Chapter 426: Encirclement and Interception

426. Chapter 426: Encirclement and Interception

In the blink of an eye, evening arrived again.

Jiang Cheng and his party found another cave to stay in.

Soon, Qin Lao returned with game and deftly processed it; compared with yesterday, the atmosphere in the cave had relaxed considerably.

"If nothing unexpected happens, we should reach the Base by tomorrow afternoon," Qin Lao said with a smile.

Jiang Cheng's expression changed slightly upon hearing it.

Because saying that, there's a high chance something unexpected will follow.

"We can't celebrate too early."

Chu Feng, as always steady, said, "Until the final moment, we must stay vigilant."

"That's what the Big Chief said, but there shouldn't be any trouble," Qin Lao said with a grin.

The night passed quickly, and at dawn the next day, the unexpected occurred.

Above the forest, several mechas flew by intermittently; even the smallest stood over ten meters tall, the larger ones were twenty to thirty meters, some forty to fifty, even seventy to eighty meters, their massive roars echoing through the sky.

Qin Lao was completely stunned.

Take those ten-meter-high mechas as an example.

These mechas are called Walkers, usually piloted by one to three people, equipped with two 150‑mm Laser Cannons and ten conventional ballistic missiles.

A 150‑mm Laser Cannon is far more powerful than a 150‑mm howitzer because its energy is compressed and its speed is near light speed; a single shot delivers nearly ten thousand tons of force, equivalent to a Second-Level Master's full‑power strike! In other words, even a Second-Level Master hit by it would be seriously wounded at best, dead at worst, let alone a First-level Grandmaster.

In addition, the Walker carries ten conventional ballistic missiles.

Each missile contains 300 kg of explosives, with an explosive force approaching one hundred thousand tons—comparable to a Third-Level Master's punch, easily flattening a six‑story building.

The drawback is that these missiles travel at only 3 Mach—three times the speed of sound—so even a First- or Second-Level Master who is careless could be hit and reduced to nothing.

These are only the lowest‑grade mechas.

The largest mecha that just flew by was an eighty‑meter‑tall Black Knight, piloted by five to ten people, equipped with more than ten laser cannons over one meter in caliber, carrying cruise missiles and even a nuclear warhead, with a lethal radius of nearly two kilometers, equivalent to a 15,000‑ton TNT explosion.

If only Chu Feng and Shen Xinlian were here, they wouldn't mind; first, they'd be hard to spot, and second, even if discovered they'd be difficult to kill, unless a Black Knight got too close to Shen Xinlian.

She, as an Eighth-level Spirit Master, can unleash Psychic Weapon strikes of dozens to hundreds of billions of tons—comparable to a nuclear blast—easily destroying a mecha.

But the key is that they're not alone; Jiang Cheng, Qin Lao, and Chen Sao are also here.

"It's my cursed raven mouth that brings this, what are we afraid of..." Qin Lao said, on the verge of tears.

"Qin Lao, this has nothing to do with you," Jiang Cheng said, looking at Chu Feng, "Big Chief, could those people from the Shadow Church have betrayed us?"

"Very likely."

Chu Feng watched the mechas continuously fly overhead, his brows furrowing.

The situation had become tricky.

After learning our identities, the Gu Family still acted, indicating that the forces they sent this time far exceed our capabilities; besides a swarm of mechas, there may even be a Supreme-level Strongman arriving.

If they are spotted by the airborne mechas and a battle erupts, the Supreme Strongman behind them will surely arrive immediately.

By then, not only Jiang Cheng but even he himself would be in danger.

"Damn it!"

Thinking of this, even he let a curse slip from his mouth.

Those Shadow Church members truly deserve to die.

"Xinlian, can you evade those mechas in the sky?"

"I'll try my best," Shen Xinlian said, her face showing difficulty.

These mechas dominate from above and are equipped with the most advanced radar systems; if there were fewer, she is confident she could weave around them, but if there are many, doing so while carrying ordinary people becomes very difficult.

"We can only try."

Chu Feng looked at Jiang Cheng and said, "Brother Jiang, these mechas are probably just the vanguard. If we stay here, we'll become increasingly passive. As soon as we move forward a bit more and locate the tunnel entrance to the Base, we'll be safe. If we are discovered, I will do everything I can to protect you."

"Everything follows the Big Chief's orders."

Jiang Cheng nodded heavily.

He also sensed that the situation was not good.

Fortunately, he possessed a sixth‑tier basic treasure that could deflect some attacks.

"Just in case, I'll call Master now,"

"Big Chief, are you going to call the Big Chief?" Qin Lao and Shen Xinlian said in unison.

"Big Chief?" Jiang Cheng was startled, wondering if it referred to that Supreme-level Strongman. "Hmm."

Chu Feng nodded.

"I have a bad feeling: the Gu Family this time will most likely send a Supreme-level Strongman. Only Master, the old lady, can repel someone of that caliber,"

The two breathed a sigh of relief.

If the Big Chief arrives, they'll surely be safe.

The problem is whether something will happen during that time.

Chu Feng walked into the cave interior, took out his phone and sent a few messages. Soon he stood before the others and said, "Master already knows, she's on her way to meet us; we should set off now."

The few exchanged glances and took a deep breath.

At this point there was no turning back; they could only hurry toward the tunnel entrance.

It started off fairly smoothly.

Although mechas kept flying overhead, each time the group dodged them a few seconds early, but later the number of airborne mechas increased.

Clearly, the Gu Family focused their forces on the area surrounding the Base, the route the group must take back.

Thirty‑ to forty‑meter‑tall mechas were everywhere; those fifty to sixty meters high appeared occasionally, one or two at a time.

"Big Chief, if we go any further, we might be discovered," Shen Xinlian said, turning back.

Just as they were speaking, several mechs flew straight toward them.

The few of them quickly shifted direction, barely dodging the mechs.

But just then, an old man's voice suddenly rang out from the air.

Well, after wearing out iron shoes to no avail, it turns up without any effort at all.

As his words fell, the few of them all turned pale, looking toward the source of the voice.

In the previously empty air, an old man's figure gradually appeared.

His beard and hair were white, he wore a simple ancient robe, seated cross-legged on the ground; he slowly opened his eyes, gazing at Jiang Cheng and the others, his voice calm.

The Calming Spirit Pearl of my Gu Family is what you took, isn't it? Hand it over honestly, and I'll let you few die a bit more easily.

(End of chapter)