From Fanwu to Xinghai

Chapter 47 The Expedition

Three days later.

Outside the gates of the Qingyun Sect, a team of twenty people stood ready to depart.

Lin Chen stood at the front of the group, with nineteen carefully selected inner disciples behind him.

These were all elites at the Foundation Establishment stage or above, with even the weakest possessing the cultivation of the third level of Foundation Establishment. Among them, five had even reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, just one step away from the Golden Core stage.

But Lin Chen knew that on the real battlefield, these cultivation levels would be far from sufficient.

The enemies facing Yanhuang Pass are elite barbarian warriors capable of taking on ten enemies at once.

Behind the barbarians stands an even more terrifying force.

"Let's go."

Xiao Yan's voice came from behind.

He was the deputy captain of this operation, responsible for assisting Lin Chen in commanding the team.

Lin Chen nodded and mounted his horse.

Twenty spirited horses neighed in unison, their hooves kicking up clouds of dust as they galloped northward.

It takes seven days to travel from Qingyun Sect to Yanhuang Pass on horseback.

But Lin Chen knew that the people of Dark Blade Pavilion wouldn't give him that much time.

"Let's take the back path."

Lin Chen had made plans before setting off.

"By crossing the Azure Nether Mountains and skirting the edge of the Demon Beast Forest, we can shorten the journey by three days."

This decision has caused concern among some members of the team.

"Although the Azure Nether Mountains are not the core area of ​​the Demon Beast Forest, there are still a large number of high-level demon beasts roaming within them," a disciple said.

"I know," Lin Chen said, "but taking the main road is more dangerous."

He looked at the crowd.

"Since the Dark Blade Pavilion can plant spies right under the nose of the Azure Cloud Sect, they must know our route. Taking the main road is tantamount to exposing our backs to the enemy."

"While the Azure Nether Mountains are dangerous, they are at least under our control."

Everyone fell silent.

They knew Lin Chen was right.

"and!"

Lin Chen's gaze sharpened.

"This operation is not just about supporting Yanhuang Pass."

"We still need to teach the Dark Blade Pavilion a lesson on the way."

The Azure Mountain Range.

This is a primeval forest that stretches across northern Xinjiang, with ancient trees reaching for the sky and blocking out the sun.

A faint miasma permeates the forest year-round; ordinary people would feel dizzy after spending half a day inside. But for cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage and above, this miasma is nothing.

Lin Chen and his group rode through the dense forest at a much slower pace than on the main road, but this gave them an advantage in terms of concealment.

The first day went smoothly.

The next day, the group was attacked by a pack of Ironback Wolves, but was easily repelled.

On the third day, an ancient ferocious beast, the Black Scale Python, blocked the middle of the road and was killed by Xiao Yan with a single sword strike.

It's the fourth day!

"Someone's there." Lin Chen suddenly pulled on the reins.

His brow was burning slightly, a warning from the passage of time.

There is an ambush three miles ahead.

"Be on guard," he whispered.

The nineteen disciples behind him quickly formed a defensive formation.

Lin Chen took a deep breath, activated his spiritual power, and his eyes glowed with a faint golden light.

Time prediction.

This is the only time-related ability he can currently use.

Although it can no longer be used on a large scale as before, it can still predict dangers in a small area.

"Twelve people."

Lin Chen said in a low voice.

"The highest cultivation level is the peak of Foundation Establishment, and the lowest is the late stage of Foundation Establishment."

"They're all hidden on both sides of the valley ahead, ready to launch a surprise attack once we're inside the encirclement."

Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes slightly.

"People from the Dark Blade Pavilion?"

"Probably." Lin Chen nodded. "They're waiting for us to enter the ambush zone."

"What should we do then?"

Lin Chen paused for a moment.

Then he laughed.

"What to do? Of course, it's..."

He suddenly drew the long sword from his waist.

"Take the initiative!"

On both sides of the valley, twelve dark figures lay on the treetops, breathing softly, almost blending into the forest.

The leader was a middle-aged man with one eye and a hideous scar on his face. He was a shadow guard of the Dark Blade Pavilion, specializing in interception and assassination missions.

"Has the target entered the ambush zone?" he asked in a low voice.

"Not yet," the man in black beside him replied. "They've stopped at the entrance to the valley, seemingly hesitant."

The one-eyed man frowned.

"hesitate?"

He carefully sensed the movement ahead.

Indeed, the opposing team stopped at the entrance to the valley, showing no intention of entering.

"What are they waiting for?"

The words had barely left his mouth!

"No need to wait."

A voice suddenly rang out from behind the one-eyed man.

He turned around abruptly and saw a boy who had appeared behind him at some point, looking down at him.

The boy held a long sword in his hand, the blade gleaming with a faint golden light.

"you!"

Before the one-eyed man could react, Lin Chen's knife was already upon him.

fast.

Extremely fast.

With a single slash, the blade's energy stretched for three zhang (approximately 10 meters), cleanly severing the surrounding tree branches.

The one-eyed man hurriedly raised his knife to block, but was forced back three steps by the impact, his hand split open, and blood dripped down the hilt of the knife.

"time……"

He wanted to shout "Slow down time," but before he could finish speaking, Lin Chen interrupted him with his second strike.

This strike was even more ferocious.

The blade's energy, carrying a surge of heat, aimed straight for his throat.

The one-eyed man's pupils contracted, and he retreated rapidly.

But we were still a step too late.

The blade grazed his neck, raising a cloud of blood.

"you……"

He clutched his neck, staring at Lin Chen in disbelief.

"How is it possible... to be this strong..."

Lin Chen did not answer.

Although his time imprint cannot be used on a large scale for the time being, it is more than enough to enhance his melee abilities.

With the power of time amplified, each of his strikes was as fast as lightning and as powerful as thunder.

The assassins of the Dark Blade Pavilion clearly did not expect him to take the initiative to attack, nor did they expect him to be so strong.

The battle on both sides of the valley was almost a one-sided massacre.

Led by Xiao Yan, the nineteen disciples split into four groups and surrounded the twelve assassins from the Dark Blade Pavilion.

Although these assassins were all at least at the late Foundation Establishment stage, they were caught off guard by Lin Chen and their formation was thrown into chaos, preventing them from displaying their full strength.

The battle ended in less than fifteen minutes.

Of the twelve assassins, eight were dead, four were wounded, and none escaped.

Lin Chen's disciples only suffered minor injuries.

"These people—"

Xiao Yan frowned as he looked at the corpse on the ground.

"They are Shadow Guards from the Dark Blade Pavilion. They specialize in interception and assassination missions, and each one of them is a ruthless character."

"But it's still not enough." Lin Chen sheathed his longsword.

His face was somewhat pale.

He had expended a considerable amount of spiritual energy in that battle. After all, without the enhancement of the Time Imprint, he could only fight using the most basic sense of time.

"Are you alright?" Xiao Yan asked.

"It's nothing," Lin Chen shook his head, "I'm just a little tired."

He looked up at the distant horizon.

"This is just the first batch. There will definitely be more later."

"We need to speed things up."

After clearing the battlefield, the team continued its advance.

Before leaving, Lin Chen specifically examined the bodies of the assassins, hoping to find any useful clues.

As it turned out, he actually found a token.

The token was black and had a bat with outstretched wings engraved on it.

"This is the symbol of the Dark Blade Pavilion," Xiao Yan said after glancing at it. "The bat represents the night, and the dark blade represents slaughter. This is the token of the core members of the Dark Blade Pavilion."

Lin Chen put the token into his pocket.

"It seems the Dark Blade Pavilion values ​​us highly."

"It's normal for them to value you," Xiao Yan said. "You are the successor of the Time Guardian, and the chosen one of the Dimensional Rulers. Killing you would be a tremendous achievement for them."

"Then let them come." A cold glint flashed in Lin Chen's eyes.

"Kill as many as they come."

Over the next three days, the team was attacked twice more.

One time it was a team of ten, and the other time it was a team of eight.

Lin Chen anticipated their attacks and easily repelled them.

On the seventh day, the group finally emerged from the Qingming Mountains.

Before me stretched a vast wasteland, and at the edge of the wasteland, a massive pass could be faintly seen.

That is Yanhuang Pass.

"We've finally arrived." Xiao Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Chen reined in his horse and looked toward the distant pass.

The city walls are mottled, and the smoke from the beacon towers has been extinguished.

A thin layer of dark clouds hung over the pass.

"Something's not right." He frowned.

"What?"

"It's too quiet."

Lin Chen's gaze sharpened.

Yanhuang Pass is a border fortress, garrisoned by three thousand soldiers. Logically, there should be cultivators patrolling the skies above the pass at all times.

But now, the entire pass is deathly silent, and not a single person can be seen.

"Is there an ambush?" Xiao Yan asked.

"No." Lin Chen shook his head.

His timeline suddenly began to jump violently.

"Inside the pass..."

His voice became low.

"A battle is taking place."

Lin Chen suddenly swung his whip, and his spirit horse neighed loudly, charging towards Yanhuang Pass like an arrow released from a bow.

"Keep up!"

Nineteen disciples followed closely behind, their horses' hooves thundering and raising clouds of dust.

Three hundred feet.

Two hundred feet.

One hundred zhang.

Just as the group was about to reach the gate, a huge spiritual barrier suddenly rose up, blocking their way.

"Stop!"

An aged voice came from behind the barrier.

"Who goes there? State your name!"

Lin Chen reined in his horse and said loudly:

"Lin Chen, an inner disciple of the Qingyun Sect, has been ordered by the Sect Master to lead a team to support Yanhuang Pass!"

There was a moment of silence behind the barrier.

Then the aged voice rang out again:

"Lin Chen?"

"You're Lin Chen, the one who defeated Tieshan in the martial arts exam?"

"Exactly."

Suddenly, a crack appeared in the barrier.

Lin Chen rode his horse in and saw that the pass was in complete disarray.

The city wall has countless holes, clearly indicating that it has been the site of a fierce battle.

Broken weapons and blood-stained flags were scattered on the ground.

Meanwhile, in the center of the pass, thousands of soldiers were engaged in a fierce battle with a group of men in black robes.

"General Lin Yuan is there!"

Someone pointed to the center of the battlefield and shouted.

Lin Chen looked in the direction the man was pointing and saw a figure covered in blood standing in the center of the battlefield, holding a long sword and facing the attack of three men in black robes alone.

The figure swayed precariously, but never fell.

"Uncle Lin Yuan!"

Lin Chen's eyes instantly reddened.

He suddenly drew his long sword and charged into the battlefield.

Those who block my way...

The sword energy swept across the land, engulfing all directions.

"die!"