"As expected, Heaven favors our Great Xiongnu! Right after our camp was burned, news of the valley arrives—surely a divine sign! That valley is our promised land, our place of prosperity. As long as we claim it, our Great Xiongnu shall pass down our lineage for ten thousand generations, eternal and everlasting—we shall become the most glorious people in the world, the true royalty among mankind!"
The shaman also heard the soldier's report and couldn't hide the joy on his face.
To him, this was a revelation from the heavens themselves—a clear sign that the gods favored the Xiongnu.
"You're right. The shaman's vision aligns with mine. That valley is Heaven's gift, and no matter what, we must seize it. Even if it already has an owner, we'll take it by force. The Han people? They're only fit to be our slaves," said Liu Bao, his eyes flashing with cruel confidence.
Ever since he saw the valley in the Treasure Mirror, he had already claimed it as his own in his heart.
"However, being able to survive in this chaotic world and establish a village that still stands strong must mean they're not weak. We shouldn't underestimate them. The Han are notorious for their devious schemes and underhanded tricks. It's hard to guard against," said the shaman, a trace of unease in his voice.
He had a healthy fear of the Han people's craftiness. Their cunning plans were endless; no one could predict what they might be plotting in the shadows.
"Rest assured, Shaman. It's just a small village—not even worth mentioning. In this chaotic world, the Han may be numerous, but they're scattered. No one could have predicted where each group would end up. One little village… what kind of powerful figure could possibly be hiding there? A top-tier expert? Don't make me laugh. And besides, the Xiongnu cavalry is famous across the land. A single charge from us, and the entire village will be crushed."
Liu Bao was full of confidence.
He had tens of thousands of cavalry at his command—all elite troops. Even the Central Plains feared them in the old world. Now, with this strength, he believed a tiny village would be nothing but a speed bump. A single cavalry charge would flatten it completely.
Of course, he wouldn't let his guard down.
After learning that cultivation existed in this world, he understood that powerful cultivators could emerge. Anyone who acquired a cultivation technique had the potential to become strong.
Those were the ones to watch out for.
However, Liu Bao never imagined that someone would be willing to make cultivation methods fully public, allowing everyone to cultivate.
After all, human nature was selfish. Who would willingly share their own techniques?
Just like Liu Bao—he had techniques and combat arts of his own, but had never considered spreading them. Even if he did, it would be after becoming stronger himself, and only under strict control mechanisms. Otherwise, he would never allow it.
From his perspective, even sages have selfish hearts.
The Xiongnu didn't waste time.
They lit fires and prepared food—eating the corpses of the dead humans. Their faces were fierce, eyes savage. Those who consumed human flesh had a certain look in their eyes: a cold green light in their pupils, a glow that could not be hidden. In the darkness, it was especially visible. This was a mark of sin.
But to the Xiongnu, this wasn't sin at all.
They devoured the meat with no psychological burden.
Soon, they were fed and rested.
"Form ranks!!"
The order came quickly. Warhorses were brought out—each one a carefully selected prime steed of the grasslands. The Xiongnu treated these horses like brothers, their most trusted companions in war and survival. They were fed better than humans, and none of them had lost any weight. On the contrary, they were brimming with strength and spirit.
"Mount up! Move out!!"
Liu Bao mounted a majestic black horse. Its four white hooves looked like it was stepping on clouds—a top-grade steed known as the Black Stallion Treading Snow (乌驹踏雪).
The Xiongnu force, still numbering fifty to sixty thousand, was vast. This was even after suffering casualties while battling monsters. Had it not been for that, the army would have been even larger.
When ten thousand people move, it's like a mountain. With tens of thousands of cavalry, the ground turned black with their presence. Each soldier carried a saber and a bow, their gazes filled with killing intent.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
At Liu Bao's command, the entire army surged forward. Warhorses thundered across the earth, making the ground tremble as if an earthquake had struck. The momentum was overwhelming. Even nearby ferocious beasts, sensing the pressure, paused and watched the army pass by with wary eyes.
If it were a lone person, those beasts would attack without hesitation. But this unified cavalry force was like a steel tide, and the killing aura it released made even monsters wary. Ordinary beasts didn't dare approach.
They could sense danger far better than humans.
And in their senses, this cavalry force exuded lethal threat. None of the beasts dared act rashly. Even in death, they hesitated. Predators fear death too.
Countless birds were startled into the sky by the thunderous gallop. Many of them were powerful avian beasts, predators of the skies.
But in the wake of the cavalry, some monsters still followed secretly.
Clearly, they had caught a scent—so many humans in one place was a feast too tempting. While they didn't dare strike now, once the army dispersed, they'd be ready to pounce.
No predator could ignore prey walking right past its nose.
Along the way, they followed markers left by scouts.
The cavalry charged swiftly.
Though the noise might alert hidden beasts, their speed was overwhelming. By the time the monsters reacted, the Xiongnu army had already passed.
Some beasts let out furious roars—but too late.
Before long, they arrived at the canyon entrance before the valley.
"Halt!!"
With a single gesture from Liu Bao, the cavalry came to a stop. From movement to stillness, there was no disarray. Each rider expertly calmed their horse. Their mastery over their mounts was like second nature—man and horse as one.
"Why has the Left Sage King stopped? Did you sense something?"The shaman approached, eyeing the canyon. On the other side lay a vast land—the very one they dreamed of claiming.
"I spent time in the Han people's world. I've read their military texts, and I understand their ways," Liu Bao said, pointing at the canyon. "This canyon is like a cut made by an axe—long and narrow. It's the perfect spot for an ambush. If they leave men on both sides of the cliffs with boulders, they could crush us once we're inside. Our entire army would be annihilated."
"If that happens, who knows how many of our people would die. This is a natural choke point—an ideal place to set traps."
His eyes were grim. The canyon looked like a giant beast with its mouth wide open, ready to devour anyone who stepped inside. If there was an ambush, the consequences would be unimaginable.
One mistake, and the whole army could be buried here.
"Isn't that a bit too cautious, Left Sage King? Even if the villagers know we're coming, they can't possibly expect us to arrive so quickly. And according to scouts, they were recently in a major battle with monsters. They're probably still recovering—how could they have time or manpower to plan such a trap?"
The shaman frowned slightly.
He believed the odds of an ambush were low.
"The Han are cunning. We must not lower our guard. Even if there's no trap, caution costs nothing," Liu Bao said coldly, eyes flashing.
His tone left no room for doubt.
He hadn't reached the rank of Left Sage King by being reckless.
"Then, what do you propose?" the shaman asked.
"If there is an ambush, it'll only work once. I'll have our forces cross the canyon in units of a thousand. Once the first group passes, the next will follow. That way, even if there's a trap, only a small number will be lost—not the entire army. It'll take more time, but it ensures safety."
Liu Bao sneered as he spoke.
No trap could threaten his entire force this way. Even if it existed, a thousand-man loss was acceptable. Against overwhelming strength, even the cleverest ambush was just a paper tiger.
"Brilliant strategy, Left Sage King."The shaman nodded in approval after some thought.
Liu Bao's concerns weren't unfounded. In matters of war, he truly was the expert.