28: Stealing Crystal Cores

When Shen Xiaochuan walked out of the Blacksmith Shop, the sun had already risen. Chen Yan was waiting at the entrance with the Personal Guard Squad; the ranks were neatly aligned, and every face was solemn.

"Is everyone here?"

"Seven thousand five hundred and twenty-three people. Everyone has eaten, and the weapons have all been distributed."

"What about the thunder blades?"

"One hundred and fifty of them, all allocated to the Vanguard Battalion under your command."

Shen Xiaochuan nodded and turned to enter the warehouse. A row of wooden crates was neatly arranged on the shelves. He opened the first crate and pulled out a thunder blade. The blade shimmered with a faint blue light, and a subtle numbing sensation traveled through his hand as he gripped it.

"Is Lolia still busy?"

"She hasn't slept all night. She forged the last three personally."

"Go send her a bowl of meat porridge. Don't let her collapse from exhaustion."

"Yes, sir."

Shen Xiaochuan closed the lid and waved his hand.

"Move out."

The troop departed from the East Gate of Skydome City and marched west along the river valley. Only the sound of footsteps echoed on the road; no one spoke. The warriors carried long sabers on their backs and food pouches at their waists, containing the remains of half a roasted flatbread.

Two hours later, a scout came galloping back.

"We have arrived at [2439, 3900]. The people from Dongying and Kimchi Country have occupied the high ground, erected a flag platform, and are currently shouting proclamations."

Shen Xiaochuan signaled with his hand, and the entire army halted. He climbed up the earthen slope on the left and lay flat to look ahead.

Three hundred meters away was an open space where a fissure had cracked open in the ground. Purple light seeped out from within—a sign that a crystal core was about to manifest.

In the center, a high platform draped in red cloth had been erected. Two people stood upon it: one clad in a black robe was the God of Dongying, and the other in silver armor was the God of Paocai Country. Below the platform, over three hundred people gathered, all members of the Allied Forces.

Banners were planted all around. The largest among them bore the words: 'Huaxia has no backbone; those who kneel shall be spared death.'

A voice came through the loudspeakers:

"Listen up, all minor and mid-level deities! Today, the crystal core belongs to the strong. Anyone who dares to contest it will have their divinity stripped on the spot!"

Shen Xiaochuan sneered, "They knew we were coming?"

Chen Yan crawled closer and responded in a low voice, "They were coming for us from the start."

Shen Xiaochuan's gaze turned cold. "Then let's not keep them waiting too long. First, let's get a clear picture of the situation."

He took a reconnaissance talisman from his robe and infused it with faith points. The talisman lit up, and an image of the battlefield slowly materialized in the air.

The people from Dongying and Kimchi Country were divided into four squads, guarding the four directions of the crystal core's spawn point. Archers were in the rear, and shield-bearers were in the front. There were ripples of a barrier around the high platform, clearly set up to prevent sneak attacks.

"Where is Ling Feng?"

"He's taken fifty men into the woods on the right for an ambush, just waiting for your command."

"Pass down the order: no one is to act rashly. Wait for my signal."

"Yes, sir."

Shen Xiaochuan stared at the high platform. As time passed, the purple light grew more intense.

Suddenly, the earth trembled, and a sphere of light rose from the fissure, hovering in mid-air and rotating slowly. Golden patterns emerged on its surface—it was the crystal core!

The crowd below immediately broke into a commotion.

A dozen figures suddenly lunged forward, all of them Huaxia Deities. One of them was the fastest; his gray robe fluttering as he dove straight for the sphere of light, reaching out to grab it!

"I got it!" the man growled.

But in the next instant, a rain of arrows poured down. The Allied Forces were well-prepared and immediately sealed off the space. More than ten people were forced back, but the man in the gray robe managed to leap out of the encirclement with the crystal core in hand.

"Pursue him!" the God of Dongying roared.

Thirty swordsmen swarmed forward, surrounding the gray-robed man. He resisted with all his might, but he was ultimately outnumbered and was soon knocked to the ground. The crystal core was snatched away and tossed onto the high platform.

"Who else?"

The God of Paocai Country laughed loudly. "This is what happens!"

The others remained silent, retreating one after another.

Shen Xiaochuan's eyes turned icy.

"Who was that just now?"

Chen Yan took a look. "It seems to be Chen Zhanbei, from the Mechanical System. He's in the same year as you."

"Why would he come alone?"

"I'm not sure. Perhaps he wanted to take a gamble."

Shen Xiaochuan said nothing. He knew Chen Zhanbei—his family background was even worse than his own, his talent was mediocre, and he barely scraped by by taking on missions.

At that moment, the God of Dongying stepped onto the high platform.

"Since there are those who do not fear death, let's set a rule."

He pointed at the bound Chen Zhanbei.

"Ownership will be decided through combat. The winner gets a chance to compete for it; the loser must confess their guilt publicly!"

"What, is Huaxia out of people?"

After a long while, Chen Zhanbei raised his head.

"I'll do it."

He was dragged to the center of the clearing. A Dongying warrior stepped out from the opposite side, wielding twin blades and with blood-red patterns painted on his face.

The battle began.

Chen Zhanbei's movements were swift. He struck first, delivering three consecutive slashes that forced his opponent back several steps. A few Huaxia Deities cheered in low voices.

"He's got some skill," Chen Yan remarked.

However, just as Chen Zhanbei leaped up for a slash, a black light shot out from the opponent's sleeve. He had no way to dodge; his left shoulder was hit, and he crashed heavily to the ground.

The wound quickly turned black, indicating poisoning.

"Shameless!" someone roared.

The God of Dongying laughed heartily. "On the battlefield, why bother with rules?"

Chen Zhanbei gritted his teeth and struggled to stand, still wanting to fight. Two warriors from Kimchi Country rushed forward and kicked his knees. He fell to a kneel.

"Confess!"

"Confess!"

"Confess!"

The Allied Forces shouted in unison.

Chen Zhanbei clenched his teeth and looked up at the sky.

"I won't..."

Before he could finish, the opponent stepped on his head, forcing it down.

"Say it! Say 'I am a piece of trash'!"

He closed his eyes.

"I am..."

"Shut up."

The voice wasn't loud, yet it caused the entire field to fall silent instantly.

Everyone turned to look.

Shen Xiaochuan walked slowly down the earthen slope, the corners of his clothes stained with dust, the thunder blade at his waist swaying gently. The copper gear pendant flashed in the sunlight.

He walked toward the center, step by step.

The God of Dongying squinted at him. "Who are you?"

Shen Xiaochuan ignored him, walked to Chen Zhanbei's side, and crouched down to check his pulse.

"He's been poisoned."

He took a bottle of medicine from his robe and fed it to Chen Zhanbei.

"Drink this. We'll talk about everything else later."

Chen Zhanbei coughed a few times, and his complexion slightly improved.

Shen Xiaochuan stood up, his gaze pointing directly at the high platform.

"Give the crystal core back to him."

The God of Paocai Country sneered. "Do you want to challenge us too?"

"I don't."

"I want you to get lost."

The crowd erupted in an uproar.

The God of Dongying laughed out of sheer anger. "Do you know who you are talking to?"

"I know."

"And I also know exactly what you've done."

He pointed at the banner on the high platform.

"Three days ago, during the Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts, thirty thousand Believers died miserable deaths. That was your doing, wasn't it?"

The God of Dongying's expression changed slightly.

"Nonsense! That was an accident!"

"An accident?"

Shen Xiaochuan's voice turned cold. "I've checked the list of the deceased—they were all elderly, children, and the wounded. Not a single warrior among them."

"What evidence do you have?"

"I don't need evidence."

"Today, I am here for exactly that."

The God of Dongying roared, "Kill him!"

Ten swordsmen rushed forward. Shen Xiaochuan stood still.

Ling Feng led his men out from the woods, striking directly at the flanks. Chen Yan led the main force forward, suppressing the archers.

"I said," Shen Xiaochuan drew his thunder blade, its blue light surging violently.

"Get lost."

The tip of the blade pointed straight at the God of Dongying.

"There's still time, right now."

The God of Dongying took half a step back, then grinned maliciously.

"You think just because you brought people, we'd be afraid?"

He clapped his hands three times.

Over a hundred men in black rushed out from the surrounding woods, wielding short blades and lunging straight for Shen Xiaochuan's back.

"Kill!"

"Kill him!"

Shen Xiaochuan didn't even turn his head.

"Ling Feng!"

Ling Feng led his unit to intercept them, blade light flashing everywhere.

Shen Xiaochuan looked the God of Dongying straight in the eye.

"One last chance."

The God of Dongying laughed wildly. "What kind of thing do you think you are, to dare negotiate terms?"

Shen Xiaochuan looked down at the blade in his hand.

The blue light on the blade pulsed, its frequency getting faster and faster.

He closed his eyes for a second.

When he opened them again, his pupils had turned a faint gold.

A faint light flowed beneath his skin, and it seemed as if script were emerging within his body.

[Divine Sense Resonance] activated.

He raised his hand and murmured softly:

"Zhang Fei, lend me a bit of your strength."

As the words fell...

The wind rose.