"The victory is already decided."
Although Su Xingyu had not personally taken part in the battle, that did not mean he underestimated its significance.
There were thirty thousand troops on the field. No matter how confident he was in the Night Tribe's combat prowess, he couldn't afford to be careless.
That's why, during major operations like this, he kept watch from a distance, prepared to open a portal and intervene at a moment's notice if things went wrong.
But the night battle had not disappointed him.
Despite being outnumbered several times over, the Night Tribe had already secured the upper hand. The tide of the battle was unmistakably in their favor.
The frontlines of the goblin forces had crumbled, and chaos rippled through their rear ranks like wildfire. Su Xingyu knew from experience that in a situation like this, not even an elite legion of the Night Tribe could recover without divine intervention.
Let alone the goblins.
Regrouping was out of the question. Their formations were in shambles, and morale had shattered beyond repair.
As expected, with the collapse of the vanguard and confusion in the rear, the goblin army fell apart completely.
Thousands of goblins and even the fearsome blood-red ones fled in a desperate panic, trampling one another to escape the merciless advance of the black-armored warriors. Their leaders shouted themselves hoarse trying to rally their troops, but it was useless. The goblins, gripped by terror, no longer cared about orders or consequences. All they wanted was to live—just a little longer.
Satisfied, Su Xingyu turned away from the battlefield and returned to the administrative matters piling up on his desk.
He had no time to linger. Since relocating part of the administration to the newly established Wangdong City, his responsibilities had multiplied.
The Night Tribe was rising once more, and Su Xingyu was determined to build a foundation that would endure. This wasn't about taking things one step at a time. It was about laying down a blueprint for decades of future prosperity.
The tribe had grown vast, and a tribe of this size couldn't rely on instinct alone. It needed vision. Strategy.
Now that the barbarians had been defeated and the half-metal giants tamed, the Black Soil Plains were firmly within his grasp. This land would become their stronghold—perhaps their permanent home.
And with that came a need for order.
He had already begun dividing the land into sectors: ranching areas, horse breeding grounds, farmland, plantations, and mines. Each zone needed clearly drawn boundaries. Roads, supply routes, and defense outposts had to be planned with precision. A misstep here would impact the tribe's development for generations.
This was not a task that could be done on a whim. Every choice required deep consideration.
Su Xingyu had been inspecting sites in person almost daily, overseeing the vast transformation of the Black Soil Plains.
Just then, a tribesman rushed in.
"Chief, the Blood Fang Stronghold has been initially built."
"It's finally done. That wasn't easy." Su Xingyu leaned back slightly, a trace of relief in his voice.
Ever since the brutal night battle that secured the Bloodfang Forest, construction had faced relentless delays. The area was still home to wild monsters and rogue magical beasts, which periodically attacked the builders and disrupted progress.
Now, at last, there was real progress.
"Since the foundation is laid, let's reinforce the manpower," Su Xingyu said after a brief pause. "Send everyone who joined in the last half month and hasn't been assigned duties yet. Also, supplies at the base should be running low. I'll write up a requisition list—take it to the Seventh Elder. Deliver both the materials and the new workers to the Blood Fang Base."
With the Black Soil Plains now under their control, the Night Tribe had become the region's undisputed power. The name "Eternal Night" echoed across the land, drawing smaller tribes to seek refuge under their banner.
In just two weeks, nearly twenty thousand people had come to join them, many traveling hundreds of miles with their families. Their loyalty was fierce.
That, too, spoke volumes about the Night Tribe's reputation.
The promise of full bellies alone was enough to sway entire communities. In a land where survival was a daily struggle, the Ye Tribe's generosity and trustworthiness made them a beacon of hope.
Blood Fang Stronghold would be the perfect place to send these new members.
The Bloodfang Forest had already been largely purged of danger. The remaining monsters were little more than a nuisance, launching occasional raids but posing no real threat.
"Understood, Patriarch."
The messenger turned and left.
Su Xingyu had barely returned to his seat when another tribesman rushed in. "Chief, another tribe has come to join us—more than two thousand of them!"
"Alright, I hear you," Su Xingyu said calmly. Then he glanced up, half-teasing. "Next time, don't act like the sky is falling. If someone surrenders, let them. It's not that big a deal."
The young tribesman scratched his head sheepishly and laughed. "Yes, Chief."
Su Xingyu sighed and shook his head. "Forget it." He couldn't bring himself to scold these earnest young men. "Where are they now? Did you arrange accommodations?"
"They're outside the main settlement. As for where they'll sleep…"
"What's the issue? Don't tell me we're out of houses again."
The youth hesitated, then nodded. "More people keep joining. Fixed housing isn't enough anymore. We're setting up tents for now."
Su Xingyu frowned. "In that case, send them all to Blood Fang Base. They need manpower more than we do."
He had other plans for the stronghold. The more people stationed there, the better.
"Understood, Patriarch."
"Good. Let's go meet them." Su Xingyu rose from his seat. "You'll explain the situation to them—how the Night Tribe operates, our rules, and what's expected. Help them adjust as quickly as possible."
"Yes, Chief!" the tribesman responded with vigor.
"One more thing," Su Xingyu added. "Inventory their supplies. Make sure every family gets what they need. Daily essentials must be distributed properly. I don't want anyone coming to me later, claiming they were left out."
"Don't worry, Chief. I'll personally oversee it. I'll make sure not a single tribe member is forgotten."