My Misfortune Crushed Instances

It’s just a serpent rising from the East Sea, and its flesh turns the local demon tribes into sinister spirits. It sounds a bit strange.

But when tied to the events of decades ago, it becomes more understandable,

Xiaoli was surprised by this unexpected joy. It seems that the celestial power’s descent decades ago really changed a lot of things.

However, the Great Demon Black Law had already been taken into account, so how could there still be such an ominous thing?

Could the serpent also be a creature from the Upper Realm?

Xiaoli couldn’t make sense of it, and could only see for himself. But if it matched his assumptions, the enemy he was about to face might be extremely formidable.

The Village Chief of Arrow Spear Village sent people to invite leaders from a dozen other villages and tribes to come. Without saying anything else, the tattered flags were the best evidence.

So, less than 24 hours after Xiaoli’s arrival, all the demon tribes in this wasteland changed their stance to friendly and above.

"Everyone."

The Village Chief of Arrow Spear Village turned into a spokesperson, "Warrior Li’s willingness to help is a blessing for the Mire Marsh. We should seize this opportunity to unite and drive out the evil spirits and return to the Holy Land."

There were no objections from the other tribes to his proposal. They had already viewed Ju Ye’s divine ghost riders and seen the flags, realizing this could really happen.

Seeing this, the Village Chief was naturally very pleased and thus called upon each village to contribute both manpower and resources for the northward expedition.

But a complication arose.

A leader from a place called Blade Axe Village said, "Well, since it’s about clearing out the harmful Yin Spirits, I’m certainly supportive. However, you all know, my Blade Axe Village attacked the Lotus Forest just last month, suffering heavy casualties."

"But even so, I’m willing to send ten elites from my village to join you."

Having said that, he seemed quite pleased with himself.

The Village Chief of Arrow Spear Village didn’t look too pleased. Sending just ten men was too perfunctory, but he didn’t refute it publicly, as most of what was said was true. Except, the claim of heavy casualties was somewhat exaggerated; after decades of fighting, the demon tribes here had rich experience. If initial attempts failed, they could generally withdraw.

Following this village’s bad example, other settlements followed suit, expressing their willingness to help but claiming insufficient strength, eventually cobbling together a promise of a force of just over two hundred demon tribe members.

Hu Neng secretly frowned, thinking to himself that there was a reason these demon tribes’ territories kept being nibbled away. Clearly, there was no unity; they talked well but contributed little, making it difficult to achieve anything.

The Village Chief of Arrow Spear Village said with a long face, "Everyone, reclaiming the Mire Marsh is a shared aspiration. How can you ignore long-term benefits for short-term gains? Our Arrow Spear Village is willing to send all our elite, and I hope you will reconsider."

"....."

However, even after making himself an example, the more exclusionary villages remained silent.

"You all, you all."

The Village Chief was furious, but his village was only considered mid-tier among these tribes, lacking enough authority to persuade them.

At this moment, Xiaoli said, "Alright, alright, Chief Ba, you don’t have to try so hard."

He stood up and said, "I understand. You all think of us as outsiders, fearing to hand over your trusted people only to encounter misfortune in the Mire Marsh, worsening the situation."

"I understand this and won’t demand anything from you, only three guides most familiar with the marsh conditions, nothing else."

Xiaoli’s gaze swept over the changed expressions of the demons, "However, if by chance I succeed, then the wealth left in the former major tribes will be divvied up by me first."

At this, those village leaders began rubbing their noses and scratching their heads, unsure whether to agree or not.

He was using their hesitation strategically: don’t want to send people? Then I’ll keep all those treasures left behind when retreating years ago.

The Village Chief, seeing this, was about to seize the chance to persuade them again but was stopped by Xiaoli with a look.

Confused yet unable to oppose, he could only watch and wait, but even after a long while, no settlement was willing to send more manpower.

At this point, Xiaoli hurriedly said, "Then it’s settled, no take-backs. If you have nothing else, hurry back and get me a few guides most knowledgeable about the routes. Age is not an issue; we’ll handle transport, go, go."

Almost as if fearing they’d change their minds, he hurriedly ushered them out.

After the hesitant demon tribes left, the Village Chief asked confusedly, "Warrior, what are you planning? With them gone, we’ve lost a major support."

Xiaoli answered, "What I said is what I meant, get three guides, and leave the rest to me."

He had no intention of relying on these ineffective local demon tribes since he had a group of Extraordinaries from the Dragon Country and Ju Ye’s ghost riders, not needing help.

He explained because when it came to claiming spoils of war, some treasures stored as holy artifacts in their former Holy Land, such as the Inch of Glowing Stone.

If he leveraged the demon tribes’ strength for the northward expedition, they might not be willing to hand over the items afterwards.

Hu Neng had long guessed his intentions, not intervening.

These demon tribes might not clearly perceive their strength, but as a city-level branch leader, he knew very well. Those with a 01 designation were on par with Guan Gui and Cheng Mingyue, able to handle anything in the marshes.

The Village Chief, as expected, expressed doubt, saying the deeper undead were much more formidable than those on the outskirts, urging caution, but Xiaoli only comforted him.

Before long, three guides had been chosen, one being Balong from Arrow Spear Village, and two others from other villages, approximately in their prime, experienced with a certain degree of self-preservation ability.

"Warrior, be extra cautious. If encountering difficulties while scouting, please return immediately. At that time, I’ll find a way to unite the other villages."

Once again the Village Chief advised.

"Alright, alright, don’t worry."

Xiaoli hastily placated; after all, more words were useless. When the miasma and undead were cleared, they would have no choice but to believe.

The party set out from Arrow Spear Village, guided by Balong and the other guides towards the depths of the marsh.

Though the giants were massively built, they couldn’t carry so many people, so most had to walk behind.

Within half a day, they realized why Xiaoli could quickly clean the undead in the marsh, as they witnessed the ferocity of the divine ghost riders.

Fearless of poison, these undead charged with relentless bravado; most of the time, the party just followed, waiting for them to clear out ghost spirit hubs before moving in to collect spoils of war.

Hu Neng marveled, a bit envious, "Xiaoli, the undead you subdued are impressive."

With subordinates like this, they could indeed play a significant role in the Secret Realm battlefield.

Yet Xiaoli said, "Oh, it comes at a price. I promised to fulfill a request for them and that’s why they’re willing to help me now."

"What kind of request?"

"You know of the demon race’s Royal Court on the Cold Wind State highlands?"

"Yes, why?"

"I promised to help them kill the king of that court." Xiaoli replied.

Hu Neng opened his mouth, mulling a bit before asking, "I heard a king led tens of thousands of demon tribes down the mountain, aiming to unite the world. Are you talking about that one?"

"Exactly."

"...."

Hu Neng was somewhat at a loss for words; such a price was something most people might not be able to pay off.