Chapter 533: The Illusion Technique and Divine Wind Travel — A Nervous Qin Feng |
Year Thirteen of Great Xia, First Day of the First Month, just after nightfall.
"Cai Qianshan refuses to back down and intends to continue supporting Jinshan and Wuchuan towns in fighting us. According to what Cai Qiuhu just said, Qin Feng's fifty thousand troops should have a follow-up move. The Department Chancellor has already arrived at Wuchuan Town City to personally oversee the situation. The Lord Leader sent me to remind you: keep an eye on Qin Feng's fifty thousand troops. Of course, if possible, it would be best to eliminate them!"
Above Donggu City, Xu Ning, who had just arrived, quickly recounted everything that had happened at Pass City during the day to Luo Yuan, before finally conveying Xia Hong's final instructions.
Although Luo Yuan was listening, his gaze remained fixed on the Wuchuan military camp about two or three kilometers north of Donggu City. Only after Xu Ning finished speaking did he nod, a faint smile on his face. "Qin Feng's fifty thousand troops have already lost their chance. Last night, they pulled all of Donggu City's equipment and supplies out with the army. Now, aside from returning to reinforce the town city, they can't go anywhere else."
Even before he captured Donggu City, he had considered this. With Longgu and Beishuo changing hands, and Cao Qianyang from Yangju currently leading his people in withdrawal, the northern battlefield now only had Jinshan and Wuchuan towns left. Qin Feng's fifty thousand troops, burdened with supplies, couldn't travel far in a short time. Besides heading north to reinforce the town city, they had no other path.
"Last night, right after capturing Donggu City, I sent people to Wuchuan Town City to notify the twenty thousand elite troops under the Department Chancellor's command. Right now, scouts are everywhere. The moment Qin Feng's fifty thousand men move, news will come in at any time."
Upon hearing this, a smile immediately appeared on Xu Ning's face.
Donggu City was only about twenty kilometers from Wuchuan City. Fifty thousand troops could reach it in at most two hours at their fastest. Logically, once Donggu City was lost last night, Qin Feng should have immediately led his fifty thousand troops north to reinforce Wuchuan City.
But in reality, six hours had passed since Donggu City changed hands. Qin Feng's fifty thousand troops had been stationed about three kilometers north of the city the entire time, not moving an inch.
Before Luo Yuan could finish his sentence, a bitingly cold wind suddenly swept over from the north. His voice immediately halted, his expression momentarily stunned.
"Wind?"
Xu Ning noticed it too. After uttering the word, he realized the cold wind was blowing from the direction of the Wuchuan military camp to the north, and his expression instantly changed.
"This wind is strange!"
Before he could finish speaking, Luo Yuan surged forward.
Seeing this, Xu Ning also reacted and quickly followed behind him, moving closer to the location of the Wuchuan military camp to the north.
The Wuchuan military camp was only about two or three kilometers north of Donggu City. Although both men were flying, they were wary of potential tricks from Qin Feng and didn't dare approach too quickly. It took them over twenty breaths to slowly close the distance to about three or four hundred meters from the camp.
"The camp looks fine. The campfires are burning, the soldiers are there..."
However, once they got closer, both men were immediately stunned.
The Wuchuan military camp showed no problems at all—at least visually. Yet, the camp was continuously emitting a chilling wind outward, and the wind speed was increasing, gradually sweeping up the accumulated snow on the ground to form a snow mist. This mist covered the camp while continuously spreading outward.
"Covering the camp... what are they trying to hide?"
Hearing Xu Ning's words, Luo Yuan's brow furrowed. He then took the lead and descended to the ground, locating the forward observation post of the Xia troops.
The moment their feet touched the ground, both men's expressions changed dramatically.
The reason was simple. Just moments ago from high above, they clearly saw cold wind blowing from the camp, so dense it almost obscured the sky. From their aerial vantage point, they could barely make out the camp below.
But after landing, they discovered the camp before them showed not the slightest abnormal air movement. It was completely calm and still.
The location of the Wuchuan military camp was nearly three kilometers from Donggu City. In an extremely cold and frigid environment like the Ice Abyss, three kilometers was not a short distance. The perception range of an ordinary Sun Manifestation Level expert simply couldn't extend that far. Fortunately, fifty thousand troops were a substantial number, and the ground camp stretched as far as the eye could see, allowing Sun Manifestation Level experts in the air to visually observe the general outline of the camp.
But this was wartime. Just seeing the general outline wasn't enough. Therefore, Luo Yuan had long ago established eight forward observation posts around the perimeter of the Wuchuan military camp, ordering Xia troops soldiers to constantly monitor any unusual movements of the Wuchuan army.
"Who goes there... Salutations, Grand Marshal!"
The two soldiers on duty at the southern forward post were evidently quite competent. Seeing someone approach, they immediately issued a challenge. Upon recognizing Luo Yuan and Xu Ning, they hurriedly bowed their heads in salute.
Luo Yuan wasted no time on pleasantries either. Waving his hand to indicate they need not stand on ceremony, he directly asked, "After watching for so long, have you noticed anything?"
Upon hearing this, both men shook their heads. The soldier on the left spoke up, "One hour ago, there was a large plume of cooking smoke from within the Wuchuan camp. They were probably cooking a meal. I've already sent the message back to the city. Other than that, the Wuchuan camp has shown no unusual movements. Even the sounds from within the camp have been growing fainter."
Sounds growing fainter?
Luo Yuan keenly seized upon the scout's words. He turned his head to look at the Wuchuan camp to the north, his expression turning serious. Suddenly thinking of something, he pulled out a Yellow Candle from his robe and lit it.
Sizzle... sizzle...
The moment the Yellow Candle was lit, a faint sizzling sound emanated within a three-meter radius. The originally calm and still environment suddenly began to stir with a cold wind. A fine but dense snow mist also began to manifest.
The snow mist had clearly already completely obscured the camp. The scene their eyes beheld now was completely different from what they saw before the Yellow Candle was lit.
"This..."
The two scouts paled instantly upon seeing this.
"Damn it, they've already run! A deceptive trickery technique to confuse close-range observers. Wuchuan doesn't have means like this. Caiqiu has indeed intervened."
Xu Ning spoke with a grim expression. The two scouts immediately knelt, begging for punishment, their faces filled with guilt and self-reproach.
"Grand Marshal, forgive us, your subordinates..."
"Are you all pig-brained? Before the battle, all scouts were issued Yellow Candles. After watching for so long, you actually didn't think to use them? Get back and report for thirty military lashes each! Afterwards, go serve in the Equipment and Supplies Battalion!"
Before the two scouts could finish, Luo Yuan cut them off.
He waved his hand, dismissing them, his face filled with fury as he strode toward the Wuchuan military camp.
Xu Ning's expression was also unpleasant as he followed behind.
Luo Yuan, holding the Yellow Candle, walked all the way to the perimeter of the camp. As the candle's light spread over the area, the camp that had appeared to their eyes as blazing with fierce flames simply vanished.
Seeing this scene, Luo Yuan's face grew even darker. He continued forward. As one camp after another disappeared before his eyes, he suddenly hurled the Yellow Candle forward with force.
"We've been tricked. This deceptive technique is even stronger than my Miasma Mist Abomination Technique. You hurry to notify the Department Chancellor. I'll return immediately to mobilize the army and set out. Qin Feng must have taken his men to Wuchuan Town City!"
A trace of urgency colored Luo Yuan's face. After speaking, he immediately flew back toward Donggu City. Xu Ning didn't waste a single word either; after replying, he immediately ascended into the air and flew north toward Wuchuan Town City.
Both men's moods instantly grew tense.
The scouts had said there was activity from cooking fires an hour ago. Judging by the initial signs of the cold wind spreading, Qin Feng's fifty thousand troops had been gone for at most a little over an hour.
This place was only about twenty kilometers from Wuchuan Town City. In a little over an hour, they might almost be there. If these fifty thousand troops silently returned to Wuchuan City and coordinated with the defending garrison inside, wouldn't Xia Chuan's twenty thousand elite Xia troops be in danger?
………………
However, just as Luo Yuan and Xu Ning were reacting swiftly.
About fifteen kilometers east of Donggu City.
A hazy, cold wind swiftly swept eastward.
That cold wind carried billowing snow mist, covering an extremely wide area, roughly over five kilometers in length and width. From the outside looking in, nothing could be seen clearly.
Above the snow mist, about a dozen figures stood in the air.
Qin Feng was among them, but his position was quite far back at the moment. He looked down at the fifty thousand troops below, his brow furrowed with struggle and helplessness.
"Lord Qin, no need to worry. Wuchuan City is your stronghold. Although there are only ten thousand defenders inside the city, there are also one hundred and seventy thousand Digging Realm cultivators. Plus, my senior brother is personally overseeing the defense. Never mind the Great Xia's twenty thousand elites, even if all forty thousand troops from Donggu City came over, they couldn't breach it in a short time..."
The leader, noticing Qin Feng's expression, spoke in a deep voice to comfort him. After a pause, he continued, "My Caiqiu army has already begun marching south from the Bone-Erosion Path. The crux of the current battle lies at the Pass. As long as we can crush the Xia troops at the Pass and allow the Jinshan army to break out, the siege of Wuchuan can be easily resolved. When our two forces merge, and with the support of my Caiqiu army, for the Xia troops to think of overthrowing your two towns would be nothing but wishful thinking!"
Hearing the leader's words, Qin Feng nodded slightly, a glimmer of hope rising in his pupils. However, this glimmer of hope was clearly somewhat forced.
Qin Feng's heart was very conflicted at this moment. After being tricked by Luo Yuan out of Donggu City last night, he had actually already considered surrendering to Great Xia. Unfortunately, that stubborn sliver of attachment in his heart ultimately couldn't be let go.
Coincidentally, at this very moment, Caiqiu sent people again!
The two who came this time were no ordinary individuals either. One was the Whitewater Commandery Governor, Cai Qiu Hong, son of Fang Bo Cai Qianshan. The other was a general from the Caiqiu Mufu, Cai Qianshan's eldest disciple, Zhu Huorong. Both were at the Tribulation Body Realm cultivation level.
These two, upon arrival, solved two major problems for him.
First, the crisis at Wuchuan Town City. Zhu Huorong, upon arriving last night, immediately took men to Wuchuan Town City and guaranteed him that the town city would not fall to the Xia troops within a month.
Second, the issue of where his fifty thousand troops should go. While Zhu Huorong took men to help defend Wuchuan Town City, the plan Cai Qiu Hong proposed was for him to lead the fifty thousand troops east to Pass City.
Yuwen Tao's Right Route Army of forty thousand troops was currently facing off against Jinshan Town at the foot of Pass City. Sending him with fifty thousand troops to Pass City at this time naturally had an obvious purpose.
Qin Feng didn't even need to think about it; he immediately wanted to refuse.
His own Wuchuan City couldn't even be protected; where would he find the spare effort to help Jinshan Town?
But at this point, he no longer had the option to refuse.
With Cai Qiu Hong and Zhu Huorong, two Tribulation Body Realm experts, present, along with over a hundred Caiqiu Sun Manifestation Level experts, how could he possibly refuse?
In fact, from the moment those two arrived, his control over these fifty thousand troops had already existed in name only.
As the Lord of Wuchuan, he certainly had the ability to incite the fifty thousand troops to rebel. But the question was, even if he did that, what then?
After being tricked out of Donggu City by Luo Yuan last night, he had lost all authority. Several Sun Manifestation Level experts from other clans within Caiqiu were already getting restless. If he really dared to cause trouble, Cai Qiu Hong and Zhu Huorong might just kill him outright. At this point, replacing him with someone else to command the army wouldn't be difficult.
Furthermore, the best opportunity to surrender to Great Xia had already passed. If he fell out with Caiqiu now, the consequences would only be worse.
"Something must have happened last night. Initially, Caiqiu only wanted to help me defend the city. Now, three Tribulation Body Realm experts have come, and even those Sun Manifestation Level experts who weren't very committed before have started putting in effort..."
Qin Feng looked up at the sky. A man holding a giant palm-leaf fan was frantically waving it downward. With each swing, a large amount of bitingly cold wind blew out, forming a sky-full of snow mist that covered the marching troops.
Once the marching troops were enveloped by the cold wind, not only were their traces completely hidden, but their marching speed also increased severalfold. It was truly incredibly miraculous.
He had noticed that these people from Caiqiu had been acting a bit strange since last night. Previously, their attitude toward Great Xia was mostly one of disdain, even contempt. But starting from last night, they seemed to have become much more serious. Moreover, some methods they had been unwilling to use before were now being deployed one after another.
"This deceptive technique can only fool people for a little while. Luo Yuan has most likely already realized we've left by now. He probably thinks we've headed north to reinforce Wuchuan City. But in reality, we're going to the Pass. Cai Qiu Hong intends to use this time difference to have my forces join up with the defenders at Pass City and crush Yuwen Tao's Right Route Army..."
Having been a lord for so many years, Qin Feng was no fool. Although Cai Qiu Hong hadn't explicitly stated his intentions yet, based on the army's movements, Qin Feng had already guessed his plan.
"Right now, there's only one path forward, and I have to see it through to the end. If we can crush Yuwen Tao's Right Route Army and free Jinshan Town from Pass City, merging the armies of our two towns will give us the strength to contend with the Xia troops. As long as we can hold out until the Caiqiu army marches south from the Bone-Erosion Path, Wuchuan will truly have a chance of survival!"
After much deliberation, Qin Feng realized this was the only viable path left.
The plan Cai Qiu Hong proposed for him wasn't fundamentally flawed.
Even if he led the fifty thousand troops back to Wuchuan Town City and somehow managed to crush the twenty thousand Xia elites, Luo Yuan's forty thousand troops could still immediately head north and besiege Wuchuan City. With the entire northern territory now under Great Xia's control, Xia Hong could continuously send more troops. Once they blockaded Wuchuan Town City, their ultimate fate would still be defeat and destruction.
On the contrary, if everything could develop as Cai Qiu Hong said—crushing Yuwen Tao's Right Route Army and then holding out until the Caiqiu army marches south—only then would Jinshan and Wuchuan towns truly have a path to survival.
But if that happened, could their two towns still exist as independent entities within the Southern Foothills territory?
This question suddenly arose in Qin Feng's mind, and his expression darkened considerably. Then, looking up at Cai Qiu Hong ahead and the group of Caiqiu Sun Manifestation Level experts, he quickly suppressed this thought.
Matters for the future would have to be dealt with then.
The most urgent priority right now was still Great Xia!