https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-902-Comprehensive-Bright-Light-Illumination/13041348/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-904-Breaking-Through-the-Stronghold/13041350/
Chapter 903: Observing the Journey
Chapter 903: Observing the Journey
With the right direction, Noche, Chen Chuan, and the Tuner quickened their pace significantly.
The three didn't travel together but maintained a certain distance from each other, keeping a steady pace side by side. This strategy allowed them to cover a wider search area.
Along the way, they would occasionally stop to re-confirm their path, and fortunately, they always managed to find some traces that kept them heading in the right direction.
After a day's pursuit, Noche and the Tuner, who were on the left and right flanks, saw a burst of light rising into the sky. It was a signal from Moon Rhinoceros, and they realized he might have discovered something. The two quickly headed towards the source.
When they arrived, they found Moon Rhinoceros standing on an empty field, beckoning them, "Come and see this."
The two looked over, and in front of them was a tree that had been violently destroyed. The broken stump was relatively smooth, but now it was covered with all sorts of bizarre creatures, so many that their skin crawled at the sight of the teeming insects crawling in and out.
Both showed concern, as this was the second time they had seen traces of the target's attacks.
They could judge that this was the result of pure force, skillfully applied without excess or deficiency, just enough to topple the tree.
However, this alone wasn't impressive, nor did it reveal any special qualities, as even a third-limit fighter could easily accomplish this.
But Moon Rhinoceros said, "There's something in there."
After carefully examining the surroundings several times, a flash of light seemed to pass through the Tuner's sunglasses, and then a cloud of dust and dirt rose from the ground, roughly outlining a figure.
Noche looked back, and in the distance, there was a tall, sturdy figure, remarkably similar to their target. Even though it was just formed from swirling dust, they could sense a determined and sharp aura from it.
At that moment, a creature resembling both a cow and a deer suddenly ran past the broken tree, and the figure casually threw a punch towards them. In an instant, the force of the punch passed through the creature's body and struck the tree.
Was that an excessive use of force?
No!
The cow-deer-like creature ran away unharmed, and as the dust and dirt continued to rise from the broken stump, the original shape of the tree was restored. On it, a giant python was coiled high above.
As the cow-deer creature ran beneath it, the python made a downward pouncing motion. A force from the distance passed through the creature's body and, with pinpoint accuracy, entered the python's mouth, propelling its head towards the tree. The tree snapped under the impact, and the snake's head exploded.
The figure then approached with an unhurried stride, casually took something from the python's mutated body, turned around, and left calmly.
By restoring the scene, the three could see that the entire process had taken only a brief moment. However, the target's observation and judgment skills, as well as the clever use of force, gave them a sense of effortless mastery.
Moon Rhinoceros paused to ponder, then asked, "Did you notice something?"
Noche nodded, "The target's force used against the prey was a strand of clever force, achieving its goal with minimal cost."
"The target is trying to conserve their energy," Noche explained. "They came here to hunt and cultivate, so it's natural to prioritize cultivation in their energy expenditure."
"But is there a possibility that the target is injured?" Moon Rhinoceros asked.
Noche considered this, "We can't rule out that possibility."
Earlier, when they arrived, they had seen the battle site where Chen Chuan and the Demonic Spirit fought. Although many traces had been destroyed, some severely damaged areas had altered the terrain, leaving visible clues in the unconcealed vegetation.
Especially the giant hammer used by the Demonic Spirit, from which they could judge that the transmuted ancient warrior was incredibly powerful. It was possible that they had previously cultivated to a more profound level, explaining why the two conquering generals couldn't withstand them.
But on the other hand, the fact that both generals managed to retreat safely indicated that the transmuted warrior's strength had its limits and didn't fully retain its pre-transmutation combat prowess.
Nonetheless, this was a formidable opponent, and the target's solo defeat of the warrior testified to their exceptional strength. The surrounding devastated landscape also attested to this. However, it was unlikely that they achieved this without any cost.
This judgment was based on the traces, indicating that the target had fought the transmuted fighter more than once. The first encounter was initiated by the target, but their insufficient strength was evident. After better preparation, they fought again and defeated their opponent.
It was unlikely that the target's strength skyrocketed overnight, but a well-executed tactical strategy could explain this deduction.
The Tuner spoke without expression, "We shouldn't overestimate or underestimate the target. Even if they're injured, the abundance of ingredients in this forest means they've likely recovered by now."
Noche felt a twinge of regret. The Tuner struggled to restore the original appearance of places affected by the Spiritual Flame, preventing him from examining the details of the previous battle and forcing him to rely on deductions.
Moon Rhinoceros clenched his fist and said, "Let's go. I sense we're not far from the target."
Just a day later, they discovered a river flowing in their direction. Based on the direction and traces they had encountered, it was highly likely that the target had been following the river downstream. This route provided easy access to water and hunting opportunities.
This further simplified their task; they only needed to continue along the river.
Another day's journey confirmed their suspicions. The fresh traces of destruction nearby suggested the target's presence within the last two days.
"We're likely close to our target," the Tuner said. "The humidity suggests a larger body of water ahead, where they might be cultivating using local resources. At our current speed, we shouldn't be more than half a day away, according to the traces."
Hearing his assessment, the other two grew serious.
"It's already afternoon," Moon Rhinoceros said. "If we hurry, we'll arrive by nightfall. Let's cover some distance and find a place to rest for the night. We can continue the search tomorrow."
Noche and the Tuner agreed. The nights in Fusion Land are terrifying. If the target is ahead, we'll avoid confrontation until daylight."
"Should we wait for the Former Imperial Palace?" Noche asked.
The Tuner replied, "The Former Imperial Palace might not arrive on time. We can't wait for them and shouldn't rely on them. Their role is to divert the attention of the Jinbei Circuit Garrison and Central City."
"Exactly," Moon Rhinoceros agreed. "Their presence might expose us, and we can't afford that."
Noche had no objections. Sometimes, an extra person might not add strength but rather divide attention and require additional caution.
As night approached, the trio found a suitable spot. They erected defensive pillars filled with protective materials around them and set up a tent, lighting a defensive campfire.
In the depths of Fusion Land, these defensive pillars and fuel were consumed rapidly and, despite their bulk, were cumbersome to carry. Even so, they wouldn't have been used unless they were about to encounter the target and needed to adjust their state.
The trio gathered around the campfire for a final tactical discussion before battle. They formulated a retreat plan in case things didn't go as planned, although they believed their combined strength gave them a high chance of success.
Their tactics weren't overly complex, as intricate plans had lower success rates and less room for error, especially for a temporary team. There was no guarantee they'd remain allies at their next meeting, so they couldn't reveal all their techniques or expect perfect coordination. They could only establish a rough framework and seek alignment on the broader strategy.
After the discussion, Noche returned to his tent. For this plan, he had acquired a special weapon, a task that had taken considerable effort. He believed the target might have a particular attachment to weapons, and wielding it could attract their attention and serve as a distraction.
This idea might seem far-fetched, but it was reasonable in the context of martial artists. Gaining power often meant sacrificing something or embracing certain aspects. Even if he was wrong, the worst outcome was a wasted effort. But what if he was right?
The next morning, they set off early, following the river. After a night's rest, they felt refreshed and increased their pace, their state significantly improved after days of travel and tracking.
Within half a day, they reached a magnificent estuary. The river flowed into the sea, and about four to five kilometers away, a figure stood on the beach, with water flowing around them, separated by a field domain. A longsword was planted beside them.
A short distance in front of the figure lay a whale-like fish, its massive body initially awe-inspiring, but surprisingly easy to overlook next to the human silhouette.
As they spotted the figure, it seemed to sense their presence and turned to look in their direction.
...
(End of Chapter)
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