Chapter 721: Encounter on the Path
Chapter 721: Encounter on the Path
At the edge of the rift, a deep green viscous liquid seeped through, emitting a peculiar gurgling sound from within.
Chen Chuan's eyes gleamed with spiritual power, and he instantly released a surge of mental force.
This approach proved effective; upon contact with his mental power, the viscous liquid dissipated like melting snow, but at the same time, it also drained his own spiritual energy.
Although this method worked, it would make it difficult for him to continue his cultivation peacefully. It would be better to erase the rift directly.
With a change of thought, he picked up the Snow Queen Saber and slashed at the seeping liquid, intending to erase the rift. With one strike, the liquid vanished without a trace.
His spirit trembled slightly.
Apparently, this method was effective.
With another shift in thought, he raised the saber in his right hand, resting the blade on his left shoulder. After a moment of channeling, he slashed forward, and this time, the saber pierced through the rift, directly striking the creature on the other side.
A harsh, unpleasant screech was heard, followed by a burst of intense light from the other side. The countless eyes flickered and then suddenly disappeared.
He waited, seeing no further anomalies, and then took a cloth to wipe the blade of the Snow Queen Saber before placing it back on his knee. He resumed his cultivation.
Over the next few hours, similar creatures occasionally appeared, but he had gained experience and managed to drive them away with the saber.
The night passed, and as dawn approached, he noticed that the signs of his second self's dissipation were deepening, accompanied by strange sounds from a distant place and a strong sense of threat in his mind. He knew he couldn't continue any longer.
Surprisingly, the rift showed no signs of dissipating, even after nearly twelve hours.
In the Central City, the influence of the Shumi Field suppressed rifts as soon as they appeared, but here, there was no such protection. Although the rift weakened over time, it was clear that it would persist if left unattended.
Chen Chuan drew the Snow Queen Saber and slashed, instantly extinguishing the light before him, and the sense of threat vanished. He realized that this night's cultivation had been quite fruitful.
The effectiveness of his cultivation depended on the duration of his mental training and the amount of essence absorbed. This session was equivalent to three or four regular sessions, and although it was more dangerous, the rewards were substantial.
His original goal was to push his mental power to its peak by the end of December, and if he could cultivate like this every day, he might achieve it sooner.
Sheathing the Snow Queen Saber, he stood up and went outside. Chao Ming, having flown all day yesterday, was still curled up, but at the slightest movement, he woke up and chirped softly at Chen Chuan.
Chen Chuan fetched some water and food for Chao Ming, then opened the tent and stepped out. Outside, the sky was already bright, and the three campfires had gone out, leaving only faint smoke lingering in the air.
The morning air in the Fusion Zone was damp, and mist rose from the opposite forest, drifting towards him.
It seemed normal, but Chen Chuan could discern that the mist was actually composed of countless tiny, indistinguishable insects.
His eyes gleamed with spiritual power, and as his gaze swept across, the mist instantly dispersed, revealing the insects. A rustling sound filled the air, and the trees near the insect-mist began to tremble.
The bark peeled off in chunks, quickly absorbing the tiny insects, before crawling back up the trees, restoring their original state.
Chen Chuan observed for a moment, then glanced at Chao Ming. The bird immediately darted out of the tent, flapping its wings. A layer of black-gray dust fell from its feathers, revealing dead parasites that had been feeding on its skin.
Chen Chuan exited the tent and fed each horse a few pills, which caused the parasites on their bodies to fall off after a while. He then led the horses to the river for a drink.
By the riverbank, he spotted a black, tar-like creature writhing beneath the surface, its elongated eye-like appendages gazing upwards. Chen Chuan calmly met its gaze, and after a moment, the creature closed its eyes and slowly sank back into the riverbed, disappearing from sight.
After the horses finished drinking, Chen Chuan packed up the tent and supplies, mounted his horse, and spurred it forward with a flick of the reins.
Based on his current pace, Chen Chuan estimated that he would reach the indigenous campsite by noon today, provided there were no unforeseen circumstances along the way.
After galloping for over three hours, Chao Ming suddenly let out a warning call in the sky.
At that moment, Chen Chuan heard the sound of hoofbeats approaching from a distance, rapidly closing in on his location.
Uncertain of their origins, Chen Chuan reined in his horse by a stream, and after a while, he spotted several Dragon Nose Horses on the opposite bank.
The riders, clad in black armor and iron masks, held spears and lances, exuding a fierce and robust aura, instantly recognizable as cavalry from the Old Imperial House.
The riders seemed equally surprised to see Chen Chuan, despite his casual attire. They immediately halted, recognizing him as a military personnel from the Great Harmony army by his mount.
Both parties stared at each other from a distance of half a li.
The riders, sensing an indescribable oppressive force from Chen Chuan, only observed from afar for a moment before their leader shouted and turned their horses back.
It wasn't a full-fledged retreat, as two cavalrymen with long spears covered their retreat. But at that moment, an invisible shockwave seemed to ripple through the area.
Several cavalrymen wobbled in their saddles and fell to the ground.
The leading samurai also trembled but quickly steadied himself on his horse, seemingly protected by a mental shield. However, before he could escape too far, a blast erupted behind him, tearing a gaping hole in his back and blowing off the horse's head.
The headless horse's corpse tumbled forward, and the leading cavalryman, showing remarkable courage, knew his fate. Fearing the leak of intelligence, he drew his short sword and plunged it into his upper mouth, instantly piercing his brain. He shuddered once and became still.
Chen Chuan slowly approached from the stream, and as he passed, white foam-like substances rose from the water's surface.
As the horses reached the shore, numerous insect corpses emerged from the muddy ground, and some seemingly ordinary weeds also collapsed, all victims of Chen Chuan's spiritual power.
As he approached the fallen cavalrymen, he glanced at them—an elite samurai and three cavalrymen, the Old Imperial House's most common four-man squad. Judging by their armor coverage, they were likely reconnaissance soldiers.
Based on their direction of travel, they were possibly heading towards the Union's camp.
Chen Chuan pondered; the Old Imperial House seemed to be opposing the Great Harmony garrison, but that didn't guarantee their cooperation. They seemed to have their own agenda.
However, Chen Chuan didn't need to differentiate; any enemy encountered would be eliminated.
He tugged the reins and continued forward.
As for the corpses, he had no time to deal with them, and in this place, everything would disappear within an afternoon.
Half an hour later, he finally reached the indigenous gathering site marked on the map, only to find a scorched ruin.
The remnants of campfires suggested the camp had been destroyed five or six days ago and was now occupied by giant insects with hard chitin shells.
He observed the area, noting shell craters and shrapnel, evidence of artillery fire.
Within this region, only two entities possessed such capabilities: the Union and Linaksis.
Motives suggested a conscious effort to clear potential threats on the periphery or simply preventing the indigenous people from being utilized by the Defense Department's garrison.
Despite the destruction, Chen Chuan confirmed the camp's location, assuring himself he hadn't gone astray.
The attackers' retreat route was faintly discernible, allowing him to follow the traces to find the camp.
He glanced at his watch; it was 1:00 PM, and he could still travel for three or four more hours. He decided to set up camp and depart early the next morning, following the route marked by Chen Bitong. If there were no dangers or obstacles, he should reach the camp by noon the next day.
As he thought this, Chao Ming sounded another warning in the sky, and a large bird with grey feathers charged towards it, much larger than Chao Ming.
But Chao Ming wasn't afraid, engaging in a mid-air skirmish, dodging nimbly.
Chen Chuan recognized the bird was trained, and to protect Chao Ming, he called it back, and the large bird didn't pursue.
After a while, numerous figures emerged from the forest ahead, their faces painted and bodies covered in windproof cloaks.
The leader, a man, caught Chen Chuan's attention, wearing an old pioneer squad uniform.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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