at the elder with an expression reserved for idiots. Steamed Bun Gorge was not the same as Pear Blossom Slope; it formed a mutually supportive relationship with Eagle Worries Peak. If they couldn’t conquer it immediately, it would lead to a protracted battle.

Moreover, doing so would immediately alert the Li family to strengthen the defense at Pear Blossom Slope; if the enemy could commit such a blunder, their intelligence would truly be worse than a pig’s.

“Arrange manpower immediately! Dispatch eighty supremes and bring out the secret forces!” Li Wubo decisively issued the order.

“Divide the forces into three!” Mo Tianji said, “I will arrange the direction for each group later.”

Li Wubo, already thoroughly convinced, agreed without hesitation.

The only thing he couldn’t quite understand was why Mo Tianji was so certain that it was the Shi family that they needed to focus on first.

Just then, three invisible falcons swooped in, and at the same time, the communication jade in the hall lit up.

Li Wubo unfolded the new intelligence report, and his face changed: “The enemy is changing formations. In the snowstorm, it seems like the three teams are inexplicably intertwined.”

“Changing formation?” Mo Tianji grabbed the intelligence report and quickly glanced at it. He closed his eyes, thought for a moment, and said, “Gather the troops immediately. I will arrange the battle plan!”

“Alright!” Li Wubo immediately waved his hand.

With the enemy’s three teams now intertwined, if it had been earlier, the Li family would have already been scurrying around in confusion. The enemy’s target was more elusive than ever, making it impossible to discern which direction each family would attack.

One thing was clear, though: the enemy had abandoned the far right flank, leaving only the frontal Snowy Cliff and Centipede Ridge.

Mo Tianji and Li Wubo walked out together.

“In this battle, the Shi, Xiao, and Chen families will participate. Among them, the Xiao and Chen families both have high-ranking supremes in charge. Xiao Quanyan is definitely seeking revenge, so his target should be frontal combat.”

“As for the surprise attack on Pear Blossom Slope, there are no top experts there, and it could be considered a minor skirmish. Xiao Quanyan would not be interested. Sending powerhouses like the Xiao and Chen families there would be somewhat wasteful. So, for now, the Xiao and Chen families’ mission should be to provide support.”

“The Shi family is currently the weakest and lacks leadership, but their desire for revenge is at its peak. They need tangible achievements for comfort. So, if I were the enemy commander, I would arrange for the Shi family to attack Pear Blossom Slope and seize control of it.”

“Furthermore, Diwu Qingrou does not know that I am here; this is my advantage. This initial engagement is when I can reap the most benefits. Therefore, in this battle, we must mobilize the entire army to catch the enemy off guard!”

Mo Tianji continued, “Once Diwu Qingrou realizes I have arrived, it will be difficult to gain any further advantage.”

Mo Tianji hurriedly stood up and walked out with Li Wubo while explaining his reasoning.

...

“So that’s why!” Li Wubo felt immense admiration and shock in his heart.

This was the true wisdom of a master strategist.

In the past, he had thought himself to be quite a talent, but now, when compared to Mo Tianji, the gap was immediately revealed. It wasn’t just a small difference. Not only was it the other party’s deployment, but also their allocation of troops, strategic objectives, and even the opponent’s psychology – all had been deduced by Mo Tianji! With such a way of waging war, how could there be defeat?

Two hundred people stood below. In the hall, two eighth-rank Supreme experts and two seventh-rank Supreme experts immediately stepped forward, standing at the head of their respective teams. “Separate your teams!” Mo Tianji commanded. The two hundred people were divided into four teams: one with eighty people, another with forty, one with fifty, and the last with thirty. In total, there were two hundred people, plus four leaders, making two hundred and four in all.

“The thirty-person team will join the forty-person team and head to Pear Blossom Slope immediately. Make sure your tracks are concealed. Once you discover the enemy, intercept and kill them! It would be best if you could secretly ambush them outside Pear Blossom Slope before they arrive. For this, you must hurry!” Mo Tianji ordered.

“Yes!”

“The eighty-person team, hide in the shadows, and do not allow anyone to discover your location. If the other two enemy forces come to support Pear Blossom Slope, then, at all costs, block them!”

“Yes!”

“The fifty-person team, stay within a thousand feet behind the eighty-person team. You may only join the battle at the last critical moment if the situation is dire. Otherwise, you will act as reserves and are not allowed to take any rash actions!”

“Yes.”

Mo Tianji didn’t know the names of the Supreme experts leading the teams, but he didn’t bother to remember them either, simply referring to them as the ‘fifty-person team’ and ‘eighty-person team.’ However, this made things even more straightforward.

...

“The fate of the Li family will be determined in this battle; esteemed predecessors are all experienced individuals, so I don’t need to emphasize the details. Everyone is well aware...if any team fails in their task...you know what to do!” With Mo Tianji’s final statement, the strategic deployment was complete.

Li Wubo stepped forward. As the battle approached, the head of the Li family had a few words to say. However, he didn’t speak. Instead, he stood in front of the troops, gazing at them with deep emotion. Suddenly, he bowed deeply, “Everyone! I entrust the Li family to you! Our ancestors and future generations...rely on your efforts!”

Even Mo Tianji secretly admired this all-out gesture of submission.