Chapter 757: Withdrawal
Chapter 757: Withdrawal
Within the tent, a crack, as tall as a person, glowed with flickering light. However, the carpet in front of the crack was empty, except for the relic that lay there.
On the other side of the crack, a radiant glow filled the area.
Chen Chuan sat there with unwavering focus.
The aurora emanating from the relic masked the Convergence Zone's night, making it appear normal. No signs of infestation emerged from the rift, and no creatures came to covet the relic. Chen Chuan deduced that the aurora likely served as a protective barrier.
He decided to venture through the rift to investigate.
As long as he didn't stray too far from the crack, he could quickly return if faced with any danger.
In fact, when the Worm Moth had split, he had briefly visited this realm to search for the split entity. However, he had only stayed momentarily, finding the entity and then leaving without lingering for long. This time, upon his return, he decided to cultivate here.
After all, cultivating across the rift was not as effective as being physically present, even though it meant experiencing more of the infestation. But with his second self, he didn't need to worry about that for now. He also noticed that the infestation was equally suppressed by the radiant relic's glow.
To ensure his safety, he had instructed Hong Fu to alert him of any unusual movements so he could retreat outside. Perhaps because he hadn't ventured far from the crack, directly facing the radiant glow, nothing from the Convergence Zone approached him that night. It seemed like this area was being ignored.
At that moment, a chirp came from the tent across the crack.
Chen Chuan opened his eyes, his pupils shimmering with radiant light. After a day and night of cultivation, his spirit had reached a state of self-fulfillment.
Each person's level of fulfillment varies; some, limited by their talents, may never reach this state, while others, despite having the capacity, lack the external resources to propel themselves forward.
On the path to self-improvement, both personal talent and external conditions are indispensable.
Chen Chuan possessed both, and now, relying solely on his original self, he was ready to ascend to greater heights. He had various drugs to aid his journey, and if he chose, he could take that step forward.
However...
He looked at his second self, realizing there was one final step: merging with his second self again. Only after integrating their powers and establishing an unprecedented foundation would he break through that ultimate limit.
Chen Chuan picked up the Snow Lady Sword from his knee, stood up, and walked out of the crack without looking back. With a swift swing of his long sword, the rift sealed instantly.
He quickly freshened up, dressed properly, donned the wide-brimmed hat he had set aside, and carried the relic as he exited the tent.
Xu Chan and the rest of the team waited outside. As Chen Chuan emerged, they sensed an extraordinary aura about him, something indescribable yet unsettling, causing a fleeting heart palpitation. But the feeling vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Others dismissed it as a mere illusion or a mental clash, but Xu Chan felt a hint of surprise. He paused, as if struck by a sudden realization, and glanced at Chen Chuan several times.
Chen Chuan, after exiting, surveyed the area. The bug swarm below had thinned out, posing little threat. He also noticed the flying birds in the sky and, looking into the distance, said, "They've arrived."
Xu Chan approached with a solemn expression. "Manager Chen, we're all ready."
Chen Chuan nodded slightly and asked, "Old Xu, any issues?"
Xu Chan replied resolutely, "None!"
According to the plan, Chen Chuan would carry the relic and swiftly head towards the Datong Camp, mobilizing the Former Imperial Court's forces. Meanwhile, Chen Chuan would stay behind to intercept and annihilate the enemy's elite squad in pursuit.
Although the relic might attract creatures from the Convergence Zone, Chen Chuan's strength was sufficient to handle such situations.
Chen Chuan handed the relic to Xu Chan, who received it with reverence and placed it in his backpack. Chen Chuan then checked on the others, "How's your side coming along?"
"Manager, we're almost ready," they replied.
"Then let's begin," Chen Chuan said.
He extended his hand towards Xu Chan, "See you at the camp."
Xu Chan shook his hand, "See you at the camp." He then stepped back, bowed respectfully, and the others followed suit.
After returning the salute, Chen Chuan and the team swiftly prepared for departure.
Xu Chan, having gathered the necessary items, bid farewell to Chen Chuan and the team before leaping off the Worm Moth's body.
As he descended, he picked up speed, and soon, amidst the undulating terrain, a trail of dust marked his path as he vanished from their sight.
However, the direction of the beam of light that had just descended clearly indicated his current location.
Looking up, he noticed that two of the scout birds circling above them suddenly broke away from the flock and pursued the beam of light.
After bidding farewell to Chen Chuan and seeing him off, the group packed up their belongings and departed, maintaining a certain distance from Xu Chan's team while keeping in touch via telegraph for necessary support or rendezvous.
Several scout birds followed them, but one remained hovering above Chen Chuan, seemingly assigned to keep an eye on him.
The birds couldn't distinguish the importance of specific individuals; instead, they reacted to the prominence of the group and the number of people. The people on the distant airship might be able to make such distinctions, but their primary concern seemed to be the individual carrying the relic.
As the group moved away, Chen Chuan stood alone for a moment. He tidied up his belongings and packed them into his backpack. Then, he patted the obedient Chao Ming, who waited patiently in the same spot.
Chen Chuan set off, running along the tail of the giant worm, until he reached its end. With a leap, he jumped into the air, flipped, and landed firmly on both feet.
He glanced back at the massive creature, adjusted his cloak, and then sprinted off in a particular direction.
The direction he and Xu Chan were heading was roughly the same, but they maintained a safe distance between the three teams. However, Chen Chuan's chosen path was more likely to encounter the enemy's elite pursuit forces.
According to the map, he was at the very bottom, while the others were above him in a region filled with mountains and ravines, making it challenging for rapid movement. In contrast, his area was relatively open, with hills and plains, making it ideal for troop deployment and pursuit.
If the old imperial forces were to intercept them, they would likely approach from the south by land.
Using an airship to deploy airborne troops was also an option, but the situation remained the same. The high mountains and deep valleys of the Convergence Zone were home to numerous aggressive flying creatures that wouldn't yield to any flying object entering their territory. Instead, they would drive them away and attack.
Therefore, approaching from the plains was still the easier option. Moreover, the north was blocked by treacherous mountains, and there was no need for the old imperial forces to send another detachment from that direction. At most, they would place a blocking force at some narrow passes to hinder movement.
Chen Chuan maintained a steady pace for half a day until he reached a sparse valley ahead. The trees showed signs of gnawing, and most of the leaves were missing, indicating damage from the sandworm swarm. Fortunately, many plants had survived.
As he looked into the distance, he could make out faint greenery, confirming his earlier judgment. Continuing in this direction would lead to a dense forest, so he picked up the pace.
With his increased speed, the scout bird following him accelerated to keep up, but this time, Chen Chuan was too fast, and even the bird struggled to keep pace, frantically chasing behind.
After more than twenty minutes, Chen Chuan sensed the foliage around him becoming denser. He glanced upwards through the leaves and saw the persistent scout bird still in pursuit. He decided to deal with this bird first.
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. It seemed to have received some training, maintaining a safe distance to avoid being attacked. It slowed down slightly but didn't descend further.
Suddenly, a dark shadow slashed down from above, and Chao Ming dove from the sky, smacking the head and neck of the scout bird with a loud slap!
For several days, Chen Chuan had been nourished by the relic and stimulated by the light from the rift, causing him to grow significantly larger than when he first entered the Convergence Zone.
This growth wasn't just in size but also in altered tissue, making his combat abilities several times stronger. With one kick, he snapped the bird's neck, causing it to fall from the sky, breaking a few branches before crashing to the ground with a loud thud.
Chao Ming circled in the air, excitedly calling out several times.
Chen Chuan approached the fallen bird and immediately noticed a copper ring on its leg, engraved with the ancient character 'Wei' from the old era. However, as he drew closer, a strong, pungent odor assaulted his senses, forcing him to hold his breath and pause.
...
...
(End of Chapter)
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