After an entire day of discussion, the high council of the citadel agreed to Shi Lang's proposal, and they invited people from the Federation to help them with the array inspection. Shi Lang called for a batch of array masters. These people had gained a lot of proficiency when dealing with arrays.
Shi Lang was not placing any stakes on these people. He had only called them over to show them the immensity of the cultivation world. He was well aware of the arrogant attitude developed by the masters of these alternative professions. They all looked down on those without sufficient strength. He did not want that to happen in this era too. So, Shi Lang called them to show them how little their knowledge might be.
He still had ways to deal with these arrays. The high council also told him they would appreciate his help in the battle about to erupt. Shi Lang stated that he would need his team to deal with all the plausible dangers hiding behind the array formation. The high council did not mind, and thus the preparations began.
After a week, the map of the supposed pathway inside the city and the way through the formation was completed. The tagged patrol team seemed to be moving around in an almost similar pattern outside the city gates. However, what surprised the people was that their range of movement was more extensive than expected.
Shi Lang and the people were looking at the map data with the Elder from the Heavenly Fortune-Back Turtle clan, Socrates. The old man looked at the map briefly and said, "Young Friend Shi, the tracks discovered by the scout team do not match the city layout. I have been to the city, and I also know the design of that place, but many places do not make any sense at all."
Then he pointed his wrinkled fingers at a section and said, "This section is occupied by a mountain in the city's center. We call it the mountain of origins. This place is sacred and was not to be approached or trekked upon. Even if the Heaven-howling wolves are rebellious, they will never do anything that will defy the will of the Master. Until the Master was here, they never did anything wrong."
Shi Lang nodded and replied, "I understand what you are trying to say, Senior. However, it is also possible that these guys have drilled out a grotto under the city to cover all their tracks and activity to be scrutinized by the satellites."
Socrates shook his head and said, "We did not let any satellites survey the city of exiles ever."
Shi Lang was surprised and asked, "Why not? Should you not be keeping your enemies closer?"
The old man sighed and said, "It's not that we did not try. However, the patriarch of the Heaven-howling wolves dealt with every satellite passed above the city's skies."
Shi Lang sighed and said, "This is going to be troublesome. This will leave us only one option, which I did not want to try."
Socrates glanced at the young man's visage and said, "I guess that is all we can do. Our race made a mistake back then in leaving the care and protection of that senior to the wolves. Their ambition, in turn, became the reason for our downfall. So, whatever happens now is something that we deserve to face."
Shi Lang sighed and said, "Then can I ask you to advocate for me? I may be an outsider in your race, but I know how to fight. The people waiting for us will not be technical. They will come at us with pure rage. I do not want to damage that city, and the alliance aims to help each other.
The generations of the spirit beast race have been living in peace. They do not know what wars could be like. So, if they take the forefront, it is akin to suicide."
pàпdá-ňᴏνêι.сóМ Socrates thought it over and said, "You should lead the younger generation of the beast race too. They can use some experience in dealing with battles and bloodshed."
Shi Lang nodded and said, "I will put them in the rear waves. So they will watch my team and me acting before they enter the battle. Also, I will not promise anything like saving the lives of the enemy."
Socrates nodded and said, "I will talk to the council. In the meantime, you should prepare your team to act."
Shi Lang nodded and said, "You do not have to worry about that. I only hope that when the battle commences, the supreme leader will be the one to initiate the talk with the patriarch of the enemy side. You know I am too weak now to talk to someone in a higher realm than I am."
Socrates stroked his long beard and said, "Young Friend, the realm of cultivation is not the only thing that provides you the right to talk to someone stronger than you. Skills are the proper strength."
Shi Lang bowed to the old man, who left the place after a few more takes. Shi Lang looked at the members of the Ace division and Amelia on the side and said, "We are twenty people. There are twelve cities around the exile city. Do you understand?"
Amelia nodded and said, "Does anyone have any questions, or shall I just divide the teams?"
Jill raised her hand, and Amelia nodded as the latter said, "Shall we not wait for the high council's agreement? It will not be too late to divide the teams, but it might look bad if we prepared ahead of the confirmation."
Amelia raised her brow and said, "I did not think of it that way. Too much used to dealing with the final moments."
The people smiled, and Jill said, "I recalled this only when I spotted Crystal from the corner of my eye."
Shi Lang nodded and said, "Fine, we shall wait a bit. However, in the meantime. Do not lose focus. We might be looking for some uncalled trouble at this time. So, try and think of all the plausible worst-case scenarios. An example, what shall we do if we get trapped by who knows how many wolves around us."
Crystal asked, "What do you mean, boss?"
"In a battle, a lot of things can go bad. We must never underestimate the enemy. It will keep us on edge.", replied Shi Lang.
...
Sabre shook his head and said, "Socrates, this is wrong. This matter concerns the beast race and not the Terrans. Why must we let them take the lead in this? Is this not putting all of us to shame? Are we really that worthless?"
Moon did not speak a word. It had been a few minutes since the proposal was made, and the council was thrown into an uproar. Socrates did not retort either. Instead, he listened to the people with a calm. After Sabre finished his piece, the old man replied, "I know that you might think it is shameful to ask for help when we are looking to correct the mistakes we made.
However, we must realize that the Terrans are helping us out of good faith. Young Friend Shi Lang probably does not know, but don't you all know? Only the spirit beasts have trouble creating the bridge of immortality. As a human descendant, Shi Lang and his people can advance to the plane of immortals without any of this. They help us out of friendship. It is even more shameful to act bravely in front of a friend who knows our strength is not enough."
The council again fell silent. Then, finally, the old man made sense. At this moment, Moon said, "Shi Lang is one of the best tacticians and a fine warrior. I will rest assured if he and his people were to lead the battle. Also, the beast race must give their ally a good enough face. However, many humans have been found included in trouble with the Terrans. This discrimination only dampens the spirit of common origin and the alliance."
She paused and said, "Master once said a worthy human would be able to absolve our predicament and gain our trust. Shi Lang had done everything that deemed him worthy of our support. So, the council will take a silent break for five minutes. Then we will vote. The more we delay, the more this danger looms over us. I have had enough of living with this poking emotion that something is wrong. So, make your decision and cast your vote."
The councilmen all fell silent and began to think about the arguments made in the room. Moon looked at all of their visages but did not say anything. They needed seven votes for this proposal to be accepted. Finally, after five minutes, the lady said, "Now we vote. Those in favor raise their right hand. Those in refusal raise their left hand."
The people reacted and raised their hands. Moon cast them a helpless glance and said, "Elder Socrates, "Inform Shi Lang that the council agrees. We will do it the ace way."
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