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The sibling power struggle among Samantha's heirs had finally reached its bloody conclusion. Beria orchestrated a trap under the guise of negotiations, sending the Warcraft Orc Sword Emperor to ambush and slay his elder brother, thus ending the internal division within the Splitfang Clan and securing his position as the true clan leader.

It wasn’t that Beria was inherently more ruthless than his brother—given the chance, the elder son Dos would likely have struck first. However, Beria had long since secured the allegiance of the Warcraft Orcs, leaving Dos without capable elites to rely on. Moreover, their foundations differed fundamentally. Beria had won the genuine loyalty of the Warcraft Orcs through his status as a practitioner of the Emperor Martial Overlord Art. Even if Dos had assassinated him, it would only have incited the Warcraft Orcs’ vengeful backlash, making it impossible for Dos to absorb Beria’s forces. In contrast, while Dos had numerous supporters, most were merely swayed by empty promises and lacked true loyalty. After eliminating Dos, Beria needed only to offer partial concessions to assimilate his brother’s faction. This disparity in their power bases ultimately allowed Beria to strike first and seize control.

Events unfolded exactly as Beria had anticipated. Though neutral officers harbored some discontent, they secretly breathed a sigh of relief at the end of internal strife. Half of Dos’s supporters defected outright, while the majority of the remainder were swayed by Beria’s promises. Only a handful—ten or so beastman officers—remained loyal to Dos and were purged. Dos’s personal guards and bodyguards put up fierce resistance, resulting in nearly two thousand beastmen being eliminated. Thanks to the involvement of the Warcraft Orcs, Beria’s side suffered fewer than a hundred casualties.

What followed was a flurry of preparations for war.

The next morning.

"Celestial Saint, urgent news—the three great armies of the Eagle Tribe have withdrawn. The Skyhawk Army has returned to the War God’s Corridor, the Golden Eagle Army marches south, and the Black Vulture Army has retreated eastward to their garrison."

"Celestial Saint, the Crescent Moon Army of the Bear Tribe has begun withdrawing north. Combined with the White Bear Army’s earlier retreat down the Twin Rivers and the Brown Bear Army’s southward march last night, the entire Bear Tribe army has completely disengaged."

Early in the morning, scouts relayed these reports to Chen Xuanfeng.

Though Chen Xuanfeng held the title of beastman king, his subordinates clearly regarded the title of "Sword Saint" as a hundred times more prestigious. Thus, they consistently addressed him as "Celestial Saint."

The withdrawal of the Eagle and Bear Tribes was expected. They recognized that Chen Xuanfeng, as beastman king, held overwhelming momentum—with a Saint leading the charge and the War God’s Temple backing him, neither tribe saw value in continuing a futile struggle. Their earlier hesitation was merely to secure Chen Xuanfeng’s promise of no post-war reprisals.

However, news from the Splitfang Clan of the Lion Tribe gave Chen Xuanfeng pause.

"Hmm? The two camps have merged?" Chen Xuanfeng was surprised by reports of the Splitfang Clan’s seven armies consolidating their positions. Previously, due to internal discord, the Lion Tribe’s camps had remained separate despite their proximity. Their unification now spoke volumes, and Chen Xuanfeng could easily deduce its implications. "But for the two young lions to resolve their conflict so blatantly—did they not consider using this as a trap? Are they so arrogant as to believe they can win without strategy, or do they recognize its futility and plan an all-out battle?"

Despite his musings, Chen Xuanfeng didn’t dwell on it. Regardless of their reasoning, his own battle plan remained unchanged.

"The Lion Tribe’s camp is stationed west of the Black Cypress Ridge, at the foot of the mountain on slightly elevated terrain. Ahead lies a gentle downward slope, perfect for a charge… though that advantage belongs to the Lions." Chen Xuanfeng pointed at the map as he explained to the golden-haired young woman Jin Luosa beside him. "Among the hundred beastman tribes, the Lion Tribe reigns supreme in frontal assaults. Their formation this time will feature the dual crescent-moon blades of their three armies charging head-on, while the two armies of Leopard Tribe Lightning Hunters exploit their unmatched speed to flank and disrupt. The Tiger Clan’s Bone-Crushing Greatswordsmen will then deliver their signature battlefield executions. This is the Lion Tribe’s most formidable combat pattern—a racial cornerstone more reliable than any Warcraft Orcs, Emperor Martial arts, or power struggles. Even without peerless champions, this formation ensures the Lion Tribe’s dominance as the foremost of the five great combat races."

The golden-haired girl blinked, unfamiliar with military matters. "What about the elite troops of the other combat races?"

"Well, if I had 200,000 heavily armored great-axe warriors of the Bear Tribe, we could form an unbreakable defensive line. Even the combined forces of the Lion and Leopard Tribes wouldn’t breach it—though their offensive speed is too slow, making them better suited for city defense. As for the yak, it would take at least 200,000 Great Yak Fortress Shield troops to match the Lion Tribe. While the yak possess immense strength, their size makes them easier targets, and they lack the Bears’ ferocity. However, the Great Yak Fortress Shield units typically include a quarter crossbow warriors, who wield massive metal siege crossbows capable of piercing city walls. Combined with fortress shields, they can trade heavy losses with the enemy." Chen Xuanfeng, having long studied the elite forces of the five great races, spoke without hesitation. "The Eagle Tribe, being aerial forces, can’t engage the Lion Tribe directly—those with wings dare not land, while the wingless can only gaze at the sky. As for the Wolf Clan—"

"What about the Wolf Clan?" the girl pressed eagerly upon hearing her beloved’s race mentioned.

Chen Xuanfeng shook his head slightly. "The Wolf Clan is actually the weakest in individual combat among the five great combat races. Even the Eagle Tribe could match us if they folded their wings. However, since the other races lack organized cavalry, the Wolf Riders—being nearly all cavalry—hold a unique position. Unlike humans' reliance on heavy cavalry, in the beastman military hierarchy filled with powerhouses, Wolf Riders excel as light cavalry for raids and guerrilla warfare. So they rarely play a major role in frontal assaults."