Eternal Emerald Dragon

Chapter 599 - 598 - Inexplicable Supplies

Three months had passed as the army laid siege but things had become strained for it.  The various rebellions broke their supply lines yet that was not the most frustrating thing.

The army had successfully cut off the city from any reinforcements or supplies yet there was never any sign of issues within.  While Sky Realms and Heaven Realms did not need much food, the vast majority of World Realms and Soul Realms did.

Many slaves were at such levels, especially in cities, so how were they not out of food already?

Behind the defenses, the army could see World Realms along the top of the wall eating every week without fail.  Assuming the last numbers of population had been correct, there would be close to 1 million Soul Realms also.

They were basically mortal so food should have run out over 2 months ago!

In a large tent far from the frontlines, 10 Soulmancers with 2 commanders sat in a meeting.  Normally, the 2 commanders would quietly listen to the Soulmancers but even in such a small group, there were 4 factions!

The split was along pairs as each pair was from a different origin.

Four pairs were from 3 other cities and the capital while the last pair was from Raquera.  They were irritated as the rest were basically infighting which faction would end up ruling Dar.

The soldiers were not fully aware of the new situation of the Dar Empire but it made little difference as all factions treated the intruders as enemies.

"I am telling you, there are no teleportation array fluctuations nor any sign of smuggling.  There is something we overlooked!"  A very wizened and withered Soulmancer spoke up.  Tyden had been alive for nearly 200 thousand years but his skill was so mediocre that he was barely holding on.

His power, however, was beyond reproach.

"Yet, it is clear they are getting supplies from somewhere!  Someone is either lying or incompetent.  Either way, they need to die!"  A raven haired Soulmancer practically screeched at them all.  He was Tyden's counterpart from the capital.  They were, however, not equal.

Jintok was full of potential and ambition but his skill was subpar at best due to taking shortcuts.  He was so impatient that he nearly burned out his meridians trying to progress faster.

"You 2 simply suspect all of us are betraying the Council, but they cannot help us.  We are simply surviving."  The 2 commanders hung their heads as the now stale argument came around once more.  The woman speaking was from the nearest city of Illustra.  Ponera was angry but just as frustrated.

Unlike most of the other Soulmancers, she kept her opinion to herself until the others started posturing.  She seemed to have a low tolerance for it.

"ENOUGH!"  A wave of soul power washed over them as the rare crimson robed Soulmancer spoke up.  Unlike most Soulmancers, her body was extremely well built but very pale.  Her aura was peak Sun Tier and terrifying.

Unlike other Soulmancers that use souls to extend their lives or enhance their abilities, Lili purified her body over millennia.  She could likely kill everyone in the room without anyone being able to stop her.

She had been quiet for the last few months but now her aura made all wince.

"I have reviewed the entirety of our encirclement.  While we have focused on starving out the enemy, or at least weakening them, none of you have noticed an oddity.  Despite all our fierce attacks, we have not been able to put a scratch in that wall!"  It was true.  They had basically been allowed to attack freely but to little effect.

There was no barrier flare or even a sign of cultivators infusing Qi, the damned wall just stood there like it was nothing!

"Does our great Raqueran sister have a solution to this problem?"  A blonde man sneered but then his head vanished in a bloom of blood!

"I am done listening to you bicker.  Dar is falling apart and there is nothing we can do about that but all of you know what will happen when we win."  The dark tone actually made everyone in the room pale.

Once the strange emerald barrier fell, the Law Binding would be able to unleash its full power once more.  A purge unlike any seen before would occur and only results would protect them.

"Now, supplies can be stored safely and almost indefinitely in storage treasures.  Did any of the villages that fell have such treasures?"  The natives shook their heads.

"The villages got their necessary supplies but the slaves died at such rates they did not need as much on hand.  The Emperor kept them alive but no more."  Tyden quickly answered.  He had lived long enough to adapt quickly.

"Then given the previous actions of our enemy, they do not move without a plan and support ready to go.  In other words, they took this city assuming we would come."  Lili's words shook them.

They had become complacent being the ultimate power in the 6 empires.

No one had really waged war in a million years.  The Soulmancers had been unchallenged and did not allow their resources to decide how they died either.  Now, an intruder had toppled all they understood into the void.

No tactics, history, or any experience helped them truly grasp an enemy so well prepared.  Why would an enemy ever get that far?

"So, what do we do?"  Tyden spoke again as the rest seemed lost.  Even Lili's partner was unsure how to proceed.  The 2 commanders, however, suddenly perked up.

"The Silent Drum!"  The red haired man spoke out loud but then looked pale as the eyes all swiveled to him.

"Commander Rek, you have something to contribute?"  Lili's dark eyes felt like daggers impaling Rek but he swallowed and stood up slowly.  His blue armor creaked in the silence far too loudly until he stood up.

"There is a training routine we do in the army.  It is called the Silent Drum.  We are facing an entrenched enemy, the Drum.  They give no indication of how they are persevering but we are tasked with breaching the fortress."  The situation did mirror their own but most were confused.

"Why a drum?"  A rail thin man with a balding head spoke up.  He looked barely alive but his bright red eyes were terrifying.

"Um, ah, it is due to how a drum is used.  It encloses a space and is protected by the animal skin stretched over it.  Yet, if you strike the drum, it shakes up all that is inside if something is loose.  Thus, the goal of the exercise is to shake up the inside by any means necessary."  A few looked at Rek as if he was naive.

A simple training exercise applied to the current situation how?

Lili, on the other hand, looked thoughtful.  She rubbed her chin as her dark eyes began to light up.

"Of course, we are trying to be too direct.  There are other ways to go about this."  Her words silenced the room and Rek felt the pressure slip off until she stared at him.

"How many primary earth cultivators do we have?"  Rek paused but then looked at his counterpart.  He was a graying older man but answered quickly.

"We have about 20% of our forces with such a condition but few with effective Arts.  Lady Lili, in what respect do you want them to work?"  The old man had pale eyes but his aura was as steady as a mountain.  Val had been a soldier all of his life it seemed to most that knew him.

Lili smiled before she began to speak.  As she laid out her idea, many began to be excited but the 2 commanders pointed out issues.  While most Soulmancers would kill them, Lili welcomed their expertise.

Before the meeting was dismissed, messages began to relay out to the army and it was unified once more in purpose.  All of the activity was seen by reptilian emerald eyes but he could not see through it all.

The Dar Army was coming for the Two Rivers Empire.

⬧⬧⬧⬧

Lind withdrew his sight and sighed as he recovered his Qi.  He had been pushing himself hard but it had begun to pay off.

The large gilded chamber had once been the bedroom of the Imperial overseer.  It was the central most room so he had taken it and removed everything he did not need.

There were now 4 pillars of violet and golden metals with sigils engraved into them.  They were only 3 meters tall but glowed with Qi as it flowed into them via resonance of the artifacts he had laid out around the perimeter of Dar.

Lind had finally lifted the load on his dantian and weaving after taking the first city.

"What are they doing?"  Briel was on duty once more but he simply smiled and waved her off.  He had to concentrate as he changed his perspective on the enemy forces.

"How are the supplies?"  Lind spoke as he could do both activities at once.  Briel spoke to her bracelet and waited for a response.

She nodded and smirked.

"We are actually below projected consumption thanks to 50% of the Soul Realms entering the World Realm last month."  Lind nodded.  They had not been idle.

Haim, the now official leader of the demons in the city, was blown away with how quickly Lind helped them advance.  The less Soul Realms, the less the food and material consumption from his ring would be needed.

"Ah, found them."  Lind sneered before he opened his eyes again.

"What are they doing, majesty?"  Lind was getting used to it but it still felt weird to be called that.

"Nothing much, just imitating gophers like I hoped."  Briel looked confused but Lind smiled and began to summon some artifacts.  They had massive spikes with cylinders at the top.

Sigils were glowing on them before he summoned Sheena and Gravis.  It was time to terrify their enemies!