16: Level 3 Jade Spirit Lake

As the last rays of sunlight quietly faded from the rocks, Shen Xiaochuan closed his notebook and stood up.

"Let's go."

With that single word, the team immediately began packing their gear. They couldn't stay at the camp for long; the iron mine was just the starting point, and they had to continue heading west.

The mountain path was steep and covered in loose gravel. The soldiers slowly descended, stepping carefully on the unstable ground, with Chen Yan leading the way.

Half an hour later, the terrain gradually leveled out, and the air became humid. The faint sound of water came from ahead.

"Is there a lake?"

A Scout turned back and asked.

Shen Xiaochuan raised his hand to signal a stop, then leaped onto a boulder to look ahead.

In the center of a hollow, a pool of lake water lay quietly. It wasn't large, but it was crystal clear, with swimming fish easily visible. Moss spread along the shore, and several unnamed herbs grew between the cracks in the rocks.

"Level Three Treasure Land... Yuling Lake."

He whispered the name as he looked at the text appearing before his eyes.

This lake could continuously produce live fish, and its water was safe to drink. Long-term consumption could even slightly enhance one's Physique. Such a place was extremely precious, a key resource for the development of the Divine Kingdom.

"Lord God, what are those three big fellows by the lake?"

The Scout pointed toward the lakeside. Shen Xiaochuan followed his gaze and saw three giant bears catching fish in the shallow water.

"combat power: 403."

He looked at the data displayed by the System. "Individually they aren't strong, but if all three work together in a head-on fight, people will die."

"Should we launch a sneak attack tonight? Wait until they're asleep to make a move."

"No. This is a freshwater lake, and there are fish even at night. They won't leave."

He crouched down, focusing on the bears' movements. Ten minutes later, he noticed a problem—the three bears didn't cooperate. Whoever caught a fish kept it, and if they didn't catch one, they would lash out and bite their companions.

The corners of Shen Xiaochuan's mouth curled slightly, a hint of calculation flashing in his eyes. "They aren't social animals; we can make them kill each other."

"How do we provoke them into fighting?"

"Use a large fish as bait. Throw a big one in, and they will definitely fight over it. Once they start fighting, they'll battle it out."

"Do we have any large fish?"

"No."

The team fell into silence. They had only just captured the Red Feather Chickens, and the Divine Kingdom hadn't even stabilized its basic food rations yet. Where would they get an Advanced-grade large fish?

Shen Xiaochuan's brow furrowed as his plan hit a snag.

Just then, an emergency message suddenly popped up on the Faith Channel.

[Zhang Heng: Help! I'm being besieged by two Japanese Gods in the North Latitude Seventeen Zone. Three layers of my Divine Domain Barrier are broken, half my Believers are dead, and if you don't come soon, I'm finished!]

In the attached image, a large black fish was placed on a stone platform, with a yellowing blueprint pressed beside it.

[snake bone fish · excellent grade]

[Effect: Can be forged into a Fish Bone Blade, penetration +32%]

Shen Xiaochuan's eyes suddenly lit up. "That's the bait."

This fish was large enough and had thick flesh, making it perfect for luring monsters. More importantly, Zhang Heng held the forging blueprint. If he could obtain that blueprint, weapon production efficiency would increase significantly.

He replied immediately.

"Zhang Heng, hold on. I'm on my way."

"What's the use of you coming alone? There are two gods, and both have combat power over four hundred!"

"I'm not alone."

Shen Xiaochuan turned to the team. "Everyone assemble. Light-armored warriors take your tools; prepare to move out."

"Where are we going?"

"North Latitude Seventeen Zone, to save someone."

"We haven't finished exploring here yet. What about Yuling Lake?"

"Leave it for now. The fish won't run away, and the bears won't go far. But if the person dies, everything is gone."

He jumped down from the rock and walked to the front of the line.

"Listen up, the operation has two steps: first, save Zhang Heng; second, take the snake bone fish, then come back to deal with those three bears."

"But the enemy has two gods, and we only have three thousand people. It's too dangerous."

"The fact that they've been fighting this long without finishing him off shows they're after resources, not destroying his Godhead. Greedy people always leave a margin when they strike."

"But we won't."

"Right. We attack fiercely the moment we arrive, giving them no time to react."

He spread out a map and marked the route with a stone.

"We'll start from here, pass through Cliff Valley, cross Boar Ridge, and arrive in three hours at the earliest. The mountain path is treacherous, so we need someone to clear obstacles ahead."

"I'll go," Chen Yan said, stepping forward.

"You're not guarding the camp?"

"No one dares touch the camp right now. You are the Lord God; if you're going to save someone, I must accompany you."

Shen Xiaochuan glanced at him and nodded.

"Fine. Take five hundred men and go ahead. Cut trees to build bridges and move stones to clear the path. The rest of the team will follow closely."

"What about the others?"

"Divide into three groups. The first group carries dry rations and water to ensure a steady supply; the second group carries spears and shields to defend against aerial attacks; the third group brings up the rear to watch for ambushes from behind."

"Should we call for reinforcements from the Divine Kingdom?"

"There's no time. By the time they arrive, Zhang Heng will already be wiped out."

He folded the map and stood tall.

"Remember, we aren't going there to pick a fight; we're going to seize things. Save the person, get the fish and the blueprint, then evacuate immediately. Don't get bogged down in battle, and don't be greedy for glory."

"What if they won't let us leave?"

"Then we fight until they do."

The orders were given, and the three thousand men quickly prepared. Some checked their weapons, some distributed food, and others wrapped their feet in cloth to prevent blisters.

Shen Xiaochuan walked to the lakeside and took one last look at the three giant bears.

They were still fighting over the fish; one was pushed down and crashed into another, the scene a chaotic mess.

"Wait for me to come back," he whispered.

Then he turned and walked toward the team.

"Move out!"

Three thousand people marched in formation, their footsteps making a rhythmic sound on the mountain path. As the sky darkened, torches were lit one by one.

Before they had gone even a mile, the communicator rang.

"Lord God, there's more news from Zhang Heng."

Shen Xiaochuan picked up.

"Shen Xiaochuan... I can't hold out much longer. Only one layer of the barrier is left, and they've already started letting Believers in."

"Hold on. We've already set out; we'll be there in three hours at the earliest."

"Are you... really coming?"

"Nonsense. You asked for help on the channel because you trusted me. If I don't come, who would dare trust us in the future?"

There was a few seconds of silence on the other end.

"Alright. I'll hold on for one more hour. You have to be fast."

The call ended.

Shen Xiaochuan looked up at the sky. The moonlight was obscured by thick clouds, and the wind blowing from the valley carried a damp chill.

"Pick up the pace."

He said, "At least eight hundred li per hour."

The team accelerated.

Chen Yan ran at the very front, using his spear to push aside branches blocking the way.

Shen Xiaochuan walked in the middle, his hand always resting on the spear at his waist.

He knew this trip wouldn't be easy. Japanese Gods were prone to setting ambushes and often fought with superior numbers. This siege on Zhang Heng was clearly premeditated, all for the sake of resources.

But he couldn't back down.

If he didn't save Zhang Heng today, no one would lend a hand when he was trapped tomorrow.

Trust was more important than anything.

And—

He gently stroked the copper gear pendant on his sleeve.

His parents once said that when repairing a machine, you can't be missing even a single screw. The Divine Kingdom was the same; allies were like parts—each was indispensable, or the entire System would eventually collapse.

"Lord God!" a shout came from ahead.

Chen Yan stopped and pointed down.

A deep trench lay across the bottom of the valley, with only a single rotting log connecting the two sides.

"We can't cross."

Shen Xiaochuan stepped closer to inspect it.

The bridge was narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time, and below was a pitch-black pit; a single slip would mean being dashed to pieces.

"Tear it down."

"Tear it down? Then how will we get across?"

"If they can't catch Zhang Heng, they will definitely retreat this way. Destroying the bridge is equivalent to cutting off their retreat."

"You want to... surround them instead?"

"Exactly. They think they're the hunters, but in fact, we are."

He waved his hand and ordered: "Groups of ten, saw through the wooden bridge and hide it to the side. We'll find a shallow spot upstream to cross the river."

The order was executed.

The team turned and followed the river upstream.

Twenty minutes later, they found a shallow area.

"Cross the river!"

The soldiers worked in pairs, connected by ropes to prevent being swept away by the current.

Shen Xiaochuan was the last to enter the water. The river was waist-deep and bone-chillingly cold. He steadied himself and moved forward step by step.

After reaching the shore, everyone's clothes were soaked.

"No fires."

He said, "Smoke will give us away."

"Then how do we stay warm?"

"Run. Keep moving, and you won't be cold."

The team set out once more.

At one in the morning, they were still two hours away from their destination.

The communicator rang again.

"Lord God! Zhang Heng's signal is weakening! He might not hold out much longer!"

Shen Xiaochuan grabbed the communicator.

"Everyone, accelerate! From now on, report the distance every half hour! I want to know exactly how much further we are from him!"

"Yes!"

Three thousand people began to run.

The torches formed a red line in the dark night, like a waking crimson serpent, racing toward the battlefield.