As the order was given and passed down, cultivators at the Dam began to work. They pushed down big rocks to break the structures keeping the dam steady and in place. Soon, the dam began to crack, to break and finally, it completely exploded under the weight of the water it contained.

Torrents of water made their way throughout the network dug by the Prince's army. It went in two different directions before ending in two manually dug lakes. They had worked on this since the very moment they departed from the castle city. It had been tough but worth it.

At least, the tens of thousands of fleeing shadows made it seem that way.

Theorurin Jun-Ho had found a nest of ant-type spiritual beasts in the mountains while he crossed them with his army. At first, he planed to change paths but under the advice of his counsellor, he made a different choice. He would use these beasts!

By flooding their underground nest, he was killing the ant queen and by forming two rivers and two lakes, he forcefully forced them to move in one direction. And now he and the rest of the army could taste the sweet fruits of their efforts. Tens of thousands of ant spiritual beast were hurriedly fleeing in the direction of the enemy camp. Without a queen, those ants would wander around aimlessly and attacking anything they encountered... It was truly sending a catastrophe to the doorsteps of their opponents.

One of those beasts might be weak. They were after all only between the first and fifth realm of body refinement. However, when there was so many, it changed things. Such a high quantity became a qualitative change. Those fuckers would have to put some work in fighting off those beasts.

The Prince laughed. He was very pleased with this successful move. He turned to his counsellor and praised him: "You really did great this time" The counsellor amiably smiled while expressing modesty: "It was all thanks to the Prince quick decision and precise directions" but the Prince wasn't one to gloat over himself as he responded with a smile: "Don't be modest, your idea was brillant and I won't forget this contribution. Anyways, now that the mission is complete, let us go back to the castle city, pass on the retreat order"

As the troups began to retreat, the Prince at the very front mused: "I wonder how the others are doing? They should have already made some moves by now. This border defensive should be ours to take!"

Meanwhile, Prince Theorurin Seung-Woo was in the very center of Area 27. His army camp was there and in front of it, not too far yet not too close, was the opponent army camp. They were fighting everyday. Yet he kept losing. Since new blood had began joining him from yesterday, he was optimist though. Yet his retainers weren't and his nonchalance was driving them mad.

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One of them couldn't keep calm as he asked the Prince: "Prince! Why are we not making any moves! We have to go after the thieves right away! If the enemy gets their hands on the crystals, forget this battle, we will all die regardless!"

As this counsellor kept on pestering him, Seung-Woo got irritated and angrily scolded him: "How can you be so stupid! There weren't any thieves to begin with! Now shut up and send the order to assault!"

Both counsellors couldn't help doubting what they heard. The thousands of warriors who joined them since yesterday had been very clear: Geon-U died and the crystal was stolen. So what did he mean? The same counsellor who had shouted at the Prince asked him to explain himself. He was acting out of bounds but the situation was dire, he couldn't help it.

The irritated Prince took out something from his pouch and showed him to the two of them. It was their faction's crystal. As he showed it off, he told them: "Now will you stop bitching and actually do your work?" but both remained stunned. It was the second counsellor who asked him trembling: "W-W-why do you h-have the c-crystal, your H-Highness?"

The Prince grinned as he relished in their stunned expressions. And he explained to them: "A genius strategy isn't it? Geon-U died so one less competitor and by taking the crystal, I forced those cowards to join the war!"

At this moment, the second counsellor was stunned but the first one erupted in rage and scolded the Prince. To think this little fuck could be so dumb! If the enemy was made aware that he was the one with the crystal, they were doomed! He had tricked everyone solely to play war?! Are the lives of thousands nothing in his eyes?!

The goal of this border defense was to protect the crystal! Does he think he was the first one to think of taking the crystal out and hiding it in plain sight?! Of course he wasn't! And because of it, ways to detect and track the position of the crystals did exist. They even had such detectors and were monitoring the opponent's crystal since the beginning.

This Prince was a fool! A true fool! It was very likely that the enemy would now be aware of the position of the crystal...They would send all their forces to get it now that it was outside their castle. They were doomed, truly doomed. And not because they were weaker but because their leader was a fool.

Truly, one should fear having pig-like teammates more than anything else.

However, that first counsellor wouldn't need to fear anymore as the Prince beheaded him on the spot. The Prince was a fool but he was at the spiritual warrior stage while his advisors were mere mortals who had not cultivated. As he turned towards the first advisor, he asked coldly: "Do you think I am a fool too?"

Sweating buckets, the last advisor hurried to say: "Not at all, Your Highness! Your strategy is brillant! It truly tricked everyone!" but while he said so, his only thoughts were about how he could escape the death that was now nearing him.

And beyond Area 27, in a luxurious tent, a young woman was grinning as she drank wine...