Chapter 1851: Probing the Giant Cauldron! (1/2)
Translated by: Hypersheep325
Edited by: Michyrr
”The conference is over?” the Formation Elder asked. His mind was not on the question, and his brows were tinged with worry.
”Mm.”
Wang Chong nodded.
”Senior, have you readied what I asked you for?”
Wang Chong's expression was solemn, a hint of anticipation in his eyes. The conference with Wang Zhongsi and the other Great Generals was important, but for Wang Chong, the matter he had privately asked the Formation Elder to carry out was even more important than simulating tomorrow's battle.
”Mm.”
The Formation Elder nodded, his brow furrowing in unease.
”As you ordered, I only finished seventy percent of the formation so that the Arabs wouldn't notice, but… Wang Chong, that's something that can only influence the weather. It's of no help in this battle. Are you sure that's what you want?
”If you need it, I can lay down several powerful formations, even formations from the Formation Divine Treatise. These can greatly boost your army's fighting power!” the Formation Elder said.
He had pondered this matter for a very long time. When Wang Chong had given him the diagram, the Formation Elder had thought it was some formidable formation, but it had been completely the opposite of what he had expected.
Although the Formation Elder was a member of the martial arts world, not the court, he knew just how important this battle was, that the survival of the Central Plains depended on it. When the realm was in peril, every man had a responsibility to save it. The Formation Elder was getting on in his years, but he was still a Tang. He did not wish to see the lands of the Great Tang invaded by foreigners and the people enslaved.
Wang Chong and the others were the Great Tang's final barrier!
”Senior, I know that you want to help me, but it's no good. The majority of the formations in the Formation Divine Treatise use the energy of nature. They require a long time to set up and create fierce ripples of worldly energy. Before we even finish them, the enemy will have noticed the energy ripples and won't give us the chance to complete them,” Wang Chong sternly said.
In the Rebellion of the Three Princes, the only reason Wang Chong had been able to use the Mountain River Formation was that his enemy had been focused on the Imperial Palace and had not placed any defenses on the outskirts of the capital. But now was different. Both Khatabah and the High Priest were top-class experts who would not give the Great Tang the time to establish a formation. Moreover, the stronger the formation, the more obvious the ripples of Origin Energy would be.
In contrast, the formation Wang Chong had given the Formation Elder the diagram to was one for which he had minimized the chance of discovery. Moreover, as the formation was only seventy percent complete and not targeted at the Arab base, its chances of being discovered were even lower.
The Formation Elder was quieted by Wang Chong's words. He understood these things just as well as Wang Chong did, but this was not an enemy that could be underestimated.
”Haaah…”
In the end, the Formation Elder could only deeply sigh.
”Heh!”
Wang Chong chuckled at the Formation Elder's response.
”Senior, relax. With such a crucial battle imminent, how could I do anything meaningless? And I will have to trouble Senior with something else after this battle. If the Great Tang wants to win this war, we'll probably have to rely on you!”
”Ah!”
The Formation Elder's eyes flew open.
”Is, is… is that true?”
But after saying this, the Formation Elder knew that he had misspoken. Wang Chong was not the sort of person who would make meaningless plans at a crucial time like this.
Since that was what he said, he naturally had his reasons.
The Formation Elder quickly departed. In the hall, Wang Chong took a deep breath and slowly calmed himself down.
Victory or defeat, we'll see what happens tomorrow! Wang Chong said to himself. He knew that both the Great Tang and Arabia were using everything they had in this war. This time, the battle would not be so protracted as the Battle of Talas. Both sides were at peak strength and would not permit the battle to drag on for too long. Tomorrow's battle was bound to be a hellish battle that would come with terrible casualties. Perhaps… both sides would pay an enormous price, but there was no other path!
”Only one thing left to do!”
Wang Chong strode out of the hall.
The northwest was quiet in the darkness. While undercurrents might have been building up power under the surface, everything was calm on the surface.
Wang Chong stood in the darkness and gazed at the distant and brightly-lit Arab base. Countless figures were shifting around in the darkness, and next to that giant domed fortress, Wang Chong spotted the cauldron.
Cheng Qianli had been right. The cauldron was surrounded by hundreds of thousands of Arab cavalry, and right beneath the cauldron were armored giants holding giant axes and heavy swords that would occasionally bellow into the night in warning.