172: I will teach you a magical power (ask for monthly tickets)

Meanwhile, dozens of miles outside Jiangan County's East City, the night was as dark as ink.

The Ten Thousand Mountains stretched endlessly, like giant beasts lying prostrate on the ground. In a patch of forest, branches intertwined, clawing and gnawing in the darkness. Occasionally, a bird would startle, its wings flapping, the sound exceptionally clear in the silent night, yet fleeting.

The moonlight was eerie, piercing through a mottled patch of trees. On the branches and leaves, specks of crimson blood, some dry, some sliding down, hung from the tips of leaves, dripping down.

In the forest, two grotesquely shattered corpses lay scattered, emitting a strong smell of blood.

From these fragments of flesh and blood, a hideous form could be pieced together.

Humanoid, with green skin, black blood vessels, and long, pointed ears.

At this moment, around the forest, the rustling of leaves resounded, as if something was rapidly approaching.

Before long, in the mottled forest illuminated by the eerie moonlight, shadowy figures appeared.

There were strangely shaped humanoid figures, and also large beast-like forms: leopards, wolves, Mountain Pigs. Demonic Qi gathered, revealing hundreds of monsters.

However, after these monsters surrounded the area, they trembled and prostrated themselves on the ground, as if the terrifying aura of some creature lingered there.

"Have you found the one who killed our kin?"

At this moment, a bone-grating, spine-chilling sound echoed.

Then, in the shadows where the moonlight couldn't reach, three grotesque shadowy figures emerged.

Their appearance was the same as the two dead corpses: humanoid, with green skin, covered in black bone armor, with uneven bone ridges on their smooth skulls. On their human faces, deep-set black eye sockets held green eyes, and two long, pointed fangs protruded from their mouths, making them look terrifying and monstrous.

Night Fox!

Born from dampness and eggs, living in Huyan Mountain within the Ten Thousand Mountains.

This race, when first born, had infants like foxes, with white fur and human faces. But upon reaching adulthood, their fur would shed, and they would grow into this appearance, their looks completely different.

These types of demons are different from ordinary Yao Race. They have Bloodline Legacy, and their intelligence is no different from humans. Unlike monsters that transform from wild beasts and need to constantly undergo tribulations to Cultivate successfully, these races are born powerful. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been Sealed in the miasma-ridden, bitter-cold lands of the Ten Thousand Mountains by a Human Race Great Divine Power Practitioner a thousand years ago.

And many demons in the Ten Thousand Mountains are like this.

At this time, in the surrounding forest, several figures of varying appearances, possessing Body Profound Qi, were transformed demons.

They were the demons from several mountains near Jiangan County's East City. After the various races from the Ten Thousand Mountains broke through their Seals and rampaged to this place, they not only captured human cities, but also strongly swept away and conquered these nearby low-level demons. They followed the various races in their northern campaign, becoming the vanguard of the attack.

"Lord Fox, my little demons and I have searched for dozens of miles, but we haven't found him."

A monster whose true form was a pangolin bowed its head, its voice trembling slightly.

It was clearly afraid!

These 'adults' who came out of the Ten Thousand Mountains simply didn't regard them, the Yao, as their own kind. The pangolin, having gained sentience, could clearly see the arrogance and cruelty in the eyes of these 'adults,' and their disdain for them, treating them like uncultivated livestock, killing them at will.

And as soon as he finished speaking,

"Boom!"

A sonic boom.

Immediately following, the pangolin let out a sudden shriek of agony, its entire body flying backward, crashing through tree after tree, finally slamming hard against the trunk of a banyan tree, several arm-spans wide, about ten zhang away.

"Clang!"

A metallic clang followed.

A pure white, zhang-eight bone spear had directly pierced through the pangolin's body, pinning it to the tree trunk.

This demon's life force was instantly severed. In a breath's time, the humanoid figure dissipated, revealing a two-zhang-sized pangolin covered in crimson scales.

Seeing this scene, the smaller demons around the forest immediately trembled, prostrating themselves even lower.

The next day, in Guangan Prefecture, the sky was bright.

At the Fu City's administrative office, in the northern detached courtyard, the courtyard gate opened, and Chen Yuan, dressed in casual clothes, walked out.

"This General!"

The armored guards at the gate immediately straightened their expressions and saluted.

Chen Yuan nodded, stepping out. At this moment, outside the barracks, shouts echoed to the heavens, and hooves shook the ground.

On an open ground covering about ten mu, dust was flying.

The field was divided into several areas: some armored soldiers rode large horses, practicing one-on-one combat, while others sparred in martial Dao, and still others practiced the Fashan Flag Formation in teams.

Chen Yuan arrived at the training ground. Liu Qing and two other captains rode quickly to meet him, then dismounted swiftly.

"This General!"

"This General!"

"..."

Chen Yuan waved his hand, his gaze falling on the dust-filled training ground, his eyes slightly narrowed. "How long will it take for the newly recruited troops to initially form combat effectiveness?"

"Reporting, This General, the current training mainly focuses on military Formation coordination, flag commands, and the Felling Mountain Formation. Other aspects are progressing quickly. It's just that the Felling Mountain Formation is a Formation, which is relatively complex. Each person's martial Dao quality is different, so adjusting and coordinating will take some time to show initial results. Perhaps... time is not enough."

Liu Qing cupped his fists, honestly explaining the current difficulties and situation.

"Indeed, we don't have much time left. The Yao Race has already spread outside the Fu City. We don't know when they might reach the city gates," Chen Yuan said, a gleam in his eyes, as if he had thought of something. He then turned around,

"As leading captains, the three of you bear heavy responsibilities. I shall bestow upon you a Divine Ability. I hope you can quickly master a thing or two. If this Divine Ability is mastered, the combat power of your troops can be greatly enhanced in a short period."

The three leading captains were startled upon hearing this. Was there such a Divine Ability that could quickly form combat power in a short time?

They also thought of the Divine Abilities they had personally witnessed the This General Cultivate, all of which were astonishing. Although they dared not show too much emotion on their faces, their hearts were secretly excited and expectant.

"Follow me!"

Chen Yuan led the three of them into the quiet room behind the detached courtyard and imparted a Divine Ability.

This Divine Ability was one of the Seventy-Two Fiends, simple and straightforward, named Formation.

This Divine Ability integrates the essence of the Eight Trigrams, Five Elements, and Qimen Dunjia. It is not bound by form or Momentum. If one grasps its essence and masters this Divine Ability, one can set up various Formations, with myriad changes, using oneself or the surrounding mountains and terrain.

As leaders of troops, if they master a thing or two, and combine it with the Formation of many soldiers, it can quickly increase combat power.

Currently, for the Ninth Mountain, which is mostly fresh blood, facing such a situation where war could break out at any time, it is clearly unrealistic to expect these people to quickly form combat power through training.

However, having the leading captains master the Formation Divine Ability is indeed an unconventional approach!

Half an hour later, Liu Qing and the other two emerged from the courtyard gate, their faces showing faint excitement. At this moment, in their minds, the vast and complex Qimen exercises constantly changed, incredibly profound.

The three of them deeply understood the preciousness of this Divine Ability. They exchanged glances, then quickly walked back to their respective barracks, eager to begin comprehending it.

As for Chen Yuan, after imparting the Divine Ability, his figure vanished within the detached courtyard.

A few minutes later, he appeared on the bustling main street outside. The street was still lively with people coming and going. People seemed unaware of the Yao Race's invasion.

As he walked down the street, he occasionally heard snippets of news from roadside vendors or tea houses and taverns, about how a certain wealthy family had suddenly moved their entire clan, which seemed very strange.

Chen Yuan thought that they must have received news and gone to seek refuge, perhaps like those few days in Jinguan City when a large number of wealthy families poured in to seek refuge. As for ordinary people, separated by thousands of miles, most had never even left the Fu City in their entire lives, causing them to live in this small world, completely oblivious.

Chen Yuan aimlessly walked along the main street of this Fu City, his thoughts drifting. Amidst the lively atmosphere, he pondered strategies for advance and retreat.

At this moment, he arrived at a lake in the city. It was midsummer, and the sun was scorching. Along the bank, willows were green. On the river, there were pleasure boats and painted boats, with Young Masters accompanied by servants, and Young Misses laughing and playing on the boats.

Unbeknownst to him, a small boat was rowing towards Chen Yuan.

Standing on it was a thin, old servant dressed in a dark grey, black-collared household uniform.

The old servant rowed the boat to the shore, then came to the bow. He bowed to Chen Yuan, who had emerged from his contemplation and slowly focused his gaze on him. Then, he handed over an invitation with both hands and bowed, saying:

"Young Master, I apologize for the intrusion. My Young Miss is on the boat and finds Young Master to be handsome and distinguished. She would like to invite Young Master to her birthday celebration three days from now. This is the invitation!"

Chen Yuan's eyes slightly widened, then he looked at the distance beyond the small boat. He saw that dozens of meters away, on a two-story pleasure boat, a window slammed shut, and the silver-bell-like laughter of women came from inside.

It seemed a maid was teasing the Young Miss, and the Young Miss, embarrassed, pinched her.

"Young Master?"

The old servant called out.

Chen Yuan hadn't expected such an interesting encounter during his troubled time. After a moment's thought, he smiled and reached out to take it.

"Then I thank your Young Miss!"

The old servant grinned, then rowed away, chasing after the distant painted boat.

Chen Yuan quietly watched this scene. Suddenly, his ears twitched, and he looked up at the sky.

He saw a tiny speck of light above Guangan Prefecture, rapidly moving towards the Sky Patrol Division.

Chen Yuan clearly saw it was an Ao Tian Falcon.

He walked a few steps along the bank. The next second, he disappeared into the shadow beneath a willow tree.