Under Su Xingyu's direction, the development of the Barbarian Stronghold quickly began to take shape. Once the broad path for progress had been established, he didn't linger. The Ye Tribe had already urged his return several times. After transferring Ye San to oversee local affairs and tying up loose ends, Su Xingyu made his way back to the tribe.
"Chief, the new batch of recruits from the barbarian tribe are in excellent shape. With just a bit of training, they'll be ready to become extraordinary warriors," Ye Zhan reported, rushing into the hall before Su Xingyu even had a chance to rest from his return.
The newcomers he referred to were the barbarian warriors who had returned with Su Xingyu after the recent conquest. Following the victory, Su Xingyu had absorbed many of these fighters into his ranks and restructured several legions, using seasoned Night Tribe warriors as the backbone.
Naturally, a newly formed legion required thorough coordination and integration, and Ye Zhan, as the second-in-command of the tribe, was the ideal person to lead this task.
What Su Xingyu hadn't expected, however, was that night training had concluded in less than two months.
Massaging his temple, Su Xingyu asked calmly, "It's a good thing they're progressing toward becoming extraordinary warriors. Just keep the training going. If you need supplies, speak to the Seventh Elder."
Ye Zhan chuckled but shook his head. "If I need gear, I'll definitely go to the Seventh Elder. The real problem is… we've hit a wall. We can't train like this anymore."
Su Xingyu's brows arched slightly, eyes narrowing. "What do you mean 'can't train'?"
"It's not that we can't continue," Ye Zhan explained quickly, sensing the tension in the chief's voice. "It's just that the results won't improve any further if we keep doing the same things. These guys have incredible bodies, sure, and a bit of training already makes them extraordinary. But their coordination is terrible. They have no concept of tactics or group maneuvers. All they know is to charge blindly."
Su Xingyu let out a short laugh and smirked. "That's perfect, then. Sounds a lot like you. Why not keep them under your command permanently?"
Ye Zhan scratched his head and grinned sheepishly. "Please don't tease me, Chief."
"But seriously," he continued, voice turning serious, "I don't think we'll get much more out of them without a real fight. Let me take them out for actual combat. After a few skirmishes, they'll learn cooperation the hard way."
In a battlefield of tens of thousands, personal strength could only go so far. Unity and tactical coordination were the real lifelines. Even Ye Zhan himself, when leading a charge, would be flanked by personal guards rather than rushing in alone like a madman.
Su Xingyu gave a helpless look and replied, "If you think it's that easy, go outside and find a war in this hellish weather. See where that gets you."
Ye Zhan scratched his chin thoughtfully. "True enough. Then… what if we attack the gnolls? I hear they're pretty tough."
"We're not rushing the gnolls," Su Xingyu said firmly. "I've got other plans for them. We'll deal with that come spring."
He understood Ye Zhan's frustration. Training warriors wasn't just about drills. They needed blood and pressure—real battles to test their mettle. But unfortunately, there were no nearby enemies suitable for such a large-scale army to engage.
Were they supposed to invade another plane?
Since no suitable enemies could be found in the surrounding regions, perhaps the answer lay outside.
Over time, Su Xingyu had gained a clearer understanding of his own strength. Among the gods, he stood firmly among the stronger ones. Invading someone else's plane to train his army was a tempting strategy. Still, after weighing the risks, he shelved the idea—for now.
Not out of fear. He simply couldn't justify sacrificing the novice protection period granted to their realm.
"If we can't find enemies to fight, we'll have to explore uninhabited plane fragments. Though I must admit, the situation in those places is unpredictable. Some are nothing more than death traps."
The vast void was littered with broken shards of old planes. These plane fragments, though incomplete, were still home to powerful, often unnatural creatures. Ordinary humans could barely survive within them.
One of the system's features allowed for the exploration of these plane fragments, though Su Xingyu hadn't yet used it. From chatter on the world channel, it was clear the fragments were dangerous. Many who dared enter lost their soldiers. Still, a brave few had returned with rare resources and riches.
After considerable thought, Su Xingyu decided to proceed. It would serve dual purposes—training for his army and an opportunity to become better acquainted with this new world.
Best of all, exploring plane fragments didn't cancel the system's novice protection period. It was, all things considered, the safest high-risk move he could make.
"Go back and regroup the army," he ordered Ye Zhan. "If everything goes smoothly, there'll be a real battle waiting for you in two days."
Ye Zhan's eyes lit up. "As you command, Patriarch."
With a deep bow, he turned and left to begin preparing for war.
Once he was alone, Su Xingyu opened his system interface and sent a message to Wang Dong, a familiar contact from his friends list: How much do you know about plane exploration?
Wang Dong had been a frequent trading partner lately, and over time, the two had developed a decent rapport. They even exchanged tips and news every now and then.
The reply came quickly.
[Black Star]:I haven't used it myself. I only have a handful of warriors. If I lost them, I'd be crying in real life. What? You planning to explore?
[Black Star]:If you are, you better tread carefully. Always investigate the plane first. Some of them have extreme conditions. I knew someone who opened a portal—only to have magma burst out before he even stepped in. Burned to death on the spot.
[Black Star]:Here, these are some exploration reports from players I know. See if they're helpful.
[Xingyu]:Thanks. I owe you one.