Chapter 1015: The Sacrifice Strategy

Perhaps no one expected that Yipin Hall, which should have collapsed quickly under the combined attack of Yidi and the Qin Demon, along with the help of Xifeng Tower’s efforts to rally heroes from all over, would show extraordinary tenacity from the very beginning!
After an hour, Meiying tried many methods to break through the chaotic fighting situation created by Yipin Hall—but none succeeded.
Over the same hour, while Yidi killed dozens of experts with his powerful attacks, Xifeng Tower not only failed to make any progress but also left behind hundreds of strong and elite corpses.
An unexpected stalemate had emerged!
Although Yidi wanted to take the initiative, Yipin Hall had seized the fatal weakness of Wind Bell’s Nine Yin Cut-off Meridians and used experts lurking inside and outside their headquarters to prevent Yidi from leaving easily.
Even if Wind Bell left the battlefield at this point, it wouldn’t change anything…
Because the enemy also had sound-wave experts—two master cymbal users and a mysterious expert who could emit the Buddha’s Lion Roar. The number of casualties they could cause in battle might not be less than Yidi’s.
If the enemy doesn’t move, I won’t move either.
The experts on both sides kept each other in check.
Yipin Hall demonstrated exceptionally tenacious and clever strategies, determined not to let strategic experts like the Qin Demon and Yidi penetrate their headquarters.
“…”
Meiying’s expression remained calm, but her deeply furrowed brows revealed that she wasn’t entirely unperturbed.
Since becoming the most powerful force in the Central Plains…
This was the first time she had truly faced a rival on par with herself.
Mengyun’s defense was excellent.
Tens of thousands of troops were scattered throughout the streets around the headquarters, acting as surprise forces to support the headquarters if it fell under attack; endless mysterious experts kept Xifeng Tower’s experts occupied.
Everything was done with great skill and ease—almost like an impregnable fortress.
Meiying knew she had only one option now!
A frontal attack!
Not only her…
Almost everyone watching this battle likely realized that there was no other way to break through Yipin Hall’s defenses except by sacrificing countless troops and blood to storm their headquarters!
But for some reason…
There was always a hint of unease in Meiying’s heart.
…
“Headmaster, the situation is getting bad.”
“If we keep delaying and still can’t enter Yipin Hall, it will deal a devastating blow to our morale and that of the allied forces!”

“That’s right… In the battle at Longmen Town, we took advantage of Huang Sha’s carelessness to launch a surprise attack and annihilate 2,000 elite members of Yipin Tang! Although that battle boosted our morale and weakened Yipin Tang’s fighting spirit, even with the combined forces of the fourteen major gangs from the capital, we couldn’t advance an inch toward Yipin Tang in over an hour. Yipin Tang will surely grow stronger…”
“Forum leader, I know what you’re worried about… But facts have proven that dealing with Yipin Tang requires a terrible price.”
“Forum leader!”
“Give the orders.” Faced with her subordinates’ eager requests to fight, Shadow remained unshaken…
There were more skilled fighters in Yipin Tang’s headquarters than she had imagined, and their strength was extraordinary. Without the help of Yi Di and Fengling, even with the combined forces of the fourteen major gangs, breaking through their defenses and tearing apart Yipin Tang’s lines would require sacrificing many people—thousands wouldn’t be enough to fill that huge gap. It might even take tens of thousands of troops. If Mengyun made further arrangements, the situation would become even worse.
Eliminating Yipin Tang wasn’t just a matter of physical strength; to destroy them, she first had to defeat that woman, Mengyun!
“Contact the leaders of all the gangs and tell their local branches to get ready to act!”
Shadow gave a firm order:
“Tell them I’m giving them only half a day to take control of all Yipin Tang branches in the Central Plains!”
“Forum leader!?”
“Execute!”
Shadow said decisively, “Since she wants to buy time, I’ll give her half a day… We don’t need to attack immediately from the headquarters. By destroying all the outer branches, the foundation of Yipin Tang’s power will weaken, making it easier to destroy. This way, we can weaken their morale while draining their strength. I’m curious to see how she’ll try to stall things out!”
“Yes!”
The heroes agreed!
Not far away, Yi Di nodded silently…
When it came to a gang’s decision-making ability, Shadow was beyond doubt!
This confrontation between Mengyun, Shadow, and Xifeng Tower against Yipin Tang was the most evenly matched struggle in the Central Plains. Whoever could exploit their enemy’s weaknesses would win in the end.
The fact that Shadow remained calm and methodical even when everyone was rallying behind her was something no ordinary person could achieve!
“…”
Whoosh!
Many homing pigeons were released into the sky from the core area of Xifeng Tower.
Seeing this, many people knew that Xifeng Tower was about to take drastic action!
In Yipin Tang’s headquarters’ council hall, when Mengyun heard this news, she couldn’t help but rub the dragon carving on her seat, letting out a barely audible sigh.

“As expected of the Phantom, whom I regard as my greatest rival in life—truly worthy of the title ‘Second’. You move with great caution at every step, but…” She paused for a moment before lifting her confident face and speaking coldly, “It’s a pity. No matter how hard you try, you can only earn the title of ‘Second’. How can you know that my ambition, Meng Yun’s, isn’t as simple as becoming one of the ‘Two Seconds’ alongside you? You won’t be able to escape this trial so easily.” After saying that, Meng Yun glanced down at the group led by the monk with thick brows: “You know what to do.” “…Don’t worry, we’ve already been informed.” “Good.” A faint smile appeared on Meng Yun’s face: “Since you want to completely disrupt the Central Plains and force me to use my hidden ace card, I’ll give you a hand and make things even more chaotic there. I just hope you won’t disappoint me—make sure you can withstand even my first counterattack…” With a satisfied, cold smile, she looked toward the outside of Yipin Hall! … “Phantom!” “It’s Boss Yuan!” The Phantom frowned and glanced over, only to see Yuan Zhixiong, the leader of one of the eighteen major gangs in the capital, leading a group of people through the crowd. Her expression softened slightly. However, Boss Yuan and his group stopped at the street intersection dozens of meters away. “No need!” Their cold words startled everyone nearby. “I came here just to ask the master of the Shadow Studio—since you called us all here to deal with Yipin Hall, fine… We’ve gathered our forces with great effort, waiting for your orders… But why, after over an hour, is there still no sign of action? You should know that not only me but also more than a dozen gangs are wasting time with you—millions of people are wasting time with you!” “Boss Yuan, please calm down…” The Phantom and the martial artists nearby stared at Yuan Zhixiong in surprise; their attitude didn’t seem very friendly. “Are we going to fight or not? Give us an answer!” Yuan Zhixiong’s tone was harsh, clearly impatient and reluctant to be there. “Haven’t I already sent you a message via pigeon?” the Phantom murmured, frowning as her gaze shifted between Yuan Zhixiong and his group. “It’s fine if you didn’t say anything, but now that you have, it makes me angry!”

“Hmph! What was the plan before? You said Xifeng Tower would take charge of the frontal attack while we would provide support from behind… Now you want us from various branches to cooperate with Xifeng Tower to first deal with the Yipin Hall branches. Do you think I’m stupid? That I’ll just follow all your orders… Now that Yipin Hall’s attention isn’t diverted, attacking their branches recklessly could cost us countless lives…”
“…”
Hearing Yuan Zhixiong reveal the planned strategy in public, Meiying’s expression turned slightly ugly.
Many people looked around in shock…
Not far away, Yidi also cast a curious glance, clearly sensing that the atmosphere here was wrong.
Meiying stared thoughtfully at Yuan Zhixiong. Before he could finish speaking, she suddenly interrupted him:
“If Boss Yuan doesn’t want to participate, he can leave. Please leave now!”
“Nonsense!!”
Yuan Zhixiong’s voice rang out like thunder. His furious outburst spread instantly over several miles, silencing the entire area around Yipin Hall’s headquarters.
Everyone stared in disbelief at Yuan Zhixiong, his face filled with anger and resentment.
Although Yuan Zhixiong was one of the leaders of the eighteen major gangs in the capital, publicly rebuking Meiying like this was completely unexpected by everyone, leaving them clueless about what was happening.
“Boss Yuan!!”
Meiying’s gaze grew colder.
As the head of Xifeng Tower, it was the first time she had been rudely insulted in front of so many people.
Before Meiying could vent her anger, Yuan Zhixiong, acting as if he were the victim, roared angrily:
“The most treacherous hearts belong to women! That’s exactly what you are, Meiying!! I knew it—you wanted to take this opportunity to reshuffle everything! To turn all the forces in the Central Plains into your own! Everyone must obey you, or they’re accused of colluding with Yipin Hall or the Wild Wolves Organization! You want to use this chance to get rid of them all! Do you think I’ll give you such a chance? Today, Yuan will expose your true colors to the whole world!”
Yuan Zhixiong’s words, laced with internal energy, spread far and wide…
The crowd was instantly in uproar!
Many people looked shocked.
“What’s going on?”
“Weren’t Yuan Zhixiong and Xifeng Tower allied to take on Yipin Hall?”
“Why has he changed sides now?!”
“What happened?”
“He turned against us at the last moment…”
“Could it be that Yuan Zhixiong is also part of Yipin Hall?”
“Possible! Yipin Hall wants to divert attention…”
“But what Yuan said seems to make some sense too.”
“Who said that? Step forward.”
The crowd discussed wildly…

Yet overall, the situation remained under the control of Xifeng Tower.
“Yuan, so you’re also part of Yipin Tang’s Mengyun faction!” Shadow’s voice spread slowly, as if stamping Yuan Zhixiong as an ally of the Wild Wolves Organization.
“You’re the one from the Wild Wolves! I knew it—as soon as I show up, you’d accuse me of belonging to Yipin Tang. That’s how you tried to intimidate me before, forcing me to turn against Yipin Tang. Now that I’ve broken ties with them, you call me a lackey of Yipin Tang! I’ll fight you to the death!!”
Furious, Yuan Zhixiong rushed out of the street!
Many disciples of Xifeng Tower nearby had already been enraged by Yuan Zhixiong’s words. Seeing him enter their free-attack zone, they launched countless attacks at him.
In no time, the entire group was slaughtered…
Staring at their corpses, Shadow frowned for a moment before turning his gaze toward Yipin Tang’s headquarters and declaring loudly, “What a clever move, Mengyun! Truly astute! Aside from the Blood Alliance and the Five Poisons Sect, you’ve also quietly gained the support of the major gangs in the capital. Yuan Zhixiong’s desperate act of feigning death is probably just your first move… Who else wants to step forward? Stop hiding—reveal your identities! Don’t make me, Shadow, look down on you…”
At these words, everyone was shocked!