Chapter 758: The Ambush
Chapter 758: The Ambush
Upon catching a whiff of the scent, Chen Chuan paused in thought.
He had heard of a type of reconnaissance bird used by the Old Imperial House for tracking in the wilderness, but such creatures were not very effective in large-scale battles, so the information only briefly mentioned it.
Based on his observations, the creatures in the Jinbei Dao Convergence Zone rarely lasted long once they lost their ability to resist or turned into corpses, yet this bird had been lying there for some time without any insects or creatures coming to tear it apart.
The environment around them had been damaged by the insect sand, but the ecosystem of the Convergence Zone recovered quickly, especially in this dense forest.
Therefore, the scent on this bird must have some effect that kept the local creatures away.
This indirectly explained why it seemed to have no combat power and could fly so far without being preyed upon.
It seemed to be trained to be wary of attacks from the ground, probably never considering threats from above, which was why Chao Ming's attack was successful.
Chen Chuan couldn't help but think that if Chao Ming could also be covered in this scent, he could fly through the sky without worry.
But upon further reflection, he realized that the scent might be from a special medication, and he wasn't sure if being exposed to it would make him a target for tracking by the Old Imperial House. If so, it would be better to keep his distance.
So, he turned away, gathered some dry branches, scattered them around, and poured some of the fire-starting oil he carried. He set the reconnaissance bird ablaze.
This was to destroy the traces of Chao Ming's attack, so as to avoid being prepared for the next time. Of course, after a failed attempt, the Old Imperial House 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.
Chen Chuan had intentionally left Chao Ming behind to follow and take the opportunity to attack the reconnaissance bird. Now, with the task completed, he walked over, took out a few high-energy nutrient beans to feed it as a reward, then patted it and sent it back into the sky to continue its patrol.
After dealing with the traces below, Chen Chuan quickly identified the situation and continued to dash forward, with Chao Ming flying ahead, both guiding him and providing early warnings.
About two hours later, Chao Ming suddenly let out a series of short chirps from above.
Chen Chuan's eyes flashed. This was the signal they had agreed upon. Chao Ming must have seen something, but this time, it was flying higher, and the small domain 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 most commonly used force by the Old Imperial House. These cavalrymen were fast in their charges and could easily maneuver through the Convergence Zone.
And for them to arrive so quickly, they must be an elite force.
At that moment, the cavalry unit that had captured Brigadier General Seraph was nearby, having stopped upon seeing the dense forest in the distance.
The bird handler in charge of reconnaissance looked up at the sky and saw a bird emitting mournful cries. He immediately rode over to the young Auxiliary General and reported, "Sir, one of the reconnaissance birds has lost contact."
The young general asked, "Is it the one watching over the Radiant Relic?"
"No, sir."
"Then we need not pay it any mind."
This time, their task was to pursue and capture the Radiant Relic, and the only person they needed to focus on was the one protecting it.
He didn't underestimate the opposition. According to the information from the rear, they were facing an investigation manager from the Handling Bureau, along with several execution captains.
Although their official positions didn't suggest exceptional strength, defeating the Union and Linaksis Federation forces and seizing the relic was proof enough that the personnel sent from Central City were not ordinary.
Their own side was also not weak. Apart from himself, there was a deputy with similar strength, three titled Assigned Samurai, and over a dozen elite Assigned Samurai. Even if they couldn't win head-on, they could hold out until more elite forces arrived.
As the general leading an elite vanguard, he was eager for his cavalry to capture the relic, rather than letting other units take the credit.
After a few words, they spurred their Dragon Nose Horses and charged forward again, this time skirting the edge of the forest instead of entering it. With the radiant cloud of the relic as their guide, they wouldn't lose sight of their target.
Chen Chuan then heard Chao Ming's short chirps again, and it suddenly changed direction and flew rapidly. He instantly knew that the enemy must have turned.
Without haste, he called out, and Chao Ming immediately lowered its body. Once within range, Chen Chuan used the small domain creature to observe the situation ahead. The rolling sandstorm extended towards a certain direction, confirming his earlier deduction.
A small cavalry unit, numbering around a few dozen to over a hundred, advanced with birds of prey circling above.
After a moment's thought, he devised a strategy and quickly sprinted towards the direction of the cavalry's charge.
He moved along the edge of the dense forest, not pushing his speed too much. Still, he soon outpaced the cavalry, gradually leaving them behind.
After leaping over a stretch, he ensured he was out of their line of sight, glanced to the side, and spotted an undulating terrain ahead. After a further sprint, he identified a suitable spot—a smooth rock surface seemingly connected to the ground, with a cracked, broken stone ahead.
He reached the crack, clenched his fist, and struck the smooth rock with a loud bang, causing large chunks of debris to fall, creating a vertical crevice just large enough to hide a person.
He turned and leaned against it, the protruding rock above resembling an awning, strategically positioned to block the view from behind, be it the birds above or the cavalry themselves.
He signaled the reconnaissance bird, Chao Ming, to move away, then drew the Snow Queen Saber from its sheath and took a deep breath. His breath became subdued, and his domain completely blocked, but his mind was highly focused.
The saber responded to his will, humming before settling into a calm state.
The altered tissue within him was now akin to an extension of his body, amplifying his power with each swing. As he fought and severed more enemies, the altered tissue would gradually condense, allowing him to harness more spiritual energy.
Soon, he heard the thunderous hoofbeats, and although he hadn't been specifically trained to discern numbers, his intangible mental force could sense many things. In an instant, he estimated the approaching horses to be around two to three hundred, with riders numbering about a hundred.
Such a large group, maintaining near-perfect unison at high speed, undoubtedly marked them as an elite force.
Based on their arrival time, he deduced they were likely pursuing their vanguard.
He waited, saber in hand.
Time passed, and the thundering sounds drew closer, filling his ears and causing the ground and rocks behind him to tremble.
As the sound of rolling thunder reached him, several cavalrymen at the front leaped past from his side, quickly moving forward without glancing back.
Chen Chuan had no intention of engaging them yet. He stood still, already sensing a powerful aura approaching from behind.
Closing his eyes, he visualized the information conveyed by the domain and the vibrations around him. He saw their speed, the weight of the horses and riders, the rider's height, their movement rhythm, and their approximate fighting skill.
As they drew closer, he suddenly opened his eyes, leaped forward, stepped onto a large rock across, and pushed off. The rock exploded with a boom, and he burst through the air like a cannonball towards his target!
The young general's metal face mask widened in surprise, and his reaction was swift. Faced with extreme danger, he entered a burst state, causing all his altered tissue to spread across his body. The long lance in his hand emitted a flash of light, just in time to block the attack.
Chen Chuan, now close by, swung his saber in a semi-circular arc, executing a powerful diagonal slash!
In an instant, the lance and saber clashed, and their lights momentarily merged before fading. But even as the light on the lance dimmed, the saber's glow remained vivid.
In that fleeting moment, the young general's gaze met a pair of deep, serene eyes.
The next instant, his dragon-nosed horse neighed and collapsed, its bones cracking. The general's feet slipped from the stirrups, and he fell to the ground on one side.
Holding his lance diagonally, he stared at the figure standing before him, shrouded in billowing dust. Amidst the red handkerchief fluttering in the wind, the surrounding cavalrymen rushed past on both sides.
After a while, a crack sounded, and his helmet and face mask split open, falling to the ground. A pale young face was revealed, with a bloodstain on his forehead. After a moment, his body slumped forward with a thud, landing in the dusty ground.
...
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(End of Chapter)
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