173: Chapter 173 Two Months of Infiltration

He spent one last day at home accompanying his parents.

Facing his parents' worry and reluctance to see him go, Li Wen comforted them with gentle words, saying it was just a normal change in duties.

With red-rimmed eyes, Li Wen's Mother repeatedly urged him to be careful, while his father patted his shoulder firmly, everything understood without words.

The next morning, in front of the house where his parents stood watching for a long time, Li Wen did not delay any further.

He simply took a deep look at the home that carried his childhood memories, and his figure transformed into a faint purple beam of light that was almost impossible to catch, silently merging into the sky.

The destination of his transfer order this time, the Panshi Underground Fortress Pass, was located on the eastern front, thousands of kilometers away from Qingshi County.

Its scale was far beyond what Qingshi County could compare to; it was a medium-sized combat fortress in the truest sense, constantly under immense defensive pressure.

When Li Wen arrived, the Panshi Fortress Pass was temporarily overseen and managed by a Marquis-level Divine Demon named "Marquis Guyue."

Just as Zhao Mingyu had mentioned the strangeness of it, during these brief days when the fortress pass changed hands, its defenses were weak, and Marquis Guyue was the only one using a Clone to manage both locations, the Yao Race was abnormally quiet. The other side of the Interstellar Gate maintained an unsettling calm, as if silently waiting for the Human Race's defending army to assemble.

Three Great Sun Realm Peak Divine Demons had already arrived at the fortress pass.

When Li Wen's figure appeared in the main control hall, the gazes of the three people who were talking instantly focused on him.

There was not the slightest contempt in their eyes due to Li Wen's relatively young appearance and his aura of having just entered the Great Sun Realm; instead, they carried obvious warmth and curiosity.

"You must be Li Wen, right?" One of them, a burly, resolute-looking middle-aged man, proactively reached out his hand. "I've heard so much about you. You're the top of the flying star ranking and the top of the Bright Moon ranking. I also heard that as soon as you arrived in Qingshi County, you slaughtered several Peak Bright Moon Yao Race. I'm Wang Qiang."

"Lin Jing." Another woman with a slightly cold demeanor also nodded slightly in greeting.

"Zhou Tong," the other steady man introduced himself briefly.

"Hello, everyone. I am Li Wen." Li Wen shook hands with each of them, his attitude calm and humble, without any trace of arrogance.

Clearly, his battle achievements in Qingshi County and Nanzha County had already spread among these experts of the same Rank, and his strength had earned their respect.

Another day passed, and the last two Great Sun Realm Peak Divine Demons also arrived, looking travel-worn.

With this, the Panshi Fortress Pass defense squad, consisting of six Great Sun Realm Divine Demons, completed its initial assembly: Wang Qiang, Lin Jing, Captain Gao Yuan, Zhou Tong, Liu Kun, and Li Wen, who was the only one who had just entered the Great Sun Realm, but whom no one dared to underestimate.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Marquis Guyue finally gathered the six of them for an official meeting.

The atmosphere in the main control room was solemn.

This Marquis-Rank Divine Demon had a solemn face and eyes like lightning as he briefly explained the strategic importance of Panshi Fortress Pass and the severe situation it had recently faced.

"Everyone," Marquis Guyue said in a deep voice, "the Panshi Fortress has just suffered painful losses, and its defensive forces urgently need to be rebuilt. As decided by the headquarters, the six of you will form the new garrison core. The position of captain will be held by Captain Gao Yuan."

Captain Gao Yuan, whose name was called, stood up straight.

This was an old man with completely white hair and beard. His face was weathered, but his eyes were still sharp, exuding a deep and mountain-like sense of stability.

Marquis Guyue looked at him and added, "Captain Gao Yuan's technique Realm has already reached the Dao Realm. He is highly experienced and has guarded many key locations for our Human Race over the years, rendering great service."

Captain Gao Yuan bowed slightly, indicating he accepted the order.

Many people knew his story; it was not due to a lack of talent, but because he had gone through too many brutal battles in his early years. When condensing the foundation of his Primordial Spirit, his Physical Body's Origin had decayed prematurely, causing him to miss the opportunity to take a step further into the Marquis Realm. His lifelong cultivation remained stuck at the Great Sun Realm Peak.

"Li Wen will serve as the vice-captain." Marquis Guyue's gaze fell upon Li Wen, and he revealed a rare, warm smile. "Your Breakthrough speed across different Realms is remarkable. I hope you can continue to grow rapidly here and become one of Panshi's most solid barriers."

He spoke quickly, briefly explaining a few basic regulations for the daily operation of the fortress pass and the handover matters, and then stayed no longer.

As the core combat force responsible for the security of the nearby area, he needed to immediately rush back to the more important hub he guarded; time was pressing.

After Marquis Guyue transformed into a stream of light and vanished, the slightly heavy atmosphere in the room relaxed a little.

The newly appointed captain, Captain Gao Yuan, cleared his throat. His gaze swept over his five teammates, lingering on Li Wen's face for a moment before he spoke, "Fellow comrades, the safety of this place will be the responsibility shouldered by the six of us from now on. Although I am a few years older and have been trusted by Marquis Guyue to temporarily lead as captain, the heavy duty of guarding the pass actually relies on everyone's full cooperation. I hope everyone will not hesitate to introduce your own specialties, so as to facilitate our defense coordination in the future."

All five of them were veterans of many battles and understood the importance of complementary abilities.

Next was a detailed mutual introduction.

Wang Qiang: Possesses immense strength, Cultivates the High Grade "Mystic Crystal Battle Body," and excels in head-on combat and defensive interception.

Lin Jing: Extremely fast, exquisite sword techniques, specializes in rapid mobile support and reconnaissance.

Zhou Tong: Divine archer, sharp sensory perception, masters high-Rank pupil techniques, and is the core of long-range precision strikes.

Liu Kun: Possesses deep and enduring true essence, majors in the Transcendental Grade Divine Magic Art "Immortal Divine Body," with superb defense.

Captain Gao Yuan (Captain): Dao Realm Blade Technique, majors in the Transcendental Grade Divine Magic Art "Star Evolution Divine Body," excels in Domain, mainly focusing on trapping and killing, and is the stable core and commander of the team.

Finally, it was Li Wen's turn.

"Li Wen, Great Sun Realm Early Stage," he said in a flat tone. "My main Cultivation Technique is the 'Nine Heavens Divine Body,' and my Blade Technique is at the Soul Realm Late Stage. My characteristics are relatively fast speed, and I excel in hard-point assault and burst power."

Simple and clear, yet it made the several Great Sun Realm Peak experts present nod secretly in their hearts.

The ninth-tier Perfection of the Nine Heavens Divine Body itself represented super-strong foundation and potential, and a Soul Realm Blade Technique was a height that the vast majority of those in the Great Sun Realm could never hope to reach.

His "relatively fast" speed was likely unmatched by anyone present.

After the mutual introductions, Captain Gao Yuan looked at Li Wen with a kind, elder-like smile on his face, "Junior Apprentice Brother Li, you are the only one among us with the ninth-tier Perfection of the Nine Heavens Divine Body; your future is limitless. As for guarding the pass, I have more experience, but if there comes a time to charge ahead and break a deadlock, your strength will be crucial. Please look after me in the future."

"Senior Brother Gao, you flatter me. It is my duty, and I will certainly do my utmost," Li Wen nodded seriously in response.

After the initial communication, the process entered the busy phase of handing over fortress pass affairs and getting familiar with the environment.

The structure of the Panshi Underground Fortress Pass was far more complex than that of Qingshi County by several times, its defense system was larger and more multi-dimensional, and the number of stationed Martial Artists was also greater.

The Interstellar Gate itself was also more stable than the one in Qingshi County, but the spatial fluctuations it emitted also meant that stronger members of the Yao Race could pass through.

Li Wen did not waste any time.

Aside from getting familiar with the environment and handling the necessary handover affairs, he still maintained a strict cultivation rhythm.

In the early morning on the Martial Arts Field, his figure could always be seen holding a blade and slowly refining his Moves, with wisps of condensed Saber Intent swirling around his body.

In his spare time, he would also flip through the combat records of the fortress pass to understand the characteristics of past opponents of the Panshi Fortress Pass.

Beneath the calm surface, everyone knew that the previous silence of the Yao Race was highly unusual.

This space seemed to be brewing something.

Li Wen stood on the solid ramparts of the fortress pass, his gaze directed toward the distant, light-flowing Interstellar Gate that led to the unknown regions of the Monster Realm.

The land of Panshi, his new battlefield; his duty to guard the city would begin from here.

Although the myriad of lights from thousands of homes behind him were separated by thousands of mountains, the meaning of guarding them had never changed.

March 1st, Year 232 of the galactic calendar.

A month had quietly passed since Li Wen was transferred to the Panshi Fortress Pass.

During this month, the Interstellar Gate hidden deep beneath the Panshi Fortress Pass was exceptionally quiet, and a bloody battle did not break out as expected; there were only a few small-scale, probing infiltrations by the Yao Race.

Their purpose went without saying: to figure out the background of the newly appointed defensive Divine Demons of the Panshi Fortress Pass, especially the newly joined top-tier Great Sun Realm Peak experts, so as to launch more targeted and lethal attacks later.

Naturally, the Human Race's side would not foolishly allow the Yao Race to figure out their details, so they also chose to keep a card up their sleeve.

Therefore, for a month, although Li Wen's name was listed on the defense roster, he had never made a Move.

Whenever the alarm sounded, he would always quietly appear on the towering city walls, standing a bit further away to look down like a silent shadow.

The dark gray scabbard was simple and unadorned, casually held in his arms, his gaze like a frozen lake, without any ripples.

He was waiting, patiently waiting for the moment when the Yao Race would come out in full force.

He knew very well that if the Yao Race wanted to completely destroy this top-tier Great Sun Realm Peak force of the Human Race at the Panshi Fortress Pass, they would inevitably deploy the strongest elite of the Great Sun Realm within their race, or even—those peerless Geniuses who possessed the Yao Emperor Bloodline.

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Those were the true targets he had locked onto for this trip—he wanted to sever their roots in a single battle and make the Yao Race feel heart-wrenching pain.

If he exposed strength sufficient to threaten the Yao Emperor Bloodline too early, the opportunity would vanish in an instant.

The afterglow of the setting sun stained the cold alloy city walls with a layer of dim golden-red.

Li Wen had just finished his evening Blade Technique training, and the surging True Yuan within his body had not yet completely calmed when a shrill, piercing, highest-level alarm tore through the brief tranquility without warning.

Without the slightest hesitation, the space distorted imperceptibly, and Li Wen's figure stood silently atop the city wall battlements.

His dark gray quick blade was still held in his arms; he did not Move, merely casting his gaze toward the massive Interstellar Gate plaza below the city.

Lin Jing, who specialized in speed, and Captain Captain Gao Yuan appeared right after, followed by several other Great Sun Realm Peak Divine Demons with composed auras.

There was Liu Kun, who specialized in defense; Wang Qiang, with his fierce offensive; and the Divine Archer Zhou Tong, who was protected in the core position.

The five of them did not stay on the city wall like Li Wen; their figures moved like lightning, swiftly skimming over the wall and landing steadily about a hundred meters from the Interstellar Gate, forming a solid interception formation.

At the same time, dozens of Bright Moon Realm and Flying Star Realm Divine Demon soldiers, dressed in uniform black armor, gathered rapidly.

Following a formation they had practiced thousands of times, they firmly locked down the space around the Interstellar Gate, their cold weapons flashing with a chilling gleam under the red alarm light.

Hum—!

The Interstellar Gate's energy vortex suddenly accelerated its rotation, and violent spatial fluctuations swept outward.

Accompanied by teeth-grinding hisses and roars, the first batch of invaders emerged.

A full twenty Great Sun Realm Peak Yao Race members appeared, their Evil Qi soaring into the sky.

Behind them, dozens more Bright Moon Realm Yao generals poured out like a tide.

The moment the Yao shadows appeared, an invisible ripple quietly spread from Li Wen as the center, and his formidable Primordial Spirit Power, reaching the third layer, precisely covered the entire battlefield.

This power was secretive yet vast, piercing through the Demonic Qi and sweeping over every ferocious Yao body.

It quickly sketched out the outlines of the Yao Race in his Sea of Consciousness, evaluating their power Origins and Bloodline auras.

He was searching—searching for that trace of an abnormally noble or violent Yao blood source that might exist.

"They are all just ordinary goods again." Li Wen's consciousness swept past coldly.

This attack was indeed still a probe; the true fangs of the Yao Race had not yet been revealed.

"Star Evolution · Domain Drop!"

Captain Captain Gao Yuan's steady voice rang out like a morning bell, breaking the brief standoff.

He brought his palms together and pressed them forward violently into the void.

In an instant, with him as the center, a massive, pale silver Domain, complex as star trails, suddenly opened up, instantly enveloping all the Yao Race members that had pounced forward.

Inside the Domain, gravity seemed to have increased by more than ten times in an instant.

The Yao Race's charging momentum suddenly stalled, as if they had fallen into an invisible quagmire; every movement became incomparably sluggish and heavy, and even their breathing seemed to be pressed into becoming ragged.

The terrifying suppression force directly covered all Yao Race members, from the Great Sun Realm Peak to ordinary Bright Moon Realm.

"Strike!" Zhou Tong, located in the safe center, had a flash of sharp light in his eyes as he exhaled and shouted.

The black longbow in his hand, which was almost as tall as he was, hummed as the string sounded, and a streak of light already left an afterimage in his field of vision.

That arrow was too fast!

It was so fast that it seemed to bypass the concept of distance directly, carrying not a hint of wind, only pure speed and the will to penetrate.

Pfft!

The arrow's target was not a Great Sun Realm Great Yao, but a Late Stage Bright Moon Realm Bear Yao that was attempting to bypass the interception in front.

Under the heavy pressure of the Star Evolution Domain, that Bear Yao was already finding it difficult to Move and had no time to make an effective block.

The streak of light flashed and vanished, piercing through its skull, and the massive body collapsed with a crash, kicking up a cloud of dust.

This was only the beginning.

Zhou Tong stood within Captain Gao Yuan's Star Evolution Domain, as if standing on the optimal output platform.

His movements were smooth as flowing water; drawing the bow, nocking the arrow, and firing were all done in one breath.

The arrows transformed into life-taking cold stars, as if they had eyes, precisely seeking out those Bright Moon Realm targets most severely suppressed by the Domain in the chaotic battlefield.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

One after another, fast as lightning!

Every time a streak of light flashed by, a Bright Moon Realm Yao Race member would inevitably let out a dying wail.

Those Great Sun Realm Yao Race members had the intention to rescue or intercept, but in the heavy Star Evolution Domain maintained with all of Captain Gao Yuan's strength, their movements were significantly slowed, and they could only watch helplessly as their subordinates were picked off one by one.

A ferocious Flying Leopard Yao General, relying on its speed talent, pushed against the pressure and forcibly pounced toward Zhou Tong in the center.

However, before its sharp claws had even extended halfway—

"Get lost!" The burly Liu Kun stepped forward, and a massive, mountain-like dark golden shield phantom instantly condensed before him, crashing into the Flying Leopard Yao General.

The Leopard Yao was sent tumbling backward from the impact.

"Shattered Shadow!" Lin Jing, like a true shadow, appeared in an instant on the Leopard Yao's backward trajectory; the two short blades in her hands traced deep blue arcs, precisely piercing into its waist and abdomen vital points.

"Wave Breaker!" Wang Qiang's greatsword erupted with scorching white Sword Qi, slashing down from the air and completely slicing the injured Leopard Yao in two.

The three of them coordinated seamlessly, their offensive and defensive transitions as smooth as if they were one person, firmly protecting Zhou Tong in the center.

Any Yao Race member attempting to charge the core would encounter the three's thunderous joint strike.

On the battlefield, the dull gravity suppression, the life-taking arrows like lightning, and the powerful interceptions that descended at any moment constituted a suffocating death trap.

The Great Sun Realm Peak Yao Race members could still struggle to support themselves and block the arrows by relying on their deep demonic power, but those Bright Moon Realm Yao soldiers were rapidly harvested like wheat before this crushing combined offensive.

In just over a dozen breaths of time, more than ten Bright Moon Realm Yao Race members had already died under the arrows or been killed.

The fierce light in the eyes of the invading Yao Race remained, but deep within, horror and dread could no longer be suppressed.

This Human Race team before them appeared to have only five members, but the power they combined was so terrifying.

The other side obviously had not used their full strength; Captain Gao Yuan at the core had not even made a Move yet.

"Roar—!"

The leading Elephant Yao let out an unwilling, earth-shaking roar and issued the order to retreat.

The Great Sun Realm Yao Race members quickly contracted, covering their remaining surviving Bright Moon Realm companions, while blocking arrow rains and harassment, retreating in a sorry state toward the still-rotating energy vortex.

Under Captain Gao Yuan's control, the Star Evolution Domain did not pursue or expand; it simply firmly held the last line of defense, watching the Yao Race's remaining troops disappear into the vortex.

As the Interstellar Gate's light gradually calmed, the shrill alarm sound also stopped.

Only a dozen or so massive Yao corpses lay scattered across the battlefield, along with a thick, unshakeable scent of blood.

On the city wall, Li Wen had remained completely motionless throughout.

The dark gray scabbard rested steadily in the crook of his arm, and the last ray of the setting sun outlined his straight, calm silhouette.

"Still a probe—" the whisper in his heart was silent, "The timing is not yet right."

Looking at the Interstellar Gate, which had returned to calm and only left behind the stench of blood, the calm like a cold pool in the depths of Li Wen's eyes did not change in the slightest.

He did not offer any comments on the excellent coordination of Captain Gao Yuan's five-person team; he merely slowly withdrew his gaze from the battlefield, held his blade, turned quietly, and his figure merged into the deeper shadows of the city wall.

A deeper storm beneath the Underground Fortress Pass, clearly, was still brewing.

galactic calendar year 232, April 1st.

Another month passed in relative tranquility in the Underground Fortress Pass.

Li Wen's life was regular and efficient.

In the morning, he immersed himself in various classics, accumulating the key experience required for the Scholar profession;

In the afternoon, blade light flashed on the Martial Arts Field, as he repeatedly tempered the Xuanqiong Five Styles;

After nightfall, the power of the Medicinal Pill transformed into pure True Yuan, constantly washing over and refining his Physical Body, steadily approaching the Great Sun Realm Peak.

That night, he had just finished a round of Cultivate and was sitting cross-legged in the quiet room, preparing to use meditation to restore his depleted Mental Energy.

Just at this moment—

Woo—woo—woo—

A shrill, piercing alarm sound tore through the silence of the night without warning, instantly resounding throughout the entire Underground Fortress Pass.

For the past two months, small-scale probing invasions by the Yao Race had become the norm.

Hearing the alarm, Li Wen's heart did not ripple with too much emotion.

But he knew deeply that war was unpredictable and one could not lower their guard at any time.

Almost as soon as the thought arose, he had already transformed into a pale purple streak of light, and the next second, he was standing steadily atop the towering fortress wall, his aura composed and restrained.