Chapter 705 - 699: Crushing Defeat Lowers Morale

Although he thought so in his heart, the Peacock Great Ming King could not say it out loud.

He simply heard the Peacock Great Ming King comforting, "Nato, now is not the time for guilt."

Nato has a childlike innocence and is easily moved.

Upon hearing the Peacock Great Ming King’s comfort, Nato was moved to tears, choked with emotion, "Senior Brother Kong, you are truly a good person."

At this moment, the Peacock Great Ming King’s eyes narrowed slightly.

The Peacock Great Ming King felt that since Nato had sent a group of senior brothers inside, he also needed to send another group of senior brothers as well.

Moreover, the Peacock Great Ming King had a legitimate reason.

Wa Huang had issued an order for them to hold back the Void Race.

Therefore, even knowing they were not the opponent, they had to go up.

"Wa Huang decrees that they cannot be allowed to escape!"

"Charge!" With the command from the Peacock Great Ming King, the group he led rushed in.

By logic, ordering to hold back should be harassing from all sides, not seeking to kill, but merely preventing escape.

Straight-on assaults would lead to significant casualties.

However, the Peacock Great Ming King did not care about this; he led the charge directly.

As they rushed in, the Peacock Great Ming King instructed Nato, "Junior Brother Nato, stay close to me."

Nato knew he was at fault first, coupled with immense gratitude towards the Peacock Great Ming King, he now followed the Ming King’s every word.

"Alright!" Nato nodded and agreed.

The Peacock Great Ming King had Nato stay close to him to conveniently protect Nato.

These disciples from Wa Huang’s Palace, besides Nato, even if all others were dead, the Peacock Great Ming King wouldn’t be heartbroken.

However, to prevent Wa Huang from noticing, the Peacock Great Ming King exerted himself fully.

Many Tier Two powerhouses from the Void Race died at the hands of the Peacock Great Ming King.

Now, the Peacock Great Ming King was exchanging the lives of Wa Huang’s Palace disciples for lives from the Void Race.

In doing so, he expended Wa Huang’s Palace disciples and depleted their strength.

Moreover, it wouldn’t arouse Wa Huang’s suspicion.

If Wa Huang questioned the Peacock Great Ming King, he’d have a defense ready!

Look, I killed so many from the Void Race and saved Nato. In terms of merit, shouldn’t I be the foremost?

It’s true we lost the battle, but I, the Peacock Great Ming King, did not lose! I killed so many enemies; who on the opponent’s side had more kills than me?

The team lost, but I didn’t; the reason for losing was that the teammates weren’t up to par.

...

...

Meanwhile.

Under Buddha’s command, the allied forces of three factions were about to encircle and encompass.

However, just as the encirclement was about to close, the Void Race on the battlefield received orders from the Second Elder of the Void Race: "Break apart and disperse, retreat separately."

Initially, the Void Race on the battlefield consisted of small squads, already few in numbers.

Now, breaking apart led to genuine scattered fragmentation.

The advantage of the Void Race is obeying orders.

Once commanded, they immediately fragmented and scattered in retreat.

Upon witnessing this scene, Wa Huang, the Demon Lord, and Buddha—all observing the battle—were stunned.

Because the Void Race scattered too nimbly.

Groups of three, clusters of five.

Overall, absolutely no more than five people fleeing together.

Some even fled alone.

For a time, scattered Void Race members were fleeing everywhere like rabbits on the vast mountains.

The Peacock Great Ming King was quite "dedicated," still attempting interceptions at this time.

But, those Wa Huang’s Palace disciples under his command had suffered heavy casualties, able to intercept only a few Void Race members.

Now, there were only two methods left to intercept these fragmented, fleeing Void Race members.

The first method is for Wa Huang, the Demon Lord, and Buddha to act; should they move, it would come easily.

Clearly, they weren’t going to act now.

The second method is to have their combined allied forces break apart, form groups of three or five, and chase after them.

However, the example of Nato’s prior blunder was right before them!

If they broke apart again, encountering an ambush would certainly result in another grievous loss.

As Buddha hesitated, the fleeing Void Race had already gone far; even if they wanted to chase now, they couldn’t catch up.

"Alas!" Buddha sighed heavily, helplessly said, "This Void Race has studied military strategy."

Seeing the Void Race escape, Wa Huang already exploded with anger.

In this battle, Wa Huang’s Palace lost many disciples, so she naturally felt incensed.

"Buddha, why did you not order a pursuit?" Wa Huang promptly reproached.

Buddha explained, "To pursue requires dispersion, dispersion likely means falling into an ambush."

"Perhaps they have set their ambush, just awaiting our pursuit!"

"We mustn’t be led around by them; the rhythm of combat should be in our hands."

Wa Huang did not understand military strategy; she was merely furious, "I don’t care about rhythm or not; all I know is that the disciples of Wa Huang’s Palace suffered heavy casualties."

Finally seizing the opportunity, the Demon Lord sneered mockingly from the side, "You lost so many disciples of Wa Huang’s Palace; who can you possibly blame?"

"It was you who volunteered? Wasn’t it your Wa Huang Palace disciples who charged into their ambush circle?"

"Oh? Wa Huang, is your Wa Huang Palace out of people? Letting someone with childish behavior lead the charge in battle?"

"If you have no one under your command, then don’t volunteer next time, lest you end up killing your disciples and blaming others."

The Demon Lord’s mocking caused Wa Huang to wish she could find a hole to crawl into.

However, Wa Huang had no rebuttal, for indeed she had volunteered.

Just at this time, the Peacock Great Ming King returned with Nato and a few remaining disciples of Wa Huang’s Palace.

Nato and these few Wa Huang’s Palace disciples were all injured, and the morale among the Void Race coalition lowered instantly.

Wa Huang was furious inside, but upon whom could she vent this anger?

The Peacock Great Ming King?

Certainly not.

Although defeated in battle, the Peacock Great Ming King was blameless.

Not only did he save Nato, who narrowly escaped death, but he also held off the Void Race for quite some time.

Only when the Void Race scattered did the Peacock Great Ming King fail to hold them back.

The failure is not the Peacock Great Ming King’s fault!

No one can work miracles without resources; with lack of manpower, and the opponent scattering, how could the Peacock Great Ming King intercept?

If the Peacock Great Ming King cannot be blamed, the anger could only be directed at Nato.

Moreover, the reason for today’s severe defeat was Nato, and there’s no fault in saying that.

From the start, he failed to intercept the Void Race.

Then, driven by his own decisions, he guided the chase ahead.

It was Nato’s pursuit that resulted in the later ambush and heavy losses.