Chapter 638: I wish to follow the Master and cultivate the Great Dao of Shamanism

Li Chen's footsteps paused slightly, but he did not turn his head. He merely emitted a hoarse, low voice, as if he had not spoken for a very long time: "Just passing through."

Having said that, he made as if to leave.

Xie Ergai was struck with panic at the sight. He was currently severely wounded, his personal guards were all dead, and he was in the middle of the wilderness; without help, it was impossible for him to return to the camp alive.

He hurriedly limped after him, his tone incomparably sincere and even carrying a trace of pleading: "My lord! My lord, please stay your steps! I am Xie Ergai, son of Grand Duke Andrei of the Great Luo Dynasty! I implore you, my lord, to allow me to express my most sincere gratitude! If not for your intervention, I would surely have died today!"

Seeming to fear the other party would not believe him, he hurriedly fished out an amulet carved from an unknown black beast bone and inlaid with a sapphire from his bosom, offering it with both hands: "My lord, please look. This was gifted by a high-level Shaman who has been on good terms with my family for generations. My family has always held the Shaman lineage in high regard! I speak no falsehoods! I implore you, my lord, to have mercy and help me return to my camp. My family will surely reward you handsomely!"

Li Chen's gaze lingered on the amulet for a moment, as if confirming something, before he slowly said in that hoarse voice: "So that is how it is. Since you are one who reveres the Shamans, I shall see you on your way."

Xie Ergai was overjoyed upon hearing this and thanked him repeatedly: "Many thanks, my lord! Many thanks, my lord!"

Along the way, Xie Ergai endured his pain, attempting to strike up a conversation with his savior. He asked curiously: "I have yet to ask for your honorable name, my lord? On which Sacred Mountain do you cultivate? I am truly indebted to you today."

Li Chen maintained his aloofness throughout, responding only with brief, vague words: "I cultivate in seclusion in the deep mountains; it is not worth mentioning." "I sensed a violent fluctuation of natural spiritual energy here, so I came to investigate."

The more mysterious and indifferent he acted, the more Xie Ergai was convinced, believing the other party was surely a high-level Shaman living in seclusion, detached from worldly affairs. He felt his life was not meant to end there, and that he had been saved by a stroke of fate; he harbored not the slightest suspicion.

Just like that, relying on his superb acting skills and the bit of Shaman aura he had learned on the fly, Li Chen easily infiltrated the camp where Xie Ergai was stationed, without anyone noticing anything amiss.

Seeing that Xie Ergai's so-called "Vanguard Army" was hiding in a valley woodland so close to Cold Iron Pass, yet on relatively flat terrain lacking depth for cover, the corners of Li Chen's mouth, hidden beneath his face paint and hood, could not help but twitch slightly.

He pondered to himself: "This kid is either a military genius or a complete and utter donkey! With a formidable pass like Cold Iron Pass, relying on his ten thousand men—all of whom are cavalry—how is he supposed to fight?"

"It wouldn't even be enough to fill the gaps between their teeth! Even if this is just the vanguard, once the follow-up troops arrive, facing the treacherous terrain of Cold Iron Pass and the Tian Ce garrison that can provide rapid support at any time, it's just a death sentence."

Just as Li Chen was secretly assessing the threat of this army, several generals in the camp and a Shaman wizard accompanying the army hurried over upon hearing the news.

Seeing Xie Ergai covered in blood and in such a wretched state, they were all shocked and hurriedly stepped forward to ask with concern: "General! What happened to you? What occurred?"

That accompanying Shaman wizard cast his gaze at the first opportunity toward Li Chen, who stood beside Xie Ergai in strange attire.

He felt the deep, obscure, yet incomparably pure and powerful natural spiritual pressure on Li Chen, and could not help but be slightly startled. Subconsciously, he performed a special etiquette of respect between Shamans toward Li Chen, placing his right hand on his chest and bowing slightly.

Li Chen merely glanced at him indifferently and nodded slightly, not returning the same gesture.

Although the Shaman wizard felt it strange and somewhat embarrassing, he felt the unfathomable strength of the other party and dared not say anything more. He could only console himself that experts have their own eccentricities, and silently retreated to the side.

At this moment, Xie Ergai began to excitedly recount to the crowd the thrilling process of how he encountered a powerful demonic beast, his personal guards were wiped out, and he was finally saved by this mysterious Shaman lord who happened to be passing by.

The several generals exclaimed in surprise on the surface, constantly expressing concern and lingering fear, but inwardly they were already cursing: "Idiot! Is the perimeter of Cold Iron Pass a place you can just wander into? There are countless high-level demonic beasts there!"

"You seek death yourself, yet you drag your brothers down with you! Why didn't you just die out there? What a pity for those soldiers who died in battle!"

They felt more and more that Xie Ergai's plan to attack Cold Iron Pass was simply whimsical and self-destructive.