My Misfortune Crushed Instances-Chapter 253: Applying Pressure in the Mid Lane
Among the three routes, the assault team on the upper route is truly aimed at the enemy’s vital point, theoretically the most difficult with the greatest rewards, and relatively the highest risk.
The lower route also involves a feigned attack, but it is a route the enemy can anticipate, with relatively weaker defensive forces.
The central route is the easiest, moving with the main troops, but doesn’t require true confrontations; it’s enough to make some noise for the enemies to notice, with at most a few small-scale encounters. Even if an enemy main general is attracted and can’t be confronted, with numbers and mixed attention, escaping won’t be difficult.
In any case, Secret Realm agents are not Liangting people; at critical moments, preserving one’s life is enough, there’s no need to truly sacrifice for the Secret Realm World. This Secret Realm doesn’t have the overseer mechanism of the Liangting border, running away won’t result in beheading.
Theoretically, Zhao Jia’s arrangements are correct and necessary. This is, after all, a Nine-Star Secret Realm, often requiring conformity to its inherent mechanisms—some feigned attacks, some main assaults, as stated in the strategy.
When they informed Ning Huchen of the arrangements, the first reaction of the general was:
Brother Li, don’t turn all the main troops against me, okay?
He had heard a report from his subordinates about the disturbances in Demon Dragon Valley, and was quite impressed with this person’s methods and persuasive power.
But upon reconsidering, he dismissed this thought, knowing Wei Xun was acquainted with this person, perhaps quite intimately, that the Deputy Commander of the Demon Suppression Bureau even assisted in coordinating and took in the remnants of Demon Dragon Valley.
Additionally, he was recruited by the higher-ranked Grand General, surely trustworthy.
Hence, he suppressed the thought, which was originally just a wild conjecture, after all, soldiers aren’t like the mob from Demon Dragon Valley.
Nan Jiumei whispered to Li Rui: "Why don’t you take the upper route? The rewards on the central route will surely be lesser, if you’re embarrassed to say it, I can help you say it."
Li Rui scoffed, embarrassed?
He waved his hand: "It doesn’t matter, they’re all the same."
Theoretically, the place with the most rewards and random events is the enemy’s camp, which is Cyan Cloud Plateau. If that’s the crystal, the obstacles at most count as a few outer towers, the feigned attack on the central route won’t approach the enemy camp, the gains are indeed relatively low.
But Li Rui felt it didn’t matter.
Who says a feigned attack can’t reach the enemy’s main camp?
No matter which route he takes, it makes no difference to him.
Nan Jiumei finally guessed his intention, patting his shoulder with a smile: "In that case, let’s see who’s faster."
Li Rui chuckled: "Alright."
Their mindset was different from others’; for others, taking separate routes was to fulfill different responsibilities and reduce the difficulty of passing through.
But after exchanging glances, they had reached a tacit agreement; separating was to collect the rewards from both routes, otherwise it would be wasted.
Li Rui greeted Zhao Jia: "Let’s go?"
The teams on the three routes nodded to each other and then went on their respective mission paths.
From this moment, Zhao Qian Sun Li became more serious; this Nine-Star Secret Realm wasn’t that simple for them, with the enemy defending granaries, both quantity and strength wouldn’t be low.
Those who can switch to Analysts are generally meticulous and adept at thinking.
Zhao Jia was no exception, he began carefully observing as soon as he entered the military formation.
"Xiaoli, we’re a bit unlucky."
Li Rui asked quietly: "Why?"
"Look at these soldiers, most look tired and many armors are damaged."
In the Secret Realm, the numbers of troops generally don’t differ much, but their state and level of elite vary somewhat.
Li Rui couldn’t directly say that he doesn’t rely on these ordinary soldiers in battles, so he comforted: "It’s fine, we’re just feigning an attack."
"True." Zhao Jia nodded.
Under the guidance of a leading soldier, they found the leader of the central route’s army, none other than Deputy Captain Chang Fei from before.
"You two brave souls, please wait here; proceed once instructions are received."
At this moment, a prompt appeared.
[Waiting for battle to commence: 15:00]
This was a countdown in seconds.
Seeing Li Rui’s youth, Zhao Jia feared he might dislike reading strategies and know little about the Secret Realm, so he started speaking first: "There are six mini-bosses outside the enemy’s main camp, two randomly on each route."
"Yes, I have read the strategy."
Li Rui said, "The most difficult are the White Tiger Demon Race’s vanguard general and the Rift Fire Clan’s ox beast, right?"
"Correct."
Zhao Jia felt much relieved. "See those officers beside us; they are Soldier Cultivators. If a battle with the enemy erupts, keep an eye on them; if anyone gets injured, treat them promptly."
Li Rui took a glance and nodded: "Don’t let them get hurt, right? Got it."
There are many ways to protect allies; sometimes it doesn’t solely depend on healing and support.
Zhao Jia didn’t grasp the underlying meaning, only growing more satisfied with this young man.
At least, relying on "connections," he had accomplished something before the main task even fully started, allowing everyone to freely allocate their march routes, all while focusing on the bigger picture, without insisting on heading to the more rewarding upper route; definitely promising.
No wonder he could be so advanced at a young age.
Hmm? Is he too young?
Whatever, some people do just look young.
While he pondered, the bugle sounded, and the army set out!
The central army moved first, advancing deeply to attract the enemy’s attention, then concentrating on storming the first checkpoint mini-boss, thereby creating opportunities for the Demon Beast army to mistakenly believe the main force is in the center, sending reinforcements.
The hardest part is the coordination between routes, as lacking modern communication means, orders can only be relayed through messengers who arrive with delay.
Each route must perform their duties well to increase the likelihood of clearing the mission.
At least, theoretically.
This Secret Realm has many preliminary steps, and once Li Rui set out, he saw a new prompt.
[Main task updated: Fire at us!]
[Mission objective: Attract as much of the Demon Beast army’s main force as possible.]
[Mission rewards: Upon the enemy’s camp being breached, rewards are settled based on the quantity and quality of the distracted enemy army.]
[Completion: 0%.]
This pertains to a contribution rate mechanism; the more enemy forces attracted, the higher the value, with the final reward increasing accordingly. The theoretical maximum is 100%, though generally, no one achieves this high.
"We need to put as much pressure as possible on the central route."
Zhao Jia said, having reached nearly level 40 now; even Analysts possess some combat power; otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to reach level 40.
Li Rui agreed.
He excelled at exerting pressure, after all; chasing enemies through the Secret Realm wasn’t new to him, and he could roughly estimate that being chased could be quite stressful.
