Chapter 733: Traces
Chapter 733: Traces
Xu Chan's team had encountered indigenous settlements before, but this unknown region seemed several levels more dangerous than the outside. How could there be a settlement here?
He immediately sensed that this was no ordinary settlement.
"Did the people in the camp notice us?" he asked.
"Yes, and they even initiated contact with us," came the reply.
Xu Chan spoke gravely, "Tell me the details."
The scout explained that through their recent interaction, they learned this was no simple indigenous settlement. The inhabitants came from various places, and a significant group among them were fugitives from the Old Imperial House who were wanted and had escaped. There were also some deserters from the Great Harmony military, and the rest were the indigenous people of this region.
These people claimed to be familiar with the local geography and offered to provide whatever the team needed or other forms of assistance. However, they also requested tools and equipment carried by the team.
Xu Chan considered the situation and decided, "We'll give them what they want as long as we can provide it."
He instinctively felt these people were not as simple as they claimed, but as long as they didn't show hostility, there was no need to interfere, even if there might be wanted fugitives from Great Harmony among them.
After all, these people had been here for a long time, and their guidance could make the team's movements in this area much easier. Perhaps there was a way to shake off the pursuing enemies.
In any case, obtaining the relic was the top priority, and everything else was insignificant.
However, for both parties, the prerequisite for any transaction was possessing a certain level of strength. Without it, one might as well hand themselves over to the other side.
At the same time, on the other side, the Thunder Twins, brother and sister, had returned to their starting point with Blood Diamond. The surrounding trees seemed flattened, and numerous United Assembly personnel were searching and inspecting the area. Upon their arrival, the security personnel stood at attention.
Svia ignored the other personnel and addressed a young man sitting nearby, "Mr. Euseios Hross, why didn't you appear as agreed?"
The young man, upon hearing her question, slowly rose from the ground. He stood over three meters tall, with thick, black hair like seaweed. His features were distinct, with thick eyebrows and intensely bright eyes beneath them. His face was resolute, and his entire body was sculpted with muscles like stone.
Despite his height, which far exceeded that of those around him, his well-proportioned limbs made him appear to be a perfectly evolved human.
His voice, magnetic and likable, said, "My apologies, ma'am. We encountered enemies on our way here, which delayed our arrival."
"Enemies?"
"Yes," Euseios Hross confirmed. "It's right beneath your feet."
Svia looked down and was startled. A massive creature lay on the ground, and they were standing on its body! The creature seemed to lack thickness and distinct contours, almost covering the entire area, and with no signs of life, it had gone unnoticed.
Sigward jumped a couple of times and felt the difference from the soil. However, given the various anomalies in the fusion zone, he didn't think much of it. At that moment, he exclaimed in surprise, "What is this thing?"
Euseios Hross replied, "I don't know either. We ran into it on our way here. It tried to envelop all of us, and it's not in our records. I think it's a new species. We had to struggle to break free, but that's not the main reason for our delay."
He spoke seriously, "I felt someone watching us from a distance, and they posed a threat."
"Who?"
"I don't know," Euseios Hross said. "But I know they are dangerous. If they show themselves again, I'll find them."
"Is it someone from the Linaksis Federation?" Svia asked, looking up. "Is it Wilhelm?"
Euseios Hross shook his head. "Not a blue blood. And not him." He emphasized.
Svia and Sigward exchanged glances, and even Euseios Hross felt threatened, but it wasn't Wilhelm, who was rumored to be arriving soon.
As they discussed, about ten kilometers away, Qi Qianyang approached a treehouse woven from vines. As he neared, the branches parted slowly, revealing a man in his thirties with a parted hairstyle. "Instructor Qi, you're back. How's the situation?" he asked.
Qi Qianyang replied, "Euseios Hross's senses are indeed sharp. I almost got discovered. He's worthy of his world ranking."
"So, what now?" the man asked. "Can he be Instructor Qi's match?"
Qi Qianyang stroked his chin. "That's hard to say. At our level, we never know until we fight."
Chen Chuan emerged from the underground space beneath the former Union camp, having spent the previous night in meditation. He had no need to dig, as the area boasted ample underground spaces. Upon sensing his second self, Chen Chuan realized his power had grown even closer to his current self.
The previous night's battle had been a testament to his prowess, as he'd swiftly dispatched his opponent in a single encounter using only his innate strength. This victory had significantly bolstered his second self.
Chen Chuan still didn't know the identity of his opponent, as no identification had been found during the search. Judging by their strength, they were likely a renowned fighter, and Chen Chuan anticipated encountering more formidable adversaries in the future.
Sheathing the Snow Queen Saber, Chen Chuan rose from the ground and made his way out of the underground space. Chao Ming, who had just awakened, followed closely behind.
Pushing open the warped metal gate, Chen Chuan stepped outside, only to find the area charred black. Thick layers of ash drifted down from above, coating the ground.
Yang Yongcheng had already risen and approached from a short distance away. The previous night, before darkness fell, he had cleared all the outlying sentry posts, ensuring their safety. "Supervisor Chen, are you ready to depart?" he asked.
Chen Chuan nodded. "I'm about to set off, but the road ahead is challenging. Please take care of the three horses we brought with us."
"Leave it to me. I'll take good care of them," Yang Yongcheng assured him.
Chen Chuan glanced at the sky and said, "There might be airships coming to investigate today, so it's best if you stay hidden."
"Understood," Yang Yongcheng replied.
Chen Chuan, saber in hand, walked to the side where a two-wheeled motor vehicle, the "Rakshasa," manufactured by Fenghai Corporation, was parked. He had found it near a sentry post the previous day, likely used by patrol officers to move between the camp and the posts.
Borrowing such vehicles to venture into the fusion zone was usually impossible, as one could never predict what might be encountered along the way, leaving no time to react.
However, Chen Chuan realized that with sufficient psychic power, many obstacles could be navigated without excessive caution. By projecting his psychic power, he could intimidate most creatures, although it might also be seen as a provocation. Nonetheless, with sufficient speed, he could avoid most encounters.
This approach might drain his psychic power, but with his second self and the relic capable of restoring his spiritual energy, he need not worry too much.
The two-wheeled vehicle was spacious enough for Chen Chuan to hang his belongings on the metal racks on both sides. He sheathed the Snow Queen Saber diagonally across his back and straddled the vehicle. Turning to Yang Yongcheng, he said, "Old Yang, I'm off. Take care."
Yang Yongcheng responded solemnly, "Supervisor Chen, I wish you a smooth mission!" He then took a few steps back.
Chen Chuan nodded, donned his protective visor, adjusted the red scarf around his neck, and nodded again to Yang Yongcheng. The vehicle roared to life, leaving behind a trail of smoke and dust as it sped off.
Chao Ming, perched in the sky, let out a shrill whistle and followed closely.
Yang Yongcheng took a few steps, watching Chen Chuan's departure with a raised hand in salute, until the vehicle disappeared into the depths of the forest.
After leaving the camp, Chen Chuan noticed traces on the ground, evidence of a large group's passage to an unknown area. This made his journey easier, as he could follow these traces and use his psychic power to clear the way, significantly increasing his speed compared to the previous two days.
Chen Chuan also noticed that many formidable creatures that should have been along the route had been eliminated. He even spotted a massive, unidentified creature, as large as a small hill, lying on its side. Most of its body had turned into a skeleton, crawling with countless insects. It seemed the skeleton would soon vanish entirely.
After driving for about half a day, Chen Chuan discovered a larger abandoned camp, evidenced by the remains of a campfire. At least a hundred people had camped here, as indicated by the layout and the scattered metal cans. It was undoubtedly a Union camp, and they had made no effort to conceal their traces.
Looking ahead, Chen Chuan realized that by following this camp's path, he might find other camps where they had stayed. With luck, he could quickly catch up with them.
Just as he was thinking this, his psychic power disturbed something in the camp, causing a sudden movement under a covering. With a buzzing sound, countless creatures swarmed out, heading straight for Chen Chuan.
(End of Chapter)
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