Chapter 640: What idiot would come to attack Cold Iron Pass? Isn't this

Night fell, and the camp was dotted with campfires.

Xie Ergai respectfully invited Li Chen to rest inside the tent, but was politely declined by Li Chen.

He said indifferently in that hoarse voice: "I have lived in the deep mountains for a long time, accompanied by nature, and have long been accustomed to sleeping in the open. This place has too much human activity, which I find uncomfortable. I shall go find a quiet place nearby to meditate."

This explanation was reasonable and logical; no one felt anything was amiss.

In the eyes of these Great Luo soldiers, it was perfectly normal for a master living in seclusion to have eccentric temperaments.

How could a great wizard whose strength might have reached the legendary Sage Realm and whose understanding of the Shaman Dao was so profound be a person from the enemy Tian Ce Dynasty?

Such a possibility was simply not within their scope of consideration.

Xie Ergai saw that his master was determined to leave, and although he was reluctant, he dared not force him to stay.

He hesitated for a moment, then asked cautiously: "Master, if I wish to seek your guidance in the future, or if I encounter difficulties, where should I look for you? Where exactly is your immortal abode?"

Li Chen continued to maintain his master's demeanor, shaking his head inscrutably: "Wandering the four corners of the earth, following my whims; I have no fixed residence."

He paused, signaling for Xie Ergai to extend his hand, and with his fingertip, he quickly outlined a rune on his palm that appeared simple but contained a subtle spiritual charm.

"This is a spiritual sensing talisman," Li Chen explained. "If you truly encounter a life-or-death crisis, or hit an insurmountable bottleneck in your cultivation, you may activate this talisman with all your might. I will sense it and come to find you as much as I can."

Having said this, without waiting for Xie Ergai to say more, Li Chen's figure flickered, and like a shadow merging into the night, he disappeared from outside the camp without a sound, leaving behind only Xie Ergai, who was excited and repeatedly rubbing his palm.

"Indeed, one who survives a great disaster is bound to have future blessings!" Xie Ergai looked in the direction where Li Chen had disappeared, his heart surging. "To be able to study under such a master with supernatural powers is simply Heaven blessing me, Xie Ergai! Tuoba Zhen, just you wait!"

As for Li Chen, who had left the camp, he naturally shed his disguise, restored his original appearance, and returned to Cold Iron Pass without a sound.

Not long after he returned to the pass, Batu, his nominal superior, hurried over, his face filled with concern and a trace of nervousness: "My lord! You've finally returned! You suddenly left the team during patrol this morning; where did you go? Nothing happened, right?"

Batu now both respected and feared Li Chen, terrified that this "lord" might have some mishap under his watch.

Li Chen smiled and said nonchalantly: "Nothing much, just happened to run into a group of Great Luo Shaman wizards, took some of their things while I was at it, and incidentally put on a show, getting to know a young man named Xie Ergai, who is said to be the eldest son of some Grand Duke Andrei of the Great Luo Dynasty..."

He recounted today's encounter, omitting some details, and gave a rough summary.

Batu's eyes widened as he listened, and finally he couldn't help but slap his thigh, praising excitedly in a low voice: "High! My lord, you are truly high! Decisive and incomparably wise! This is simply miraculous!"

He was so excited he was somewhat incoherent. After delivering a heavy dose of flattery, he asked eagerly: "Then how should we cooperate next? Please give your orders!"

Li Chen's mouth curled slightly, revealing a smile that everything was under control: "I have a game of chess to play, and this Xie Ergai is the best chess piece delivered to our door. You only need to maintain normal vigilance, but make preparations in secret." He gave Batu a few instructions in a low voice.

Batu nodded repeatedly. Although he might not fully understand Li Chen's overall plan, he knew one thing: here, the words of this "Commandant Cheng" were the highest order and must be executed unconditionally.

After Li Chen left, Batu immediately found Captain Zhou Meng and said with a serious face: "Captain Zhou, please pass down the order to have the brothers stay alert and strengthen vigilance recently. In a while, there might be an army from the Great Luo Dynasty coming to launch a surprise attack on our Cold Iron Pass."