Chapter 752: The Encircling Net
Chapter 752: The Encircling Net
Sch Teacher looked at Chen Chuan and said, "Although Principal Yao and that colleague should have made preparations outside, the world is full of uncertainties and variables. We can't predict everything, but we can be sure that we currently have a higher chance of winning."
"So, I will leave a strand of my spirit with you, guiding you to avoid certain situations and helping you fend off external invasions."
Chen Chuan nodded, then asked for Sch Teacher's advice, "Sch Teacher, did the Coalition and the Linax Federation not consider the possibility of fighters intervening to seize the relic?"
Sch Teacher replied, "Of course they did. In the Convergence Zone of Jinbei Province, there is an active consciousness powerful enough to temporarily counter a fighter. Once they confirm that their people or partners have obtained the relic and a fighter appears, they can activate the emergency regulations and dispatch it."
"Defeating Wei Guocan is unlikely, but delaying him is not difficult. That way, they can take the relic back."
"Even in this situation, it doesn't hinder our plan, and that active consciousness may not be able to bring the relic back."
He smiled and said, "After all, all sorts of things can happen in the Convergence Zone. It's normal for an old imperial court fighter to make a mistake, isn't it?"
Chen Chuan understood, realizing that the original plan also intended to trap that active consciousness. If this plan succeeded, the Dashiun side in the Convergence Zone would gain absolute control over the upper echelons.
It was well-known that many powers in Dashiun were entangled with the old imperial court, and if the situation in the Convergence Zone could be turned around, the benefits would extend to Central City, and many past difficulties could be resolved.
"Sch Teacher, in that case, after the sandworm swarm passes, I will find a way to break through the encirclement," Chen Chuan said.
"You handle it as you see fit," the teacher said. "From now on, I need to concentrate on this strand of spirit to prevent it from dispersing too early. If you encounter any situation, try to communicate with my spirit through the mark."
Chen Chuan raised his hand and saw a faint blue glow in his palm, where he had touched the green tangerine. This was probably where Sch Teacher had left his spirit.
When he looked up again, Sch Teacher was gone.
He stood in place, deep in thought for a moment. Although Sch Teacher had explained everything clearly, he remembered that Sch Teacher had a habit of being late. Would he be late for this matter? It was hard to say.
Moreover, as this person had said, the world was full of uncertainties. Even if he wasn't late, it couldn't be guaranteed that everything would go perfectly.
As he thought about it, he realized that to ensure success, he still had to rely on himself.
His spiritual cultivation was just a hair's breadth away from perfection. Once he achieved it, he could try to break through to a higher limit.
This had always been part of his plan.
With the World Ring about to close, the cultivation environment would drop a level, so he had to seize this opportunity. The Convergence Zone offered a much more favorable cultivation environment.
Not to mention, there was also the relic here.
He glanced outside, raised the tent, and drew the Snow Lady Sword, slicing open a rift. As the light within spilled out, he sat down in front of it.
At that moment, in a sparse forest on a high slope in the Convergence Zone, a knight held a fluttering banner, beneath which sat a young auxiliary general, mounted on a robust dragon-nosed horse, surrounded and protected by hundreds of elite cavalry.
His sharp gaze pierced through the gaps in his armor, observing the distant bug tide.
Hooves thundered in the distance, and several scouts returned on horseback, dragging a person behind one of the horses.
General Saber's mind was hazy. He felt himself being dragged forward, scraping against the uneven ground and the stones beneath. This rough treatment was undoubtedly torturous, but he felt relieved, as it was better than being eaten alive by those bugs.
Earlier, relying on his protective gear and special drugs that stimulated potential, he had managed to escape the range of the sandworm swarm. He had even endured within the ant colony for four days and once reached the edge of the bug tide. But eventually, he had run out of energy and collapsed.
If not for the old imperial court's scouts discovering his situation and pulling him out of the swarm, all his previous efforts would have been in vain.
Even so, only half of his head remained intact. His limbs and torso had been gnawed clean, leaving only a skeletal frame with scattered flesh. It was only due to his strong will to survive that he had managed to protect his vital organs until the end.
As long as he could consume high-energy nutrients and soak in the nutrient solution to recuperate, he would recover in time.
Suddenly, he felt his body jerk to a stop, and all the hoofbeats ceased. After a while, he heard unfamiliar, fragmented words, and someone seemed to give an order. Then, he was roughly pulled up, tied to a tree, and forced to drink a can of medicine.
Stimulated by this, the last bit of vitality he had left, he regained his spirit. At this moment, the slow and leisurely sound of horse hooves approached, and he opened his eyes to see a high-ranking general of the Former Imperial Court, sitting tall on horseback, wearing a helmet and armor, and holding a lance. The general glanced at him and asked, "You, barbarian, what's your background?"
Beside this general was a translator who repeated the question in the common language of the Linax Federation and the Corporate Alliance.
General Seraphina, without hesitation, responded in the language of Dashiun, "I am General Ingram Seraphina of the Linax Federation. According to the regulations of the Grand Alliance, I request to be treated with the respect befitting my rank."
"A person from the Linax Federation?" The young general's eyes flashed with contempt, mixed with a hint of disgust.
"How so? Are you here for the relic too? Most likely. Judging by your appearance, it seems you've lost to them?" The young general's tone was inquisitive, but his words carried an air of certainty.
General Seraphina replied, "But it wasn't our fault. This isn't our home turf, and we weren't aware of all the circumstances. Many unforeseen events caught me and my troops off guard, like this bug tide."
The young general neither agreed nor disagreed, instead asking, "Where is the relic now? With the Alliance or with those rebels?"
General Seraphina said, "It's very likely in the hands of a Dashiun officer."
"What's his rank and strength?"
General Seraphina didn't answer directly but said, "I've gathered quite a bit of information about this person. I can share the details with you, but I want an assurance."
The young general seemed to be extremely disdainful, "Looking at you, you'd rather face the bug swarm than turn back and face the enemy." He pointed his lance at General Seraphina, "How dare a rat like you negotiate terms with this general?"
General Seraphina was infuriated, but he had always been flexible, and now he was in the enemy's hands. So he calmly said, "The Linax Federation and Dashiun have always been adversaries. I know your situation; the Dashiun government forced you to retreat to the Convergence Zone. Our two sides naturally have a basis for cooperation.
I am a Major General, and I have a camp and a formidable force behind me. If you are willing to treat me, I can provide manpower, and together, we can retrieve the relic..."
Before he could finish, a lance suddenly pierced his head, pinning him to a tree behind him.
The young general slowly said, "We don't need to cooperate; the relic will still be mine." He pulled out the lance and ordered, "Dispose of the body, cleanly."
"Yes, sir!"
Immediately, a soldier came forward, doused General Seraphina's body with fuel, and set it on fire.
The young general looked up at the aurora that reached into the sky, knowing that their group was just the vanguard. In the distance, the Former Imperial Court's main forces were approaching from three directions, rather than attacking, the Dashiun camp, leaving a single gap—the direction of the unconquered Dashiun camp.
This gap was intentionally left open, preventing the camp from being fully fortified while also denying them the opportunity to regroup. Instead, they would strike and intercept any potential reinforcements, waiting for the sandworm swarm to dissipate before closing in on the relic.
Another day passed, and after a night of cultivation, Chen Chuan finished his nutrient meal and fed some to Chao Ming. He stepped out of the tent and looked around.
The bug tide was still present but much sparser than the previous two days, indicating it would likely disperse within a day or two. That would be the time for him to take action.
He looked in a specific direction, towards a barren rocky mountain. If his memory served him right, the Linax Federation's camp was nearby.
Unbeknownst to him, the Worm Moth had silently moved to this location.
After some thought, he went out, found Xu Chan, and pointed in that direction.
"Old Xu, do you see that mountain? There's likely a Linax Federation camp there. According to the Skinner's instructions, Manager Wen's remains are there. Now that we're here, I plan to go and take a look."
Xu Chan glanced in that direction, "Chen, are you sure?"
Chen Chuan said, "I calculated the distance; if I hurry, it'll only take a few minutes. I'll go and check. If I can't find it, I'll return immediately."
...
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(End of Chapter)
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