17: God of War in Desperate Situations

3:00 AM, the sky was still pitch black.

Three thousand people were hidden in the dense forest of Sector 17 North Latitude. Shen Xiaochuan raised his hand and pressed down, and everyone immediately lowered their bodies, silent.

"Zhang Heng's Divine Domain is just ahead."

Chen Yan lay beside him, his voice kept extremely low: "There's firelight in the main hall, the enemy is still there."

Shen Xiaochuan squinted. The temple gates were damaged, and torchlight flickered inside. Many corpses lay scattered on the ground, and the air was thick with the smell of blood.

He opened the Faith Mall and quickly searched through it.

An item caught his eye: [Short-Range Teleportation Scroll - Single Use].

Price: 100 faith points.

Without hesitation, he immediately exchanged for it.

The numbers on the panel jumped from 237 to 137.

"I'm going in alone."

Shen Xiaochuan handed the war spear to Chen Yan, "Take the men and guard the perimeter. Don't act until you see my signal."

"It's too dangerous to rush in now! There are two gods on the other side, and they've set traps."

"They think Zhang Heng is about to die; they won't expect anyone to dare barge in."

Shen Xiaochuan gripped the scroll tightly, "That split second is exactly what I need."

As soon as he finished speaking, he stood up. He moved quietly along the broken walls—fifty meters, thirty meters, ten meters... Several corpses lay at the entrance of the main hall, all Zhang Heng's Believers. Shen Xiaochuan stepped over broken bricks, approached a window, and peered in while holding his breath.

Zhang Heng lay in the hall, his right arm a bloody mess and his left arm twisted and deformed, clearly broken. His blade lay three steps away, out of reach.

Two Japanese Gods stood before him. One held a long saber, while the other was chanting in a low voice. A dark red runic array appeared on the ground.

The one with the saber stepped on Zhang Heng's chest and questioned coldly, "One last time, hand over the snake bone fish and the forging blueprints, and I'll give you a quick death."

Zhang Heng looked up, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth: "You... in your dreams."

"Refusing the easy way, then."

The other sneered and raised his hand to strike down.

At that very moment—

Golden light suddenly descended!

Boom!

The roof suddenly exploded, tearing open a massive hole. Shen Xiaochuan descended from the sky, landing steadily in front of Zhang Heng. His feet smashed into the floor, sending dust flying.

Both enemy gods were stunned.

"Who?!"

The saber-wielder quickly retreated and swung out a burst of Saber Qi.

Shen Xiaochuan dodged to the side. The copper gear pendant on his sleeve was illuminated by the moonlight, reflecting a shimmer that traced a circle on the ground.

He looked down at his feet and found that the reflection had landed exactly on a key node of the runic array.

"So it's here."

He violently kicked over a nearby altar table. The table crashed against the wall, and several runes flickered twice before going out.

"What did you do!"

The caster roared, forming hand seals again to activate the spell.

Shen Xiaochuan remained silent. He pushed off the ground and charged, sweeping his war spear to force back the saber-wielding enemy. Without stopping, he turned his back to Zhang Heng and faced his two opponents.

"The people of Huaxia shall not be bullied."

He spoke, his voice not loud, yet it made the entire hall tremble.

The runes on the walls exploded one after another, the torches shook violently, and the hall fell into chaos.

The saber-wielder reacted the fastest, immediately jumping back and forming seals. A dark shadow darted out from behind him and vanished underground.

"Shadow Evasion?"

Shen Xiaochuan frowned slightly.

On the other side, the caster bit his fingertip and drew a blood line in the air. Three armored undead rose from outside the door, blocking the exit.

"Still trying to escape?"

The man sneered, "Now, it's your turn to kneel and beg for mercy."

Shen Xiaochuan ignored him. He crouched down and pressed his palm to the ground.

One second.

Two seconds.

Three seconds.

He sensed the vibrations of the ground, counting the rhythm with his eyes closed.

"Three meters to the left, two meters underground."

He suddenly opened his eyes and stood up.

He drew the combat knife from his waist and threw it with all his might!

The combat knife spun through the air, piercing the floor with a dull thud. Immediately after, a shrill scream echoed from underground.

"Ah—!"

The floor cracked, and a hand struggled to reach out. Shen Xiaochuan stepped forward and pinned the wrist down with his foot.

He bent over and pulled out the combat knife, its tip dripping with blood.

"You!"

The remaining enemy god's face changed drastically, "How did you find him?"

"You guys are too noisy."

Shen Xiaochuan sneered, "My parents worked in a steel mill; they could tell what was wrong just by the sound of the machines. This little noise of yours is too obvious."

He approached step by step.

The undead lunged at him. Shen Xiaochuan advanced instead of retreating, raising his arm and swinging his knife down. The chains shattered, and the undead disintegrated on the spot.

"You besieged one person; I'll just kill a pair."

He stopped and locked his gaze on the last person, "Now, it's your turn."

The man took half a step back, his hand holding the saber trembling slightly.

"Don't come any closer! We were just following orders! Resources should belong to the strong!"

"You're right."

Shen Xiaochuan nodded, "So, right now, I am the strong one."

He raised his war spear, the tip pointing directly at the other's throat.

"Zhang Heng trusted me, so I came."

"You didn't believe I would come, so you lost."

The enemy god wanted to speak but stopped, his throat tightening. He looked at Shen Xiaochuan as if he were seeing a ghost.

In the corner, several surviving Believers huddled in the ruins. Someone whispered tremulously:

"Is... is it him?"

"Falling from the sky... is he a True God?"

No one answered. Everyone's eyes were focused on the figure in the center of the hall.

Shen Xiaochuan didn't look back. He knew Zhang Heng was still alive; his breathing was weak, but it hadn't stopped.

He only stared at the person in front of him—

This person who had stepped on Zhang Heng's chest and forced him to hand over everything.

"You said resources should belong to the strong."

Shen Xiaochuan took a step forward, "Then tell me, right now, who is stronger?"

The enemy god grit his teeth and suddenly threw out a talisman. Firelight exploded in the air as he attempted to escape in the chaos.

Shen Xiaochuan was prepared. He flicked his left hand, and a rune card flew out, expanding into a barrier in mid-air.

The firelight hit the barrier and bounced back.

Boom!

The enemy god was blown back, slamming heavily into the wall before sliding down, blood seeping from his mouth.

"I told you."

Shen Xiaochuan walked closer slowly, his war spear against the man's neck, "I didn't chase you because it wasn't necessary."

"Who... who are you exactly?"

The enemy god spoke with difficulty.

"Shen Xiaochuan."

"Mechanical Engineering graduate, no combat talent, Divine Kingdom Serial Number 0479."

He paused.

"But now, I am their Chief God."

The enemy god's pupils shrank, and he still tried to struggle. Shen Xiaochuan gave him no more chances.

With a light press of the war spear, the opponent was instantly unable to move.

Footsteps came from outside. Chen Yan led his men inside.

"Chief God! Are you alright?"

"I'm fine."

Shen Xiaochuan's tone was calm, "Chen Yan, immediately organize the men to clear the scene and take everything useful. Carefully carry Zhang Heng out and find a safe place to treat him."

"Yes, Chief God!"

"How should we handle those two enemies?"

"Leave the one on the ground with a breath of life until he talks. Tie up the one underground and take him away; don't let him escape."

"Do you need me to interrogate them?"

"No need."

Shen Xiaochuan looked down at the prisoner, "He'll talk on his own."

He crouched down and looked directly into the other's eyes.

"You said resources should belong to the strong."

"I'm standing now, and you're lying down."

"Tell me, who do these resources belong to?"

The enemy god's lips trembled, and he finally lowered his head.

"They belong to... you."

Shen Xiaochuan stood up and looked toward the temple gates.

A faint light appeared on the horizon. The wind blew in, lifting the hem of his overalls.

He reached out and lightly stroked the copper gear pendant on his sleeve.

"Trust me."

He whispered to the person behind him, "And I won't let you die."

Chen Yan walked over and handed him a waterskin.

"Zhang Heng's condition is bad. The Meridians in his left hand are completely severed, his right hand is fractured, and he's lost too much blood."

"Send him to the medical shed."

"Assign five hundred men to guard him; no one is allowed to approach."

"Yes."

Shen Xiaochuan took one last look at the prisoner on the ground.

"Where is the snake bone fish?"

"It's... in the temple's secret chamber, under the third floor tile."

"Lead the way."

The group escorted the prisoner toward the inner hall. Shen Xiaochuan walked at the front, his war spear shouldered.

As they reached a corner in the corridor, he suddenly stopped.

On the ground ahead, a trail of wet footprints stretched toward a side door.

He squinted his eyes.

"Who has been there?"