Chapter 758: Ambush
Chapter 758: Ambush
Upon catching a whiff of the scent, Chao Ming paused in deep thought.
He had heard of the Former Imperial Court's scout birds used for tracking in the wild, but they were of little use in large-scale military engagements, so the records only mentioned them briefly.
Based on his observations during his journey, the creatures in the Convergence Zone rarely lasted long after losing their ability to resist or turning into corpses. Yet, this bird had been lying there for a while, and not a single bug or creature had come to tear it apart.
The environment around them had been damaged by the Sandworm Swarm, but the Convergence Zone's ecosystem recovered quickly, especially in this dense forest.
The scent on this bird likely had the effect of keeping the local creatures at bay.
This indirectly explained why the bird seemed to have no combat ability yet could fly so far without being preyed upon.
It seemed to be trained to guard against ground-based attacks, probably never considering threats from above, which led to Chao Ming's successful strike.
He couldn't help but wish that Chao Ming could also be coated with such a substance, allowing him to fly freely in the sky without worry.
However, upon further thought, the scent might be from a special drug, and it was uncertain if being exposed to it would make one a target for tracking by the Former Imperial Court. In that case, it was better to keep a distance.
So, he turned away, gathered some dry branches, scattered them around, and poured some portable fuel oil to set the scout bird on fire.
This was to destroy the evidence of Chao Ming's attack, preventing the bird from being on guard the next time. Of course, after losing it once, the Former Imperial Court would be more cautious, but without knowing the specific reason, they couldn't come up with a targeted solution.
At that moment, the sound of flapping wings approached, and Chao Ming descended from above, landing nearby and letting out a chirp.
Chao Ming had intentionally left Chao Ming behind to follow and seize the opportunity to attack the scout bird. Now, with the mission accomplished, he approached, took out several high-energy nutrient beans to feed Chao Ming as a reward, and then patted it, signaling it to continue flying high above for reconnaissance.
After dealing with the traces below, he quickly assessed the situation and continued his charge forward. This time, Chao Ming flew ahead, both guiding his direction and providing early warnings.
About two hours later, Chao Ming suddenly let out a series of short chirps from above.
Chao Ming's eyes flashed, recognizing the signal they had agreed upon. Chao Ming must have spotted something, but this time, it was flying higher, and the small realm creature on his body couldn't reach that far, so he couldn't see what it was.
However, judging by the chirps, it was most likely a cavalry unit, the Former Imperial Court's most commonly used force. These mounted troops had a swift advance and were more agile in navigating the Convergence Zone.
And for them to arrive so quickly, they must be an elite squad.
At that moment, the cavalry unit that had intercepted General Saber's forces had reached the vicinity and halted upon seeing the distant forest.
The bird handler responsible for transmitting messages through the scout bird glanced at the flying bird in the sky. Seeing one of them emitting a mournful wail, he immediately rode over to the young Auxiliary General and reported, "General, one of our scout birds has lost contact ahead."
The young general asked, "Is it the one watching over the relic?"
"No, sir."
"Then we need not pay it any mind," the young general said.
This time, they were tasked with pursuing and seizing the relic, and the person protecting it was their primary concern.
He didn't underestimate their opponents. Based on the reports, they were up against an Investigation Director from the Handling Bureau, along with several Execution Team Leaders.
Although they didn't appear exceptionally powerful in their official capacities, the fact that they had defeated the Corporate Alliance and Linax Federation forces, securing the relic, was proof that the Central City had dispatched formidable individuals this time.
His own side was also formidable, with him leading the charge, a capable Adjutant, three Title-Bearing Assigned Samurai, and over a dozen elite Assigned Samurai. Even if they couldn't win head-on, they could stall the enemy until more reinforcements arrived.
Of course, as the general leading an elite vanguard, he hoped his cavalry would capture the relic, not letting other units claim the glory.
After a brief exchange, they spurred their Dragon Nose Horses and set off again, this time skirting the edge of the forest instead of entering it, guided by the relic's radiant aura.
Chao Ming heard Chao Ming's short chirps again and quickly changed direction, flying swiftly. Chao Ming immediately understood that the enemy had turned.
He didn't rush into action but called out, and Chao Ming immediately lowered its altitude. Once within a certain distance, Chao Ming used the small realm creature on his body to observe the situation ahead. The rolling dust and sand extended in one direction, confirming his earlier deduction.
This was a small cavalry unit, with only a few dozen to over a hundred riders, and birds were circling above them.
He pondered for a moment and quickly formulated a plan. He sprinted towards the direction of the approaching cavalry, keeping to the edge of the dense forest. He didn't push himself to run too fast, but even so, he soon outpaced the cavalry and gradually left them behind.
After a while, he was sure he was out of their line of sight. He glanced to the side and saw an undulating terrain ahead. After running for a bit longer, he spotted a suitable area. He burst out of the forest and reached a smooth, flat rock that seemed to seamlessly merge with the ground, with a cracked boulder in front of it.
This spot was perfect. He positioned himself within the crack, clenched his fist, and struck the flat rock. With a loud bang, large chunks of stone fell, revealing a vertical crevasse just big enough to hide a person.
He turned and leaned against the rock, and the protruding upper rock acted as a natural overhang, concealing him from view from behind due to the angle.
He gestured to the sky, signaling Chao Ming to fly away, and then drew the Snow Lady Sword from its sheath. Taking a deep breath, he calmed his breathing, and his aura became completely concealed, but his mind was highly focused.
The Snow Lady Sword resonated with his will, humming softly before settling into silence.
The altered tissue within him was now an integral part of his body. When he wielded the sword, it amplified his force. With each kill and the stimulation of his mind, the altered tissue became denser, allowing him to harness more psychic power.
He didn't have to count the number of horses, but his psychic power could sense many things. In an instant, he estimated that there were about two to three hundred horses, with a similar number of riders.
This many people, riding at high speed while maintaining a nearly perfect formation, indicated an elite squad.
Judging by their arrival time, they were likely the vanguard sent to intercept them.
He waited, holding the sword.
After a while, the sound of galloping grew louder, filling his ears, and the ground and rocks behind him trembled.
The sound of thunderous hooves approached, and several riders at the front of the cavalry unit leaped over him from the side, continuing their charge without a backward glance.
Chen Chuan had no intention of attacking them. He leaned against the stone, feeling a powerful aura approaching from behind.
He closed his eyes, and his mind automatically processed the information from the aura and the vibrations around him, forming a clear image of the riders' speed, the weight of the horses and their riders, the height of the riders, their rhythm of movement, and their approximate fighting skill.
As the riders drew closer, Chen Chuan suddenly opened his eyes, leaped forward, landed on a large rock across from him, and pushed off with a powerful kick. The rock exploded with a loud bang, and he burst through the air like a cannonball, hurtling towards his target!
The young general's metal face mask revealed widened pupils as he reacted swiftly. In the face of extreme danger, he entered a burst state, causing the altered tissue to spread across his body, and his lance emitted a bright light, which he raised just in time to block the incoming attack.
Chen Chuan's long sword, positioned nearby, slashed through the air, creating a semi-circular arc of light as he executed a powerful diagonal slash!
In an instant, the lance and the sword collided, and their respective lights instantly faded. But even as the light on the lance dimmed, the light on the sword remained bright.
In that fleeting moment, the young general's gaze met a pair of calm, serene eyes.
The next moment, the Dragon Nose Horse beneath the general whinnied and collapsed, its bones cracking. The general's feet slipped from the stirrups, and he fell to the ground on one side.
He held his lance diagonally, staring at the figure standing before him. Amidst the swirling dust, a red kerchief fluttered, and the cavalry riders rushed past on both sides.
After a while, there was a cracking sound, and the general's helmet and face mask split open, falling to the ground, revealing a pale young face. A bloodstain appeared between his eyebrows, and a moment later, his body slumped forward, crashing into the dust with a loud bang.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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