Chapter 566: The Noble's Honor
Chapter 566: The Noble's Honor
The machine guns mounted on the airship above rained down a relentless barrage of bullets, preventing the oncoming white plague from blocking the road. Instead, they poured into the rift in a relentless tide.
Among them were some white plague carriers with explosives strapped to their bodies. Chen Chuan and Chen Bitong, from a distance, noticed a few and took them out with well-aimed stone throws.
However, some of the white plague carriers, upon seeing the two, immediately detonated their explosives, creating a series of massive explosions that sent shockwaves rippling through the area.
This onslaught continued for half an hour, likely because the military's white plague carriers had run out of explosives, or perhaps they believed the enemy had retreated, temporarily halting their attack.
Despite the ongoing battle, the sound of the propeller blades above remained clear, indicating that the airship hadn't left and was still hovering nearby.
Chen Chuan and Chen Bitong sat on two broken concrete pillars, just a few steps away from one of the rift's exits. Before them lay a partially collapsed building wall, dragged into the rift during its expansion, now providing them with cover.
Chen Chuan waved away the smoke and dust carried by the air currents, saying, "If they had used this method earlier, they might have forced us to retreat."
Chen Bitong replied, "They wouldn't do that. They don't want us to fall back because it would make it harder for them to deal with us. This kind of concentrated firepower attack reduces the presence of many samurai, which they strongly dislike. They wouldn't use it unless they've tried repeatedly and failed."
"When Commander Chen went down, he probably saw that they were organizing an attack on us. Even though they didn't succeed this time, if they could retreat safely, they wouldn't have done this. They must have gathered additional forces from elsewhere."
Chen Chuan nodded in agreement.
Their decision to strike first was the right choice.
If they had waited for the enemy to attack, the enemy would have been fully prepared. The two military generals, the main and deputy, were not weak, and with their subordinates, they had a significant advantage.
Even if they couldn't defeat the enemy immediately, they could have retreated like they did before, and the enemy might not have been able to stop them.
The next time, the enemy would undoubtedly gather even stronger forces, making it increasingly difficult to deal with.
Fortunately, they had taken the initiative and dealt a blow to the enemy, creating a window of opportunity. The machine guns and artillery, though fierce, didn't pose as much of a threat to them. The previous attack seemed more like an outburst of anger and frustration.
Chen Bitong glanced outside and said, "It seems we have some time. I'll brief you on a few things, Commander Chen."
Seeing his serious expression, Chen Chuan said, "Please, Teacher Chen."
Chen Bitong continued, "Once the split-body tears open the barrier of pure substance, a gap will form. As long as the gap in the World Ring isn't sealed, its range will gradually expand, and the pure substance will continue to disperse outward for a period.
The first to be affected will be the Jingbei Dao Central City and its surrounding areas, as the gap is right there.
If your psychic power is strong enough, you can sense the dispersing pure substance. If you react quickly, you can capture some of it. But if you miss, it might slip away.
Let me give you an analogy: the pure substance is like fish swimming in a torrent. If you want to capture them, you must find a way to do so amidst the raging currents.
However, the pure substance disperses rapidly and will flow towards Daxun and eventually the entire world. Others will also compete with you for it, so if you intend to obtain it, you must act swiftly."
"The Central City will surely try to seal the gap once they discover the situation. They'll also send people to collect the pure substance. The longer it takes, the harder it will be to acquire it.
So, the initial period is the window of opportunity when there's almost no one to stop you. You must seize this chance."
"The amount of pure substance a martial artist needs is proportional to their strength. The stronger they are, the more pure substance they require. If we miss this opportunity, we don't know when the next one will come."
His voice grew solemn, "Making an agreement with them is the last resort. But by then, you won't have control over your decisions."
Chen Chuan contemplated his words, realizing that this might be the reason Teacher Chen hadn't taken that final step.
He didn't want to cross that line.
At that moment, the surrounding light flickered, and the powerful air currents seemed to weaken.
Chen Bitong glanced over, "Without the split-body, the rift can no longer support such a large mass. It's closing on its own, and its closing speed will be faster than its expansion. Commander Chen, remember to leave in time to avoid being trapped here."
As they spoke, the sound of the propeller blades gradually faded, indicating that the airship had withdrawn.
The two exchanged a knowing look, aware that something new was happening.
They stood up from the concrete pillars, stepping over the scattered remains of field creatures and the indentations on the ground, and made their way to the edge of the rift.
Standing there, looking out, Chen Bitong could see the fog on the mountain road dispersing, revealing a clearer silhouette of the departing airship.
However, in the distance, at the former military camp, an even larger airship appeared, with a prominent "Gai" character on its airbag, surrounded by intricate patterns.
Upon seeing this character, Chen Bitong's expression changed, filled with vigilance and caution. His body tensed for a moment, and he said solemnly, "It seems I might encounter my old rival this time."
Chen Chuan glanced at him and asked, "What does that 'Gai' character represent?"
Chen Bitong replied, "When the former Imperial Court retreated from the Convergence Ground, there were about thirty noble families who left with them."
These thirty-plus families held immense influence in the old era, and the Gai family was one of them. The Gai family had a long lineage of marquises and earls, producing high-ranking warriors in almost every dynasty, with a very ancient heritage.
Chen Chuan nodded in understanding. This was no small matter. During the rise and fall of dynasties, the new courts would typically inherit many things from the previous court, including scriptures, imperial collections, rare treasures, and more. Not to mention, when the Daxun Republic was established, many of its initial assets were seized from the former Imperial Court.
These nobles, closely tied to the former Imperial Court, had enjoyed great benefits in the past. Even after retreating from the Convergence Ground, they likely still possessed many legacies left by their ancestors.
"This generation of the Gai family has a member named Gai Shuhu, a few years younger than me," Chen Bitong continued. "Since I started serving in the Convergence Ground and later guarding the World Ring, I've crossed paths with him numerous times.
We've fought each other over twenty times, mostly ending in draws. The last time I fought him was seven years ago, and I won, severely injuring him.
I heard that after that defeat, he vowed not to appear on the frontlines again unless he mastered Transcendent Techniques. The patterns around the 'Gai' character on that airship are his unique emblem..."
His expression turned serious. "It seems he's come here in person, which is why he sought me out. If that's the case, he must have a real chance of defeating me. Perhaps... he's mastered Transcendent Techniques and become a Martial Artist."
Across the way, the massive airship hovered above the military camp's anchorage point, and below, soldiers formed neat rows.
In the forefront, the remaining duty samurai and councilors dismounted, removing their helmets and holding them in their arms. Each of them wore a solemn and apprehensive expression, as if awaiting someone important.
When the hanging ladder was lowered, a figure emerged from the airship. This person had fair skin, a high nose, deep-set eyes, a thin nose bridge, thin lips, a beard on his chin, and a deeply somber gaze.
He appeared to be in his thirties, with a scar on his chin and a height of over two meters. He wore a hair net and a black-purple martial arts uniform embroidered with silver threads.
Behind him followed a woman in her twenties, with bright eyes and white teeth. She wore a waist-tied martial arts uniform, her hair in a high ponytail, holding a spear backward. Her features bore a resemblance to the man.
As this person descended, he suddenly turned and looked towards the mountain peak several kilometers away, then punched in that direction. As he punched, a faint light emanated from his body.
Within the rift, both Chen Chuan and Chen Bitong simultaneously sensed a warning sign. Immediately, the powerful airflow in front of them was split apart, as if a mighty force was rushing towards them.
Chen Bitong stepped forward, punching forward, his fist also glowing faintly.
At the tip of his fist, a booming explosion reverberated through the rift, and the airflow howled outward.
Chen Chuan's gaze intensified. If he wasn't mistaken, this was a punch delivered through rift passage.
In his mind's eye, he even saw a pair of sharp eyes, piercing through the thin fog and the rift, staring directly at them.
The person who threw the punch was still on the mountain, yet he could transmit his spirit and fist energy from such a distance. This wasn't just a matter of skill; it represented power beyond limits.
Chen Bitong's expression turned grave. "It seems my worries were justified. The fact that he can transmit his fist energy so easily here proves he's a Martial Artist. Just now, he was merely greeting me."
"Captain Chen, we can't afford a direct confrontation," he said.
As he spoke, the intense light in the rift flickered again, diminishing further.
He glanced back and said, "Fortunately, the rift is about to close. He can't rush in and do anything, and he won't take such a risk. This time, he's probably here for me, Captain Chen. You should leave."
"From here on, it's my fight," he added.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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