Chapter 757: Withdrawal
Chapter 757: Withdrawal
Within the tent, a slit as tall as a person emitted a flickering radiance, but the carpet before the slit was empty, with only the relic lying there.
On the other side of the slit, a patch of brilliance.
Chen Chuan sat there in meditation.
The radiance from the relic concealed the night in the fusion zone, and no signs of contamination appeared within the rift. Nothing seemed to covet the existence on this side, so he deduced that the radiance likely had a shielding effect.
Thus, he decided to try crossing the rift to take a look at the other side.
As long as he didn't stray too far from the slit, even if he encountered danger, he could quickly return.
Previously, when the Worm Mother split, he had come to this realm to search for the split offspring, but that time he only stayed briefly, found the offspring, and left. He hadn't stayed for long, but this time, after coming over, he decided to try cultivating here.
After all, cultivating across the rift was not as good as being physically present here. Although this meant experiencing more contamination, with his second self, he didn't have to worry about it for now. He also discovered that where the radiance shone, the contamination was also blocked.
To ensure safety, he had instructed Hongfu beforehand to alert him at the slightest disturbance, and then retreat outside. However, perhaps because he didn't move far from the rift and directly faced the radiance, nothing from this side approached him that night. It was as if they all ignored this area.
At this moment, from the tent across the rift, a morning bird chirped.
Chen Chuan opened his eyes, his pupils overflowing with bright light. After another day and night of cultivation, his spirit had reached a state of self-fulfillment.
Each person's level of fulfillment is different. Some, due to limited talent, even if they reach fulfillment, are still a step away from breaking through the boundary. Others possess the ability to reach this boundary but lack the external resources to propel themselves forward.
On the path upward, both one's talent and external conditions are indispensable.
For Chen Chuan, both conditions were now met. At this point, relying solely on his original self, he was already capable of ascending higher. He had various drugs at hand to aid his ascent, and if he wished, he could now take that step upward.
However...
He looked at his second self; there was only one step left. By re-integrating the power of his second self and building an unprecedented foundation, he would then break through that limit.
He picked up the Snow Queen Saber on his knee, stood up, and walked out of the rift without looking back. With a wave of the saber, the rift instantly sealed.
He then freshened up, re-dressed, put on the wide-brimmed hat he had set aside, and took the relic. He exited the tent.
Xu Chan and the team members were waiting outside. When Chen Chuan appeared, they suddenly sensed an extraordinary aura about him, something indescribable, which made their hearts flutter. But in a moment of daze, the feeling seemed to disappear.
Others thought it was just an illusion or a mental collision, but Xu Chan was surprised. He seemed to recall something and couldn't help but look at Chen Chuan a few more times.
After Chen Chuan came out, he glanced downward and saw that the insect swarm below had thinned out, barely posing a significant threat. He also noticed the birds in the sky and looked at the distant airship. "It seems they've arrived," he said.
Xu Chan's expression turned solemn. "Manager Chen, we're all ready."
Chen Chuan nodded slightly and asked, "Old Xu, is there a problem?"
Xu Chan replied decisively, "No problem!"
According to the plan, Chen Chuan would carry the relic and quickly head towards the Datong Camp, mobilizing the forces of the Old Imperial House. Then, he would intercept and annihilate the pursuing enemy elite forces.
Although the relic would attract the creatures of the Fusion Zone, his strength was sufficient to deal with such situations.
Chen Chuan handed the relic to Xu Chan, who solemnly took it and placed it in his backpack. Chen Chuan looked at the others and asked, "How's your side's preparation?"
"Manager, we're almost ready," they replied.
"Then let's begin," Chen Chuan said.
He extended his hand to Xu Chan, "Old Xu, let's go."
Xu Chan shook his hand, "Let's go." He then stepped back, saluted, and the others followed suit, standing respectfully.
After returning the salute, Chen Chuan watched as they dispersed, making their final preparations for departure.
Xu Chan, having secured everything he needed, bid farewell to Chen Chuan and the others. He leaped off the Silk Worm and increased his speed. Soon, he was traversing the uneven terrain, a trail of dust rising behind him, gradually disappearing from their sight.
However, the direction of the radiant relic's descent clearly indicated his current location.
The reconnaissance birds that had been circling above them suddenly split, with two of them breaking away from the flock and chasing after the light.
After bidding farewell to Chen Chuan with salutes, the group watched him leave, packing up their tents and carrying their belongings. They then departed, maintaining a certain distance from Xu Chan and keeping in touch via telegraph for possible support or regrouping.
Several reconnaissance birds followed them, except for one that remained circling above Chen Chuan, seemingly tasked with keeping an eye on him.
The birds couldn't differentiate the importance of individuals, relying on their visibility and numbers to make judgments. Those on the distant airship might be able to discern more, but they seemed primarily interested in the person carrying the radiant relic.
Chen Chuan stood alone for a moment as the others left. He returned to his tent, packed his belongings into his backpack, and patted the waiting Chao Ming, who obediently stayed in place.
Then, he set off, running along the tail of the silk worm. When he reached the end, he leaped forward, flipping in mid-air before landing steadily on his feet.
Glancing back at the massive creature, he tugged at his cloak and turned away, sprinting in a specific direction.
His route aligned with Xu Chan's, maintaining a distance from the other two teams. However, the path he chose was most likely to encounter the enemy's elite pursuit forces.
On the map, he was at the very bottom, while the others were above in a region filled with mountains and ravines, making it difficult for rapid movement. In contrast, his location in the plain hills was more suitable for troop deployment and pursuit.
If the old imperial house were to intercept them, any ground forces would likely come from the south.
Using airborne troops via airship was an option, but the situation remained the same. The dense forests of the fusion zone were home to numerous aggressive flying creatures that wouldn't yield to intruders, instead attacking them.
Thus, approaching from the plains was easier. The north was blocked by treacherous mountains, and there was no need for the old imperial house to send additional troops from that direction. It was sufficient to block some of the easier-to-traverse passes with a small force.
Chen Chuan maintained a steady pace for half a day until he reached a sparse forest ahead of a valley. The trees showed signs of gnawing, and most of the leaves were gone, indicating damage from the insect sand. Thankfully, many plants had survived.
In the distance, a hint of green was visible, confirming his earlier judgment. Accelerating, he headed towards the dense forest.
As his speed increased, the following reconnaissance bird also sped up, but this time, Chen Chuan was too fast, and the bird struggled to keep up, chasing desperately.
After more than twenty minutes, he sensed the foliage around him becoming denser. Through the gaps in the leaves, he spotted the bird still persistently pursuing him. Chen Chuan decided to deal with it.
He quickened his pace, bursting into the lush forest ahead.
The bird couldn't see Chen Chuan's direction due to the foliage, so it naturally lowered its altitude. However, it had clearly received some training, maintaining a safe distance to avoid being attacked, slowing down only slightly.
Suddenly, a dark shadow swooped down diagonally from above. Chao Ming, having dived from the sky, struck the bird's neck with a loud slap!
For days, he had been nourished by the radiant relic and stimulated by the light from the rift, growing significantly larger than when he entered the fusion zone.
This wasn't just a size increase; his anomalous organization had expanded, and his combat power had skyrocketed. With one kick, he snapped the bird's neck, causing it to plummet from the sky, breaking a few branches on its way down before crashing to the ground.
Chao Ming flapped his wings, circling excitedly and letting out several triumphant cries.
Chen Chuan approached the fallen bird, noticing a copper ring on its foot engraved with the old-era character 'Wei'. But as he drew closer, a strong, nauseating odor filled the air, forcing him to hold his breath.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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